' 164 : General Notes. 
don. This obvious fact has, curiously, escaped the observation of 
all the numerous naturalists who have studied this group. 
consequence, he separates the eocene forms, which have all true 
canines in the lower jaw, asa distinct sub-order—the Pseudolemur- 
idx. Should this be really a sub-order, the name Mesodonta would 
have been the proper one to employ ; but if a family only, then the 
term Adapide is applicable—which is, indeed, used by Dr. Schlosser 
in a restricted sense. Most of Dr. Schlosser’s new material is derived 
from the French phosphorites. 
We congratulate the author on the fact that no person can study 
this subject henceforth without the aid of this memoir. 
LYDEKKER’s CATALOGUE OF Fosst MAMMALIA IN THE BRIT- 
isH Museum, Parr V.'—We have in this part of Dr. Lydekker’s. 
Catalogue a valuable contribution to the subject of which it treats. 
The light thrown on questions of affinity and taxonomic usage is 
considerable, and supplements from a conservative stand-point the 
opposite tendencies of Dr. Schlosser. Our own view of the case 
leads us to adopt in most cases the aurea mediocritas between these 
two distinguished cultivators of the science. There is one point, 
however, in which we are compelled to agree with Schlosser and 
not with Lydekker, and this in a question of scientific purism of 
which the latter is in all other cases so able a defender. ‘This is in 
the matter of requiring a description,—whether good or bad mat- 
bev = as to the rule,—for a genus and other division above 
es, as an essential basis for a nomenclature. Æ. g., in the “ Cat- 
logue” we find the name Platychcerops used instead of Miolophus, 
although no reason for the separation of the former was ever given 
by its describer. Perhaps no description was given to Miolophus 
either. In that case Dr. Lydekker has the right to select 
whichever name he prefers, or to give a new one. One other point. 
- On page 161, under the genus Nototherium Owen, we read, “ Since 
this is the only known genus, its characters are the same as those 
of the family.” Now, no one knows better than the author of 
this e seriés of works, that this cannot be the case ! 
urse it is impossible for an author to keep pace with 
rapid additions to knowledge made in other countries. We 
only call etal here to the additional definitions of the Cre- 
odonta to be found in Professor Scott’s late memoir on that order, 
and refer to my own later studies, now in press, on the fauna of 
the Puerco Epoch. But we object to the slight value attached 
by Dr. Lydekker to the presence or absence of the scapholunar 
bone in this order (p. 305). Finally, we rise to two questions 
- 1Catalogue of Fossil Mammalia in the British Museum, Part V., con- 
taining Tillodontia, Sirenia, Cetacea, Edentata, Marsu upialia, Monotrem- 
ata, and Supplement. rede Richard Lydekker, B.A., F.G.S., ete- 
London. 1887. - 
