72 The American Naturalist. [January, 



In the study of the hyoid bone of certain parrots, Mr. Mivart finds 

 that the whole order of Psittaci is distinguished from every other order 

 of birds by the shape of its hyoid. The distinctive characters are (1) 

 Basihyal much broadened posteriorly. (2) Basihyal developing on 

 either side a forward Iy and upwardly directed process. (3"> An os ento- 

 glossum in the form of a single broad bone with a considerable central 

 foramen, or, in the form of two lateral parts, entoglossals, medianly 

 united in front by cartilage and leaving a vacant space between this and 

 their attachment behind to the basihyal. (Proceeds. Zool. Soc. London, 

 1895, p. 162.) 



Mammals. — Mr. Outram Bangs distinguishes the Skunks of east- 

 ern North America as follows : 



Mrphitis mejih'di-n (Shaw), ranging through the Hudsonian and 

 Canadian zones of the east, south to about Massachusetts. 



Mephitis mephitica elongata (Bangs), found in Florida and the south- 

 ern Atlantic states and ranges north to about Connecticut. 



Both of these species differ from the western skunks, which form a 

 separate group. 



Among the latter the author recognizes Richardson's Mephitis amer- 

 icana var. hudsonica as a good species which must therefore bear the 

 name M. hudsonica (Richardson). It is the largest of all the skunks, 

 and has an extensive range in the northern prairies, extending east as 

 far as Minnesota. (Proceeds. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. XXVI.) 



ENTOMOLOGY. 1 

 Insects in the National Museum. — The staff of the Depart- 



a result of the sad death of the former Honorary Curator, Professor C. 

 V. Riley. 



The reorganization has been effected by the appointment of Mr. L. 

 O. Howard, Entomologist of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, to 

 the position of Honorary Curator to the Department of Insects ; of 

 Mr. Wm. H. Ashmead to the position of Custodian of Hymenoptera, 

 and Mr. D. W. Coquillett to the position of Custodian of Diptera. All 

 museum custodians are honorary officers. Mr. M. L. Linell will re- 

 main as general assistant to the Honorary Curator. 



The Department is, at present, in excellent working condition. It 

 contains a very great amount of material in all orders, and, in many 



1 Edited by Clarence M. Weed, New Hampshire College, Durham, N. H. 



