Use of the term Homology.—A valuable paper on this subject appears in the Annals of Natural History for August by Mr. St. George Mivart, F.R.S. It would be idle to abstract it, for the conclusions it embodies would occupy the whole of our zoological space. We may, however, direct special attention to it. The author objects to Mr. Lankester's proposal to do away with the term Homology, and he gives very good reasons for his belief, and offers fair tribute of praise to Professor Owen.

The Origin of the Tasmanians.-Geologically considered, Mr. Bonwick states that this people have now become almost extinct, an old woman being the only survivor of the race. They were related in manners and in general physique to the neighbouring Australians, but were allied by black skin and woolly hair to the distant Africans, while they were assimilated by resemblance of language, customs, and habits of thought, to many races scattered over vast areas. The author seeks to explain this relation by constructing an ideal southern continent, whence all the dark-coloured races surrounding the Indian Ocean, and extending into the Pacific and southern oceans, may have radiated. He regards the Tasmanian as probably older than the Australian. Dr. Hooker, whose authority had frequently been quoted in the paper, pointed out the similarity and differences that obtain between the floras of Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, South Africa, &c. It has recently been found that the flora of the Howe Islands is very unlike that of Australia, although so near to the coast. He protested, however, against the inference that the line of migration followed by plants is necessarily the same as that pursued by the higher animals. The president alluded to the great difference between the Australian and Tasmanian, especially in the character of the hair; and he regarded it as physically impossible that the Tasmanian could have come from Australia. He suggested that an interrupted communication by a chain of islands may have extended from New Caledonia to Tasmania, similar to that which now connects New Caledonia with New Guinea; and that by this means a low negrito type may have spread eastward over this area.

Marine Mollusca of the Gulf of Suez.-A Report by Mr. M'Andrew, F.R.S., was read at the British Association by the Rev. S. Tristram. It was entitled, "On the Marine Mollusca of the Gulf of Suez, in February and March, 1869." The total number of species of Mollusca obtained by Mr. M'Andrew in the Gulf amounted to some 818, of which 619 had been identified or described, the remaining 199 being still undetermined. In the list of named species were 355 not previously recorded as inhabiting the Red Sea, and of these, 53, including 3 genera, were new to science. Most of the undetermined species also would probably prove to be new to science, and all of them additions to the Red Sea fauna. The extraordinary dissimilarity between the fauna of the Red Sea and of the Mediterranean, which had been frequently remarked, and which appeared to be confirmed by further researches on both sides of the isthmus, showed, the writer said, that a barrier between the seas must have existed from very remote time; and this was not inconsistent with Professor Issel's statement, that an examination of the geological conditions of the isthmus led to the conclusion that the two seas were united during the Eocine and Myocine pericds.