LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. XIX 



extend in advance of the one and farther back than the other ; 

 this development produces a third lobe, which with some other 

 additional parts is peculiar to the genus Homo, and is common to 

 the lowest as to the highest varieties of the species." The name 

 which Professor Owen proposes for this highest form is ArcJien- 

 cephala. The author next enters into the subdivision of the four 

 primary divisions of the class. In this portion of the paper, the 

 necessary association of the order Bruta with the Cheiroptera, 

 Insectivora, and Eodentia in the same subclass Lissencephala, and 

 the removal of the Quadrumana to the Gryrencephala, from their 

 supposed association with the former subclass, are supported with 

 great acumen ; and some of the characters from which the first- 

 named assumed affinities are taken, shown to be fallacious. 



These and many other important views of classification, and 

 the enunciation of doctrines of affinity, which are no less pro- 

 found than they are novel, will undoubtedly attract the attention 

 they deserve. Into the detail of these I regret that my time 

 will not allow me now to follow Prof. Owen ; nor into the very 

 interesting and extended views which he promulgates on the suc- 

 cessive development of the various mammalian types in the earlier 

 periods of creation. The whole of this valuable communication 

 will well repay the most careful and serious study ; and I the less 

 regret that it is not now in my power to make its principles 

 knovni in greater detail, as the paper itself will be immediately 

 before the world in the next part of the Proceedings. 



In connexion with the subject of our Zoological Proceedings, I 

 have the great satisfaction to state, that a distinguished zoologist 

 and physiologist has kindly allowed himself to be put in nomi- 

 nation under the designation of Under Secretary. Professor Busk' s 

 election to that nominal office will be of great value to the Society, 

 by affording us the constant services of a Zoological Secretary ; 

 whilst it will be the means of relieving our invaluable friend Mr. 

 Bennett of a portion of that incessant labour which he has now 

 for so many years so kindly, so cheerfully, and with so much zeal 

 and intelligence and wisdom, performed for us. 



The past year has been distinguished by remarkable prosperity. 

 Our ranks have been augmented by the accession of an almost un- 

 precedented number of new Members, some of them ardent young 

 naturalists, to whom we may look with confidence to fill worthily 

 the places of those who are year by year passing- away, and others 

 whose labours have for many years advanced the science, the lite- 

 rature, and the social improvement of our country in various de- 

 partments of knowledge. 



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