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Show 290 MR. G. B. SOWERBY ON A N E W ASPERGILLUM. [May 15, The Ciconiine stem gave off Abdimia before the Ciconiine characters were fully acquired. Balceniceps appears to m e to be a further specialization of the Ardeidae, and not to stand nearer to the form which gave rise to the Ardeidae. I believe this because Balceniceps is decidedly a Heron in respect of its alimentary tract, powder-down patches, and syrinx ; the loss of the syringeal muscles is a further specialization, and evidently a recent one (from the fact of their degenerate equivalent being present). The form of the syrinx in the Herodiones was originally that which is now seen in Scopus and the Ardeidae ; that this is so, seems to be shown by the fact that the Ardeine form of syrinx is found in so many other groups of birds, while the Ciconiine form is peculiar to the Ciconise. In Abdimia (and to a less extent in Xenorhynchus) the syrinx has not quite acquired the typical Ciconiine form-the membrana tympaniformis is, to a considerable extent, left ; that is to say, the bronchial semirings have not yet united to obliterate the membrana tympaniformis, as is the case with the typical Storks. For this reason I regard Abdimia as having branched off from the main stem a little before the development of the typical Storks. 4. Description of a Gigantic new Species of Aspergillum from Japan. By G. B. S O W E R B Y , F.Z.S., F.L.S. [Received May 3, 1888.] ASPERGILLUM GIGANTEUM, n.sp. Asp. testa vulvis magnis, subtrapezoideis, concentrice rugosis irregulariter striatis; antice paulum attenuatis, rotundatis; postice latioribus oblique truncatis. Vagina maxima, elongata, solidiuscula, subrecta, calculos et arenulas agglutinante ; limbo conspicue irregulariter 6-7-fariam foliato ; disco irregulariter convexo, calculos et conchas agglutinante, tubulis numerosis parviusculis rotundatis armato. Hab. Japonia. A species of extraordinary magnitude, the specimen being over 13 inches (32| centim.) in length and about 1| inches (4 centim.) in diameter, in the widest part. The sheath is of the form of A. vaginiferum ; but the valves are much larger in proportion and of quite a different form, which, apart from the unusual dimensions, would be sufficient to constitute it a distinct species. The valves are 25 millim. long and 15 broad. A second specimen (somewhat smaller, but in better condition) of this species is in the Museum of the Zoological Society (" Natura Artis Magistra ") of Amsterdam, placed there by Mr. Oltmans, the late Curator, with the name of Aspergillum japonicum, confirming the locality. So far as is at present known, Aspergillum vaginiferum inhabits exclusively the Red Sea. |