314 
to be related to mezium sulcatum, figured in the 232nd plate 
of my British Insects.” Mr. Curtis states, that Ptini breed 
in such situations; and the insect being a perfectly new 
species, for which he proposes the name of ptinus mortuorum, . 
he thinks it worthy of being described, and offers his ser- 
vices for that purpose. The mouth of the mummy was next 
examined: the lower lip appears to have been split, pro- 
bably after the manner of the natives of Nookta Sound, 
spoken of by Captain Cook. The teeth are now exposed to 
view ; those of the lower and upper jaw are separated by 
some substance placed between. The hair, which has 
been cleaned and placed in its proper position, exhibits a 
beautiful mode of head adornment ; two large plaits formed 
of a number of smaller ones, and tied at the end, hang down 
by the side of the face towards either shoulder: it is long, 
black, and slightly sprinkled with grey in front. The hair 
at back is likewise plaited, having seven plaits on one side, and 
eight on the other. The whole is collected in a tie behind, 
one lock forming the centre. In the bend of the arm was 
found the weight or plummet of a fishing line, (probably that 
which was twisted round the fingers of the left hand,) formed 
of some metallic substance as yet undecided on. In the 
British Museum there is a Peruvian mummy, an enlarged 
drawing of which Dr. Wilde exhibited from the work of Dr. 
Pettigrew ; in this the hands are extended along the sides of 
the face, but the rest of the body is in the position of the 
one before the meeting, than which it is much less perfect, 
and the head is completely devoid of hair. 
Dr. Wilde then read several extracts bearing upon the sub- 
ject of Peruvian mummies, and mentioned the name of Mr. 
J.R. Pentland, who, in a communication made to Tiedemann, 
and translated by Professor Graves, in the Dublin Journal 
for July, 1834, gives an account of the ancient graves called 
Huxeas, in the Valley of Titicaca; these sepulchres have 
the form of high rownd towers, and in some places are con- 
