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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.
paves LONDON: MESSRS. LONGMANS, GREEN, READER, AND DYER, PATERNOSTER ROW, A PARIS: LEIPZIG:
M. J. ROTHSCHILD, M. J. ROTHSCHILD, 43, RUE SAINT ANDRE DES ARTS. 34, QUERSTRASSE.
PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
LIST
CF THE
CONTRIBUTORS,
With References to the several Articles contributed by each.
Page Apvams, Henry, F.L.S.
Descriptions of the New Species of Land-Shells collected by Mr. A. R. Wallace in the Malayan Archipelago ...... 414
Descriptions of a New Genus and*some New Species of [7 TS ees Ace a ae cS eee a 753
Apvams, Henry, F.L.S., and Ancas, GrorGre Frencu,
C.M.Z.S. Descriptions of Two New Species of Shells in the Collec- tion of George French Angas ........... Gi afte bd eats 54
Autman, Prof., F.R.S.
On the characters and affinities of Potamogale, a genus of insectivorous mammals recently discovered in Western Africa 467
Aneas, GreorGE Frencu, C.M.Z.S. Descriptions of Ten New Species of Shells, chiefly from PaaEy NIB DEAL CARD CS oi a otwitin atmeteinnis-5) Aaipim Sane elie eae 55
Descriptions of Four New Species of Marine Shells trom South Australia
iv On the Marine Molluscan Fauna of the Province of South Australia: with a List of all the Species known up to the present time; together with Remarks on their Habits and Distribution; 6ce;.. Part Leesa ics suse se Speers 155 Description of a New Species of Gouldia from Port Jackson 459
On the Marine Mollusean Fauna of the Province of South Australia: with a List of all the Species known up to the present time; together with Remarks on their Habits and Distubution) Gem "Lartebis4 Mey eee hee ee ei
Descriptions of Two New Species of Marine Bivalve Shells fromi,podya. Awetralins.... 9 cS: oo Se pa ees be ee 697
Ancas, GeorGe Frencu, and Apams, Henry. (See ADAMS, Henry.)
Austen, N. L. On the Habits of the Water-Shrew (Crossopus fodiens) .. 519
Barro, W., M.D., F.L.S. Description of a New Species of Entozoon from the Intes- tines of the Diamond-Snake of Australia (Morelia spilotes). 58
Barsoza pu Bocace, Professor José Vicente, Director of the National Museum, Lisbon, F.M.Z.S. Sur quelques Mammiféres rares et peu connus, d’ Afrique occidentale, qui se trouvent au Muséum de Lisbonne ...... 401
Sur Habitat du Hyalonema lusitanicum...........-.. 662
Barrett, A. D., Superintendent of the Soeiety’s Gardens. Remarks on the Affinities of the Prongbuck (dntilocapra
GMETICANA),«. Jrnie Roehl erwiale, aj)tes rhe = Ge Pete eer eerie Bieiate oka 718
Barr, Cuarwes Spence, F.R.S., F.LS., C.M.Z.S. Description of dstacus caldwelli ............+.++.... 469
Breavan, R. C., Lieut. Bengal Survey, C.M.Z.S.
Indian Ornithological Notes, chiefly on the Migration of SPCcles “sac cea eta t eens 2 eee Eo trrin See Bs aA 690
v
Bennett, Dr. Georee, F.L.S., F.Z.S. Extract from a letter addressed to the Secretary......
Brancont, Professor J. J., of Bologna.
Letter from, respecting the Osteology of the extinct genus UT RR PS TE” Fy eee ae Pee ce TS Ae me eR A a
Buiyru, Epwarp, C.M.Z.S8. Exhibition of some remarkably large horns of the Wapiti Deer (Cervus canddensiz) .. 2... re bicg cs ces es
Brapy, GeorGe STewarpson, C.M.Z.S8. On sixty-six new or imperfectly known species of Marine TREVACBOUE wos aes «area eke Gust sale ata Par oe: sates trac.
Burcer, Capt. Georcr Ernest, 10th Regt. Foot, C.M.Z.S. Note on the Habits of the Musquash of North America. .
Burmeister, Dr. Hermann, Director of the National Mu- seum, Buenos Ayres, F.M.Z.S.
Extract from a letter addressed to Dr. Gray on a new species of Whale, Balenoptera patachonica
Description of a New Species of Porpoise in the Museum GrapnenostA yremmeewere: 2S. Mae oy bE ocho deg ks
Extract from a letter concerning specimens of Heliomaster NY EI AE SRO Re AE LAE Lee INS AO eee Seek
On a supposed New Species of Fin-Whale from the coast of South America ...........
Busx, Georer, F.R.S., F.L.S., F.Z.S. Memoir upon the Fossil Elephants of Malta ....
Butter, ArtHur Garpiner, F.Z.S,, Assistant, Zoological Department, British Museum, Descriptions of Six New Species of Diurnal Lepidoptera in the British Museum Collection.......................
Page
59
196
618
257
682
L90
228
466
713
510
430
vil
Descriptions of Six New Species of Exotic Butterflies in the Collection of the British Museum ..................
Descriptions of the Characters of Six New Species of Rho- palocerous Lepidoptera in the Collection of the British Mu- seum, with Notes on the Allied Species ................
Monograph of the Species of Charazes, a Genus of Diurnal Lepidoptera De:criptions of Six Butterflies New to Science, belonging
to the Genera Heter rochroa and Romaleosoma RIAN c~ ¢
Description of a New Species of Cetonia, with Bamanke on the Allied Species: 2. 2209... iewds ae de. Roa eae
Carrenter, Puiwir P., B.A., Ph.D.
Diagnoses of New Forms of Mollusca from the Vancouver Distineis: aha mamttas No aertix- Anca a alee a8 Again siotaiatie loaner
Diagnoses of New Species and a New Genus of Mollusks from the Reigen Mazatlan Collection : with an account of ad- ditional Specimens presented to the British Museum......
Descriptions of New Species and Varieties of Chitonide and Acmeide from the Panama Collection of the late Prof. C. B. Adams.. rea
Diagnoses of New Species of Mollusks, from the West Tropical Region of North America, principally collected by the Rev. J. Rowell, of San Francisco ..................
Description of Two Species of Chitonide, from the Col- lection of W. Harper Pease, Esq. .
Cosson, Dr. T. Spencer, F.R.S. Note on some Entozoa collected by Mr. Charles W. Devis
Cox, James C., of Sydney, M.D., &e. Descriptions of Seven New Species of Australian Land- Bhalla... 0. Si ieee wis a eae pee ee eee
481
622
667
729
201
268
274
325
vil Page Crisp, Enwarps, M.D., F.Z.S., &e.
On the Os Penis of the Chimpanzee stenininti eg niger)
and of the Orang (Simia satyrus). . sfeeres: seep 48 On the Anatomy and Habits of the Water-Ousel pare PGUMESENS)) 0.5 RE ath RMR Ce Akh Mens ete POG Te Da vhs: 4 Sgrty 4D
On some points relating to the Anatomy and Habits of the Bactrian Camel (Camelus bactrianus), and on the presence of Intestinal Glands not before noticed.................. 257
Exhibition of a drawing of the placenta of the Giraffe, lately obtained from the Society’s Gardens .............. 328
Exhibition of a drawing of the Aard-Vark ( Orycteropus PARE) Sete oo ak ire erat eee Lo ce MOO
Dauias, W. S., F.L.S., Keeper of the York Museum.
On the Feathers of Dinornis robustus, Owen .......... 265
Day, Francis, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c., Surgeon Madras Army. On the Fishes of Cochin, on the Malabar Coast of India. ATEN. Pick eeeRteeete arose he Dey Rie pe aae comptaeahet idee, 2
On the Fishes of Cochin, on the Malabar Coast of India. all’: s0 ee Ptr eis. oR 0 has BBE
Dourn, Dr. H., C.M.Z.S.
List of the Land and Freshwater Shells from the Zambesi and Lake Nyassa, Eastern Tropical Africa, collected by John G4 A BD Pee otra papi han ae ee eshte ee PRE Sy ey
Dow, Capt. J. M., F.Z.S.
Letter from, relating to specimens of Thalassophryne.... 677
Fiower, Wiiuiam Henry, F.R.S., F.L.S., F.Z.S., Conser- vator of the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of London.
Note on Pseudorca meridionalis .............+...... 470
On Physuiis-abbaldu, Gray o> =e sess. eae ATS
vill Observations upon a Fin-Whale (Physalus antiquorum, Gray) recently stranded in Pevensey Bay
On the Gular Pouch of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda, Linn.) 25:9 aoe aetets Gacke.3235- 0) Secs eae
Fraser, Louis, C.M.ZS. List of Species of Mollusks recently collected by R. Swin- hoe, Esq., in Formosa ........ o ehavebeik ia wie te ee Exhibition of two eggs of the Rose-crested Cockatoo (Ca-
COL TOSECED): coo onan, a 6G = legs mn tage we, ghee eee
FRAUVENFELD, GEORGE, RITTER VON, Descriptions of Seven New Species of the genus Vivpara, Bate OPES a in ogee eeeaset oes vices ae aces Gian eae
Goutp, Joun, F.R.S.. F.L.S., V.P.Z.S., &e. Descriptions of Two New Australian Birds.........---
Descriptions of Four New Species of Birds from Eastern ASTRO ete Re NI tee meter ier e Ais cist die cid vale ovat ovens.» cisue aeperene
Gray, Joun Epwarp, Ph.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., V.P.Z.S., Keeper of the Zoological Collections in the British Museum.
Notice of a New Whalebone-Whale from the Coast of De-
658
198
663
voushire, proposed to be called Eschrichtius robustus 40 Revision of the Genera and Species of Mustelide contained in the British Museum . ee re ee eer: i Extract from a letter addressed to him by I Dr. H. Bur- meister of Buenos Ayres, on a new species of Whale, pro- posed to be called Balenoptera patachonica ........+..0 190 Notice of the Skull of a New Species of Bush-Goat (Ce- phalophus longiceps), sent from the Gaboon by M. du Chaillu 204 Notice of a New Species of Porpoise (Phocena tuberculi- Jera) inhabiting the Mouth of the Thames .............. 318 Notice of an apparently Undescribed Species of American Porcupine . . 32t
ix Notice of a Species of Tupaia from Borneo, in the Collec- Hon. atthe British MNSeODE s 52... om sess re reele tee oe Notice of a New Genus and Species of the Family Triony- Chida trem Western, Aftier #..5). 2. seve ile Wa Sota Notes on the Whales of the Cape; by E. L. Layard, Esq., of Cape Town, Corr. Memb. With Descriptions of Two New Selena OV: a TIME eral shart ese aoe hele emote ce wees as Revision of the Genera and Species of Entomophagous Edentata, founded on the Examination of the Specimens in pe, Brine MOM Use MnY Ghose Sk les Fea tia seelets Extract of a letter from E. L. Layard to, on a new Zebra On the Development of the Sternal Callosities in Cyela- nosteus senegalensis, and on the Synonyms of Cyclanosteus dy ie ANCE CNTR CAO. W's) iS... She We ate Bee Meee Notice of a New Species of Australian Sperm-Whale (Ca- todon krefftit) in the Sydney Museum.................. A Revision of the Genera and Species of Amphisbznians, with the Descriptions of some New Species now in the Col-
lection“of the-British Miaseum) =232<s eo sdt ete ed ore ck
Notices of a New Genus of Delphinoid Whales from the
Cape of Good Hope, and of other Cetaceans from the same Seas |
Descriptions of Two New Genera of Lizards from Damara- land. .
A Revision of the Ses of Golden Moles (Chr Sai is) 07
Note on the Habits of the Kinkajou (Cercoleptes caudivol- vulus) ..
Dee te Notes on the Mustelide ..............
Notice on Rhodophyton, a New Genus of a found on the Coast of Cornwall
Short Account of part of a Skeleton of a Finner Whale, sent by Mr. Swinhoe from the Coast of Formosa E
Extract from a letter from Prof. W. Lilljeborg, For. Memb., on the skeletons of Whales in the Jardin des Plantes......
Notice of some New Species of Spider Monkeys (A¢éeles) in the Collection of the British Museum
359 417
730
x
Notice of some New Species of Marmoset Monkeys (Ha- nan pale aud Midas).......... cs MPAA, Oe 733
Descriptions of Three Species of Dolphins in the Free Mu- seum.of Tiverpool’s 2020 Ry... RU Ae ee cee
Notices of some apparently Undescribed Species of Sapajous (Cebus) in the Collection of the British Museum ........ 824
Gitnruer, AuBert, M.A., Ph.D., M.D., F.Z.S. Remarks on the State of his Researches into the British
Species of Salmonoid Fishes .............. AS ae On the Pipe-fishes eleniabed to the Genus Phy ‘ghtoa eee ye. S27 A List of Reptiles from Madagascar.................. 469 Letter from Capt. J. M. Dow on two specimens of Thalas-
SOphTYNe, A. PD ayile e ti ote fen nate Tee LOve cart aa) Seda da Contributions to the Knowledge of the British Charrs.
Gurney, Joun Henry, F.Z.S. On a New and very Singular Raptorial Bird (Stringonyx [MET SSO) eta HEIN © el ao See at ae, 3) chs Wl eels aio decaterelelel terete! atete oa OILS
On a New Species of Harrier from New Caledonia ...... 823
Harriavus, Dr. Gustav, F.M.Z.S. Descriptions of Seven New Species of Birds, discovered by Mr. J. J. Monteiro in the Province of Benguela, Angola, West
PPPICR Sas sae eels oe Riatlalai sgh in agate s ROSIN ee oe On Two New Species of African Birds................ 428 On a New Species of Francolin, discovered by Messrs.
Speke and Grant in Central Africa .................. . 665 On Two New Species of South-African Sazicole ...... 746
Hecror, James, M.D., F.G.S., Director of the Geological Survey of New Zealand. Notes on the Moa-Bones in the New Zealand Exhibition of USGS ai ico 5 eee a EVs dS Oe ee 749
xi
Huxtey, Professor Tuomas Henry, Ph.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., V.P.Z.S.
On the Structure of the Stomach in Desmodus rufus ....
Jounson, JAmMes Yate, C.M.Z.S.
Description of a New Genus of Trichiuroid Fishes obtained at Madeira, with Remarks on the genus Dicrotus, Ginther, and on some allied Genera of Trichiuride ..............
Kirk, Joun, M.D., F.L.S., C.M.Z.S. Letter containing a Reply to the Observations of Dr. W. Peters, F.M.Z.S., relating to Gerrhosaurus robustus ...... Note on the Land and Freshwater Shells of the Zambesi and Lake Nyassa, Eastern Tropical Africa, with a correction to a previous communication on the Mammals of the same BOMIOM co recente ay pane ee
Krerrt, Gerarp, Curator and Secretary, Australian Museum, Sydney, New South Wales, C.M.Z.S.
Description of a New Species of Rock-Kangaroo from New Bay NY MOS." Stee eee inad sia cls ee ee Rabe bhai ys
Notice of a New Species of Sperm-Whale belonging to the Genus Huphysetes of MacLeay...................0008.
Layarp, Epcar Leopotp, F.Z.8., Keeper of the South Af- rican Museum, Cape Town.
Notes on the Whales of the Cape..........
Extract of a letter from, addressed to Dr. J. E. Gray, on “TUTTE ga AS 0) gs We air ck 0 A AT eae ea Re
Letter addressed to the Secretary, communicating the Habits, &c., of Sazicola spectabilis.......... 00.004. e 6.
Litusesore, Prof. W., F.M.Z.S.
On certain Skeletons of Whales in the Jardin des Plantes. Extract from a letter addressed to Dr. J. E. Gray........
Page
386
434
227
231
619
xil Page Luioyp, W. Aurorp.
Letter from, describing the new Aquarium-house lately erected in the Zoological Society’s Gardens at Hamburg, and the improved system of management of Aquaria pursued in that establishniente,< cie2iro. Si key anlar Se ele
Mrvart, Sr. Georee J., F.L.S., F.Z.S., Lecturer on Com- parative Anatomy at St. Mary’s Hospital. Notes on the Myology of a Specimen of Cercopithecus RAD BUS = cpifiaie as Wye shencts + ake @xrauat wel eaedner eae aks ee
Contributions towards a more Complete Knowledge of the Axial Skeleton in the Primates ........ 0.00 c cue eee ee 545
Mrvart, Str. Georees, F.L.S,, and Murir, James, M.D. Observations on the Anatomy of Nycticebus tardigradus . 240 On the Myology of Hyrax capensis... .........0 0000 329
Monretro, Joacuim J., C,M.ZS.
Notes on Birds collected in Benguela ................ 89
Moors, Freperic. List of Diurnal Lepidoptera collected by Capt. A. M. Lang inthe N. W.°Himalayas = poy a. Ss ae ee
On the Lepidopterous Insects of Bengal .............. 755
Morcn, O. A. L., of Copenhagen, C.M.Z.S. Supplementary Notes to the Review of Vermetide...... 96
Morir, James, M.D., Prosector to the Society. On the Anatomy of a Fin-Whale (Physalus eae
captured near Gravesend .......... . 206 On Deformity of the Lower Jaw in the Cachalot (Phy- seter macrocephala, Unt.) 5. Fikes css ote ote Rea 390
On a Leech (Trocheta subviridis, Dutroch.) found in the Viscera of a Moluccan Deer (Cervus moluccensis, Miiller).. 659
xiii Page Notes on a Spider Monkey (Ateles cwcullatus, Gray) lately
living in the Society’s Menagerie ................+.--.. 739
Observations upon Presbytes albigena, ee and Colobus Guerena ARUP pies ey. Aas Renae tae eRe eats ee isnt FAO
Note upon the hae of a Tail-feather in a male Scemmering’s Pheasant......... ae een ek
On the Identity of the Haivy: -nosed Wombat (Eaassth mys lasiorhinus, Gould) with the Broad-fronted Wombat (P. latifrons, Owen), with further Observations on the seve- ral Species of the Genus ....66..-- 152. 5- +s setter ence 838
Moris, James, M.D., and Mrvart, Sr. Grorce J., F.Z.S. (See Mivarr and Murie )
Nation, Prof. Witutam, of Lima, Peru, C.M.Z.S.
Letter from, respecting certain Reptiles destined for the ENGL f/f the Safa cel ete cc Seman Se cals aod Meee Cotae 39 Oe
Newron, Aurrep, M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S. On Two New Birds from the Island of Rodriguez ...... 46
Exhibition of a specimen of Porzana carolina, lent to him
by Mr. H. S. Eyre, shot at Newbury ..............+.-.-. 196
On some recently-discovered Bones of the largest known species of Dodo (Didus nazarenus) .. 61.0.0 20. eee Oe )
Exhibition of specimens of several new or little-known Pires, Wee chat, Seer Nats vies rarcthastngen idea scl raeeinkt eae
On a remarkable Discovery of Didine Bones in Rodriguez 715
Announcement of the discovery of some Bones of the ode tn Mauritius: (jas. tivw i demesiedns 25 v4 oneal ages 732
List of Animals collected at Mohambo, Madagascar, by Birow., Pa Gertardy. Sas e neue so end L832
Ossurn, The late Mr. W.
Notes on the Cheiroptera of Jamaica. Communicated by PREOCRCIGEY’ Acido ch fue wct RU ae RS 61
Xv
Page
Owen, Ricuarp, Professor, M.D., D.C.L., F.R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S., F.Z.S., Superintendent of the Natural History Collections, British Museum.
Tenth Memoir on the extinct Dinornithine Birds of New CTT EN CL Nee an ee oe 438
On the Morbid Appearances observed in the Dissection of the Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri)................++.. 438
Descriptions of New Species of Indian Cetaceans observed and collected by Walter Elliot, Esq., F.Z.S. 511
Parker, Witi1amM Kitcuen, F.R.S., F.Z.S8.
On the Osteology of Mieroglossa alecto ........ 235
Preliminary Notes on some Fossil Birds from the Zebbug Cave, Malta Fae
Prasr, Witii1AM Harper, C.M.Z.S.
On the Synonymy of Sistrwm cancellatum ............ 52
Description of a New Species of Latirus, and Remarks on others, inhabiting the Pacific Islands .................. ; 53
Descriptions of New Genera and Species of Marine Shells from the Islands of the Central Pacific. (Communicated by Dr. P. P. Carpenter.) 512
Peters, Dr. Witutam, Director of the Zoological Museum, Berlin, F.M.Z.S.
Note on the Systematic Position of Platacanthomys lasiurus 397
Notes on the Mammalia observed by Dr. Welwitsch in Angola 1). 0.2 ee -- 400
Preirrer, Dr. Louris, C.M.Z.S.
Descriptions of Thirteen New Species of Land-Shells from Formosa, in the Collection of the late Hugh Cuming, col- lected by Mr. Robert Swinhoe, Vice-Consul of that island.. 828
Descriptions of Five New Species of Land-Shells, from the Collection of the late Hugh Cuming ...........-+-.- 831
XV Page Ramsay, Epwarp P., of Dobroyde, New South Wales.
Notes upon the Cuckoos found near ees New South Wales.. «edo rateneeye seaabs seetehe cams Ete eke alana, cn 460
Note on the Nidification of Sate ere sited? 689
Sciater, Pature Lutiey, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., F.L.S., Secretary to the Society. Notice of a Mantchurian Deer received from Mr. Swinhoe 1 Notice of a Prong-horned Antelope added to the Society’s MPCIDIONIe Deities ube ae. & sens Gers irk as 3. (ee pe BO Exhibition of, and Remarks upon, a stuffed specimen of a Water-Pipit, Anthus spinoletta (Linn.), from the collection Ot fee iashop ot Oxstotd, VsP2Z.8 0042 eee tee as ose cia 60
Exhibition of the type specimen of Galago monteiri, and Remarks on Galago crassicaudata and G. crassicaudata
ERE 1G 71 BI ARCS i Or RSL ee A eR Ee ME Tf Note on the Breeding of a Ground-Pigeon in the Society’s
AR caer reds ele ean ie As PAROS eR Nich d vo OO Notice of several additions to the Menagerie .......... 256
On a New Species of the Genus Basileuterus of Cabanis, with a Synopsis of the known Species of the Genus ...... 282
Notice of additions to the Society’s Menagerie ........ 318
Description of a New Species of Passerine Bird from Ma- MH pASEHEO ES .5.). Monee. eM) Rh ee Le ee ott us OB
Description of a New Species of Indian Porcupine ...... 352
Exhibition of, and Remarks upon, a collection of birdskins formed by the Society’s Corresponding Member, M. Adolph Boucard, in the vicinity of Vera Cruz, Mexico............ 397
Description of a New Accipitrine Bird from Costa Rica.. 429 Remarks on a rare Parrot from Dominica ...... 437
Exhibition of a okie of a pair of Gayals i intended Stic OANICHAMERIe. och). 2 ie ood S Bh. 2 ae ee oa Ao
Exhibition of a drawing of Paradisea calva, lately disco- vered in the Island of Waigiou................-+.222+- 465
Xvl1
Notice of recent additions to the Menagerie............ 466 Exhibition of specimens of Heliomaster angela, and notes thereupon by Prof. Burmeister, For. Memb. ............ 466 Report on a Collection of Animals from Madagascar, trans- mitted to the Society by Mr. J. Caldwell................ 467 Announcement of the arrival of a young male African Blephant inthe Society's Gardens |. ......¢.s 00) sees UU Notes on the Genera and Species of Cypselide ........ 593 Exhibition of bird-skins collected by Mr. Henry pie Ma SAD er sy oe es oe a ss a yeigeee cl eat rr On a New Parrot of the Genus Nasiterna ............ 620 On recent additions to the Menagerie, with Notes ...... 675 Notices of Animals observed in several Continental Zoolo- encal Gardens =: Spe nto. ys aes Ek Sip lass co ee a Oe On the Structure of Leptosoma discolor .............. 682 Correction of some previous remarks on the supposed oc- currence of Haliaétus albicilla in America........... 731
Smiru, Dr. C. J. Letter from, on the breeding of the Elephant in captivity 731
Sowersy, G. B., F.L.S. Descriptions of Four New Seinti/le and One New Pythina from the Collection of Mr. H. Cuming ................ 517
Descriptions of Two New Species of Conus from the Col- lection of H. Cuming, Esq., and Two from the Collection of thie late Mr. Denisseing ie A536 sae ei idl ie eee ne eae oe
SraveLey, Miss.
Note on the Presence of Teeth on the Maxille of Spiders. (Communicated by Dred. BiGrays)* 2022s eer ORO
Stevens, SAMUEL, F.L.S.
Exhibition of a nearly perfect egg of a Dinornis, supposed to: be that. of Dj. ingens, Owem®,)0) 02.2208, ee PO
XVli
Swinuog, Rosert, F.Z.S., H.B.M. Consul at Formosa. Extract from a letter to Dr. Gray. 1... 25. .025). 0.025. ] List of Species of Mollusks recently collected by him at | SUTAE1 SA MN gist EE SO ay gg, oa RO A le 196 Pxardct. ofa letter from ies setieloc bd eerie s+ 510
Extracts of letters from: .-...-./.---..sssscs00cees.s O77
“TRISTRAM, Rev. Henry Baxer, M.A., F.L.S., C.M.Z.S.
