中国蚁微蛛属2新种（蜘蛛目：皿蛛科：微蛛亚科）

记述采自我国江苏省栖霞山和浙江省西天目山蚁微蛛属2新种:胫突蚁微蛛,新种Solenysa pronlrudens sp.nov.和圆斑蚁微蛛, 新种Solenyas circUlaris sp.nov.     

我国瓦蛛属1新种（蜘蛛目：皿蛛科：微蛛亚种）

记述采自安徽黄山的蜘蛛目皿蛛科微蛛亚科瓦蛛属1新种,定名为walckenaeriacylindrica sp.nov.     

我国南方巨蟹蛛属六新种（蜘蛛目：巨蟹蛛科）

本文记述了湖南省、广西壮族自治区、云南省和江西省产的巨蟹蛛属蜘蛛六新种,并绘制有外雌器和触肢器结构图。模式标本保存在湖南省生物研究所。种名:铃形巨蟹蛛新种Hete-ropoda campanacea sp.nov.;鳞片巨蟹蛛,新种Heteropoda squamaceasp.nov.;庐山巨蟹蛛,新种Heteropoda lushanensissp.nov.;细刺巨蟹蛛,新种Heteropoda spiculatasp.nov.;城步巨蟹蛛,新种Heteropoda chengbuensis sp.nov.;锯齿巨蟹蛛,新种Heteropoda serratasp.nov.     

中国幽灵蛛属两新种记述(蜘蛛目:幽灵蛛科)

记述了幽灵蛛科幽灵蛛属2新种:舌幽灵蛛Pholcus lingulatus sp. nov. 和青城幽灵蛛Pholcus qingchengensis sp. nov..模式标本保存在河北大学生命科学学院.舌幽灵蛛,新种Pholcus lingulatus sp.nov. (图1～8)正模♀,副模2♂♂,2♀♀,吉林省桦甸市苇沙河,1973年8月13日.鉴别特征新种雄性触肢器的钩状突形状近似于Pholcus clavimaculatus Zhu et Song, 1999,但有如下2点不同:1)雄性触肢转节距呈弯指状,2)跗前突具一蛇舌状突起.新种的种名根据雄性触肢器跗前突、前侧突起的形状而拟定.青城幽灵蛛,新种Pholcus qingchengensis sp.nov. (图9～14)正模♂,副模1♂,四川省都江堰市青城山,1975年10月26日.鉴别特征新种雄性触肢器的钩状突形状近似于关氏幽灵蛛Pholcus guani Song et Ren, 1994,但有如下3点不同:1)雄性触肢转节距呈铲状,2)跗前突具一钉状突起,3)螯肢前面中部具2个突起.新种的种名根据模式标本的采集地而拟定.     

