746 The American Naturalist. [September, 
opinion that Casuarius is a near ally of Aepyornis. (The Ibis, July, 
1896.) 
Geological News. Mesozoic.—Mr. C. W. Andrews has pub- 
lished a paper on the structure of the Plesiosaurian skull, in which he 
institutes a comparison of the palatal portion with that of other Reptilia. 
He shows that while a similarity of structure in that region does not 
necessarily imply close relationship, nevertheless the very great re- 
semblances existing between the Plesiosaurian and Rhynchocephalian 
palates, reinforced by the numerous other points of likeness in other 
portions of their skeletons, lead to the conclusion that the Sauropte- 
rygia, notwithstanding their single temporal arcade and the rhizodont 
dentition, are descended from a primitive Rhynchocephalian reptile. 
This conclusion is in accord with the opinion already expressed by sev- 
eral writers. (Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., May, 1896.) 
Crenozoic.—A restoration of Hoplophoneus occidentalis Leidy has 
recently been completed by Mr. E. S. Riggs, under the direction of Dr. 
Williston. ‘The material upon which its restoration is based is com- 
posed of parts of two skeletons found almost together and in exactly 
the same horizon just below the bullatus layer of the Oreodon beds of 
South Dakota. This material now forms part of the paleontological 
collection of the University of Kansas. (Thesis fur the Degree of 
A. M. in the Kansas Univ., 1896.) 
—In a paper on recent and fossil Tapirs, 
Mr. J. B. Hatcher describes a new species of Protapirus from the Pro- 
toceras beds of the White River (Oligocene) of S. Dakota, presenting 
some new facts as to the osteology of the skull and forelimb of this 
genus. He also gives additional characters diagnostic of the various 
species of Protapirus and Colodon already described by Leidy, Marsh, 
Wortman, Earle and Osborn; points out the distinctive osteological 
and dental characters in the skulls of the five generally accepted species 
of recent Tapirs; and reviews the previous work of others on the Phy- 
logeny of the Tapiridæ and Helaletide. (Amer. Journ. Sci., Vol. I, 
1896.) 
—A restoration of the skeleton of Aptornis 
defossor has been completed for the British Museum (Nat. Hist.). The 
bones from which the specimen is reconstructed were found in 1889 in 
a chasm in the limestone at Castle Rocks, Southland, New Zealand, 
the greater number of them no doubt belonging to a single bird. Mr. 
©. W. Andrews gives a brief description of this skeleton, calling atten- 
