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December 14, 1830. 

 G. B. Greenough, Esq. in the Chair. 



A Ictter \vas read from Dr. Andrew Smith, addressed to N. A. 

 Vigors, Esq. Ihe follovving are extracts : 



" Cape Tovvn, 8th Sept. 1830. 



" I am sure you \vill be pleased to learn that I liave disco- 

 vered anothei' species of Macroscelides, as \vell as a new one 

 of Erinaceus ; and three species of the genus Otis, together w'ith 

 one of Brachyj)teryx. The descriptions of these I hope to be 

 able to forward to you in the course of three \veeks or a month. 

 The first is designated in our Museum, Macroscelides rvpestris; 

 the second, Erinaceus Capensis ; the third, fourth, and fifth, 

 Otis Vigorsii, Ot. ferox, and Ot. Afraoides ; the sixth, Bra- 

 chypteryx Horsjieldii. The first was found by myself on the 

 mountains near to the mouth of the Orange river, and the circum- 

 stance of its ahvays residing among rocks, together with the difFer- 

 ence in its colcuring, readily pointed it out as being of a distinct 

 species. As to the colour, the niost marked distinctiou consists in 

 the Cape species having a large tawny rufous or chestnut blotch 

 on the nape and back of the neck. The second, Erinaceus Ca- 

 pensis, exhibits considerable affinity to the European species, j'et 

 betrays such marked peculiarities as to vvarrant its being considered 

 as really different from it. The thiid, Otis Vigorsii, inhabits the 

 most dry and barren situations in the south of Africa, and is known 

 among the colonists by the name of Karor Koran. The prevailing 

 colour above is a light tawny or reddish yellovv, and below tawny 

 gray, passing into dirty ■vvhite on the belly. The back is variegated 

 by numerous vioiet blotches or reflections, as \vell as by \vhitish 

 spots, and the under parts by transverse narrow zigzag black lines. 

 The fourth is above principally tawny yellow, and below dull blueish 

 gray : it is found in the country toward Latakoo. The fifth is met 

 ■with on the flats near the Orange river, and is called the Bushman 

 Koran. With the exception of a great portion of the quill feathers 

 being white, it resembles much the common Koran of the colony. 

 the Otis Afra. The sixth is met with in high rocky situations, and 

 agrees in most respects uith the generic character of Brachypteryx, 

 as described by Dr. Horsfield." 



With the above letter Dr. Smith transmitted to the Society a 

 present of sixteen specimens of fishes, obtained in the neighbour- 

 hood of the Cajje of Good Hope, " the details relative to \vhich," 

 he States, " will be for\varded as soon as possible." The specimens 

 were exhibited, and Mr. Bennett laid on the table a list in \vhich 

 they were enumerated as the Sebastes Capensis, Agriopus taikus. 



