Zoological Society, 235 



Mr. Gray proposes to name this species after Dr. R. Pamell, so 

 well known for his works on the fishes and grasses of Scotland. 

 Phyllodia Parnellii. Phyll. auribus magnis, subacutis ; vellere 

 cinerascenti-fusco, pilis ad apicem obscurioribus. 



The following note on the Spermatozoa of the Camel (Camelus 

 Bactrianus, Linn.), by Mr. Gulliver, was then read : — 



" In my observations on the Semen and Seminal Tubes of Mam- 

 malia and Birds, published in the Proceedings of the Society, July 26, 

 1842, I have noticed the form of the spermatozoa of the Dromedary. 

 As I am not aware that the seminal animalcules of the Camel and 

 Dromedary have yet been described, I now exhibit drawings of them 

 to the Society. 



" Although the blood-corpuscles of the Camelidce have the same 

 form as the blood-corpuscles of oviparous vertebrate animals, it will be 

 observed that the Camel, like the Dromedary, has spermatozoa of the 

 saine type as the spermatozoa of other Mammalia, several of which 

 are figured in Professor Wagner's excellent ' Elements of Physiology/ 

 translated by Dr. Willis, part i. page 11." 



Various specimens presented to the Society since the previous 

 Meeting were laid on the table ; they consisted of a very valuable 

 collection of insects from the interior of South Africa, presented by 

 the President, the Earl of Derby ; a specimen of a Manis from China, 

 presented by the Honourable Sir Alexander Johnstone ; and a series 

 of Insects, Birds' Eggs, &c., collected at Samsoon and Erzeroom by 

 the Society's Corresponding Members, E. D. Dickson, Esq., and H. 

 J. Ross, Esq. This last-mentioned collection also contained a spe- 

 cimen of the European Green Woodpecker {Picus viridis of authors), 

 and of the Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus, Linn.). 



Mr. Eraser exhibited a specimen of a Pouched Rat {Cricetomys 

 Gambianus) and various species of Birds which he had procured on 

 the western coast of Africa during the Niger expedition, and read 

 the following notes relating to them : — 



Cricetomys Gambianus, Wat. Lives in holes in the ground, more 

 abundantly under the storehouses, where of a night they may be 

 heard squeaking and fighting, similar to our common Rat {Mus decu- 

 manus, Linn.) ; they climb the paw-paw trees and feed on the fruit 

 as it hangs : the cheek-pouches contained paw-paw seeds. Caught 

 in iron gins baited with boiled yam. The natives set great store on 

 this animal, its flesh being considered the greatest delicacy that can 

 be offered at a wedding-feast. 



Hab. Clarence, Fernando Po. Common. 



Neophron niger, Less., Cathartes monachus, Temm. PL Col. 222. 



Common in the neighbourhood of Cape Coast Castle, living in the 

 smaller trees near the houses. 



Hirundo leucosoma. Swains, Jard. Nat. Lib. vol. (Orn.) viii. ; B. of 

 W. Africa, page 74, 1837. 



Hab. Accra. Very common. 



Ispida bicincta, Swains. Jard. Nat, Lib. vol. (Orn.) viii. ; B. of W. 

 Ann. ^ Mag, N, Hist, Vol, idii, Q 



