ALBERT

Description: L\'exploration assidue des terrains c\xc3\xa9nozo\xc3\xafques de l\'Insulinde a permis de recueillir, en ces derni\xc3\xa8res ann\xc3\xa9es, des restes de Crustac\xc3\xa9s D\xc3\xa9capodes en assez grand nombre. D\xc3\xa9pos\xc3\xa9es dans diverses institutions scientifiques tant aux Pays-Bas qu\'aux Indes Orientales N\xc3\xa9erlandaises et aussi en Suisse, les collections me furent confi\xc3\xa9es pour \xc3\xa9tude par mes coll\xc3\xa8gues et amis: Messieurs les Professeurs B. G. Escher et I. M. van der Vlerk, tous deux du Rijks Geologisch-Mineralogisch Museum, \xc3\xa0 Leyde, et J. H. P. Umbgrove, de la Technische Hoogeschool, \xc3\xa0 Delft; Monsieur le Dr. W. BERXouiJii, du Mus\xc3\xa9e d\'Histoire naturelle, \xc3\xa0 B\xc3\xa2le.

Description: As a member of the Expedition on board H.M. \xe2\x80\x9eWillebrord Snellius" Dr. Ph. H. Kuenen had the opportunity to collect a suite of corals from a marine marl, deposited in an old valley now elevated above sea level, near Mahammanale, on the island Talaud, to the North of Celebes. He kindly entrusted to me the identification of the collection, which is now in the National Museum of Geology at Leiden.\nThe following list shows the 15 species, which could be identified, and their stratigraphical distribution. 1. Flabellum rubrum (Q. et G.), Miocene, Pliocene, Pleistocene, Recent. 2. Flabellum pavoninum Less. var. paripavoninum (Alcock), Recent. 3. Acanthocyathus grayi E.H., Miocene?, Pliocene, Pleistocene, Recent. 4. Caryophyllia spec. (probably the recent species C. clavus Sacchi). 5. Heterocyathus aequicostatus E.H., Miocene, Pliocene, Pleistocene, Recent. 6. Seriatopora hystrix (Dana), Pliocene, Pleistocene, Recent. 7. Antillophyllia constricta (Br\xc3\xbcggem.), Miocene?, Pliocene, Pleistocene, Recent. 8. Fungia patelliformis Boschma, Neogene, Recent. 9. Fungia cyctolites Lam., Miocene?, Pliocene, Pleistocene Recent. 10. Fungia concinna Verrill, Plio-Plistocene, Recent. 11. Fungia spec. (probably a recent species). 12. Balanophyllia imperialis Sav. Kent, Recent. 13. Balanophyllia parallela (Semper), Recent. 14. Balanophyllia redivivus Moseley, Recent. 15. Goniopora stokesi E.H., Pliocene, Pleistocene, Recent.\nThe corals are excellently preserved (only nos. 4 and 11 are damaged and for that reason the species is not identified) and they all belong to still

Description: Although an abundant literature exists on Artemia salina, there are still interesting facts in the first history of the discovery of this remarkable animal and in the first study of its habits, which seem to be now forgotten.\nIt is generally considered that Rackett (1812) was the first to give a drawing of Artemia salina, accompanying a short paper on the animal, and he himself states this to be the fact. It is, however, not true, as Schlosser\'s famous original description was illustrated in the french edition (1756). The drawing is an excellent one and much better than the one Rackett gave (fig. 1). As Gautier remarks in an additional note to Schlosser\'s letter, the first publication in 1755 was not accompanied by a picture.\nThe drawing, which dates from July 1756, is of particular interest as it unmistakably represents an extreme form of Artemia, either var. milhausenii, or even k\xc3\xb6ppeniana, which are both typical forms for high concentrations.\nEspecially the latter is very seldom found in nature, though it has been bred in the laboratory by several workers. The drawing is in other ways so accurate that we may surely trust this detail. As the text of the letter is very interesting we will give it here in full 1) : Extrait d\'une Lettre de M. le Docteur Schlosser, concernant un Insecte pen connu.\nA Limington en Hampscire le 7. Octobre 1755.\nMONSIEUR, Je visitois ce matin les salines, qui se trouvent ici le long du bord de la mer, & apr\xc3\xa9s avoir vu tout ce qui regarde la maniere de r\xc3\xa9duire l\'eau marine en une lessive extr\xc3\xa9mement acre & saline, je fus frapp\xc3\xa9 d\'y d\xc3\xa9couvrir des millions d\'Insectes les plus agiles du monde. Leur couleur rouge teignoit l\'eau d\'une vaste citerne, d\'o\xc3\xb9 on la tire pour la mettre dans des chaudrons 2). Je ne manquai pas de remplir une bouteille de

