Miscellaneous.Europe, we meet with the difficulty that little is known ofthe plantsof tbe Lower and Middle Devonian in Europe. There are, however,specimens in the Museum of the Geological Survey which show,in connexion with facts which can be gleaned from the works ofcontinental writers, that Psilophyton occupied the same importantplace in Europe which it did in America; and in the Upper Devo-nian the generic forms are very similar, though the species are, forthe most part, different. In Eastern America no land fora is known below the Upper Silurian; and even in that series the plants found are confined to the genus Psilophyton. Independently, however, of the somewhat doubtful Lower-Silurian plants stated to have been found in Europe, there are indications, in the Lower-Erian flora, that it must have been the successor of a Silurian flora as yet alnost unknown to us; and the line of separation between this old flora and that of the Devonian proper seems to be at the base of the Middle Devonian. In applying these facts and considerations to the questions relating to the introduction and extinction of species, and the actual relations of successive floras, it was proposed to compare what might be called specific types,-that is, forms which in any given period could not be rationally supposed to be genetically related. Of such specific types, at least fifty may be reckoned in the Erian flora; of these, only three or four are represented in the Carboniferous by identical species, while about one half are represented by allied species. The remainder have no representatives. A Table of specific types of the Erian was given, and its bearing shown on the questions above referred to; and the hope was ex-pressed that by separating such types from doubtful species and varietal forms, some progress might be made towards understanding, at least, the times and conditions in which specifie types were intro-duced and perished, and the range of varietal forms through which they passed. MISCELLANEOUS. Observations on some Indian and Malayan Amphibia and Reptilia. By Dr. F. STOLIczxA. (Abstract.)Tir species described in this paper have heen partially collectedby the author along the Burmese and Malayan coast, in Penang,and Singapore, partially at the Nicobar and Andaman islands; onlya few species are notieed from Java, and a few also from the N.W.Himalayas. Short notes on the geographical distribution, and onthe general character of the amphibian and reptilian fauna of theAndamans and Nicobars, form a brief preface to the detailed descrip-tions. Complete lista of ail the known species occurring on the twolast-named groups of islands are appended. The following is a list of the species noticed, with the localitieswherefrom specimens have been obtained, and brief characteristiesof the new species.105
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