September, 1846.] 101 



distinguished ; the spermatozoa of Helices generally having either 

 a uniform sigmoid or a beaded body, with an enormous propor- 

 tionate length of tail, and a slow, vibratile motion. It may be well 

 to mention that C. helicis does not exist in the collapsed state of 

 the generative organs. 



The subjoined sketch represents some of the principal forms 

 of the animal, highly magnified. 



The committee on the following description, by Dr. Morton, 

 of two living Hybrid Birds, reported in favour of publication. 

 Description of two living Hybrid Fowls, between Gallus and 



Numida. 

 By Samuel George Morton, M. D. 



The singular birds which form the subject of this communica- 

 tion, were bred on a farm about seven miles from Wilmington, in 

 the State of Delaware. The person who raised them states, that 

 the eggs that produced them differed in no respect from those of 

 the guinea fowl, were part of a large number that were hatched 

 at the same time, and that the birds are known to be just four 

 years old. My friend, Mr. Augustus E. Jessup, having accident- 

 ally observed these birds on the above mentioned farm, pur. 

 chased them of the proprietor, and sent them to my care> with a 

 request that they might be eventually placed in the Collections of 

 the Academy. Both are yet living and in good health ; and the 

 following description, in which I have been materially assisted by 

 my friend Mr. William Gambel, has been drawn up after many 

 examinations, made during a month and upwards that the birds 

 have been in the charge of Mr. Robert Kilvington, horticulturist 

 of this city. 