Description: ACANTHOCEPHALINI\nAcanthocephala (A.) declivis Say. 1-4. Mexico, Klug.\nVar. panamensis Dist. 5-6. Chiriqui, Panama.\nAcanthocephala (A.) latipes Drury. 1-3. Brazil, Calkoen. \xe2\x80\x94 4. Brazil, van Eyndhoven. \xe2\x80\x94 5. Central Brazil, van Vollenhoven. \xe2\x80\x94 6. Brazil. \xe2\x80\x94 7. ?. \xe2\x80\x94 8. Post Groningen, Surinam, W. C. van Heurn. \xe2\x80\x94 9. Brazil.\nAcanthocephala (A.) mercur Mayr. 1. Espirito Santo. \xe2\x80\x94 2. Pachitea, Peru. (Both: Staudinger 1933).\nAcanthocephala (A.) scutellata Sign. 1-2. Pachitea, Peru, Staudinger 1932. \xe2\x80\x94 3-4. Puerto Inca, Rio Pachitea, Peru, Staudinger 1933.\nAcanthocephala (A.) sericeicollis Walk. 1-3. Chiriqui, Panama. \xe2\x80\x94 4. ?. (Altogether: Staudinger 1933).\nAcanthocephala (Spilopleura) parensis Dall. 1. Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Staudinger 1933. \xe2\x80\x94 2. Marcapata, Peru, Staudinger 1936. \xe2\x80\x94 3. Espirito Santo, Staudinger 1936.\nVar. tristis nov. var. This variety differs from the typical form by the darker colour of the upper parts, the less distinctly lighter coloured nervatures in the hemielytra, and the absence of any indication of a yellow annulation at the ultimate antennal joint. In the specimens I could examine the sharp-pointed teeth on the upper edge of the femora of the \xe2\x99\x80 are more distinctly developed than in the typical form. \xe2\x80\x94 4\xe2\x80\x947. Callanga, Peru, Staudinger 1935 (Holo- Allo- and Paratypes of the var.), and two \xe2\x99\x82 Paratypes from Peru in the collection of the "Deutschen Entomologischen Institut".\nAcanthocephala (Metapodius) angustipes Westw. 1. Brazil. \xe2\x80\x94 2. Amer-

Description: In another paper (Thompson, 1938) attention is called to the fact that specimens of lice from any of the numerous species and subspecies of the widely distributed genus Rattus and its allies should prove interesting, and might possibly throw some light on the relationships of their hosts. The notes contained in this paper are primarily based on a collection of lice obtained by Dr. Felix Kopstein from various species of Rattus in Java. I should like to express my gratitude to Dr. Kopstein for the opportunity of examining this interesting collection. It is to be hoped that these notes may stimulate interest in the lice of rats. The Indo-Australian and Pacific regions have a particularly rich rat fauna and specimens of lice from any forms are needed for study. I am fully aware, however, that lice are not abundant on rats, in fact in my own experience the percentage louse infestation is normally very low. Dr. Kopstein collected 96 specimens of Rattus spp. and only approximately 20 % were parasitised by lice.\nThe two species of lice occurring on the Javanese rats are Polyplax spinulosa (Burm.) and Hoplopleura oenomydis Ferris. The former is unquestionably the normal parasite of the domestic rats: Rattus rattus (Linn.) 1) and R. norvegicus (Berkenhout) 2). With regard to H. oenomydis Ferris, which was originally described from specimens collected from the following hosts and localities: Oenomys bacchante Thomas and Grammomys surdaster polionops Osgood, British East Africa, R. calcis Hollister, and Limnomys mearnsi Hollister, Philippine Is., I feel that no statement could be better than that of Ferris (1932) which reads as follows: "It may be concluded, then, that in all probability H. oenomydis is one of those species which are capable of rather ready, even though erratic, transfer from one host species

Description: Euphorbia Backeri PAX et K. HOFFM. n. sp. \xe2\x80\x94 Gaules 40\xe2\x80\x94150 cm alti, plerumque 60 cm superantes, basi ad 1 cm diametientes, solitarii, a basi erecti, apice saepe nutantes, basi saepe lignescentes, superne ramosi, ramis oblique erectis, simplicibus vel ramosis. Partes juveniles \xc2\xb1 dense pilis albis, ad 2 mm longis, horizontalibus vel adscendentibus hirti, \xc2\xb1 calvescentes. Stipulae \xc2\xb1 1\xc2\xbd mm longae, anguste triangulares, acutae, integrae vel in segmenta acuta divisae; petiolus 2\xe2\x80\x944 mm longus; limbus 10\xe2\x80\x9445 mm longus, 4\xe2\x80\x9420 mm latus, lanceolatus vel oblongus, basi semicordatus, apice obtusus vel acutus, argute serratus, rarius subinteger, utraque pagina pilis crispulis, longis, rarius brevioribus, adspersus. Cyathia in inflorescentiis laxis vel densioribus, saepe ramulos axillares, microphyllinos terminantibus aggregata; pedunculi 2\xe2\x80\x948 mm longi, hirti; cyathia \xc2\xb1 1 mm longa, satis dense pilis crispulis vestita, glandulae rubrobrunneae, appendices iis latiores, rotundatae, demum 3/4 \xe2\x80\x93 1 1/4 mm latae, albae, demum roseae, \xc2\xb1 inaequales. Capsulae 1 1/3 \xe2\x80\x94 2 1/4 mm longae, crispule albipilosae; semina oblonga, distincte transverse rugosa, 1 1/4 \xe2\x80\x94 1 1/2 mm longa.\nOST-JAVA, MADOERA, IVANGEAN-ARCHIPEL, locis siccis, apricis frequena. var. a genuina PAX et K. HOFFM. Pili caulis horizontaliter patentes.

