26 



of their time on land or frequenting slialIow pools of water, shovved 

 an equal affinity to some of the JVaders. This was the case with 

 tlie Cereopsis, and occurred also in the Semipalmaled Goose and in 

 another Goose now living in the Society's Gardens, the JmerjM- 

 batus, S|)ix. 



It was stated that in proportion as these birds departed from the 

 characters of the true Geese in their external appearance and habits, 

 and in both approached to the Ardeidce, they vvould also be found 

 on examination to resemble them in their internal organization. In 

 proof of this an extensive series of parts of the skeletons of birds 

 irom the true Divers to the Cranes was exhibited, and the peculia- 

 rities pointed out. The keel of the breast-bone in the Ducks and 

 true Geese vvas shovvn to be of considerable depth, with its inferior 

 edge nearly straight ; those of the Semipaltnated Goose and Cereopsis 

 were shown to be much deeper in the keel, and the inferior edges 

 much more convex ; and couiparison with the šame parts from the 

 SpoonbiU, Herons, Bitterns, and Storics, showed the approximation 

 to the Ardeidce in form. The peculiarities of the whole series indi- 

 cated, betvveen the tvvo extrerae points, the developement of the 

 povvers of flight as contrasted with the maximum of the powers of 

 diving, in a succession of characters as easily recognisabie in the 

 skeletons as in the external appearances of the birds themselves, and 

 supplied a valuable auxiliary chain of affinities to assist the natura- 

 list in his vievvs of arrangement. 



On the subject of the Cereopsis Mr.Bennett observed, that having 

 lately had occasion to investigate the history of that bird, hehad met 

 with some facts respecting it vvhich might not be vvithout interest. 

 After noticing the mistakes in Dr. Latham's original description 

 and figure, vvhich have been already corrected by MM. Temminck 

 and Vieillot, he pointed out certaiii errors in those given by the 

 two last-named writers, as compared with the bird on the table, 

 and with seven living specimens in the Society's Collection, all of 

 which, he believed, had been hatched in this country. Thus in 

 the description of the latter author it is said, "la tėte est couverte 

 d'une peau nue, ridėe et jaune, depuis la base du bec jusqu'audela 

 des yeux"; and in that of the former, " une peau ridėe et jaunatre 

 couvre le front"; but this supposed naked skin does not exist in 

 nature, and although represented in M. Vieillot's figure, is very 

 properly omitted in that of M. Temminck. The latter indeed is, 

 with the exception of the legs being coloured of a dingy yellovv 

 instead of a deep orange, a very characteristic representation. No 

 synonyms had hitherto been added to the original name ; but Mr. 

 Bennett stated that he had little doubt, both from the description 

 and locality, that a bird mentioned by Labillardiėre as seen at 

 Esperance Bay, on the south coast of New Holland, and named by 

 M. Vieillot, in the " Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle," 

 Le Cj/gne ceridrc, was of the šame species. To this bird it vvould ap- 

 pear, from d'Entrecasteaux's Narrative, that the unfortunate Riche 

 had applied in his MSS. the name oi' Anas Terrcs Leeinvin. On a 

 specimen, in all probability not distinct, brought home by Labillar- 



