192 The American Naturalist. [February, 
Arthropoda.—Mr. F. A. A. Skuse recently described before the 
Linnzan Society of New South Wales a new genus (Batrachomyia) and 
two new species of flies closely allied to Oscinis, which are peculiar in 
laying their eggs beneath the skin of frogs. 
A comparative study of the alimentary canal of the larve and 
imagines of the Ephemeride is interesting, since these forms take no 
nourishment in the adult condition. Fritze (Bericht Naturf. Gesellsch. 
Freiburg, IV.) has made such a study, carefully detailing the histology 
of several species in all stages. His results in brief are that at no 
time is the alimentary canal rudimentary, but that at the time of 
metamorphosis it becomes emptied of food, and is then distended 
with water, so that the columnar epithelium of the mesenteron is 
stretched into pavement epithelium. Later the water is replaced with 
air, which is serviceable in lessening the specific gravity of the perfect 
insects. 
Birds.—A short note in the March Geologist, by W. K. Parker, 
tends to somewhat rehabilitate the old and still popular idea that 
Swifts and swallows are related. Though Mr. Parker places the former 
among the Picariz, he says that they are on the passerine verge of the 
group, and have an zgithognathous palate, 7. e., the vomer is fused 
with the floor of the nasal labyrinth. The proportions of the wing in 
the group vary greatly, as may be seen from the following measure- 
ments of its members in two of the largest Cypselide : 

Humerus. Ulna, Manus. 
Macropteryx mystacea, 24 mm. 29 mm. 47 mm. 
Chetura caudaca, 17 = ig 57 “ 
Swifts and humming-birds, like passerines, have no second phalanx 
on the ‘ pollex,’’ nor a third on the index. 
Aphriza virgata affords Dr. Shufeldt material for an essay regarding 
the osteology and taxonomy of the snipe, plovers, oyster-catchers, and 
surf-birds ( Jour. Morph. II., Part 2). He concludes that the existing 
classifications do not properly represent the relations of the Limicoline 
birds, and that the Aphriza and Arenaria should each be raised to 
family rank. 
Mammals.—Mr. Robert Gray (Zodlogist, March) relates the dis- 
covery of a herd of narwhals asleep, with the spiracles under water in 
many cases ; and states his conviction, which is that of many intelli- 
gent whalemen, that the Cetacea habitually sleep under water, and 
either wake to breathe, or do so by reflex motions. Whales have been 

