NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 727 
same authority contributes a paper on the ultimate structure of the 
calcareous sponges, confirming what has already been written on the 
same subject by Prof. H. James Clark of Lexington, Ky. The opin- 
ion of these two writers is, that the sponges as a group are most 
nearly allied to the Flagellate Infusoria, and not, as Prof. Heckel 
has proposed, to the Coelenterata. Mr. Carter has expressed his 
opinion that they are more closely related even to the compound 
Tunicata, a view which is, however, dissented from by Mr. W. S. 
Kent, who regards them as a distinct group of the Protozoa, allied 
on the one hand to the Flagellate Infusoria, in virtue of their uni- 
ciliated and funnel-bearing cells, and on the other to the simpler 
Rhizopoda, in the presence of the general pervading sarcode layer, 
subservient to the secretion of the common supporting skeleton. 
While opposed to Prof. Hxckel’s proposition of uniting: the Spon- 
giade and Celenterata under one sub-kingdom, Mr. Kent does 
not deny to the latter the position of the next round of the ladder 
in the ascending scale of organized beings, though he at present 
considers there are too many links missing to permit of their 
fusion. — A. W. B 
Lacorpatre’s COLEOPTERA. — I learn from that agreeable source 
of entomological information, ‘the “Petite Nouvelles Entomolo- 
giques,” that M. Chapuis has undertaken to complete M. Lacor- 
daire’s great work, which was interrupted by the lamented death 
of its talented author. M. Chapuis wishes to obtain specimens of 
the following genera, in which he is still deficient : — Megamerus, 
Prionesthis, Rhynchostomis, Atalesis, Ametella, Chiloxena, Poly- 
optilus, Macrolema, Eubaptus and Ateledera, etc. I am informed 
that our friend, Mr. J. S. Baly, who possesses the finest collection 
of Chrysomelide in the world, has offered it to M. Chapuis to 
make every use of; and I trust other entomologists will follow so 
generous an example. — Newman s Entomologist. 
Tue Srur SANDPIPER IN Massacuuserts.— A single specimen 
of this species, Micropalama himantopus, was taken here by Albert 
E. Mills, at Blacksmith pond, July 24, the present year. This is 
the first recorded instance of its capture in this State, although its 
occurrence had been anticipated. (Proceedings Essex Inst., Wy 
294, and Amer. Nart., HOI, 639.) It was in company with a 
solitary sandpiper, Rhyacophilus solitarius, which was also secured. 
Both were adult females. —Orıs Furrer, Needham, Mass. 
