pon anette \, A a <3 ie i ax ye Pee rie tera aT i it uit ih ecieierd ‘i f ties ¥ ; ae Ben Pee ee eee 7 La | Ti ea RET Econ: 2 *y\ yy a8 a ‘é FL kee te Paes 7 ech ; TO et PS ee SN) ; ee . 4 Pe Te. oa 7 “2 i : > "% b va, J a, Ph ah cy a f ee i J > m r’ in ne : i i 4% ,, lh @ ~~ 5 7 ' ‘aa é 7 i x a4 —. dt ’ : * f = * er . A . y . ° ae ( p , >y OE es fe i & “< * * ~ wi P| rw 4 % 1 ‘ . Ho aa i ~ . Ses i ‘ ~ be Po ‘i | eal ’ Uy 7) “ey 7 aA o A vo | , ¥\e ’ ‘ a ¢ {= i ? 7 7 P is 7 in 4 Peg Na ge) 7. ¥ ‘ 7 U ( 5 ie ae ¥, 4 4 7 ' ip TD kup ~ “a ‘ is i . Ca A : oor 4 a) gy, mae —e ; Ay ae Sp ; Tal —_ 2 #! a 4 Fa i. . - Gis 4) : - , ive’ NYU ‘ ; i 4 4 Uo nana i ab § ) . ? ; Tie : ‘ prey ? s vt } if Pak, i y neu ie F Has ane ae ; | yee Wiha. Milam ao i hte RAC ae r PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON FOR THE YEAR PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY, AND SOLD AT THEIR HOUSE IN HANOVER SQUARE, LONDON: MESSRS. LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO, PATERNOSTER ROW. Lif 67D OF THE COUNCIL AND OFFICERS U OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 1889. COUNCIL. (Elected April 29, 1889.) Prorrssor W. H. Frower, C.B., LL.D., F.R.S., President. Lr.-Gen. Tue Lorp ABINGER, Dr. Epwarp Hamirron, Vice- President. Dr. Joun Annerson, LL.D., | EK. W. H. Hoxpsworru, Esq. FE.RS. Henry A. Brassty, Esq. Henry E. Dressrr, Esq. Cuartes Drummonn, Esq., Z'rea- surer. Str Josrpp Farrer, K.C.8.L, F.R.S., Vice-President. Joun P. Gasstor, Esq. F. Du Cane Gopmay, Esq.,F.R.S., Vice-President. Cot. James A. Grant, C.B.,C.8.L., F.RS. Dr. A. C. L. G. Giwrner, F.R.S., Vice-President. Lr.-Gey. Srr H. B. Lumspen, K.C.8.1, Water Morrison, Esq., M.P. Prorsessor ALFRED Newron, M.A.,, F.R.S., Vice-President. Tae Lorp Arraur Rvssett. Ospert Satvin, Esq., F.R.S., Vice-President. Howarp Saunpers, Esq., F.L.S. Puitie Lurney Scrarer, Esq., M.A.,Ph.D., F..8., Secretary. Josepn Travers Surrn, Esq. PRINCIPAL OFFICERS. P. L. Scrarer, Esq., M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., Secretary. Frank KE. Bepparp, Esq., M.A., Prosector. r. Mr. A. D. Barrierr, Superintendent of the Gardens. Mr. F. H. Warernouse, Librarian. Mr.,Joun Barrow, Accountant. Mr. W. J. Wrttiams, Chief Clerk. LIST THE CONTRIBUTORS, With References to the several Articles contributed by each. Page Bairy, Joseru S., F.L.S. Descriptions of new South-American Coleoptera of the CE SD Lg fy a ee ee et Roe Sere 88 BARDELEBEN, Professor Karu. On the Preepollex and Prehallux, with Observations on the Carpus of Theriodesmus phylarchus. (Plate XXX.) .. 259 Batts, H. W., F.RS., F.Z.S., &e. On new Species of the Coleopterous Family Carabide, collected by Mr. J. H. Leech in Kashmir and Baltistan.... 210 On new Species of the Coleopterous Families Cicindelide and Carabide, taken by Mr. Pratt in Chang Yang, near Ichang on the Yang-tsze, China .................0%.24. 216 On new Genera and Species of Coleopterous Insects from Mount Kinibalu, North Borneo ...................... 383 Bepparp, Frank E., M.A., F.R.S.E., F.G.S., F.Z.S., Prosector to the Society, Lecturer on Biology at ‘Guy’s Hospital. Note upon the Green Cells in the Integument of olosoma cembrarame Wr iate Vy 8h, 2 PT A, BOTS 51 iv Page On certain Points in the Anatomy of the Accipitres, with reference to the Affinities of Polyboroides ............6- rid Some Notes upon the Anatomy of the American Tapir CUnpirus terrestris): 0. < abd wis eieg eit wate meee ote 252 On the Oligochztous Fauna of New Zealand, with pre- liminary Descriptions of new Species .............--+-+ 377 Contributions to the Natural History of an Annelid of thie (Gens DerO zieince oe « che Veiner cate pte wettest 440 Contributions to the Anatomy of Picarian Birds.—Part I. On some Points in the Structure of the Hornbills .. ...... 587 On the Anatomy of Burmeister’s Cariama (Chunga bur- Meistert) 2.00 élevavatfararSravietoiesayatel revere eee ekateretomerel tetets 594 Bepparp, Frank E., M.A., Prosector to the Society, Lecturer in Biology at Guy’s Hospital, and Treves, FREDERICK, F.R.C.S., Surgeon to and Lecturer in Anatomy at the London Hospital. On the Anatomy of Rhinoceros sumatrensis......++e00. 7 Beppomg, Col. R. H. Descriptions of Land-Shells from the Island of Koror, Pelew Group. (Plates Ae ST.) oui. oc oe ede ee Le Bewz, F. Jerrrey, M.A., Sec.R.M.S., F.Z.S., Professor of Comparative Anatomy in King’s College, London. Remarks upon Bipalium kewense ........ .+++0-0008 sole 3 Additions to the Echinoderm Fauna of the Bay of Bengal 6 Descriptions of some new or rare Species of Plexaurids. (Plate TR ce. as Biel aiers te wid oat sielsiade re fase epaeiele is on ence cey 47 Exhibition of, and remarks upon, specimens of Virgularia mirabilis, Palinurus vulgaris, and Galathea strigosa ...... 394 v Buaavuw, F. E. (of Amsterdam). Letter from, containing remarks upon the Development of the Horns of the White-tailed Gnu (Catoblepas gnu) ...... Bouuencer, G. A., F.Z.8. On the Species of Rhacophorus confounded under the name of R. maculatus ......... Bis re sealers Oe ees On some Specimens of Lizards in the Zoological Museum of Halle (Saale). "(Plate Sev.) >... ss scam ae anna ee ere. « Second Account of the Fishes obtained by Surgeon-Major A. 8. G. Jayakar at Muscat, East Coast of Arabia. (Plates MOR MLD Tso hiiere iwi. sate ae « Sidney tee Note on Python curtus. (Plate XLV.) .............. Butter, Sir Water, K.C.M.G., F.R.S., C.M.Z.S. On a Species of Crested Penguin (Hudyptes sclateri) from the Auckland Islands, (Plate EX.).. 0. cee aicse-s 5 eMte a oan sie On an apparently new Species of Hyracodontotherium.... On Associated Remains of a Theriodont Reptile from the Karoo System of the Cape. (Plates LIV. & LV.)........ Mincuin, Epwarp A., Keble College, Oxford. © Note on the Mode of Attachment of the Embryos to the Oral Arms of Aurelia aurita. (Plates LVII. & LYIII.) Monricet, FR. Sav. Notes on some Entozoa in the Collection of the British Museum. (Plate XXXIIL.),........... sieve eles ewe ous Page 263 297 474 29 60 67 572 583 ix Page Movysripce, EADWEARD. Exhibition of a number of projections with the Oxy- hydrogen Lantern to show the Locomotion of Animals .... 327 Newron, Aurrep, M.A., F.R.S., F.L.S., V.P.Z.S., Profes- sor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy in the University of Cambridge. Exhibition of, and remarks upon, a specimen of the so- calletl Pennnlavmillstii Je. s0vis -300U8 ete = OB _ On the Breeding of the Seriema (Cariama cristata). OTOL lode a notice cnt s Sc os 34, ac ee Se He coe 25 Newron, E. T., F.G.S., F.Z.S. A Contribution to the History of Eocene Siluroid Fishes. (BING DOM. som wet aieneecien . s+ + dense eRe oe Gel Exhibition of a tibio-tarsus of an extinct bird (Gastornis klasseni) from the Woolwich Beds of Croydon .......... 220 Oaitsy, J. Doveras, F.LS., Ichthyological Department, Australian Museum, Sydney. Notes on some Fishes new to the Australian Fauna .... 151 Parker, W. K., F.R.S., F.Z.S., &c. On the Osteology of Steatornis caripensis, (Plates AVU-KX.)> «diana ees Se Ree ane le ST Parker, W. Newron, Ph.D., F.Z.S., Professor of Biology in the University College of S. Wales and Monmouthshire. On the occasional Persistence of the Left Posterior Cardinal Vein in the Frog, with Remarks on the Homolo- gies of the Veins in the Dipnoi,............. Sats ¢ a's sfo nie 145 Rosertson, Davin, and Srepsine, Rev. Tuomas R. R., M.A. Notice of a Memoir containing the descriptions of four new British Amphipodous Crustaceans................ -. 452 Romanes, Grorce J., F.R.S., F.Z.S. On the Mental Faculties of the Bald Chimpanzee ( Anthro- popithecus calvus) oo. veces cceccees Pee che ie cs a. HME . 316 x Page Scuater, Puiuie Lutuey, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., Secretary to the Society. Report on the additions to the Society’s Menagerie in December 1888. os. - ss .¥ ops Bae OE - bP ee hte 1 Report on the additions to the Society’s Menagerie in January LEGO. 22. AS eee evra ten co oe eee eta a ne Exhibition of, and remarks upon, a living specimen of the Thick-billed Lark (Rhamphocorys clot-beyi) ......-..... 26 On some new Species and Genera of Birds of the Family Dendrocolaptid@. ai. iin. Bingen «n cmkath eet pad ax & whe gee ee Exhibition of, and remarks upon, a series of specimens of the eggs and chicks of the Hoatzin (Opisthocomus cristatus). 57 Exhibition. of, and remarks upon, some heads and skins of a new Antelope obtained by Mr. H. C. V. Hunter, F.Z.S., ii) SNOTCHSESSEETA AUSICH Meco iow oittine. o's eee eleisls eo 4, ayaa 58 Report on the additions to the Society’s Menagerie in Bebruary S09)... spate e eats eee te am re re Remarks upon the Collections of Fishes made at Constan- tinople by Dr. E. D. Dickson, COMEZ Ss «cana Bete LeT BoD Report on the additions to the Society’s Menagerie in Mareh) 1889), . .:2/. ban oskeeh % te deciles). stiereekiO ede . 160 Exhibition of, and remarks upon, a pair of Buprestine Beetle (Julodis ffinchi), obtained by Mr. B. T. Ffinch near Reatneltt sco 0 Nic toes © oe. one ri eteseln eee 219 Exhibition of, and remarks upon, a specimen of the Mole- cricket (Gryllotalpa vulgaris) found at Bagdad, and trans- mitted by Mrs. Talbot...) 0.2... 06 eee ee eee eee eee 219 Remarks on interesting animals observed during a visit to the Zoological Gardens of Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and ATRWErpis .riae ges « 6 as. eo ete cme rea waees: SAUMT 219 xi Page Report on the additions to the Society’s Menagerie in a i i a ei dia eat 246 Exhibition of, and remarks upon, a living specimen of an albino variety of the Cape Mole-Rat.................... 246 Exhibition of, and remarks upon, a mummy of a Falcon obtained at Thebes in Egypt.......... 262 Exhibition of, and remarks upon, a series of photographs taken.at Antinades Island. 2 2...) 1. 22.2) - aderiemsieies 262 Exhibition of, and remarks upon, a Leaf-insect (Phyllium gelonus) living in the Society’s Insect-house...........-.. 262 Report on the additions to the Society’s Menagerie in IT eT GUS, eRe SA csc « . 2 a 2 316 List of Birds collected by Mr. Ramage in Dominica, West MCCS is pce sie ness saat anne s Vues eect ee eet nnn dons 326 Description of Hunter’s Antelope. (Plate XLII.)...... 372 Report on the additions to the Society’s Menagerie in June, July, August, and September, 1889... . 26.6528 teens... 393 List of Birds collected by Mr. Ramage in St. Lucia, West BY ag see kc a mis arat e Slaca nV 2 ps tk TaN a fa 394 Report on the additions to the Society’s Menagerie in OEE DERM OY tees ac. atta kc ore! ss + 0 c's > ang mementos eat isiet = = 447 Exhibition of a skin of an albino variety of the Cape Mole- ; Eat (GQ GORY CIS COPONSTS) Ss «<5. 5 ep agg Ogle gg iss 3 449 Report on the additions to the Society’s Menagerie in November 1889000... 2 2256 é 586 Exhibition of, and remarks upon, an egg of the Crested Sereamer (Chauna chavaria)..........2- ceeeseeecceeess 586 xii Page SeEesoum, Henry, F.L.S., F.Z.8., &e. Exhibition of, and remarks upon, a male example of Phas- ianus chrysomelas purchased in Leadenhall Market........ 247 Exhibition of, and remarks upon, a small collection of Birds from the Bonin Islands, and of a pair of Merula celenops from Fatsirio Island ...........2.0s0 ee ee sees 586 Sue ey, Captain G. E., F.Z.S. On the Birds collected by Mr. H. C. V. Hunter, F.Z.S., in Eastern.Africa.. (Plates Xh. & XE) '.22.%0.. . /3.420n8 Sowersy, G. B., F.L.S., F.Z.S. Descriptions of thirteen new Species of Land-Shells, with a Note on Bulimus fulminans. (Plate LVI.) .......... 2. 57 NI Stesppine, Rev. Toomas R. R., M.A. Notice of a Memoir on Urothoé, a Genus of Amphipodous Crustaceans, and on a new allied Genus, proposed to be called Urothoides .........- SR ce ara 394 SresBiNG, Rev. THomas R. R., M.A., and Rosertson, Davin. Notice of a Memoir containing the descriptions of four new British Amphipodous Crustaceans ...........0.0+e00ee 452 Stirring, E. C., M.A., M.D. Cantab., F.R.C.S. Eng., Lec- turer on Physiology in the University of Adelaide. Letter from, containing a Description of a new Australian On some Points in the Anatomy of the Female Organs of Generation of the Kangaroo, especially in relation to the acts of Impregnation and Parturitign!,, «4.5... «aes je te oetsdiseees 400 Swinuog, (ol.C., F.L.S., F.Z.S. On New Indian Lepidoptera, chiefly Heterocera. (Plates PEE itig MLV...) sawn ote: cee Riess ein wreas ies > ole aia tere 396 Taczanowskl, L., C.M.Z,S. Description d’une nouvelle Locustella de la Corde ...... 620 xiii Page TEGETMEIER, WiLL1AM Bernuarp, F.Z.S. Exhibition of, and remarks upon, a specimen of a female Gold Pheasant in male plumage .... .... ssevsessseeees 135 Exhibition of a pair of distorted Horns of the Ibex of Cashmere (Capra sibirica)..........4 ania: sis nt alee Sor aie ~ 135 Exhibition of, and remarks upon, some specimens illus- trative of the Variations of Plumage of the Common Par- CRUISE croncte. ch eee age aa S's dio * 0 k's Ret See re ie, Tuomas, OLDFIELD, F.Z.S., Natural-History Museum. Exhibition of a new Species of Muntjac, from Tenasserim, proposed to be called Cervulus fee ........ ceeeeeseeess 85 Description of a new Bornean Monkey belonging to the Genus Semnopithecus. (Plate XVI.)............. sis ey LOO Preliminary Notes on the Characters and Synonymy of the different Species of Otter ............. ett ene 190 On the Mammals of Mount Kina Balu, North Borneo. (Plate XXIV ieee Se She MEST SEE cole ee ke eS Description of a new Genus of Muridee allied to Hydromys. CD iate SE. ) trans araacietsata ane Suit wt « vec se apeeneeRne ccs 247 On a new Mungoose allied to Herpestes albicaudatus. elation mists cme alaban ee ae oss cate eee emesis Ole Tuomson, ArTuur, Head-Keeper of the Society’s Menagerie. Report on the Insect-house for 1888 ....... = Sate ae 85 Treves, Frepertck, F.R.C.S., Surgeon to and Lecturer in Anatomy at the London Hospital, and Brpparp, Frank E., M.A., Prosector to the Society, Lecturer on Biology at Guy’s Hospital. On the Anatomy of Rhinoceros sumatrensis............ 7 Xiv Page Tristram, Rev. Henry Baxer, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., Canon of Durham. Remarks upon a specimen of Emberiza cioides, stated to have been captured at Flamborough, in the collection of Mees Cake : ss Kideinys > (chee be peda eaGsome iemiees 6 Witson, Scort, F.Z.S. Descriptions of some new Species of Sandwich-Island Birds 445 Woopwarp, A. Situ, F.G.S., F.Z.8., of the British Museum (Natural History). Exhibition of, and remarks upon, a maxilla of Saurichthys, from the Rheetic Formation of Aust Cliff, near Bristol .... 161 Note on Buchklandium diluvii, Konig, a Siluroid Fish from the London Clay of Sheppey. (Plate XXIT.)........... 208 Remarks upon an extinct Saw-fish (Sclerorhynchus ' atavus) and exhibition of a fragment of its rostrum.. ...... 449 Woopwarp, B. B., British Museum (Nat. Hist.). Exhibition, of, and remarks upon, a drawing of a Carni- VOrOUS Snail, Airgpe agrees. oes. sae ace Hele s celeaas 327 Exhibition of an example of a fossil Shell, Neritina schmid- eliana, and remarks upon its peculiar mode of growth .... 327 LIST OF PLATES. 1889. Plate pe Page I. Eggs of Cariama cristata............- IAT std ee 25 BL Now wider n.wiet soy... .c.aeenc eh eee eee 34 UT.” “Spieules-at Plexaurids'.(... <..°,2..o0.ces Geoneneak 47 LW,” Tathia eidiga os ore PT Oe ROR any, 50 V. olosoma tenebrarum .......... 00000. e ccc cwnestce 5] VI. Bt Lytoloma crassicostatum .... 0... ccccccseseedsctmes 60 VIL. Fig. A. Synodontis punctulatus. Fig. B. Bey atts INONLONUS 8 srarelelasereis)«\ 6 «'5\3, 0/0: six) yeletetenee i cereal Rea 70 IX... Fig. 1. Head of Eudyptes sclateri. Vig 2 . Head of Eudyptes pachyrhynchus ........ MER roads oe X.. New Species of Telephorid@ ....0..06.0..000 6 Se 96 nn \ New Land-Shells from Koror........sc00cccsececee 112 it \ Anatomy of Gonatus fabricii ........06. cece cee aee 117 “XV. Fig. 1. Gymnodactylus horridus. Fig. 2. Urostrophus ceapulatuss: sainscce:. SU A 145 ROVE (OSNGOMTACCEN AONE <=... . - . que tsat. 6.6 159 XVII. me | p Structure of Steatornis. . 2... 604/00 b Be cc deevsebeces 161 xx Peel. SulNrON MISHEss, «|... 2x... t sac ene eee eon Cae cone 201 AX. Bucklandinm diluvit . 0... 6... idsac pene + soc ccee vs 208 XXIII. Map of Palawan and adjacent Islands .............. 220 BAL... NCHTUS WKELCREAAE. «o's. 005 a acon PRM cee os ae a 228 REN Vice EL UTOUE GUCNLRETE 161 ae) Ode» ASTITOULINT toe Bate omingnns bb oe 6 bo ce ounitoeulace 201 NOU | Bucklandinm diluvtt , <\. loc cenit meleds hiss. sins ols 208 XXIII. Map of Palawan and adjacent Islands .............. 220 MOXDW... Scirus whitehende.:. cc. Jos. wee cae wie 0. 0) eee (aioe 228 OG TR OTOU RELIG en Hob oa bobo ico daeeoeuee NEV (Caran 70yGkOtt, ccs ie weit silainjelsa sles ers > 91 - | 236 XXVII. Fig. 1. Trigla arabica. Fig. 2. T. polysticta...... | XXVIII. Monacanthus melanoproctes’ .........-00 eee seen PRONGIING Te EACCT.O919/S 171 OLLESY «1x cara niageyate emeneu ouctets) aieist> alei* sore ia 247 XXX. Prepollex and prehallux of Mammals ...........+.. 259 iv Plate Page XXXI. Lithopsyche and allied Genera .......-- eee eeeee 292 XXXII. Diagrammatic representation of affinities of Birds 303 according to their intestinal convolutions........ : DOOR ITES ~ New or rare EntOZ08. soe cia oe tins eee mein cechuercle oisais 321 XXXIV. Hretmophorus_kleinenbergt ...........0.0sse2ceeaee 328 XXXV> KOO V AL. l YOOOWIE LNew Bornean! Wand=Shellsijn. os cccts «oe cleanest: 332 XXXVIII. | XXXIX. J 005 JA Wena 6) Gn &) yoondopdedocogon90Ddo= 356 XLI._ Fig. 1. Zosterops perspicillato. Fig. 2. Cinnyris hunteri ~* KG. eDamalss:Runtert, eo wermeitotr evenly ove 2 oases eres 372 NOTE F : : rk New Indian Lepidoptera .......--:.¢202-sscsseees 396 LE, Py GHOMI CUI TUS eek pale eens) Preeti ave aed =F Nits 432 XLVI os XLVII. | eee / 5 XLVIII. / Body-cavity in Lizards, &e. .... 4 ataualaueleuel ets rere 452 XK) L. Ut | sepidoper Gt Japauand Corea, Bi.Bruach. Hore limb (inner side) of Rhinoceros sumatrensis. Bi., biceps; Brach., brachialis anticus; Hxt. carp. rad., extensor carpi radialis ; Fil. carp. rad., flexor carpi radialis; FV. carp. uln., flexor carpi ulnaris; Fl. pr., flexor profundus digitorum ; FY. swb/., flexor sublimis; Jnt., in- terosseus; S.sc., subscapularis; Z\m., teres major; Zri., triceps; Zri.L, second head of triceps. 1889. ] ANATOMY OF RHINOCEROS SUMATRENSIS. 13 doing covered the muscles of the elbow-joint. The rest joined a large muscle from the chest. The muscle lay to its outer side and covered the whole humeral Fig. 4. Fore limb (anterior surface) of Rhinoceros sumatrensis. Ext. carp, rad. br., extensor carpi radialis brevior; S.l., supinator longus ; Ext. carp. uln., extensor carpi ulnaris; Ext. com. dig., extensor com- munis digitorum ; /x¢. carp. rad., extensor carpi radialis. region, not unlike the human deltoid. Its upper part was inserted into the external supra-condyloid ridge of the humerus, lying between the biceps and brachialis anticus. Biceps.