144? Zoological Society. 



the dorsal bones. In Cyclemys the whole sternum moves together, 

 though very slightly. 



The transition from the land to the freshwater Tortoises may con- 

 sequently be regarded as commencing in Terrapene 5 passing through 

 Terr. Europeca to Cyclemys orbiculata ; and thence through the In- 

 dian forms of Emys, which so closely resemble the latter species, to 

 the other forms of Emys i the natural series of connexion between the 

 Testudinidte and the Emydidce being thus completed. 



The exhibition was resumed of the new species of Shells contained 

 in the collection of Mr. Cuming. Those now exhibited were accom- 

 panied by characters by Mr. G. B. Sowerby, and consisted of species 

 and varieties additional to those previously characterized by Mr. Bro- 

 derip, (Lond. and Edinb. Phil. Mag., vol. iii. p. 69.) of the genus 

 Conus : viz. Con. Algoensis, Aulicus (Far. roseus), Nussatella,tendi' 

 neus, Luzonicus, brunneus, pulchellus, Diadema,ferrugatus, and Rega- 

 in at is. 



A specimen was exhibited of the Musk Duck of New Holland, 

 Hydrobates lobatus, Temm. It had recently been presented to the 

 Society by Lieut. Breton, R.N., Corr. Memb. Z. S., who entered into 

 some particulars respecting its habits. He stated that these birds are 

 so extremely rare, that he saw only three of them during his various 

 excursions, which extended over twelve hundred miles of country. 

 He has never heard of any instance in which more than two were 

 seen together. They are met with only on the rivers, and in pools 

 left in the otherwise dry beds of streams. It is extremely difficult to 

 shoot them, on account of the readiness with which they dive ; the 

 instant the trigger is drawn, the bird is under water. 



Some observations by Dr. Hancock on the Lantern fly and other 

 Insects of Guiana were read. 



The writer concurs with M. Richard and M. Sieber in regarding 

 as erroneous the statement of Madame Merian, that the Lantern-fly> 

 Fulgora lanternaria, Linn., exhibits at night a brilliant light, and 

 remarks that the whole of the native tribes of Guiana agree in treating 

 this story as fabulous : it seems to be an invention of Europeans de- 

 sirous of assigning a use to the singular diaphanous projection, re- 

 sembling a horn lantern, in front of the head of the insect. He also 

 states that the Fulgorce rarely sing. 



The insect whose song is most frequently heard in Guiana is the Ci- 

 cada clarisona ) the Aria-aria of the Indians, and Razor-grinder of the 

 Colonists : in the cool shade of the forests it may be heard at almost 

 every hour of the day ; but in Georgetown its song commences as 

 the sun disappears below the horizon. At Georgetown this Cicada 

 was never heard in 1804, when Dr. Hancock first visited the place ; 

 but it is now very common, probably in consequence of the shelter 

 afforded by the growth of many trees and shrubs in the gardens which 

 have since been formed there. The sound emitted by it is M a long, 

 continuous, shrill tone, which might be compared almost to that of a 

 clarionet, and is little interrupted, except occasionally by some vibrat- 

 ing undulations." 



March 25. — A specimen was exhibited of an Albatross presented 



