IINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON. 6;^ 



briefly tracing the distribution of this hu^e Seal on various 

 Antarctic and Subtropical islauds, Mr. Vallentin's notes on a 

 specimen killed in Stanley Harbour were read. This specimen 

 measured 18 ft. 11 in., from the end of the trunk to a straight 

 lice between the two hinder extremities ; the trunk, produced by 

 the inflation of a loose tubular sac of skin above the nostril-', 

 is present only in the male, aud measures, whea fully extended, 

 12 inches from the gape. IS'o fresh facts were made known 

 concerning the nature of the food of this animal, described by 

 some writers as herbivorous like the Manatee, by others as 

 feeding on moUusca a:id Crustacea like the Walrus. In this case 

 the stomach was empty, with tne exception of a large number of 

 Nematode w^orms, specimens of which were exhibited. 



A discussion followed, iu which Messrs. H. J. Elwes, Eoland 

 Trimen, W. M. Webb, aud the President; took part. 



Mr. J. E. Harting, F.L.S., exhibited and made remarks on 

 some living specimens of the Bank Vole, Microtus glareolus, 

 recently obtained by Mr. Eobert Drane, E.L.S., on Skomer 

 Island, Pembrokeshire. 



Mr. A. W. Bennett, E.L.S., exhibited and described a remark- 

 able Alga from Scotland {Lyngbya sp. ?) possessing a soluble 

 pigment producing a beautiful fluorescent solution. 



The President exhibited photographs of four out of eight 

 Gigantic Tortoises originally brought from Aldabra Is,, and 

 now living in the grounds of Groveriiment House, Seychelles, and 

 communicated a report on the subject of the present distribu- 

 tion of the species, addressed to the lit. Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, 

 M.P., by the Administrator of the Seychelles. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. " On some Australasian CoUembola." By Sir John Lubbock, 

 Bart., M.P., E.L.S. 



2. " On some Caryophyllaceae from Sze-chuen, with a Note on 

 the recent Botanical Exploration of that Province." By E. N. 

 Williitms, E.L.S. 



3. " On the Characters of the Crustacean genus Bathynellay 

 By W. T. Caiman, B.Sc. (Communicated by Prof. D'Arcy \Sf. 

 Thompson, E.L.S.) 



June 15th, 1899. 

 Dr. Albeet C. L. G. Gtotheb, E.E.S., President, in the Chair. 

 The Minutes of the last Meeting were read and confirmed. 

 Mr. Alfred Eussell Eox was elected, and the following were 



