TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 105 
On the Specific Distinctions of Uria troile and Uria lacrymans. 
By the Rev. F. O. Morris. 
The author showed that in the Uria lacrymans the eye is larger than in the Uria 
troile, and this, in addition to the permanent white streak from which the bird derives 
its name in the Latin, French and English languages, and the darker colour of old 
birds, he considered to establish the species distinct. He pointed out the Corvus 
corone as only distinguishable from Corvus cornix in a portion of the plumage; and 
though the birds were different in habits, so were the young and the old birds of one 
and the same species, Larus marinus, the former being gregarious and the other not. 
On the whole, he concluded that neither in the shape or size of the bill or feet was 
there any but accidental or temporary differences between individuals of the two 
species, as imagined by Macgillivray and others, but the distinctions he had pointed 
out, existing as they did “‘ semper, ubique, et in omnibus,’’ were permanent specific 
characteristics, and marked the individuality of the species. 
On the Dispersion of Domestic Animals in connexion with the Primary Eth- 
nological Divisions of the Human Race. By W. Ocirzy, F.L.S. 
The author commenced by observing that the present memoir was the complement 
of a paper read at the Belfast Meeting of the Association, ‘“‘ On the Geographical Dis- 
tribution of Animals adapted to Domestication, in relation to the progressive Develop- 
ment of Human Civilization.” The extent of the subject, and the limited time at 
his disposal, compelled him to confine his attention to the domestic sheep; but the 
same phenomena were exhibited by the Ox, Dog, Goat, &c. The leading facts of Mr. 
Ogilby’s communication may be comprised under the following heads :— 
1, That the Ovis Brachyura, proper to the northern parts of Europe and Asia, is 
the characteristic variety of the ‘I'schudic or Ugrian races of mankind. The conquests 
and encroachments of the Indo-Germanic races have circumscribed the boundaries, 
and in some places interpolated their own proper variety (the O. dolichura) into the 
original habitat of the short-tailed sheep; but even where the aboriginal natives 
have been long extirpated or amalgamated with the conquering race, as in Iceland, 
the Farde Islands, &c., this variety still retains its ground; whilst it is the only 
breed found north of the river Occa among the scattered remains of the Ugrian 
nations. 
2. That the Ovis dolichura has been from time immemorial the appropriate breed 
of the Indo-Germanic nations, the Celts, Germans, Greeks, Romans, &c. The con- 
quests and migrations of this widely-spread race probably introduced it into Western 
and Southern Europe long anterior to the historic era, as they have more recently 
| done into North-western India, America, Australia, and partially into Northern 
Africa. 
3. That the Ovis platyura was originally, as it still continues to be, the character- 
istic variety of the Semitic nations. It is frequently mentioned in the Bible, and has 
been extended by the conquests and commerce of the Arabs into Central Asia, 
Persia, Barbary, and along the whole East coast of Africa, as far as the Cape of Good 
Hope. It is this variety which furnishes the beautiful lamb-skins of Bokhara and 
the Crimea. 
4, That the Ovis steatopyga was the original breed of the Mongolic nations, who 
still continue to cultivate it exclusively on the elevated plains of Central and North- 
eastern Asia and China. At a very remote period it was introduced by the conquests 
of these hordes into South-western Asia, and is unmistakeably mentioned by Moses 
in three or four texts of the Sacred Volume; but it seems never to have obtained 
much favour among the Semitic nations, and was not spread abroad, like the O. pla- 
tyura, by the conquests of the Arabs. 
5. That the Ovis longicaudata was the original, as it still continues to be the ap- 
propriate breed of the dark-skinned races of mankind both in Asia and Africa, the 
ZEthiopians of classical writers. It is exclusively found in the Central and Western 
parts of Africa, from Mount Atlas to the country of the Great Damarras; and still 
lingers along the Southern coasts of Arabia and Persia, in both Indian Peninsulas, 
and the interior of some of the great islands of the Indian Archipelago, 
