Zoological Club. '^ 551 



'& 



several additional species belonging to it, from his own cabinet 

 and that of Mr. Leadbeater : in particular, two undescribed 

 species of the South American genus Ni/ctibius, Vieill. ; and 

 several specimens of the true Caprimulgusj among others C, 

 psalurus, Temm., <? and ? ; C. macrodipterus^ Afzel. ; a new 

 species from Africa figured by Dr. Latham in the new edition 

 of his " Synopsis" as the Long-tailed Goatsucker; &c. &c. 



January 10, 1826. — Mr. Bell exhibited a living specimen of 

 the GrisoUf an animal described by Buffon under the name of 

 Fouine de la Guiane^ by Linnaeus under that of Viverra vittata, 

 and by Desmarest as the Gulo vittatus. lie entered at consider- 

 able length into a history of its habits, as observed by him during 

 the last ten months ; dwelling particularly on its determined pur- 

 suit of Reptiles, which had proved fatal to two Alligators in his 

 icollection, and on its fondness for eggs. Its mode of eating the 

 latter he stated to be peculiar. After playing with them for a 

 considerable time, it secured them between its fore paws, and 

 inserted one of its canine teeth through the shell, so as to form an 

 orifice, through which it sucked so much of the contents as it could 

 obtain by these means. This orifice it afterwards enlarged by 

 degrees, continuing to suck, until it was enabled to insert its 

 tongue ; and when at length it could obtain no more by these 

 processes, it broke up the shell completely, and licked clean the 

 inside of each separate fragment. Mr. Bell therefore con- 

 jectured that Reptiles and the eggs of Birds formed the proper 

 food of the animal in a state of nature, so far at least as could 

 be judged from his own specimen, which was conipletely domes- 

 ticated, and as playful and harmless as a eat. This individual 

 he added, had been taken from a nest while yet young by the 

 captain of a trading vessel, had been preserved as a playmate for 

 his children, and had thus become completely familiar ; exhibit- 

 ing, (except in its attacks upon living Reptiles,) none of those 

 ferocious and sanguinary traits of character described by Captain 

 Stedman in his Voyage to Guiana. Its appetite Mr. Bell stated 

 to be by no means voracious, neither did it ever become somnolent 

 after its meal. Differing in these respects materially from thp 

 habits of the genus Gulo, and distinguii^hed also by its four niola? 



