560 Extracts from the Minute-Booh of the Linnean Society. 



height, and the throat-pouch is alternately distended and flattened, 

 displaying its vivid colours. The attack is generally made by 

 seizing each other by the jaw, and they retain the hold for a consi- 

 derable time. They commonly live upon trees, but at times enter 

 houses in search of flies and other insects, running with ease, like 

 the rest of the genus, upon smooth perpendicular walls, or even on 

 the ceilings and on glass. They are easily rendered sufficiently 

 tame to eat from the hand. Their food consists principally, if not 

 exclusively, of insects, and they seize and devour wasps with impu- 

 nity. Even the scorpion is not able to defend itself effectually from 

 their attack, as they generally seize the insect by the head, and 

 the scorpion in its endeavour to sting its enemy more frequently 

 wounds itself. When pursued on a plane surface the tail is often 

 carried erect. They leap with surprising agility from branch to 

 branch, often to a distance of twelve times their own length ; but 

 they are often caught by boys, who take advantage of their fondness 

 for musical sounds, arresting their attention by whistling to them, 

 and then throwing a little noose over the head. Mr. Schomburgk 

 rarely found more than two eggs in the oviduct at one time, of 

 which one was much less developed than the other. They drop 

 their eggs without any precaution, which are found in various 

 places, on the sand, on rocks, in rooms, &c. 



Fe/j. 17. Read also a Letter addressed to the President from Mr. William 

 Money, giving an account of a Goat in his possession producing five 

 kids at a birth. 



N<w. 3. Mr. Lambert, V.P. exhibited specimens of an arborescent species 



of Dahlia from Oaxaca. 



Xov. 17. Read a Notice by Mr. Adam White of a male Picus martius, L., 

 having been shot in 1834 at Billingford, Norfolk. Another indi- 

 vidual was seen at the same time. 



