IG-l NOTES AND MEMORANDA. 



A Paper on the (Esophagus of the Hornbill {Toccus melanoleucus) 

 has been presenterl to the Zoological Society at one of its January- 

 meetings, by Professor Gulliver, F.R.S. It was an appendix to a 

 former paper by him on the taxonomic character of the muscular 

 sheath of the oesophagus of the tSauropsida, read at a previous meet- 

 ing of the Society. 



A Substance like Ambergris, but which was clearly not that sub- 

 stance, was exhibited at a late meeting of the Lyceum of Natui-al 

 History of New York. Professor A. M. Edwards, however, said that 

 this substance had been presented several years since at a meeting of 

 the Lyceum by a gentleman of the name of Southworth, who owned 

 a large tract of land near Bahia, in Brazil, where it occurred in 

 large quantities. At that time it had been referred to him for exami- 

 nation and report. He had determined that it was deposited in now 

 extinct lakes beneath whose beds were bitumen springs, the lighter 

 oils from which substance had infiltrated into and impregnated the 

 mud. Sometimes the roots of plants, the remains of leaves, and even 

 wood were found imbedded in it, but no diatoms or other microscopic 

 organisms, by means of which the character of the water beneath 

 which it had been deposited could be determined. The owner pro- 

 posed, and in fact had to some extent used it for the production of 

 gas for illuminating purposes, as the town of Bahia had been in this 

 way lighted. If it had not been so light and bulky, it had been pro- 

 posed to ship it abroad for distillation. 



Prizes for Amateur Microscopists.— We believe the prizes men- 

 tioned beneath are now open to Fellows of this Society. They are as 

 follows : — (1) The Countess of Ducie's Prizes for the best lists of the 

 ponds and other aquatic resorts for collecting purposes, within 20 miles 

 of Charing Cross. 1st Prize, Three guineas. 2nd Prize, Two guineas. 

 Eules : — 1. The exact locality of the j^ond must be given, in order 

 that it may be identified, and the name of the railway station nearest 

 to it. — 2. Each competitor to send in his lists sealed in a cover bear- 

 ing a motto, and accompanied by an envelope sealed, in which is 

 enclosed the real name, address, and occupation of the competitor. 

 These are to be delivered not later than March 31, 1873, addressed — 

 Secretary, Natural History Prizes, 100, Fleet Street, E.G. 



(2) The Countess of Ducie's Prize for the best list of the ponds 

 and other aquatic resorts for collecting purposes, within 20 miles of 

 Charing Cross, with a list of the microscopical animals and plants 

 found in them during each month of the year, commencing March 1, 

 1872. Five guineas. Eules : — 1. The exact locality of the pond 

 must be given, and the name of the nearest railway station. — 2. The 

 date of the visit must be specified. — 3. When any rare or sujiposed 

 new objects are found, specimens should be immediately forwarded to 

 Walter W. Eeeves, Esq., Eoyal Microscopical Society, King's College, 

 Strand (Somerset House), for examination. — 4. Each competitor to 

 send in his lists and other information sealed in a cover bearing a 

 motto, and accompanied by an envelope sealed, in which is enclosed 

 the real name, address, and occupation of the competitor. These are 



