121 



paper dealt principally with Monitor^ in which the presence of a peritoneal 

 fold covering the abdominal viscera and separating them from the lungs was 

 referred to ; this membrane was compared with a corresponding structure in 

 the Crocodilia. — Mr. D. D. Daly gave an account of the Birds'-nests 

 Caves of Northern Borneo, of which no less than fifteen were now known to 

 exist in diflferent parts of the North-Bornean Company's territories. Most 

 of these were situated in limestone districts in the interior, but two of them 

 were in sandstone formations near the sea-coast. — A communication was 

 read from Mr. R. Bowdler S harpe, F.Z.S., containing the description of 

 a new species of Tyrant-bird of the genus Elainea, from the Island of Fer- 

 nando Norohna. This was proposed to be called E. Ridleyana, after Mr. H. 

 N. Ridley, who had obtained the specimens described during his recent ex- 

 ploration of that island. — Mr. Osbert Salvin, F.R.S., read a note on 

 Ornithoptera Vicioriae, from Guadalcanar Island of the Solomon group, and 

 pointed out the characters which separate this species from a closely-allied 

 form of the Island of Maleite, proposed to be called O. reginae. — P. L. 

 Sclater, Secretary. 



3. Linnean Society of New South Wales. 



28*'^ December, 1887. — 1) Notes on the Nidification of certain Birds. 

 By A. J. North. The eggs and nests of four species are here dealt with, 

 viz.: — Platycercus Bamardif V. and H. ; Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus , Kuhl; 

 Psephotus haematogaster , Gld.; and Xenorhynchus australis, Bonap. — 2) Note 

 on Echinaster decanus, Müll, and Trosch. By Professor F. Jeffrey Bell, 

 M.A., Corr. Mem. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. The rare starfish referred to in this 

 note was dredged ofi" George's Head, Port Jackson, its exact habitat being 

 previously unknown. It is remarkable for the large size of the pore-areas, in 

 which there are a number of respiratory processes, and Prof. Bell accordingly 

 presumes that it inhabits situations where respiration is less easily effected 

 than elsewhere. In a postscript, Dr. Ramsay gives particulars about additional 

 specimens which have been obtained since the finding of the one examined 

 by Prof. Bell. — 3) Report on a small Zoological Collection from Norfolk 

 Island. Introductory Remarks, by J. A. Millington; Reptiles and Fishes, 

 by J. Douglas Ogilby; Molluscs, by John Brazier; Insects, by A. Sidney 

 Olliff. This paper contains a detailed report on the collection obtained by 

 Messrs. Millington and Harper during a short residence on Norfolk Island. 

 The most interesting among the fishes are two new species belonging to the 

 genera Apogon and Coris. The insects are better represented than any other 

 group, and nine new species are recorded. The shells all belong to known 

 forms. The most noteworthy feature about the insects is the preponderance 

 of Australian types of which Lamprima, Chiroplatys, Melobasis, and Toxeutes 

 are the most conspicuous. In fact, all the evidence points to the near affinity 

 of the insect-fauna to that of the Australian sub-region, a result not in ac- 

 cordance with that offered by the birds, which Mr. Wallace considers show 

 a decided affinity to the avi-fauna of New Zealand. — 4) On a new Pielus 

 from the Blue Mountains. By A. Sidney Olliff and Henry Prince. This 

 notice contains a description of the beautiful Hepialid exhibited at a recent 

 meeting on behalf of Mr. Prince. Another specimen from Katoomba, 

 regarded as the female, is characterised at the same time. — 5) Notes on 