中国云南球蛛科灵蛛属两新种

记述了云南高黎贡山球蛛科灵蛛属2新种:长灵蛛Thymoites elongatus Peng,Yin et Hu,sp.nov.和三刺灵蛛Thymoites trisetaceus Peng,Yin et Griswold,sp.nov.。并提供了详细的描述和分布数据。模式标本保存在湖南师范大学生命科学学院和美国加州科学院。长灵蛛,新种Thymoites elongatus Peng,Yin et Hu,sp.nov.(图1 ~6)正模♂,副模1♀,云南腾冲县界头乡桥头村, 1 652m,2006-05-17 ,尹长民,胡佳芳,杨小华采(保存于湖南师范大学)。副模: 1 ♂,云南腾冲县界头乡大塘村大河岭干脚,1 952m,2006-05-17 ,彭贤锦,王新平,胡鹏采(保存于美国加州科学院) ;1 ♂,云南腾冲县界头乡大塘村大河岭干脚,1 952m,2006-05-17 ,彭贤锦,王新平,胡鹏采(保存于湖南师范大学)。新种雌蛛与Thymoites chikuniiYoshida,1988相似,但是有以下几点不同:新种交媾腔位于生殖板中部,远离生殖沟。而Thymoites chikunii的交媾腔则位于生殖沟附近。交媾管也比后者更长,弯曲缠绕更复杂。新种雄蛛与王氏灵蛛Thymoites wangi Zhu,1998类似。但有以下区别:新种插入器很长,几乎围绕整个生殖球边缘,而王氏灵蛛的插入器则相对较短,位于生殖球的中部。新种的贮精管清晰可见,后者的则不明显。词源:雄蛛触肢器具有长的引导器,故名长灵蛛。地理分布:中国云南。三刺灵蛛,新种Thymoites trisetaceus Peng,Yin et Griswold,sp.nov.(图7 ~12)正模♂,副模1♀,云南腾冲县界头乡大塘村大河岭干脚, 1 952m,2006-05-14 ,彭贤锦,王新平,胡鹏采(保存于湖南师范大学)。副模: 2 ♂♂,云南腾冲县新华乡龙井村山清, 1 880m,2006-05-27 ,尹长民,胡佳芳,杨小华采(保存于美国加州科学院) ; 1 ♂,云南腾冲县上阴乡窜龙村,1 990m,2006-06-04 ,尹长民,胡佳芳,杨小华采(保存于湖南师范大学) ;1 ♂,云南腾冲县猴桥乡找笔塘村, 2 510m,2006-05-29 ,彭贤锦,王新平,胡鹏采(保存于湖南师范大学)。新种雌雄蛛都类似于王氏灵蛛Thymoites wangiZhu,1998 ,但有以下不同: 1)新种的外雌器后端无球状隆起,而王氏灵蛛的外雌器后端有球状隆起;2)新种雌蛛的交媾管呈纵向排列,而王氏灵蛛的则呈横向排列; 3)新种的交媾孔接近生殖沟,而后者的则远离生殖沟; 4)新种雄蛛的插入器很短,起始部位于9点的位置,而王氏灵蛛的插入器长,起始部位于3点的位置; 5)新种的插入器基部较小,生殖球腹面突起较少。词源:新种因前中、侧眼间的突起上有3根刺,故名三刺灵蛛。地理分布:中国云南。     

中国豹蛛属一新种(蜘蛛目:狼蛛科)

记述采自我国海南岛的豹蛛属Pardosa 1新种,针豹蛛P.aciculifera sp.nov.,新种以其独特的外雌器和触肢器而易与本属其它已知种区别。由于其外雌器和触肢器十分独特,目前暂不能将新种归入本属已划定的种组,模式标本存于中国科学院动物研究所动物标本馆。     

中国猫蛛属三新种(蜘蛛目,猫蛛科)

记述了中国湖南省猫蛛科Oxyopidae猫蛛属Oxyopes 3新种：环缘猫蛛Oxyopes annularis sp.nov.,弓缘猫蛛Oxy-opes arcuatus sp.nov.和带缘猫蛛Oxyopes balteiformis sp.nov.3新种的主要鉴别特征。环缘猫蛛,新种Oxyopes annularis sp．nov．与条纹猫蛛Oxyopes striagntus Song,1991相似,但新种腹部细长,末端特别尖细;外雌器角质化后缘拱起较宽长,呈半圆形,其前缘正中尚有两个小疣突,后者角质化后缘拱起较窄短,呈蛇头状,正中没有成对小疣突。弓形猫蛛,新种Oxyopes arcuatus sp．nov．与尖峰猫蛛Oxyopes jianfeng Song,1991相似,但新种外雌器角质化后缘弯曲呈弓形,近乎半圆,后者条状,近乎平直,仅两侧端稍有弯曲;纳精囊较大,交媾管远端细,弯曲呈圆圈,近端变粗呈漏斗形,后者交媾管粗细均匀,远端平直折向近端。不呈漏斗状。带缘猫蛛,新种Oxyopes balteiformis sp．nov．与细纹猫蛛Oxyopes macilentus L.Koch,1878相似,但新种外雌器角质化后缘呈横向带状,较宽,正中无任何突起结构,后者角质化后缘腹面正中有一个三角形突起,背面观在阴门正中有一个“T”形脊。     

中国南方隅蛛属和漏斗蛛属新种记述：蜘蛛目：漏斗蛛科

本文记述隅蛛属一新种和漏斗蛛属两新种:刺隅蛛,新种Tegenaria aculeata sp.nov.三角漏斗蛛,新种Agelena triangulata sp.nov.,小斑漏斗蛛,新种Agelena micropunetulata sp.nov.。     

