genus of fishes belonging to the order abdominates. See Ichthyology Index.

Simancas, a village on the eastern boundary of the kingdom of Leon in Spain, six miles below Valladolid, on the river Gisnerga. Dr Robertson, in the introduction to his History of America, makes mention of it, and it is remarkable for the archives of the kingdoms of Leon and Castile, kept in the castle. This collection was begun when the kings often resided at Valladolid, in which city is still the civil and military tribunal for almost the whole of Spain to the north of the Tagus. It was thought proper to have those papers kept in the vicinity of that court, for which purpose this castle was peculiarly fitted, being entirely erected of stone. At one period there were two large halls in this office filled with papers respecting the first settlement of the Spaniards in South America. There was likewise in the room called the ancient royal patronage, a box containing SIM

containing treatises with England, in which are many letters and treaties between the kings of England and Spain, from the year 1400 to 1600. There was also a strong box in the same archives, with five locks, which, we are told, has not been opened since the time of Philip II. and it is supposed that it contains the process against Philip's son Prince Charles. But it appears that some of the state papers have been removed to Madrid.