Report on the Terrestrial and Fluviatile Mollusca of Pa- LLIN AOS eg Pea cree. Nee Sie pene kA a RR rR 13 |
Watuace, ALFRED Russe Lt, F.Z.S.
List of the Land-Shells collected by him in the Malay Archipelago; with Descriptions of the New Species by Mr. Aerts se irre: Sta <0) Sut tno OC iat Bi aeRO MLL. AAD 405
Descriptions of New Birds from the Malayan Archipelago 474
LIST OF PLATES.
Plate Page LYST CEA EPUB ns BORD GOS BOO TAIEOE EOS O Dole I, 3 46 Drymeca rodericana ...... clove Oapiefe revere eroferarnia tare < DitaNewsAustralanitShells | ciscctsic sisters steiv slo aeualeisitaisioon mS Ill. Antilocapra americana ...... Su obdcaute a Soop. os 60 DWVie PLGCCUSTELCO OMS) 501s) <10reia(0. 6 in ibin sie aie Pinistovel esd Sécnce Vie) = MONEE. OWiads coe se coe ees NY 86 WAG OEY TG TIOUT otro Qo ouD OCA DORE Ce BD GOUGS sists WIL. Enhydris lutris ........+0005 erefafeveieie sfelsierae Foncug, hl VIII. Bones of Didus nazarenus...... peodu Uo aooeomocea Le. - f Fig. 1. Basileuterus mesoleucus......eceeersevees Ix.{ ie Se Fig. 2. cinereicollis ........ sresesteesesse (ogy x { Fig. 1. SEMICETVINUS we .eeer006 sintelnjsieleialsieveren Ream Fig. 2. ULOPYGIANE oan sys oes tens ¥5 eee
Al. rethizon rufescenss 284% cance se 6s nc vs weme we aien TN 2AM ine SRT IO EOE sep ctioc DOOR OC DODODGORSCONCo 2c
XT, “Hylophorbavttictla: osc. vices es va selnesevee sien O20 XUV PEMA LLOPtery af CUEALE Vela) «iaysic) oie] o/alsvetoicle) aistetsteiers lela XV. COUCS rete tetels SOHO One CDOS Gunes) Ton ae oe MOVIL VELe Sip OL ADUTSCOs. »\s1010) 6 aise els)s eFernaieleleiee se eretera ele OO RVI. Pholedotus/afrecanus .<isaivcee ocioe visne ss ler cierevere XVIII. Dasypus vellerosus.....ssereceres aiaobe 359 MUX. Cyclothunus COrsausv cass « sisjois« vcloeisslelsiwcis sheer XX. Platacanthomys lasiurus ........005. Sgehos dnchag GH]
XXI. Mr. Wallace’s New Land-Shells ............++000. 405 RTT. Hiqusrsuneliel ay syeharaherojointoreie\el<lelein)e/sixiels'slnietele) alsiclaYele mek XX TLS SAG COMMAS TCCLADUES waatevalolere ieiele ate eieielciete'siisle/eiaraterns -. 428 XXIV. Leucopternts princeps.. ..ss00 seuss vesessvcseeces Gao XXV. New Diurnal Lepidoptera......cseesseeesveveceee 430 XXVI. New Diurnal Lepidoptera ......csseceseseeseeceee 400 NM V UL eed SCS CALAWUELG Tree ieleyeroiaielcleieistelel sie s\c/cin'ele Viele cravelerieetN
xix
Plate Page XXVIII. Rhipidura torrida .........5-0000: digo nn oua6 ‘a Fig. 1. Prionochilus aureo-limbatus ......+0+200++ 474 xxix. { 78 2. Nectarinia flavo-striata........eseeceeee lanes |New EndisnMepidoptera ss. waecrat sso: vis seb oes 486 XXXII. New Species of Scintilla, Pythina, and Conus ...... 517 XXXII. Cypselus squamatus .....ccevecernceceseceeres \ 593 XXXIV. Cheetura discutata ....ccccreccrevecrecvreseees XXXV. Nasiterna pusio ....ccsccescccveresecssacsssenes 620 toa } New Species of pee §. SooUne Le sorpAde OOOO noe 622 7 Fig. 1. Ptenopus maculatus ....... qua hadnonod us \ yi { Fig. 2. Cordylosaurus trivirgatus....+++.0+eeeees so Fig. 1. Francolinus grantti .....+.ereeees sie fein ole 1 ee) { Fig. 2. SGLET Opt cee x, aia <'s alsigie' a0: 8's ule's oie J oe Klis Salo Kellimensts. oe cio.cice si cinle ss viehs vies mi vioiniels ov aye vie 698 XLI. xu New Indian Lepidoptera ......-...+2000) aeveraraverate 755 XLIII. ROTM fea ONT CUS AOL GA aarateRetsicle eo) eivialersiehe s/n s 0 sietelsialt a shateiclers 823 MGTOVc, Cebus TEUCODENI Stn a ais sie o\ jore 9) xin cleun!o1®)s¥eis\ele/ ola) ele ele air 824 XLVI. New Formosan Land-Shells....... AE BONE SCOR? 828 KVAT.. Phascolomys latsfrons os oovec ssi = 6 vive v9 vies v0 00 00 838
ERRATA.
Page 10, line 2 from top, for D. i read D. z
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” 343, » O40,
1
rp 5 for hypostoma, Bleeker, read Lelenger?, C. V.
” 6 ” for B. vi. vead B. viii.
2b a for minor read mino
5) 20 3 for Cirri 2 read Cirri 4
Le = for antiguorum (Linn.) read semisagittatus (Shaw)
,, 11 from bottom, for insertion at the upper part of the humerus; however, 7ead insertion; at the upper part of the humerus, however,
le . ' for between read beneath reve AL a for inner read outer
» 8 from top, for left read right
etl o for insert read insertion
,, 046, in description of Fig. 9, for left half read right half ,, 048, line 21 from top, for into linea aspera read into the linea aspera
PROCEEDINGS
‘
OF THE
SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS
OF THE
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.
January 10, 1865. Dr, J. E. Gray, F.R.S., in the Chair.
The Secretary called the attention of the Meeting to the fine speci- men of the Mantchurian Deer from Newchwang, now in the Society’s Gardens, which had been received from Mr. Swinhoe on the 4th of July, 1864, and which was the specimen upon which Mr. Swinhoe had proposed to found his species, Cervus mantchuricus, P. Z. S., 1864, p. 169.
With reference to this animal, the Secretary read the following extract from a ‘letter addressed by Mr. Swinhoe to Dr. Gray, dated Amoy, 6th October, 1864 :—
“‘ Amoy, 6th October, 1864.
‘I find here a magnificent buck Deer in the possession of Mr. Pasedag, the gentleman from whom I procured the Newchwang Deer for the Gardens on my arrival in China. This noble animal, which stands 4 feet high from the shoulder, is also from Newchwang, and being in fine spotted red summer coat, and of a commanding stature, I took it at first for a distinct species. But on closer exami- nation, I feel pretty convinced it is of the same breed as the animal for which I proposed the name Cervus mantchuricus; and that on second thought I suspect will turn out to be the same as the three skins I forwarded to the Museum from the summer residence of the Chinese Emperor, the oldest buck of which you had figured in the * Proceedings’ as C. pseudazis, and for which Blyth has proposed the name C. mantchuricus, and I, subsequently, C. hortulorum.
“ Cervus mantchuricus. Approaching the Avis type, closely allied to Cervus taivanus and C. sika, more so, apparently, to the former.
“Fine buck from Newchwang, still in summer coat ; examined 30th Proc. Zoor. Soc:—1865, No. I,
x
2 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. (Jan. 10,
September, 1864. General colour reddish brown. Under neck and fore thighs covered with rather long dusky brown hair. Hair of neck, chiefly on its back part, and down part of the back list, long and shaggy. List black between the shoulders, fading towards the tail. Inner portion of hind thighs, inside hair of ears, a large spot on the outer portion of back of ear near its root, rim round the eye, chin, and throat white. Body ornamented with large spots of white. Tail, including apical hair, nearly one foot long. The hair that over- hangs the roots of the tail on either side black ; basal half of tail white ; apical half black, with white tips ; under the tail and between the hams white. Knees and front of tibie brown. Head, from crown to tip of nose, about 20 inches long; ear about 9 inches. Forehead and before the eyes reddish; rest of face brownish fawn- colour. Horns with frontal tine about 5 inches long, bent a little downwards at the tip; about 8 inches in the stem between lowest tine and the next above, which are broken and represented only by a knob ; top stem between that and the top knob about 4 inches.
« This is the finest species of the Spotted Deer I have seen. Besides being much larger than the C. taévanus of Formosa, it is at once to be distinguished by the much greater proportion of white in the tail and hind parts, and by the faintness of the dorsal list ; but doubtless many other more considerable distinctive characters will be found to exist on a careful comparison of the two species. With C. stka it has much less in common ; and this bears out the opinion I advanced as to the greater probability of the fauna of Formosa having been derived from the Chinese main rather than from the Japanese islands. But it is curious that at the present day, south of the Yangtsze River, the only Spotted Deer known to exist is what I take to be the true Cervus axis, some of which from Hankow I saw captive in Hongkong, and reported on in a former letter.”
The following papers were read :—
1. On THE FisHes or CocHIN, ON THE MALABAR COAST OF Inp1a. By Surceon F, Day, F.Z.S., F.L.S., erc., Mapras ARMY.
Part I. ACANTHOPTERYGII.
During a few years’ residence at Cochin, on the Malabar or western coast of India, whilst inquiring into the fauna, I made a collection of fresh- and salt-water fish, a short account of which I beg to offer for the consideration of this Society. My catalogue (for it is searcely more) will only contain such species as I have been able to bring with safety to this country ; for many specimens, I regret to say, have been either mislaid or destroyed.
As my purpose is simply to enumerate fishes of Cochin, the periods of the year at which they arrive, and the uses or abuses to which they are put, I shall take Dr. Giinther’s most valuable cata- logue as my text-book, adhere to his arrangement, and as closely as
1865.] MR. F, DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 3
possible make use of the names he has appropriated to each species. I shall describe not only every new fish which I have obtained, but also those whose existence has been declared very doubtful, but of which I have been so fortunate as to obtain specimens. In the de- scriptions I shall adhere as nearly as possible to one formulary, and give the exact and comparative proportions of the various parts of the body, head, and fins. The vernacular names will be recorded, when such were ascertained beyond a doubt; but they vary greatly in different localities. The native Christians do not give the same appellations to species as obtain amongst the Mahomedans, which again differ from those employed by the Hindus and even by different castes of the Hindu races. In short, various designations are found for the same fish, according to the locality it inhabits and the race of natives conversing.
The classes who fish along the sea-coast and in the backwaters are the native Christians, the Mahomedans, and the Arrian caste of Hindus ; whilst the inland pieces of water are left to the Perdana Kanakas, the most degraded of a degraded race of slaves, who are only able to follow this pursuit in the early mornings or late in the evenings, when not required for agricultural labour. Nominally ma- numitted, but in reality compelled to work for a certain amount of rice (at least, when in health; for since their freedom they obtain nothing when ill), it is fortunate for them that fish forms no portion of their masters’ diet.
The manner of fishing varies according to the season of the year, and whether employed in the sea, backwater, rivers, or tanks. Wall, cast, stake, and Chinese nets are all used» The last, situated on the banks of the river, are about 16 feet square, suspended by bamboos attached to each corner, and let down like buckets into the water, and, after remaining there a few minutes, pulled up again. As this mode of fishing is continued all through the year, it affords an ex- cellent criterion of the families and species present, even when sea- fishing is suspended.
Besides the foregoing, fishing with a bait is employed at all times, both from the shore and small canoes. Trolling at the river’s mouth, chiefly for the Polynemus tetradactylus, mostly takes place in the cold months. Likewise shooting with a Chittagong bow, or bows and arrows, capturing by means of bamboo labyrinths, and poisoning the water by nux vomica, cocculus indicus, Croton-oil seeds, or other deleterious substances, are all common ; also damming up and lading out streams, purse-nets in small water-courses, especially in rice- fields, catching by the hand, or by means of wicker baskets some- what resembling the eel-traps in this country.
The coast is low, without rocks, but with several mud-banks, to which many fish appear to come for the purpose of depositing their spawn. A low narrow slip of sandy soil divides the backwater from the sea, with which it runs parallel for several hundred miles. Some large rivers, which take their rise in the Western Ghauts, pass down- wards through this backwater into the sea. The Cochin River is 800 yards in width.
4 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. _ {Jan. 10,
During the south-west monsoon, which lasts from the commence- ment of June until the middle of August, an immense amount of fresh water finds its exit by these rivers; and it is said that the sea, for sometimes as much as two miles from the shore, is comparatively saltless. Of course, at this period, whole tribes of fish migrate, whilst others take their place.
The exact amount of salt fish exported from British and Native Cochin I have been unable to ascertain; but in the neighbouring state of Travancore the average yearly exports by land and sea are a little above 44,000 bundles, of about the declared value of £3150. Ceylon is the chief market for salt fish ; and, off British Cochin, Ceylonese boats may frequently be perceived scudding along, their occupants capturing the fish, which, after having salted, they carry back to their own country. A heavy salt-tax renders the outlay necessary for the purchase of any quantity of this condiment almost an impossibility to the poor fishermen of the coast; it is conse- quently only the moneyed man who can engage in the curing of fish. But large taxes on its sea export, duties on its transit along the backwater, vexatious scrutinies and detentions at the various Custom Houses do not conduce to the success of this trade.
The Mackerel, Saw-fish, Rays, Sharks, and the Chirocentrus dorab are those most commonly salted; whilst the Sardines, which sometimes appear in enormous numbers, are turned into fish-oil, although the manufacturer of this article is not very particular as to the exact species which ‘finds its way into his boiling-pot. These fisheries, which might be made extensively available for increasing the amount of human food, have been applied to quite another use, although one which is very profitable to Europe. As the market for fish has increased, the supply has kept pace with the demand; and the greater part of those not consumed when fresh are manufactured into oil, as the following figures of the exports and imports of British Cochin will demonstrate :—
Imported. Exported. Fish-oil. cwt. cwt. In five years ending 1845, 1846.... 36 66 95 y 1850;1851.. 912 3,586 a5 Sp 1855, 18562... 31,196 91,077 ” ” 1860, 1861.... 24,142 98,151
The livers of the Sharks and Rays also afford excellent oil, which is used in the Government hospitals as a substitute for cod-liver oil. This was formerly manufactured in British Cochin ; but for the last few years has been so at Calicut. Two species of fish-roes are ex- tensively sold, those most esteemed when fresh being the small ones of the Hemiramphus, whilst the largest are taken from the Mullets ; these last are often dried and even exported. I was unable to as- certain that isinglass had ever been made in Cochin ; but-remarks on the uses to which the various fish are put will be placed with the respective species.
In Europe, from very early ages, fisheries have been protected by
1865. ] MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 5
legislative enactment ; but in India they have not yet met with the attention they deserve. Along the Malabar coast, since fish have obtained such a ready market, the number of fishermen has greatly increased, and instead of there being, as formerly, competition for the post of panlanquin-bearers, they are procured with the greatest dif- ficulty, which no doubt is partly owing to the augmented profits of the fishermen.
The Western Ghauts are gradually becoming studded with coffee- plantations, and the coolies employed on them are glad to purchase all the salt fish they can obtain. Probably, at no distant date, the coffee-planter will unite with the philanthropist in desiring that the western-coast fisheries may be turned to greater advantage for the supply of human food. The first step towards this desirable result must be some diminution or alteration in the salt-tax, or rather in the price of salt, which is now a monopoly of the British and native governments. But this is a subject for the politician and financier, not for the naturalist, to solve ; but such a result would undoubtedly prove to Malabar humane, beneficial, and politic.
LATES CALCARIFER, Bloch. Nuddee-meen (Malayalim). B.vii. D. 72. P.17. Vt. AZ. C.17. 1.1.52. Litre 7
8—9 11°
Length of specimens*, from 6,3, to 2254; inches.
This large grey Perch is well entitled to his distinctive native name of “The River-fish,” for in Cochin it must be ranked as amongst the best of the finny tribes. It is also called the ‘ Nair-fish,”’ be- cause the Nairs, although Sudras, are considered the nobility of Malabar.
Plentiful ; but held in too great a request for the table to be salted or dried. The best quality of “Tamarind-fish”’ is prepared from it by the following process :—The fish is boiled, then the bones are removed ; it is next sliced, and, having been highly spiced, is left to soak for some days, and subsequently packed in jars. This is held in great estimation in the East.
It is caught up to 5 feet in length ; but the largest fish are not the best for eating.
SERRANUS BONTOO, Cuy. & Val.
B.vii. D.U. P.19. V.t. A. 3. C.17. L. 1. about 100. Length of specimen 13 inches. Colours. Brownish grey on the back, fading to dirty white on the abdomen. When first caught, they have generally five or six dark
* These figures denote the largest and smallest specimens in my collection, but not the largest obtained in Cochin.
+ L.r. is used in this paper to denote the number of rows of scales, passing Samael to the lateral line; and L.1. the number of scales along the lateral ine.
6 MR. F, DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. __ [Jan. 10,
vertical bands ; but these fade after death. The whole of the body and fins are covered with round black spots, in some places amount- ing to blotches. Iris olive-green, with a golden margin,
Not very common; do not appear to attain any very large size ; are good eating.
SERRANUS SEXFASCIATUS, Cuv. & Val. B. vii. D.U=¥. P.18. V.t. A.4. ©.17. L. x. about 100.
16
Length of specimens from 5 to 78; inches.
One specimen has twelve dorsal spines and sixteen rays; conse- quently it is not an undeyviating rule in this genus that, should one spinous ray be in excess, there will be a corresponding soft ray de- ficient.
Common. General length about 5 inches ; rarely, if ever, exceed- ing 8.
SERRANUS DIACANTHUS, Cuy. & Val. Killi meen (Mal.). B.vii. D2. P.19. V.t. A.Z. C. 16. L. r. 90.
Length of specimens from 5,4; to 13 inches.
Colours. Brownish, fading into white on the abdomen. The whole of the fish, even over its branchiostegous rays, covered with bright orange spots, intermingled with brown ones on the head and tail. Fresh specimens have five vertical bands, which often fade after death. Tn the young fish these bands are more distinct and persistent ; whilst the general ground-colour is leaden, and the orange spots less marked.
Plentiful ; excellent eating ; and fish from 10 to 15 lbs. weight are considered of fair size, but they grow much larger.
SERRANUS LANCEOLATUS, Bloch.
Serranus horridus, Cuv. & Val.
Kurrupu (Mal.).
B.vii. Dig. P.19. Vz. A.Z. C.17. Li. 90 to 105.
Length of specimens 7;,, 135, and 22,5 inches.
The Serranus lanceolatus and the 8. horridus have been so accu- rately described by Cantor and others that a recapitulation appears to be unnecessary. In the smallest of these three specimens the comparative length of the spines exceeds the proportion to that of the soft rays which exists in the larger specimens. But the same alteration of the comparative length with age also obtains in the young specimens of the 8. diacanthus,
Colours. These vary exceedingly with the age of the fish, so much so that the beautiful young has been named S. Janceolatus, and the old S. horridus ; whilst, curiously enough, not only do the Malays (according to Cantor) recognize this fish, the ‘‘ Ikan krapu,”’ as being the same in both its liveries, but so do also the natives of Malabar.
1865.] MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 7
There is one very distinctive portion of its coloration that appears hardly to vary, whether examined in the smallest specimens or those at least up to 20 lbs. weight: it is that of the pectoral, ventral, anal, and caudal fins, which are of a bright gamboge, with black spots or blotches, sometimes coalescing and forming arched bands. Cantor mentions that in the adult S. horridus the colours of the fins become greenish olive; but in a specimen 4 feet 3 inches long, which he describes, they were the same as given above.
The very young fish, of which there are several in the Govern- ment Museum at Madras, are of a fine citron or sulphur ground- colour, with irregular black bands or markings, which become more distinct as the size of the fish increases.
In a beautiful specimen, 73 inches in length, captured in Cochin in 1863, the ground-colour of the body and fins is of a bright gam- boge, with five vertical blackish-blue bands,—the first passing from the orbit directly downwards over the preoperculum ; the second from the crown of the head downwards over the operculum, and slightly impinging on the przeoperculum, becomes lost in the first band anteriorly and the third posteriorly ; the third, commencing in the space between the third and tenth dorsal spines, passes down- wards and, narrowing, joins the second band in front, whilst below it is adatiued on to the abdomen; the fourth band extends from the fifth to the last soft ray of the dorsal, and passes downwards to the whole base of the anal; the fifth band covers most of the space between the caudal and the termination of the dorsal and anal fins. The fins are of the same bright yellow ground-colour as the body, with black spots or blotches forming confluent lines near their base ; whilst on the pectorals they are disposed in three or four arched un- dulating bands. Large black blotches exist on the jaws. Iris golden.
In a fine specimen, over 13 inches in length, captured at Cochin jn November 1863, the same distribution of coloration is perceptible ; but its vividness has begun to fade, and marbling can be distinctly perceived over the whole of the yellow ground, whilst the dark tints of the bands have much lessened. It must also be remarked that, in this specimen, the comparative length of the dorsal spines to the rays has become the same as in the adult hitherto known as the S. horridus.
In a specimen captured in Cochin in 1862, nearly 23 inches in length, the adult livery of the S. horridus is perceptible. Back brownish, gradually fading into grey over the abdomen, the whole being marbled with darkish grey lines. The spinous portion of the dorsal brownish yellow, with a dark base. The soft portion of pec- toral, ventral, anal, and caudal the same as in the younger specimens. Tris brown, with a golden rim.
This fish, which is excellent eating, is never rare at Cochin, but is mostly captured in the monsoon months: one, in 1861, was of about 20 lbs. weight. Cantor observes that it grows in the Straits toa gigantic size, and instances a specimen captured at Pinang, the sage of which exceeded 130 lbs. -
8 MR, F, DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. (Jan. 10,
GENYOROGE noTaTA, Cuy. & Val. B. vii, D.%. P.15. V.t. AZ. C.19. L.1.52. L. tr. 5.
Length of specimens from 3,8, to 6 inches. i Not uncommon ; do not appear to grow to a large size.
GENYOROGE CHRULEOPUNCTATA, Cuyv. & Val. B. vii. D2. P.17. Vit. A.Z. C17. L,1.45-50. L. tr. 3.
Length of specimens from 4,5, to 6 inches. Not common; mostly captured in the monsoon months. Do not appear to grow very large at Cochin; but in the Madras Museum
are some of a great size.
MeEsoprRION JOHNII, Bloch. Chembolay (Mal.). B. vii. D.4%. P.18. V.t. A.3. C.16. 1.1.48, L. tr. 4.
Length of specimens from 2;%, to 1053; inches.
The intensity of the coloration of this fish very much decreases with age. A specimen, 23 inches in length, is of a beautiful golden colour, with an intense black finger-mark, extending from the lateral line to the fourth scale above and the second below it. In very old specimens the golden metallic lustre of the scales is almost gone.
Very common ; grow to a large size, and are good eating.
MESOPRION AUROLINEATUS, Cuv. & Val. B.vii. D.U. P.16. Vit. A.2. C.17. 1.1.46. L. tr. 4
inches. Length of specimen.,.... 4335. —ofhead ........ 14%, or four-fifteenths of total length. ——— of pectoral ...... 1, or two-ninths of total length. of caudal........ 355, or one-sixth of total length. ———- of base of dorsal.. 1555, or one-third of total length.
— ofanalans He's 23.42 {;, or one-eighth of total length. Height of head ........ >> or one-sixth of total length. ———ofbody ........ 1,4, or one-third of total length. ——— of hard dorsal.... 44, or one-fourth of total length.
of soft dorsal .... 3455 or one-sixth of total length. ——— of base of caudal.. 45, or one-eleventh of total length. of ventral.......- 745, or one-sixth of total length.
——— of anal.......... 35> or one-eighth of total length.
Diameter of eye 34; inch, or ? of the length of the head, ;4, inch from end of snout, 74; apart, situated close to the upper margin of profile.
The profile rises very slightly from the snout to dorsal fin; the line of the abdomen is rather straight. Lower jaw slightly the longest. Superior maxillary bones extend as far backwards as the
1865.] MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 9
anterior margin of the orbit. The openings of the nostrils rather wide apart, and opposite the upper fourth of the orbit. Preeorbital entire. Przeoperculum finely serrated on the posterior edge of its vertical limb, very slightly emarginate opposite the interoperculum, curved at its angle, where the serrations become coarser, but they decrease again as they approach the anterior end of the lower limb, which is slightly oblique. Sub- and inter-opercula entire. Oper- culum with two points, hardly to be termed spines, and terminating in an acute fleshy extremity. Scales on the opercula ; but none either between or in front of the orbits. Two broad bands of scales pass over the shoulders, separated by two or three rows of smaller ones. Suprascapular denticulated ; scapular and humeral entire.