中国吻额蛛属一新种（蜘蛛目：皿蛛科：微蛛亚科）

本文描述了作者1986年采自湖北省神农架林区的吻额蛛属Aprifrontalia一新种:膨大吻额蛛,新种Aprifrontalia afflata sp.nov.。目前,除本新种外,世界仅报道过1种:Aprifrontalia mascula,本新种雄蛛最显著的特征是:其额向前突呈吻状,触肢胫节前端甚膨大。外雌器形成一斜向下方的突起。模式标本保存于白求恩医科大学生物教研室。     

中国隙蛛属1新种（蜘蛛目：暗蛛科）

记述我国暗蛛科隙蛛属1新种,即郴州隙蛛,新种Coelotes chenzhou sp.nov.。     

略论棕榈科与新分出的省藤科的系统分类、演化、区系地理及主要的经济用途

棕榈科原省藤亚科因其子房壁及外果皮被倒生、螺旋状排列的鳞片所覆盖,而区别于其他亚科,因而独立分出成一新科--省藤科。作者讨论了棕榈科的祖先种可能在石炭纪时,自原始裸子植物开以顿目在分化、衍生出苏铁目祖先种的进化干上,于白垩纪时分化出的一个分支。在棕榈科的祖先种出现不久后,在其进化的分支上,于白垩纪后期又分化出一旁支,成为棕榈科的姊妹科--省藤科的祖先种。从两祖先种分别再分化、衍生出现今分布地球上该二科的属与种。两科、尤其前者是被子植物、尤其是单子叶植物中最原始的类群之一。作者还提出棕榈科象牙椰亚科与贝叶棕亚科是该科最原始或较原始的两类群;槟榔亚科和腊材榈亚科是较进化的两类群;而水椰亚科祖先种可能源于象牙椰亚科的祖先种,但又演化为该科最进化与特化的类群。省藤科省藤亚科略比鳞果榈亚科原始。作者讨论了两科为泛热带分布的科,指出两科的"现代分布区"在南北两半球热带地区,少数种还延伸分布到两半球暖亚热带、甚至达中亚热带地区,分布区边缘最北达日本中部、中国长江流域及黄河下游的南部,美国加利佛尼亚州与佛罗里达州和地中海北部;最南达智利中部和新西兰南部;而"现代分布中心"在热带与暖亚热带的亚洲,中、南美洲,大洋洲及非洲的东、南、西部;但分布区的"密集中心"则在热带亚洲、热带中及南美洲、南太平洋群岛及非洲东南部。作者还介绍了近50年我国南方引种驯化成功的两科植物近400种(见^*图谱),其中少数为耐寒的种类,有的种已引种到长江流域或更北的地区。引种的大部分种都有其重要的经济用途,包括:1. 食用,如淀粉和树液可制"西米"或制糖,酿酒、醋或作饮料;果或种子榨油,供食用或工业用;某些种的嫩芽作蔬菜,甚至种子代咖啡饮用;2. 药用,有消炎、止血、活血、驱虫、抗癌等用;3. 建筑、工艺与日用品,包括不少种的树干供建普通房子、桥梁、小船;少数种可提制工业用蜡;许多种的纤维制高级缆绳和编织品;还制工艺品与日用品等;4. 代表热带景观的园林工程、绿化及美化环境的观赏树和人行道树及建造园林景观生态类型的树种等。     

Floral elaiophore structure in four representatives of the Ornithocephalus clade (Orchidaceae: Oncidiinae)

