44 General Notes. [ January, 
os intermaxillare, their ends reaching all the way out to the ex- 
treme end of the said cavity. 
Since that time I have had no opportunity of making further 
investigations in this matter. It seems probable that such an ar- 
rangement as found in the tongue of P. viridis would enable the’ 
bird to project its tongue further and with greater velocity than 
those that have shorter horns. Therefore I would suppose that 
P. viridis feeds on larve which live in the deeper parts of the 
wood and are quick in their motions. This, however, I must ac- 
knowledge to be merely a supposition, but it is a point worthy of 
the attention of zodlogists—Dr. Fosua Lindahl. 
AMPHIOXUS AND LINGULA AT THE MOUTH OF CHESAPEAKE Bay. 
—In his account of a foundation of a zoological laboratory at the 
mouth of BA aE bay, as a summer school of instruction for 
the students of John Hopkins University, Prof. W. K. Brooks, in 
the third Annual Report of the University, thus speaks of the 
scientific results of the summer’s work, and of the discovery of 
the early stages of Amphioxus and Lingula. We shall elsewhere 
notice the workings of this laboratory : 
“The amount of advantage which zoological science can 
derive from the discovery and description cf new species is very 
slight as compared with that which is gained by the careful study 
of the whole life-history of any form of life—old or new. As 
this work can be done only where the living animals can be 
had, it is properly /aboratory work, as distinguished from museum 
work, or the identification of specie 
“I accordingly made no eons to find and describe new 
forms, but devoted all our time to the careful study of a few 
important species ; selecting for this purpose, from among those 
which were abundant at our station, the ones a knowledge of 
which is most desirable to science. I may say, however, that two 
of the forms which we selected for careful study were new addi- 
tions to the fauna of this region. One of these, Amphioxus, was 
studied by Mr. Rice. Amphioxus is a small worm-like animal, 
the lowest of the vertebrates, and it is of very great scientific 
~ interest, since it has preserved many evidences of a relationship 
_ to various groups of invertebrates, and thus serves to bridge over 
the gap which was supposed by Cuvier and Agassiz to separate 
the vertebrata from all lower forms of life. Its embryology, 
_ distinguished zodlogists of Europe, and a number of papers have 
appeared upon the subject within a few years. We fortunately 
found several larvæ which had passed beyond the stages studied 
_ by these naturalists, but which had not yet acquired the adult 
characteristics. Mr. Rice succeeded in keeping these alive, and 
was thus able to supply the information necessary to complete 
ur ee of its development. He also made very interest- 