Teeth. An external row of large sharp teeth in the lower jaw, and several villiform rows in the centre. Upper jaw the same; inter- maxillaries crowded with small teeth en velour, and having two canines on either side, the external of which is curved and very large in comparison to the size of the fish.
Fins. Origin of dorsal and pectoral in a line, the latter reaching as far backwards as the anal; ventral slightly behind pectoral ; anal arises opposite third soft ray of dorsal; pectoral pointed ; soft por- tions of dorsal and anal rounded; caudal slightly emarginate ; ven- tral pointed, first soft ray prolonged.
Dorsal spines rather strong: first 2; inch; second ,4,; third 53,; fourth very slightly longer; thence they decrease to the last, which is 45 inch. Ventral spine weak, 8; inch long. Anal, second spine much the longest and strongest ; first >, inch ; second ,5, ; third .2,.
Scales. Longest diameter from above downwards; above the lateral line they run in an ascending backward series of rows to the base of the dorsal until the end of that fin, when they pass parallel with back. Below the lateral line the first four rows run horizon- tally, terminating in the lateral line; the next five or six pass direct towards the caudal. Consequently the row commencing at the hu- merus is the superior one at the tail.
Lateral line passes parallel with the back in its upper third.
Colours. Back olive, shot with yellow. Abdomen yellow, with several horizontal brilliant golden lines; these lines are divided by a darker one running along the centre of each row of scales, so that each golden one is on parts of two. A large, very black mark exists on the lateral line, commencing at the twenty-second, and continued until the thirty-first scale ; it extends below the lateral line for three rows, and above it for one and a half. Dorsal and pectoral olive ; caudal and anal olive-yellow; ventrals golden. Iris golden.
Rare in Cochin. The foregoing was the only one obtained; a second was frequently searched for, but invariably without success.
MEsoprION RANGUS, Curvy. & Val.
B.vii, D.f- P.16. V. >. A.g. C.16.2. 1eb46. Ltr. 2.
Length of specimens from 7 to 9 inches. Very common ; grow to a large size; are excellent eating.
10 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. (Jan. 10,
MEsopRION SILLAOO, Cuy. & Val. B yi.) D. 2! P16. Vee PAS: CO! 17: TsO ates
as inches. Length of specimens from 11%; to 194%; inches. GE HEAR taci sratr 5;8;, or two-sevenths of total length. of pectoral ...... 4,,, or one-fourth of total length. af wandal <5. 004 3%), or one-sixth of total length.
— of base of dorsal.. 75%;, or two-fifths of total length.
of base of anal.... 2;%;, or one-ninth of total length. Height of head ........ 4;?;, or one-fourth of total length.
of body .. .. 5455, or two-sevenths of total length. of hard dorsal.... 2, or two-nineteenths of total length. of soft dorsal .... 435;, or one-fourth of total length. ——— of base of caudal.. 2, or two-nineteenths of total length. Of ventral? 4.00280 3, or two-thirteenths of total length.
of anal..........- 2,45, or one-ninth of total length.
2
Diameter of eye 1,2; x 1 inch, or } x 1 of length of head, 2.1, from end of snout, 1 inch apart.
Profile gradually rises to the dorsal; but a slight concavity exists over the nostrils. Lower jaw a little the longest. The superior maxillary bone extends as far backwards as opposite the anterior third of the orbit. Preeoperculum, posterior limb nearly vertical in its upper half, which is entire, then emarginate to receive a knob of the interoperculum, and at this spot it is very finely serrated ; angle rounded, with about six very blunt denticulations ; lower limb horizontal and very short. Sub- and inter-opercula entire; a pro- tuberance on the upper angle of the latter. Operculum with two blunted points; no spines. No scales between or before the orbits. Arched double row of scales over the nape very conspicuous. Supra- scapular scale veined, but entire. Scapular and coracoid bones entire.
Teeth. Canines large, ;3;ths of an inch exposed ; an external row of conical teeth in both jaws ; two or three rows of villiform in inter- maxillaries and upper jaw. A very few villiform teeth in lower jaw, and only in its anterior portion. Numerous and fine villiform teeth on vomer and palate.
Fins. Origin of dorsal and ventral in a line; pectoral slightly in advance ; anal arises opposite first or second soft ray of dorsal ; pec- toral, pointed, does not reach so far as anal by ;5,ths of an inch; ventral pointed.
Dorsal spines not very strong, base of spinous portion 4,4, of total length; interspinous membrane rather deeply notched: first spine zy inch ; second 1,8; third 2; fourth 2; fifth 1,8,; thence they decrease to the ninth, which is 1,4;; tenth 1,%;. Ventral spine weak, 1-3, inch. Anal spines rather strong; first ;°; inch; second 1,;, and slightly the strongest ; third 1,,.
Scales passing in longitudinal rows, both above and below the lateral line. Opposite the termination of the soft dorsal, they become slightly undulating in their course,
1865.] MR. F, DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 11
Lateral line passes parallel with the back in the upper quarter of the body.
Colours. These do not vary very much, except that in the young fish they are rather brighter; and also it must be noted that they soon commence to fade after the fish has been taken out of the water ; then the brilliancy of its red decreases, and its back becomes rather brownish grey. Each scale is rather darker at its base than at its margin. Below the lateral line it is of a bright deep lake-colour, above of a brownish red, with the base of each scale of a greyish-ash or brown colour. Under surface of the throat and chest scarlet, with a shade of orange. Cheeks orange scarlet. A bright blue zigzag line passes along either side of the snout on the lower margin of the preorbital and suborbital ring of bones. Hard portion of dorsal brownish grey; soft, of an orange scarlet. Anal, hard portion greyish, soft scarlet. Caudal scarlet. Pectoral scarlet, stained with darker at its margins. Eye bluish grey, with a golden-red centre.
Common at Cochin; excellent eating; and grows to a large size.
MESOPRION RUBELLUS, Cuv. & Val. B.vii, DU. P16. Vit. ALS. C1174. 1.1.46. L. tr. 2
. s—9° inches Length of specimen.. .. .. 173. 0 LTT 5;4, or two-sevenths of total length. of pectoral ...... 4,%,, or one-fourth of total length. —_ of caudal........ 3,2;, or two-elevenths of total length.
of base of dorsal.. 7;4,, or two-fifths of total length. of base of anal... 2, or one-ninth of total length. Height of head ........ 4, or two-ninths of total length. af body Viwes «5. 5=4;, or two-sevenths of total length. of hard dorsal.... 254;, or one-ninth of total length. of soft dorsal .... 2, or one-ninth of total length. of base of caudal.. 1,5,, or one-tenth of total length. ——-— of ventral........ 3, or one-sixth of total length. of anal.......... 2,4, or one-ninth of total length.
Diameter of eye 1,4,x 5% inch, or +4 of length of head, |; apart, 1,9, from end of snout.
A very considerable rise from the snout to the commencement of the dorsal fin. Lower jaw very slightly the longest. Superior maxillary bones reach to opposite the anterior one-third of the orbit. Preeoperculum almost vertical in the upper portion of its ascending limb; in the lower third (opposite the interoperculum) slightly emarginate, finely serrated in the whole of its extent ; angle slightly rounded, with three or four blunt denticulations ; lower limb oblique, entire. Sub- and inter-opercula entire. Two very blunt points to operculum ; no spines. Suprascapular serrated. Scapular and cora- coid entire. No knob to the interoperculum.
Teeth. Canines, exposed portion ;%; inch. An external series of large conical teeth in lower jaw, and also in the upper, but smaller.
12 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. [Jan. 10,
Villiform teeth in both jaws; most numerous in the upper. Fine villiform teeth in vomer and palate.
Fins. Origin of dorsal, pectoral, and ventral on a line. Anal arises opposite about the third soft ray of dorsal.
Dorsal spines moderately strong; interspinous membrane very slightly notched ; first dorsal spine 35 inch ; second 1,%, ; third 252, ; fourth a little shorter; and they decrease to the last, which is 43. Ventral spine weak, 1;8;inch. Anal spines, first <3; inch; second 1, and much the strongest ; third 1,8;. Pectoral pointed, and reaching upwards of half an inch beyond the origin of the anal. Ventral pointed ; first soft ray prolonged. Anal rather pointed.. Caudal truncated.
Scales in horizontal lines, both above and below the lateral line.
Lateral line, in upper third of the body, following the curve of the back the whole way to just beyond the termination of the soft dorsal, when it proceeds direct to the caudal, which it reaches above its centre.
Colours. Back greyish brown. Chest orange. Abdomen and sides of alight violet, each scale tipped with white. Cheeks orange ; scales also white on their exteriors. Eye silvery, with a golden rim round the pupil. Hard dorsal greyish; soft dorsal yellowish grey. Caudal brownish. Pectoral with a tinge of red. Anal, hard por- tion greyish ; soft yellowish grey. Ventrals greyish, with an orange base.
Common; excellent eating.
MESOPRION FULVIFLAMMA, Forsk.
B. vii. D. a Pte: = A. = GC. 74) Ess Ae. 4. Length of specimen 2%; inches.
AMBASSIS COMMERSONII, Cuy. & Val.
Aranyee (Mal.).
BoD: 7x Po Mieig Ns > A. = CLF. tie 183. “bite =
Length of specimens from 3 to 7 inches. Common in all pieces of fresh and brackish water. They are eaten by the natives.
AMBASSIS DUSSUMIER]I, Cuv. & Val.
B.vi. D7. P.15. Vig. AG C.17. 1.1.27. L. tr. Ge
Length of specimen 2,4; inches.
Scales not so deciduous in this as in some of the other species. Lateral line interrupted.
AmMBASSIS NALUA, Buch. Ham. ?
Aranyee (Mal.).
B.vi. D. 73. P.15. V.4. Avg. C.17. 1.30. L. tr. §.
Length of specimen 3,1; inches.
1865.] MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 13
Inferior margin of interoperculum strongly denticulated : thus with the double denticulated edge of the przoperculum and the denticu- lations on the interoperculum there are three parallel lines of teeth- ing in this species. A sharp spine directed backwards at the poste- rior superior angle of the orbit; and two or three more along its posterior edge, but separated from the first by a notch. Ventral spine comparatively long, reaching close to the origin of the anal, whilst its soft rays extend as far as the third anal spine.
Length of head one-third of the total ; height of body two-sevenths of total length ; second dorsal spine two-thirds the height of body ; second anal spine half the height of body.
THERAPON TRIVITTATUS, Buch. Ham. Keetcha (Mal.).
: F f 12 B. vi. D. =. P. 15. Vii. A. =. CMSB 95; Litre:
Length of specimens from 2,5, to 454; inches.
All the Therapons are indiscriminately termed Keetcha, and, un- less by the poorest of the population, are utterly rejected as food, as they are reputed to prey on any corpses that may be floating in the backwater. They do not, in Cochin, attain to the size they are found in Madras.
THERAPON SERVUS, Bloch.
Keetcha (Mal.).
Bevis DOT 10 Pog. Ve i/ar” Avs/s. C17. E82. L. tr. 12/27.
Length of specimens from 2,!, to 7 inches.
THERAPON THERAPS, Cuy. & Val.
Keetcha, Mal.
Bee De12/109 2 Bs 152. VAs Aw 3/8. C17. Le) 50, L. tr. 10/14.
Length of specimen 4,8, inches.
PrRisTIPOMA MACULATUM, Bloch. Be vii. D2 15 Ps17. V.1/5. A.3/7. ©.17. 1.1.52. L. tr. 8/12.
Length of specimens from 2,4 to 7 inches. Common; not esteemed as food.
PRISTIPOMA HASTA, Bloch.
Boavie 12/14, P17. V.1/o.- A. 3/7. sC. 17. 1.147. bn te. 7/10.
Length of specimens from 2,5, to 733; inches.
Common ; does not grow to a large size; eaten by the natives.
14 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. [Jan. 10,
DIAGRAMMA NIGRUM, Cantor.
Diagramma affine (Ginther).
Bowie, DD I4/16. BelG. Vs 1/5... Ay c/fs )Gerkee | sunt L. tr. 10/17.
Length of specimens from 8;7; to 21 inches.
Excellent eating ; usually comes in vast numbers about J uly, when - the Chrysophrys calamara, up to that time abundant, has entirely disappeared.
LoBoreEs SURINAMENSIS, Bloch.
Parrandee, Mal.
Be yu, D. 12/15, P.t7.) VV. 178.)) Ba S/11,. Cee eee L. tr,.8/16,
Length of specimens from 2,'5 to 13 inches.
Small specimens are very common, and always have the caudal deeply margined with white. Large ones are good eating.
Scoxtorsis saponicus, Bloch. Bivis D.10/00 Polo? Vil /ei eA B/C) iis Lae L. tr. 5/12.
Length of specimen 33 inches. Rare.
SyNAGRIS GRAMMICUS, Day, sp. nov.
Bivi. DatOlO.. Bo 17. Ve Se Av /7.. °C. 17 L. tr. 4/10.
inches Length of specimen...... 75: ofshead ys sit 228.5 1,5, or two-ninths of total length. of pectoral- vc sin. 1,4, or one-fifth of total length. — ofenudal so-as o/s: 1,,, or one-fourth of total length. of base of dorsal .. 2,55, or one-third of total length. of baseof anal.... 55, or one-ninth of total length. Height of head...:...... 1,4, or one-fifth of total length. of body —..vedsinca 1,5;, or one-fourth of total length. — of hard dorsal. . +5, or one-tenth of total Jength. —W— of soft dorsal . 35, or one-ninth of total length. of base of caudal.. %, or one-eighth of total length. _ of ventral........ 1 or one-ninth of total length. OF ayia ieieen tian = x5; or one-tenth of total length.
Diameter of eye 33,3; inch, or 1x + of length of head.
Nape short; profile convex pan snout to dorsal. Lower jaw longest. Upper jaw reaches to anterior third of orbit. Przeoper- culum, posterior limb nearly vertical, and finely serrated in its lower half, whilst from between each serration a fine furrow runs a short way downwards and forwards ; angle rounded and entire; lower limb horizontal and entire; the lower part of the preeoperculum is
1865.] - MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 15
furrowed. Sub- and inter-opercula entire. Operculum ending in a blunt point. Przeorbital large, entire, but furrowed downwards.and backwards. Upper margin of orbit close to profile. Shoulder-bones entire. Three rows of scales between the orbit and margin of the preoperculum ; no scales between or before the orbits. Intermaxil- laries nearly four-tenths of an inch in length, and protrusible. Nos- trils close to anterior superior margin of the eye, not far apart, an- terior rather the largest. Three oval facets in anterior half of the under surface of the lower jaw, the posterior of which is the largest.
Teeth. An external row of six curved conical teeth in intermaxil- lary bones, with villiform ones behind and extending all along both upper and lower jaw, in which last they are equal in size, close toge- ther, and in about five rows.
Fins. Dorsal commences over pectoral, which is slightly in advance of ventral. Anal arises opposite about second soft ray of dorsal.
Dorsal, spinous portion 1,4 inches in extent ; interspinous mem- brane not notched. Spines weak : first ;4, inch; second Zr; third jx; they continue much the same to the tenth, which is slightly more. Ventral spine weak, +45 inch; first soft ray prolonged. Anal spines weak : first 3; inch; second $4; third 42. The hard por- tion of the dorsal and anal, and also a part of the soft portion, can be laid flat in a groove on the back. Caudal deeply emarginate, the first and second rays on either side being prolonged. Pectoral pointed, reaching as far as the first soft ray of anal.
Scales large, arranged in longitudinal rows ; none on any of the - fins except the base of pectoral and caudal. The scales above the lateral line are rather smaller than those below it.
Lateral line runs parallel with the back in the upper fifth of the body.
Cnrabes: Of a yellowish ground-colour, with reddish longitudinal lines. Upper portion of head and opercula of a dull reddish colour ; throat, chin, and chest yellowish; back dull reddish, with darker longitudinal lines running along the centre of each row of scales. Below the lateral line, ground-colour yellowish, and the longitudinal lines not so deep in colour as those above. Dorsal fin yellowish, with a grey base and pinkish exterior. Caudal reddish, stained. at the tip with grey. Anal yellowish, with a grey base, and two red- dish stripes along the centre of its foremost-part. Ventrals yellowish, with a grey base and yellow centre. Pectoral reddish yellow. Eyes golden.
Rare at Cochin.
UprENnrEoIDES vitTatus, Forskal.
Cheerul (Mal.).
ene DL G1/8.° Ps BF. Ve BoA, 7.. “Cras et, 38. L. tr. 3/5.
Length of specimens from 3,3, to 64% inches. Common.
16 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. _ [Jan. 10,
CHRYSOPHRYS CALAMARA, Cuv. & Val.
Aree (Mal.).
B, vi. D: L/S Pe 15. OV. L/a. : Av 3/8. O. V7e. Glas L. tr. 5/10.
Length of specimen 9 inches.
Very common until July, when they give place to the Diagramma nigrum: both are known as the “ Black Rock-fish.”” They are ex- cellent eating.
Curysorurys HasTA, Bloch, Schn.
B. vis Dy M1 /ile PP. 15.0Vo 1/5. As 3/82 Colt. hagas. LL. tr. 5/9.
Length of specimen 5-3, inches.
Rare ; whilst the C. sarba, so common at Madras, seems unknown at Cochin.
CH#ETODON PRETEXTATUS, Cantor. Box. Dig. Pe b- Veol/s..cA; 8/20. O17,
“3
Length of specimens from 351; to 353; inches.
Common for about a fortnight in June, after the commencement of the monsoon. ‘They are taken in the Chinese nets at the side of the river. Never much exceed 3 or 4 inches in length. They are not esteemed by even the natives for eating.
HENIOCHUS MACROLEPIDOTUS, Artedi. Purroamee (Mal.).
B.y, D. 11/25. P.17.. V. 1/5. A. 3/18 C.17. 1.1 60. i, ts O22.
Length of specimens from 2,5, to 4,5; inches. Common at times; are not found large.
ScatTopHaGus ArGus, L. Gm. Nutchar char (Mal.). Bovis De 1OM/1625 Peabs Weiss, Al 4/14 Oia Length of specimens from 1,1, to 4,5, inches. - Only eaten by the lower classes, as they are reputed to be very foul feeders.
Eruiprvus orsis, Bloch.
B. vi. D. 9/1929. 19. Vaavo. cane, 4519.
Length of specimen 3,8, inches.
Rare at Cochin.
Drepane puncratTa, L. Gm.
Piindthee (Mal.).
Bevis Ds8/206 PAl7e Vi 1/5. °-C.3/17.. 1.1.50... tr. 14/835
1865.] MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 17
Length of specimen from 2.8, to 6 inches. Not uncommon in Cochin. At Aden, in February 1864, very fine specimens were brought by the fishermen for sale.
Prrerois voxitans, L. Gm. Purrooah (Mal.). B. vii. D. 12. P..14; Vi 1/5... A. 3/6, Cs 13;
10—11° Length of specimens from 733; to 733; inches. Not uncommon.
Prerois MILES, Bennett. P. miles, Cantor. B.vii. D.12——. P.12. VWei/s. A. 3/7. C.-14:
11—12°
Length of specimens from 103 to 113 inches.
_ Head. Between and internal to the two nasal orifices is a sharp spine, directed upwards and backwards ; there are some roughnesses along the upper margin of the orbit (which in old specimens become spiniferous), and one large spine at the posterior superior angle of the orbit. The temporal ridge, commencing about the centre of the posterior margin of the orbit, is spiny in the whole of its course towards the lateral line. The space between the orbits is shallow, and rather concave from side to side; down its centre runs a deep groove, continued anteriorly as far as the intermaxillary bones, whilst posteriorly it expands over the occiput, where it is bordered on either side by an outwardly curved blade-like crest, flattened from side to side, and which terminates in its posterior superior part in two large flat spines; these in old specimens become several badly marked spines. The ridge on the preorbital and infraorbital bones is spiny ; it proceeds downwards over the cheeks towards the angle of the preeoperculum, from which arise three spines, the superior of which is directed backwards, the two inferior backwards and down- wards. In old subjects this ridge is very rugged, and, instead of having a single row of spines, it has two or three rows of smaller ones, consequently much increasing its width. At the centre of the supraorbital ridge is a prominence, from which arises a fleshy filament in young specimens, which is half the diameter of the eye, but appears to become shorter with age: there is generally another at the angle of the mouth, and some others at the inferior margin of the preoperculum.
Mouth horizontal ; superior maxillary bones do not reach as far as the anterior margin of the orbit. Preeoperculum, posterior limb slightly oblique, angle rounded, and with three large spines ; lower limb nearly horizontal, entire. Sub- and inter-opercula entire. Operculum having a blunt spinous extremity. Under surface of lower jaws grooved. Shoulder-bones entire in old specimens ; two spines in upper portion of suprascapular.
This fish arrives at Cochin in the commencement of the monsoon ; but it is not common. From one I took twenty-one specimens of
Proc. Zoou, Soc,—1865, No, II.
18 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES-OF COCHIN.- [Jan. 10,
the Atherina forskalii, each from 2 to 3 inches in length; so gorged was it (its entire length being only 113 inches) that the tail of one was protruding from its mouth, :
Minovus Monopactyuvs, Bl., Schn.
% asi - Be yak. 1, = Po 11. * VV. 1/5. A. 9—FG C, 10.
Length of specimens from 233, to 274; inches, Very common.
PROSOPODASYS DRACENA, Cuv. & Val. B. vii. D. 39/8. P.13. V.1/5. Ai 8/6. ° 0.4277
Length of specimens from 2,3, to 2°; inches. d Common. eee
PLATYCEPHALUS INSIDIATOR, Forsk.
B. vii. D.1[7|13. P.17. V. 1/5. A.13. C.15. L.r.94. L. tr. 12/24,
Length of specimen 13 inches. Common ; eaten by the lower classes.
PLATYCEPHALUS MALABARICUS, Cuy. & Val.
By Fibs dds 1181 Ld. hw 19s Nud/ile: As 12s... Ue 1D: a dag Soa L, tr. 9/20. |
Length of specimen 10,5, inches.
Common, Both this anil the last species, directly they are caught, are knocked on the head with a wooden mallet. They are known as the ‘‘ Crocodile-fish.”’
SILLAGO sIHAMA, Forsk.
Cuddeerah (Mal.). Whiting.
B. yi. D, 115. P16; V. =. A. a Oi ae eh ec eel A.
Length of specimens from 33 to 116, inches. Common; good eating.
UMBRINA DUSSUMIERI, Cuy. & Val.
B. vii, D102, P.17. V. 2. A.2/7.°C.17. 7/48) Ltr, 2. Length of specimens from 5-1, to 55%; inches.
Rare.
ScrzNA DIACANTHUS, Lacép.
Viidah (Mal.).
B. vil, D, 105.217, Viz, Ao. C.17. Ly. 53, Ty tee
Length of specimens from 5a Py to 155%; inches. Very common, and good eating. The Nella katchelée of Russell, well represented in his plate,
1865.) MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 19
no. 115, as the female of this fish, appears to me as requiring still further inquiry. The S. diacanthus is one of the most common fish in Cochin; but I only procured three specimens of the latter, which were as follows :—
B.vii, D.10;-45,. P.15. V.t. A.Z. 0,15. L145, Ltr. i
23—24° Length of specimens from 274; to 634; inches.
ScraNna MACULATA, BI., Sch.
B.vii. D.102. P.16. V.4. A.2. ©,17. 1.1.45. L, tr i.
Length of specimens from 453, to 438; inches. Air-bladder with fourteen or fifteen lateral processes on either side. Not common; not considered good eating.
Scr2zna pussumiERI, Cuv. & Val. B. vii. D.103. P.18. V.t. A.Z. ©.15. 1.1.52. L. tr. 3,
Length of specimens from 5,8; to 64%; inches.
Scrana uypostoma, Bleeker. B.vii. D.g2. P15. V.z. A.Z. C.15. L145. L. tr. 7. Length of specimen 4-8, inches.
OroLiTHUS RUBER, Bl., Schn. B. vii. D.103. P.17, V.2. A.Z. ©.17, L150. L. tr. F. Length of specimen 83%; inches.
Rare; not found of a large size.
PoLyNEMUS HEPTADACTYLUS, Cur. & Val. B. vi. D.84. P.l5vii. V.4. A.3. L150. L. tr. 5.
Length of specimens from 4,?; to 438, inches. Very common in the monsoon time; but they do not appear ever to exceed 4 or 5 inches in length.
PoLyNEMUS SEXTARIUS, Bloch. +s 1 . 1 3 B. vii. D.8-.. P.livi. V.5. A.a: Length of specimens 2+ inches. For several days during the monsoon they swarmed into the Cochin River; but all captured were young. PoLyNEMUS INDICUus, Shaw. oe 1 1 2 B.vii. D835. P.20v. Viz. A-gop ©.17. L.1. 62, L. tr. Z. Length of specimens from 4-7; to 735 inches.
20 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN, [Jan. 10,
PoLYNEMUS TETRADACTYLUS, Shaw. B.vi, DS. P-l6iv. V.t..A.2. C,17, Eb go. Ui, tae
Length of specimens from 9,8; to 15 inches.
