Zoological Society, 65 



flora, as in the former, by reckoning up how many are absent, how 

 many present, out of each hundred or section. 



Chapter VIII. is devoted to a detailed account of the altitudes 

 reached by the several species : first upon the Grampians ; secondly, 

 upon the mountains of the North of England (Lakes and York- 

 shire). A few of the upper limits attained in other less explored 

 districts are added, as a kind of supplement to or check upon the two 

 former lists. The upper and lower limits of the plants are both 

 given, and the names succeed each other in a descending series. The 

 desirableness of a careful survey of the heights attained in Wales is 

 very justly insisted upon ; and we must urge that duty as no unwor- 

 thy undertaking for a strong-limbed and energetic botanist who 

 would do his science some service, and turn his knowledge of species 

 to account. 



In Chapter IX. the Orders are contrasted, — first, according to 

 their prevalence among British plants in Europe, and in the world ; 

 secondly, as they occur in the west and east, in the south, middle, 

 and north of Britain ; and thirdly, according to their proportion in 

 the three stages or zones of elevation. 



In Chapter X. the author gives us the general results or recapitu- 

 lation of his labours. It is in accordance with Mr. Watson's dislike 

 of general remarks, that he is himself especially diffident and cautious 

 in suggesting conclusions. If it may be said, with some truth, that 

 the fourth volume of the ' Cybele ' does not offer many new solutions of 

 the grand problems of geographical botany, it should be remembered 

 that such was not the professed object of its author. But, as regards 

 the distinctive features of the flora of Britain, there is in the con- 

 cluding chapter a mass of most interesting information, of which, 

 however, space will not here permit a sufficiently extended notice. 

 We must reserve the analysis and discussion of this part of the subject 

 for a future occasion. a. / 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



January 11, I860.— Dr. Gray, F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. 



Description of a New Species of Cuscus (C. ornatus) 

 from the Island of Batchian. By Dr. John Edward 

 Gray, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., Pres. Ent. Soc, etc. 



Mr. Wallace has sent to the British Museum a series of Mammalia 

 collected in the Island of Batchian in the year 1859. 



The most interesting specimen is a new species of the genus Cuscus, 

 belonging to the section of the genus which has the inner surface of 

 the ears bald. It may be thus described : — 



CUSCUS ORNATUS. 



Male pale golden-brown ; back rather darker, with small irregular 

 white spots; crown and back with a narrow longitudinal blackish 

 Ann. fy Mag, N. Hist, Ser. 3. Vol. vi. 5 



