11 



Esq. ; H. Betts, Esq. ; John Reeves, Esq. ; Mrs. Parkinson ; 

 C. Martyn, Esq. ; Rev. L. Jenyns ; Dr. Weatherhead, Corr. 

 Memb; E. W. Elmslie, Esq. ; Mr. G. H. Garnett; Capt. W. 

 Heathorn, Corr. Memb. ; Mr. John Lead beater ; Dr. Weis- 

 senborn ; T. Groom, Esq. ; J. Frembly, Esq., Corr. Memb. ; 

 Mr. A. Bartlett ; W. Atkinson, Esq. ; Sir John De Beau- 

 vior, Bart. ; the Curators of the Durham University Mu- 

 seum ; Jas. S. Bowerbank, Esq.; Mr. Christopher Grove; 

 Dr. Harlan ; Dr. Cantor, Corr. Memb. ; John Hearne, Esq., 

 Corr. Memb. ; Sir Thos. Reade, Hon. and Corr. Memb., 

 Cons. Gen. at Tunis ; Le Chev. V. Michelotti. 



Publications and Proceedings. 



Among the Anatomical investigations which have been 

 conducted, or aided by comparison with objects contained, in 

 the Museum, may be specified those which have unfolded the 

 organization of the Giraffe and Apteryx. These inquiries 

 have tended to establish on a sure basis the Zoological rela- 

 tions and affinities of the above rare species, and at the same 

 time have demonstrated the intimate connexion between their 

 several peculiarities of structure, and their food, habits, and 

 geographical position. At a former period, a series of ob- 

 servations made on the living Marsupialia at the Gardens of 

 the Society established some of the most important facts in 

 an obscure and recondite branch of the physiology of those 

 remarkable animals : repeated dissections of different spe- 

 cies of the Marsupialia which have been at different times 

 preserved in the Society's Menagerie, combined with a study 

 and comparison of the rich collection of the crania and teeth 

 in the Society's Museum, have more recently led to improved 

 views of the affinities of these interesting quadrupeds, and 

 to the establishment of species before unknown to science. 

 And the Council advert with more pleasure to this part of 

 the past year's scientific proceedings, because, as the Mar- 

 supial animals are for the most part peculiar to our own co- 

 lonies, it is to the Zoological institutions of England that 

 the Continental naturalist looks for the progi'essive perfec- 

 tion of that branch of natural history. 



The Museum, as a centre of reference and comparison, 

 has been studied during the past year more particularly by 