This fish grows to a very large size; and in the months of De- cember and January numbers are captured by trolling. The bait is a small fish; and the hook is attached to the line by a piece of twisted brass wire. The line is thrown, direct from the hand, a dis- tance of at least 20 or 30 yards into the breakers. Fish of several feet in length are thus caught by coolies after their working-hours.
Common, and excellent eating.
SPHYRENA JELLO, Cuy. & Val.
Cheelahoo (Mal.).
Boge D5 1/9. Ps 14. Vind bk V8 die Length of specimens from 6,2; to 83%; inches.
TRICHIURUS MALABARICUS, Day, sp, nov. By. D, 1g2. abe
_ inches. Length of specimens from 10,3; to 12 inches. of head ........ 1,4, or one-seventh of total length. of pectoral...... 335, or one twenty-fourth of total 1. Height of body ........ 375, or one-seventeenth of total length. of head paisa! «\2 .» 72 or one-twentieth of total length.
Diameter of eye 55, inch, or + of length of head; ;4; inch from end of snout, 2; apart.
Lower jaw the longest. Superior maxillary bones reach to oppo- site first quarter of orbit. Operculum finely lineated, extends back- wards to above the pectoral fin. Przeorbital large, entire, lineated. Opening to nostril large, rather close to the anterior margin of the orbit, the upper margin of which is nearly horizontal, and close to the profile of the head.
Teeth. In intermaxillary bones three large canines ; the anterior the longest, curved, directed forwards and downwards, barbed at its extremity ; the two posterior ones, arising from the posterior margin of the intermaxillaries, are curved backwards and downwards; they are also slightly barbed at their extremities. An external row of about five fine teeth in intermaxillaries. A single row of about seven large pointed teeth, flattened from side to side, in maxillaries. In lower jaw a single row of pointed teeth, similar to those in superior maxil- lary, but smaller.
Dorsal fin commences to arise opposite commencement of opercu- lum. Spines weak ; they gradually increase in length until they are 3,ths of an inch, or nearly as long as the height of the body. Anal spines truncated at their extremity, and only visible with the aid of a magnifying-glass.
Lateral line curves downwards behind the pectoral, and runs at
1865.] MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 21
first along the lower third of the body; subsequently it descends lower.
Colours. Silvery white, with a slight pinkish tinge; back a little the darkest. The first three or four dorsal spines have a black spot upon them ; a line of greenish black, in very fine dots, extends along the upper third of the dorsal in its whole extent. Tail with a black margin. yes silvery. Tongue smooth, and of a golden tinge. Pectoral greyish yellow. Skin diaphanous.
Not rare at Cochin.
ScoMBER KANAGURTA, Cuv. & Val. Ila (Mal.). Indian Mackerel. Bove 2p Oy. P21.” Vi. 1/5.) Ash iy -C.:25:
Length of specimen 7%; inches.
These fish, which average about 73 inches in length, are captured in enormous quantities from January until May. Although very excellent eating, they are not often brought to the tables of Euro- peans, as they are reputed to be rather bitter; therefore those cap- tured are commonly salted, dried in the sun, and exported in bundles of about 1000 each to Ceylon, where they are extensively bought for the coolies in the coffee-plantations.
Many Ceylonese come over for the Mackerel season. Thousands of these fish are frequently landed daily and salted. The first pro- cess consists in a coolie making one cut with a sharp knife along their back-bone, from the head to the tail, and then a second down their ventral surface, exposing their intestines. They are then tossed over to a woman, who, having removed their insides, throws them into a basket having two handles, which, when half full, is carried by two men to the sea-shore, where the fish are washed without being re- moved. Women and children rapidly put some black salt into each cut, and throw the fish into a boat close behind them (on the shore), in which there is brine ; there they remain for a few hours, and are subsequently spread out in the sun, dried, and packed in square bundles of about 1000 each for export.
Cysium GuTtatum, Bl., Schn. Arrakeeah (Mal.). Seir-fish. B. vii. D.16/20ix. P.15. V.1/5. A. 20 viii. C. 26.
Length of specimen 23 inches.
The Seir-fish abound off Cochin, where they are captured from October throughout the whole of the cold months. They are ex- cellent eating, but should be cooked when quite fresh. They salt well, besides being amongst the best fish for ‘Tamarind-fish. Large ones are rather coarse for eating.
Cysrum commErsonut, Lacép. Chumbum (Mal.). B. vi. D.16 Six, P. 20. V.1/3.. A. 2/16x.
Length of specimen 12 inches.
22 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN: [Jan, 10,
ELACATE NIGRA, Bloch. B, vi. D. 8/34-38. . Po. 21... V. 1/5. As 26-28. C0217; Length of specimens 12 inches.
ECHENEIS NAUCRATES, Linn.
Putthoo muday (Mal.).
B.vi. D. 39. P. 20. V..1/5, , A. 3/34, ©,17. Disks 22.
Length of specimens from 8 to 11,4; inches.
They are generally captured in Cochin about the size of the pre- sent specimens, and are not rare. One of these was taken from the
back of a Shark, to which they appear to frequently attach them- selves.
STROMATEUS ARGENTEUS, Bloch. : 1
Bovi. D.73. P.27. A 63.
Length of specimen 8 inches.
SrroMATEvS ATous, Cuv. & Val.
Vella arwoolee (Mal.). White Pomfret. B.vi. D.1/43. P.23. A.40. ©. 17. Length of specimen 117 inches.
This species of Pomfret is esteemed the best in Cochin, where it is by no means uncommon during the south-west monsoon,
STROMATEUS NIGER, Bloch.
Kar arwoolee (Mal.). Black Pomfret.
B. vii. D. 5/42; P. 22, A.3/39. C19.
Length of specimen from 3,3; to 14,5; inches.
This fish comes to Cochin about the same time as the S. atous, to which it is considered slightly inferior, It arrives in droves, and disappears as suddenly as it comes.
In the young specimen, 3,5; inches in length, the ventrals are z4y inch in length. The hidden spines of dorsal and anal are appa- rent, the numbers being D. 5/40, A. 3/37.
Colours grey ; dorsal and anal fins black ; tail yellow, with three brown cross bards, one of which is at its base.
STROMATEUS CINEREUS, Bloch.
By vi. 7 1/68, Ps 24. A, 51/32; Ou19;
Length of specimen 3,2; inches.
CARANX ROTTLERI, Bloch.
B. vii. D.8 Gix. P.21. V.1/5, A.2 == vill. C.18, 1.1.85.
Length of specimens from 4 to 9 inches.
This fishis common, but not often seen above 9 inches in length. It is employed as food more by the natives than the European popu- lation ; for by the last it is not held-in much esteem, t
865.]- MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN, 23
’ CaRANX HIPpos, Linn.
' Caran heberi, Bennett.
Bova D. 81/202 ° P20. V.1/oc Anz 1/it, C.21. Lil, 36, - Length of specimen 8,5, inches.
After death, the deep black point of the upper lobe of the caudal
fades.
. Very common ; comes into the mouth of the river ; but the largest specimens, which attain to 23 feet, are captured in the deep sea. They are most excellent eating. When caught, they give a grunt like a young pig; and this is continued, should they be moved, as
long as they have any life remaining. _ They are first captured at the end of the south-west monsoon, and continue off Cochin during the whole of the cold months.
_ Caranx atropvs, Bl., Schn. B.vii. D.85. P.19. V.1/5. A. 21/18. C.16. 1.1. 32.. Length of specimen 72; inches.
CARANX MELANOSTETHOS, Day, sp. nov. _Biyi. .D..81/23. P19. V.1/5.. A. 21/19. C.19. 1.1.28.
inches. _ Length of specimens from.. 6,'; to 6,8; inches. of head .......... 1,35, or two-ninths of total length. of pectoral....... . 1,5, or one-fifth of total length.
base of first dorsal.. =85, or two-seventeenths of total 1. 2
base of second dorsal 2;7;, or one-third of total length.
— of caydal oo oo. 6s 1,3;, or two-ninths of total length. * Height of bedy -. 2225... 1,5,, or one-fourth of total length. of head .......... 144, or one-fifth of total length. of first dorsal...... 385, or one-eleventh of total length. of second dorsal.... 5, or one-tenth of total length. ——of ventral ........ +5 or one-tenth of total length. Ofwanaliye. a eie.s bs 2 3°, or one-eleventh of total length.
of base of caudal .. ,, or two twenty-sevenths of total.
Diameter of eye 55, x >45 inch, or +X 1} of length of head ; 4; inch apart, 4, from end of snout. The membranous curtain to the eye extends nearly one-fifth across its diameter on either side.
Head. Upper jaw protrusible for ;2,ths of an inch. Lower jaw very slightly the longest. Superior maxillary extends backwards as far as the anterior margin of the orbit. Praeorbital small, and has ° two straight raised lines on its posterior part.’ Praeoperculum ob- lique, angle rounded, and the inferior margin convex ; suboperculum large ; it and other opercular bones entire. Nostrils situated nearly 2 lines in front of orbit, with a curved nasal arch over them.
Teeth. In intermaxillaries and superior half of upper jaw from two to three bands of fine’ villiform teeth ; the same are also percep- tible in the lower jaw. A triangular space (convex anteriorly) of
24 MR, F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. [Jan. 10,
rather sharp teeth in vomer, distinct from which, but commencing close to its posterior margin, is a straight single row of sharp teeth, the two thus covering a somewhat T-shaped spot. No teeth on pa- latines.
Fins. Pectoral rather in advance of the origin of the dorsal and ventral. Anal arises under second dorsal: a deep membranous sheath to second dorsal and anal. First dorsal triangular ; second dorsal highest in front, where it exceeds the height of the first dorsal. Pectoral falciform, reaching to nearly opposite anal. Caudal deeply lobed. Dorsal spines weak ; first ;4,, second +; inch; third slightly higher ; thence they decrease. First ray of second dorsal the longest. Pectoral fifth or sixth ray the longest. Ventral spine weak. Of the two anal spines, the second is the longest and strongest. Spine of anal fin weak; first ray the longest.
Seales cover the whole of the body, under the eye, and slightly the upper part of the operculum.
The lateral line has a very moderate curve in the first portion of its course, and opposite the eighth dorsal ray it begins to pass straight; but the laminated scales do not commence until opposite the thir- teenth ray. They are well marked, but not so strong as in many species of Caranz; in their widest portion they are not above 2 lines.
Colours. Back of a leaden blue, which below the lateral line be- comes silvery white. The fore part of the chest, throat, the oper- cula, summit of head, and upper jaw are of a deep brown, almost black, which sometimes remains and sometimes fades ; over all these places there are numerous black dots and spots. Fins tinged with yellow; second dorsal deeply stained with black in its first eight rays, and having a white summit ; the whole of the rest of that fin stained with brown, and dotted with fine brown-black points. Eyes silvery ; curtain brown.
“This is not a very rare fish m the cold season; and small speci- mens of 6 and 7 inches are captured at the mouth of the river, but in the deep sea much larger ones are taken. It is good eating.
CARANX KURRA, Cuv. & Val. B. vi, (D.8 21.) P. 25. Vit. AQT C17, L138,
5 7
Length of specimen 4,3, inches.
This is Russell’s fish, plate 139, not Giinther’s, from which it may be yeadily distinguished by having a double row of sharp teeth along the centre of its tongue.
Not rare at Cochin.
CARANX XANTHURUS, Cuv. & Val.
Batta parra (Mal.).
B.vii. D.82. P.20. Vit. A2y. 1.45, Length of specimen 5,5; inches.
1865.] MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 25
CarAnx sprectosus, Forsk. Batta courchee (Mal.).
Roa. Wea! Peres ve ee ee et.
19—20° 5 16—17
Length of specimens from 4,4, to 4,5, inches.
_ Several rows of villiform teeth in the upper jaw, and an external row of larger pointed ones. In lower jaw, a single row of irregular- sized teeth. Teeth on vomer and palate. -
CARANX ARMATUS, Forsk. Boyt. D. 72. P19. Vep. AL2 Go C. 19. Ls. 20.
17 Length of specimen 2,!; inches. CaRANX CILIARIS, Bloch. B.vi, D6. P.18. V.7. Ae2 2.02195 °L. bib: “Length of specimen 6,5; inches.
CarAnx GALLUS, Linn. B.vi D. 1/19. P.17. V.1/5: As 1/162"@2 193! -B, W106. Length of specimen 13,4; inches.
CHorINEMUS LysAN, Forsk. B, viii. D.7 1/20. P.19.. V.1/5. A. 21/18. . Length of specimen 19-8, inches. The Chorinemi come to Cochin in great numbers about July;
they are esteemed good eating, but are rather dry, especially the larger ones. They salt well.
CuHoRINEMUS TALA, Cuv. & Val.
B. vii. D.71/20. P.20. V.1/5. A.21/17. C.19. Length of specimen 8-5, inches.
CHORINEMUS SANCTI-PETRI, Cuv. & Val. Pallagay (Mal.). Ben, Ufo. P.t7. Venn A, oo Co ly,
~ 18° Length of specimens from 7 to 853; inches. Common ; but does not appear to be found of a large size.
TRACHYNOTUS OVATUS, Linn.
Bev. DIGGS, Pol7.- Vo 1/o. Av 21/l7y, C17e Length of specimen from 4,5, to 5 inches.
Not rare; but does not appear to exceed 6 or 7 inches in length. TRACHYNOTUS BAILLONI, Lacép.
Vella oodoo or Parruvu (Mal.).
B. vii. D.61/23. P.17. V.1/5. A.21/23. C.17. Length of specimen 8,5, inches.
26 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COGHIN. [Jan. 10,
Uncommon ; are usually captured by cast-nets in the surf. The fishermen assert that they always swim in. the surf, are bad rarely captured i in the deep sea, never in the river,
PsETTUS ARGENTEUS, Linn. Bevis Diet Pi 16. V.1/3. A. 3/28. ©, 172+ Li. tr. 75.
‘ 28—29° Length of specimens from 3,1, to 6 inches. Mostly found in the monsoon “time.
PsetTTus FALCIFORMIs, Lacép.
Lie Sach: 2 SY br ca: Sig: gale seg C. 17. Scales, upwards of 120 rows. x
Length of specimen 4,5, inches.
PLATAX TEIRA, Cuv. . Val. B.viz. D, 5/32. P..16...V..1/5..) Ao /24,. G,Aihs Meteo Length of specimen, to end of caudal, 35%; inches.
EQUULA INSIDIATRIX, Bloch.
Paarl coorchee (Mal.).
Biv; D.9/16. 925. Vso Ae df lAs C219.
Length of specimen 2,8, inches.
Exceedingly common ; and, along with other species of the same genus, large numbers are kept for consumption during the monsoon ; for, owing to the small amount of intestines and the compressed form of their bodies, very little salt is necessary for their preservation; : As to the poorer natives the salt-tax is great, they evade it along the coast by opening and cleaning these little fish, soaking them in the sea, and then drying them in the sun. That they have become semi- putrid by the monsoon time is not to be wondered at ; neither can we be surprised at the numerous cases of dysentery and diarrhcea to which such diet gives rise.
EqQuvuLa DAURA, Cuv.
Baws, Da S/la, Seb do Vel /5.. An Blea ACel ge Length of specimen 3 inches.
EQuULA EDENTULA, Peay
Bove DSsIGs Pali Ws. A/5.; 3/14. Gly: Length of specimen 3,5, inches.
LacraRIvus DELICATULUS, Bloch, Schn. _Purruwah (Mal.).
B. vii. D. 7-853 P.17. V.1/5. A. agra. Length of specimens from 375 to 6; inches. Arrives in shoals in February. and March, Are esteemed by the
natives good eating, whether ke or Gin a they dp not — any size.
Balen
1865. | MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 27:
- Gosius Giuris, Buch. Ham.
Wartee poollah or Pooan (Mal.).
B.iv. D.61/9. P. 20. V.4/4. A.1/8. C.17, L.1. 30 to 34,
Length of specimens from 3 to 13-2; inches.
Very common in all the fresh and even brackish waters. In the monsoon time, when the freshes remove the saltness from the river, these Gobies are commonly caught in the Chinesé nets or by baits. In the fort-ditch they grow to about 14 foot in length, and, though highly esteemed by the natives for food, are insipid, and even muddy in some waters. They are very voracious, taking a bait freely.
’ Gosrus viripipunctatus, Cuy. & Val.
B.iv. D,61/10. P.17. V.1/5. A.1/9, C.15. L128. L, tr. 13.
Length of specimen 4,%, inches.
These beautifully emerald-green-spotted Gobies, though not com-
mon, are not rare. They are caught in the sea-fisheries, and also occasionally in the river.
Gosrus AcuTIPINNIS, Cuv. & Val.
Bav. (DS 61/11, 5 P: 19:'°¥.4/4. Med fll: | Gekos, wiles E. tr. 6.
Length of specimen 3,8, inches,
Usually captured in the river, about July. They do not appear to grow to any size.
GoBIus MALABARICUS, Day, sp. nov.
B.iv. D.6 1/10. ibs V.4/4. A. 1/10. Werle sige ls Os L. tr. 10.
inches.
‘ Length of specimen from .. 234; to 2,8; inches. Of Headi tee sae a. os 6, or one-fifth of total length. 10 : 5 Of pectoral, 2.4 = as 5, or one-sixth of total length. -
of caudal ........ 7, or one-fourth of total length. - of base of 1st dorsal 5%, or one-ninth of total length. of base of 2nd dorsal +5, or one-fourth of total length. of base of anal .... 5%, or one-fifth of total length. Height of head .......... 74, or one-seventh of total length.
—of body.......... z's, or one-fifth of total length. of hard dorsal .... 34, or one-eighth of total length. of soft dorsal...... zp or one-eighth of total length. — ——— of base of caudal .. 5, or one-eleventh of total length. : -—— of ventral ........ zs, or one-fifth of total length. © OU AWAE Senso ones. s 45> or one-ninth of total length.
Diameter of eye =); inch, or } length of head; 71; inch from end of snout, =}, apart. _ : :
The profile does not rise very much to the first dorsal. « Snout obtuse ; its upper profile descends abruptly. Cleft of mouth rather
28 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. — [Jan. 10,
oblique ; lower jaw the longest. The superior maxillary bone ex- tends as far backwards as the anterior third of the orbit. Rather a strong prominent crest at the nape; the bony bridge between the orbits narrow, with a low crest running along its centre. Orbits very closely approximating at upper surface ; a well-developed projecting angle at their anterior and posterior margins; the anterior the strongest. A bony ring surrounds opening to nostril. No scales on head.
Feeth. Conical, an external row in upper jaw the largest ; smaller, but conical ones in lower jaw.
Fins. Origin of ventral in front of pectoral, of first dorsal over its first third; one-tenth of an inch between first and second dorsal. Spines weak. Caudal wedge-shaped. Ventrals united.
Scales nearly quadrangular, elevated along their centre.
Colours. Of a general light brown, with some irregularly disposed dusky bands on the sides and back ; a dark brown bar descends directly downwards from the eye; several irregular brown marks about operculum and head. The first dorsal has a deep black cres- centic mark, commencing between second and third spines, and con- tinued to the last ; above this a white curved band, bordered above with black. Second dorsal, anal, and caudal brownish, barred with several series of rows of a darker colour.
This fish appears in large quantities in the Kurriavanoor River, north of the town of Cochin, when the bar is broken down, and the freshes from the Ghauts reach the sea. It is not captured there more than 2 or 3 inches in length; but perhaps they may be the young of a larger species.
Exeorris BuTis, Buch. Ham.
Kullahray (Mal.).
Bvi. D618. P.17.-V-1/o. A. 1/8., Colds. Lad, 28: L. tr. 12.
Length of specimens from 4 to 5%; inches.
Very common in the backwater, where they are most numerous at the commencement of the year. They are eaten by the natives.
Exeorris Fusca, Bloch, Schn.
Poollan (Mal.).
Bove DGS. VR Wels. AS T/8. Co LT 6s L. tr. 21.
Length of specimens from 2 to 25%; inches. Inhabits most of the muddy ditches and tanks ; are often found in the paddy-fields, and sometimes in the backwater.
AMBLYOPUS HERMANNIANUS, Lacép. Boy. 6/4025 Path: Voas5. . Ao d/87, Us 133 Length of specimen from 5 to 545; inches,
1865.] MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 29
AMBLYOPUS C&CULUS, Bloch, Schn. B.v. D. 6/46. P.15. V.1/5. A. 1/43\.' ©. 13. Length of specimen 7-4, inches.
BaTracuvus GRUNNIENS, Bloch.
B.vi. D. 3/20. P. 25, V.1/5; A. 142) C.i12. »Opercular spines iv. :
Length of specimen 8 inches.
BaTRACHUS TRISPINOSUs, Ginther,
B. vi. D. 3/20. P. 25. V.1/5. A. 14. C.12. Opercular spines lil.
Length of specimen 5-5; inches.
Caught with the last.
SALARIAS FASCIATUS, Bloch. Peevipe ty. t2/20." bela. VW. 1/5s > As 240°C C171.
Length of specimen 2,4, inches.
TrEuTHIS JAVA, Linn.
Teves Va da/lO be hde Na t/d. , Ae f/9s, Cy lf _ Length of specimens from 4 to 4%, inches.
Small specimens common; they are eaten by the lower class of natives.
TEUTHIS VERMICULATA, Kuhl & V. Hass. Boy. D.= 5. P.16. V.2/4. A.=4. C. 17.
9—10° 8 Length of specimens from 4 to 115%; inches. Four specimens were captured in June 1863; two upwards of 11 inches, the other two upwards of 4 inches. The natives asserted the fish to be good eating.
TEUTHIS MARMORATA, Quoy & Gaim. Baim Debs OEP. MWe 2/80 A..F /90 0 CL 9, Length of specimen 9 inches.
ACANTHURUS MATOIDES, Cuy. & Val.
ony. UW 9725.9 B.17.7 Vo 1s, “AS 3/25. -C. 16.
Length of specimens from 4 to 6 inches.
Very common; they do not appear to grow to any very large size there, although the natives assert the contrary. They are eaten by the lower classes.
ACRONURUS MELANURUS, Cuv. & Val. B.y. D. 10/24. P.15. A. 3/24, Co 7.
Length of specimen 1,3, inches. ; Second dorsal spine serrated on its anterior margin.
30 MR, F, DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. [Jan. 10,
NANDvUS MARMORATUS, Buch. Ham.
Mootahree (Mal.). Soe eat Bani , fe B.vi. D. 13/12. P.16. V.d/5. A, 3/7. ©. 15. L. 1.46. ..tr. 7/13.
Length of specimens from 3 to 5,5; inches. Common in the rivers and paddy-fields.
CATOPRA MALABARICA, Giinther*.
Boviie Dei4/12..P. 1s NG Aes, A. 3/8. AC. Tes aS, L. tr. 4/8.
inches. Length of specimen .. - 3y5- ofa... sic: jo» or about one-fourth of total length. of pectoral..... 3 ou» or about one-fifth of total length. — of caudal ...... 7 or about one-fifth of total length. of base of dorsal . 1;%;, or about one-half of total length. ° of base of anal... +5, or about one-seventh of total length. Height OF DCAD carcasses ;5,, or about one-fourth of total length. Of: body. iewremesa 1,2,, or about one-third of total length.
of hard dorsal .. 55, or about one-ninth of total length: of soft dorsal.... . =%;, or about one-seventh of total length. ——— of base of caudal. 545, or about one-eighth of total length. of ventral ...... 32;, or about one-seventh of total length. of anal ........ 33;, or about one-seventh of total pes
Diameter of eye os inch, or # of the length of head; 5% inch from end of snout, 5%, apart.
Body compressed. The mouth being situated below the median line of the body, there is a considerable rise to the dorsal. Jaw equal ; intermaxillaries protractile; upper lip rather fleshy; the superior maxillary extends to slightly behind the anterior margin of the orbit. Upper surface of eye nearly close to profile. Praeoperculum, poste- rior limb nearly vertical, entire; angle rounded; inferior limb hori- zontal, and little more than half the length of the posterior limb. Sub- and inter-opercula with a few very fine serrations at their ap- proximating extremities. Operculum with two rather strong flat spines, and ending in a membranous point. Preeorbital entire. Nostrils rather wide apart, posterior the largest. Pseudobranchize present. Branchiostegous rays hidden. Gills 33. Opercula and head scaled; but no scales between or before the eyes, nor on the pre- orbital.
Teeth. Several rows of small teeth in the jaws, with an external larger band. Numerous villiform teeth on vomer and palate.
Fins. Origin of pectoral and dorsal in a line. Ventral slightly: behind. Anal arises opposite commencement of soft dorsal. Dorsal,
* Dr. Giinther has described this species from one of the two specimens out of my collection which I had placed in the British Museum. Having a smooth preorbital, and no serrations at the preeoperculum, smooth tongue, &c., I should have placed it in the genus Badis, as defined in his ‘ Catalogue of the Acantho- pterygian Fishes.’