—A fusiform muscle of large size. Arose by single tendon from coracoid process. ‘The tendon passed underneath the supra- spinatus, beneath the muscle from the chest, and was inserted into 14 MESSRS. F. E. BEDDARD AND F. TREVES ON THE ([Jan. 15, the radius at its neck, and joined also the deep fascia of the fore- arm. Biceps tendon of origin two inches wide and one inch thick. Supraspinatus.—A huge fleshy muscle, occupying superior border of scapula; covered biceps tendon; inserted on to external tuberosity ; it arose from the whole of the supraspinous fossa; it was covered by a dense aponeurosis, and into this a slender muscle from the neck was inserted, the origin of which was not discovered. Infraspinatus.—This muscle is larger than the supraspinatus ; it arises from the whole of the dorsum of the scapula below the supraspinatus ; it covered the triceps and is inserted on to the external trochanter. Extensor Muscles of Forearm (woodcut, fig. 4, p. 13). Extensor communis digitorum.—Arises from the extensor condyle with the other extensors, from the upper part of the ulna and radius, and from the ulnar border of the radius to halfway down that bone. It passes down as a fleshy muscle, and forms a flat tendon just above the distal end of the ulna and divides into three flat expansions, one for each digit. Extensor lateralis digitorum.—Arises from the extensor condyle below the extensor communis, and from the shaft of the ulna. Passes down through a groove on the end of the ulna, where it becomes tendinous. The main part of the tendon goes to the first phalanx of the ulnar digit, and there is a slender flattened expansion to the middle digit. Extensor obliquus metacarpi.—This muscle is bipinnate. It arises by one head from the extensor condyle and from the shaft of the radius, and by another head from the radius. The heads join just above the carpus, and passing round to the radial side of the wrist, the muscle is inserted into the radial metacarpal bone. Extensor metacarpi.—This arises as a broad fleshy mass from the extensor condyle and from the radius. Passes underneath the extensor obliquus as a very broad and thick tendon over a groove in distal end of radius, to be inserted into the carpal end of the middle meta- carpal bone. Supinator longus.—Rises in common with the other muscles, being the most superior (proximal) one of them, from the extensor condyle. Passes down as a slender muscle to be inserted into the distal end of the radius. Flexor Muscles of Forearm (woodcut, fig. 5, p. 15). Flexor externis metacarpi.—Rises from the extensor condyle and from the olecranon. It is a very big and fleshy muscle ; it is inserted by a small tendon into the pisiform bone. Flexor obliquus metacarpi.—This muscle arises by two heads: (1) by a tendon, in common with the flexor internus metacarpi, from the 1889. ] ANATOMY OF RHINOCEROS SUMATRENSIS. 15 flexor condyle, and (2) by a fleshy head partly from the olecranon and partly from the humerus. Its flat fleshy belly passes down, the main tendon passing over, and being connected with, a large sesamoid (?) bone over the distal end of the ulna to be inserted into the pisi- Pigdcds FU. Subl. Fore limb (posterior surface) of Rhinoceros sumatrensis. Fi. subl., flexor sublimis ; FV. carp. wln., flexor carpi ulnaris; Fi. pr., flexor pro- fundus digitorum ; Znz., interosseus. form bone; a few fleshy fibres, given off before the muscle becomes tendinous, are inserted into the radial side of the carpus. Flexor internus metacarpi.—Arises from the flexor condyle (there is a bursa half an inch in diameter between the muscle and the condyle) as a big fleshy mass. Passes down in a groove on the 16 MESSRS. F. E. BEDDARD AND F. TREVES ON THE [Jan. 15, radius, and, becoming tendinous above the wrist, is inserted into the proximal end of the radial metacarpal bone. Flexor sublimis ( perforatus).—Arises, in common with the flexor profundus, from the flexor condyle. Passes down as a large fleshy muscle; becomes tendinous at wrist, under annular ligament, and there divides into three small tendons, expanding into sheath at bases of phalanges, from inner side of which sheath expansions go forward to be inserted into the base of the second phalanx. Flexor profundus (perforans).—This has a similar origin to last described muscle (flexor sublimis). Becomes a very big tendon, and dividing over the metacarpus lower than the above, passes through a thick sheath to the base of the last phalanx. Palmaris longus.—This is a muscle which is apparently not described in the Horse, arising by a short thick fleshy belly from the olecranon ; the fleshy part of the muscle is short and is succeeded by a wide and thin tendon which passes into flexor profundus at the wrist. Interosset.—TVhere are four interossei muscles. The presence of a palmaris longus, if we are right in thus identifying the muscle described above under that name, is teresting for the reason that it does not occur in the Horse, but does in the Tapir. The following table shows the resemblances and differences between the Rhinoceros, Horse, and Tapir in the extensor and flexor muscles of the arm :— Horse. Origin: —(1) Extensor con- dyle; (2) humerus below extensor condyle; (3) the anterior border of external ligament of articulation of elbow; (4) superior and external tuberosity of radius; (5) external bor- der of radius. Rhinoceros. Ext. comm. digit... Origin:—(1) Extensor con- dyle; (2) upper part of ulna and radius ; (3) from ulnar border of radius to halfway down that bone. Insertion upon all 3 digits. Ext. lat. digit...... Ext. obl. met. ...... Flexor ext. met. ... Origin :—(1) Extensor con- dyle; (2) shaft of ulna. Ins. (st phalanx of ulnar digit and (by a slight ten- don) to middle digit. Origin by one head trom exterior condyle and shaft of radius; by 2nd head from radius. Jns., radial metacarpal. Origin from extensor con- dyle and olecranon. ns. into pisiform. Origin. From external tube- rosity of radius and from shaft of radius and ulna, not from humerus. Origin. Only one head from external side of radius. Insertion by 2 tendons: (1) on to pisiform; (2) outer metacarpal, 1889.] Rhinoceros. Flex. obl. met. ... Origin by one head from flexor condyle, by a 2nd head partly from olecra- non and partly from humerus. Jns. (1) by a tendon upon pisiform ; (2) by fleshy fibres upon radial side of carpus. . Origin from flexor con- dyle. Jns. proximal end of radial metacarpal. Origin from flexor condyle. Ins. bases of 2nd phalanx of all 3 digits. Flexor profundus. Origin from flexor condyle. Ins. bases of last phalanx of each digit. Flea. int. met. Flex. perforatus... Palmaris longus (?) Present. Ext. met. Origin. Extensor condyle and radius. ns. carpal end of middle metacarpal. Rhinoceros. Extensor met. ...... Ext. comm. digit. txt. lat. digit. ... ANATOMY OF RHINOCEROS SUMATRENSIS. i Horse. Origin. By two heads as in Rhinoceros. 2nd head arises only from olecra- non. Insertion only on to pisiform. The same. The same, allowing for absence of phalanges of 2nd and 4th digits. Origin :—(1) From flexor condyle; (2) olecranon ; (3) posterior surface of radius. Absent. Origin only from humerus. Tapir. Origin only from humerus. Origin:—(1) Outer condyle ; (2) head of radius; (3) from middle of ulna. Origin from extensor con- dyle and from ulna and radius. Jnsvrtion, outer digits 3 and 4. It will be seen from the above tabular comparison of some of the muscles of the Rhinoceros with the corresponding muscles of the Horse that there are some differences, particularly in the extensors. We shall now compare the myology of Rhinoceros with that of Hyrax; our comparison is not based upon a dissection of Hyrax, but upon the detailed account of the muscular anatomy of that animal by Messrs. Murie and Mivart’. The extensor muscles of the manus in Rhinoceros are, as in the Horse, only four in number; the corresponding muscles in Hyrax appear to be as follows :— Rhinoceros, Horse. Tyrax. Extensor communis digitorum. Extensor lateralis digitorum. Extensor obliquus metacarpi. Extensor communis digitorum. Extensor minimi digitt. Extensor ossis metacarpi pollicis. { Extensor carpi longior. Extensor metacarpt. . . P Extensor carpi brevior. 1 P.Z.S. 1865, p. 329. Proc. Zoo. Soc.—1889, No. IL. 2 18 MESSRS. F. E. BEDDARD AND F. TREVES ON THE (Jan. 15, Hyrax possesses in addition an extensor carpi ulnaris, which is wanting in the Ungulates. In Hyrax the extensores primi, secundi internodii, and indicis are wanting, which is so far a resemblance to the Ungulate in that the last two of these muscles are present im the Rabbit * and apparently in Hydromys. The supinator longus, which we have described in the Rhinoceros, is absent in the Horse, and according to Meckel, quoted by Messrs. Murie and Mivart,in many Rodents. Windle’ asserts its absence in Hydromys, and Huxley in the Rabbit. Its presence in Hyraz is therefore of particular mterest and also its presence in the Tapir. Muscles of the Hind Limbs (figs. 6, 7, 8, 9). Hiacus.—This muscle is largely tendinous upon the inner side ; its origin is from the whole of the iliac fossa. Psoas.—A small muscle dividing into two tendons; both are mserted into lesser trochanter, curving round femur from before back. Psoas parvus.—The upper part of the belly is museular but soon becomes tendinous; it is continuous with the sartorius (see fig. 7). Gracilis.—The gracilis is enormously wide and muscular through- out ; it arises from pubic arch and is inserted by a large muscular and tendinous insertion into fascia above the imner side of the knee, which is continued on to patella and then on to inner side of tibia. Pectineus is a fleshy, somewhat flat oblong-shaped muscle; it arises from pubis along pectineal line ; it is inserted on to the femur as in the Horse. Adductor longus.—Arises from ramus of pubis, where it is blended with adductor magnus; its insertion is the same as that of the gracilis, except that it also is attached to the lower end of the femur ; it is partly covered by gracilis. Adductor magnus is a large fleshy muscle with but little tendon ; its origin is muscular and it is here fused with adductor longus as already stated ; its insertion is to inner side of shaft and to inner condyle of femur ; it forms a tendinous arch for artery at junction of middle and lower third. The Rectus and two Vasti were fused into a single muscle, the elements of which were indicated by aponeuroses ; the muscle is inserted on to patella. Semimembranosus.—This muscle is united to form one muscle with the semitendinosus ; it is inserted by a flat tendon parallel with and + inch behind the erest of tibia; this tendon is three inches Jong. The Peronei muscles are four in number :— (1) Originates from the outer side of the head of the fibula and © Huxley, ‘Anatomy of Vertebrates,’ p. 489. P. Z. 8. 1887, p. 56. 1889. | ANATOMY OF RHINOCEROS SUMATRENSIS. 19 Fig. 6. Hind limb (inner aspect) of Rhinoceros sumatrensis. The branches of the aorta and the nerves are not lettered. Add.l., insertion of adductor longus ; Add.m., adductor maguus; C?r., crurzus ; g., gracilis ; J/.Ps., iliacus and psoas ; Pect., pectineus; F., rectus; Sart., sartorius; Zazt., tibialis anticus; 7.v,f., tensor vaginz femoris. ~ 2() MESSRS. F. E. BEDDARD AND F. TREVES ON THE [Jan. 15, Hind limb (front aspect) of Rhinoceros sumatrensis. Eat.l.dig., extensor longus digitorum; Ps.p., psoas parvus (continuous with sartorius); Ps., psoas; J/., iliacus; Pect., pectineus; Cr., crureus; UR gracilis; Add./., adductor longus; R., rectus; Sart., sartorius; T.andt., tibialis anticus: Z’v.f, tensor vaginx femoris. 1889. } ANATOMY OF RHINOCEROS SUMATRENSIS. 21 also from the shaft of that bone; it passes down through a groove to be inserted into the head of outer metatarsal. (2) The second peroneal has a common origin with the first Hind limb (posterior aspect) of Rhinoceros swmatrensis. Fi.d., flexor longus digitorum; Gas¢r., gastrocnemius; P/., plantaris ; Pl.fas., plantaris fascia; Popl., popliteus; So., soleus; FI.I., tendon of flexor longus. from head of fibula; it is separated below by a ridge of bone; it is inserted into metatarsal bone of outer toe. 22 MESSRS. F. E. BEDDARD AND F. TREVES ON THE’ [Jan. 15, (3) Arises from the shaft of the fibula behind and below the other peroneal muscles ; it passes down beneath the tendon of second peroneal and is inserted on to the cuboid bone. (4) The fourth peroneal is a small muscle arising from the lower part of the first peroueal; it is inserted into the tendon of the third peroneal. Extensor communis digitorum.—This muscle arises from the upper part of the tibia; it is a fleshy muscle and passes down through a well-marked annular ligament ; its tendon divides into three branches ; two very strong ones supply inner and outer toes; the tendon of middle toe is very slender. The anterior tibial arises by two muscular bands from the shaft of the tibia; it is inserted below into the base of the inner meta- tarsal bone and tarsus. Extensor brevis digitorum arises from astragalus, and is inserted mainly into the middle toe together with the /ongus, but forming much the larger part of the tendon; some fibres go to the inner toe, none to the outer. Flexor communis digitorum.—This is a large fleshy muscle and takes the place of the flewores longus, longus pollicis, and of the tibialis posticus in Man. It arises from the posterior surface of the tibia and of the fibula; the origin from the fibula extends as high wp as a ridge on its head ; it also arises from fascia over popliteal ; from the tibia it arises only from the outer side of the lower part of the shaft; the muscle becomes tendinous at the ankle and passes over a trochlear surface formed partly of cartilage and in connection, as it appeared, with the calcaneo-cuboid ligament; it communi- cates by a tendinous slip with the flevor brevis and then divides into three tendons, each of these passes under a sheath formed by the flexor brevis, and is inserted at the base of the last phalanx of rts digit. The Flexor brevis is entirely tendinous and is really nothing more than a continuation of the plantaris’ ; it divides into three tendons, each of which forms a sheath for the /ongus to go through, and from the inner wall of the sheath small tendons are continued forwards to the base of the second phalanx; the three sheaths seem to be joined at the side. The Lumbricales are four in number; three of these are in connection with Jongus and one seems to arise from the outer tendon of long and short flexors. There are Interossei muscles in each space and on both sides. The Gastrocnemius is a large muscle ; it arises from the femur by two heads ; it passes down and is attached to os calcis. The Plantaris is a slender strong muscle; it arises from the outer condyle of the femur; it passes down under gastrocnemius to os calcis, where it spreads out and passes over a smooth cartilaginous surface upon the bone and forms the flexor brevis digitorum. The Popliteus is a large muscle; it arises from the external condyle of femur ; it passes obliquely downwards and inwards to be 1 As in most other Mammals. 1889.] ANATOMY OF RHINOCEROS SUMATRENSIS. 23 inserted into tibia; the lower part (about half) was covered by flexor communis digitorum. Great importance is attached by Dr. G. E. Dobson * to the presence or absence of a connection in the foot between the flevor communis digitorum and the flewor brevis; we have shown that this connection exists in Rhinoceros, which therefore forms no exception to the rule laid down by that anatomist. Hind foot (inner surface) of Rhineceros sumatrensis. P.J., peroneus longus; P, peronii; Gas¢7., gastrocnemius; Hat./.dig., extensor longus digitorum; F/.d., flexor longus digitorum. These flexor muscles agree very closely with those of the Horse and of the Tapir; in both these Ungulates and in a there is no separate Tibialis posticus. The Peronei of the Rhinoceros are, on the other hand, fe more complicated than in the Horse, where one only has been ‘described. In Hyrax Murie and Mivart only describe two peroneal muscles. No reliable taxonomic conclusions can be drawn from the relations of these muscles, since in Lepus and Hydromys the peroneals are as complicated as in Rhinoceros. 2 “ Onthe Homologies of the long Flexor Muscles &e.,” Journ, Anat. Phys. vol. xvii. p. 142. 24 ON THE ANATOMY OF RHINOCEROS SUMATRENSIS. [Jan. 15, The following is a tabular statement of the condition of certain muscles in the Rhinoceros and Horse. Rhinoceros. Horse. Eat. comm. dig. ... Arises from tibia. Arises from between external condyle and trochea of femur. Peroned” eiase keen Four separate muscles. Only one muscle. Anterior tibial ... Origin by two heads from Forms two separate muscles, tibia. Jns. radial meta- one tendinous arising from tarsal and tarsal. femur, the other fleshy from tibia. Muscles of the Head and Neck (fig. 10). Fig. 10 illustrates the principal muscles of the head as seen from the side. Fig. 10 may be compared with the woodcut (fig. 97) illustrating Bios 10: Lev lab.s me X Dissection of side of face of Rhinoceros sumatrensis. Pay., parotid gland ; Lev./ab.s., levator labii superioris aleeque nasi; M., mas- seter; Orb., orbicularis ; Plat., platysma;, Zyg-, zygomaticus. the corresponding muscles in the Horse in Chauveau’s book, and with plate viii. of Murie’s memoir upon the Sumatran Tapir. The Zygomatic arises from the zygoma just in front of the anterior edge of the parotid gland ; it is inserted near to the margin of the lower lip at its hinder part close to the angle of the mouth. This muscle is much more important than in the Horse, where it is a small superficial slip arising from the surface of the masseter and inserted at a considerable distance away from the corner of the P. 2.9): depo eel: J.G.Keulemans del. et lith Mintern Bros. in EGGS OF CARIAMA CRISTATA. 1389.] PROF. NEWTON ON THE BREEDING OF THE SERIEMA. 25 mouth. In. the Tapir this muscle, although shorter, is more like the corresponding muscle of the Rhinoceros; it has the same origin from the bone and is inserted near to the corner of the month. The Mawillo-nasal seems to be, if anything, rather less developed in the Rhinoceros than in the Horse; it is not indicated in Murie’s figure of the Tapir. The Levator labii superioris aleque nasi is composed of two por- tions, which are decidedly more distinct from each other than in the Horse ; the lowermost portion of this muscle, which is attached to the lower jaw, corresponds to the muscular slip regarded by Chauveau as homologous with the risorius. The remaining muscles of the head as shown in fig. 10 call for no special comment. 