1886. ] Loblogy. l 985 
increase and diminution of size observable in the foot must be 
caused by the presence of aquiferous pores which permit water to 
i enter into the circulation, but M. Barrois has searched in vain for 
such pores. M. Giard has discovered a new species of Ento- 
niscus (Æ. mænadis) upon a female Carcinus mænas obtained at 
f Wimereux. It was situated upon the left side of the animal, in 
i the midst of the hepatic cæca. The question why the scallop, 
Pecten, is so abundantly supplied with eyes has often been asked 
and has never received a satisfactory answer. Dr. Benjamin 
Sharp now states that these organs are really phosphorescent and 
that as the production of light would be of advantage to the ani- 
mal this may possibly explain their abundance. . D. Hart- 
man adds new difficulties for the students of conchology by de- 
scribing several more “ species” of the much-abused genus Partula - 
of the South Seas. There is now not much choice between Par- 
tula or Achatina and our own Unio. Heilprin reports a re- 
markable instance of vitality in a marine mollusk. Specimens of 
Llyanassa obsoleta lived for a year removed from salt-water, and 
for several months of this time they were placed in close proximity 
to a heated wall where certainly the conditions were not favorable 
for them, . 
Fishes—Dr. Paul Albrecht, formerly of Brussels but now of 
Hamburg, notes the occurrence, in an example of Protopterus 
annectens in the Konigsberg Museum, of a pectoral member (the 
right), which is forked at the distal extremity. Above this di- 
vided fin are two smali outer gills, while there is but one above 
the left pectoral. Dr. Albrecht considers the dorsal division as 
the ulna, the ventral as the radius. H. H. Giglioli sends to 
Nature an account of the capture of a specimen of Mullus barda- 
_ Mus which by some means had become tightly encased in a large 
Reptiles —Messrs. Mitsukuri and Ishikawa (Quart. Jour. Mic. 
Soc.) report as a general result of their studies of the formation of 
the germinal layers in the Chelonia, that the development of 
the Reptilia harmonizes completely with that of Batrachia. 
i Birds.—Some remarkable birds of paradise have been recently 
| described by Dr. Finsch and Dr. Meyer (Zeitsch’ Ges. Orn. 11, pp- 
369-391). Among them is Faradisornis rudo/p/a-with blue wings 
and blue flank-plumes. These novelties were discovered by Mr. 
_ Hunstein in the Astrolabe range of New Zealand. Mr. Forbes 
_ Mas since collected most of Mr. Hunstein’s species, and also a 
Melithreptes and a Pseudogerygone which seem to be new. 
r. Forbes’ birds of paradise, gathered in the rainy season, show 
the molts and changes of plumage of these birds. M. M. 
_ Charbonnel-Salle and Phisalix have studied the so-called “ milk” 
