Geology and Natural History. 73 
fathoms, off Barbadoes. He also describes and figures a specimen 
of Holopus Rangiti D’Orb., from off Barbadoes, loaned to Professor 
Agassiz by Governor Rawson, and upon the study of which Pro- 
fessor Agassiz was engaged during his last ays at the Museum. 
In the part relating to the Corals, Mr. Ponrtales has described 
and figured many interesting deep-sea species, many of which 
are new, and has given additional localities for others previously 
described.* Most of them are from the rich locality off Barbadoes,, 
referred to above, but a few are from Brazil and the Pacific. 
Among the more interesting forms is a new genus (Duncania 
Barbadensis) which is referred to the Rugosa. V. 
19. On the Habits of the California Wood-rat; by A. W. Cuasr, 
Assistant U. S. Coast Survey. (From a letter to B. Silliman, dated 
o> 
of large spikes; in the closets, knives, forks, spoons, etc. large 
f the room 
oO soug. : 
entered this house I was astonished to see an immense rat’s nest 
on the empty stove. On examining this nest, which was about 
e 
é y try so a 
nails outward. In the center of this mass was the nest, composed 
of finely divided fibers of the hemp packing. Interlaced with the 
* In a recent letter Mr. Pourtales desires us to make the following correction: 
He now considers the species described as Flabellum Braziliense (p. 38, pl. V1, 
figs. 16, 17) identical with the Euphyllia spinulosa Dana, and therefore proposes 
to call it Flabellum spinulosum. 