Background and Aims A significant number of species assigned to the Neotropical orchid sub-tribe Oncidiinae reward insect pollinators with oil produced in floral glands termed elaiophores. The latter may be glabrous (epithelial elaiophores) or hirsute (trichomal elaiophores). Although the detailed anatomy and ultrastructure of epithelial elaiophores have been studied for a number of genera, such as Oncidium Sw., Gomesa R. Br. and Trichocentrum Poepp. & Endl., hitherto, trichomal elaiophores have been investigated only for a single species of Oncidiinae, Ornithocephalus ciliatus Lindl. Furthermore, this is the only representative of the Ornithocephalus clade to be investigated to date. Here, an examination is made of the elaiophore anatomy and ultrastructure of a further four species currently assigned to this clade (Ornithocephalus gladiatus Hook., Phymatidium falcifolium Lindl., Zygostates grandiflora (Lindl.) Mansf. and Zygostates lunata Lindl.) and the results compared with those obtained for other Oncidiinae. Methods Elaiophore structure was examined for all species at three stages of flower development: closed bud, first day of anthesis and final stage of anthesis, using light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and histochemistry. Key Results Elaiophores of O. gladiatus occur upon the lateral lobes of the labellum and display characters intermediate between those of typical epithelial and trichomal elaiophores, in that they are largely glabrous, consisting mainly of cuboidal epidermal cells, but bear short, unicellular hairs proximally. By contrast, the elaiophores of all the other species investigated occur on the callus and are of the trichomal type. In P. falcifolium, these unicellular hairs are capitate. In all species, oil secretion commenced at the closed floral bud stage. Ultrastructurally, the mainly trichomal elaiophores of the four representatives of the Ornithocephalus clade closely resembled the epithelial elaiophores of other Oncidiinae, in that their cells displayed an organelle complement typical of lipid-secreting cells. However, in some taxa, a number of noteworthy characters were present. For example, the elaiophore cuticle of O. gladiatus and P. falcifolium was bi-layered, the outer layer being lamellate, the inner reticulate. The cuticle of Z. grandiflora and Z. lunata was also lamellate, but here, a reticulate layer was absent. Accumulation of secreted oil resulted in the localized distension of the cuticle. Cuticular cracks and pores, however, were absent from all species. The walls of the secretory cells of Z. grandiflora were also atypical in that they had short protuberances or ingrowths, and contained cavities which are thought to be involved in the secretory process. Conclusions Of the species investigated, most displayed similar anatomical organization, their trichomal elaiophores occurring on the labellar callus. They, thus, differ from many other members of the Oncidiinae, where epithelial elaiophores are found either on the callus, or on the lateral lobes of the labellum. However, ultrastructurally, all elaiophores, whether those of representatives of the Ornithocephalus clade, or those of other oil-secreting Oncidiinae, possessed a similar complement of organelles, regardless of whether the elaiophores were trichomal or epithelial. In view of the latter, and the similar chemical composition of oils derived from all Oncidiinae investigated to date, it is probable that position and type of elaiophore, and possibly the structure of the overlying cuticle, play an important role in pollinator selection in these oil-secreting orchids.     

山东山旺Palaeomeryx化石的初步研究

Palaeomeryx 在含义、性质和分类位置上,一直是一个争论较多的属.最近在山旺发现的 Palaeomeryx 完整骨架,为解决上述问题提供了有价值的资料和证据. Palaeomeryx 雄性具有一对眶上"皮骨角"和单一的"枕顶角".根据共近裔性状的分析,本文作者认为 Palaeomeryx 应该归入长颈鹿,作为这一支中最早分出的一个旁支.长颈鹿和鹿科有较近的亲缘关系,而和牛科的关系较远. Palaeomeryx 大概位于 Blastomeryx 和 Leptomeryx 之间,从反刍类主干中分出.山旺的材料,代表本属中一个较原始的新种: Palaeomeryx tricornis. 它的时代,可能相当于欧洲的 MN4 或 MN5.     

Concentration of 17 trace elements in serum and whole blood of plains viscachas (Lagostomus maximus) by ICP-MS, their reference ranges, and their relation to cataract

The reference ranges of the trace elements Al, As, Be, B, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Li, Rb, Se, Sr, and Zn were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in sera of a group of free-ranging plains viscachas of the pampa grasslands of Argentina. The values were compared with those of a small group of captive plains viscachas of the Zurich Zoo with diabetes and bilateral cataracts. In addition, a method for digestion of whole-blood samples is described for the trace element determination. Significant differences in the concentration of trace elements in the two groups of animals are discussed. No correlation was found between the levels of selenium and of other trace elements compared to the formation of cataracts.     

