Royal ^ociely. \ 291 



which unite at its base into a long and slender round muscle, 

 closely attached to the corner of the os hyoides, and following 

 the course of another muscle apparently identical with the mylo- 

 hyo'ideus in the mammiferous animals. The use of the muscle 

 appears to be to bring the gland into a proper position for its 

 discharge, and then to operate the discharge, by pressure. 



The autbour, considering the situation of the gland near the 

 mouth of tiie Alligator, and the predatory habits of the animal, 

 together with its voracity of fish, and the well-known partiality 

 of fish for odoriferous oils and extracts, concieives, that this 

 secretion acts as a bait, attracting the fish to such a position as 

 will enable the Alligator readily to seize them, in his usual way 

 of seizing his prey, by snapping side-ways at them. 



The reading was also commenced of a paper, entitled. Note 

 on the chemical composition of two liquids lately proposed as 

 powerful disinfectants y and on the action of those liquids on putrid 

 animal matter ; by A. B. Granville, M.D. F.R.S. 

 . March 8. — The reading of Dr. Granville's paper was concluded. 



March 15. — M. Soemmering was elected a Foreign Member of 

 the Society. 



May 10. — A paper was read, entitled, On the change in the 

 plumage of some Hen-Pheasants ; by W. Yarrell, Esq. F.L.S. ; 

 communicated by W. Morgan, Esq. F.R.S. 



The last shooting season having been unusually productive of 

 Hen Pheasants, which have assumed more or less the plumage 

 and appearance of the male, much discussion has in consequence 

 arisen on the cause of this change ; and the authour, having had 

 many opportunities of examining the facts, as respecting both 

 the pheasant and the domestic fowl, was induced to notice the 

 internal peculiarities which unvariably accompany this trans- 

 formation. According to an opinion of John Hunter and of Dr. 

 Butter, this change only takes place at an advanced age ; but 

 Mr. Yarrell considers the facts in his possession as at variance 

 with this idea, and that the appearances in question may occur 

 at any period of life, and may even be produced artificially. In 

 all the instances examined by him the sexual organs were found 

 diseased, and to a greater or less extent in proportion to the 



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