-1865.] © MR. F. DAY ON- THE FISHES OF COEHIN; 31
spinous portion can be laid flat on the back, where it is recéived into a depression ; it is 1,2; inch in extent, and much lower than the soft portion, which is ,*, inch and pointed. Caudal wedge-shaped. Pee- toral rounded. Ventral pointed. Soft portion of anal pointed, Dorsal spines rather strong ; interspinous membrane deeply notched, and ex- -tending alittle beyond the points of the spines ; first <1, ; second ;7;; third ;3;; thence they continue much the same length ; central soft rays the longest. Ventral spine pretty strong. Anal spines strong, and they can be received into a depression the same as the dorsal spines; first ;2,; second ;%,, and strongest; third slightly longer ; centre soft rays longest, the same of the caudal.
Scales ctenoid, greatest diameter from above downwards; some are continued over the soft portion of the dorsal and anal, and also over the base of caudal. .
Lateral line interrupted, at first in upper fourth of body ; opposite fourth soft dorsal ray it ceases on twenty-first scale ; then from below last portion of soft dorsal it is continued along median line as far as, but not on to, caudal fin.
Colours. Rifle-green, with purplish reflexions, darker on the back than on the abdomen. Fins greenish. Eyes yellowish green.
Two specimens were sent me by the Rev. Henry Baker ( junior) from Mundykium, on the hill-ranges of Travancore, not far from Cochin. It appears to be common there.
ANABAS SCANDENS, Daldorff. Undee collee (Mal.).
B, vi, D, 28, P.15. V. 1/5. A255. C.16, L, 1. 27-32, L. tr. 5/9.
Length of specimens from 3 to 6,8, inches.
The number of scales along the lateral line differs considerably in different specimens, as do also the number of fin-rays, the compara- tive size and colour of the body, and the valance at the margin of the superbranchial organ.
The climbing-properties attributed to these fish in other parts of India are believed in by the natives of Malabar; but personal ob- servation can neither confirm nor refute this belief.
Having taken some live specimens at Kurriapudnam in the hot weather, and kept them in damp grass, some retained vitality as long as eighteen hours; frequently, when apparently dead, if water were cautiously applied, they recovered.
Climbing Perch are difficult to keep in a vivarium, owing to their constantly jumping out, a foot in height being insufficient for the purpose of retaining them. They are able to progress on the ground in two ways, either by laying on their sides, flapping their tails, and assisting themselves by their pectoral fins, or else by the aid of their pectoral fins, first one being advanced, and then the other.
. They can erect their fins, and likewise their scales, at pleasure ; and when placed on a flat surface, even when apparently nearly dead,,
32 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. [Jan. 10,
should their tail be touched, they at once erect their spinous fins and their scales, even as far as those at the base of the caudal. They © at the same time erect their gill-covers. This power must of course be of great use in progression, if they employ their gill-covers to assist them in climbing.
They inhabit most pieces of fresh water and paddy-fields, and are deemed good eating by the natives, who, immediately they catch them, kill them by biting their heads. A fatal accident occurred a few years since near Cochin, owing to one of these fish having slipped into the throat of the native who was biting its head. Owing to the erectile nature of its spines and scales, it could not be withdrawn, and the man was suffocated.
PoLyACANTAUS CUPANUS, Cuv. & Val. Caringanah and Wunnuttee (Mal.).
Bein, Dees, -P.10,. Ve tee AS yO. 4s vlads L. tr. =.
Length of specimens from 1,%, to 2,3; inches.
Posterior half of horizontal limb of preeoperculum serrated ; pre- orbital serrated.
Colours. Of a general rifle-green, with some spots on the fins, and an elongated scarlet ray to the ventral.
In one specimen an inch long, but which appears to be the P. cupanus, there was one spine less in the dorsal, and one ray less in the anal. It was of a beautiful rose-colour, rather dark brown along the back and base of anal fin. Two deep-black horizontal lines passed, one from above the orbit direct to the caudal, and a second from the angle of the mouth, through the eye, to the caudal. Head and cheeks spotted. The natives asserted it was the same as the common species; but, out of hundreds subsequently procured, none had the coloration of this one.
°o ” ATHERINA FORSKALI, Riipp.
B. vine DD, 5) 1/10. 27. 175, Vite, Aide C152 0 dale, Liden6s
Length of specimens from 3 to 3,4; inches.
Very abundant during the monsoon months, and some are captured at the end of the year. This is one of several families which are known to the Europeans as Whitebait, like which they are dressed for the breakfast-table.
Mueit waiciEensis, Quoy & Gaim.
Freshwater Mullet.
B, ioe. 4 WGNeE AVys * Vee /oe BANS. YOS05s "1 eee Trt. 8.
Length of specimen 11,2; inches.
Captured from June, when they ascend high up the rivers, and are considered by the natives as freshwater fish.
1865.] MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 33
MuciL sunpDANENSIS, Bleeker. mee Date, ORL Tae Ve t/a) AS Sy.” EAST. Lo tr. 9. Length of specimen 5 inches.
Mueit EnGELI, Bleeker.
for A Ws. PID. Vela. eho. CU. 14..: 1. 134. L. tr. 11.
Length of specimen 7-4; inches.
Mueiu cunnesivus, Cuv. & Val.
Mahlah (Mal.).
Biys') D.41/8.. P.17.° V5 1/s. A. 3/9. Del41. L. tee 13.
Length of specimen 15,5, inches.
It is from this species the fine fish-roes are obtained for which Cochin is so celebrated. They are removed from the fish imme- diately on being captured, and then dried in the sun. They com- mence coming into season about the middle of October or November, when these fish swarm into the river to deposit their spawn. By February all the Mullets (commonly known as ‘‘ Cunnumboo,”’ Mal.) begin to be scarce, and by April they are almost unprocurable.
Mvueir parstA, Buch. Ham.
Rave neat / 7." Polos lV. Vo. ay Oo) Ue LA. dae Le Oey L. tr. 8.
Length of specimen 9-1; inches.
Mveit porcitvus, Day, sp. nov.
We ye. 4.1/8. 5P. ta. V.1/d.- A. 3/9. ©. 14... L. 1. 32. L. tr. 10.
inches. Length of specimens from 3,4, to 7 inches. OF Read. e eas + 1,4,, or about one-fifth of total length. aoe OR eCUral =... .. 1, or about one-seventh of total length. Grcaudal.... oi... 1,3,, or about one-fifth of total length. —— of base of 2nd dorsal -°;, or about one-fourteenth of total length. of base of anal.... 25, or about one-fourteenth of total length. Height of head........ 5%, or about one-eighth of total length. ST OOUY ss. 1,4, or about one-fifth of total length. ——— of hard dorsal.. 3, or about one-ninth of total length.
——-— of soft dorsal .. 4,, or about one-tenth of total length. —-~— of base of caudal +, or about one-tenth of total length. of ventral... i2..% 1, or about one-seventh of total length. miMenal YS sts ce 7, or about one-tenth of total length.
Diameter of eye ;4; inch, or # length of head ; 53, inch from end of snout, =, apart. An adipose eyelid covers a little more than one- third of the eye on either side in the adult fish. In the young the anterior curtain is much broader than the posterior one.
There is not much rise from the snout to the first dorsal. Lower
Proc. Zoou. Soc.—1865, No. III.
34 MR. F, DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. — [Jan. 10,
jaw slightly the shortest, with a notch in its centre, which is curved upwards. Upper lip broad, superior maxillary considerably protru- sible ; it is bent downwards below and behind the angle of the mouth, where its extremity is visible. Preeorbital angularly bent, with a rounded, finely serrated margin. Nostrils rather wide apart ; the posterior largest, and nearer the orbit than it is to the anterior one. Interorbital space nearly flat. Snout broad, somewhat pointed in the centre. The cleft of the mouth is rather more than twice as broad as deep. The free space on the chin is moderately long, tongue-shaped.
Pectoral fin situated a little above the central line of the body, and extending to the eighth scale; no elongated pointed scale at the axil. Twenty scales from the snout to the origin of the first dorsal, which commences nearer the snout than to the caudal fin, and above the eighth scale of the lateral line. Eight rows of scales between the two dorsal fins.
First dorsal spines strong: first 3, the strongest ; second 8, ; third =4,; fourth ;3;. The spines, laid flat on the back, reach a little more than halfway from their origin to the base of the second dorsal. Second dorsal, caudal, anal, and pectoral have some fine scales at their base. Caudal deeply emarginate. Pectoral rounded. Ventral with a pointed scale at its origin.
Teeth. A fine row of teeth in the upper jaw, more apparent in the young fish than in the older specimens.
Scales. Rather irregular in size, highest from above downwards. Each scale on the body and base of the fins in the adult fish with a gland in its centre of a deep black colour. In the young fish these glands are not so apparent ; and until they reach about 3 inches the black central spots on the scales do not commence to show them- selves; but still each scale is marked by a central cavity of a rounded shape, but very irregular in size. The scales covering the head vary much in shape, the posterior ones being irregularly quadrilateral, the central one between the orbits nearly round but with deeply emarginated sides, two oval ones in front, which partially cover it.
Colours. Greyish, shot with silver, lightest on the sides and ab- domen: each scale with a deep black central spot. Shot with pink and golden about the cheeks. Fins stained with grey.
By no means rare at times ; but in some years they seem to almost absent themselves. They are rarely seen above 8 inches. Are good eating.
OPHIOCEPHALUS STRIATUS, Bloch. Verarl or Wrahl (Mal.).
Bi.¥.) Di 370i. b7 has 6: A. 23-26... Ov dBi0 Eee, 5—7 L. tr. 7" Length of specimens from 553, to 15,4, inches. These fish, known over most of India as the Morrul (Hind.), are said to attain to the length of 3 feet ; they inhabit all stagnant pools of water and rivers, whilst the young may be found in every paddy-
1865.] MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 35
field. It is extraordinary in what small pieces of water they will live and thrive, owing to the immensity of animal life in the fresh waters of Malabar.
They have obtained their common appellation of ‘* Walking-fish ”’ from being able to progress some distance over moist places, and thus change their localities, which they do either when the pond in which they live is becoming dried up, or when the monsoon fills every place with water. Possessing a cavity (like the rest of the genus) above the gills which enables them to carry water, they are capable of keeping their respiratory organs moist so long as the fluid lasts, and can consequently breathe for some time after leaving their native element. They are not able to erect their fins, gill-covers, and scales like the Anabas scandens, but otherwise progress in the same manner. It is often asserted that these fish can exist in the dried mud of tanks ; but though frequently promised by natives that they would discover them in such places, they invariably failed. Perhaps this idea may have originated because it is at the commencement of the monsoon, when the rains begin to render all the previously dried-up tanks first mud and then water, these fish may be seen migrating. It may be that as they were known to exist there at a prior time when there was water, were not apparent when the tank was dry, but were again seen as the exsiccated mud became moist*, the natives believe they have arrived out of it. It can scarcely be supposed these fish could retain vitality in dried mud, where they would be unable to breathe, to move, or to feed. Europeans have frequently seen them migrating ; and that they are capable of walking, personal observation can attest.
OpHIocreHALUS GACHUA, Buch. Ham.
Kuravu (Mal.).
Baa 35. elon. Wis Os, wArol. Coli LL.) 40. Bitte >
Length of specimens from 5 to 5,3; inches.
Said not to grow upwards of 8 inches in length. Very common, and found in almost every piece of fresh water, even in many wells. Eaten by the natives. Takes a bait freely.
OpHIOCEPHALUS MARULIUS, Buch. Ham. Chaaree verarl (Mal.). B.v. D.50. P.18. V.6. A. 32. C.14. 1.1.59. L. tr. ©?
* In one south-west monsoon, the grassland in front of the house I lived in, and formerly part of the esplanade, became one day a sheet of water. As that evaporated and soaked into the earth I could perceive fish swimming about. Having sent out persons to capture them, several species were brought me, viz. a Saccobranchus singio, an Ambassis, and some Barbels or Systom?. I could never account for how they arrived ; for the remnants of the ramparts precluded their entrance except by the drains, but the only one which opened there took a cir- cuitous route to the sea-face of the river, whilst all captured were freshwater species.
36 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. [Jan. 10,
Length of specimen 20,4; inches.
Its coloration varies considerably: in the specimen in my collection the back was dark grey, which colour passed downwards in five or six digitations to below the lateral line. Abdomen bright orange, with a few dusky markings at the base of the scales. Dorsal, caudal, pectoral, and anal grey; ventrals‘orange. On the posterior third of the body, of the dorsal and anal fins, and over the whole of the caudal were round pearl-like spots.
These are considered the best of the genus for the table; they do not appear to frequent stagnant waters or pools.
The O. grandinosus, C. & V., appears to be this species. The colours of many Indian specimens are nearly as vivid as represented by the Chinese painter. Likewise O. leucopunctatus, Sykes, seems to be merely the O. marulius.
OPpHIOCEPHALUS DIPLOGRAMMA, Day, sp. nov. By. Dl 43 Poo. V6; AS 87. °C 15) Ss eee
1312" inches. Length of specimen from 3,%,. of head. ... 1..:.)- 1,4, or about two-sevenths of total length. ——— of pectoral .... 45, or about one-tenth of total length. of base of dorsal 1,8,, or about one-half of total length. —— of base of anal . 1;4,, or about two-sevenths of total length.
of caudal...... >8;, or about one-seventh of total length.
Diameter of eye ;2; inch, or ;2; of length of head; ;%; inch from end of snout, nearly ;3; apart.
Body subcylindrical in front ; head depressed and flat superiorly, rather compressed laterally. Orbit oval and close to profile.
Cleft of mouth lateral, wide; lower jaw the longest; superior maxillary extends behind to below posterior third of orbit. Thirteen rows of scales between orbit and angle of przeoperculum. Inter- orbital space flat, slightly wider than the length of the snout ; plates irregularly round, with raised margins, and smaller than those on the back of the head. About six series of scales between the orbits, the centre ones of which are the largest. Nostrils rather wide apart, the anterior of which is superior and the largest. A sharp spinous process exists on either side of the back of the head, above the oper- eulum.
Teeth. Several rows of sharp teeth in the lower jaw, with an irre- gular internal row of larger ones. Several bands of sharp teeth in the upper jaw, vomer, and palate, in these two last places interspersed with larger ones.
Fins. Ventral reaches nearly as far as the commencement of anal. Fin-rays all weak. Pectoral rounded. Caudal slightly rounded.
Scales comparatively small, lineated, and raised at their margins. tte line makes a curve from the seventh to the eighth row of scales.
Colours. Back greyish ; sides scarlet; abdomen white. A broad black band passes through the eye direct to the upper half of caudal
1865. | MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 37
fin; a second commenees at the angle of the mouth, and proceeds to lower half of caudal. Dorsal fin grey; caudal scarlet, with two black longitudinal lines ; pectoral, ventral, and anal yellowish, with a dark grey base.
Rare ; only one specimen obtained, in October 1863.
FisTULARIA SERRATA, Cuv.
B.vii. D.15. P.15. V.6. A.14.° C.2+6/2|6+2.
Length of specimens from 1874; to 23745 inches. Not rare.
MasTacEMBALUS ARMATUS, Lacép.
Ahlee (Mal.).
B.vi.. D2 37|74.. -P. 23. A. 3|79." ©. 15.
Length of specimens from 958; to 18;45 inches.
Common in the rivers. They are dangerous to handle, on account of their dorsal and anal spines, as well as those on the preeoperculum and in front and below the orbit.
Fair eating ; but best ina dry curry. They salt well.
MASTACEMBALUS GUENTHERI, Day, sp. nov. B. vi. D. 27-28 60-64. P.15. A. 3 62-64. C.9.
inches.
Length of specimens from .. 4355 to 7 inches.
—ofhead .......... 1, or about 1-7th of total length. ——— of pectoral ........ =>, or about 1-23rd of total length. — @L CAUARL «o/s 5 occ yn z{5, or about 1-17th of total length.
of base of hard dorsal 2;8,, or about 2-5ths of total length. of base of soft dorsal 2;4,, or about 1-3rd of total length. ——— of anal.........«.+.. 2,55, or about 2-5ths of total length.
Height of head .......... z's, or about 1-23rd of total length. RA BODY vas sant {>> or about 1-9th of total length.
— of soft dorsal ...... zy, or about 1-23rd of total length.
— CET NGO eee =, or about 1-12th of total length.
Diameter of eye =!; length of head; eyes slightly wider apart, 75 from end of snout.
Superior maxillary longer than the inferior ; and soft snout ex- tends 1th of an inch beyond the end of the jaw. Cleft of mouth small, and extending about halfway to the orbit. Praeoperculum with two spines at its angle, directed backwards and downwards, and some fine ones along its lower limb. A rather long and strong, sharp, erectile preeorbital spine. Thirteen rows of scales between orbit and angle of the preeoperculum. The whole of the head and between the orbits scaled.
Teeth. Several rows of sharp-pointed teeth, directed backwards, in both upper and lower jaws.
Fins. Dorsal spines strong, short, and sharp, commencing at about the termination of the first fifth of the body. Soft dorsal, caudal, and anal united. Anal spines strong, the centre one the longest and
38 MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. [Jan. 10,
strongest, the third being nearly hidden; they all can be laid flat in a kind of sheath, as can also those of the dorsal.
Colours. General colour greenish brown ; a yellowish-white streak passes from just above the eye, along the lateral line, to the centre of the caudal. Soft portion of dorsal dotted with brown, and having fourteen irregular blotches along its base, extending to the back of the fish. Caudal with a black bar at its base, and four or five lighter ones between that and its extremity ; anal irregularly spotted. Ab- domen, from vent to head, of a dirty yellowish white, with a number of blotchy markings extending on to it from the side. Operculum greyish brown, the same colour being also found on the throat. Przeoperculum of a lighter colour ; lower jaw dirty white.
Very common in paddy-fields and the Trichoor backwater ; said never to grow to a large size; is considered good eating.
GLYPHIDODON COCHINENSIS, Day, sp. nov. BVO D ee! Pree he Ae Looe? eee
inches. Length of specimens from 3-8; to 3,8; inches. of head: }Yeaaey: oe 75, or about 2-11ths of total length. of pectoral ... .-. - 3; or about 1-6th of total length. ——— of caudal........ 1,4,, or about 1-3rd of total length.
of base of dorsal.. 158, or about 2-5ths of total length. of base of anal.... 4, or about 2-11ths of total length.
Ileight of head.......... 7/5, or about 2-11ths of total length. ——— of body ........ 1,1, or about 2-6ths of total length. _ of hard dorsal.... 35, or about 2-15ths of total length.
of soft dorsal .... 154, or about 2-6ths of total length. ———— of base of caudal.. 4, or about 1-9th of total length. ——— of ventral........ 35, or about 1-6th of total length. ——— ofanal.......... 35, or about 1-8th of total length.
Diameter of eye ;%; inch, or # length of head ; 3, inch from end of snout, ;2; apart.
Body ovoid, compressed, width at shoulder being scarcely equal to half its height; profile from snout to dorsal fin convex. Soft portions of dorsal, anal, and caudal fins much elongated.
Jaws of equal length ; superior maxillary extends as far backwards as opposite the anterior margin of the orbit. Praeoperculum entire ; posterior limb slightly oblique, and half as long again as the inferior limb, which is horizontal, the angle being rounded. Sub- and inter- opercula entire. Operculum ending in a flat rather strong spine at its centre, a little below the level of the lower margin of the orbit ; a second a short distance above, and in one specimen a third about an equal distance below the central one. The posterior nostril rounder than the anterior, which is transversely oval; they are a short distance apart, and near anterior surface of the orbit, slightly above its median line. All the opercula and interorbital space scaled. Suprascapular, scapular, and humeral bones entire.
—_ee
-
1865.] MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 39
Teeth flattened and compressed into a single row, decreasing in size from the centre of the jaws to their circumference.
Fins. Dorsal commences opposite end of operculum. Pectoral slightly behind, and ventral a little more posterior. Anal commences opposite about the tenth dorsal spine. Spinous portion of dorsal 1,2; inch in extent; spines moderately strong ; interspinous mem- brane slightly longer than the spines, and deeply notched ; soft por- tion elongated ; first spine ;2,, second nearly 3%; inch ; and they gra- dually increase to the last, which is ;5;. Pectoral rounded. Ventral spine ;4; inch, moderately strong; first soft ray prolonged. Anal, first spine =2;, second 3%;, and the strongest ; soft rays prolonged. Caudal deeply lunated ; outer rays much prolonged.
Scales. Greatest diameter from above downwards; some are con- tinued over the soft portion of the dorsal and anal and commence- ment of caudal.
Lateral live at first on third scale, and is thus continued for about eighteen scales, when it apparently ceases; but it may be found continued on the sixth row in the form of round glandular cavities in the centre of each scale.
Colours. Of a deep purplish black ; the margins of some scales of a lighter shade, lightest on the abdomen. Pectoral fins not so deeply stained as the others. Eyes dark hazel.
Only three specimens were observed at Cochin, and they were all captured in one net.
PLATYGLOSSUS DUSSUMIERI, Cuv. & Val. Bovizs Di Sey Be by We ten Ae ds) CoVS.> LL 29. Lot g
. 12° Length of specimens from 3,8; to 434; inches.
_ GERRES PUNCTATUS, Cuy. & Val. Bev. Did. Potay Vit. App. 172) L.b42. Te tr. 3.
10° Length of specimens from 4,1; to 75 inches. Arrives in Cochin in large numbers in the month of October ; is eaten by the natives.
GERRES FILAMENTOSUS, Cuv. & Val.
B.vi. Ds. P15. V.>... Aso, Cil7,; yl, 42.” Late. s:
Length of specimen 5%; inches.
Errorius suraATENsIs, Bloch. Kurree meen (Mal.).
B.vi. D.=>*. P17. Viz. AG. C.16. L.1.45. L. tr. 21.
Length of specimens from 1,4, to 1052; inches.
During the monsoon time the colours of these fish are most beau- tiful ; the eight vertical bands are more distinctly marked, the ab- domen becomes nearly white, the back dark green, whilst a round
white pearly spot exists on nearly every scale. Very young fish
40 DR. J. E. GRAY ON A NEW WHALE. {Jan. 10,
have a large black ocellus, surrounded by a white margin, and ex- tending from the fourth to the tenth soft ray of the dorsal. When these fish frequent brackish water, they generally become of a deep purple colour. ; Very common in all pieces of fresh water, and excellent eating when of a large size. They take a bait freely, but are not so easily captured by a net, as they appear to dive down into the mud.
Erropius MACULATUS, Bloch. Pulluttay meen (Mal.). B.vi. D.@. P14. V.>. AZ. C.16. 1.1.35. TL. tr. 21.
Length of specimens from 1,5, to 354; inches.
Having captured about fifty specimens, on July 15th, 1863, from the fort ditch, for the purpose of minutely examining their colours, no two could be said to be exactly similar. The seventeen or eighteen rows of golden spots were more or less apparent in all: but in some the three blotches on the side were black, in others of emerald-green, whilst all intermediate shades were perceptible ; some were glossed over with purple, which was absent in others.
Common in every paddy-field, tank, or piece of fresh water; and even occasionally in the backwater within the influence of the tides.
Eaten by the natives, but, as they rarely exceed 3 inches in length, are not esteemed by the Europeans.
2. Notice or A New WHALEBONE WHALE FROM THE COAST or DEVONSHIRE, PROPOSED TO BE CALLED EsCHRICHTIUS roBustus. By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., etc.
A better proof could not be required of the little attention that has hitherto been paid to the study of the Whales of the seas sur- rounding the British islands than the fact that, almost immediately after the appearance of my paper on British Whales, in which I had doubled the number of species that had before been recorded as found on our coast, a bone has been discovered showing most dis- tinctly that a species of Whalebone Whale which had only been described from an imperfect skeleton buried in the sand on the coast of Sweden is also an inhabitant of our seas.
Mr. Pengelly has kindly brought to me one of the middle cervical vertebrze of a Finner Whale, which was washed ashore at Babbacombe Bay, in Torbay, on the coast of Devonshire, on the 24th of Novem- ber 1861. It is so different in its form and proportions from the cervical vertebrae of any of the species of British Whales which I described in my paper on those animals (printed in the ‘ Proceedings’ of the Society for 1864), that I lose no time in bringing a description of it before the Society ; for, as I have already observed, I consider that we must treat remains of Whales as we do fossil animals— describe them from a single bone, if no more can be procured, if, after careful study and comparison, we are satisfied that the bone in
1865.] DR. J. E. GRAY ON A NEW WHALE. 41
question differs in important characters from the corresponding bone in the hitherto known species.
In this case, though as yet we only know a single bone, there cannot be any doubt,—1, that the body of the vertebra differs in its form and thickness from the vertebra of any Finner Whale yet described ; 2, that the thickness of the lateral processes is exceed- ingly different from that of those parts in any other known species ; 3, that the size, or rather width, of the canal of the spine, as com- pared with the size of the body of the vertebra, differs from the width found in any Whale yet examined.
On comparing this vertebra with the drawing of the cervical ver- tebree of Balenoptera robusta, described by Professor Lilljeborg in his very excellent paper on the Scandinavian Whales, which he had been so kind as to transmit to me, I was induced to believe that the bone sent by Mr. Pengelly might belong to that species; but, for greater certainty, as I cannot read the Professor’s Swedish descrip- tion of the species, nor get it properly translated here, I sent a tracing of the bone to Upsal, and the Professor has replied that he believes that it belongs to the species he described. He has also sent me a drawing of one of the cervical vertebrz of his species, which cer- tainly agrees with the one from Babbacombe Bay in every particular, except in being a trifle larger in all its parts.
