358 General Notes. 
of the preoperculum ; post-temporal suturally connected with 
the epiotic and pterotic by inferior processes, and with the 
upper surface forming an integral part of the roof of the 
cranium; intermaxillines with the ascending pedicles 
atrophied and connected with the knob of the anteal (vomer) 
by ligament.— Trigloidea. 
Myodome undeveloped, the cranial cavity being closed 
in front by expansions from the subtectals suturally con- 
nected with corresponding expansions of the prootics and the 
parasphenoid ; prosethmoid and anteal entirely disconnected, 
leaving a capacious rostral chamber opening backwards 
mesially into the interorbital region. Infraorbital chain, 
with its second and third bones crowded out of the orbital 
margin by junction of the first and fourth, and leaving a 
wide interval between the suborbitals and the preopercu- 
lum; the first very long and extending backwards, the 
second under the fourth and the third developed as a small 
special bone (pontinal) bridging the interval between the 
second suborbital and the antero-inferior angle of the pre- 
bo 
The superfamily TRIGLOIDEA includes the families Triglide and 
Peristediida. 
The superfamily DACTYLOPTEROIDEA is represented only by 
the family Dactylopteride. : 
It is probable that the Trigloidea and Dactylopteroidea will be 
hereafter segregated as representative of a peculiar suborder.— Theo. 
Gill. 
THE Cocoon or Proroprerus.—Professor Wiedersheim (Anat. 
Anzeiger) has collected together the various notices that have been 
written by J. E. Gray, A. D. Bartlett, Krauss, A. Giinther, and . 
others concerning the structure of the case or “cocoon” of the 
curious fish Protopterus, and describes the result of his own obser- 
vations upon the subject. Krauss’s description of the membrane 
surrounding the fish is substantially correct. It appears to be 
designed to protect the animal from damage during its eestivation 5 
