March 8, 1831. 



Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart, in the Chair. 



The Report on the animals for the importation of which the Coun- 

 cil should be recommended to take measures (prepared in pursuance 

 of a Resolution of the Committee, Jan. 1 1.), was presented and read 

 by Mr. Vigors. It was directed that it should be suspended in the 

 Meeting Room for the consideration of the Members of the Com- 

 mittee until the next Meeting, to which it should be again submitted, 

 and its adoption be recommended. 



An extract was read from the ? Lecture faite a la lere Seance 

 Annuelle de la Societe d'Histoire Naturelle de Tlsle Maurice, 

 24 Aout, 1830, par M. Julien Desjardins, Secretaire de la Societe/ 

 a manuscript copy of which had been transmitted by that Society. 



The zoological labours of the Mauritius Natural History Society 

 have, during the first year of its existence, embraced numerous de- 

 partments of animated nature. 



The Mammalia of the island have been treated of by M. J. Desjar- 

 dins. They are twenty-six in number, of which twelve only exist in 

 the wild state. These are enumerated as the Simia Aygula, L. ; 

 Pteropus vulgaris ; Pter. rubricollis, Geoff, j Nyctinomus acetabulo- 

 sus, Geoff. ; Taphozous Mauritianus, Geoff, j Erinaceus setosus, L. j 

 Sorex Indicus, Geoff, j Mus Rattus, L. ; Mus Musculus, L. $ Lepus 

 nigricollis; Sus scrofa, L. ; and Cervus Elaphus, L. 



Various Birds of Mauritius have been brought before the Society, 

 including the Fulica Chloropus, L. ; the Numenius Madagascar iensis, 

 Briss. 5 and a Snipe, known in the island as the Cul blanc. To the 

 latter M.L. Desjardins has given, with some doubts, the name of Sco- 

 lopax Mauritiana. 



Several birds from Madagascar have also occupied the attention of 

 the Society, and M. J. Desjardins has identified them as follows : two 

 species of Falco, Cuv. j Strix Jlammea, L. , Loxia Madagascar iensis, 

 L. j Corvus Dauricus, Lath. 5 a species of Regulus, Cuv. ; Cuculus 

 canorusy L. ; Tetrao Commix, L. ; Scopus Umbretta ; Rallus Mada- 

 gascariensis, n. s. j Fulica Chloropus, L. ; Fulica cristata, Gmel. ; 

 Scolopax Capensis, L.; Colymbus minor, L. ; and four species of the 

 genus Anas, L. 



There are very few Reptiles met with on the island. An instance 

 has occurred of the discovery of a living Snake, the second within 

 the memory of the inhabitants. It was the Coluber rufus, LaCep.; 

 and had probably been brought from India in some ship. The earlier 

 travellers speak of the existence of Tortoises, but none are now found. 

 M. J. Desjardins has, however, discovered three deposits of the re- 

 mains of these animals, all of which are evidently of modern date, 

 their age not exceeding two or three centuries. There are two 



[No. V,] Zool. Soc. Proceedings of the Comm. ov Science. 



