by invagination. The skeleton begins to appear about the time the larva fixes itself.

In the other type of development, which has been observed in the higher calcareous sponges, there is both a temporary pseudogastrula, and a permanent gastrula differently formed, which is directly metamorphosed into the permanent sponge. The pseudogastrula normally occurs only before the larva leaves the follicle of the parent body, and arises by the turning in of the large cells, just as the finger of a glove may be inverted; the larva then appears like a cup formed of two membranes, the outer of small cells, the inner of large. Before long, however, the large cells are everted, and the embryo (Fig. 16) reassunes the characteristic egg-shape, and soon leaves the parent, swims about freely for two or three days, and finally perma

nently attaches itself.

While still free, it broadens, and its long axis shortens (Fig. 17), whereby the large cells begin to grow over the small ones, which are gradually pushed in more and more until they are fairly invagi

nated. The large cells advance FIG. 17.-Older stage of Fig. 16. further, gradually constricting the opening until it becomes quite small. Viewed from the oral side, at this stage, the embryo presents the appearance indicated by the outline, Fig. 18, A.1 At this stage the larva fixes itself by its oral end. The cells around

FIG. 18.-4. Oldest free-swimming stage, view of oral surface. B. The same after attachment. Larva of Sycandra, after F. E. Schulze, magnified about 240 diam.

the mouth nestle against the underlying surface, and send out 1 In nature the upper and inner parts show through, rendering the outlines much

less distinct.

from their external edges hyaline amoeboid processes, which probably help the larva to hold on (Fig. 18, B). The central ends of the cells approach one another, meet and close the mouth. Fig. 19 presents a side view of a larva in this stage, and shows

the inner cavity c, now closed; its lining of small cells b, and the exterior layer of granular cells a, the arrangement of which is particularly obscure, but they ultimately make the ectoderm and mesoderm.

The development now proceeds by the vertical elongation of formation of a large

the sponge to a cylindrical shape; the secondary opening, the osculum at the upper end, and of small openings, pores, around the sides, leading into secondary tubes, which communicate with the large central cavity; finally the development of the skeletal spicules and of the mesodermic intercellular substance. The first spicules that appear are simple rods tapering towards both ends, and slightly curved. They lie nearly parallel to the external surface, scattered irregularly. Three and four rayed spicules also soon appear, and the whole skeleton grows rapidly. The sponge is now in the Olynthus stage.

The above account, though necessarily brief, shows that our present knowledge does not render the morphology of sponges explicable, because, although we should certainly consider, if we knew the larvæ alone, the small flagellate cells to be strictly homologous in all the embryos, yet in one case these cells form the internal digestive cavity, in another the external skin. At present the meaning of this divergence is unknown.

The systematic position of the sponges has been much discussed. At one time they were considered protozoic colonies, which they certainly are not. German zoologists usually connect them with the Coelenterata, but inasmuch as the development is not in the least coelenterate, and the structure of the adult sponge

is in nearly every respect peculiar, it seems to me best to accept Prof. Hyatt's view, and place sponges by themselves as a distinct sub-kingdom of animals, the Porifera.

F. ON THE EMBRYOLOGY OF SPONGES.

38. Barrois, Embryologie de quelques éponges de la Manche. Annales des Sci. Nat., Sér. vi, Tome III (1876).

39. Carter, J. Development of the marine sponges. Ann. Mag. Nat. History, 1874. 40. Keller. Studien über Organisation und Entwickelung der Chalineen. Zeit. f. wiss. Zool., XXXIII, 317.

41. Hyatt, Alpheus. A Revision of the North American Porifera, with remarks upon foreign species. Mem. Boston S. N. H., 1875 and 1877.

42.

Sponges considered as a distinct sub-kingdom of animals. Proc. Boston S. N. H., XIX, p. 12.

43. Lieberkühn. Beiträge zur Entwickelungsgeschichte der Spongillen, Müller's Archiv. 1856.

Cf. the same Archiv. for 1857, 1859, 1863, 1865, 1867 for papers on the anatomy of sponges.

44. Metschnikoff, E. Zur Entwickelungsgeschichte der Kalkschwämme. Zeitsch. f. wiss. Zool., XXIV (1874), p. 1; also XXVII, 275.

45. -.

Spongiologische Studien. Zeit. f. wiss. Zool., XXXI, 349.

46. Schmidt, Oscar. Das Larvenstadium von Ascetta primordialis und Ascetta clathrus. Arch. micros. Anat., XIV (1877), 403.

47.

Zur Orientirung über die Entwickelung der Spongien. Zeit. f. wiss. Zool. xxv, Suppl., p. 127.

48. Schulze, F. E.

Untersuchungen über den Bau und die Entwickelung der

Spongien. Zeit. f. wiss. Zool.

