1879. | Zoölogy. 453 
new or little known ferns of the United States. Trimen’s 
Fournal of Botany, for May, contains A. W. Bennett’s Polygalæ 
mericanæ novæ vel parum cognitæ. Among other articles 
in Caruel’s Mew Jtalian Botanical Fournal, is one by F. Sestini on 
the action of the vapor of different substances in the seed during 
germination. hree eminent botanists have recently died, 
Prof. G. L. Reichenbach, of Dresden, aged 86; Dr. F. M. Ascher- 
son, at Berlin, aged 81; also Prof. Griesebach, who died at 
Göttingen, May 13th. 
ZOOLOGY.? 
STRANGE HABITAT oF A BARNACLE ON A Gar PIKE.—I have 
recently received a barnacle from Mr. Jos. Wilcox, of Philadelphia, 
which he obtained from the scales of a gar in Hernando county, 
in the other direction. As nearly as I can make out, it is very 
near if not identical with Platylepas decorata Darw», though this 
species seems hitherto to have been recorded as coming from the 
Pacific only; the Florida locality is of considerable interest, 
therefore, as extending the range of the species. The fish from 
which the specimens were obtained was found in brackish water, 
and therefore agreeing in the nature of its habitat with the prob- 
able conditions of the water in the Gambia river, Africa, where 
the P. dissexlobata has been found on the manatee. There are no 
pores in the parietes, the midribs of the compartments were well 
developed, and in one specimen the membranous basis was as 
convex as the shell, in the other not quite as convex. The basal 
membrane seems to be reflected up over the parietes to near the 
aperture and also to extend some way outwards from the attached 
margin of the compartments, as if to afford a more extensive 
attachment to the fish. 
I have been unable to find any record of the occurrence of these 
and kindred forms on the gar, but it would be well adapted to 
them, as their scales would afford secure attachment. 
It would be of interest to know whether the creature’s shell 
left a depression in the scales of the fish equal to the convexity 
of the basal membrane. Mr. Darwin observes in regard to other 
barnacles which attach themselves to turtles, whales and sharks, | 
in effect, that the growth of the shell of the parasite into the tis- 
sues of its host is due to a force similar to that which impels the 
root of a tree through hard compacted soil.— Fohn A. Ryder. 
iThe departments of Ornithology and Mammalogy are conducted by Dr. ELLIOTT 
U.S.A. 