The addition of this animal to our marine fauna, and the pro- curing of the remains of a second specimen of a species which only rested on the description of an imperfect skeleton found imbedded in the sand on the coast of Sweden, is important.
In my “ Notes on the Whalebone Whales, with a synopsis of the species,” published in the ‘ Annals and Magazine of Natural History’ (vol. xiv. p. 343), I gave the reason why I thought Balenoptera robusta was probably more allied to Megaptera than to Physalus, and I there proposed for that species a new subgenus, under the name of Escuricutiuvs. The examination of the vertebra from Devon- shire, and the additional figures which Professor Lilljeborg has so kindly sent to me, confirms me in the idea that it is of a distinct form, proper to be considered as a genus. Professor Lilljeborg ob- serves, ‘‘ Depuis peu vous considérez que mon B. robusta appartient aux genre Megaptera. D’aprés les principes que vous avez suivies dans la distinction des genres des Balenoptéres, cette espéce, sans doute, doit faire type d’un genre particulier.”
In the cervical vertebrz of all the genera of Finner Whales which I have examined, and which have hitherto been described, the width of the canal of the spinal marrow is rarely more than half the width of the body of the vertebra: thus in Physalus the canal is 52 inches wide, and the body of the vertebra 11 inches; in Megaptera, which had the largest and widest canal known until the discovery of this Whale, the canal is 5 inches, and the body of the vertebra 9 inches wide; but in this Babbacombe Whale the canal is 63 inches, and the body of the vertebra only 73 inches wide. The cervical vertebrz of the Balenide have a large canal for the spinal marrow, compared with the size of the body of these vertebre.
42 DR. J. E. GRAY ON A NEW WHALE. [Jan. 10,
The large size of this canal in Megaptera, Peescopia, and Cuvierius, as well as peculiarities in other parts of the skeleton in the two former genera, shows that the long-armed Humpbacked Whales have some characters which make them, in some respects, more allied to the Right Whales, or Balenide, than the other Finner Whales. schrichtius is separated from both Megaptera and Pes- copia by the regular and well-developed form of the lateral pro- cesses, which are even larger and longer, compared with the size of the body of the vertebra, than are found in any of the species of Physalus or Benedenia.
The canal of the spinal marrow in Eschrichtius is broader, com- pared with the size of the body of the vertebree, than it is in the last cervical vertebra of Balena biscayensis (the canal in this species becomes wider, compared with its height, as it approaches the dorsal vertebra) ; for its width is only four-fifths of the width of the body of the vertebra, while in Eschrichtius it is eight-eighths of the same measurement,
In the study of these animals, I have observed that the form and proportion of the canal of the spinal marrow constitute one of the best characters for the distinction of the Whales. Under these circum- stances, I propose to form a genus for this Whale, under the name
EscuricHrTivus.
The external form and size of pectoral fin, and the position and form of the dorsal fin, unknown. Lower jaw with a very low, strongly developed coronoid process. Vertebree 60. Ribs 15—15. The cervical vertebre free, the body small, thick, suborbicular, qua- drangular, rather wider than high ; lateral processes of the third to the seventh vertebrae not forming a ring; the canal of the spinal marrow very broad, compared with the width of the body of the vertebrze, and very high, subtrigonal, with rounded angles. The second cervical not known. Bladebone with a distinct acromium and
Vertebra of Eschrichtius robustus.
coracoid process. Arm-bones broad, not longer than the humerus. Fingers, phalanges half as long again as broad. The breastbone
1865.| MR. MIVART ON THE MYOLOGY OF CERCOPITHECUS. 43
trigonal, rather longer than wide; front part broad, arched out in front, broadly truncated at the sides ; the hinder part at first suddenly tapering, for half its length, and then gradually tapering to a point behind.
The body of the cervical vertebra of #. robustus from Babbacombe is very thick, and of a nearly uniform thickness ; front and hinder sur- faces nearly flat; the sides are nearly straight, the lower one being the widest and most arched out. The upper and lower lateral pro- cesses are strong; the upper one subtrigonal, slightly bent down, and nearly on a level with the articulating surfaces of the body ; the hinder one rather compressed above, broader and somewhat flattened on the lower edge. The width of the body 73, the height 6 inches. The upper processes 32, and the lower 43 inches long ; but they are evidently broken and sea-worn at the end.
This vertebra appears to be either the fourth or fifth cervical, as the lateral processes are nearly on the same plane as the articulating surface; while in the anterior or posterior cervicals they are usually either bent forwards or backwards. It differs from other cervical vertebree in the squareness of its form, the straightness of the sides, the smallness of the size, and the very great and equal thickness of the body. It is evidently the bone of an adult animal, as the epi- physes are completely united to the body of the vertebra.
The body of the vertebra is nearly as wide and thick as that of the corresponding one in M. longimana (width of body 9, height 7, width of neural arch 5? inches in widest part), at the same time that the space between the bases of the neural arch is nearly 14 inch wider, and the lateral processes are very much thicker and more developed, than in the vertebra of M. longimana.
It differs in the same characters, but in a greater degree, from the correspondiug cervical vertebra of Physalus (width of body 11, height 7, width of neural arch 53 inches) ; for in that genus the body of the vertebra is thin and transversely more oblong, and the canal of the neural arch not so broad, compared with the width of the body of the vertebra.
3. NoTEs ON THE Myo.woGy or A SPECIMEN OF CERCOPITHECUS saBzuS. By Sr. GrorcGe Mivart, F.Z.S., F.L.S.
In October last I received from the Society’s collection a fine adult female Monkey of the above-mentioned species. It may per- haps be worth while to record the conditions presented by some of those muscles which show such interesting variations in the order Primates.
The levator claviculz arose from the transverse process of the atlas only, and, descending beneath the sterno-mastoid, was inserted into the acromion and the anterior third of the spine of the scapula, but not at all into the clavicle. The trapezius was entirely super- ficial to it.
The omo-hyoid was wanting.
44 MR. ST. GEORGE MIVART ON THE [Jan. 10,
The pectoralis major arose from the whole length of the sternum, the sternal ends of the ribs, and the sterno-clavicular articulation, but not from the clavicle itself; it was inserted into the external edge of the bicipital groove of the humerus, side by side with the deltoid, and having the same upper and lower limits as that muscle has at its insertion.
The pectoralis minor consisted of two very distinct portions. The first arose from the sternum (below the second bone), and from the sternal ends of the ribs beneath, extending as far down as the origin of the pectoralis major. The second part arose exclusively from the aponeurosis of the external oblique. The fibres of these two portions converged (leaving a triangular space between them covered by the pectoralis major), and were together inserted into the capsular liga- ment of the humerus.
The trapezius was inserted into the whole length of the spine of the scapula to the extremity of the acromion, but it had no insertion into the clavicle.
The rhomboideus major and rhomboideus minor were represented by asingle muscle; but there was a very distinct and separate mus- cular slip which arose from the supra-occipital, and was inserted by a distinct tendon into the inner side of the posterior margin of the scapula, just below the triangular surface at the root of the spine.
The latissimus dorsi separated into two portions when about 2 inches from the axilla: the smaller and inner portion joined the tendon of the teres major ; the larger and outer portion was inserted into the bicipital groove.
The dorso-epitrochlear arose from the larger division of the latis- simus dorsi (just where it became tendinous), and was inserted, as usual, into the olecranon.
A small, short muscular slip arose from the outer side of the ten- don of the coraco-brachialis, aud was inserted into the humerus just above the insertion of the teres major.
The extensor indicis ended in two tendons inserted, respectively, into the second and third digits.
The extensor minimi digiti similarly gave tendons to the fourth and fifth digits.
The extensor primi internodii pollicis was entirely absent.
The extensor ossis metacarpi pollicis gave rise to two tendons, one being inserted into the trapezium, the other into the radial border of the first metacarpal.
The flexor profundus consisted of four fleshy bellies, of which the first arose from the anterior surface of the radius and interosseous ligament, the second from the anterior surface of the ulna, the third from the inner condyle of the humerus, and the fourth from the inner border of the ulna. The last was very distinct, and supplied the tendon for the fifth digit. The other three soon fused together, and gave origin to a very broad tendon, from the middle of the super- ficial surface of which a small tendon arose, which crossed over and was inserted into the pollex.
The scansorius was completely fused with the gluteus minimus.
1865.] MYOLOGY OF CERCOPITHECUS. 45
The tensor vaginz femoris was strongly developed, but very closely united, at its origin, with the gluteus medius.
The biceps femoris had but one origin, namely, from the outer side of the base of the ischium beneath the acetabulum.
The rectus femoris and soleus had each also but a single origin, the latter arising from the head of the fibula.
The tibialis anticus had its lower half divided into two distinct fleshy bellies, one giving off a tendon to the ento-cuneiform, the other sending one to be inserted into the tibial side of the ventral surface of the first metatarsal.
The peroneus quinti digiti consisted of a very small fleshy belly, which arose from the middle of the external surface of the fibula (between the peroneus longus and the peroneus brevis) and soon gave rise to a very long and exceedingly slender tendon, which was closely applied to that of the peroneus brevis and, beyond the in- sertion of the latter, was continued along the upper and outer edge of the fifth metatarsal to be inserted into the extensor sheath of the fifth digit.
Left foot. Right foot.
a. Flexor longus hallucis. ec. Flexor accessorius. 4. Flexor longus digitorum. d. Tendon of hallux.
The flexor longus digitorum and the flexor longus hallucis were connected together by their tendons in a peculiar manner, but which differed slightly in the two feet. In both feet the tendon of the flexor longus digitorum bifurcated, one branch going to the second, the other to the fifth digit. The flexor longus hallucis divided into three strong tendons, destined for the hallux and for the third and
46 MR.A.NEWTON ON NEWBIRDS FROM RODRIGUEZ. [Jan. 10,
fourth digits respectively. In both feet also the tendon to the hallux was bent round that going to the second digit, becoming superficial to it. In both feet also the tendon of the fifth digit gave off two short and very slender tendons to join those of the flexor longus hal- lucis destined for the third and fourth digits respectively ; and the tendon of the second digit also gave off a short and slender slip ; but while, in the right foot, this slip joined the tendon of the hallux (the flexor longus digitorum being thus, directly or indirectly, connected with all the digits of the right foot), this slip, in the left foot, jomed the other brauch of the flexor longus digitorum (namely, the tendon for the fifth digit), the tendon of the hallux, in that foot, thus pass- ing between the two branches of the flexor longus digitorum and their connecting slip, but having no connexion whatever with any tendon of that muscle.
The flexor accessorius gave off no tendon, but was inserted into the outer side of the tendon of the flexor Iongus digitorum and of its external branch, its insertion extending from a little distance above to about the same distance below the point of bifurcation of the tendon.
The lumbricales were three in number in each foot, and inserted into the third, fourth, and fifth digits; but while, in the right foot, the lumbricalis inserted into the third digit took origin from the outer side of the tendon of the second digit ; in the left foot it arose from the inner side of the tendon of the third digit. Again, the lum- bricalis of the fourth digit arose, in the right foot, from the inner side of the tendon destined for that digit, while in the left foot it arose from the outer side of the tendon for the third digit. Finally, the lumbricalis of the fifth digit, which, in the right foot, arose from the tendon of that digit, took origin, in the left foot, from the outer side of the tendon of the fourth digit.
The plantar interossei formed a very distinct muscular layer, which arose from the proximal end of the plantar surface of the third meta- tarsal, and from the sheath of the tendon of the peroneus longus. It divided into three distinct portions, which were inserted in the usual manner, 7. e. like the palmar interossei of the human hand.
4. On Two New Birps From THE IsLtanD OF RODRIGUEZ. By Aurrep Newton, M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S.
(Plate I.)
I have the pleasure of laying before the Society specimens of two undescribed birds, which I have recently received from my brother, Mr. Edward Newton, Acting Auditor-General of Mauritius, C.M.Z.S. They were obtained by him during a short visit to the Island of Ro- driguez, a locality so interesting as having been the seat of one, if not more, species of the family Didide. I may add that these two species were the only land-birds observed by him on this occasion, with the exception of a small Parrot (Poliopsitta cana) and a spe-
J Wolf.del.et ith. M&NHanhart imp
Pee OUD. DA: PPA TC AGN &: 3. DRYM@CA RODERICANA .
1865.] MR.A.NEWTON ON NEW BIRDS FROM RODRIGUEZ. 47
cies of Numida, both of which have been, according to the informa- tion he collected, introduced into the island from Madagascar. The first I call
Foupta FLAVIcans, sp. nov. (Pl. I. figs. 1, 2.)
F. major, capite et pectore pulchre luteis, alis unifasciatis, pe- dibus validioribus.
Descr. maris adulti. Olivaceo-virens, dorso striolato ; subtus pallidior ; capite, collo, pectore et uropygio pulchre luteis, capistro et genis vubro-aurantiaco ardescentibus ; abdomine medio albido-lutescente ; alis albido late unifasciatis ; regio- nibus ophthalmicis nigris ; rostro gracili, subincurvo, nigro ; pedibus validioribus, dilute brunneis ; wridibus perfuscis.
Long. tota 5, alee 2°72, caudze 1°9, acrotarsi °85, dig. med. cum
ungue *75, hallucis cum ungue ‘64, rostri a fronte 56, ejusdem a rictu *54 poll. Angl.*
Descr. foeminz adultze. Fusco-virens, dorso striolato ; subtus multo pallidior ; alis late unifasciatis ; rostro et iridibus per- fuscis ; pedibus fuscis.
Had. in insula Mascarena “ Rodriguez ”’ dicta.
Mus. A. et E. Newton.
Obs. I characterize this fine species as new without any hesitation.
I may mention that a specimen has been in the possession of myself and my brother for nearly twenty years. All we know of it was that it was sent to England by the late Colonel Lloyd, who was Sur- veyor-General of Mauritius. We took it to be an accidental variety of Foudia madagascariensis, perhaps arising from the bird having been kept in captivity. When, however, I came to compare it with examples of that species, it was plainly distinct ; but having no know- ledge of the precise locality where it was obtained, though I had little doubt it came from one of the Mascarene Islands, I forbore to describe it. The new species, though no doubt most nearly allied to F. erythrocephala, will be easily distinguished not only by its greater size, but by its very different colouring.
The second I propose to designate as
Drymeca (?) RODERICANA, sp. nov. (Pl. I. fig. 3.)
D. supra cinereo-olivacea, subtus flavescens, annulo periophthal- mico paroticisque albis flavido tinctis.
Deser. maris adulti. Rostro gracili, sub apicem emarginato; max- illa incurvata; mandibula recta, ultra medium levissima, sursum inclinata ; naribus basalibus, superne membrana clausis, inferne rima longitudinalt apertis ; rictu setoso ; alis brevioribus, ro-
* Addo mensuras similes marium Foudie madagascariensis e¢ F. erythro- cephalz :—
F.m. F. e. || F.m F.e.
Long. tota ............ 48 1... 44 Long. dig. med. c. ung.... °73 ...*7 BLD 5 ..cceneceos 22! ost) 2°65 hallucis ............ fo. nes. CEB ——- caude ......... 1°75 1°55 || ———rostri a fronte...... 51 55
——-acrotarsi ...... 79 ... ‘85 || ——-rostria rictu ...... 56 te “54
48 DR.K. CRISP ON THE OS PENIS OF THE CHIMPANZEE. [Jan. 10,
tundatis, remige primo brevissimo, secundo abrupte longiore et nono equali, tertio quarto et quinto subequalibus longissimis externe emarginatis ; cauda rectricibus decem, elongata, gra- data ; acrotarsis longiusculis. Supra cinereo-olivacea, flexura flavescente, remigibus rectricibusque olivaceo-fuscis, illis externe griseo limbatis ; subtus pallide flavescens, annulo periophthal- mico paroticisque albis, pallide flavido tinctis ; maxilla perfusca favo limbata; mandibula flava ; pedibus schistaceo-brunneis.
Long. tota 5°75, alee 2°8, caudee 2:6, acrotarsi *9, dig. med. cum ungue ‘58, hallucis cum ungue ‘51, rostri a fronte 54, eyusdem a rictu ‘7 poll. Angl.
Hab. in insula Mascarena “ Rodriguez’’ dicta.
Mus. A. et E. Newton.
Oés. It is with considerable doubt that I refer this bird to the genus Drymeca. It seems to me to be quite as nearly allied to Prinia, with certain leanings towards Orthotomus. In my deter- mination of it, I am chiefly influenced by the opinion of Mr. G. R. Gray, who has most obligingly examined the specimen, and informed me that he considers it belongs to the first-named genus, adding that it ‘“‘is somewhat allied to D. thoracica, which is the type of Swainson’s subdivision Apalis.” I would take this opportunity of remarking that no other species of the genus Drymecca, as restricted, is found in any island of the Mascarene group ; for the Drymeca madagascariensis of Dr. Hartlaub (Orn. Beitr. zur Fauna Madagas- cars, p. 35) seems to me more properly to belong to the genus Cistz- cola, having twelve, instead of ten, rectrices.
5. On THE Os Penis OF THE CHIMPANZEE (TROGLODYTES NIGER) AND OF THE ORANG (Stm1A saTyRuS). By Epwarps Crisp, M.D., F.Z.8., &c.
The communication I am about to make will, I think, be received with some amount of gratification by the members present, as there are none of us, I presume, that wish to claim relationship with the ape, and any discovery that makes the line of demarcation between man and the brute more definite and positive will be hailed with satisfaction. All, as far as 1 know, who have dissected the two apes above named—animals among the anthropoid Quadrumana that have most frequently come under the knife of the anatomist—have either
if qr"
a. The penis-bone of a young Orang. b. The penis-bone of a young Chimpanzee*.
denied the existence of a bone in the penis, or have inferred that it was not present. During my first examinations of the Orang and
* These bones are represented with the periosteal covering.
7
1865.] DR. E. CRISP ON THE ANATOMY OF THE WATER-OUSEL. 49
Chimpanzee, when the anatomy of these apes excited less interest, I did not examine the male generative organs with sufficient care, and I inferred, as others had done, that no bone was present. In my more recent examinations I have been more minute, and, to my sur- prise, I find that both the Chimpanzee and Orang have a penis-bone as exhibited in the preparations before the Society and in the draw- ing which I now exhibit. (See woodcut, p. 48.)
I first discovered this bone in a young Orang, and next in two Chimpanzees, now in my possession. Through the kindness of Mr. Flower, conservator of the Hunterian Museum, I examined all the male anthropoid apes in spirits at the College of Surgeons. In avery young Chimpanzee weighing about 5lbs., and having only four incisor teeth, I found this bone small and acicular. In two Orangs, about two years of age, it appeared to be of about the size of the specimens before the Society; but in these I judge only from external examination. This bone, I believe, is present in the Gorilla also, an animal that in many respects is more distant from the human family than the Chimpanzee. The bone in these young anthropoid apes (Orang and Chimpanzee) is about one-third of an inch in length, and about a line in width, with the extremities slightly enlarged. In the Chimpanzee it is rather shorter and thicker. What size it attains in the adult animal remains to be seen: it is probably as large as, or perhaps larger than the same bone in many of the lower Quadrumana. ‘There is one thing, however, tolerably certain, that the presence of this bone is an indication of a great degree of inferiority, as regards place and position, in the animal scale.
6. On THe ANATomMy anv Hasits or tHE WaATER-OvsEL (Cin- CLUs aquaTicus). By Epwarps Crisp, M.D., F.Z.S, erc.
I have for a long time been occupied in preparing a work on the British Birds, more especially in reference to their structure, in con- nexion with their habits, the nature of their food, &c.; and there is no bird that has puzzled me so much as the Water-Ousel, and it is on this account that I bring the subject before the Society, hoping that I may obtain some information from the members present. I need not go very minutely into the history of this bird; but it will, I think, be interesting to compare some parts of its anatomy with those of the other Merulide. The object of my paper will be to endeavour, first, to ascertain by what means this bird, so unlike all aquatic birds in form, is enabled to dive and remain some time under water and capture its prey; secondly, to inquire respecting the nature of its food, and its supposed depredations on the ova and fry of fishes. I may premise that I have shot several of these birds in Scotland for the purpose of ascertaining the character of their food, and that I have had many opportunities of observing their habits. The three speci- mens on the table were sent to me recently (Nov. 30) by my friend Mr. Grierson, of Thornhill, Dumfriesshire ; and I have dissected and
Proc. Zoou. Soc.—1865, No. IV.
50 DR. E. CRISP ON THE ANATOMY {Jan. 10,
examined them, as I had done on former occasions, in relation to the two questions above referred to. As the evidence of one inquirer in reference to the habits of this or of any other bird is comparatively valueless, let me quote a few authorities upon the subject.
Montagu, in his Ornithological Dictionary, says he “discovered the nest of this bird in consequence of the old bird flying, with a fish in its bill, to the young. These were nearly fledged, but incapable of flight ; and the moment the nest was disturbed, they fluttered out and dropped into the water, and, to our astonishment, instantly vanished, but in a little time made their appearance at some distance down the stream, and it was with difficulty two out of five were taken, as they dived on being approached. The motion under water,” he says, ‘is effected by short jerks from the shoulder-joint, not, as in all other diving-birds, with extended wings.”
Yarrell dissected this bird, and found nothing in its structure to account for its diving and remaining on the ground without any muscular effort.
Mr. Macgillivray (Naturalist, vol. i. p. 105) says, “I have seen the Dipper moving under water in situations where I could observe it with certainty, and I readily perceived that its actions were similar to those of the Divers, Mergansers, and Cormorants, which I have often watched from an eminence as they pursued the shoals of sand- eels along the sandy shores of the Hebrides. It in fact flew, not merely using the wing from the carpal joint, but extending it con- siderably, and employing its whole extent as if moving im the air. The general direction of the body is obliquely downwards ; and great force is evidently used to counteract the effects of gravity, the bird finding it difficult to keep at the bottom.”
Other observers have given similar testimony, some asserting that bubbles of air appeared on the surface after the bird was submerged : but these must have arisen from the disturbance of the earth at the bottom of the river; for no diving-bird, I believe, emits air from its lungs when under water. The air is got rid of before the act of diving takes place. But let me now speak of some parts of the anatomy of this bird, before I attempt to answer the first question. The average weight of this bird is said to be 2} oz. ; but in four that I have weighed the average weight has been about 23 oz., the males being a little heavier than the females; the length 73 inches, and 11 inches from the tip of each wing. The brain weighed 10 grains, the eyes 12 grains, the skin and feathers 132 grains, the pectoral muscles 135 grains. The gizzard moderately thick, and lined with a tough cuticle. The length of the whole alimentary tube was 16 inches; the cesophagus, as in the other Merulide, not dilated into a crop. The trachea of nearly uniform calibre, and consisting of 36 rings; the vocal muscles largely developed, as in the other members of this family. The tail-glands comparatively of large size.
I have depicted all the above parts in the drawing before the Society ; but the parts of the anatomy of this bird to which I am
. anxious to direct attention are the shortness of the wing and the great development of the wing-muscles—features which I believe will in
1865.] OF THE WATER-OUSEL, 51
a great measure account for the diving-powers of this bird and its progress under water. As might be expected, too, from the frequent motion of the tail, the caudal muscles are much developed. On comparing the visceral anatomy of this bird with that of the other British Merulide, all of which I have dissected, with the exception of White’s Thrush (Turdus whitei), very little proportional difference is observed. The length of the intestinal tube in the Redwing (7. iliacus) is 14 inches; the brain weighs 16 grains, the pectoral muscles 170 grains, the weight of the body being about 2} oz. In the Fieldfare (7. pilaris), weighing 43 oz., the brain weighs 26 grains, and the intestinal tube measures 22 inches. In the Ring-Ousel (T. torquatus), weight 3 oz. 180 grains, the alimentary canal is 133 inches in length, and the weight of the brain is 26 grains; and these parts in the Missel-Thrush (7. viscivorus), in the Blackbird (2. merula), and Song-Thrush (7. musicus) are of nearly the same proportionate length and weight. In the young Water-Ousel that I have dissected, I observed nothing remarkable in its anatomy. So that, as regards the visceral anatomy, there is no important difference between the Water-Ousel and the other members of this group, although among the British Merules this is the only bird that feeds exclusively on animal food; but, to show how the habits of a bird may be altered in this respect, I have mentioned a young Water-Ousel that was reared under a Bantam, and fed on porridge (P. Z. S. 1859, p. 200).
Some writers upon this bird have spoken of the claws as being well adapted for holding on to stones and other objects at the bottom of the water ; but on comparing the claws of the Water-Ousel with those of the other Merulide, it will be seen that the bird has no advantage of this kind, although the comparatively blunted form of the claw would lead to the inference that it is used for the purpose mentioned.
The bones of the Water-Ousel, like those of the other British mem- ~ bers of this group, contain no air*; and it is singular that the skele- ton of the Fieldfare, Redwing, and Missel-Thrush (birds of passage) should in this respect resemble that of the short-flighted Water-Ousel.
