1878. ] Zoblogy. 325. | 
The cerebral portion of the brain of Acanthoglossus bruijnii 
is more pointed, while that of Æchidna! is more obtuse and 
somewhat square in outline anteriorly when viewed from above. 
The cerebral convolutions of the former are more numerous and 
complex than in the latter, where they are relatively few and 
simple. 
The interclavicular bone supports a strong median carina much 
more prominent than in Achidna. The xiphoid segments of the 
sternum in Acanthoglossus are ossified and not cartilaginous. The 
` phalanges of the manus and pes of both genera may be repre- 
sented as follows :— 
Acento, manus I,3,3,3,23 pes 1.3,3,3,23 mages i $. 
Echidna 2435353533 PSS 2,353,333 $ 
The foregoing characters which are the principal ones, justify, 
it would seem beyond all doubt, the papreY of erecting 
large New aaa species into a separate genus as Gervais has 
done. Knowing, as we do, the exceedingly frivial and insufficient 
morphological differences which have served for the establishment 
, differences as are here presented principally in the number of 
_ phalanges and nails, as well as perhaps the more important lingual, 
palatal, cranial and cerebral characters. 
he specimens,.a male and female, upon which Prof. Gervais has 
based his genus, were brought by M. Leglaize from the northern 
part of New Guinea to Paris. They were obtained on the Karon 
mountains, at a elevation of 3770 feet above sealevel. Peters and 
Doria had previously described the skull of this species and 
called it Tachyglossus bruijnii? The natives call the animal 
Nokdiak. 
The known species of monotrematous spiny anteaters are ac- 
cordingly three, provided Achidna lawesii is distinct, which it ap- 
pears to be from the rather brief and hardly sufficient description 
of its author; and Æ. hystrix and Æ. setosa are identical. The 
species then stand as follows in the order of discovery, or rather 
of characterization : 
PASS 
PIEST R e ii 
$ 
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N 
S 
Pas 
x 
PAKS 
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Acanthoglossus pie! Gerv. — Jno, A. Ryder. 
ProF. P. E. ScuuLze has discovered the mode of development 
of the European cavernicolous Proteus anguinus. He found one 
at Adelsberg cave which had laid fifty-six eggs, very similar to 
those of Siredon pisciformis. The Proteus anguinus is proved by 
researches on the ovary of a female from which the eggs were 
taken to be oviparous. ; 
1 Nouv. Arch. du Mus. Tom. 5, Pl. 14, fig. 16, p. 248. 
2 Ann. del Mus. Cie: di Sci. Nat. di Ganges; tom. IX Dec. 3, 1876. 
