Zoological Society. 131 



In the simplicity of its structure the trachea resembled that of the 

 struthious birds, but there was no trace of a dilated membranous 

 pouch as in the Emeu. The trachea consisted of 120 small rings, 

 becoming gradually smaller to the last 20, and alternately overlap- 

 ping and being overlapped at the sides, during the relaxation of the 

 tube. 



Mr. Owen remarks that the fixed condition of the lungs, and the 

 existence of air-cells between the lungs and the diaphragm, clearly 

 prove that inspiration cannot be effectually performed by the action 

 of the diaphragm alone, but that it takes place in the Apteryx as in 

 other birds, by the sternum being depressed, and the angle between 

 the vertebral and sternal ribs being increased. 



A communication was then read to the Meeting by Dr. Cantor^ 

 entitled, "A notice of the Hamadryas, a genus of Hooded Serpents 

 with poisonous fangs and maxillary teeth." 



Dr. Cantor commences with observing, that " since Dr. Russell em- 

 bodied the results of his investigations in his unequalled work upon 

 Indian Serpents, the attention which this branch of Indian zoology 

 has received has been chiefly confined to occasional discoveries of 

 single species ; and yet from experience I have been convinced how 

 rich this branch is, and how much still is left to be illustrated, not 

 only with regard to species, but also with regard to the habits and 

 the geographical distribution of this order of reptiles, the number 

 and variety of which forms so prominent a feature in the zoology of 

 Southern Asia. 



** The venomous serpent, to which I shall here call attention, is the 

 type of a new genus ; which, from its inhabiting hollow trees and 

 frequenting the branches, I propose to call Hamadryas. Its charac- 

 ters induce me to assign it a place between the genera Naja, Lau- 

 renti, and Bungarus, Daudin, which two forms it will be found to 

 connect together. 



Hamadryas. 



Caput latum, subovatum, deplanatum, rostro brevi obtuso, scutis 



quindecim superne tectum. 

 Buccce tumidse. 



Oculi magni prominentes, pupilld rotunda. 

 Nares late apertse, duorum scutorum in confinio. 

 Oris rictus peramplus, subundatus. 

 Tela antica, pone qua dentes maxillares. 

 Collum dilatabile. 

 Corpus crassura, teres, squamis leevibus, per series obliquas dis- 



positis, imbricatim tectum. 

 Cauda brevis, apice acuto, scutis et scutellis tecta. 



