pressure against the outer surface, when flexible, as during life, would render the nostrils impervious and effectually defend and cover them. A bristle introduced into the nostril, under and behind this defending membrane, passes up the whole length of the beak. The upper mandible terminates in a blunt truncated knob, projecting a little downwards, behind which, on its under surface, the end of the lower mandible ranges when both are closed. The lower mandible is also grooved slightly near the outer edges throughout its whole length. Both mandibles are broad and flat at the base. Throughout the whole length of the upper mandible and the distal three fourths of the under one the inner or opposed surfaces of both are perfectly flat, producing, when pressed together, uniform and entire contact, and well adapted for compressing or crushing such substances as may be selected for food. The proximal fourth of the lower mandible is concave on its inner surface, affording space for the tongue, which must, in proportion to the beak, be small and short."
This matter of the nostrils may have been tedious; but their very remarkable and unusual situation in the family now under consideration demands attention, I have seen a horsehair passed up them through the whole length of the bill in Apteryx haastii and A. owenii; and in both the orifice is so concealed that, unless pointed out, it would hardly be discovered by an ordinary observer. The knob at the end of the bill is admirably adapted for the purpose of preventing any foreign substance entering the gape without the will of the owner.
The above remarks are, no doubt, correct; but it is not necessary that a vertebrate should be guided either by smell or sight. The blind man reads by touch alone. In the 'Academy,' Jan. 15, 1871, under the head of "Natural History and Physiology," appears a digest of a most exhaustive and interesting paper on the structure of the Bat's wing. This paper, by Dr. Jos. Schöbl of Prague, appears in Max Schultze's 'Archiv,' Band vii. 1tes Heft. "Long ago Spallanzani discovered that Bats which had had their eyes put out were able, nevertheless, when allowed to fly about the room, to
