1883.] Zoölogy. 431 
Craniate forms; zow, the Myxinoids, Petromyzoids, and anurous 
Amphibia, must all be kept within call of each other; but the 
types that have been culled out between them cannot be num- 
bered. Some other kind of fish are evidently the descendants of 
primordial Marsipobranchs, notably Lepidosteus.” 
In the second part on the lamprey, the author thus closes after 
comparing the lamprey with the tadpole. “ These things show 
how this ¢emporary Petromyzoid, the tadpole, blossoms out into 
unthought of specializations ; it becomes a guasi-reptile, worthy of 
a place far above the lamprey, and even far above all other 
Ichthyopsida.” 
Tue ELECTRICAL ORGANS AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE TORPE- 
DINIDZ.—Professor Du Bois Reymond, in a late address to the 
British Association, referred tothe researches of Professor Babu- 
chin, of Moscow, on the development of the electrical organs of 
Torpedo, and stated his conviction that the average number of 
columns and septa should henceforth be considered an important 
character in the diagnosis of the species of the family, Accord- 
ing to the researches referred to, the electrical organs are formed 
by the metamorphosis of striated muscle, and as they grow in- 
crease in size by the growth of the columns and septa, not byead- 
ditions to their number. 
T. occidentalis Storer, occurs upon the British coasts. 
Importations oF INDIAN Paeasants——M. W. Jamrach, in a 
communication to the director of the Jardin d’Acclimation, gives 
some interesting particulars relative to the importations of various 
pheasants made by him since 1864. The total number of birds 
forwarded was 2936, of which 1662 arrived salely. The first at- 
tempts to bring these birds, via the Cape of Good Hope, resulted 
in almost total loss, and land transit via Suez proved no better. 
ince the opening of the Suez canal, by far the greater portion, 
and, upon some occasions, all the birds forwarded arrived safely. 
The gr eater portion of the birds were Lophophones refulgens 
and Argus giganteus, were also brought over. In consequence of 
the prohibition of the chase during five years in the countries sub- 
tc ee rule, it has been exceedingly difficult to procure 
notwithstanding the high prices obtained, reaching five hundred 
J or more for a single Lophophore, is estimated by Mr. 
amrach to exceed the receipts by about $15,000. 
A MANY-NAMED Birp.—The great American bittern has his 
whic T manners and sayings only equaled by the strange epithets 
uch have been conferred upon him. In a still evening we may 
amA calling out to his fellows in neighboring sloughs, “ Too 
“, too goód,” in a slow, soliloquizing manner, but with a deep 
Eo VOL, XVI—NO, Iv. 3 
