74 Zoological Society : — 



the uervus vagus and glossopharyngeus. The os petrosum is di- 

 stinguished by a spheroid flat bulla ossea, which is quite different 

 from that in some Mammals, being there the ossified cavum tym- 

 pani, here a part of the vestibulum ; it is very thin and transparent, 

 so that the calcareous concrement may be seen. The upper part of 

 the cranium is as broad as the os basiliire is expanded ; from the 

 broad united ossa parietalia and frontalia suddenly projects a narrow 

 long bone, situated between the nostrils, parallel with the ascending 

 processes of the intermaxillary bone, and nearly reaching the sym- 

 physis of the intermaxillary bones. This is formed by the frontaha 

 anteriora ; and there is in front a vestige of a suture, perhaps of for- 

 merly-separated nasal bones. The edge of the maxillary and inter- 

 maxillary bones is sharp ; and the latter are provided with very long 

 and narrow ascending processes. There are nine vertebrse, the second 

 with hammer-like, the third and fourth with long cylindrical diapo- 

 physes ; that of the sacral vertebra is moderately dilated, triangular, 

 and flat, and joined with the ossa ilea by a much-developed cartilagi- 

 nous symphysis. The scapula is not notched on the inner edge ; the 

 bones of the extremities are distinguished by their shortness and by 

 the large size of their condyles. There is no processus xiphoideus. 

 The contents of the stomach consisted of a great many excessively 

 small beetles, some lumps of earth, and small pieces of stick. I 

 suppose that the animal catches those insects by stretching out the 

 tongue, as some other animals do. In this action small particles 

 of earth, &c. adhere to the tongue. The lumps of earth found were 

 balled together only in the stomach, being, too large to have passed 

 the narrow cleft of the mouth*. 



A FEW REMARKS ON THE HaBITS AND EcONOMY OF THE 



Brown-Capped Pomatorhinus (P. ruficeps, Hartlaub). 

 By G. Krefft. 



The range of this bird does not appear to be a very extensive one ; 

 it was first discovered in the Polygonium Flats bordering the Murray 

 River and its backwaters ; but on the Darling they were not found 

 Bo plentiful. Their favourite haunts are clusters of dead box timbers, 

 and scrubby flats studded with salt bush, &c. 



This bird is remarkably shy, and so cunning, that in almost all cases 

 i:; will evade pursuit by running into some scrubby bush, and hide 

 there till the danger is over. Its power of flight is exceedingly mo- 

 derate, and closely resembles that of the brown Tree-creeper. 



These birds are always found in flocks of from four or five to twenty 

 and more. They keep a good look-out ; and as soon as they suspect 

 danger, they will rise with a sharp whirring noise, and seek shelter 



* M. Salle, to whom science is indebted for the discovery of this strange animal, 

 writes in a letter, " Je sais bien pen de choses sur le Rhinophrynus dorsalis ; 11 

 vient des terres chaudes et temperees de I'Etat de Vera Cruz ; on le trouve dans 

 la terre et assez profondcment enfonce, quelquefois a un pied ou deux ; il paralt 

 y vivre, il a des niouvements tres lents et il est tres raou, ce qui fait, que les in- 

 digenes le designent dans des endroits sous le nom de Sapo sin hueros (Crapaud 

 aans os) ; je ne sais pas comment il peut s'enterrer ni de quoi il se nourrit." 



