1895.] Zoology. 493 
The Cotton-Tail Rabbit.—The name Lepus sylvaticus proposed 
by Dr. Bachman in 1837, for the common gray rabbit of the United 
States, has hitherto been restricted to the eastern region from northern 
Florida to Canada. A recent investigation of the subject by Mr. Ou- 
tram Bangs reveals that this region is occupied by.two distinct sub- 
species, for the northern one of which he proposes the name Lepus 
sylvaticus transitionalis, thus restricting the true L. sylvaticus to the 
Carolinian life area. In the same paper the author in referring to the 
geographical distribution of the northern hare (Lepus americanus 
Erxl.), in the east, points out that the common cotton-tail (L. sylvaticus) 
is continually pushing its way farther to the north and replacing the 
northern hare. The latter is rare in Massachusetts, has almost wholly 
disappeared from many parts of New Hampshire, but is still abundant 
in Maine, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Mr. Bangs accounts for 
the spread of the cotton-tail to the north as a consequence of the de- 
struction of the great coniferous forests, which are replaced by a scrubby 
second growth of shrubs. The hare goes with the coniferous forests 
and the cotton-tail comes in with the second growth. (Proceeds, 
_ Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. Vol. XX VI, 1895.) 
Zoological News, Mollusca.—Mrs. M. B. Williamson reports 
the successful planting of Eastern oysters in the bays of Los Angeles 
Co., California. The oysters of Alamitos Bay are as large as those of 
the same age raised in the East. No star-fish or carnivorous shell fish 
have been detected in the oyster beds. It is possible that in stocking 
the beds with eastern oysters may result in planting the fry of other 
eastern molluscs as well, since Mya arenaria L. and Urosalpinx cinerea 
are now propagating in San Francisco Bay as a result of the introduc- 
tion of Eastern oysters in those waters. (Ann. Pub. Hist. Soc. South- 
ern Cal., 1894.) 
Crustacea.—Four new genera of crabs, represented by a number 
of species, are reported by Mr. J. E. Benedict from the collections 
made from dredgings in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea, by 
the Streamer Albatross. Several new species of Lithodes are included 
in the same collections. A number of young Lithodes, referred by the 
author to L. camtschatieus agree with Brandt's description of L. spinos- 
issimus, which, according to the author, was undoubtedly founded 
upon a young specimen. (Proceeds. U. S. Natl. Mus., 1894.) 
Agnatha.—Mr. Howard Ayres does not agree with the commonly 
accepted theory that Bdellostoma dombeyi Lac. is a parastic, degenerate 
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