1. Sycandra, XXV, p. 247. (Suppl. band) Cf. XXVII, 486.

II. Halisarca, XXVIII, p. 1.

III. Chondrosiden, XXIX, p. 87.

IV. Aphysinidæ, xxx, p. 379.

v. Die metamorphose von Sycandra raphanus, XXXI, p. 262.

VI. Spongelia, XXXII. p. 117.

VII. Spongidæ, xxxII, p. 593.

VIII. Hircinia und Oligoceras, n. g., XXXIII, p. 1.

-:0:-

LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON.

THIS

BY O. B. JOHNSON.

HIS is not meant to be a complete list of the avifauna of the region named, but only such a part as has fallen under my personal observation during a residence of over ten years at three different points, viz: Five years at East Portland, which is but six miles from the Columbia river; two years at Forest Grove, twenty-five miles west of Portland and at the foot of the Coast

mountains; and the rest of the time at Salem, on the Willamette river, and fifty miles south of Portland. The region referred to lies between the Cascade and Coast ranges, on an average of sixty miles apart, and from the Columbia on the north to the Callipoaia mountains on the south, a distance of about one hundred and thirty miles. To the north, and along each side, and on the streams, it is densely wooded, while on the middie and south is a chain of prairies of greater or less extent, giving great variety to the landscape. I have been necessarily brief, but with any one needing more explicit notes or material, I will gladly correspond.

1. Turdus migratorius Linn. (robin).-The robin is very common during the breeding season, nesting extensively, and not rare during the mild wet winter months, especially along the river bottoms.

66

2. Turdus nævius Gmel. (varied thrush), called "Cal. robin," myrtle robin," "painted robin," and "Oregon robin.”—More or less abundant during the winter months, arriving from the north and mountains about December 1st, and remaining until about June 1st. Usually shy and very thrush-like, they sometimes become quite tame about building, learning the habit from the common robin. I have always suspected that they nest in this State, about the bases of the snow-clad mountains, as hunters have told me that they have seen the bird at all times during the season in those places. They have no true song, but in its place they use the call note, which is a prolonged "chur-r-r," followed after a short interval by a prolonged "chee-e-e" a "third" higher, and both in a minor key. The alarm note is a short decisive "churk." They feed upon the ground, scratching among dead leaves, usually in very moist situations. They also come to the gardens for cherries and small fruits.

3. Turdus ustulatus Nutt. (Oregon thrush). Very common during the breeding season, nesting extensively and often raising two broods. The usual situation of the nest is in a dense thicket of low brush about four feet from the ground; it is composed of moss, very bulky and rather more attractive than otherwise, but I found one at the root of a maple tree upon a “burl" about four inches above the ground, two others were in a tree, about fifteen feet high, and composed entirely of twigs and brush well woven, and scantily lined with moss. The alarm note is a short whistle "whoct," identical with that of a person attracting the attention

of a dog, the call note is tremulous," whaat-r-r-r," in the same key as the alarm note, only ending in a trill. Every evening and often on cloudy days, their song can be heard from every thicket; it is a peculiar whistle, ascending a scale of four notes, and sounds like "holsey-govendy-govindy-goveendy." They feed upon the ground.

4. Sialia mexicana Swains. (Western bluebird). A common summer resident, breeding in deserted woodpecker's holes, knotholes and crevices, especially delighting in favorable situations about buildings; they will for years return to the same place, even if roughly treated. Their only note is a mournful "soenk." They feed upon the ground, dropping upon their prey from an elevated position.

5. Cinclus mexicanus Swains. (water ouzel).-Found on all the dashing streams in the valley. I saw but one nest and that was shown me by the owner of a mill, and he said that a brood had been raised for four successive years in the same nest. It was placed between the ends of two projecting planks in the dam, and was an open nest, the upper plank rendering the dome part superfluous; it was of moss and the bark of the cedar from the logs in the vicinity. I suppose that they remain all winter, for I saw them in the Bitter Root mountains, in Idaho, when ice was forming on the streams and the snow two feet deep. The alarm note is a faint "chip," expressing interrogation rather than fear, and a song that is seldom heard, owing to the rushing and roaring surroundings; it comes as a faint lisping "sweet-tweet tr-r-r-eet," very prolonged, but rendered almost inaudible by its turbulent accompaniment. Their food, I suppose, is entirely aquatic, though I had one make an unsuccessful attempt at an artificial fly cast near it, showing that it knew a "tit-bit" as well as its scaly neighbor. 6. Regulus satrapa Licht. (golden-crowned kinglet).—Common throughout the winter in flocks, busily searching for insects among the dense second growth of Abies douglass. Their note at this time is a very faint "tseep," answered quickly by the others. I have never seen the eggs or nest.

7. Regulus calendula Licht. (ruby-crowned kinglet).—Solitary individuals seen occasionally during the winter and spring among the thickets of rose and Spiræa. Never saw its nest or eggs.

8. Parus occidentalis Baird (western titmouse), called "chickadec."-Common throughout the year; breeding abundantly in