As regards the food, I am afraid that we cannot entirely acquit this bird of occasionally destroying the fry of fish ; but I know of no reli- able evidence to prove that it takes the ova. In the three specimens before the Society, the gizzards of all contained Entomostraca, and one of them a Gordian (Gordius aquaticus). In others that I have dissected, I have discovered chiefly Entomostraca and the larvee of Phryganea ; indeed I have found that its food is very similar to that of the young Salmon (Salmo salar).
Mr. Gould, in his present work ‘The Birds of Great Britain’ (part 1), mentions that he examined five of these birds that were shot on the River Usk, in Nov. 1859, and that no trace of spawn was found in any of them; their hard gizzards were entirely filled with the larvee of Phryganea and the Water-beetle (Hydrophilus). One had a small Bullhead (Cottus godio), which the bird had doubtless
* T need scarcely say that some of the cranial bones of birds, like those of mammals, contain air.
52 MR. W. H. PEASE ON SISTRUM CANCELLATUM. [Jan. 10,
taken from under a stone. Mr. Gould thinks that, by destroying insects and their larvee that may attack the ova and fry of fishes, these birds may do great service.
Mr. Macgillivray found beetles and water shells (Zymnea and Ancy- Ius) and the larvee of Ephemera, Phryganea, and other aquatic insects.
Sir W. Jardine, in his ‘ Birds of Great Britain,’ says, “‘ In one part of Scotland, sixpence per head is given for these birds. In another district, 548 were killed in three years.’ He adds, ‘‘ The ova of any kind of fish we have never detected in the stomach or intestines ; nor do we think that they habitually frequent the places where the spawn would be deposited ; and if they did, we would deem it almost impossible that they could reach it after it was covered in the spawning-bed,” &e.
So that I hope we may fairly acquit this interesting little bird of the depredations of which it has so often been accused ; but I hope that we shall ere long see the Water-Ousel, with the Little Grebe (Podiceps minor), in the Society’s fish-house, where a better oppor- tunity will be afforded of learning its habits.
As is well known, this bird has been variously classed by different writers. Mr. Gould, in the work before quoted, says he regards Cinclus as one of the isolated forms of ornithology, and that it has some remote alliance with the genera Troglodytes and Scytalopus and their allies. In my next communication I hope, by a careful comparison of the skeleton of this bird with those of the other Merulide, to come to a more definite conclusion on this subject.
7. On THE SYNONYMY OF SISTRUM CANCELLATUM. By W. Harper Prasz, Corr. Mem.
We find a great discrepancy, as to the name of this species, among the several authors who have noticed it. It was originally described by Quoy and Gaimard (Voyage de |’Astrolabe, vol. i1. p. 563, pl. 37. figs. 15, 16) as Purpura cancellata.
The next author who noticed it was De Blainville in his Monograph of Purpura, Nouv. Ann.du Mus., 1832, p.221. He refers correctly to the ‘Voyage de I’ Astrolabe,’ but names it “P. fenestrata,” possibly by mistake in copying. His name is consequently a synonym of P. can- cellata. Deshayes, in his edition of Lamarck, gives the description as P. fenestrata, Blainv., referring correctly to the figure and description by Quoy and Gaimard, as well as to that of De Blainville. Kiener, most surprisingly, does not notice it. Reeve discards both the names of Blainville and Quoy & Gaim., but describes and figures it more correctly than had been done previously, under the name P. elongata, Blainv. We can find no description of such a species by De Blainville. In his Monograph, however, on pl. 10, fig. 9, a shell is figured to which he attaches the name P. elongata; but no corresponding de- scription appears in the text. Dr. Gould, in his ‘ Mollusca of the U. S. Exploring Expedition,’ figures and describes the animal, following Reeve in naming it P. elongata, Blainv.; but he refers to
1865.] MR. W. H. PEASE ON A NEW SPECIES OF LATIRUS, 53
the description and figure given by De Blainville of P. fenestrata, and also quotes P. fenestrata of Quoy & Gaim., who make no mention of such a species. On comparing the above figures and descriptions, it will be found that they all refer to one species. ‘The shell figured by De Blainville as P. elongata is a member of the same group as P. cancellata, which is represented by a number of species and varieties in the Pacific.
8. Drescrirprion or A New SpecizEs OF LATirus, AND REMARKS ON OTHERS, INHABITING THE Paciric IsLanps, By W. Harper Pease.
Four species of La¢irus inhabit the Pacific Islands. They possess in common the remarkable peculiarity of displaying, when wet or moist, bright iridescent hues of various colours, although there is but slight analogy between them as to other characters. As they are of rare occurrence, and as we have in our collection a full suite of perfect and mature specimens, we propose to revise and extend the previous descriptions. The species range, so far as we have ascertained, from the Carolines, through the Ralick and Radack groups, to the Kingsmill; thence south to the Tongas, and east over the small islands near the Equator, not reaching Tahiti. The first and most notable is
LATIRUS PRISMATICUS, Mart.
Although figured by Martyn, the original and (so far as we can learn) the only description of this species was given by Mr. Reeve in Conch. Icon., under Turdinella, from aworn specimen. The figure of Martyn is not correct; but the colour is not exaggerated, nor can it be. Occasionally we have observed the tints change, and pass through several shades, while drying. We have seen specimens 3 inches in length. The following description is taken from a mature specimen :—
L. ¢. turrito-fusiformi, crassa, longitudinaliter plicato-costata, transversim nodoso-lirata; liris elevatis, supra costas com- presso-angulatis ; interstitiis concentrice tenuiter liratis, longi- tudinaliter squamuloso-rugosis ; columella triplicata, callosi- tate parva superne munita ; labro simplict, acuto, intus lirato ; fulva, liris nigro-purpureis, purpureo vel viridi vel ceruleo tridescentibus, intus crocata.
LATIRUS GEMMATUS, Reeve.
The iridescent colours of this species are the same as those of the preceding, but in a less degree. The white colour is confined to the left side of the nodules. To the description given by Mr. Reeve we add as follows :—
** Longitudinaliter nodoso-plicata, transversim striata, nodis subro- tundatis.”’
54 MESSRS. ADAMS AND ANGAS ON TWO NEW SHELLS. [Jan. 10,
LATIRUS VIOLACEUS, Reeve.
To the description we only add that the iridescent colours differ from those of the two preceding species in being of delicate golden and silvery shades of purple and green.
To the above we add the following new species :—
LATIRUS GIBBUS.
L. t. fusiformi, solida, levi; spira acuminata, gracili ; longitu- dinaliter nodoso-costata, costis quinque, magnis, obliquis, com- pressis, valde elevatis ; transversim costata, costis tribus, ro- tundatis, indistinctis et irregularibus ; labro tenui, simplict ; costis albidis, interstitiis purpureo-violaceis iridescentibus, apertura violacea.
Long. 13, diam. 8 mill.
The iridescence appears but faintly in this species.
9, Descriptions or Two New Species or SHELLS IN THE CoL- LECTION oF GrorGE Frencn AnGas. By Henry ApAms, F.L.S., ano G. F. Ancas, Corr. Mem. Z. 8.
(Plate IT.) Genus Susuxina, Beck. Subgenus Ca@xiaxis, nob. Testa umbilicata ; spira stiperne attenuata.
Suputina (Ca@xrAxts) LAYARDI, nob. (PI. I. fig. 1.)
S.t. umbilicata, cylindraceo-turrita, tenuis, oblique confertim costulato- striata, candida; spira superne sensim attenuata, apice obtuso ; anfr. 19, convexiusculi, ultimus basi rotundatus ; apertura subver- ticalis, ovato-lunaris ; perist. simplex, rectum, marginibus callo tenui junctis, columellari reflexo.
Long. 28, diam. 7 mill., ap. 4 mill. longa.
Hab. Cape of Good Hope (Brit. Mus. and Coll. Angas).
The examples of this species in the British Museum were collected during the voyage of H.MS. ‘Herald,’ and were received, with several other shells, as having been obtained at the Cape. The specimen in the collection of Mr, Angas was sent to him from the Cape, with the locality ‘« East London, Buffalo Mouth ”’ attached to it.
TRUNCATELLA (TAHEITIA) CLATHRATA, nob. (PI. II. fig. 2.)
T. t. elongata, subcylindrica, tenui, decollata, pallido-fulva, clathris acutis irregularibus subdistantibus instructa; anfr. superst. 7, convexiusculi, ultimus penultimo sejunctus; apertura subovalis ; perist. continuum, undique reflecum, margine dextro expanso.
Long. 9, diam, 3 mill., ap. diam. 3 mill.
Hab. Solomon Islands (Coll. Angas).
CB. Sowerby, del®
TS
P'Z.6. 1865. PL
aT
‘fl 4
EXPLANATION OF PLATE II
1. Cosliaxis Layardi 9,10. Cohambella interrupta. 2. Tahitia clathrata ll. Patella alticostata 3. Voluta Kreuslere . 12. Crepidula immersa &. Lyria Archeri i314 teh te convexa.. 6. Mitra Rosette i6 Stenochiton juloides . 8. Siphonalia fuscozonata 16 Microplax Grayi
ao
1 Ff
it
0
=
M.&N.Hanhart.imp
1865.] MR. G. F. ANGAS ON NEW AUSTRALIAN SHELLS. 55
10. Descriptions oF TEN New SPECIES OF SHELLS, CHIEFLY FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SEAs. By GeorGe FrencuH ANGAs, Corr. Mens. Z. 8,
(Plate IT.)
1. Votura (ALCITHO#) KREUSLERA, nob. (PI. II. fig. 3.)
V. testa elongato-fusiformi, subangustata, pallide fulvo-lutea ; sptra turrita, apice papillari ; anfractibus 6, levibus, in medio angulatis et plicato-nodosis, ad suturas castaneo maculatis, ultimo fere % longo, testam adequante, maculis aurantiaco-fuscis, trigonato ; labro simplici ; columella subrecta, 4-plicata, et callo tenui induta.
Long. 2 poll. 9 lin., lat. 1 poll.
Hab. South Australia (Coll. Archer).
This species is an interesting addition to the Australian Volutes. In its general characters it somewhat resembles V. pacifica, Soland. (belonging to H.& A. Adams’s section Aleithoé), from which it differs in the greater length of the spire, in the narrowness of its form, and in having a different style of painting.
The specimen in Mr. Archer’s collection was picked up on the beach at Glenelg, near Adelaide. I have named it after Mrs. Kreus- ler, a German lady resident in South Australia, who, by her diligent researches in the natural history of that province, has added to our knowledge of its fauna.
2. VoxuTa (LyrtA) arcHERI, nob. (PI. II. figs. 4 & 5.)
V. testa ovata, solida, basi subrecurva, longitudinaliter valde lirato- costata ; costis obtusis, vir fleruosis, ad marginem parvis, gradatim evanidis, interstitiis levibus; pallide carneo-fusca, interstitiis Fuscis, costis lineis tenuibus castaneis ornatis ; spira subacumi- nata; anfractibus 6, convexiusculis, superne fusco irregulariter maculatis ; apertura oblonga, subangustata, vix % longa, testam @quante, intus pallido-carnea; labro incrassato, valde varicoso, interne dentato, margine subtenui, punctis nigris ornato ; columella basi triplicata, plicis numerosis supra exsculpta.
Long. 1 poll. 4 lin., lat. 8 lin.
Hab. Montserrat, West Indies (Coll. Archer).
This beautiful West-Indian species belongs to Gray’s genus Lyria, and is allied to V. delessertiana, Petit, from Madagascar, and /. mitreformis, Lam., from South Australia. The description is taken from an adult specimen, in very fine condition, in the collection of Mr. Archer, of Liverpool.
3. Mirra rosetT#, nob. (PI. II. fig. 6.)
M. ¢. satis turrita, leviore, aurantiaco-fusca, marginibus spire viz excurvatis ; anfr.nucl.?... (decollatis) ; norm. 5, planatis, suturis haud impressis; lineis punctulorum minimorum spiralibus, plus minusve distantibus, quarum circ. 6 in spira monstrantur, sepe obsoletis, insculpta; circa basim prolongatam sulculis altioribus
56 MR. G. F, ANGAS ON NEW AUSTRALIAN SHELLS. [Jan. 10,
ornata ; columella 4-plicata, antice torta, canali aperto ; aper- tura elongata; labro acuto, haud lirato ; labio nullo. Long. *8, long. spir. ‘4, lat. -3 poll.; div. 40°. Hab. Rosetta Head, Encounter Bay, South Australia (Coll. Angas). The specimens are all decollated, with a mamillate vertex. The locality was named by Col. Light, the first Surveyor-General, after Mrs. Angas, the author’s mother.
4, SrpHoNALIA FuscozonaTA, nob. (PI. II. figs. 7 & 8.)
S. t. parva, turrita, alba, striga lata fusca plus minusve interrupta sub peripheriam ornata, marginibus spire rectis ; vertice nucleoso mamillato; anfr. norm. 6, medio angulatis, regione suturali concava; costis radiantibus circ. 8, validis, obtusis, rotundatis, supra et infra obsoletis, interstitiis concavis eas equantibus ; liru- lis spiralibus crebris, obtusis, supra costas transeuntibus, quarum circ. 12 in spira monstrantur, postice confertis minoribus ; canali curtiore, excurvato; apertura subrotundata; labro intus acute lirato ; labio inconspicuo ; pariete sub suturam unidentato.
Long. °54, long. spir. ‘27, lat. -28 poll.; div. 50°.
Hab. South Australia (Coll. Angas).
Resembles a Peristernia, but without the distinct fold of that genus. The broad brown belt is sometimes interrupted over the ribs, and is more or less dark according to the spiral sculpture. As the suture follows its middle, a part of the colour is seen on the spire, forming an elegant sutural line.
5. COLUMBELLA INTERRUPTA, nob, (PI. II. figs. 9 & 10.)
C. t. minima, fusiformi, levi, marginibus spire excurvatis ; vertice nucleoso naticoideo, prominente, apice mamillato ; anfr. norm. 5, subplanatis, suturis distinctis; livida, seu pallide viridi, lineis radiantibus creberrimis, angustissimis, a zonis interruptis, ele- ganter picta ; zonis duabus, postica et subperipheriali, valde loba- tis, concinne ornata ; basi pr olongata, spiraliter striata ; apertura elongata, undulata ; labro intus circ. 5-dentato ; labio conspicuo.
Long. -19, long. spir. ‘1, lat. -09 poll.; div. ire. 50°.
Hab. York’s Peninsula, South Australia (Coll. Angas). -
The unique specimen has two broad scalloped bands, scarcely
coloured, which interrupt the finely pencilled pattern of the rest of the shell.
§. EuLima augur, nob.
E. t. minore, satis gracili, candida, valde nitente, marginibus spire rectioribus ; anfr.nucl.? (decollatis) ; norm. 10, planatis, suturis minimis, definitis ; basi curtiore; apertura subovali ; columella recta ; labro posiice sinuato; labio parvo, solido.
Long. °44, long. spir. *32, lat. *14 poll.; div. 27°.
Hab. South Australia (Coll. Angas).
7. PATELLA atticostata, nob. (PI. IL. fig. 11.)
P. ¢. regulari, solida, albida, fusco tincta ; apice submediano ; costis
1865.] MR. G. F. ANGAS ON NEW AUSTRALIAN SHELLS. 57
radiantibus circ. 14, validis, rotundatis, aliis interdum inter- calantibus ; interstitiis duplo vel triplo majoribus, concavis ; pagina interna nitente, alba, plus minusve fusco pallide tincta; margine elegantissime pectinato, fusco undato ; spathula rubro-fusca, exacte definita.
Long. 1°45, lat. 1°2, alt. +45 poll.
Hab. Port Lincoln, South Australia (Coll. Angas).
Easily recognized by the distant, rounded ribs.
8. PATELLA GEALEI, nob. (2 4
P. ¢. “ P. jacksonensi” simili; sed pagina interna metallice splen- dente, aureo parum tincta, margine minimo; spathula lurida, plumbeo et fusco nebulosa.
Long. *1,/lat. 86, alt. -4 poll.
Hab. South Australia (Coll. Angas).
I have named this species after Mr. Geo. Geale, Mr. Cuming’s
worthy and intelligent assistant.
9. CrePIDULA IMmersa, nob. (PI. II. fig. 12.)
C. t. “C. hepatice’” simillima ; tenui, hepatica, recta, ovali, epi- dermide tenuissima tenace induta; vertice nucleoso mediano, mijore, viv sinistrorsum torta, apici immerso ; margine normaliter acutissimo, interdum laminato ; septo tenui, curtiore, profundiore, subdiaphano, margine recto.
Long. 1°06, lat. 73, alt. +2 poll.
Haé. Port Lincoln, South Australia, on dead Pinne (Coll. Angas).
The species is named from the sunken apex of the nuclear portion.
The shell is curiously like fine young specimens of C. rugosa, Nutt. ; but in that species the nucleus is much smaller, and the apex visible.
10. Myopora convexa, nob. (Pl. II. figs. 13 & 14.)
M. t. parva, compacta, solidiore, vir inequilaterali, valde inequi- valva; v. dextra valde convera, altera planata; margine dor- sali subrecto, postico satis incurvato, ventrali valde excurvato ; tota superficie ( preter lunulam posticam elongatam, parum exca- vatam, a carinis obtusis definitam, levem) liris concentricis crebris obtusis ornata, interstitiis parvis ; parte postica ab angulis obtusis definita; intus vivide nacrea, fossa cartiliginea parva, altissima, ossiculo?..; valva convexa dentibus lateralibus validis, marginibus valve planate extantibus convenientibus ; cicatr. adductoris post. subtriangulari, ant. pyriformi; linea pallit sim- plici ; sinu parvo, semilunato.
Long. °39, lat. 35, alt. +16 poll.
Hab. New Caledonia (Coll. Angas).
The convex valve entirely embraces the other, as in Corbula, receiving its margin within the lateral teeth, and leaving a projecting ventral edge. The ossicle had perished.
I have included, in the plate which illustrates this paper, figures of two new forms of Chitonide, which were described by Mr. Henry
58 DR. W. BAIRD ON A NEW ENTOZOON. [Jan. 10,
Adams and myself in a recent paper (see Proc. Zool. Soc., May 10, 1864) :—
Fig. 15. Stenochiton juloides, Ad. & Ang. Holdfast Bay, South Australia.
Fig. 16. Microplax grayi, Ad. & Ang. Sydney Harbour, N.S. Wales.
11. Description or A New Spectres or ENTOZOON FROM THE INTESTINES OF THE DIAMOND-SNAKE OF AUSTRALIA (Mo- RELIA SPILOTES). By W. Bairp, M.D., F.L.S.
Boturipium (SotenopHorvs, Creplin) arcuatum, Baird.
Length of the largest specimen (which, however, is not quite perfect at lower extremity) 10 inches. Breadth, about the middle of
Fig. a. Worm of natural size, attached to inner surface of intestine.
Fig. 6. Bothria, slightly enlarged, showing the upper openings.
Fig. c. The same, showing lower openings.
Fig. d. Posterior extremity of a young specimen, showing the, comparatively speaking, larger articulations.
1865.] LETTER FROM DR. G. BENNETT. 59
its length, 4 lines. Head, consisting of its two tubular bothria, about 7 lines in length and 3 lines in breadth. Bothria smooth, cylindrical, arched outwardly, and connected together throughout their whole extent, and each of about the same diameter at the top as at the bottom. Upper openings circular and large; lower openings very small and quite terminal. Neck none. Articulations at anterior extremity extremely small, appearing like mere rugze. Articulations of rest of body, in adult specimens, very numerous, narrow, much broader than long, and crowded together; in smaller and apparently younger specimens (which, however, look as if perfect in length), the articulations near the posterior extremity are, comparatively speaking, much larger, longer than broad, and are more like those of B. laticeps or B. pythonis. The most distinguishing character is the size and shape of the head.
Hab. Intestines of the Morelia spilotes, from Australia. (Mus. Brit.).
oe the specimens of this species I am indebted to Dr. A. Giin- ther, who found them attached to the inner surface of the intestines of a specimen of an Australian Python, the Diamond-Snake, Morelia spilotes.
January 24, 1865. E. W. H. Holdsworth, Esq., in the Chair.
The Secretary read the following extract from a letter addressed to him by Dr. Bennett, F.Z.S., dated Sydney, Nov. 18th, relating to a living specimen of the Lyre-bird of New Holland (Menura su- perba), which the Acclimatization Society of that city were intending to transmit by the first favourable opportunity to this Society :—
“After repeated trials of keeping this wild and restless bird in captivity, and having procured and lost in one year numerous living birds of all ages, from the young bird to the adult, we have so far succeeded as to preserve one alive and in excellent health, and feed- ing well, since the 23rd of August last; to this day it continues in good health and condition. It is a young bird, at present in im- mature plumage, and the sex cannot yet be determined. It is placed in a large wire compartment with the Talegallas or Brush-Turkeys, and it appears to enjoy their society very much. Whether their com- pany reconciles it to confinement I cannot say ; but, at all events, it feeds well and thrives, and displays a great amount of activity for a great part of the day, running about the cage incessantly, scratching the ground. It feeds on the larva of the Tettigonia or ‘‘ Locust” of the colonists, meat chopped very small, slugs, and worms. This bird was captured at Broughton’s Pass, Illawarra district. Should we be fortunate enough to keep it alive by the time of the departure of the ‘La Hogue,’ it will be sent to the Zoological Society under
60 MR. P. L. SCLATER ON GALAGO MONTETRI. (Jan. 24,
Mr. Broughton’s care, when it will have every chance of reaching England alive.”
The Secretary called the attention of the meeting to the fine young male specimen of the Prong-horned Antelope of America (Antilocapra americana), just received, in the Society’s Menagerie, being as he believed, the first imstance of the introduction of this animal alive into Europe. This animal, of which a water-colour drawing by Mr. Wolf (Plate III.) was exhibited, had been imported into New York from California, and thence brought to this country.
Mr. Sclater exhibited a stuffed specimen of a Water-Pipit consi- dered by Mr. Gould to be Anthus spinoletta (Linn.), from the col- lection of the Bishop of Oxford, V.P. of the Society, and read the following letter, giving particulars as to its supposed capture in this
country :— “44 Ship Street, Dee. 22, 1864.
«My Lorp,—In answer to your note of this morning respecting the Water-Pipit, I beg to say we cannot give very definite informa- tion as to the truth of its capture; but we remember the circum- stances very well.
“It was killed, about the winter of 1859 or 1860, by a young gen- tleman from the Brighton College, who was in the habit of shooting a great many birds, on an extensive beach extending from the outskirts of Brighton to Shoreham, where there are some large ponds and a
ood expanse of mud, which at high tide is covered with water.
“He had that day killed several birds, namely, Skylarks, Pipits, &c., which he brought to me the same evening. I immediately noticed the Water-Pipit amongst them as a bird new to me, and strongly recommended him to have it preserved ; but he refused, and gave me all his birds. I preserved it at once and kept it, expecting to be able at some future time to discover its species, which I did shortly after purchasing Mr. Bree’s ‘ Birds of Europe.’
«‘The reason that we cannot tell the exact date is that, as it was given to us, no entry was made in our books.
“Your Lordship’s obedient Servant, &c., “ Joun Pratt.”
Mr. Sclater stated that a second specimen of the same species,
obtained under similar circumstances, was in the possession of Mr. Gould.
My. Sclater exhibited the type specimen of Galago monteiri*, Bartlett, P. Z. S. 1863, p. 231, pl. xxvirr., from the collection of Mr. L. A. Monteiro, and stated that he had compared it with the specimens of Galago crassicaudata and Otogale crassicaudata, var. kirkii, Gray (P. Z. 8. 1864, p. 456), in the British Museum.
My. Sclater stated that the specimen called “var. kirkii” by Dr. Gray was intermediate in colouring between what Dr. Gray considered the typical G. crassicaudata and the present specimen.
* Callotus monteiri, Gray, P. Z. S. 1863, p. 145.
J Wolf. lath.
ANTILOCAPRA
AMERICANA.
M&N.Hanhart.imp
rae A Wa) eee eh
1865. ] MR. W. OSBURN ON THE BATS OF JAMAICA. 61
In the present specimen the fur was greyish above, without any rufous tint; in the var. kirkii the upper surface was tinged with rufous ; in the third example, considered to be the typical form, the fur above was of a deep rufous. Besides the coloration, no other differences of importance were noted in these three specimens; and the conclusion arrived at was that Galago monteiri was little, if any- thing, more than a pale variety of Galago crassicaudata. It would be desirable, however, to get additional specimens of this Angolan form for further comparison.
_ The following papers were read :—
1. Nores on THE CHEIROPTERA OF JAMAICA. By THE LATE Mr. W. Ossurn. Communicatep By P. L. Scuater, M.A., Pu.D., F.R.S., SecreTaRY TO THE SOCIETY.
