^S Natural History in London, 



this voyage the land was in sight, and we had many opportunities of seeing 

 not only the Andes, but other interesting features of the country. The sky 

 was sometimes covered by a low, dark, unbroken cloud, overshadowing the 

 sea, and resting on the top of the high cliffs which guard the coast; so that 

 the Andes, and, indeed, the whole country, except the immediate shore, 

 were then screened from our view. But at some places this lofty range of 

 cliffs was intersected by deep gullies, called quebradas, connected with wide 

 valleys, stretching far into the interior. At these openings we were admit- 

 ted to a view of regions which, being beyond the limits of the cloud I have 

 described, and therefore exposed to the full blaze of the sun, formed a bril- 

 liant contrast to the darkness and gloom in which we were involved. As 

 we sailed past, and looked through these mysterious breaks, it seemed as if 

 the eye penetrated into another world ; and, had the darkness around us 

 been more complete, the light beyond would have seemed equally resplend- 

 ent with that of the full moon, to which every one was disposed to compare 

 this most curious and interesting appearance. As the sun's rays were not, 

 in this case, reflected from a bright snowy surface, but from a dark-coloured 

 sand, we are, perhaps, thus furnished, by analogy, with an answer to the 

 difficulties sometimes started, with respect to the probable dark nature of 

 the soil composing the moon's surface." Yours, truly, — G. M. Lynn Regisy 

 Nov. 17. 1828. 



Art. II. Natural History in London, 



LiNNEAN Society. — The first Meeting for the present session was held, on 

 tlie 4th of November, when a paper was read, entitled, a " Description of 

 a new species of the genus Phalangista from New Holland;'* by Thomas 

 Bell,Esq. F.R.S. &L.S. 



Dec. 2. Read. An Account of a new Species of Pheasant ; by Mr. 

 Benjamin Leadbeatter, F.L. S. Two living specimens of this splendid bird, 

 which is originally from the mountains of Cochin-China, were presented by 

 the King of Ava to Sir Archibald Campbell, and by him to the Countess 

 Amherst. Her Ladyship succeeded in bringing them both alive to England y 

 but they unfortunately died soon after their arrival. 



Nov. 18. Read. On the Nature and Origin of the Lingulate Rays in 

 Zinnia, and on a remarkable Multiplication observed in the Parts of Fruc- 

 tification of that Genus ; by Mr. David Don, Lib. L.S. Notices of several 

 Land and Fresh-water Shells, new to Great Britain, with occasional Obser- 

 vations; in a Letter addressed to Lewis Warton Dill wyn, Esq. F.R.S. &L.S.; 

 by S. G. Jeffreys, Esq. 



Dec. 16. Read. Observations on some Species of the Genera Titrao 

 (grouse) and r/rtyx. Natives of North America ; with Descriptions of four 

 new Species of the former, and two of the latter Genus ; by Mr. David 

 Douglas, F.L.S. Specimens of these birds were exhibited to the Meeting, 

 and some of the grouse were of great beauty, especially one named T'^trao 

 urophasianus, about the size of the wood-grouse (Tetrao urogallus), which 

 it may be considered to represent in the new continent. 



Jan, 20. Read. Descriptions of new Genera and Species of the Class 

 Compositae, belonging to the Floras of Peru, Mexico, and Chile ; by Mr. 

 David Don, Lib. L.S. 



Feb. 3. Read. Some Observations on the common Bat of Pennant ; 

 with an Attempt to prove its Identity with the Pipistrelle of French 

 Authors ; by the Rev. Leonard Jenyns, M. A. F.L.S. 

 . Feb. 17. Read. A Paper on the Plants called Compositae; by Mr.' 

 Pavid Don, Lib. L.S. The Secretary communicated to the Meeting that 

 the Council had completed the purchase of the collections and library 



