308 Proceedings of Metropolitan Societies. | April, 
Mr. Flower has been dissecting the Echidna, which lately died at 
the Gardens in Regent’s Park, and has communicated a paper on its 
cerebral anatomy. He finds that the corpora quadrigemina does not, 
as has been stated by Owen and others, differ materially in this mono- 
trema from the ordinary structure of this part of the brain in other 
Mammals. 
The fishes of the inland rivers and lakes of many countries are so 
little known, and the circumstances under which they exist are so 
varied and peculiar, that in nearly every district new and local species 
are to found. Captain Dow has lately transmitted to England a col- 
lection of thirty-one species obtained from Central America, among 
which Dr. Giinther has determined several new species of great interest 
which he has described to the Society. 
An addition to the 1,200 species of Helix is made by Dr. T. E. 
Cox, who describes a species from Port Denison, N.E. Australia, as 
Helix Forbesti. Mr. Frank Buckland, who has done such good work 
for our salmon and trout, and also tried to show us a live porpoise in 
London, has turned his attention to oysters, and has addressed a com- 
munication to the Society, in which he advocates the introduction of the 
American Ostrea Virginica into the seas of this country. 
Mr. H. T. B. Hancock is performing some experiments on the sup- 
posed electrical powers of Octopus, by means of a specimen in the 
Society’s gardens. 
