408 Zoological Society. 



Thus in this case the placenta would appear really distinct 

 from carpellary leaves, and constituted of the prolonged floral 

 axis bearing little leaves arranged in verticils or rosettes, and 

 susceptible of giving birth to as many ovules. M. Erongniart 

 has already demonstrated this transformation of ovules into little 

 leaves more or less rudimentary and folded up in a monstrosity of 

 the China primrose ; he might oiFer a second example of it in 

 the Anagallis phceniceaj if it were not that all the ovules were re- 

 placed by three or four verticils of five small sessile oval leaves 

 bordered with glandular hairs, but not presenting any transition 

 into the form of ovules. 



There would be then two diflFerent origins of ovules : one 

 appertaining to an immense majority of the Phanerogamous ve- 

 getables, in which the ovules arise from the border itself of th© 

 carpellary leaves, and represent the lobes or dentations of these 

 leaves ; the other peculiar to a small number of families, such as 

 the Primulacea, Myrtinece, Theophrastece, and probably the San- 

 talacea, in which the ovules would correspond to so many distinct 

 leaves borne on the prolongation of the floral axis. 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



July 25, 1843. — William Yarr ell, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. 

 Mr. Fraser having carefully determined the species of birds form- 

 ing part of an extensive collection of subjects of natural history, 

 brought to England by Mr. Bridges, laid them before the Meeting, 

 and communicated the following notes from that gentleman relating 

 to their habits, ranges, &c. 



Sarcoramphus gryphus, Auct. Condor a and Buitre, 



" Found in all the provinces of Chile, and very abundant in the 

 elevated valleys of the Andes. Builds its nest on the shelves of in- 

 accessible precipices, and lays from one to two large white eggs. 

 Iris of the female dark red." 



Cathartes Iota, Mol. lote. 



'* This species is found in abundance along the coast of Chile ; 

 also in the interior ; devouring dead fish and carrion of all kinds. 

 The head of the adult bird is red when alive. Iris light brown." 



Cathartes atratus, Sw. lotecito and lote de Mendoza. 



" This bird is found on the eastern side of the Andes near Men- 

 doza, and is occasionally seen in Chile in the province of Colchagua. 

 The caruncles of the head are very large when alive, and black. Iris 

 dark brown." 



Haliaetus Aguia, Temm. Aquila of the Spanish, Calquin of the In- 

 dians. 

 ** This bird inhabits the retired woody and mountainous parts of 



