41 



glands. The ovaries themselves were small oval bodies^ being about 

 three lines in the longdiatneter, and were surrounded bj'a small cap- 

 sule of peritoneum ; I observed on one part a small dark coloured 

 speck, which vvas probably a corpus luteum. 



" Two small glandular foUicles open on eitlier side of the orifice 

 of the urethra, and tvvo larger spherical bags open at the verge of the 

 anus ; these vvere filled with a vvhite unctuous secretion, vvhich had 

 a faint odour, likę the ordinary secretions of glandulce odorifercs. 

 The quantity of this secretion probably had reference to the con- 

 dition of the sexual organs before alluded to. 



" The principai morbid appearances vvere in the lungs. They 

 were of a dark livid colour, and in a statė almost approaching to 

 hepatization. Hurried and impeded respiration was the principai 

 symptom noticed before death. The stomach and small intestines 

 betrayed traces of inordinate vascular action. 



" In the structure of the alimentary canal, especially of the 

 ccecum, and in the remarkable shortness of thelarge intestines, this 

 animal has a olose affinity vvith the Civet and Genette, as well as in 

 the structure of the kidneys as before mentioned. The inferior sur- 

 face of the tarsus is destitute of hair, as in many of the Viverridce, 

 in the true plantigrade Mammalv!, and in the Kangaroo ; likę the 

 latter aniraal, the Suricate is in the habit of assuming the upright 

 position, resting on the taisus. It is carnivorous, and vvhile in con- 

 finement, manifested great agitation at the sight of small birds." 



In conclusion, Mr. Owen remarked, that the appearances vvhich 

 he had noticed, agreed vvith the description of the viscera of the ani- 

 mal, as recorded by Daubenton, so far as that distinguished com- 

 parative anatomist had observed them. 



The Chairman exhibited a collection of Birds vvhich had been 

 raade in the Island of Mauritius by Mr. Telfair, an active and vvell 

 knovvn Corresponding Member of the Society. They had been 

 consigned to Mr. Barclay of Būry Hill in Surrey, vvha had pre- 

 sented them to the Society. Severai species vvere of interest, as 

 being confined to the Island and its immediate vicinity, and being 

 uncommon in European collections: and others, although found in 

 Europe, as affording some facts respecting the geographical range 

 of species. Mr. Vigors proposed to lay a catalogue of the collec- 

 tion before the Committee at an early Mecting;and on the present 

 occasion named and characterized the follovving apparently new 

 species of Spoonbill. 



Platalea Telfairii. Plat. corpore unicolore albo, rosaceo levi- 

 ter tincto ; regione circa rostrum, mandibidd siiperiori, jjedibus- 

 que rubris ; mandibidd hiferiori nigresce.iti, basijlavd. 



Longitudo corporis a mandibulae basi ad apicem caudre, 25.}-; 

 rostri, 8 ; ate acarpo ad apicem remigis 2dae, 16 ; tarsi, 6 ; caudce, 6. 



The Chairman again resumed the exhibition of the Himalayan 

 birds; and calling the atlention of the Committee to the numberof 

 8peci>;s now knovvn to belong to the genus Lanitts as restricted by 