3. On the Breeding of the Seriema (Cariama cristata). By Atrrep Newron, V.-P. [Received January 15, 1889.] (Plate I.) It may perhaps be remembered that as nearly as possible eight years ago our Foreign Member, Professor Alphonse Milne-Edwards, entrusted to my care for exhibition to this Society a specimen of the egg of Cariama cristata which had been laid in the Jardin des Plantes, and that I then expressed (P. Z. S. 1881, p. 2) the hope that our own Gardens would, sooner or later, produce a similar example. That hope has been more than fulfilled, and our Secretary, in placing in my hands the eggs now betore you (Plate I.), has requested me to make a few observations upon them. These eggs were laid by a bird presented to the Society on the 12th of August 1884 by Captain Jones, which had paired with a male bought by the Society on the 23rd of August 1882. Both are still living in our Gardens. The eggs were laid about the 15th of May 1887 in arude nest built in a basket placed on one of the perches of a compartment in the Eastern Aviary, at the height of about a dozen feet from the ground. I understand that the mother sat upon them, but that they were found to be broken, and were then removed. . So far as my memory serves me, these eges present exactly the same characters as that which was laid in the Jardin des Plantes, and which was exhibited by me on the occasion just mentioned. They also resemble in the same way that figured by Thienemann (Fort- pflanz. der gesammt. Végel, tab. Ixxii. fig. 14) to which I then referred ; but Mr. Keulemans’s drawings (Plate I.) are sufficiently exact to make further description unnecessary. In May 1888 this same hen Oariama cristata laid two eggs, but both were destroyed, as is believed, by the parents. 26 THE SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. [Feb. 5, About the 21st of June 1888 she laid another egg in the same basket, and this was hatched on the 24th of July. The young bird was seen by our Secretary and our Superintendent, the latter of whom informs me that it had much the look of a newly-hatched Heron. Its eyes were open, and it was clothed with greyish-brown down. On the next day the keeper (Church) found it had disappeared, it having been doubtless eaten by one or other of its parents. Another egg laid by the same bird was hatched on the 7th of September 1888. Our Superintendent, to guard against a repetition of the former misfortune, abstained from any inspection of it, but unhappily to no effect, for on the following day this nestling also was found by the keeper (Samuel Bartlett) to have vanished, having doubtless gone the same way as its deceased brother or sister. February 5, 1889. Professor Flower, C.B., LL.D., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The Secretary read the following report on the additions to the Society’s Menagerie during the month of January 1889 :— The total number of registered additions to the Society’s Mena- gerie during the month of Jannary was 50. Of these 1 was by birth, 22 by presentation, 17 by purchase, 2 by exchange, and 8 were received on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 116. The most noticeable additions during the month were :— 1. A small collection of birds from Algeria obtained by purchase from a dealer at Oran on January 10th. Among these are specimens of Clot-Bey’s Lark (Aamphocorys clot-beyi), the Algerian Shore- Lark (Otocorys bilopha), and the Rosy Bullfinch (Zrythrospiza githaginea), all new to the Society’s collection. 2. Two White Ibises, purchased January 18th, and differing from the White Ibises we have previously had in the Society’s collection in their larger size and bright red bills, as will be at once manifest on an examination of the specimens now in the Gardens. ‘They would appear to belong to the species (or subspecies) designated by Wagler (Isis, 1829, p. 760) Hudocimus longirostris. On the other hand, on referring to Baird, Brewer, and Ridgway’s ‘ Water Birds of North America’ (vol, i. p. 89), it will be seen that their Hudocimus albus is the larger red-billed bird. This subject therefore requires fresh investigation, and I commend it to the notice of American Ornithologists. Mr. Sclater exhibited a living specimen of the Thick-billed Lark (Rhamphocorys clot-beyi) out of a flock of five which the Society had lately received from Algeria, and called attention to its peculiarities. 1889.] ON SOME SPECIES OF THE GENUS RHACOPHORUS. 27 Little had been added to our knowledge of this curious form since the publication of the notice of it in Dresser’s ‘ Birds of Europe’ (iv. p. 383, pl. 242). The specimens in the Society’s collection had been purchased from M. Augéard, Préparateur Naturaliste, 22, Rue des Casernes, Oran, and were believed to have been captured in the south of the Province of Oran. In a recently published number of the ‘ Journal fiir Ornithologie’ (1888, p. 225) would also be found a notice of specimens of this Lark having been obtained by Dr. A. Koenig in the Tunisian Sahara in May 1887. Dr. Giinther, F.R.S., exhibited and made remarks on some fishes which had been dredged up by Mr. John Murray off the west coast of Scotland, and were not previously known to oceur in British waters, viz., Cottus lilljeborgit (Collett), Triglops murrayi, sp. n., Gadus esmarkii (Nilss.), Onus reinhardti (Collett), Fierasfer acus (Briinn.), Scopelus scoticus, sp. n., and Stomias ferox (Rubrdt. ). The following communications were read :-— 1. On the Species of Rhacophorus confounded under the name of R. maculatus. By G. A. BouLENGER. [Received January 15, 1889.] A recent reinvestigation of the material in the British Museum has convinced me that several species have been confounded by me, as well as most of my predecessors in Indian herpetology, under the name of Rhacophorus (or Polypedates) maculatus. Apart from &. seavirgatus, Gravh.' (quadrilineatus, Wgm.), which is nothing but a colour-variety of the eastern form, R. /eucomystax, Gravh. (rugosus, D. & B.), two species have been described, upon the value of which herpetologists have been in doubts, viz. Polyp. eruciger, Blyth, and P. scutiger, Ptrs., both from Ceylon, The former was separated on account of its larger size and coloration. Nevill, who has recently taken up the matter again, distinguishes it from J. maculatus by its much larger size, stouter feet, and the uniform colouring of the hinder part of thighs, which never present any approach to the white or yellow spotting and marbling observable in R. macuiatus. Neither the characters pointed out vy Blyth nor those given by Nevill can serve to distinguish R. cruciger from the continental R. maculazes, if the latter be taken in the customary comprehensive sense ; and the total absence of white spotting on the thigh is so far from being constant that one of the specimens in the British Museum, 1 Hylorana longipes, Fischer, of which the type specimen is now in the Museum, is another synonym of this variety. 28 MR. G. A. BOULENGER ON SOME SPECIES [ Feb. 5; an otherwise typical R. cruciger, 34 millim. long from snout to vent, from Dr. Kelaart’s collection, has the flanks and the sides of the thighs spotted with white on a brown ground. Polypedates biscutiger was established by Peters for specimens from Rambodde, Ceylon, ‘agreeing with P. maculatus in size and appearance, but easily distinguished by bony nuchal prominences, which are especially distinct in the adult, the smaller tympanum, Upper surface of skulls of Rhacophorus. a. R. leucomystax, Darjeeling ; a’. Ditto, China ; a''. Ditto, Celebes. 6. R. ma- culatus, Nilgherries ; 6’. Ditto, Bombay ; 5". Ditto, Ceylon. ¢. R. eruciger, Ceylon. All the figures are taken from adult females. and the colour of the thighs, the hinder side of which bears large yellow spots on black-marbled ground.’ But these being precisely the characters of the true R. maculatus from India and Ceylon, it is clear that Peters based his comparison on the other Ceylonese form, R. cruciger, which he probably regarded as the typical R. maculatus, P. biscutiger, Ptrs., is therefore a synonym of &. maculatus, Gray. 1889. | OF THE GENUS RHACOPHORUS. 29 I am nevertheless satisfied that both Blyth and Peters were cor- rect in distinguishing two species in Ceylon, as were likewise the authors of the ‘Erpétologie générale’ in distinguishing the Indian (Bengal, Pondichery, Malabar) from the Malayan (Java, Philippines) form, although they made the mistake of applying to the former the name leucomystax, which belongs to the latter, their P. rugosus. The comparison of fully adult skulls shows very great differences between the extreme types; and these differences corresponding with certain external characters, though of a very trivial nature, and with the habitats, it is difficult not to admit that they deserve recognition in the system. But if a large series of examples be examined, the gaps between the various torms are nearly completely bridged over, as may be seen from the figures (p. 28), which at the same time afford an excellent exaniple of derivation of characters and speak clearly against the systematic value of certain cranial structures to which Cope stil! attaches undue importance’. However, | think it best to distinguish as species the three fol- lowing forms, and I will proceed ¢o give their characters, synonymy, and distribution. RHACOPHORUS LEUCOMYSTAX. Hyla leucomystax, Gravenh. Delic. Mus. Vratisl. p. 26 (1829). Ayla sexvirgata, Graveuh. t. c. p. 28. Hyla quadrilineata, Wiegm. N. Acta Ac. Leop.-Carol. xvii. 1. p- 260, pl. xxi. fig. 1 (1835). Polypedates leucomystax, Tschudi, Class. Batr. p. 75 (1838); Cantor, Cat. Mal. Rept. p. 142 (1847). Polypedates rugosus, Dum. & Bibr. viii. p. 520 (1841). Polypedates maculatus, part., Ginth. Cat. Batr. p. 78 (1858), and Rept. Brit. Ind. p. 428 (1864); Stoliczka, Proc. As. Soc. Beng. 1872, p. 106. Polypedates quadrilineatus, Giiuth. ll. ec. pp. 79 & 429; Anders. Proe. Zool. Soc. 1871, p. 207. Polypedates maculatus, Auders. 1. ¢. Polypedates megacephalus, Hallow. Proc. Ac. Philad. 1860, p. 507. Rhacophorus maculatus, part., Bouleng. Cat. Batr. p. 83 (1882). fylorvana longipes, Fischer, Arch. f. Nat. li. p. 47 (1885). The largest specimen (from Siam) im the Collection measures 81 millim. from snout to vent. No connection between the fronto-parietals and the squamosals. In the Himalayan specimens examined (six from Darjeeling and one 1 Prof. Cope, in a notice of the British Museum Catalogue of Batrachians (cf. Am. Nat. 1883, p. 181), expresses the hope that, if another edition of the work is called for, the author will modify it by the adoption of the genera charac- terized by the degree of ossification of the cranial bones, which would divide Hyla into four genera, viz. Hyla, Scytopis, Osteocephalus, and Trachycephalus. If these principles were applied to the /’hacophori, we should have at least three genera in the maculatus-group ; just as, on aecount of the presence of a fronto- parictal fontanelle, Bufo calamita is placed by Cope in a distinct genus away from B. viridis. Tu fact, he has recently (‘Origin of the Fittest,’ p.82) proposed to restrict the genus Polypedates to the species with rugose skull. 30 MR. G. A. BOULENGER ON SOME SPECIES (Feb. 5, from Sikkim), measuring up to 68 millim. from snout to vent, and in a single Formosan, 60 millim. long, the skin is perfectly free from the skull, which shows no trace of rugosities, and the width of the interorbital space equals or a little exceeds the width of the upper eyelid. The skull of Chinese specimens, up to 48 millim., resembles that of the Himalayan, whilst larger specimens, up to 70 millim., are intermediate between the latter and the Burmese- Malayan, both as regards the width of the interorbital space and the rugosities, the skin adhering to the fronto-parietals, but not to the nasals. In all the other specimens (Rangoon, Tenasserim, Siam, Camboja, Cochinchina, Singapore, Sumatra, Nias, Borneo, Java, Philippines, Celebes) the skin adheres to the fronto-parietals in individuals only 40 millim. long; and in the adult the interorbital space becomes very broad and concave, once and a half to twice the width of the upper eyelid, strong angular postorbital processes” are developed, and the skin adheres not only to the fronto-parietals but also to the nasals and squamosals, as may be seen at a" in the figure (p. 28). Here follow some measurements, in millimetres, of the skulls of specimens from various localities :— Darjeeling. |S. China./Rangoon.) Manado.| Siam. Lenpth of skull \............ 19 23 20 24 25 Width of skull ....-.........- 21 24 214 27 28 Width of fronto-parietals Theta 0) deseo cee Speen come noe 63 9 84 10 il Width of fronto-parietals at postorbital processes... 63 10 92 15 19 Disk of third finger one half to three fifths the diameter of the eye. In some specimens the tibio-tarsal articulation reaches the eye, in others the end of the snout, in most between these two points. This species presents the well-known colour-variety characterized by longitudinal dark bands on the head and body (var. seavirguta s. quadrilineata). But, as already noticed by Anderson on an Assamese specimen, the passage between this variety and the typical form exists ; we have such intermediate specimens from Darjeeling and from Formosa. In spotted examples, a small X- or hourglass- shaped dark marking, extending to between the eyes, is frequently present. The hinder side of the thighs is usually brown, with small whitish spots; but these may be absent, as usually in 2. cruciger, or they may be large and separated by a dark network, as usually in R. maculatus ; these variations do not correspond with any other that I can find. Hab. Southern China and Eastern Himalayas to the Malay Peninsula and Archipelago. RHACOPHORUS MACULATUS. Hyla maculata, Gray, Ul. Ind. Zool. i. pl. Ixxxii. fig. 1 (1832). 1889. | OF THE GENUS RHACOPHORUS. 3 Birgeria maculata, Tschudi, Class. Batr. p. 75 (1838). Polypedates leucomystax, Dum. & Bibr. viii. p. 519 (1841). Polypedates leucomystax, part., Kelaart, Prodr. Faun. Zeyl. p- 193 (1852). Polypedates maculatus, part., Giinth. Cat. Batr. p. 78 (1858), and Rept. Brit. Ind. p. 428 (1864) ; Stoliczka, Proc. As. Soc. Beng. 1872, p. 106. Polypedates maculatus,’ Blanf. Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xxxix. p. 376 (1870). Polypedates biscutiger, Peters, Mon. Berl. Ac. 1871, p. 649. Rhacophorus maculatus, part., Bouleng. Cat. Batr. p. 83 (1882). The largest specimen (from Malabar) in the Collection measures 73 millim. from snout to vent. The posterior border of the fronto-parietals is produced on each side into a process which joins, or is connected by ligament with, the squamosal. The above figures show the amount of variation in the development of this parieto-squamosal arch, irrespective, apparently, of age and locality. The nasals and fronto-parietals are smooth, except in specimens which have the posterior arch much thickened, in which case that region is finely sculptured ; but the skin never adheres to any part of the skull. The fronto-parietals are broadest in front, and the postorbital processes merely indicated. Disk of third finger two fifths to one half the diameter of the eye. The tibio-tarsal articulation reaches the eye or between the eye and the tip of the snout. Interorbita! space once to once and one third the width of the upper eyelid. Upper parts variously spotted, never banded; hinder side of thighs with large yellow spots, usually separated by a purplish- brown network. Hab. Indiaand Ceylon. Specimens in the British Museum from Ganjam, Madras, Bombay, Salem, Malabar, Nilgherries, and Ceylon. According to Nevill, R. maculatus is found in the hot dry parts of Ceylon, from Putlam, across the island, and south to Batticaloa ; it has a peculiar fondness for houses. Thurston (Cat. Batr. S. Ind. 1888) remarks that it is common in Madras at night, adhering to. walls and windows, and is known among Europeans as the “ chunam frog,” from the frequency with which it is found on chunam (shell- lime) walls. RHACOPHORUS CRUCIGER. Polypedates leucomystax, part., Kelaart, Prodr. Faun. Zeyl. p. 193 (1852). Polypedates cruciger, Blyth, in Kelaart, op. cit. App. p. 48 (1852). Polypedates maculatns, part., Giimth. Cat. Batr. p. 78 (1858) ; and Rept. Brit. Ind. p. 428 (1864). Rhacophorus maculatus, part., Bouleng. Cat. Batr. p. 83 (1882). Rhacophorus cruciger, Nevill, Taprobanian, iii. p. 6 (1888). The largest female specimen measures 85 millim. from snout to vent, the largest male only 56. 32 MR. P. L. SCLATER ON SOME NEW SPECIES [Feb. 5, This species is more constant in cranial characters and in coloration than its two nearest allies. In general appearance it strongly re- sembles the likewise Ceylonese R. eques. A slender bony parieto-squamosal arch. Skin adherent to the rugose nasals and fronto-parietals ; latter bones broadest in front, without or with a mere indication of postorbital processes. Inter- orbital space once to once and a half the width of the upper eyelid. Digital expansions larger than those in R. maculatus, that of the third finger measuring one half to two thirds the diameter of the eye. ‘The tibio-tarsal articulation reaches the end of the snout or a little beyond. No large dorsal spots, but usually a large dark or black-edged hourglass-shaped marking extending from between the eyes to in front of the sacrum ; hinder side of thighs brownish, uniform or with small whitish spots. Hab. Ceylon. Nevill states that he has examined some hundred or more, of both sexes, of this frog and of R. maculatus, as found in Ceylon, without coming across any intermediate forms. R. eruciger is found in the wet valleys of the hill district around Kandy, but he has not seen it from any other locality. &. maculatus has a peculiar fondness for houses; but &. cruciger, though found amongst plantain- groves, &c., seems never to enter houses. 2. On some new Species and Genera of Birds of the Family Dendrocolaptide. By P. L. Scrarer, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., Secretary to the Society. [Received December 19, 1888.] The following species of the family Dendrocolaptidee, so far as I can make out, appear to be undescribed. They are based on specimens in the British Museum, and in my own collection and that of Messrs. Salvin and Godman. 1. UpuceRTHIA BRIDGESI, Sp. nov. Above brown, rump more rufous, head more cinereous; long, narrow superciliaries white; wings blackish, inner primaries and secondaries rufous at the base and edged externally with rufous ; tail uniform rufous: beneath dirty white, flanks flammulated with brown; under wing-coverts whitish ; inner margins of wing-feathers pale rufous: bill black ; lower mandible at the base yellowish; feet blackish. Whole length 7:0 inches, wing 3:1, tail 2:8. Hab. Bolivia ( Bridges). Mus. Brit. ‘This species comes nearest to U. montana, having the whole tail rufous, but the wings and tail are shorter, and the body is much whiter beneath. 