308 Mr. G. A. Boulenger on the Nyctisaura. XXXV. — Remarks on the Nyctisaura. By G. A. Boulenger. Amphiccelian vertebras, distinct parietal bones, incomplete orbital ring, and absence of a parietal bar are the principal characters upon which the suborder Nyctisaura is based. Cope *, however, makes a restriction as to the former charac-ter, writing " vertebras usually amphiccelian ; " but in what forms the exception exists is not stated. So far as I know, proccelian vertebras occur in three genera only, viz. Euble-pharis, Psilodactylus, and Coleonyx. No exception to the second character has been recorded ; and I was not a little surprised to find that these very genera which so strikingly differed in the structure of their vertebras, differed also from all other Geckos in having the parietal single, as in most Cionocrania proper. Now that undoubted Nyctisaura are known to present ex-ceptions to the two former characters, and as the absence of the orbital ring and temporal bar cannot be considered to distinguish them constantly from the Cionocrania (for the Varanidas have the orbit incompletely surrounded, and the parietal bar is absent in the Helodermatidas) , there remains no character of sufficient importance to justify the suborder Nyctisaura ; therefore I believe that it has to be cancelled. But I propose to maintain the old definition of the group as diagnostic of the family Geckonidas, and to refer the three aberrant genera mentioned above to a distinct family, which I name Eublepharidas. In spite-of their extraordinary geo-graphical distribution {Eublepharis is Indian, Coleonyx Cen-tral-American, and Psilodactylus West-African), these three genera are very closely allied, not only in structure, but even in coloration. They all possess connivent movable eyelids. XXXVI. — Contributions to our Knowledge of the Spongida. By H. J. Carter, F.R.S. &c. [Plates XL, XII., XIII, & XIV.] My " Contributions " in this respect may appear incoherent, but this will be understood by the statement that they are compiled from notes, sketches, and specimens put aside for * Proc. Acad. Philad. 1864, p. 226.
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