62 Zoological Society, 



without spine, of 9 rays ; 1 2 rays in the anal fin ; the second 

 dorsal adipose, and extending from the termination of the 

 first dorsal to near the tail. Length offish, 6 inches. 



Ageneiosus, Lacepede. 



Ageneiosus Childreni, Sykes. An Ageneiosus, without cirri, 

 with the first ray of the dorsal and pectoral fins serrated on 

 the anterior edge only ; with 8 rays in the dorsal, and 42 in 

 the anal fin ; with two sharp lobes to the tail, the upper being 

 somewhat the smallest. Length of fish, 18 inches; height, 

 4^ inches, but grows to a larger size. Second dorsal adipose, 

 minute. 



Fam. Clupeidce. 



Mystus, Buchanan Hamilton ; Notopterus, La Cepede. 



Mystus Badgee, Sykes. A Mystus, with not less than 105 rays 

 in the anal fin, 7 or 8 in the dorsal, and in the pectoral from 

 13 to 16, all unarmed; without apparent ventral fins, and 

 with a single small dorsal ; the anal and caudal fins uniting, 

 and terminating in a point at the end of the body ; posterior 

 edge of the last gill plate crenated; scales minute. This 

 remarkable fish belongs to the genus Mystus of Buchanan 

 Hamilton, but not to the genus Mystus of Cuvier. Fish 

 vertically compressed. Length, 1 1 inches ; height, 3 inches. 



Ord. Apodes. 



Fam. Muranidce. 

 Anguilla, Cuv. 



Aug. Elphinstonei, Sykes. An Anguilla, with the lower jaw 

 the longest ; with the back, tail, and anal fins united, and 

 with a broadlsh, flat head ; body dark green, blotched with 

 black ; with 2 short tubular processes, one on each side of 

 the upper jaw. Attains the length of 3 feet, and diameter 

 of 3 inches. 

 I have dedicated this fine fish to the Honourable Mountstewart 

 Elphinstone. 

 In concluding my characters of the fishes of Dukhun (Deccan), 

 I may be allowed to state, that I have found the number of cirri, 

 whether in the Siluridce or Cyprinidce, insufficient as a generic cha- 

 racter ; different species of the same genus varying in the number 

 of their cirri." 



December 11, 1838.— Dr. Bostock in the Chair. 

 A Wasp's Nest, of very large size, was also exhibited to the Mem- 

 bers present. This nest was sent from Ceylon by the Governor of 

 that island, and was accompanied by the following letter from Lieut. 

 W. Williams, R.A. 



Colombo, 27th May, 1838. 

 ** The specimen of the Social Wasp's nest, now on board the 

 barque ' Morning Star,' was found by me in a talipot tree near 

 Colombo in Ceylon : its apex was secured at the junction of two of 



