Zoological Society. 135 



in the other species the length of this organ is at least double its 

 breadth. In other respects its characters, as far as they can be 

 ascertained at present, agree with those of its congeners. The bill 

 is of a very dark colour, approaching almost to black; the skin 

 remarkably thick for so small an animal. The following are its 

 principal dimensions : — 



ft. in. 

 Length from the base of the bill to the origin of the tail. . 1 



of the tail S:| 



■ .of the bill ]i 



Breadth of the bill 1|." 



Stuffed specimens of Orn. rufus and Orn.fuscus having been placed 

 on the table, the distinctions between these and Orn. brevirostris 

 were pointed out by Mr. Ogilby. 



About thirty Bird-skins, collected during the last summer in Shet- 

 land by Mr. William Lord, and presented by him to the Society, were 

 exhibited. The most worthy of particular notice were a specimen of the 

 long-tailed Duck, Anas glacialis, Linn., in its summer plumage ; and 

 an example of the brown-headed Gull, Larus capistratus, Temm. As 

 this Gull has received but little notice as a British bird, Mr. Yarrell 

 added the following description of the specimen, also in its summer 

 plumage. 



" This bird is at once distinguished from Larus atricilla, Linn., and 

 Larus ridibundu!:, heh\., (both also British Gulls, and with both of 

 which it has been confounded.) by its more slender as well as shorter 

 beak, shorter tarsi, and smaller feet. The whole length of this speci- 

 men from the point of the beak to the end of the tail feathers is 15 

 inches; from the point of the beak to the first feathers, 1 inch and 

 half a line ; from the point of the beak to the rictus, 1 inch 10 lines; 

 from the carpus to the end of the first primary (which is the longest), 

 1 1 inches 8 lines ; length of the tarsus 1 inch 7 lines ; of the middle 

 toe and nail 1 inch 6 lines. The beak brownish red; the head and 

 upper part of the neck brocoli-brown, bounded by blackish brown, 

 descending lowest at the fore part, some of the dark feathers at the 

 margin in front tipped with white ; the remaining portion of the neck, 

 the breast, abdomen, vent and tail, pure white; upper surface of the 

 wings pale ash-gray, under surface grayish white; primaries white, 

 edged and tipped with black, broadest on the inner web, shafts white ; 

 legs and toes brownish red, webs of the feet chocolate-brown. 



" Inhabits the Shetland and Orkney islands." 



At the request of the Chairman, Mr. Gould exhibited about thirty 

 recent specimens of the Slortmj Petrel, Thalassidroma pelagica, Vig., 

 received by him from the eastern coast of England; and a recent spe- 

 cimen of the Pomarhine Gull, Leslris Pomarhinus, Temm., obtained 

 from the same locality. A living pair of the latter bird have since 

 been added to the Society's Menagerie bv the kindness of James 

 Cornish. Esq. who obtained them on the coast of Devonshire. 



Some Notes by Mr. f)wen, taken at the dissection of two Seals 

 (Phoca vilutina, Linn.), which died at the Society's Gardens, were 

 read ; for the details of which we must refer to the I'rocecdings of 

 the Committee separately i)rinted ; noticing, however, the structure 



of 



