1868.] 217 [Bickmore. 



its two diameters, to one measuring two and five sixtlis iuclies 

 by three and three fourths inches in its two diameters. 



All the smaller ones up to one, the diameters of which were one 

 and seven eighths and two and seven eighths inches, are so loosely 

 coiled that it is possible to look between the coils. These young spec- 

 imens therefore represent the loosely-coiled Nautiloids of former 

 geological ages; and the Nautilus poinpillus at the different stages 

 of its growth is an epitome of the whole group. 



Tiie shell's exhibited Avere all collected on Amboina and the islands 

 near it. 



Referring to the young Nautili exhibited, Mr. A. Hyatt 

 remarked that the young of all the coiled Cephalopods start 

 with a straight or bent cone, and begin their coil abruptly, 

 always leaving an opening in the umbilicus through the 

 centre of the first whorl. 



The development of the Nautiloids, in time, is also marked by a 

 gi-adual involution from the perfectly straight Orthoceras to the NaiUi- 

 lus pompiUuiJ, where the expansion of the last whorl conceals the um- 

 bilicus. The progress of the Ammonoids, on the other hand, is 

 marked by the gradual uncoiling of the shell, ending with the straight 

 Baculifes of the cretaceous; this featui'c is, therefore, of great im- 

 portance in a natural classification of these groups. 



Prof Bickmore exhibited a number of skulls of the JBabi- 

 russa alfurus Less., from the island of Buru, and one from 

 the northern end of Celebes ; together with a skull of the 

 common wild hog from the latter locality. 



The figures usually given of the babirussa represent its legs too 

 long, and its muzzle too short. The male, female and young are cor- 

 rectly figured by Quoy and Gaimard in the voyage of the Astrolabe, 

 pi. 22 and pi. 23. 



The upper teeth do not come out beneath the edge of the upper 

 lip, but rise directly through it. Those of the female are always 

 short, rising but an Inch or two above the flesh. Buru appears to be 

 the eastern limit of the distribution of this animal. Ceram, which 

 is a large island, and almost connected with Buru by a range of high 

 islands, probably does not contain it, as several places on that island 

 were visited, and no trace of it seen. Its western limit is Celebes. 