1889. ] AND GENERA OF DENDROCOLAPTID&. 33 2. PHACELLODOMUS RUFIPENNIS, Sp. nov. Above reddish earthy brown ; head, rump, wings, and tail brighter, clear rufous ; lores whitish ; wing-end pale blackish: beneath creamy white; breast slightly washed with rufous, and with bright shaft- stripes; flanks and crissum pale rufous; under wing-coverts dark rufous ; bill pale brown, under mandible whiter; feet pale brown. Whole length 8-0 inches, wing 2°7, tail 3°7. Hab. Bolivia. Mus. Brit. et P. L. S. This species has a general resemblance to P. ruber, but is dis- tinguished by its earthy-brown back and by the breast being suffused with rufous and marked by very narrow bright shaft-stripes. In P. ruber the breast is of a pure white. It should be remarked that, as I have lately ascertained by ex- amination of the specimens at Paris, the ordinary Phacellodomus of the Argentine Republic, which I have hitherto followed Burmeister and others in referring to P. ruder, is not P. ruber, but P. striati- collis (d’Orb. et Lafr.). 3. THRIPOPHAGA FUSCICEPS, Sp. nov. Above earthy brown ; head paler, somewhat cinereous ; interscapu- lium washed with rufous ; edgings of wings and whole tail chestnut- red: beneath yellowish earthy brown, with very narrow brighter shaft-stripes on the breast; under wing-coverts bright rufous ; bill yellowish brown ; feet pale brown. Whole length 6-7 inches, wing 9, tail 3°3. Hab. Bolivia (Bridges). Mus. Brit. The earthy-brown cap at once distinguishes this well-marked species from its congeners. 4. PHILYDOR CERVICALIS, sp. nov. Philydor erythrocercus, Salv. Ibis, 1885, p. 420 (?). Above uniform dark olive ; rump and tail chestnut-red: beneath pale greyish olive ; throat white; breast slightly mottled with greyish olive; under wing-coverts and inner edges of remiges bright cinna- momeous ; bill greenish grey, with a white blotch on the lower man- dible; feet plumbeous. Whole length 6:3 inches, wing 3°1, tail 2°8. Hab. British Guiana. Mus. P.L.S. This species seems to me to be decidedly different from P. erythro- -cercus, although closely allied. It is distinguished by the want of any signs of the superciliary stripe and by the slightly mottled breast. My specimens were obtained at Bartica Grove and at Camacusa in British Guiana by Mr. Whitely. 5. PicoLapPres PARVIROSTRIS, Sp. NOV. Above earthy brown; rump, margins of wing-feathers and tail bright ferruginous; head and neck behind, down to middle of the Proc. Zoox. Soc.—1889, No. III. 3 34 REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. _ [Feb. 5, back, spotted with well-marked yellowish shaft-spots, which are short and triangular on the head, and long and thin on the neck; the shaft- spots on the head are slightly margined with blackish : beneath earthy brown, densely spotted with elongated ochraceous shaft-spots, which are distinctly edged with blackish ; flanks and crissum less marked ; chin and middle of throat pale ochraceous, unspotted ; bill very short, slightly incurved, pale brown; feet dark. Whole length 8-0, wing 4°0, tail 3°8, bill from gape 0°9. Hab. 8.E. Brazil. Mus. S.-G. The single specimen of this species, which was purchased of a dealer, but is of apparently “Brazilian” make, is not unlike some examples of P. affinis, but is at once distinguishable by its shortened and straightened bill. In revising the Dendrocolaptide: for the 15th volume of the British Museum Catalogue I have found it necessary to use two new generic forms. These are :— (1) Limnoruyes (Aiuyn palus et iw gigno), for Limnornis curvirostris, Gould (Zool. Voy. Beagle, iii. p. 81), a form allied to Limnornis, but differing in its curved bill; and (2) Hytexerasres (An silva et éZeraorijs investigator), for Dendrocolaptes perroti, Lafr., which is allied to Dendrewetastes, but differs in its much stronger and stouter bill. 3. On some new Species and a new Genus of Araneidea. By the Rev. O. P. Campripex, M.A., F.R.S., &c. [Received November 30, 1888.] (Plate IT.) The Spiders described in the present paper are from the widely separated localities of Burmah, South Africa, and Australia. The principal interest attaching to two of them (from South Africa) arises from their being represented, at this moment, by examples living in this Society’s Insect-house. One of these two spiders, Pachylomerus natalensis, has been there for the last twelve months along with its fine trapdoor nest. The other, Stegodyphus gregarius, has only lately been received there, and is also interesting as being the first, I believe, of this group (Hreside) whose habits are known to be gregarious: the nest is of large size, and contains from 100 to 150 inhabitants of both sexes and various ages. Some few of these had died on the passage from Durban, and from these the subjoined description has been prepared. Another of the spiders described is interesting as being the second known species of Tree Trapdoor Spiders. The first species was described and figured by myself several years ago (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. xvi. (4) p. 319, pl. x.) from Uitenhage, South Africa, under the name of Mogg- ridgea dyeri. Subsequently in 1887 a note was communicated to P27. 1869- FETE “Mintern Bros. imp. NEW SPIDERS. 1889. ] REV. 0. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. 35 this Society by Dr. Giirther (P. Z.S. 1887, p. 40), from the Rev. Nendick Abraham, of Grahamstown, on what Dr. Giinther supposed to be the same species as that described from Uitenhage. Wishing, however, to be assured of this, I wrote to Mr. Abraham asking him to send me, if he could procure them, examples of the species to which his note referred. This Mr. A. has very kindly and promptly done, sending me several nests with the spiders belonging to them. Among these I have found two examples of Moggridgea dyeri, and two others of quite a different, though allied species, to which I have given below the name of M. abrahami after its very pains- taking discoverer. One of the spiders described here is remarkable, not only for its minuteness, being no more than half a line in length, but for the peculiar character of its cephalothorax, in which the ordinary indented lines showing the junction of the caput and thorax are replaced by two deep oblique converging fissures, necessi- tating, along with other characters, the formation of a new genus in the family Theridiide for its reception. This specimen has been in my possession for many years past, but had until lately been over- looked owing to its having been accidentally concealed among the hairs on one of the legs of a large spider received in 1864 from the Swan River. Other particulars respecting the spiders described below will be found appended to their scientific description. With that of one of them I have incorporated a long, but very interesting account of the nest of the spider Idiops colletti, which was sent to me from Burmah by General Collett, through the kindness of Mr. George King, of the Botanic Gardens, Calcutta. This is, so far as I know, the first detailed account of the nest of a spider of this group, though I had myself many years ago found one species of it near Beirit in a trapdoor nest, which was, however, unfortunately destroyed on the way home, before any note could be taken of its nature and pecu- liarities. Order ARANEIDEA. Family THERAPHOSID2. Genus PacuyLoMeErws, Auss. PacHYLOMERUS NATALENSIS, sp. n. (Plate II. fig. 1.) Adult female. Length 1 inch 5 lines, length of cephalothorax 63 lines, breadth at the widest part 6 lines. Cephalothorax a little longer than broad, the fore extremity wider than the posterior, the widest part is across the middle. The caput is large, rounded and convex above, the occiput sloping in a gradual curve te the thoracic indentation, which is large, deep, semilunar, with the convexity of its curve directed backwards, and situated exactly one third of the length from the hinder extremity of the cephalothorax. The cephalothorax is smooth, glossy, and of a rich reddish chocolate-brown colour, rather paler at the hinder extremity and in the ocular region. The eyes are rather smal] and form a transverse oblong area, the 3 36 REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. [Feb. 5, height of the clypeus being half that of the facial space. The fore central pair of eyes are separated from each other by 2 diameters’ interval and from the fore laterals by 13 diameters; the latter are largest of the eight, and (looked at from in front) form a curved row whose convexity is directed upwards; the hind lateral and hind cen- tral eye, on each side, are contiguous to each other in a transverse line, the four forming the ends of a very nearly straight row, rather longer than anterior row, the hind centrals being the largest. The centre of the ocular area, and reaching to a little way behind it, is furnished with strong bristly hairs directed forward. The legs are short, very strong, 4, 1,3, 2, similar in colour to the cephalothorax, furnished with hairs, and numerous short strong spines near the sides of the tarsi and metatarsi of the first and second pairs ; these spines, however, are very difficult to see, owing to the density of the hairs on those parts; there is, however, no scopula, and the superior tarsal claws are (apparently) devoid of denticula- tions. The falces are massive and about = of the length of the caput. They are similar in colour to the cephalothorax and densely clothed with short hairs excepting a large patch near the base in front, and near their extremities are numerous short tooth-like spines. The palpi are similar in colour and armature to the anterior legs. ot he mazille are strong, subcylindrical, with a strong prominent conical point at the extremity on the inner side; at the base on the inner side of each maxilla is a short curved row of several dentiform spines similar to some others at the apex of the labium. The labium is small, about equal in length and breadth at the base, which is transversely curved, the convexity of the curve directed backwards ; the base fits into a corresponding hollow in the sternum on a kind of inverted subconical base marked in the sternum by a distinct indentation. It is roundish-pointed at the apex, where there are five short dentiform black spines. The sternum is large, triangular, a little broader at the base or hinder end than long; the base, however, being rather angulate, and not rectilinear. It is similar in colour to the thorax, the labium being of a deeper hue. The abdomen is short-oval, very convex, of a mouse-colour, clothed with very short hairs. The spinners are short; the superior pair strong, and 3-jointed; the inferior pair are much smaller and con- sist of one joint only. A little way in front of the inferior spinners are two small trausverse slits or openings, doubtless the orifices of tracheal organs. Two of these spiders, received from Natal along with their trap- door nests, lived for some time in the Gardens of this Society ; one is still living there; the other died, and its remains, from which the above description has been made, were sent to me by Mr. Arthur Thomson along with a rough sketch of the upper part of the nest, the lid of which (of the cork type) can just be covered with a penny-piece. 1889. ] REV. 0. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA, 37 Genus Iprops, Perty. Ipiops COLLETTI, sp.n. (Plate II. fig. 2.) Adult female. Length 103 lines; length of cephalothorax 47 lines; breadth of cephalothorax, at widest part, 33. Cephalothoraw longer than broad, the fore and hinder extremities equal in breadth ; thoracic indentation large, deep, curved, the con- vexity of the curve directed backwards; the occiput is very convex. The colour of the cephalothorax is pale yellow-brown, clothed with a few hairs, and two longish, erect, tapering bristles placed trans- versely just in front of the occipital convexity. The eyes of the anterior pair are close to the fore margin of the cephalothorax, rather large, and largest of the eight, oval, placed obliquely and separated from each other by less than half the longest diameter ; from between these two eyes spring one or two longish prominent black bristles. The four central eyes of the posterior group, which is separated from the anterior pair by nearly about double its longitudinal diameter, form a square, the foremost eyes being smallest ; those of the posterior row, which are of about equal size, form a moderately curved transverse line whose convexity is directed backwards. The interval between the two central eyes of this row is distinctly greater than that which separates each from the lateral eye next to it; this latter interval is as nearly as possible equal to an eye’s diameter. The ocular area forms (roughly) an equilateral triangle. The legs are short, stout, 4, 1, 2,3; those of the third and fourth pairs considerably stoutest, furnished with hairs and spines; the latter are of different lengths and strength, many being small and of adenticulate nature, and are chiefly on each side of the tibiz, meta- tarsi, and tarsi of the two anterior pairs; those on the third pair are chiefly on the upperside of the genue, tibize, metatarsi, and tarsi, while on the fourth pair the spines are few and those mostly be- neath the metatarsi and tarsi. The palpi are similar in colour to the legs, and armed as those of the first and second pairs. The falces are moderate in length and strength, of a darker hue than the ‘cephalothorax, and armed with numerous strong short spines near the inner side of their fore extremity. Mazille cylindrical and thickly covered on their anterior sides with small denticulations or spines. Labium somewhat quadrangular, broad at the base (broader than long), narrower at the apex, where there are a few small spinous denticulations, chiefly in a transverse row close to the margin. Sternum broadest behind, and longer than broad, incurved at its fore extremity, similar in colour to the cephalothorax. Abdomen dull clay-colour, thinly clothed with fine hairs of different lengths. Spinners 4, those of the superior pair short, 3-jointed, but very strong ; the inferior pair very small and close beneath the base of the upper ones. Two adult females of this spider were received from General 38 REV. 0. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. __[Feb. 5, Collett from near Meiktela, Upper Burmah, through the kindness of Mr. George King (of the Botanic Gardens at Calcutta). They are closely allied to Idiops crassus, Sim. (also a Burmese spider) ; but differ in being of a much paler hue, as well as (apparently) in the relative disposition of the eyes and armature of the legs ; these in Idiops crassus ave said to be armed with spines as in Idiops syriacus, Cambr., in which the smaller denticulate spines are almost wholly absent. From Idiops syriacus the present species also differs in being larger and of a duller hue ; also the denticule on the maxillee are confined to their inner side, and there are only two in a transverse line at the apex of the labium. The eyes also of the hind central pair in J. syriacus are separated by a comparatively wider interval than in J. colletti, being double as far apart as each is from the lateral eye on its side. Nests of these spiders accompanied them. They are of the cork- lid type, and present some interesting features. I cannot perhaps do better than append the very graphic account of them given by General Collett :— ‘‘These spiders are apparently more or less gregarious in their habitations; where one is found five or six more will perhaps be found within the radius of a yard; but a solitary nest is not at all unusual. ‘The soil they inhabit is a stiff argillaceous (?) sand, quite free of stones, very hard at this time of year, though probably soft and easy for the spiders to burrow in during the rainy season. “The surface of the ground in which the burrows are found is usually thinly covered with a scanty growth of grass, now dry and withered. Where the grass is thick the burrows are not so common, but this is possibly due to the increased difficulty of detecting them. « All the burrows that I have seen (a hundred or more) are situated in an open grassy plain, now cleared, but recently covered with a low scrub jungle, and having a gentle slope. None have been found on banks or on steeply sloping ground. «The upper surface of the burrow door is flush with the level of the ground, except occasionally where the superficial soil appears to have been washed away by the rain since the nest was made. It is of precisely the same appearance and colour as the adjacent ground, and the burrows are therefore extremely difficult of detection. “T have never observed any accumulation of earth near the mouths of the burrows, though a considerable quantity must have been excavated in the construction of a hole more than half an inch in diameter and seven inches deep. Nor have I succeeded in finding any burrows in course of construction, though empty and disused burrows with displaced doors are not uncommon. It is possible that the spiders excavate only during the rainy season, when the soil is soft. At the present time no rain has fallen for three months past. “The door, or rather lid, of the burrow is composed of grains of sand firmly agglutinated together, perhaps with some secretions from the insect ; its upper surface is exactly similar in general appearance to the adjacent ground, and is often covered with the dry, black 1889.] REY. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. 