THE GEOLOGIST. 



organism, of the grade of structure of a germ-cell, may not arise by a 

 collocation of particles through the operation of a force analogous to 

 that which originally formed the germ-cell in the ovarian stroma, is a 

 question worthy all care and pains in its solution. Pouchet has con- 

 tributed valuable evidence of such production, under external in- 

 fluences, of species of Protozoa. With regard to the species of higher 

 organisms, distinguishable as plants and animals, their origin is as 

 yet only matter of speculation." — Paleontology, 2nd ed., pp. 18 and 

 441. 



In these liberal and advanced sentiments, we must cordially con- 

 cur. We recommend our readers to examine M. Pouchet's work 

 carefully, and, if possible, to test his experiments over again. 

 English minds too often exhibit an excessive reluctance to truths 

 which on the Continent have been generally accepted. Trust- 

 ing that this work may receive " a fair field and no favour," we con- 

 clude our remarks, with the hope that many more volumes of equal 

 scientific importance may proceed from the gifted pen of the Director 

 of the Museum of Natural History at Eouen. 



PUETHER NOTES ON THE GENUS CAIKOTHEEIUM. 



Bt Chaeles Cauteh Blake, Esq. 



The genus Cainotlierium was founded by Bravard in the year 1835. 

 Since his time it has received the following names : — Cycloqnatlius, 

 Geoff*roy St. Hilaire, 1835; Microtlierium, Herm. von Meyer, 1837; 

 Oplotlierium and Plecfognatlms, Laizet and De Parieu, 1838 ; whilst 

 the characteristically synthetic mind of De Blainville reunited it to 

 tlie genus Anoplotherium, under the title of late cur vatum. 



Gervais* says it is probable that many species, and not one only, 

 can be recognized amongst the remains which have been discovered, 

 aiul that tliis conclusion has been admitted by all palaeontologists 

 who have studied these small pachyderms. 

 ^ Pomelf urges strongly the necessity of distinguishing many spe- 

 cies among the Cainotlieria, properly so called. He excludes"^ from 

 this genus the C. Conr/oi.sii, which he erects into a type apart (Rya- 

 (/xhfs). Gervais, on tlie contrary, gives merely to the genus Calno- 

 therium a subgcncric value, subordinating it to Dicliohune in his 

 system. ^ IM. Pomel does not give any certa'in characters by which liis 

 five species can be di.stiuguibhed. I translate his characters, sucli as 

 they are : — 



* ' /oolo-ic rnloonlol. Fraiicnises,' 4t,o, Paris, 1S50, 2nd cclition, p. 92. 

 t Comptcs Koiulud d(> rAoadcuiic dcs Sciences, Paris, 1. xxxiii. p. 7. 



