368 



to a cross with the Numidian meleagris ; and the description of a 

 very old specimen in the Catalogue of the Museum of the College 

 of Surgeons, statės it to be the result of disease, whereas it is the 

 normai condition of all largely crested fowls. 



An intimate connexion exists betvreen the size of the tuberosity 

 and that of the feathered crest, so that those chickens niay be se- 

 lected at birth that will eventually possess the largest crests. 



The intermaxillary bones are usually more or less deficient in all 

 the varieties of crested fowls, the nostrils arched, and the comb when 

 present is crescentic or bicorned. Severai of the varieties of crested 

 fowls are destitute of fleshy wattles, their place being supplied by a 

 ruff or beard of feathers ; there is, however, no corresponding alter- 

 ation in the lower masillary bone. 



Mr. Woodward exhibited preparations of the mantie and orai 

 apparatus of the recent British Terebratula {T. caput-serpentis), 

 specimens of \vhich had been forwarded in a linng statė from Oban, 

 Argyle, by J. Leckenby, Esq., of Scarborovigh. It appears that this 

 shell, although a uative of the deep sea, can live a week out of water, 

 if placed in a bottle or tin-box with moist sea-weed. The valves are 

 so accurately adjusted as to prevent the escape of the contained 

 fliiid. The mantie, arms and cirri of this spccies are frosted over 

 with radiated spicula, composed of carbonate of lime, as described 

 by Oscar Schmidt, and form a beautiful object for the polariscope. 

 To the palseontologist this structural peculiarity is extremely inter- 

 esting, as it explains the preservation of many parts of the internal 

 organization, including the delicate cirri in fossil Brachiopoda. 



Mr. Fraser exhibited a considerable number of Birds, from the 

 coUection of T. C. Eyton, Esq., and more particularly drew attention 

 to a singular variety of Ramphostos discolorus, Linn., in which the 

 blood-red colouring of the abdomen and upper tail-coverts was re- 

 ])laced by chrome-yellow. 



The specimen was procured from Rio de Janeiro. 



He next directed attention to a species of Trogon, which is so 

 nearly allied to Trogon collaris, Vieill., that by most writers it might 

 be considered as identical with, or a mere variety of that species. 

 This bird, for which Mr. Fraser proposed the name of Trogon Eytoni, 

 differs, however, in having the mandibles larger and more robust ; 

 the plumage of the neck and breast of a fine coppery bronze, instead 

 of green ; the centrai tail feathers bronze instead of green ; and the 

 barring of the wing-coverts and lateral tail-feathers broader, and 

 consequently more distinct. 



Totai length, 9 i inches ; bill, \ ; wing, 4į ; tail, 5f . 



Hah. Rio de Janeiro. 



The third specimen was a fine species of Juida (which Mr. Fraser 

 proposed to call Juidu Eytoni), nearly allied to Juida longicauda. 



