ZOOLOGY. 565 
In regard to the new thrush (Harporhynchus Bendire’) recently 
described by Dr. Coues,* it is probably identical with Mr. Ridg- 
way’s var. Palmeri. 
The maximum number of species in the genus Harporhynchus 
was undoubtedly reached some time ago: and an enthusiastical 
Darwinian could be censured but mildly for considering the series 
as representatives of a single species, the most aberrant forms 
being looked upon as incipient species Davin Scorr. 
Wuo First DETERMINED THE TRUE POSITION or HYALONEMA.— 
While sympathizing with the spirit of Mr. Chapman’s criticism of 
Prof. Thomson in the current August number of the NATURALIST, 
we must say that he is not quite correct when he asks: ‘* Wh 
therefore does he [Dr. Thomson] unjustly ignore the fact that 
Dr. Leidy was the first to describe correctly the position of Hya- 
lonema, by saying we had been looking at the sponge upside 
down, and that it had never occurred to any one to reverse it?” 
Dr. Leidy’s article is in the Natorauist, Vol. iv. This was in 
January, 1871. Doubtless Dr. Leidy’s article was written the 
year before. In the Naruraxist, Vol. iii for 1870, is an inter- 
esting review of Scandinavian work in Natural History done in 
the years 1867-8. On page 216 in reference to Prof. Lovén occur 
these words: “the same celebrated author’s ingenious memoir 
on the little stalked pyriform deep-sea sponge, from Finmarken, 
termed Hyalonema boreale Lovén, by means of which he demon- 
strated that the Lusitanian and Japanese glass-ropes had hith- 
erto been erroneously represented as if turned upside down.” In 
the article on “The Glass Sponges,” in the ‘ Popular Science 
Monthly” for this month, I have endeavored to do justice in this 
Matter to all concerned. 
In regard to Prof. Lovén’s Hyalonema boreale, it should be men- 
tioned that C. Wyville Thomson in his book, p. 113, says: “ It is 
‘certainly very far from Hyalonema. It is more nearly allied 
Tethya, for the body of the sponge must certainly be refe i 
the corticate type, though it differs from all the other pisri 
members of its order in being supported on a long symmetrical 
stalk formed, as Professor Lovén has shown, of sheaves of short 
Spicules bound together by horny cement.” But this in no wise 
affects the soundness of the Professor’s demonstration.—S. L. 
*American Naturalist, Vol. vii, p. 330, 1873. 
