1894.] Zoology. 271 
M. Janet concludes that the numerous rugose surfaces which are 
found on the body of ants in such places that two of them can be 
rubbed together, are probably the organs which produce the stridulat- 
ing sounds of the Formicidae. These rugosities have other uses. For 
instance, those about the articulations serve to hold the body stiff at 
will at that particular point, an advantage to the animal in pushing or 
carrying heavy weights up steep slopes. (Revue Scientifique, January, 
1894.) 
Zoological News—Mo ttuvusca.—Mr. J. I. Peck’s report on the 
Pteropods and Heteropods collected by the U. S. Fish Commission 
steamer Albatross, during the voyage from Norfolk Va., to San Fran- 
cisco, Cal., 1887-88, is published in the Proceeds. U. S. Natl. Mus., 
Vol. XVI. The material is the result of both dredging and surface 
collection. The Pteropods belong almost exclusively to the family 
Cavoliniidae, representing all the species except one of the genus Cavo- 
linia, the species of Cuvierina, as also six of Clio. The Heteropods are 
included in the three genera Atlanta, Carinaria and Ianthina. Accord- 
ing to the author, results show that there are no marked distinctions 
between the kinds and distribution in the Atlantic and Pacific waters 
of northern South America. i 
UrocHorDA—A new Tunicate from the Pacific Coast is described 
by Mr. W. E. Ritter, who assigns it to the genus Perophora. The new 
Species presents an interesting character. In very many, though not 
all of the colonies, the ascidiozooids are as completely imbedded in a 
common test as they are in Botryllus or Goodsiria. In recognition of 
this transitional character the author proposes for it annectens as a 
Specific name. (Cal. Acad. Sci., Vol. IV, 1893.) 
Mammatta—Two new Neotome from the Plateau region of Ari- 
zona are described by C. Hart Merriam. One of the new species, N. 
arizonæ, presents a remarkable combination of the external characters 
of the bushy-tailed wood rats with the cranial characters of the round- 
tailed species. The other, N. pinetorum, is a round-tailed species allied 
to the N. fuscipes group of California. In this connection Mr. Merriam 
calls attention to an important cranial character, heretofore over- 
looked, which serves to distinguish Teonoma from Neotoma. In the 
skulls of the round-tailed wood rats there is a long open slit on each 
side of the presphenoid and anterior third of the basisphenoid. These 
openings the author designates the spheno-palatine vacuities. (Proceeds. 
Biol. Soc. Wash., 1893.) 