39 lichen (?) growth that is common on dry soils at this time of year. As seen from above, the door is a square, with its two anterior angles rounded off, the straight side or base forming the hinge-end. But if the door is opened and viewed from below, it has a circular appearance, reminding one of a gun-wad, which is due to its white lining having been worked into a circular form to fit the mouth of the cylindrical burrow. In cross section the door is conical, like a plug, with its lower surface convex, like the bottom of a decanter- stopper. This surface is beautifully worked over with a network of fine, tough fibres, into which the spider (as I have seen) inserts its claws to keep the door closed against the entrance of an enemy. In no other part of the burrow-lining is this network of fibres to be seen. The door is always made thin at the hinge-end, and thick at the forward end, the average respective thicknesses being one sixteenth of an inch and one quarter of an inch; so that its section is wedge-like. The result of this construction is that the door will always on release after being opened fall down by its own weight, fitting with exceeding and surprising accuracy into the mouth of the burrow. So preponderating is the weight of the door at its forward end, and so instantaneously does the action of gravity cause it to fall when released after being held wp, that the shutting of the door closely simulates the action of a spring, and it is very difficult at first sight to realize that no elastic force exists in the action. Thus, when a spider sitting at the mouth of its hole, with the door ajar, vesting on its back, darts down its burrow when startled, the door seems to snap down with the action of a suddenly released spring ; but that this is really caused by gravity anyone may convince himself by cutting the mouth of a burrow out of the ground, and noticing the action of the door and its hinge when held upside down. ‘The hinge, which is beautifully flexible, is formed by a prolonga- tion and local thickening of the lining of the burrow, which is also carried over the lower surface and round the edges of the door. The part of the lining forming the hinge is thick and tough, and of the same colour outside as the ground, but there is nothing special or mechanical in its structure asa hinge. It may be mentioned here that the lining of the tube is thinned off at the mouth of the burrow to receive the door, a distinct rim being usually observable at the commencement of the burrow proper. There are generally a few withered grass-blades worked into the edge of the door, or into the edge of the mcuth of the burrow, so as to form a kind of semi- circular fringe, which often catches a practiced eye and leads to the detection of the hole. The grass-blades are probably inserted to aid in assimilating the outside of the burrow to its surroundings, a purpose in which they certainly fail, so far as the human animal is concerned. In a few cases I have also noticed grass-blades worked into the general surface of the door, and at this season, when the grass is everywhere withered, these certainly aid in its concealment ; but during the rains, when the adjacent grass is green, one would think that yellow withered grass-blades on or near the burrow- mouth would tend to make it conspicuous. 40 REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. [Feb. 5, “ The spiders are occasionally found, even in the daytime, watch- ing at the mouths of their holes, but they prey on insects, I sus- pect, chiefly at night. At least a few burrows which I marked and visited about 10 p.m. had, in nearly every instance, their tenants sitting at the mouth, with the door more or less open, apparently on the watch for unwary insects passing by. In one case the door was elevated about 60°, the others not so much. When disturbed in her watch the spider slips quickly down the hole, and the door closes after her. If the door is now attempted to be lifted by the point of a penknife, the spider will hold it down with very considerable force, and can be plainly felt struggling to prevent its forcible opening. If the spider is not at the mouth of her hole, it is easy to ascertain if she is at home by scratching the outside of the door, when, if present, she will always rush up the burrow, and try to the best of her ability to hold down the door. The doors are all con- structed on the same general plan, but they vary slightly in size and thickness. The following are the mean dimensions of five doors taken at random, the measurements, as before, being given in eighths of an inch and decimal parts thereof: “Breadth of hinge qOint bee fue ojos d= ion orciniszeinng tena aeae Thickness of door at the forward end............ 2°04 Transverse diameter of door...... .. nid sigh speeded Diameter of door from hinge to forward end ...... 5°14 “ We may thus say that an average door is a square of five eighths of an inch, and with a thickness at its forward or rounded end of a quarter of an inch. The thickness at the hinge-end is about one sixteenth of an inch, rather less if anything. “The length of the burrow from the mouth to the bottom may be taken as seven inches. I measared the burrows accurately, the longest was 73 inches, and the shortest was 6 inches; the mean of the ten holes was 63 inches. The burrows are cylindrical, and usually nearly straight, with a slight incline from the vertical towards the side on which the hinge is placed. They are lined throughout, the lining being thicker near the mouth and at the bottom, the two places where, I suppose, the spider usually sits. The diameter of the burrow remains nearly uniform throughout, at five eighths of an inch, with a very slight enlargement at the bottom. I have never found a burrow with an elbow or decided turn in it, or with a branch. The burrow is always, so far as my experience goes, a simple and nearly straight hole.” “Pyawbwe, Upper Burmah, “January 7, 1888.” The planting (as it were) of the lids of the nests with lichens, causing them to resemble most exactly the surrounding surface, is similar to that observed by the late Mr. Moggridge in respect of the Nemesias of the Riviera, and is indeed a very remarkable habit ; the edges of the door are in the case of the present species furnished also with bits of grass resembling those growing around the nests. 1889. ] REY. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. 41 The figures of the nest (Plate II. fig. 2, e, f, g) were drawn by Lieut. Pink, of the Queen’s Regiment. Genus MocerinGera, Cambr. MoGGRIDGEA ABRAHAMI, sp. n. (Plate IL. fig. 3.) Adult female. Length 6% to 7 lines; length of cephalothorax 24 to 3 lines; breadth slightly over 13 to slightly over 2 lines. Cephalothoraz oval, slightly truncate at its hinder extremity, more broadly truncated at its anterior margin. Thoracic indentation rather nearer the posterior than the anterior margin, well marked and deep, semicircular, the convexity of the curve directed forwards, and its posterior margin rather gibbous. Caput well defined, but not elevated. The height of the clypeus equals half that of the facial space. The colour of the cephalothorax is dull yellowish brown. The eyes (looked at from above and very slightly behind) form two slightly curved transverse rows, the convexity of the curve directed forwards; looked at from above and in front the anterior row might be said to be straight. The fore central pair are separated from each other by an eye’s interval; the laterals of the same row are largest of the eight, oval, oblique, and each is separated from the central eye on its side by rather more than the length of its longest diameter. The posterior row is shorter than the anterior, _ its lateral eyes are each removed from the fore lateral eye next to it by an eye’s diameter (in one example rather less than a diameter) ; the hind centrals are each very near, but not quite contiguous, to the hind lateral on its side, and the two (hind lateral and central) are placed strongly obliquely and almost in a straight line with the fore- central on their side. The /egs are short, strong, 4, 1, 2, 3, though there is but very slight difference between 1, 2, and 3. They are of a yellowish hue, the femora and tibiz (as also the tarsi and metatarsi of the first and second pairs) more or less suffused with blackish brown. The ¢ibie, tarsi, and metatarsi of the first two pairs are armed on each side with a row of strong spines of different lengths. The superior pair of tarsal claws are furnished beneath with one or two small denticula- tions. The palpi are similar to the legs in colour and armature. The falces are powerful, but not remarkable in form or strength, and are similar in colour to the cephalothorax. The mawille are subcylindric, with only a slight, obtuse, promi- neut point at their inner extremity; their surface on the inner side is furnished with some small, deep red-brown, spinous denticulations. The Jabium is short, rather broader than long, its apex rounded and a little narrower than the base. The surface near the apex is furnished with denticulations similar to those on the maxillee. The sternum (with the maxillee and labium) is of the same colour as the legs, and of an equilateral subtriangular form. The abdomen is large, short-oval, very convex above, clothed with fine hairs, and of a dark purplish chocolate-brown hue; on the sides 42 REV. 0. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. [Feb. 5, are two large, somewhat suffused, pale yellowish patches; the under- side is also paler than the upper; spinners short, superior pair 3-jointed, yellow, tinged with brown, inferior pair small, 1-jointed, and yellow. Examples of this spider, with two of its curious trapdoor nests fsund in the bark of the “ Kaffir Boom” tree, were kindly sent to me lately by the Rev. Nendick Abraham. It is nearly allied to, but quite distinct from, Moggridgea dyeri, Cambr. (Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist., Nov. 1875, p. 317, pl. x.). Among other differences, it is a larger paler-coloured spider, the two rows of eyes are much closer together, and the hind lateral eyes are smaller in proportion to the hind central. The denticulations on the maxillze and labium are much less strong, and are not found (as in M. dyerz) beneath the bases of the coxa] joints of the first three pairs of legs. The nest resembles in general that of M. dyeri; it is, however, even better concealed than those of that species, there being no abnormal prominence, and often not the slightest tubular convexity of any kind apparent. In fact I had to search very minutely for ten minutes, and test every part of the pieces of bark sent to me with the point of aneedle, to find out the lids of the nests. One of the nests is furnished with a lid at each end; and from a communication made by Mr. Abraham to Mr. F. Taylor, of Liverpool, I gather that this is also occasionally the case with the nests of Muggridgea dyeri. I came to the conclusion, from Mr. Abraham’s letter to me, that this latter spider was peculiar to the ** Kaffir Boom,” and the present species to the Oak ; but his notes on the two, sent to Mr. Taylor, lead me to suppose that each is found on both trees. The skill and perfection with which the minute licheus are placed upon the tube and its lid, causing them to resemble most exactly the rest of the bark, is indeed wonderful. Of the nests I have yet seen that of M. dyeri is less well concealed than those of I. abrahami. Examples both of the spiders and nests of M. dyeri were also sent to me by Mr. Abraham, whose name I have much pleasure in connecting with the new species. It is not easy to conjecture the purpose of the lower door. Mr. Abraham suggests that the lower door is made when the spider is young and gaining its experience, as a mode of escape from enemies which might gain access to the upper door. He has found that the - lower door ‘‘is not generally (if ever) so perfect as the upper door.” In the specimens before me, however, I can detect no difference between the two as regards perfection. Family Eresipz. Genus SteGopyruus, Sim. (resus, auctt. in parte.) STEGODYPHUS GREGARIUS, sp. n. (Plate II. figs. 4, 5.) Adult female. Length 23-4 lines; length of cephalothorax ina 1889.] REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. 43 specimen of 3 lines long, 13 lines; breadth of cephalothorax rather over | line. Adult male. Length 14 lines. The sexes are very dissimilar in appearance. In the female the cephalothorax is oblong, caput very large, hinder slope abrupt, upper surface moderately convex; the ocular area occupies at least one third of the whole length of the cephalothorax, and the height of the clypeus is scarcely equal to the length of the area of the four central eyes. ‘The colour is yellow-brown, with a broad dark brown longitudinal band on each side. The whole is clothed with coarsish grey hairs, showing most conspicuously on the lateral margins, on the central space between the dark lateral bands, being especially long and conspicuous at the thoracie junction, and forming some white lines connecting the eyes and bisecting the area of the four central ones. The eyes form a very large quadrangle, whose posterior side is the shortest and its anterior much the longest. They are small, the posterior eyes of the central group largest, the rest apparently nearly equal. Those of the central group are close together at the fore extremity of the quadrangle, but not contiguous, forming a small square or trapezoid, whose anterior side is shorter than the posterior. The interval between the eyes of these two sides respec- tively is greater than a diameter, while the interval between each anterior and the posterior eve next to it is less than the diameter of an anterior eye. The legs are strong and of moderate length, 1, 4, 2, 3, of a yellow- brown colour; the femora, as well as the tibie of the first and second pairs, nearly black ; in some examples the legs have a some- what annulose appearance. They are almost entirely destitute of spines, but thickly clothed with hairs, of which many are grey, giving them a hoary look. ‘The tibize of the first two pairs are rather stouter than the rest, and the metatarsi of the first pair, in old females, are of a brightish red hue, those of the second pair less so. Towards the inner side of the metatarsi of the fourth pair is a calamistrum running the whole length of the joint, but much concealed by the other hairs. Falces strong, of moderate length, vertical, subconical, darker in colour than the cephalothorax, and clothed with grey hairs, a band across the base in front being more dense and conspicuously white. The fangs are bright red-brown, but rather weak. The mavilla, labium, and sternum are deep brown, clothed with grey hairs, and of normal form. The abdomen is oval, a little broader in some examples behind than in front ; its general colour is more or less bright warm yellow- brown, clothed with grey and other hairs; on the upperside are three longitudinal, more or less well-defined dark brown stripes, of which the central one is the narrowest and least conspicuous, and the lateral ones are often dentated posteriorly, The lateral margins and sides also are dark black-brown, and on the underside are two conspicuous reddish-yellow-brown patches, placed transversely and 44 REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. [Feb. 5, clothed with grey hairs. The spinners are short, and in front of the ordinary ones is a transverse spinning-organ, always found correlated with the calamistrum on the fourth pair of legs. The male, besides being very much smaller than the female, has the cephalothorax of a very deep black-brown hue, with a marginal stripe on each side and in front of white hairs, and a narrow longi- tudinal stripe of the same kind bisecting the ocular area, and a few other white hairs near the posterior eyes and on the occiput. The legs are longer than in the female, especially those of the first pair ; they are of a bright orange-red colour, the femora and tibize of the first pair suffused with blackish, the tibiz rather enlarged and thickly clothed with long black hairs; besides other hairs all the legs are furnished more or less with some white ones on their upper side. The abdomen is of a deep black-brown hue, with a pale yellow- brown longitudinal central tapering stripe, clothed with white hairs, and reaching a transverse bar of the same kind just above the spinners; and on the underside are two oblique, elongate pale spots or patches similarly clothed, and placed transversely near the spiracular plates. The palpi are short and of a black-brown hue; the radial joint is shorter than the cubital; this latter joint has a fore margin of conspicuous white hairs; digital joint rather large, and its fore extremity drawn out. The palpal organs are simple, consisting of a roundish basal bulb, with a somewhat twisted paler process at its anterior side reaching not quite to the end of the digital joint. The sternum is black, clothed with coarse pale grey hairs. A nest of this spider containing numerous live individuals of both sexes, some adult, some immature, was sent a short time ago by Col. Bowker, from Durban, to Lord Walsingham, who, kindly acting on my suggestion, sent the whole to this Society’s Gardens, where, as I understand from Mr. Arthur Thomson, in whose care they are placed, the whole family are in a very active and thriving state. The nest is of considerable size, and filled a box of 2 feet long by 9 inches wide and 5 deep. Above this nest I hear that the spiders have now spun lines up to the top of the case in which they have been placed, as though for the ensnaring of flies, &c. ; but as their work is entirely nocturnal, no observations have yet been practicable in respect to this most interesting part of a spider’s economy. They appear to devour cockroaches and crickets, tearing them to pieces in concert, and each carrying off his share of the prey, like a pack of hounds breaking up a fox. This spider is allied to Stegodyphus acanthophilus, Dufour, of Southern Europe, Palestine, and Syria, but is smaller, differs greatly in colour and markings, and is, so far as I am aware, unique in its gregarious habits. Some of the examples had died during the long transit from Durban to England, and from these the descriptions have been made. 1889.] REV. 0. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. 