$6 General Notes. [January, 



torily determined'without the fleshy portion ; nor in our present 

 state of knowledge can the microscope determine these points." 



In the Zoological Record for 1873, Vol. x (pp. 508-9), Dr. Lut- 

 kin, editor of the department Ccelenterata, uses the following 

 language : " Its generic identity with the Australian species (type 

 of Osteocella), cannot be established so long as the latter is known 

 only from the axial skeleton." 



It will be seen by the quotation that Dr. Lutken practically 



My description, read before the Academy, August 18th, 1873, 

 was soon after reprinted in the American Journal of Science and 

 Art, to which Professor Verrill added a foot-note as follows: "A 

 recent examination of a specimen, convinces me that this species 

 is most nearly allied to the Halipteris christii K611iker (Koren 

 and Dar., sp.), and probably ought to be referred to the same 



While regretting that the generic title with which I had asso- 

 ciated the name of a justly distinguished naturalist, as well as a 

 personal friend, must yield to precedence, I can only accept his 

 suggestion, and place the species in Kolliker's genus Halipterus. 

 The allusions herein to the late Dr. Gray are not intended to re- 

 vive any differences of opinion as between that eminent authority 

 and myself, but are incidentally introduced, being necessary to 

 the continuity of the record of my own connection with the form 

 which furnishes the title to this paper. 



I was not aware until recently that I had not already called the 

 attention of the Academy to Professor Verrill's note, which long- 

 continued sickness in my family, and the pressure, until very re- 

 cently, of official duties caused me to overlook. — R. E. C.Stearns, 

 Berkefy, California, Nov. 9, 188 1. 



Discoveries of the U. S. Fish Commission on the South- 

 ern- Coast of New England. — In the American Journal of 

 Science for October, Professor Verrill records the further discov- 

 eries made the past summer over a region about 42 miles wide, 

 north and south, and 105 miles long, along the 100-fathom line 

 off the southern coast of New England. It will be remembered 

 that a remarkably rich fauna inhabits this region, which is near 

 the edge of the Gulf stream, and at the edge of the descent to the 

 ocean bottom. This richness in life seems to be due to the fol- 

 lowing reasons stated by Verrill : This region is subject to the 

 combined effects of the Gulf stream on one side, and the cold 

 northern current on the other, together with the gradual decrease 

 in temperature in proportion to the depth. It is, therefore, prob- 

 able that, at any given depth below 50 fathoms, the temperature 

 is nearly the same at all seasons of the year. Moreover, there is, 

 in this region, an active circulation of the water at all times, due 

 to the combined currents and tides. The successive zones of 



