SCIENCE. 
5i 
prasplenialis.” Likewise, Flower’s “supraorbital” has 
priority of my “presylvian,” which Krueg has adopted. 
On the other hand, Krueg’s “anterior” and “pos- 
tica ” are so much more usable than previous names 
as to be worthy of acceptance, especially as they may 
be regarded as abbreviations of the phrases by which 
Owen and myself designated the fissures in question. 
“ Splenialis ” also is to be preferred to “ supercallosal ” 
or “ calloso-marginalis,” so long as the human homo- 
logue of the fissure is uncertain. If marginalis be 
retained, postmarginalis will be better than “ post- 
splenialis.” 
I am particularly gratified to find that Krueg admits 
as fissural integers the ansata and the diagonalis ; the 
former I had intended to call transversa , and the latter 
intermedia , but Krueg’s names must be retained. We 
agree also in regarding Owen’s “ medilateral ” as com- 
posed of two fissures, which Krueg terms “ medila- 
teral ” and “ confinis.” I had intended to leave Owen’s 
name attached to the fissure which is really mesiad of 
the lateral, and to call the curved division lunata. I 
still think this would have been preferable ; but as it 
is, the name lunata may be given to what would other- 
wise have been sublunata. I have applied the name 
intermedia to a fissure which Krueg mentions, but 
does not name. 
Doubtless my readers, especially those who are es- 
pecially interested in the physiological aspect of the 
subject, desire to learn the correspondence between 
the cat’s fissures and those of monkeys and man. I 
hope that Krueg may shortly give us the benefit of his 
opinion. Meantime, I am obliged to admit my doubts 
with regard to all excepting the callosal, hippocampal, 
and olfactory ; for the Sylvian is not yet fully under- 
stood. I believe that for a long time to come the 
most useful work will be done upon nearly related 
forms, and that each fissure should be monographed 
with respect to its constant and variable characters, its 
connections, its relations to internal structures or to 
more primary fissures, and especially its manner of 
formation. 
List of papers and works referred to : 
Krueg, J. (1). Ueber die furchung der grosshirn- 
rinde der Ungulaten. Zeits. fur wiss. Zool. xxxi, 
297-345 ; i8 78. 
Meynert, T. Die windungen der convexen ober- 
flache des vorderhirns bei menshen, affen, und raub- 
thieren. Archiv fur psychiatrie, etc., vii ; 1877. 
Pansch, A. Beitriige zur morphologies des gross- 
hirns der saiigethiere. Morphologischen J ahrbuch, v, 
1879- 
Flower, W. H. (28). On the anatomy of the Prote- 
les cristatus. Zool. Soc. Proc., 1869, 474-496. 
Huxley, T. H. Manual of the comparative anato- 
my of the vertebrated animals. 
Krueg, Julius. (2). Ueber die furchen auf der gross- 
hirnrinde der zonoplacentalen saiigethiere. Zeitschrift 
fur wissenschaftliche zoologie. xxxiii, 4 heft, 1880. 
Leuret et Gratiolet. Anatomie comparee du sys- 
teme nerveux. 
Owen, R. Comparative anatomy and physiology of 
vertebrates. Vol. iii. 
Wilder, B. G. (n). The outer cerebral fissures of 
mammalia, especially the carnivora, and the limits of 
their homology. Amer. Asso. Proc., xxii, 1873, 214- 
234 - 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
To the Editor of “ Science .-” 
Perhaps the following may interest the readers of 
“SCIENCE,’’ It has always been my experience that a 
Black Snake, Bascanion constrictor, when confined with 
any other snake smaller than itself will invariably eat it. 
The following food has been eaten during the month of 
July, by a black snake five and a-half feet long, on exhib- 
ition at Central Park Menagerie : 3 leverits, 3 sparrows, 
1 cat-bird, 1 small chicken, 1 black snake four feet long, 
1 milk snake, 1 small rattlesnake ; total weight, eight 
pounds. W. A. Conklin, 
Museum Building, Central Park. 
DEATH OF A NATURALIST. 
We have to record the death of Mr. Green Smith, 
of Peterboro, New York, son of the late Gerard Smith, 
whose name will ever be remembered by those who 
value the cause of human liberty. 
For many years past Mr. Green Smith left no oppor 
tunity neglected by which he could add to his fine collec- 
tions of the birds of the United States. On one occasion 
he gave $1000 for 240 specimens of humming birds, and 
probably spent from ten to fifteen thousand dollars in 
forming his unique collection. 
As Mr. Green Smith purchased specimens, they were 
prepared and mounted by the well-known taxidermist, 
Mr. J. G. Bell, of New York City, who appears to have 
been consulted by Mr. Smith on all occasions. 
During his life Mr. Green offered his collection to the 
Museum of Natural History in Central Park, on the con- 
dition that the collection should be kept intact, and 
should bear the name of the generous donor. The offer, 
however, was declined by the trustees, on the ground 
that such a condition was inconvenient, and established 
a precedent which it was not well to encourage. 
We have reason to believe that such refusal has been 
long since repented of, and some hope is expressed that 
this fine ornithological collection may still find a home 
in the Central Park Museum. 
A German naturalist, in the course of inquiries as to the 
phosphorescence of the sea, has found that the phenomenon 
occurs whenever sea-fishes are brought into a three per 
cent, salt solution. The luminosity begins apparently in 
the eyes, spreads over the whole fish, and increases day by 
day. The fish after some time seems luminous through- 
out. The phosphorescent substance is a kind of mucus 
which appears dirty-white by day, and shines in the dark. 
The electric light is at last to be put to a crucial test 
in the city of London. Tenders are to be asked for the 
illumination of the principal thoroughfares of the area 
bounded by Cheapside and the Thames, from Blackfriars to 
London Bridge; the three bridges from London, South- 
wark and Blackfriars, along with Queen Victoria street 
and Ludgate Circus to Cheapside, through King William 
street to London Bridge, with a cross line from Cheapside 
to Southwark Bridge. No doubt there will be sharp com- 
petition, 