Comparative morphology and evolutionary pathways of the mouthparts in spore-feeding Staphylinoidea (Coleoptera)

This study surveys the external morphology of the mouthparts in the guild of spore‐feeders among the coleopterous superfamily Staphylinoidea, evaluating the influence of different phylogenetic and ecological starting points on the formation of their mouthparts. Our emphasis is on a scanning electron microscope analysis (SEM) of the involved trophic structures in spore‐feeding larvae and adults of the Ptiliidae, Leiodidae and Staphylinidae, describing the fine structure of their main functional elements. Functionally, mouthpart structures resemble brushes, brooms, combs, rakes, rasps, excavators, knives, thorns, cram‐brushes, bristle troughs, blocks and differently structured grinding surfaces. Their different involvement in the various aspects of the feeding process (i.e. food gathering, transporting, channelling and grinding) is deduced from our SEM analyses plus direct video observations. We infer five different patterns of food transport and processing, discriminating adults of ptiliids, leiodids plus staphylinids (excluding some aleocharines), several aleocharine staphylinids, and the larvae of leiodids and staphylinids. The structural diversity of the mouthparts increases in the order from (1) Ptiliidae, (2) Leiodidae towards (3) Staphylinidae, reflecting the increasing systematic and ecological diversity of these groups. Comparisons with non‐spore‐feeders show that among major lineages of staphylinoids, shifts from general microphagy to sporophagy are not necessarily constrained by, nor strongly reflected in, mouthpart morphology. Nevertheless, in several of these lineages the organs of food intake and grinding have experienced particular fine‐structural modifications, which have undergone convergent evolution, probably in response to specialized mycophagy such as spore‐feeding. These modifications involve advanced galeal rakes, galeal or lacinial ‘spore brushes’ with arrays of stout bristles, reinforced obliquely ventrad orientated prosthecal lobes and the differentiations of the molar grinding surfaces into stout teeth or tubercles. In addition, several staphylinids of the tachyporine and oxyteline groups with reduced mandibular molae have evolved secondary trituration surfaces, which in some aleocharines are paralleled by considerable re‐constructions of the labium–hypopharynx.     

Mass ratios of magnesium to calcium and phosphorus in the arteries of Japanese and Thai

To elucidate quantitative changes of Ca, P, and Mg in the arteries with aging, the authors investigated changes of the mass ratios of Mg to Ca and P in the arteries of Japanese and Thai by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The arteries of Japanese that were used were the thoracic and abdominal aortas, coronary, common iliac, internal iliac, external iliac, and femoral arteries, in which very high accumulations of Ca and P occurred in old age. The arteries of Thai that were used were the abdominal aorta, ramifying site of the abdominal aorta, coronary, common iliac, internal iliac, and external iliac arteries. It was found that there were extremely significant correlations both between Ca and Mg contents and between P and Mg contents in all of the arteries of the Japanese and the Thai. With regard to the mass ratio, the mass ratios of Mg to Ca ranged from 1.5% to 2.1% in the six arteries of the Japanese, except for the thoracic aorta at 3.1%, at an advanced stage of atherosclerosis, being similar to each other. In the arteries of the Thai, the mass ratios of Mg to Ca ranged from 1.9% to 3.0%, except for the coronary artery at 0.5%, at an advanced stage of atherosclerosis. The mass ratios of Mg to P ranged from 2.5% to 2.7% in the six arteries of the Japanese, except for the coronary artery at 1.8%, at an advanced stage of atherosclerosis. With regard to the arteries of the Thai, the mass ratios of Mg to P ranged from 1.9% to 3.3%, except for the coronary artery at 0.7%, at an advanced stage of atherosclerosis. These results revealed that both the mass ratios of Mg to Ca and Mg to P were almost similar among the arteries of Japanese and Thai, except for the coronary arteries. Therefore, these results suggested that the inorganic deposits in the coronary arteries of Japanese and Thai were similar to those in the intimal tunica of the thoracic aorta, whereas in the other arteries, they were similar to those in the middle tunica of the thoracic aorta.     

Tissue specific protochlorophyll(ide) forms in dark-forced shoots of grapevine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitis vinifera</Emphasis>L.)

