Zoological Society. 373 



near that place. The description was that of a female in nearly adult 

 plumage. 



A specimen was exhibited of the Irish Hare, recently presented 

 to the Society by Mr. Yarrell, who pointed out the characters by 

 which it is distinguished from the common Hare of England and the 

 Continent of Europe. Its head is shorter and more rounded; its 

 ears still shorter than its head; and its limbs less lengthened. 

 The fur also differs essentially from that of the common Hare, and 

 is useless as an article of trade. Mr. Yarrell added, that he had 

 lately brought a specimen of it under the notice of the Linnean 

 Society. 



At the request of the Chairman, Dr. Stark exhibited the skeleton 

 of the edible Frog, Rana esculenta, Linn., and stated that this spe- 

 cies is found in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, whence his speci- 

 men was obtained. He pointed out some of the differences between 

 its osseous structure and that of the common Frog, Rana tempo- 

 raria, Linn. 



Dr. Stark also stated that he had obtained in the neighbourhood 

 of Edinburgh specimens of a species of Stickleback, Gasterosteus, 

 Linn., not previously known to exist in Great Britain. 



In answer to a question on the subject, Dr. Stark described the 

 changes produced in the colour of various Fishes, both of fresh and 

 salt water, but especially in Minnotvs, Leucisciis Phoxinus, Cuv., in 

 consequence of their being kept in water contained in vessels of dif- 

 ferent colours ; the tendency of the fish being to assume the colour 

 of the vessel in which it is kept. 



The stomach and ccecum of a Squirrel Monkey, Callithrix sciureus, 

 Geoff., which recently died at the Society's Gardens, were exhibited. 

 At the request of the Chairman, Mr. Martin read his notes of the 

 dissection of the animal, which are given in No. Yll. of the Society's 

 Proceedings. 



Colonel Sykes exhibited several specimens of Loligo sagittata, 

 var. /3, Lam., which came on board the Lady Feversham on his pas- 

 sage to England in 1831. He read the following extracts respect- 

 ing them from his journal. 



"Monday, April 3, 1831.— Lat. 22° 20' S., long. 1° 52' E.— 

 Three specimens of Loligo sagittata leaped on board at sun-set on 

 the forecastle, which the men saw, the trade wind being so light at 

 the time as to threaten a calm. 



" Two days afterwards, in lat. 18° 6' S., long. 3° 12' W., several 

 other individuals of the same species were found at daylight on the 

 poop, having come on board during the night, the wind having been 

 steady and the sea smooth." 



Col. Sykes stated that his object in bringing the specimens under 

 the notice of the Society, was to point out the locality from which 

 they were obtained, the habitats given by Lamarck being the Euro- 

 pean and American seas ; and to direct particular attention to the 

 leaping powers of the animal, which he believed to have been 

 hitherto unobserved. He added that he was unable to satisfy himself 

 as to the organization by which it was enabled to throw itself above 

 the surface of the sea. 



