91 
Letters had been received from Richard Hill, Esq., W. C. Kelaart, 
- Esq., R. J. Bourchier, Esq., and Dr. Bland, Corr. Members. 
Mr. Hill’s letter was dated Spanish Town, May 8, and communi- 
cated to the Secretary that his notice of the desire of the Society to 
possess living specimens of the Reptiles of Jamaica, had secured pro- 
mises of aid from all parts of the island; and information had been 
received of several examples of the Yellow Snake, Iguana, and other 
forms being already in confinement for the purpose of being trans- 
mitted to England. 
Mr. Kelaart’s letter was dated San Fernando, Trinidad, May 6. 
Among other interesting intelligence he states that he has “no doubt 
of the existence of a large Red Monkey, and according to some, of a 
white one also, inhabiting the woods of this island ; and although no 
specimens have yet been procured, the promises of several of the pro- 
prietors give hope of a speedy solution of the question as to what spe- 
cies these animals may belong.” 
Mr. Gray exhibited, from the collection of J. H. Hora, Esq., a 
female specimen of Ovis Gmelini, from Tauri in the Persian Gulf. 
It was peculiar for the large size of the tuft of hair over the orbital 
gland, which was closely matted together by the secretion from it ; 
the nostrils are surrounded by a distinct narrow callous edge; the 
callosity occupies the space between the nostrils and a narrow central 
band down to the lips; the body is covered with very close soft 
hair, and on the haunches and other parts where the hair is longer, 
it retains its softness, but approaches to the quill-like character of the 
Roebuck ; the upper part of the body is ochraceous yellow, the lower 
part paler and whitish; the head is paler yellowish, and the hairs 
on the forehead and face are tipped with whitish. 
The following paper was read :— 
1. ON THE VARIATION IN THE TEETH OF THE CRESTED SEAL, 
CysTOPHORA CRISTATA, AND ON A NEW SPECIES OF THE 
GENUS FROM THE West INprEs. By J. E. Gray, Esa., 
F.R.S. etc. 
In a paper which I lately communicated to the Society on the 
genus Bradypus, I drew their attention to some variations in the 
form of the lower jaw, which were not accompanied by any appre- 
ciable difference in the external appearance of the specimens; I now 
wish to bring before the Society some variations which I have ob- 
served in the teeth of the different skulls of the Crested Seal which 
I have received from Greenland. I consider it of more importance 
to record these variations, as the formation of the teeth in the family 
of Seals has been considered as affording one of the best characters 
for the distinction of the species. 
Several zoologists have considered the Crested Seal of the northern 
and the Proboscis Seal of the southern hemisphere as belonging to the 
same genus ; but though there are several characters which are com- 
mon to both, they are very easily distinguished. 
