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Show 132 MR. G. A. SHAW ON THE HABITS OF LEMURS. [Feb. 4, Shells in the Coll. of C. B. Adams, etc.1 p. 29, note, Jan. 1847 the same two species as types); Pan. Sh. p. 275, 1852 (G. pacifica). Jay, Catal. of Shells, Jan. 1850; ibid. 1851. Not Gouldia, Bon. 1849-50 (Aves). Eriphyla, Gabb, Pal. Calif, i. p. 180, 1864, type E. umbonata, Gabb; Stoliczka, Pal. Ind. iii. p. 156, 1871. ? Eriphylopsis, Meek, Pal. Upper Missouri, p. 125, 1876 (E. gregaria). Crassinella, Guppy, Geol. Mag. Oct. 1874, p. 451, types C. pacifica and C. martinicensis, loc. cit. Not Crassinella, Conrad. Mr. Gabb's Eriphyla was described under the idea that certain characters of the hinge were constant, which an examination of a series of a recent species of Gouldia (G. mactracea, Linsley) has shown to be variable; and the same is probably true of Meek's Eriphylopsis, in which the specimen examined had the teeth reversed, as regards the right and left valves, as compared with the recent species. Such reversals occur in nearly all bivalves in individual cases, and, unless confirmed by the testimony of a large series, can hardly be held to have any systematic value. It would seem, therefore, that the genus Gouldia of Bonaparte requires a new name ; but, with Mr. Guppy's example as a warning, I shall leave that to the ornithologists to settle. It may be remarked, however, that another genus of Trochilidee, Halia, Mulsant and Verreaux (Mem. Cherbourg Soc. Sc. Nat. xii. 1866), is preoccupied by Risso (Eur. Mer. 1826) for a valid genus of mollusks. It may also be questioned whether Doryfera, Gould, P. Z. S. 1847, has the right to exist simultaneously with Doryphora (Illiger, 1811, and Kiitz. 1844). Moreover Glaucus (Bruch, Cab. Journ, 1853, Laridee) was used for a mollusk by Forster in 1800, and Gnathodon (Jardine, Ann. Nat. Hist. xvi. 1848, Columbidee) was used by Gray for a mollusk in 1825. Washington, Dec. 25, 1878. 7. A few Notes upon Four Species of Lemurs, specimens which were brought alive to England in 18782. By GEORGE A. SHAW. [Received January 9, 1879.] (Plate IX.) 1. T H E RING-TAILED LEMUR3. As far as m y experience of seven years goes, these Lemurs are found only in the south and south-western borders of the Betsileo province of Madagascar. This province is about 150 miles in length, by 50 or 60 in width, and is situated on the central tableland, about 100 to 250 miles south of Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. 1 Middleburg, Vt., Justus Cobb, 1847, 8vo, pp. 32. The preface is dated January 1847. 2 [See above, p. 2.-P. L. S.] 3 [Lemur catta, Linn.-P. L. S.] |