35 



of the head in these two apecies. In the Vulture there is a space 

 between the upper parts of the orbits in which the olfactory gan- 

 glions and neįves are situated, and the nasal cavity anterior to these 

 is of a much greater breadth and also longer, as well as exhibiting 

 internally a greater extent of pituitary surface, than in the Turkey. 

 In this bird the olfactory nerves are compressed within a narrow in- 

 terorbital space, -v^hich would not admit of the lodgement of gan- 

 glions ; the olfactory nerves after passing through this space then di- 

 verge to the nasal cavity. 



" In the Goose the olfactory nerves are developed to the šame size 

 as in the Vulture, and expand upon superior spongy bones of similar 

 form, but placed wider apart, and these supply the middle spongy 

 bones which are longer but not so broad as in the Turkey. The 

 olfactory branch of the 5th pair is double the size of that in the 

 Vulture or Turkey ; it gives, however, not a greater proportion of 

 filament to the nose than in those birds, but is mainly expended upon 

 the membrane covering the upper mandible. 



"The above notes show that the Vulture has a well-developed 

 organ of smell, but whether he finds his prey by that sense alone, 

 or in ■vvhat degree it assists, anatomy is not so well calculated to ex- 

 plain as experiment. 



" I will bring my preparations showing the above at next meeting, 

 and am truly yours, 



" Royal CoUege of Surgeons, March 7th." " R- OwEN. 



Mr. Gould brought before the notice of the meeting, from the col- 

 lection of Mr. Darvpin, a new species of Rhea from Patagonia, and 

 after ofFering some observations upon the distribution of the Stru- 

 thionidm, and upon the great interest attending this addition to that 

 family, he remarked that the new species is distinguished from Rhea 

 Americana of authors, in being one-fifth less in size, in having the 

 bill shorter than the head, and the tarsi reticulated in front in- 

 stead of scutellated, and in being plumed below the knee for several 

 inches. It has also a more densely plumed ■wing, the feathers of 

 which are broader, and all terminated by a band of -vsrhite. 



Mr. Gould, in conclusion, adverted to the important accessions to 

 science resulting from the exertions of Mr. Darwin, and to his libe- 

 rality in presenting the Society with his valuable Zoological CoUec- 

 tion ; to commemorate which he proposed to designate this interest- 

 ing species by the name of Rhea Darwinii. 



Mr. Darwin then read some notes upon the Rhea Americana, and 

 upon the newly described species, but principally referring to the 

 former. 



This bird abounds over the plains of Northern Patagonia and the 

 United Provinces of La Plata ; and though fleet in its paces and shy 

 in its nature, it yet falls an easy prey to the hunters, who confound 

 it by approaching on horseback in a semicircle. When pursued it 

 generally prefers running against the wind, expanding its wings to 

 the fuU extent. It is not generally known that the Rhea is in the 

 habit of 3wimming. but on two occasions Mr. Darwin witnes3ed their 



