342 
Prof. Milne — Across Europe and Asia. 
results, as deduced from an examination of more than 30 European 
recent and fossil beavers’ skulls, and agreater number of recent American 
skulls, seem to sbow that the proportion between the lengtb of the 
nasal bones to tlie lengtb of the skull in the European Beaver, is to 
the lengtb of nasal bone to the lengtb of skull in the American 
beaver as 6 is to 5. Or more mathematically — 
Length of Nasal Bones .. Length of Nasal Bones 
European . — — American 1 1 6 ; 5. 
Length of Skull Length of Skull 
In a still simpler form the European Beavers have larger nasal 
bones than the American Beavers. The Beavers of both countries 
appear to have been contemporaneous with their gigantic predecessors, 
namely, the Trogontherium of Europe and the Castoroides of America, 
and the ancient giants had differences like their modern but com- 
paratively dwarfish successors. Now what I saw of Beavers in 
the St. Petersburg Museum were two or three brownish-red stuffed 
specimens upstairs where the public go, and five skulls from 
h'calities from which specimens are rarely seen in the vault with 
Pijtina Stellen. These latter were the ones of interest. The first 
came from the Biver Kola, the second and third came from California, 
the fourth came from the Kurile Isles, whilst the fifth was from 
Sitka. Those with the shortest nasal bones were from the Kurile 
Isles and Sitka, then came one of the Californian specimens, then the 
specimen from the Kola Biver, and last of all, with the longest nasal 
bones, was the remaining specimen from California. Such a result 
as this is incongruous and at variance with the elaborate deductions 
just quoted. Perhaps American specimens west of the Bocky 
Mountains may he classed with European. The examination was, 
however, cursory, and tberefore perhaps incorrect ; nevertheless, it 
may be sufficient to draw the attention of the labourers in such 
inquiries to the five skulls lying in the vaults of the great St. 
Petersburg Museum. 
Amongst other things of novelty and interest which I saw during 
rny short visit to the Museum, were some remarkably large skulls of 
Arctic Bears 18 inches and 20 inches in length, which had recently 
been received from Northern Siberia. A good specimen of a Great 
Auk, half hidden by a flock of other birds, attracted my attention. 
Not long ago an egg of this now apparently extinct bird was 
offered to the Museum. The price asked was 700 thalers. It was 
not purchased. This Museum, like many other scientific under- 
takings in Bussia, seemed to be mucb in want of assistance. The 
reptiles looked bright and fresh, but the order of the remaining 
collections was below the Standard of a public museum. The 
comers of each room, where in winter-time stoves had been standing, 
were all tom down, and the openings only covered with rough paper. 
Whilst travelling about St. Petersburg, everybody is struck with 
the two extremes which the paving assumes, as it so materially con- 
cerns the comfort of the traveller. One part of the city is even 
and smooth, and over this one rolls noiselessly ; whilst the other part 
is so uneven and bouldery, that at times it is diificult to retain one’s 
