52 



have Severai times crossed the Atlantic, and have continually had 

 other opportunities of observing the sea, 1 have never before or 

 since seen any of tliese animals. Neither the captain iior seamen 

 of the vessel I was in recollected ever having seen any of theni." 



A note was read, addressed to the Secretary by Charles Telfair, 

 Esq., Corr. Memb. Z. S. It was accompanied by a fossil bone from 

 Vohemar in Madagascar, which was exhibited. The bone vv^as 

 considered as " part of the palate of a fish, called, in these seas, la 

 gueule pavee." It wa9 contrasted with the bones constituting the 



frinding apparatus of the spotted Eagle Ray, Mylioiatis Narinari, 

 >um., from which it was remarkably distinct both in form and 

 striicture. It appears to be referrible to the inferior pharyngeal 

 bone of a gigantic species of Scarus. In a recent Scarus, a foot in 

 length, the inferior pharyngeal bone is 3 lines wide, and the num- 

 ber of series of oval lamince forming its teeth is three, reckoned 

 transversely, and exclusive of the elevated series forming a border 

 along each side. In the fossil, the raised margins are vvanting : 

 vvithout these its breadth is 1 inch and a half, and the number of 

 series of lamince is four. Some recent specimens in the Museum 

 oF the Royal College of Surgeons are little inferior in size, 



The exTiibition vvas resumed of the collection of Shells formed by 

 Mr. Cuming on the \vestern coast of South America, and among 

 the islands of the South Pacific Ocean. The new species brought 

 on the present evening underthe notice of the Society were accom- 

 panied by chardcters by Mr. Broderip and Mr. G. B. Sowerby. 



Genus Conus. 



Before the author proceeds to describe the species brought to 

 this country by Mr. Cuming, it may be necessary to point out the 

 difBculty of the task, arising from the infinite varieties presented by 

 this genus, and the very fe\v points of form and structure in the 

 shell which can be relied on as the foundationof specific character. 



M. de Blainville, when noticing the numerous species already re- 

 corded, gives us a hint that many of them may be what Adanson 

 calls " especes de cabinct ;" and no one can examine an extensive 

 collection of Cones, particularly if it contain many individuals of 

 each species for the purpose of comparison, without being struck 

 by the force of the observation. Colour, — granulation or smooth- 

 ness, — length or shortness of the spire, — its plainness or corona- 

 tion,— vvill be found in many species to be the result of locality, 

 food, or temperature. The following descriptions are, therefore, 

 given with the diffidence \vhich an investigation of the subject can- 

 not fail to inspire. — W. J. B. 



Conus tiaratus. Con. testd rhomboided, cnalaned monilibus 

 castaneo-albis tessellatis et basin versus jjaUide bifasciatd ; spirS 

 suhproductd coronatd : long. H, lat. į poli. 



Hab. ad Insulas Gallapagos, 



