FEBRUARY 1, 1884.] 
which they were more developed. In the 
nearly vertical nostril there is a peculiar ar- 
rangement. A fold reaching out from each 
side divides the opening into two, connected 
within, the upper of which looks forward, and, 
when moving ahead, catches the water, and 
turns it into the nasal cavity to pass over the 
membranes and escape by the lower aperture, 
which looks backward. Nictitating membranes 
are absent. ‘The eyes are placed to look side- 
wise and downward. Above the anal fin, there 
is a small dorsal. The pectorals are of mod- 
erate size. 
large. From these fins, if it were not for lack 
of firmness toward the edges, one would con- 
clude the animal was capable of great speed. 
However, taking into consideration the size of 
the branchial apertures — which allow the water 
entering the mouth free escape, whatever the 
rate of motion —and the position of the large 
fins, it seems as if the creature had the habit 
of bending the body and striking forward to 
to seize prey, as do the snakes. The broad 
fins, so far back on the body, secure a ful- 
crum from which to strike. At their margins 
the fins are very thin, and their extremities are 
produced in a sort of filament. The structure 
of the jaws and gill arches is such as to admit 
of swallowing a large object. At the same 
time the excessive sharpness of the teeth, and 
the smallness of the intestine, indicate that the 
prey is comparatively soft. The vertebrae and 
other cartilages are flexible, as those of the 
basking sharks Selache and Somniosus. A 
certain embryonic appearance in the specimen 
instigated a search among the fossils for allied 
species. Most resemblance was found in the 
teeth of Cladodus of the Devonian; but the 
cusps were erect instead of reclining, and 
the enamel was grooved or plicate instead of 
smooth. One is impressed by a study of this 
specimen with the idea, that, away back in times 
when Selachia and fishes were more alike, he 
would have a better chance to trace the affini- 
ties. The Bulletin of the Essex institute, vol. 
Xvi., contains description and figures under the 
name Chlamydoselachus anguineus. I am in- 
clined to consider this the type of a new order, 
to which the name Selachophichthyoidi might 
be given, and which stands nearer the true 
fishes than do the sharks proper. The shark 
was secured in Japan by Professor Ward, from 
whom it was purchased by the Museum of com- 
parative zodlogy. 
The sketch on the preceding page gives the 
entire outline, the upper and lower views of 
the head, and an upper view of one of the teeth. 
S. GARMAN. 
SCIENCE. 
Ventrals, anal, and caudal are 
Hi 
THE RUSSIAN METEOROLOGICAL 
SERVICE. 
AtTHoucH the idea that Russia is behind 
the other powers of Europe in civilization is 
true when we consider the people as a whole, 
yet, if we look at what has been done by the 
Russian government for the encouragement 
and advancement of science, it must be admit- 
ted that Russia plays a very important part in 
the total amount of scientific work accomplished 
by the world. 
The Russians have the best astronomical 
observatory in the world: they have also the 
best meteorological observatory. The mag- 
netical studies have been made in connection 
with the meteorological; and in the observa- 
tions, as well as the theoretical discussions, we 
find the same men engaged, and the results are 
published side by side. Im speaking of the 
meteorological work, one is forced, then, to at 
least mention the magnetical, on account of 
this close connection. 
The Physical central observatory at St. 
Petersburg was founded in 1849 through the 
endeavors of Kupffer. The aim of this obser- 
vatory was to institute physical observations 
and research in general, and to advance Rus- 
sia in the line of physics; and, as part of the 
latter task, the conducting and publishing of 
meteorological and magnetical observations was 
undertaken. 
So it will be seen that this observatory was 
not intended merely as a central office for a 
meteorological service ; but it was to become a 
physical laboratory, where all sorts of physical 
investigations could be undertaken, and in such 
a manner that nothing more could be desired, 
that is, as far as apparatus and methods em- 
ployed are concerned. 
The first director, Kupffer, separated as 
much as possible the two departments of the 
observatory, as his publications show. His 
researches into the elasticity of metals, pub- 
lished in 1860, which were cut short by his 
death, show the nature of the purely physical 
investigations undertaken by him. He pub- 
lished an enormous mass of meteorological 
material in the Annales de l’observatoire phy- 
sique central, 1847-64; also in the Correspon- 
dance météorologique, commenced in 1850. 
In seven places hourly observations of the 
meteorological elements were instituted, and in 
six places of the magnetical elements. These 
and many of the observations from other sta- 
tions, made a certain number of times a day, 
were published. 
In speaking of this material, Professor Wild 
