102 Mitra, S. C. — On some BeJiarJ Customs and Practices. [JuLY, 



The Secretary reported the deatli of the following members: — 

 Mahamahapadhyaya Kaviraja Sh_yamaldas (Ordinary Member). 

 B. H. Hodgson, Esq., (Honorary Member). 



The Secretary reported that Mr. B. D. Maclagan had compounded 

 liis subscription as a non-resident member by the payment in a single 

 sum of Rs. 300. 



Dr. Alcock exhibited and remarked upon some marine Invertebrates 

 lately dredged at a considerable depth by the survey ship ' Investigator.' 



The first specimen exhibited was a new species of Brachiopod, of the 

 genus Terebrattda, remarkable for its huge size, and in being slightly 

 inequilateral ; as well as fi^om the depth of its habitat (719 fathoms), 

 and from the fact that it was one of the first species of the genus record- 

 ed from Indian waters. 



The species will be described and figured in Pt. II. of the Journal. 



The second specimen exhibited was the curious Thalassinid Crus- 

 tacean, Calocaris macandrese, Bell, lately di'edged in the Laccadive Sea 

 at a depth of 636 fms., the bottom temperature being about 44° Falir. 

 This species was interesting on account of the wide extent of its range. 

 First dredged in Loch Fyne, off the south-west coast of Scotland, at a 

 considerable depth, and subsequently in Scandinavian waters, it was 

 next reported from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and then from the anti- 

 podes of .New Zealand. It is now recorded as an addition to the Indian 

 fauna. 



The third specimen exhibited was a new species of Crab of the 

 genus Galappa, specially noticeable, first for its large size, and 

 secondly for the depth (112 fms.) at which it occurred. 



The species of the numerically small genus Calappa were as a rule 

 littoral in habit, but this species belonged to the fauna of the deep sea, 

 although it exhibited no conspicuous structui'al modifications for life at 

 a depth. The specimen will be described in Journal Part II, and will 

 be figured in an early issue of " Illustrations of the Zoology of the 

 R. I. M. S. Investigator." 



The following papers were read : — 



2. On some Beharl Customs and Practices. — By Babu Sarat Chan- 

 dra MiTRA, M.A., B.L. Communicated by Pandit Haijaprasad Sastri, 

 M. A. 



(Abstract.) 



In Behar a wife's elder sister is regarded as a superior member of the 

 family who is to be approached in a respectful attitude; while in Bengal, 

 she is regarded, as a boon companion, with whom one is at liberty to crack 