45 Family THERIDIIDE. Gen. nov. CHASMOCEPHALON. Cephalothorax short-oval ; caput large and very convex above ; the ordinary oblique indentations dividing it from the thorax are greatly exaggerated, forming a deep chasm or cleft on each side. The posterior extremity of the thorax is broad and strongly indented or excavated in a curved form, forming a kind of socket into which the pedicle joining it to the abdomen fits. Eyes of very unequal size; in three well separated groups occupying the whole width of the fore part of the caput; the anterior pair of the central group smallest, the rest nearly equal. The clypeus considerably exceeds in height half that of the facial space, occupying about, or even more than, two thirds of it. Legs slender, moderately long, 1, 4, 2, 3 ; furnished with hairs and bristles only. The maville are short, curved, inclined towards the labium, and somewhat pointed at their extremities on the inner side. Labium short, broad, and round at the apex, which reaches nearly to the extremities of the maxille. Abdomen considerably elevated in front and projecting greatly over the base of the thorax, with which it is connected by a distinct pedicle, the abdomen having also a kind of socket or excavation to receive it. Besides the usual spiracular openings there is a long transverse one beneath the abdomen just in front of the spinners. CHASMOCEPHALON NEGLECTUM, sp. n. (Plate II. fig. 6.) Adult male. Length scarcely over half a line. The surface of the cephalothora«, which is of aclear bright brownish- red hue, is granulose; the oblique cephalic indentations are deep and sharply cut, looking as if they would sever the caput from the thorax; the other normal (thoracic) grooves are also of somewhat the same nature, though very much less strong; the posterior end of the thorax is broad and deeply excavated; the hinder part of the caput is well rounded, the fore part flatter. The eyes of the central group form a trapezoid whose anterior side is much the shortest; the pair of eyes composing this side are very minute and contiguous to each other. The posterior pair are oval, large, contiguous, and of a pearly hue, their diameter equalling more than double that of the anterior pair; each of these is separated from the anterior eye opposite to it by an interval only about equal to the diameter of the latter. The hind lateral eye on each side is separated from the hind central next to it by about 13 diameters of the former, and each fore lateral eye, which appears to be rather the largest of the eight, is contiguous to its hind lateral eye. The lateral eyes are also pearly, the fore centrals being a little darker. The Jegs are dull orange-yellow; the hairs longish, but not very numerous, and there are also a few prominent bristles. The palpi are unfortunately missing. Falces moderately strong, rather long, straight, and a little inclined 46 REV. O. P. CAMBRIDGE ON NEW ARANEIDEA. [Feb. 5, backwards. They are similar to the cephalothorax in colour, and their surface is slightly granulose. The colour of the maxilla and labium is similar to that of the falces. The sternum (which is nearly round) is of a deeper hue than the cephalothorax, convex and granulose. The abdomen is rather large, oval, but projects greatly over the thorax ; the short, but distinct pedicle connecting it with the thorax entering the abdomen about midway between the most elevated point and the spinners. The upper surface is shining glabrous, fur- nished with a very few bristly hairs, of a dull clay-yellow, marked rather irregularly towards the sides and hinder part with dull brownish ; the lower portion of the sides and hinder part are rather darker and strongly rugulose, giving the upper surface very much the appearance of a shell or carapace, whose edge is margined by a row of round, small, dull yellowish, somewhat cicatricose spots, of which there are also two others, more conspicuous or wide apart, in a transverse line on the binder part of the carapace. The spinners are small, apparently of ordinary structure, and inconspicuous. The underside is dark brown, and at the fore extremity is a rather large and somewhat quadrate coriaceous red-brown area, at the posterior edges of which, at the outer corners, are the ordinary spiracular openings, though scarcely traceable. Just in front of the spinners, beneath the abdomen, is a long well-marked transverse fissure, which is doubtless the entrance to another spiracular organ. Many years ago (1864) I received a large spider from the Swan River, and described and figured it, but until a day or two since have never had occasion again tolook at it. Examining it, however, now closely, I found on the inner side of one of the folded legs, among its numerous hairs, the very minute spider (thus till now wholly overlooked) which forms the type of the present new genus and species. EXPLANATION OF PLATE II. Fig. 1. Pachylomerus natalensis, sp.n.,? (p. 35). a, Spider of natural size ; 4, profile, without legs &. ; ¢, maxillx, labium, and portion of sternum ; d, entrance to trap-door nest. 2. Idiops colletti, sp. n., 2 (p. 37). a, Spider, natural size ; 4, profile, without legs &c.; ¢, eyes, from above and behind; d, maxillee and labium; e, entrance to nest ; J, ditto, with trap- -doar’ raised ; g, section of upper part of nest. 3. Moggridgea abrahami, sp.n., 2 (p. 41). a, Spider, natural size; b, profile, ae legs &e.; ¢, eyes, from above and behind; d, portion of bark of “ Kaffir Boom” tree, with nest, showing (1) upper hinged lid, (1’) lower ditto, both slightly open. 4, 5. Stegodyphus gregarius, sp.n., 5 and © (p. 42). a, d, enlarged; b, 9, ditto ; c, profile of 3; d, ditto of 2, showing long hairs at a; e, natural length of 3; f, natural length of Q; g, eyes, from above and behind. 6. Chasmocephalon neglectum, sp.n. 3 (p. a, Spider, enlarged; 6, outline be pe retire and abdomen ; ec, profile of ditto; d, eyes from in front; ¢, maxille and labium ; i hinder extremity of thorax, showing excavation and insertion of abdominal pedicle; g, natural length of spider; %, cephalothorax, showing form of hinder part of thorax. 4 P.Z.8.1889. Pll. . ; : Berjeau & Highley del. Imp. Camb. Sci. Inst.Co. | SPICULES OF PLEXAURIDS. 1889.] ON NEW OR RARE SPECIES OF PLEXAURIDS. 47 4. Descriptions of some new or rare Species of Plexaurids. By F. Jerrrey Bevt, M.A., Sec. R.M.S. [Received January 28, 1889. | (Plate III.) Among the Gorgonids in the British Museum there are examples of some species of the genera Plewaura and Plexaurella which appear to be still undescribed. As to a number of the described species, it is often impossible to say with certainty whether or no one has them before the eyes; Milne-Edwards and Haime, like Duchassaing and Michelotti, make no use of the characters of the spicules, though the works of both were published after the appearance of Valenciennes’s suggestive essay". Fortunately the British Museum is in possession of a series of preparations by M. Potteau which may be regarded as illustrative of Valenciennes’s memoir, and by the aid of these it is often possible to add enough to the otherwise imperfect diagnoses of the earlier describers of these forms. Of the species now to be described it may be said that they have all such well-marked characters that it is unlikely that any previous description of them can have been overlooked.. One of them will always rank with the most splendid members of a group which, as all know, contains so many remarkable and beautiful forms ; another was long since recognized to be a distinct species by the late Dr. Gray. 1. PLEXAURA PRINCIPALIS. (Plate III. fig. 1.) An exceedingly fine form; the whole colony a large bushy mass of a uniformly light-brownish colour. Allied to P. suffruticosa, but rather less ramose, the terminal branches longer, the branches not so flexuous and very rarely nodose; calyces not so closely packed. The specimen under description is 86 cm. high, 1°38 m. in spread ; the base is flattened from side to side, and its long axis is at right angles to the chief plane of spreading ; the greatest length of the axis is about 90 cm. The primary trunks are flattened, vary in size and are only seldom swollen; the terminal branches are rounded, and are often, though not always, about 10 cm. long. ‘The orifices of the calices are rather small; they are generally about 1 mm. apart, but sometimes they are separated by 2 mm., and occasionally they are a little more distant from one another. Cortex smooth, mode- rately thick; axis black, not very flexible. The characters of the cortical spicules may be best made out from the accompanying figures’; for the purpose of comparison the spicules of P. suffruticosa are, now for the first time, figured; the chief points to be noted are that P. imperialis appears to have no spicules of the so-called ‘ Blattkeule”’ form ; the four-rayed spicule is rare, and is either vestigial or rudimentary in character. The elongate spicules are longer and more delicate than in P. suffruticosa ; 1 Comptes Rendus, xli. p. 7 et seg. 2 All the spicules figured in the accompanying drawings (Plate III.) are magnified about 180 times. 48 PROF. F. J. BELL ON NEW OR [Feb. 5, in the latter the ‘“ Blattkeule” is of a simple character, and the four-rayed spicule is more ornate and more abundant than in the new species. Hab. Ebon (or Baring) Island, North Pacific ; in Coll. B. M. This magnificent Plexaurid was presented by Captain Lewis J. Moore ; it was “given,” he says, ‘“‘ by a head chief to Mr. Capella, and he gave it to me.” 2. PLEXAURA SUFFRUTICOSA. (Plate III. fig. 2.) Plexaura suffruticosa, Dana, Milne-Edwards & Haime, Corall. i. p- 154. The British Museum possesses a good example of this species, which was obtained at Billiton. It is very bushy, 80 cm. high, with a greatest spread of 33cm. The cortex, the spicules of which are now figured, is pretty thick; the axis is black. The distribution of the calyces is somewhat irregular. The nodosities are numerous and prominent. The description of Milne-Edwards and Haime is an excellent example of a brief diagnosis which renders the determination of a species very much easier than the long descriptions with which it is often one’s misfortune to meet. 3. PLEXAURELLA AFFINIS, sp. nov. (Plate III. fig. 3.) A large species of tall habit, allied to P. dichotoma and P. vermi- culata, but with about twice as many branches, which are more slender, and with more delicate spicules. The specimen under description is about 76 cm. high, the main trunk is 15 em. long, and about 1 cm. in diameter; it is flattened at the point of origin of the branches ; of these one which does not again divide is about 42 cm. long; the next branch divides at some little distance from its point of origin, and one of the resulting branches again divides twice. The remaining branch, which divides much nearer its point of origin gives rise to two branches, each of which divides three times. The cortex is rather thick, and there are a few nodosities on it; it is of a whitey-brown colonr, The calices are scattered, not closely packed, and often of an elongate oval form, and they may be more than 2 mm. long. The axis is of a brownish colour. The spicules are very fine and large; their characteristic forms are shown in Plate ITI. fig. 3. Hab. West Indies. The specimen has been for a long time in the British Museum, and bears, in Dr. Gray’s handwriting, the label ‘‘ Plewaurella, n.s.” 4, PLEXAURELLA ANGUICULOIDES. (Plate III. fig. 4.) Plexaura anguiculoides, Gray, MSS. This species is, no doubt, closely allied to P. anguiculus (Dana), but I think Dr. Gray was quite justified in regarding it as distinct ; the grounds of separation I take to be the mucb greater stoutness of the branches, for Dana especially notes that his species is distinguished by the delicacy of its branches. 1889.] RARE SPECIES OF PLEXAURIDS. 49 The present species is erect, branching, elegant, not at all closely bushy ; there is no spreading base, but the trunk is rather wide, being about 3 cm. in diameter; the branches are flattened at the points of bifurcation; the secondary trunks give rise to branches, which do not ordinarily branch more than five times, so that many of the terminal twigs are as much as 35 cm. long; these terminal twigs are about 5 mm. in diameter. There are a few nodosities. The cortex is fairly thick, the calyces numerous, irregularly scattered, rather large pits, so that the general appearance is not unlike that of P. porosa. Axis brownish, impregnated with calcareous salts, and the species belongs, therefore, to the genus Plewaurella and not to Plexaura. The characteristic spiculation is shown in the accom- panying figure. Hab. West Indies. 5. PLEXAURELLA VERMICULATA. (Plate IIT. fig. 5.) Gorgonia vermiculata, Lamk. Plexaura vermiculata,Val.; see Milne-Edwards & Haime, Corall. i. lb O: : Plexaurella vermiculata, Kolliker, Icon. Histiol. p. 138. There is not, I think, sufficient reason for distinguishing as the type of a distinct species a specimen labelled by Dr. Gray as Plexvaura porosa, but which is certainly a Plewaurella, inasmuch as it has deposit of calcic carbonate in its axis. It presents some slight points of difference from P. vermiculata, as described by Milne-Edwards and Haime, and there is not an absolute identity of spiculation. There cannot, I think, be any doubt that there has been a tendency to neglect the variations possible in these forms, and it is better to refrain from “ splitting” species. In the specimen under consideration the calices are nearly as ciosely packed as in P. porosa; the terminal branches are often rather less than 8 mm. in diameter, and the main trunks are from 12 to 16 mm. across, whereas Milne-Edwards gives 8 mm. for the former and 9 to 10 mm. for the latter; no statement, however, is made as to the height of the whole mass; in the case of the British Museum specimen it is rather more than 60 cm. and all the tops are a little broken off. The cortex, which is thick, is of a lightish brown colour; the axis is of alight brown colour. The axis is flattened at the angles cf division, and there appears to be no tendency to the formation of nodes ; some of the terminal branches are more than 15 em. long. The spicules are, as the figures show, short, but somewhat irregular in form. EXPLANATION OF PLATE III. Spicules of Plexaura and Plexaurella, x 180. Fig. 1. Plexaura principalis, p. 47. 2. Plexaura suffruticosa, p. 48. 3. Plexaurella affinis, p. 48. 4, Plexaurella anguiculoides, p. 48. 5. Plexaurella vermiculata, p. 49. Proc. Zoot. Soc.—1889, No. IV. 4 50 ON FISHES NEW TO THE BRITISH FAUNA. [Feb. 5, 5. Notice of two Fishes new to the British Fauna. By Dr. A. Ginruer, F.R.S. [Received February 5, 1889.] (Plate IV.) 1. On a Hybrid between the Roach (Leuciscus rutilus) and the Bleak (Al\burnus alburnus). In December of last year I received from Lord Lilford a Cyprinoid 54 inches long which had been caught in the river Nene in Northamptonshire, close to Lilford, and which he rightly supposed to be a hybrid between the Roach and the Bleak. So far as I know, hybridism between these two’ genera has not been observed hitherto, and occurrences of this form must be also scarce in the river mentioned, although other hybrids, as between the Bream and White Bream, between the Bream and Roach, between the Bream and Rudd, are by no means scarce, and, as Lord Lilford informs me, are on the increase. The specimen is singularly intermediate between the two parent forms, as will appear from the following description :— ‘The body is somewhat. elevated, its depth being two sevenths of the total length, without caudal (rut.); the abdomen compressed into a ridge between the ventral fins and the vent, the posterior scales not crossing to the other side of the ridge (alé.). The head is small, contained 43 times in the total length, without caudal (alb.) ; snout short, rather shorter than the eye (7wd.), but with the lower jaw distinctly projecting (alb.). . Pharyngeal teeth in a single series (rwt., a/b.); gill-rakers very short (rut.), Lateral line running distinctly below the median line of the tail (alb.), formed by 44 scales (ru¢.). Transverse line 8/5; three series of scales between the lateral line and the ventrals (rwé., alb.). Dorsal fin 12-rayed, with its origin a little behind the root of the ventrals, aud terminating in advance of the first anal ray (rwt.). Anal fin with 16 rays (a/d.). Coloration silvery, but less intense than in the Bleak ; back greenish ; and no reddish tinge on any of the fins (alb.). 2. On Licuia vanigo, Risso. (Plate IV.) Of the pelagic genus Lichia only three species are well known and sufficiently characterized, and all seem to be confined to the western parts of the Atlantic. Lichia glauca, the most common, has appeared in a few instances on the south coast of England, whilst the species to which I draw attention now is so scarce that Cuvier knew of two examples only, from the Mediterranean, and that the British Museum possesses only one specimen, 27 inches long, which was obtained by the late Rev. R. T. Lowe at Madeira. On September 17th of last year Captain Macdonald secured another specimen, 20 inches long, of the present species. It was taken in a drift of herring-nets off Waternish Point, Isle of Skye, and ‘ imp . Mintern Bros Peter Smit del. et hth. LICHIA VADIGO P. Z.S. 1889, P1.V. F. Huth, Lith® Edin? F.E.Beddard del. AOLOSOMA TENEBRARUM. 1889.] MR. F.E. BEDDARD ON HOLOSOMA TENEBRARUM. ol as it was unknown to the fishermen, Capt. Macdonald fortunately preserved it. Through the kindness of Lieut.-Colonel W. Gostwyck- Gard the well-preserved skin found its way to me for identification, - and the following diagnosis of the species is taken from it :— D.7|3. A. 2|4. The shape of the fish is that of a Horse-Mackarel, but it is fuller, reminding one of a Pilot-fish, which it also resembles in the small size of its scales. The mouth is rather wide, the maxillary extending to the hind margin of the eye; both jaws are armed with a series of rather strong teeth, distantly placed. The dorsal spines are short and feeble, the anterior dorsal and anal rays forming a distinct lobe. Caudal deeply forked. Upper parts of a greenish-black hue, lower parts silvery, these two colours forming, where they meet, deep indentations by which they are dove-tailed into each other. By this peculiar coloration the fish can be recognized at a glance. Like other species of Lichia, it feeds chiefly on fishes of the Herring family, and the specimen here described was no doubt in pursuit of its prey at the time of its capture. 6. Note upon the Green Cells in the Integument of Afolosoma tenebrarum. By Frank HE. Bupparp, M.A., F.ZS8. [Received February 5, 1889.] (Plate V.) This Worm has been described by Vejdovsky (‘ Thierische Organ- ismen der Brunnenwiisser von Prag’ (Prag, 1882), p. 61, and also ‘System und Morphologie der Oligochaeten’ (Prag, 1884), p. 21)" as new, but it may possibly be identical with Nats aurigena of Kichwald (“*Erster Nachtrag zur Infusorienkunde Russlands,”’ Bull. Soc. Imp. Nat. Moscou, t. xx. 1847, p. 359). It has appeared lately in great numbers in a tank at the Society’s Gardens, near to that which produced a new species, Holosoma headleyi (see my paper ““ Observations upon an Annelid of the Genus 4olosoma,” Proc. Zool. 1 An American naturalist, Mr. F. W. Cragin, has recently described two species of Aolosoma (* First Contribution to a Knowledge of the Lower Inver- tebrates of Kansas,” Bull. Washbourn College Lab. 1887, no. 8, p. 31), and as the periodical is perhaps not generally accessible, I take this opportunity of calling the attention of systematists to the paper. The first species is named AB. stokesi, but 1 cannot discover any characters by which it can be differentiated from Af. quaternarium or Af. ehrenbergii. The chief points in the description are as follows :—“ Body cylindrical .... with eight articulations ornamented with bright salmon-red nuclei. ... most numerous near extremities ; setal fascicles in four rows... . each fascicle . . . . with four or five unequal simple bundles.” The second species, 42. leidyi, appears to be new and to be a near ally of Af. tenebrarwm. Tt has “‘ pale olive-green nuclei,” and possesses ‘‘sigmoid spine- like setee” in ad2 the seta-bundles; in the posterior segments the fascicles are composed entirely of these sete. In A. ¢enebrarwm, as stated above, these set are only found in the posterior bundles. 