Description: In the spring of 1937 I started the identification of a very large collection of marine mollusca from the plio-pleistocene Kendeng beds West of Soerabaja (Java). Though the whole material had already been arranged systematically and the greater part of the species had been identified provisionally by Dr. R. IJzerman, who very kindly placed his useful Ms. notes at my disposal, the revision of the entire material will certainly take several years. I therefore resolved to publish the results successively, the more so, as I am not sure that I shall remain in the condition to carry on these investigations.\nThe greater part of the present mollusca was collected by members of the staff of Geological Survey of the Netherland-Indies at Bandoeng (Java) during the exploration of the Kendeng region. This part was entrusted to me by professor Dr. L. M. R. Rutten of Utrecht after Dr. IJzerman had to give up his yet incomplete study of it. I am very much indebted to professor Rutten for his allowance to study this precious collection and for the constant interest he has shown in my work.

Description: In 1928, when studying the genus Pellatispira 1), I found some sections of the foraminifer described below in a limestone from S.E. Borneo (no. 1446 B. 414). The foraminifer resembles Pellatispira in many respects, but the distal part of the test shows a different structure, consisting of a double arrangement of median chambers on either side of an equatorial system of pores. Because the material was insufficient I put it aside. Some time afterwards a more intense study was made possible, as another limestone from S.E. Borneo (no. 1408 B. 404) was crowded with the same interesting species. It was, however, not before now that I had the opportunity of finishing this study and to publish the results. I now describe this foraminifer as Biplanispira absurda.\nIn the mean time I met with a foraminifer, which too possesses a single coil of median chambers in the central part of the test, but a double arrangement of median chambers on either side of an equatorial system of pores in the distal part of the test.

Description: In his "Catalogue of Snakes" Boulenger (1893\xe2\x80\x941896) followed Cope in considering the presence or absence of well developed hypapophyses under the posterior precaudal vertebrae as a character of great systematic importance. Thus Boulenger divided the genera of both the Colubrinae and Dipsadomorphinae (= Boiginae) into two groups; one of these groups is characterized by the presence of well developed hypapophyses under the posterior precaudal vertebrae, while in the genera of the other group these hypapophyses are lacking. Ros\xc3\xa9n (1905a) showed that this character was not so important as previous authors had believed it to be, for he found well developed hypapophyses1) in Chrysopelea ornata (Shaw) and Anisodon lilljeborgi Ros\xc3\xa9n (= Psammodynastes pulverulentus (Boie)), in which species they are lacking according to Boulenger. In Helicops leopardina (Schl.) and H. modesta (Gthr.) Ros\xc3\xa9n (1905a, p. 170, figs, 1a, 1b) did not find these hypapophyses, although Boulenger placed the genus Helicops Wagl. in the group possessing them. Boulenger (1905) criticized Ros\xc3\xa9n\'s paper, and stated that he did not find more than a low keel under the posterior precaudal vertebrae in all specimens of Chrysopelea ornata (Shaw) examined by him. To this criticism Ros\xc3\xa9n (1905b) replied that among the specimens of Chrysopelea ornata (Shaw), which he examined in this respect, well developed hypapophyses were present in some specimens, while they were lacking in others. Moreover he mentions the presence of hypapophyses in Psammodynastes pulverulentus (Boie).\nNot much attention has been paid to Ros\xc3\xa9n\'s researches, and so Meise & Hennig (1935, p. 140) again mention the absence of hypapophyses in Chrysopelea Boie. It seemed to me worth while to check this character in

Description: During the year 1936 the first of us made a trip to the island of Enggano (W. coast of Sumatra, Residency of Benkoelen) for the special purpose of collecting Cryptogams. During this trip also a number of Phanerogams could he gathered. The collections made are preserved at the Rijksherbarium at Leiden, duplicates are to be found in the Herbarium at Buitenzorg. The Phanerogams were preliminary identified by Dr. D. F. VAN SLOOTEN Leguminosae, Flacourtiaceae, Combretaceae, Gramineae) and by Dr. C. G. G. J. VAN STEENIS). Afterwards some additional determinations were made by several specialists (BREMEKAMP, HENRARD, JONKER, Miss KOSTER, LAM, J.J. SMITH, UITTIEN) and by the authors. It resulted that a few species proved to be hitherto undescribed. Two of them will be published below, together with two others met with in the collections of the Rijksherbarium during our investigations. Some others will be published elsewhere in this periodical.