MaiehS, 1831. 



Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart. in the Chair. 



The Report on the animals for the importation of which the Coun- 

 cil should be lecommended to take measures (prepared in pursuance 

 of a Resolution of the Committee, Jan. 1 1.), was presented and read 

 by Mr Vigors. It was directed that it should be suspended m the 

 Meeting Room for the consideration of the Members of the Com- 

 mittee until the nextMeeting, to which it should be agam submitted, 

 and its adoption be recommended. 



An extract was read frora the ' Lecture faite k la Ure Sčance 

 Annuelle de la Sociėtė d'Histoire Naturelle de l'Isle Maunce. 

 24 Aout, 1830, par M. Julien Desjardins, Sėcretaire de la bociėte,- 

 a manuscript copy of which had been tvansmitted by that bociety. 



The zoological labours of the Mauritius Natūrai History Society 

 have, duving the first year of its existence, embraced numevous de- 

 partments of animated nature. , eu \/i t n • 



The Mammalia of the island have been treated of by M. J. Uesjar- 

 riins. They are twenty-six in number, of which twelve only exist in 

 the wild State. These are enumerated as the Suma Aygula, U. ; 

 Pteropus vulgaris; Pter. rubricoUis, Geoff. ; Nyctinomus acetabulo- 

 5MS, Geoff.: Taphozous Mauritianus, Geoff.; Ennaceus setosus. L.; 

 Sorex Indlcus, Geoff. ; Mus Raitus, L. ; Mus Musculus, L. j Lepus 

 nigricollis; Sus scrofa, L. ; and Cervus Elaphus, L. ^ „ . , 



Various Birds of Mauritius have been brought before the tsociety, 

 including the Fulica Chloropus, L. ; the Numenius Madagascariensis, 

 Briss. ; and a Šnipe, knovvn in the island as the Culblanc. 1 o the 

 latter M. L. Desjardins has given, with some doubts, the name ot dco- 

 lopax Mauritiana. . , i. .^ *• t 



Severai birds from Madagascar have also occupied the attention ot 

 the Society, and M. J. Desjardins has identified them as foUovvs : two 

 epeciesof F«ico,Cuv.; Strixjlammea, h.; Loxia Madagascanensis, 

 L.; Corvus Dauricus, Lath. ; a species oi Regulus, Cuv ; Cuculus 

 canorus. L. ; Tetrao Coturnix, L. ; Scopus Umbretta ; Ralus Mada- 

 gascariensis, n. s. ; Fulica Chloropus, L. ; Fulica cnstata, GmeL ; 

 Scolopax Capensis, L. ; Colymbus minor, L. ; and four species ot the 



genus Anas, L. . , j a • * ». 



There are very few Reptiles raet with on the island. An instance 

 has occurred of the discovery of a living Snake, the second withm 

 the memorv of the inhabitants. It was the Cokter ru/us, LaCėp. ; 

 and had probably been brought from India in some ship. 1 he earlier 

 travellers speak of the existence of Tortoises, but none are how found. 

 M. J. Desjardins has, however, discovered three deposits of the re- 

 mains of these animals, all of which are evidently of modern date, 

 their age not exceeding two or three centunes. There are two 



[No. V.] ZOOL. SOC. PrOCEBDINGS of the CoMM. oi bCIENCE. 