[In these ‘ Proceedings’ for 1861 (p. 63) will be found a paper by Mr. R. F. Tomes on the Mammals collected in Jamaica by the late Mr. W. Osburn. Mr. Osburn died suddenly, at Raymond Hall, St. Andrew’s, in Jamaica, the 21st of February 1860, after a residence of two years, devoted to the pursuit of natural history, in that island. The following notes on the Bats which he collected seem to be of great interest. They have been extracted from the MSS. of the deceased naturalist, which have been kindly placed at my disposal by Mr. Henry Osburn, his brother. The names and numbers of the species are those employed by Mr. Osburn. I have added what I believe to be the correct name of each species in a foot-note.—
Pa. 8. |
1. Nycrrinomus *, sp.? “ Mahogany Hall, 30th October, 1858.
“‘T caught two specimens of this Bat in the house after dusk : they were easily knocked down. One, very like them, only about half as large again, I got out of an old cocoa-nut palm in the garden. Unfortunately it was destroyed by ants. I was inclined at first to think it a full-grown specimen of this species ; but the capture of two smaller ones successively at different places, under the same circum- stances, makes it probable that it was quite different: when caught, they bit fiercely at the hands. When disturbed, it would make a rapid ‘bub-bub-bub,’ a dull sound, as if produced by lips, the effort jerking the whole body at each repetition. This sound was produced by its being partially covered with a glass. It had, I afterwards found, only one cry, ‘ click-click.’ ””
““ Mahogany Hall, 3rd December, 1858.
*“ These little Bats are extremely common here, making their way in through chinks of the shingles. This specimen, when caught, had the feet and wrist covered with cobwebs taken in his passage. They generally appear from half-past five to six o’clock, directly after sun- down, and occasionally appear up to ten o’clock, but not in such numbers. They again make their appearance in my bedroom before
[* Nyetinomus nasutus, Spix; Tomes, /. c. p. 68.—P. L. S.]
62 MR. W. ORBURN ON THE BATS OF JAMAICA. [Jan. 24,
dawn. The beating of their wings, with the occasional squeaking call, is quite familiar to me as the first sound of morning. I kept one in confinement for two days., It would eat nothing—not even drink. It uttered the ‘click-click’ with a gaping mouth, if disturbed, the whole body being jerked. The ear shaded the eye when alive, and was a little raised when touched. I could not by any sharp sound produce the vibrating motion very discernible in Aretibeus carpolegus under a neighbouring glass. I took off the tumbler, and put in its place a bell-shaped lamp-shade. The Bat instantly seemed aware there was an opening at the top; for, instead of lying perfectly mo- tionless as under the tumbler, it woke up immediately, and made violent efforts to thrust his head under the receding rim; when that would not do, it tried to hook its claws into the glass and climb to the hole: a constant vibrating motion of the nose, as it raised its head, was visible the whole time.
‘«‘ The volar membrane folded very completely behind the forearm, and so as to form a much more serviceable fore leg than appears to be the case with Arctibeus. This specimen was a male: reproductive organs conspicuous ; testes large. There were only three incisors in the upper jaw, two lateral, longer than single middle—an accidental formation doubtless; lower incisors had edges level and doubly notched; molars jagged and double-edged ; first pair of lesser molars very minute.”
‘“« Rowington Park (Vere), 28th March, 1859.
“‘ Vast numbers of these little Bats inhabit the shingled roof of this house. It is an unusually favourable place for observing them. The rooms are ceiled. A store-room without ceiling communi- cates directly with the roof, whence a view can be obtained of a large part over the ceiling of the other rooms. A crack in the boarding that crossed a gable let in sufficient light for easy obser- vation, and was besides of great importance to the Bats as their principal avenue of communication with the outer world. I often observed them during the day exactly as Goldsmith’s line expresses, ‘Lazy bats in drowsy clusters cling ;’ for, what seems surprising, notwithstanding the extreme heat of the situation—shingles exposed to the sun (and it was disagreeably hot and confined where I stood, 12 or 15 feet below), the Bats clung in complete clusters. I counted fourteen little heads in a mass about the size of a turnip. But they are not all asleep: now and then a wing is stretched wlth drowsy enjoyment ; and the luxury King James thought too great for sub- jects, and ought to be reserved for kings, is largely indulged in by Bats. First one and then another wakes up, and, withdrawing one leg and leaving himself suspended by the other alone, adroitly uses the foot at liberty as a comb, with a rapid effective movement dress- ing the fur of the under part and head—an action far from ungrace- ful. The foot is then cleaned quickly with the teeth or tongue, and restored to its first use. Then the other leg does duty. Perhaps the hairs with which the foot is set may aidto this end. I often have seen them do this in confinement; and probably the numerous Bat-flies with which they are infested may be the cause of extra dressing. It is
1865. ] MR. W. OSBURN ON THE BATS OF JAMAICA. 63
impossible to imagine a more perfect or effective comb than the little foot thus used makes; and I would here remark on the extreme sensitiveness of these little animals. I have often been painfully im- pressed with the amount of suffering some of my experiments were causing, by observing their fretful impatience: a Bat, with its wing broken, its bright little eye glazed with coming death, would resist the first touch and hum of a mosquito, and exhaust its dying efforts to escape the annoyance.
** A little after sundown, and, from the room below, the roof seems alive with movement ; there are squeaks and a shuffling scuffle over the boards. From the place of observation before alluded to, it is too dark to see plainly the Bats within, though their little forms may be traced scrambling eagerly up the boards of the gable till they arrive at the chink, when they become quite plain against the evening sky without, as they go over the edge, their elbows and ears in the action being particularly prominent. From without, or the window below, we can see them shoot off with great rapidity (so that I have heard disputes as to whether they are Bats or Swallows) and dart after their insect-supper with the most intense enjoyment, far over the neighbouring trees and pastures. I would remark that there is a distinction in the mode of flight of these Bats and our Hirundo peciloma. This is, that whilst the are formed by the tip of the Swallow’s wing is as much above as below the body, the wings being as far apart when fully raised as when fully depressed, in the Bat the wings scarcely rise above the level of the body, and meet ap- parently below. I do not mean this is universally the case. I do not think the frugivorous Bats do it; but it is very apparent in some of the insectivorous Bats when going at a great rate; and as I knew this species by tracing their course as they shot from their roosting- place, it must be noted as one of the most remarkable for this. Their exit during March was about half-past six o’clock. About eight to nine o’clock they returned. It is then they are so particularly annoying to the inhabitants of even the most carefully kept Jamaica houses. The great majority return to the roof; but one or two vigorous little fellows come into the room, and flap about in the most unmeaning way. Nothing is more remarkable than the agility with which a dozen, in the early part of the evening, skimmed and glided by every article of furniture. But now they bang themselves against the ceiling and walls, drop on the table, get up again, when the cat, by jumping, catches them a pat, and they fall on the floor, not much hurt, to judge by their liveliness ; for Grimalkin, having performed the feat, sits down, her paws tucked under, and gravely watches the hurry of the alarmed Bat shufiling over the floor. They disturb the harmony of the evening by becoming the occupants of, and making an escapade beneath, a gentleman’s coat-collar, or a great sensation by getting entangled hopelessly in a lady’s hair, and bite more furiously than effectively during the process of release. They remain very active all night, scampering and shuffling about their ample quarters. For several nights the noise was so great, I attributed it to rats ; but the Doctor assured me there were none—it was these little animals
64 MR. W. OSBURN ON THE BATS OF JAMAICA. [Jan. 24,
alone ; and I found he was right. I do not know at what time they again start for their morning meal ; but they return between five and six in the grey of the morning.
** At Mahogany Hall, and many other houses where they are nu- merous, the squeaks and rush of the long, narrow volar membranes, as half-a-dozen circle round his room, are the first sounds of morning that fall on the occupants’ ear.
«This species is extremely coramon: half a dozen may often be found behind pictures in houses not much disturbed by housemaids. Chinks in stairs and fittings are very common refuges; and during the day they cling to them with such tenacity, they must be much injured if a stick is used before they can be got out. I have not yet met with it but in houses.”
2. ARCTIBEUS, sp. [See no. 12.—P. L. 8.]
3. ARCTIBEUS CARPOLEGUS*.
‘Mahogany Hall Cave, 24th November, 1858.
«Three ; all females. This large species I found inhabiting this cave in great numbers, the beating of their wings making a mur- muring sound when disturbed. They flew towards the roof, only occasionally coming within reach of the net. They were very un- willing to venture out into the light: I did not see one. The floor of the cave was strewn here and there with the kernels of bread-nut (Brosimum), which had sometimes germinated into young blanched trees on the thick deposit of dung.”
“ Mahogany Hall, 2nd December, 1858.
«« Returning to the cave to-day, I found it still occupied by great numbers of this species—though reduced, to what they were the other day. My servant easily caught two with the ring-net. They seemed stunned with the shock ; for [took them out of the net quite motion- less and with all the muscles rigid, so that I had the opportunity of closely examining the position during flight. The back was per- fectly flat and on a level with the wings, which were tense, slightly arching downwards towards the tips, like a bird’s. Held against the light, the branching of the blood-vessels was a very beautiful sight. The interfemoral was perfectly flat and tense, kept so by the calcarea being stretched at right angles with the leg; the toes stretched wide apart. I never before realized how thoroughly fitted for flight these creatures are. On placing them in my botanizing-tin, their struggles to regain liberty were violent.
«On bringing them home, one of them escaped, and gave me a tedious chase, from his keeping in the apex of the high roof, occa- sionally hitching himself up, head downwards. As I cautiously ad- vanced the net, he showed his sense of danger by elevating the head a little, whilst the little round ears underwent a constant and very
[* A. perspicillatus (Linn.); Tomes, /.c. p. 64.—P. L. 8.]
_
aaa (Gb Gee Ee a ol
panes:
1865.] MR. W. OSBURN ON THE BATS OF JAMAICA. 65
rapid motion as if vibrating, and, what made it more curious, each independently of the other. It had a very curious effect, like a per- son rolling his eyes different ways. The nose-leaf had also a motion, but slighter. It looked as if he were feeling for sound and smell, to ascertain the nature of the attack. When placed under a glass, the same motion would take place on any sharp noise being made near him, which, however, he paid no attention to when repeated. Every now and then he would raise his head, agitate his ears; and I could then see a great motion in the nose-leaf preparatory to another vio- lent effort to escape. It uttered no sound whilst under my observa- tion, only opening its mouth and showing its formidable teeth, but would not bite. But whilst in the cave, I heard a loud cry several times repeated ; and one which escaped, on being caught again, uttered a loud scream very like a rat. It is no proof of the silence of Cheiroptera that they utter no sound in confinement.”
2 “ Montego Bay, 16th May, 1859.
‘A picturesque little cave, close to the town, I found abundantly inhabited by this and another species (no. 12).. The cave was not deep, though there were dark passages from it. This species, however, is by no means so particular about a thoroughly obscure retreat as many other species. They were here reposing in light sufficient for me to shoot them. The floor was strewn with berries the negroes call cherries, but which I presume to be the fruit of Cordia collococca. They were all munched, leaving only a small portion of pulp attached to the skin. Of the young of this Bat I did not observe anything remarkable ; it sucked my finger by gently nipping the portion of flesh taken up with its little flattened milk- incisors, but held on firmly by the hooked teeth.”
“ Kinross, Trelawny, 25th May, 1859.
** One example, a male. It was hardly a cave where I obtained the specimen. The steep wall of rock had been at its base hollowed out for 8 or 10 feet, leaving an overhanging mass 20 feet from the ground. When I first saw the recess, I felt convinced it was not dark enough for Bats, though a flock of Hirundo peciloma were hovering with alarmed twitterings, or peeping from their clay-built nests. A heap of dried seed, berries, husks, with some fresh ones on the top, showed the Bats were there. Amongst these last were gnawed fragments of unripe mangoes, and large pieces of the soft-scented fruit of the Rose-apple (Hugenia jambos). These last, I suspect, had not been plucked whole, but torn off in fragments. A swarm of a species of Sphex were hovering over the decaying mass, catching the insects which fed upon it. The Bats were at first nowhere visible ; but I at length discovered them in some deep narrow crevices and water-worn holes in the roof. I fired, and they proved to be of this very common species. It certainly does not seem such a lover of darkness as the generality of the family ; one of the species (4. jamaicensis) roosts among the foliage of trees, or is subumbral, A
Proc. Zoo. Soc.—1865, No. V.
66 .MR.W. OSBURN ON THE BATS OF JAMAICA. ([Jan. 24,
swarm of ants were busy carrying off piecemeal a young sucking Bat which had fallen.”
“ Johnston Pen, Trelawny, 4th June, 1859.
“This Artibeus inhabits in great numbers these extensive caves, once used as sugarworks. I did not thoroughly explore them, as my ammunition fell short. It is also to be found in great numbers in the western cave of the adjoining estate, Harmony Hall. It hasa loud, harsh screech, constantly heard, when in captivity, towards evening, and during the day when at liberty and it is disturbed in its gloomy abode. It seems a kind of alarm ; for it is repeated every now and then, only by single individuals, and is accompanied by a general flapping of scores of leathery wings.
“ Aquatta Vale (Metcalfe), 11th November, 1859.
«‘This Bat (so common in the caves of St. James and Trelawny), I had always noticed, particularly haunted the entrances of caves, or caves of small depth, though often,*as at Mahogany Hall, those where the light was wholly excluded. Its habits, however, in this respect are very curiously affected by the geological formation of the country it inhabits. In Metcalfe the transition shale, of course, never forms caves; and the strip of limestone along the sea-board is too marly, so far as I know it. A total change therefore takes place in the habits of the Bat. I found them at Aquatta Vale clustering under the fronds of the cocoa-nut palm, so thickly and in such num- bers that at a single shot I brought down twenty-two, while many flew off and took refuge in the neighbouring trees. Their food seems principally the pulp of the young jelly cocoa-nuts, as they are called. I was shown one or two in which a large hole had been nibbled through the still soft husk, large enough to admit the body of the Bat. The question arises, whether this might not have been by the rats, as I have no proof; but I am at present inclined to attribute it to the Bat, as the trees were very lofty (60 or 70 feet high), and I never heard of rats being detected among the fruit. The hole, I observed, was nibbled next to the foot-stalk ; so that doubtless the Bat rested on the fruit whilst perforating it. This would confirm my previous remarks, that these animals do not even principally feed whilst fly- ing, but reclining in some position. The stomachs of several I exa- mined were bilobed and internally reticulated by folds, but perfectly empty. The large intestine contained a yellow juice, among which many small seeds passed out at the anus on pressure, and which I suspect were those of the Fustic (Morus tinctoria).
‘(Since writing the above, I learn that rats are very frequently seen up the cocoa-nuts. I am inclined to think, therefore, that these nibbled the holes, and not this Bat, whose incisors are so manifestly ill adapted for gnawing through 3 or 4 inches of round soft husk. |”
“ Dover (Metcalfe), 29th November, 1859, ** The above doubt is pretty nearly dissolved by a fact mentioned to me by. Mr. Prosser, an engineer at present employed on the
1865.] MR. W. OSBURN ON THE BATS OF JAMAICA, 67
estate. Whilst sitting at the window of the overseer’s house, to- wards dusk, his attention was attracted by a flapping among the fronds of a cocoa-nut close by. A large white Owl (Striv) was struggling with something amongst the bunches of nuts, and, after many efforts, dragged out a rat, with which he slowly made off.”
4. Lasrurus RUFuS*.
Expanse 9 inches; length from nose to insertion of tail 13; tail 13 longer than the body, membrane extending to the tip; length of forefinger 23 ; ear from base to tip, front, ;; thigh 4, nearly; leg, to calcaneum, 1 ; calcaneum 5%.
On the muzzle a ridged lobe, with a projecting point, between nostrils ; lower lip large, and below this a thin projecting lamina ; ears large, round, coming down below rictus, enclosing eyes, which are very minute; hair fringing edge of upper lip, very long, and increasing as it approaches corner of mouth, so as to resemble a moustache ; head round ; reproductive organ conspicuous. A male.
Colour a beautiful dormouse-yellow, paler below; fur soft and long ; volar membranes black, much wrinkled. Length of intestine
D>? (and stomach) 3 inches; tongue attached by under surface.
“ Mahogany Hall Cave, 24th November, 1858.
** Whilst in the cave catching the large Artibeus, occasionally a little Bat would fly among them, so nimble I could not catch it. It was only on going out that I discovered them clustering like bees in a little recess with a high domed roof. They seemed driven here by the larger Bats. It is a remarkable characteristic of Bats that thus large numbers of different species should inhabit different caves or parts of caves. This little Bat flew out with great facility, par- ties of five or six scudding along the steep face of the rock without, as if seeking for a hiding-place. It was here I shot one, 2nd Decem- ber 1858. Returned to the cave for fresh specimens, though about two o'clock not a single individual of this species was there.”
“Oxford Cave, Manchester, 22nd February, 1859.
** Seven males, four females. The difference in the colour of the fur is so great, varying from brownish grey to yellowish chestnut, that I give measurements of an individual of each shade :—
** Brown. Expanse 9 inches; muzzle to base of tail 13; tail 13; forearm 12; carpus, to tip, 23. '
“Chestnut. Expanse 82; muzzle to base of tail 14; tail 13;
forearm 1,°,; carpus, to tip, 33. ** Brown. First digit 1$; leg and foot 12. “Chestnut. First digit 1£; leg and foot 13. 6—6 _—
“ Dental formula:—M. =, C. = is 7=38.
[* Mr. Tomes ((. e. p. 65) refers this species to Natalus stramineus, Gray, of the continent of America; but Dr. Peters informs me that, though it belongs to the same genus, it is clearly distinct specifically, differing not only in its smaller size, but also in its dentition. It should therefore stand as Natalus lepidus, being the Nyctiellus lepidus of Gervais.—P. L. 8.] ;
68 MR. W. OSBURN ON THE BATS OF JAMAICA. ([Jan. 24,
“ Molars. Three larger jagged; three lower pointed.
«Canines. Lower have a second much shorter point in front of larger.
«Incisors. Upper pointed ; each pair of one lateral and one mid- dle, placed apart by a space equal to that occupied by each pair. Lower deeply double-notched, very minute.
« Mr. Gosse (Nat. Soj. p. 280), from whose account I have partly named this little Bat, says, ‘Long tail; an ample interfemoral, which is clothed on upper surface with rufous hair, like body,’ by which, I conclude, is meant, the hair was like the fur of the body in being rufous, not as to quantity ; for in my specimens a few hairs are sparsely sprinkled over the interfemoral, but thicker on the tail and caleanea.”’
5. CHILONYCTERIS, sp.* “ Sportsman’s Hall Cave, 30th November, 1858. * Two males, one female. In great numbers in this large cave. My servant caught, with a long net, a dozen whilst we were there. They flew in swarms along the roof. I know nothing of its habits.”
“ Sportsman’s Hall Cave, 15th December, 1858. «* Two males, one female, stuffed ; one in spirits, injured in bring- ing home; four males, one female. ‘Intestine 6 inches; stomachs contained several minute frag-
ments of insects much comminuted.
« Dental formula:—M. ==>, C. $5, I. j=32.
‘* Upper middle incisors, one deep notch.
“TI got about a dozen of these little Bats alive. The journey home must have had all the horrors of the middle passage ; for I found several dead, evidently bitten in pieces by the rest. I sus- pected a very lively fruit-eating Bat (no. 6) of the chief slaughter. I placed the survivors in a box, with bobbin-net over it, so as to observe them. They were not particularly active, merely jumping up constantly to escape, but not running much. They clustered head downwards, during the day, in any dark and sheltered corner, making every now and then, especially when leaping, a sibilant bird- like chirp, very different from the ‘click’ of Molossus. This noise much increased at about a quarter past five p.m., when their activity commenced and renewed efforts to escape. The wings fold very completely, so as to leave forearm free whilst resting. ‘The ears are then pointing forwards ; they have a rapid and constant motion, but confined to their tips, and principally backwards and downwards.
«T let one fly to observe it, and the calcanea are stretched firmly backwards so as to keep the interfemoral tense and flat. At first they were very sulky, and would eat nothing. The second day my attention was called off; and the third morning I found several dead from hunger, with the remains of feeces (which they had eaten) in their mouths.
[* Chilonycteris osburni, Tomes, P. Z. §. 1861, p. 66.—P. L. 8.]
1865.] MR. W. OSBURN ON THE BATS OF JAMAICA. 69
“« T took out the two survivors, and my regrets for the sufferings I had caused were in part allayed by the eagerness with which they sucked up the water I presented them with from the feather of a pen. They licked with the tongue, the jaw moving all this time with an action like chewing. Some water having got spilt over the muzzle and face of one, it combed these parts over with the hind paw very adroitly, putting it forward under the forearm, in this way the face all round front of ear, especially the long whiskers round muzzle. The movement of the leg was very rapid, almost too quick for the eye to follow. It afterwards licked the paw, as if to clean it in its turn. I have observed precisely the same habit in Molossus (no. 11) and Macrotus(no.8). I found a dead moth in the window, which neither ants nor spiders seemed to have attacked. It did not notice it at first ; but on looking a minute after, I had the gratification of seeing wings sticking on lips, the body having disappeared. Of flies, bees, &e., I caught for him he took no notice, merely shaking them off impatiently. I forgot to mention that fragments in the stomach ap- peared to be those of Coleoptera principally ; but the contents of the stomach of Bats are so comminuted, it is often difficult to recognize them. Out of eleven whose sexes I have noted from this cave, eight were males, three females. This species (by far the most numerous) occupied one entrance and the centre of the cave. It was near the
= 399
opposite entrance I caught no. 6 and no. 7.
“* Oxford Cave, Manchester, 22nd February, 1859.
** This species was not nearly so numerous here as the others; the specimen I skinned had a curious brindled appearance, with a yellowish tinge I have not observed before.”
6. MonorHyLLus REDMANII, Leach*. “ Sportsman’s Hall Cave, 30th November, 1858.
“« One male, one female. This curious species I found (with no. 5) in a large cave at the summit of the steep hill that overlooks Sports- man’s Hall Works. It was not nearly so numerous as its companion : for a dozen of the other, I only got two specimens of this. As they were killed at the time, I had no opportunity of examining habits ; but the tongue, protruded in death, attracted my attention. I thought the use of this curious member might be accounted for by the hypo- thesis that it sucks night-blowing flowers, as the Humming-bird those of the day.”
‘¢ Sportman’s Hall Cave, 15th December, 1858.
“Tt was principally to procure specimens of this little Bat I undertook a second expedition to the cave. Notwithstanding we went twice through its whole length, and saw fifteen or sixteen Bats, I only caught a single specimen of this species. It was creeping down the side of a large domed hollow in the roof when the boy put the net over it. Several Bats, on being taken out of the bag,
[* Cf. Tomes, P. Z. S., 1861, p. 64 & p. 87, pl. xv.—P. L.S8.]
70 MR, W. OSBURN ON THE BATS OF JAMAICA. ([Jan. 24,
were most cruelly mauled and killed. From the fierceness with which this little fellow bit my fingers, drawing blood from the back of my hand, he seemed the chief assailant. Its activity when first taken out of the bag was beyond anything I had seen with Chei- roptera, running round the box by a series of little jumps, with almost the quickness of a mouse, and jumping with all the agility of a bird. On placing it beneath a glass after its first efforts had a little subsided, I saw its tongue projected very rapidly to the board. It seemed to me to be using an additional sense to ascertain the nature of the unusual substance on which it was resting. It fre- quently stretched its neck and head upwards, the nose-leaf and round ears in motion, as if trying to ascertain whether there were an aper- ture above, its bright little eyes peering with eagerness, and panting likeamouse. The motion of the ears was by sudden jerks, and often alternate one to the other, as in Artibeus carpolegus. The motion of the nose-leaf was a rapid contraction and dilatation. The activity especially commenced at a quarter past five p.m. The likeness of the pencilled tongue to that of the Trochilide suggested to me that this little Bat in the same way probed night-blowing flowers. Towards evening I got some of the large drooping flowers of Datura arborea, in which I first ascertained were some minute insects. It took no notice of them so long asI watched it. In the morning I found the large stamens bitten off, but it was lying across the flower. It then, for the first time, occurred to me that the powerful teeth that scratched my hand could not have been intended for masticating minute insects.
** There was another bird with a pencilled tongue familiar to me, Tanagrella ruficollis; and this was a frugivorous bird. Might not this protractile tongue be for the same purpose of sucking juicy fruits? That this was the right hypothesis seemed the more pro- bable, as then the similarity of its short round ears and nose-leaf to those of other frugivorous Bats would be accounted for. I then recollected that the yellow pulp I found in the stomachs and intes- tines of two former specimens was in appearance precisely like that I was familiar with in the alimentary canal of Tanagrella and Euphonia. It was unlucky this did not occur to me before, as the captive was already much fatigued with confinement and inflammation at the wrists. I offered it orange, but it took no notice. A little water, the night before, was allit had had. This it sucked up by repeated pro- jections of the tongue a little beyond the muzzle, and with a satisfied purring noise. ‘Towards evening it was more lively, and it. acciden- tally got off and gave me a long chase. Flight seemed to refresh it. I then tried orange again, and had the pleasure of seeing the tongue protruded out of the groove of the lower jaw, whilst it certainly licked up a little of the juice ; and there was <