Cuttings of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Chardonnay) were dark-forced at least three weeks. Pigment contents, 77 K fluorescence emission, excitation spectra of the leaves, petioles, stems, transmission electron micrographs of the etioplasts from leaves, the chlorenchyma tissues of the stems were analysed. The dark-grown leaves, stems contained 8 to 10, 3 to 5 μg/g fresh weight protochlorophyllide, its esters, respectively. HPLC analysis showed that the molar ratio of the unesterified, esterified pigments was 7:3 in the shoot developed in darkness. The dark-forced leaves contained carotenoids identified as: neoxanthin, violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, lutein, β-carotene. Detailed analyses of the fluorescence spectra proved that all tissues of the dark-forced shoots had protochlorophyllide or protochlorophyll forms with emission maxima at 628, 636, 644, 655, 669 nm. The 628, 636 nm emitting forms were present in all parts of the dark-forced shoot, but dominated in the stems, which may indicate an organ specificity of the etioplast development. Variations in the distribution of the pigment forms were even found in the different tissues of the stem. The subepidermal layers were more abundant in the 655 nm form than the parenchyma cells of the inner part of the cortex, the pith. In the latter cells, the plastid differentiation stopped in intermediary stages between proplastids, etioplasts. The plastids in the subepidermal layers had developed prolamellar body structures, which were similar to those of etiolated leaves. The results highlight the importance of organ-, tissue specificity of plastid differentiation for chlorophyll biosynthesis, greening of different plant organs. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of Microbial and Other Antagonistic Organism and Competition on Entomopathogenic Nematodes

Antagonistic factors, broadly identified as antibiosis, competition and natural enemies, impact on entomopathogenic nematodes. Antibiosis can occur through the release of plant chemicals from the roots into the soil, which may adversely affect the host-finding behavior of the infective stage nematode, or the presence of these chemicals in the host insect may negatively affect nematode reproduction. In laboratory studies, intra-specific and inter-specific competition reduces nematode fitness, and inter-specific competition can cause local extinction of a nematode species. For example, after concomitant infection of a host, a steinernematid species usually excludes a heterorhabditid species. The mechanism for the steinernematid superiority has been postulated to be a bacteriocin(s) produced by Xenorhabdus, the symbiotic bacterium of the steinernematid, which prevents Photorhabdus, the symbiotic bacterium of the heterorhabditid, from multiplying. Inter-specific competition between two steinernematid species shows that both can co-exist in a host, but one species will eventually prevail in the environment. By having different foraging strategies, however, both steinermatid species may co-exist in the same habitat. An important issue is whether the introduction of an exotic entomopathogenic nematode species will competitively displace an indigenous nematode species. Although the environmental risks are small, the recommended policy is that the introduction of exotic nematodes be regulated. With other pathogens, entomopathogenic nematodes can out-compete entomopathogenic fungi, but not Bacillus thuringiensis, for the same host individual when both the nematode and entomopathogen are applied simultaneously. The best studied natural enemy is the nematophagous fungus, Hirsutella rhossiliensis, which causes higher mortality in Steinernema glaseri compared with Heterorhabditis bacteriorphora. Differential susceptibility to the fungus may be associated with the retention of the second-stage cuticle by H. bacteriophora. Invertebrate predators including mites and collembolans feed on entomopathogenic nematodes. Although a number of studies have been conducted with antagonists, there is a dearth of field data. We suggest that long-term research plots be established where natural populations of entomopathogenic nematodes occur and include antagonists as a component of such studies.     

The peregrination of Alcide d’Orbigny's Foraminifera Collection at the Museum of Natural History,Paris: From the creation of a Palaeontology chair to the advent of Micropalaeontology

Alcide d’Orbigny made his mark in the history of French Palaeontology by becoming, in 1853, the first holder of the chair of Palaeontology at the Museum of Natural History, Paris. His work on foraminifera made him one of the pioneers of Micropalaeontology. Today, his original collection of foraminifera, bought by the Museum after his death, represents one of the most prestigious collections of the institution. However, for more than a century, it had been relegated to the reserves and to the good will of a few enthusiasts, while the priority of research study was given to the large vertebrate fossils. It survived the conflicts that affected the Palaeontology department, and was moved in response to construction works, wars and natural accidents such as the great flood of 1910. These different events, combined with inappropriate storage conditions, probably caused the fragility of the specimens. In order to better understand this phenomenon, known as Byne's decay, research has been undertaken to reconstruct the various storage points of the collection from its acquisition to the present day. This article aims to demonstrate the close link between the Foraminifera Collection and the history of the chair of Palaeontology, through evidence drawn from the archives of the Palaeontology laboratory and the Museum of Natural History.