[Enclosure]

1, I have not seen the paper on the distribution of nerves in the ear of the Mouse. When I find it, I will let you know, although I am afraid it will be too late for your purpose.⁶

2, There is no Rodent with a structurally prehensile tail, more nearly related to Mus, than Synetheres (Cercolabes). But it may be of interest to you that several species of Mus have a functionally prehensile tail. I have seen only the other day some living specimens of the Harvest-Mouse (Mus minutus) in the possession of Prof. Maskelyne. In climbing up vertical reeds, or in moving from one reed to another they use their tail as much as if it were a truly prehensile organ; they wind it round a vertical or horizontal stem, suspend themselves by means of it, but they do not seize an object, except for the purposes of locomotion or sustaining themselves in a certain position.⁷

3, I know that Dr. Murie makes an Eland of the Sivatherium; & he will shortly publish a restored figure of it which gives it a broad, long muzzle, like that of the Eland, but not a proboscis.⁸

Macrauchenia has no proboscis, according to the best authorities⁹

4, That Galaxias goes down to the sea, is extremely improbable. Of the thousands of fishes received from the Southern Pacific, not one was a Galaxias; whenever Galaxias was sent, it was sent with other freshwater-forms. In the numerous letters I have received from Tasmania, Australia & New Zealand regarding these fishes, they were always described as truly Freshwater-forms; nothing was ever said or written about their having been met with in the sea.¹⁰ Yet they are as well known to the colonists as the Trout in Europe. I cannot add anything more than what you find in the Catalogue, with regard to their distribution.¹¹ However, the case of Galaxias is somewhat strengthened by two well-marked forms of Lampreys being found in Australia & S.W. America. I can vouch for the correctness of the localities, as it has been confirmed over & over again.

a. Mordacia mordax distinguished by a most formidable dentition is found at Valparaiso and Tasmania (Catal. Fish. VIII. p. 507)

b. Geotria chilensis from Chile, New Zealand and Swan River (ibid. p. 509).¹²

Now, you will say the Lampreys enter the sea; nevertheless, it is also true that they do not go far from the mouth of the river which is their true home & place of birth. They are among the very worst swimmers, & to account for their passage across the Pacific, you must assume that they attached themselves to other fish which carried them across. They could not have gradually made their way across, as they do not spawn in the sea, but in rivers; & their spawn could not live in seawater.