4* a2 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON ZOLOSOMA TENEBRARUM. [Feb. 5, Soc. 1888, p. 213). I am also able to take this opportunity of announcing the occurrence in Ireland of Vejdovsky’s species Holo- soma variegatum (‘ Alolosoma variegatum, Prispevek ku poznani nejnizsich Annulatuv,’ SB. béhm. Ges. Wiss. 1885), of which some examples were kindly forwarded to me by Prof. Howes, who had himself received them from Prof. Hartog, of Cork. A comparison of &. tenebrarum with 4. variegatum has convinced me that, as I stated in my paper, the affinities of 4. headleyi are with the latter species. In both these forms the epidermic coloured cells are bright green, while in . tenebrarum they range from greenish yellow to brownish olive. 4. tenebrarum, furthermore, differs from all other species of the genus in possessing J-shaped setze in the posterior segments of the body, in addition to the hair setee present in those segments and elsewhere: the sete are stated by Vejdovsky (loc. cit.) to be bifid at the free extremity, but I have not been able to see this in my specimens ; in Vejdoysky’s specimens the epidermic coloured cells are of a pale yellow, contrasting therefore with the specimens studied by myself, which I am unwilling, however, to refer to a new species since they agree in all other particulars with 4. tenebrarum. This species of Molosoma is extremely hardy if supplied with sufficient food. I have a large number of specimens which go on multiplying rapidly in a small bottle containing duckweed and a thin layer of vegetable débris at the bottom ; the worms have remained in this small vessel for several months, although there is a tolerably thick scum of Leptothriz and Bacilli upon the surface. On the other hand, if deprived of food they soon die; three specimens placed in a watch-glass containing water from the vessel in which they lived, but no appreciable quantity of vegetable débris, died in an hour and a half. The watch-glass was placed on a window-sill of north aspect. In these particulars 4. tenebrarum contrasts with 4. variegatum. I placed the specimens of the latter species in a bottle with abundant food ; the water and the duckweed were obtained from a locality where there were no specimens of 42, tenebrarum; one or two examples of the latter were, however, introduced by means of a pipette; these multiplied to a great extent, and I have not been able since to discover a single specimen of &. variegatum. The green-coloured spots of 4. tenebrarum are large cells with a thin peripheral layer of protoplasm containing a nucleus; in the centre is a large globule of oily appearance impregnated with the colouring-matter. Vejdovsky has remarked (loc. cit. p. 65) that the globule is stained black with osmic acid, thus proving it to be of an oily nature. I have found that osmic acid produces a dark brown stain. The green colouring-matter naturally suggests chlorophyll; and Zacharias (“‘ Studien tiber die Fauna des grossen und kleinen Teiches im Riesengebirge,” Zeitschr. wiss. Zool. Bd. xli. pp. 499-500) states that in an olosoma (probably 4. variegatum) he observed the green bodies dividing, and therefore considers that they may be parasitic alge. With a view to discovering whether the bodies 1889.] MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON ZOLOSOMA TENEBRARUM. 53 in question were really coloured by chlorophyll, I kept a number of individuals in the dark for a considerable period (14 days), but without any change being apparent in the green bodies. This is not, however, a conclusive argument, since von Graff (‘‘ Zur Kennt- niss der physivlogischen Function des Chlorophylls im Thierreich,”’ Zool. Anzeiger, 1884, p. 520) found that in Hydra kept in complete darkness for one hundred and nine days “ there was no alteration either in the form or in the colour”’ of the chlorophyll-corpuscles. Being unable to extract a sufficient quantity of the green pigment for spectroscopic investigation, I treated the living worm with solu- tion of iodine (both alcoholic and in iodide of potassium) and obtained a very remarkable reaction. The cells containing the green oil-drops are stained of a deep blue-black colour by iodine; the colour can be seen to gradually spread over the cell and to be limited to the peripheral protoplasm ; almost as soon as the colour is developed it rapidly disappears, leaving the protoplasm stained yellow. I found it impossible to retain the stain for more than a few moments. If the worm was first killed by acids, &c., this iodine reaction did not take place ; it is therefore evidently produced by the living protoplasm only. Al- though there is a certain resemblance here to the starch-reaction, the fact that the blue-black staining could not be produced after the death of the cells is against such an interpretation. I am inclined to think that the appearances described are produced by the depo- sition of elemental iodine, which is rapidly redissolved after the influence which caused its precipitation is withdrawn by the death of the cell’. I should be extremely glad if it could be found that the iodine reaction was characteristic of starch (or some carbo-hydrate), as I could then announce the formation of this body in cells coloured green by a substance that is not chlorophyll (I shall show this presently); this would be a very strong argument in favour of Pringsheim’s ‘‘ screen theory.” When the living worm was treated with various acids, the colouring-matter was dissolved out, often expelled with violence from the body ; in the latter case the oily vehicle of the colouring- matter took the form of a fine coiled thread, thicker at one end; there were all gradations in form between this and an oval; the same effects were produced by crushing the worm. When the colouring- 1 When a living example of olosoma tenebrarum was treated with Stokes’s fluid, it was killed almost immediately, but no universal change of colour could be detected in the green bodies; when the worm was subsequently treated with iodine, the black reaction was produced, which lasted a very much longer time than when the living worm was submitted to the action of the same fluid. On treatment with alcohol, the black staining immediately vanished and the worm was decolorized. This seems to suggest that although the worm is killed by the treatment with Stokes’s fluid, the green cells are not at once killed by that reagent—not so rapidly as they are by solution of iodine; and also it seems to prove that the precipitation of the iodine (if I am right ee that this is the nature of the black stain) is a function of the living cell, 54 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON ZOLOSOMA TENEBRARUM. [Feb. 5, matter, after being liberated from the cells containing it, was treated with an alkali (ammonia and potash were used), it altered its colour into a fine reddish purple; this could be changed back again into a yellowish green by treatment with mineral acids. When the coloured cells were treated by an alkali in situ, their colour changed gradually to a dirty brown; they never exhibited the fine purple hue shown when the pigment was expelled from the cell. The pigment was dissolved by turpentine forming a gamboge-yellow solution, which soon faded; this could be converted into violet by alkali. These reactions appear to show that the green pigment in MHolosoma tenebrarum is not chlorophyll. It resembles, in fact, in the changes of colour produced by alkalis and acids, certain pigments described by Moseley (‘‘ On the Colouring-matters of various Animals, and especially of Deep-sea forms dredged by H.M.S. Challenger,” Quart. Journ. Micr. Sei. vol. xvii. 1877, p. 1) and other observers, and is possibly a member of that numerous class of pigments which serve a respiratory pur- pose. It is curious that the colour of the pigment, dirty green when acid, and purple when alkali, appears to be more like that of the perivisceral corpuscles of Spatangus purpureus, as described by Geddes (‘Observations sur le fluide périviscéral des Oursins,” * Arch. de Zool. Exp. t. viii. (1879), p. 483), than any other pigment of which I can find a description. In neither Bonel/ein nor Chloro- cruorin does there appear to be, judging from the papers of Sorby (‘On the Colouring-matter of Bonellia viridis,’ Quart. Journ. Mier. Sci. vol. xv. 1875, p. 169), Lankester (Journal of Anat. & Phys. vol. ii. and vol. iv. 1870), and MacMunn (“On the Chro- matology of the Blood of some Invertebrata,’ Quart. Journ. Micr. Sci. vol. xxv. 1885, p. 469), a change of colour exactly like that of the green pigment of Molosoma; and these are precisely the pigments which one would be, @ priori, disposed to compare with that of olosoma, sixce they are Annelid pigments. However, in the absence of spectroscopic data, it is impossible to make any comparisons of great value. Bonellein, which is a green pigment, is converted into violet by the action of acids; it evidently therefore differs materially from the pigment of Molosoma. According to MacMunn (loc. cit. p. 478), chlorocruorin, wheu treated with an alkali after rectified spirit, became yellowish. I could not obtain this reaction, as the alcohol decolorized olosoma tenebrarum*. The pigmented cells of Holosoma are by no means unlike those of Thysanozoon® (see Lang, “Die Polyclader,’”” Naples Monographs, 1 This pigment appears to be Hchinochrom (see MacMunn, “ On the Chroma- tology of the Blood of some Invertebrates,” Quart. Journ. Micr. Sci. vol. xxv. (1885) p. 485. ° There are other green pigments of course, about which, however, nothin appears to be known, except that in some cases (¢. g. those of Trocheta, Phyllo- doce) they yield no absorption-bands. 8 While working at the Plymouth Biological Station in August 1888 I ob- served a Planarian with large green spots exactly like those of d¥olosoma (so 1889.] MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON ZOLOSOMA TENEBRARUM. 55 pl. 9. fig. 9), in many of which the pigment is collected into a globule lying in the middle of the cell; this globule is, according to Moseley (“‘ On Stylochus pelagicus, &c.,” Quart. Journ. Mier. Sci. vol. xvii. 1877, p. 30), of a fatty nature, which is a further point of similarity to olosoma. A resemblance—perhaps of greater importance—is shown to Ctenodrilus; this genus consists of three species, in all of which the integument is dotted over with coloured spots. In Ctenodrilus monostylos (v. Zeppelin, ‘‘ Ueber den Bau und die Theilungs- vorgiinge des Ctenodrilus monostylos,”’ Zeitschr. wiss. Zool. Bd. xxxix. p- 617) and in C¢. pardalis (v. Kennel, ‘‘ Ueber Ctenodrilus pardalis,” Arbeit. Zool. Inst. Wiirzburg, Bd. v. 1882, p. 375) these spots are dark green. In the third species, Ct. parvulus, Dr. Scharff (On Ctenodrilus parvulus,” Quart. Journ. Micr. Sci. vol. xxvii. 1887, p. 592) states that the spots are dark green or violet, and that the colouring-matter is carried by an oily substance. I am not quite clear from Dr. Scharff’s paper whether he means to say that the colour of these spots in Céenodrilus parvulus is violet, or whether green and violet spots both occur. In any case, the alternation of green and violet is most suggestive in the light of what has been already said regarding the change of the green pigment of Holosoma tenebrarum into violet by an alkali: moreover, Prof. Hartog informs me that he observed ‘ claret-coloured ” spots as well as green in one individual of 42. variegatum; this fact is evidently of importance. Moseley’s observations upon the blue and red colouring-substances of two land-planarians found at Sydney, N.S.W. (“ On the Colour- ing-matters,” &c., loc. cit. p. 11), suggest, however, the need for caution in drawing such an inference; he found that the due pigment of one of the worms was converted into red by the action of acids, and surmised therefore that the red pigment of the other species would prove to be identical with this pigment; but this surmise proved to be incorrect. I have already suggested that the green pigment of Molosoma tenebrarum may be a respiratory pigment, capable of oxygenation and deoxygenation ; the peculiar reaction with iodine which has been referred to may possibly fit in with this hypothesis. I may also mention that the change in colour of the cells from a bright yellow- green to a dull olive-brown is very suggestive of a corresponding taking up and giving off of oxygen, but I have no positive facts to offer, and the proof is indeed extremely difficult. The blood of Holosoma tenebrarum is quite colourless at all times. The plasma of the blood of Holosoma quaternarium and Ai. ehrenbergi is stated by Vejdovsky (doc. ci¢. p. 18) to be colourless ; but he de- scribes cells with branched processes attached to the walls of the dorsal vessel in these species and in AZ. tenebrarum, which contain a yellow pigment. This may be hemoglobin, but there are no obser- far as I can remember). I made a few notes upon the worm, which I have un- fortunately lost; I hope, however, to have an opportunity of finding the Planarian again. It was not Vorter nor Mesostomum nor Convoluta. 56 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON ZOLOSOMA TENEBRARUM. [Feb. 5, vations known to me upon the presence or absence of this colouring- matter in the blood of Holosoma. Lankester (“A Contribution to a Knowledge of the lower Annelids,” Trans. Linn. Soc. vol. XXVi. p- 642) has mentioned that the blood of &. ehrenbergii is pink ; but pink is not a colour which is associated with the presence of hemoglobin. With regard to the branched yellow cells described by Vejdovsky in the dorsal vessel of Holosoma, I would venture to suggest that they correspond with the peculiar glandular structure which occurs in the dorsal vessel of Céenodrilus and of many other Annelids?. In this case, the colouring-matter is probably not heemoglobin*. The absence, therefore, of a special respiratory pig- ment in Zolosoma renders it more possible that the pigment of the integumental glands may perform that function. I imagine, from my observation of the living worm, that the pigment may also have a protective value. When a number of the worms are placed in a watch-glass with some of the vegetable débris upon which they feed, they are seen to hide themselves in this ; the general colour of the worm is a faint brownish, which harmonizes very well with the colour of the substances upon which they feed and among which they live. When the worm is magnified these resemblances are hardly obscured ; the worm is not unlike a slender stalk of some plant in which there are only fragments here and there of yellowish chlorophyll. It will be of interest to inquire how far the pigment of olosuma tenebrarum is related to the red pigment of 4. quaternarium and Al. ehrenbergii. 1 have applied the iodine test mentioned above to Z. variegatum, but did not sueceed in getting the black stain; the pigment of this species is of quite a different shade of green to that of 4. tenebrarum. EXPLANATION OF PLATE V. Molosoma tenebrarum. Fig. 1. An individual, from the ventral surface, with a young bud in course of formation: pr, ciliated prostomium of the young; the lateral ciliated pit is seen at l'; Z, ciliated pit of the parent ; s, short sete of posterior segments. 2. Coloured epidermic cells as seen before the use of reagents: 0, coloured oil-drop ; 2, nucleus. 2a. Young coloured cell. 3. Coloured epidermie cells after treatment with osmic acid: 2, nucleus ; p, cell-protoplasm forming a thin peripheral layer and rendered visible by shrinking of coloured oil-drop. 4. Coloured epidermie cells after treatment with iodine solution. 5. Débris of epidermie cells coloured violet on treatment with an alkali. 6. Contents of coloured epidermie cells expelled by acid. 7. Coloured epidermic cell showing shrinking of oil-body after treatment with osmie acid: 9, oil-globule; , nucleus; p, protoplasm. 8. Sets: a, of ventral bundles of posterior segments; 2, transition between these and hair setz. 1 See J. T. Cunningham, “On some points in the Anatomy of Polycheta,” Quart. Journ. Micr. Sci. vol. xxviii. p. 251, for an account of what is known of this organ in the Polycheta ; also Hisig, “ Die Capitelliden,” Naples Monographs, xy. pp. 691, 692. ? Though possibly a derivative. 1889.] | MR. P. L. SCLATER ON OPISTHOCOMUS CRISTATUS. 57 February 19, 1889. Dr. St. George Mivart, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. Mr. Sclater exhibited a series of specimens of the eggs and chicks of the Hoatzin (Opisthocomus cristatus), obtained by Mr. J. J. Quelch, of the Museum, Georgetown, Demerara, on the Canjé Creek, Berbice River, in 1888, and made the following remarks :— In 1884 Mr. E. M. Brigham, in a paper read before the Chicago Academy of Sciences (see ‘ Ibis,’ 1885, p. 118), made some extraor- dinary statements about the condition of the wings in the embryo of the Hoatzin (Opisthocomus cristatus), as observed by him while making “ Embryological Studies”’ in the island of Marajo, on the Lower Amazons. Mr. Brigham stated that during the latter portion of the period of incubation, and for several days after hatching, the fore feet, toes, and claws of this bird had the appearance of feet, and afterwards evolved into wings ; he consequently called the Opisthocomus a * quadruped bird.”’ When my son went to British Guiana in 1886 I called his special attention to this subject, and requested him to get me specimens of the eggs and young birds of Opisthocomus for examination. Want of time prevented him from effecting this (see ‘ Ibis,’ 1887, p. 319) ; and I consequently applied to Mr. Quelch, the curator of the George- town Museum, to aid me in this matter, and obtained for him from the Royal Society’s Donation Fund the sum of £5, to enable him to undertake the necessary expedition. Mr. Quelch most kindly acceded to my request, and made two ex- peditions to the Canjé Creek of the Berbice River, in 1888, for the purpose. When he first went there, in March last year, he found the birds abundant, but only just beginning to lay (see ‘ Ibis,’ 1888, p. 378). Mr. Quelch consequently made a second expedition, and writing from the Berbice Hotel on May 24th of that year, announced that he had made a pretty complete collection, consisting of twelve adult birds, a dozen or more of nestlings of different ages, besides chicks and eggs. ‘This series of specimens reached me safely last autumn, and has been placed in the hands of our Prosector, Mr. F. E. Beddard, for examination. Mr. Beddard is now preparing a paper for ‘The Ibis’ on this interesting subject. In the meanwhile I exhibit some of Mr. Quelch’s specimens of the young and eggs. The young, it will be observed, are peculiar for having the fore limbs well developed and the claws on the pollex and index both present and of large size. According to a paper by Dr. C. G. Young, recently published in the ‘ Notes from the Leyden Museum’ (vol. x. July 1888, p. 169, pl. 8), they would seem to use these claws for the purpose of leaving the nest when young and climbing about the branches of the trees. ‘There is thus some foundation for Mr. Brigham’s story of the “ quadruped bird.” 58 MR. P. L. SCLATER ON DAMALIS HUNTERI. [Feb. 19, Mr. Sclater exhibited some heads and skins of Antelopes shot by Mr. H. C. V. Hunter, F.Z.S., on the north side of the river Tana, N.E. Africa, and pointed out that they appeared to belong to a new species of the genus Damalis, which he proposed to call Damalis Head of Damalis hunteri. (From a photograph forwarded by Mr. Hunter.) hunteri after its discoverer. It was said to be allied to Damalis senegalensis, but at once distinguishable by the long upstanding tips of the horns, and the white band across the forehead. Mr. Hunter 1889.] SIR E. G. LODER ON HAPLOCERUS MONTANUS. 59 had stated in a letter addressed to Mr. Sclater that this Antelope, of which he had sent home specimens of the male, female, and young male, is only found on the north side of the river Tana. The Somalis informed Mr. Hunter that it extended along the coast up to Kismayu. The Gaila name for this Antelope was said to be *‘Haranta.”’ Mr. Sclater hoped to be able to give a full description of this animal at a subsequent meeting. Sir E. G. Loder, Bart., F.Z.S., exhibited a mounted skeleton of a Rocky-Mountain Goat (Haplocerus montanus), and made the fol- lowing remarks :— The Goat, a male, was shot by me September 1887 in the Rocky Mountains, Montana, U.S., long. W. 113° 10’, lat. N. 47° 30’, about 40 miles S.E. of Flat-head Lake. Although the animal has been known to science for a long time, I do not know whether there is a complete mounted skeleton in any museum in the world. The bones of the skeleton of the Rocky-Mountain Goat are accurately and minutely described by Sir John Richardson in the ‘Zoology of the Voyage of the Herald,’ published in 1854. A bad figure of the animal had previously been published by Rich- ardson in ‘ Fauna Boreali-Americana’ in 1829. I think it possible that the present skeleton of the Rocky-Moun- tain Goat is the first that has ever been mounted. Mr. Henry A. Ward of Rochester, U.S., tells me that he has never had one. This one will be preserved in my own collection, but I have two others (both females), one of which I shall present to the Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, and the other to the Royal Col- lege of Surgeons, Lincoln’s Inn Fields. The chief peculiarity in the skeleton of the Rocky-Mountain Goat is in the shortness of the metacarpal bone, which is only about 4 inches long. Dr. A. Giinther, F.R.S., exhibited a mounted specimen of his Gazella thomsoni (Aun. N. H. ser. 5, xiv. p. 427), obtained by Mr. H. C. V. Hunter, F.Z.S., in Masailand, and pointed out its differences from Gazella granti. The following papers were read :— 60 MR. R. LYDEKKER ON THE [Feb. 19, 1. On a Skull of the Chelonian Genus Lytoloma. By R. Lypexker, B.A., F.Z.S., F.G.S., &e. [Received January 28, 1889.] (Plates VI. & VII.) In the year 1849 Sir Richard Owen, in his ‘ Monograph of the Fossil Reptilia of the London Clay,’ Part I. Chelonia, published by the Palzontographical Society, described and figured (p. 27, pl. xi.) the imperfect skull of a large Marine Turtle from the Lower Eocene London Clay of Harwich, then in the possession of the late Prof. Thomas Bell, under the name of Chelone crassicostata. That species, it may be observed, was founded on the evidence of the shell, and it will be unnecessary on this occasion to enter on the question as to whether the specific association of the skull and shell is or is not correct. In that plate the specimen is figured of two thirds the natural size ; one view showing the frontal aspect of the cranium, a second the right side, and the third the inferior aspect of the mandible, which is retained in its natural position. When the specimen was figured only the frontal aspect of the skull and the inferior and part of the lateral surfaces of the mandible were exposed, the whole of the base and occipital region of the cranium being concealed by the hard rock of the septarian nodule in which the specimen had been embedded. Moreover, on the frontal aspect of the cranium nearly all the outer shell of bone is wanting, the contour being mainly indicated by a cast of the inner surface of the cranial bones. In the year 1863 this specimen was purchased, together with the remainder of Prof. Bell’s collection from the London Clay, by the British Museum. There it has remained in its original condition until the beginning of the present year, when, with the permission of Dr. Woodward, the Keeper of the Geological Department, I put it into the skilled hands of Mr. R. Hall, assistant mason in that Department, by whom the skull of Miolania recently described by Sir Richard Owen in the ‘ Philosophical Transactions’ was so skilfully developed. An equally successful result has rewarded his patience and skill in the present instance, and by carefully chiselling away the extremely hard matrix from the base of the specimen, the whole of the palatal and occipital aspects of the cranium, with the exception of that portion concealed by the mandible, is revealed in as perfect a condition as in any recent skull. Indeed, I am unacquainted with any other specimen of reptilian remains from the London Clay in which the bones are so perfectly preserved, and have such a sharp and fresh appearance. Since this skull indicates a genus of Turtles totally distinct from all existing types, the only cranial evidence of which is presented to us, so far as English examples are concerned, by the present specimen, and another skull preserved in the Woodwardian Museum at Cam- PZ.S.1889.P »- 44.0, = 39 Plate VI C. Woodward lith West, Newman &Co.imp. ‘Lytoloma crassicostatum © Ph Antes Le ¥ Yi aan ae “S St a : oe Oe ir a ree ' 4 bas | : | “ ; | | bm : po 4 ; Bet ' F s edi the 3 | f ; % we Ags 7 hie oy 4 j pt : Ue 7 } TAN kj : i ee : i ° j i ‘ 7s aay : e e a ul ; ? i” EC Woodward delet lith Hig. 1 Lrytoloma crassicos tatuy West,N ewman &Coimp. “Oh 1889. ] CHELONIAN GENUS LYTOLOMA. 61 bridge, and figured by Sir Richard Owen in plate ix. of the memoir cited, under the name of Chelone planimentum, the descrip- tion of the newly revealed palatal surface appears worthy of a place in the Society’s ‘Proceedings.’ It is not, indeed, that the chief features of this surface have been hitherto unknown, for they have been described by M. Louis Dollo, of the Royal Museum of Natural History of Brussels, upon the evidence of specimens obtained from the Lower Eocene of Belgium, which are probably specifically identical either with the present form or with the one described as Chelone planimentum. Hitherto, however, M. Dollo has given no figure of the cranium, and I doubt whether any of the Belgian examples can be as beautifully preserved as the present one. It has long been seen that the Chelonians from the London Clay described by Sir Richard Owen under the general term Chelone included many forms which could only be retained in that genus by employing that term in a much wider sense than that in which it is understood by students of recent herpetology. And from the year 1867 onwards a number of generic terms have been proposed for these and allied Chelonians from other deposits, which has resulted in an unusually complex synonymy. The chief features of this synonymy it is necessary to notice in some detail before proceeding to the consideration of the specimen before us. In the year 1870, Prof. E. D. Cope, of Philadelphia, published his well-known ‘Synopsis of the Extinct Batrachia, Reptilia, and Aves of North America” ’, containing descriptions of the remains of Eocene Chelonians allied to the present form, which were arranged under several generic names, of which some had been first published at earlier dates. The names which it will be necessary to mention are— Osteopygis, dating from 1868*, which was based on the evidence of the shell; Huclastes, dating from the preceding year*, and founded on the cranium; Lytoloma (1870), based on the evidence of the mandible; and Puppigerus (1870), which was applied to several of the Chelonians from the London Clay described by Sir Richard Owen, Chelone planimentum not, however, being among the number. In the following year Prof. H. G. Seeley * proposed to distinguish the last-named species under the generic name of Glossochelys. Thus matters stood till the year 1886, when M. Dollo’ described some Chelonian remains from the Lower Eocene of Belgium, which he regarded as closely allied to Chelone crassicostata and C. planimentum, and proposed to refer, together with these and some other species, to a new genus under the name of Pachyrhynchus. That name, however, as was pointed out in a joint paper by Mr. G. A. Boulenger and the present writer °, was preoccupied ; and in the following year its author’ proposed to 1 Trans. Amer. Phil. Soc. yol. xiv. pt. i. (1870). * Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1868, p. 147. 8 Ibid. 1867, p. 39. * Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. 5, vol. viii. p. 227 (1871). ° Bull. Mus. R. Hist. Nat. Belg. vol. iv. p. 130 (1886). ° Geological Magazine, dec. 3, vol. iv. p. 270 (1887). 7 Ibid, vol. iv. p. 893 (1887). 62 MR. R. LYDEKKER ON THE [Feb. 19, replace it. by Hrquelinnesia. A year later (1887), M. Dollo}, having had his attention directed to the circumstance that the name Glossochelys had been previously applied to one of the forms which were included in his Hrquelinnesia, and also to the American types described by Prof. Cope, came to the conclusion that Zuclastes, Lytoloma, some of the forms included in Puppigerus, Glossochelys, and Erquelinnesia, all belong to one arid the same genus. It was at the same time considered that the earlier name Osteopygis might also indicate the same form, but since the skull was unknown its adoption seemed inadvisable; and it was accordingly proposed that the term Huclastes, as being the earliest of those based on the evidence of the skull, should be the one to be employed in this sense. Unfortunately, however, this arrangement could not be accepted, since, as the present writer has pointed out in a communication recently made to the Geological Society, the name Euclastes is pre- occupied. Accordingly, in that communication it was suggested, assuming M. Dollo to be correct in his identification of Lytoloma with Hrquelinnesia=Glossochelys, that the former name, as being the second earliest of those based on parts of the skull, should be adopted. In the same communication it was also pointed out that the so- called Chelone longiceps, which it seemed incumbent to take as the type of the genus Puppigerus, was closely allied to the Bracklesham Middle Eocene species originally described as Chelone trigoniceps, and that, although the latter differed somewhat in the form of the mandibular symphysis from typical forms of Lytoloma, yet these two species must be classed in the latter genus, as had been proposed by M. Dollo, at the time he employed the name Pachyrhynchus in the same sense. Having now cleared up this intricate web of synonymy, attention may be directed to the features in which Lytoloma differs from existing Chelonide, and the opinions which have been held as to its affinities. In describing the Chelonide of the London Clay, Sir Richard Owen included in the term Chelone not only the Edible and the Hawksbill Turtles, but also the Loggerhead, which is now generally regarded as entitled to generic distinction, and forms the type of the genus Thalassochelys, that genus typically differing from Chelone in the absence of ridges on the palate and mandibular symphysis’, in the greater relative length of the latter, the lower alveolar walls of the palate and symphysis, and in the tendency to an earlier obliteration ef the vacuities in the plastron, as well as in certain other skeletal features which need not be mentioned here. It should be observed, however, that all the features in which this genus differs from Chelone are those of less specialization. In his original description Sir Richard Owen pointed out that the specimen under consideration was closely allied in structure to the skull of the so-called Chelone planimentum. And it was shown that ? Ibid. vol. v. p. 261 (1888), and Bull. Soc. Géol. Nord, vol. xv. p. 114 (1889). ® These ridges are present in the Mexican Loggerhead. 1889.] CHELONIAN GENUS LYTOLOMA. 63 the latter differed from all living Turtles in the peculiar flatness and the great relative width and length of the mandibular symphysis, of which only the inferior surface was displayed. It was also shown that the cranium differed in the upward instead of vertical direction of the orbits, and by the narrower interorbital bar. The palate being concealed in both skulls, nothing could of course be said regarding it. In the figure of Chelone crassicostata it was, however, indicated that the nasals were separate from the prefrontals; but an examination of the specimen shows that there is no possibility of determining this point ; but in C. planimentum they are certainly united, as in other Cryptodirans. Subsequently Prof. Seeley, in establishing the genus Glossochelys, relied not only on the distinctive features pointed out by Sir Richard Owen, but also on the remarkably large size of the hyoids, which are preserved in C. planimentum, this feature affording the grounds on which the generic name was chosen. Prof. Cope, in the memoir cited, was enabled to give fuller charac- ters from the evidence of the mandible described as Lytoloma ; while the cranium figured as Huclastes agreed in the characters of the orbits and adjacent regions with the English specimens. Important evidence was also adduced as to the nature of the limb- bones and the shell in this or allied types. Thus the humerus was shown to differ somewhat from that of existing Turtles, and was said to approximate to that of Chelydride. In the shell the ossification was demonstrated to be more complete than in Z'halassochelys, while its xiphiplastral elements were relatively wider and united in the middle line throughout their length. So impressed, indeed, was the Professor with the distinctive features of the group, that he regarded them as constituting a distinct family under the name of Pro- pleuride. It was reserved, however, for M. Dollo to throw more definite light on the cranial structure of Lytoloma, and in the memoir of 1886, to which allusion has been already made, he showed that not only was the oral surface of the palate and mandibular symphysis devoid of ridges and remarkable for its extreme flatness, but also that the cranium was at once distinguished from that of all existing forms by the extremely backward position of the posterior nares, which were situated in the posterior third, instead of the anterior half of the cranium. It was stated at the same time that the nasals are distinct from the preefrontals, but no mention is made whether this statement rests upon Sir Richard Owen’s figure of Lyioloma crassicostatum, or as the result of actual observation of the Belgian specimens. In this memoir it was concluded that the creation of a separate family for this group of Turtles was not justified, and that the Propleuride ot the American paleontologist was not entitled to rank as more than a subfamily of Chelonide. In the paper published in 1887, and already quoted, M. Dolio comes, however, to the opposite conclusion, considering that the marked difference of the humerus of Lytoloma (Luclastes) trom that of Chelone is sufficient to indicate a 64 MR. R. LYDEKKER ON THE (Feb. 19, family distinction. The present writer, in the communication laid before the Geological Society to which allusion has been made above, has, however, pointed out that there is such a complete transition from Lytoloma to Thalassochelys, that it appears impossible to justify the family separation of the extinct types. Turning to the palatal aspect of the specimen, which is figured two thirds of the natural size in Plate VI., and comparing it with the skull of Thalassochelys, one of the first points which strikes the observer is its extreme shortness, the width at the widest part of the tem- poral arch being exactly equal to the length from the occipital con- dyle to muzzle; whereas in the Loggerhead the former diameter is considerably less than the latter, whilst in Chelone the differ- ence between the two diameters is still greater. Still more notice- able is the backward position of the posterior nares, which are situated at a point one third the distance from the condyle to the muzzle, as indeed is mentioned in M. Dollo’s description of the Belgian specimens. In that description it is, however, stated that the boundary of the posterior nares is formed by the development of palatal plates from the pterygoids. So far, however, as can be seen from the present specimen, it would appear that this border is really constituted by the palatines, since on either side there seems to be a distinct suture separating the bones forming the border of the posterior nares trom the undoubted pterygoids. Looking at the arrangenient of the palatines in the Loggerhead, it would seem much more natural that these should be prolonged backwards, rather than that the pterygoids should assume the condition assigned to them by M. Dollo. In either case the vomer is excluded from the pos- terior nares, but its position anteriorly is not shown in this specimen. The pterygoids themselves are comparatively short, and much more deeply emarginate laterally than in the Loggerhead, in which respect they agree with those of the genus Argillochelys, which I have recently proposed ' for the reception of Chelone cuneiceps, Owen, of the London Clay. The palatal apertures of the temporal fossa are relatively large, and were probably nearly or quite as wide as long, in which respect they would also agree with