Dr. Shortt on the Pteropus of India. 141 
Osteological Gallery of the Museum of the Jardin des Plantes at 
Paris; for the remains of the two Gare-Fowls killed on Eldey in 1844, 
which were sent to Copenhagen, and are still preserved in the Phy- 
siological Museum of the University there, have been dissected with 
a view to show the different systems of organs; they are therefore 
even less available to determine the general osteology of the bird 
than are the various loose bones which, through Stuvitz’s labours, 
exist in the Museums at Christiania and Copenhagen, that of our 
Royal College of Surgeons, and in my own collection. 
Nov. 24, 1863.—John Gould, Esq., F.R.S., in the Chair. 
The Secretary read the following letter from Dr. J. Shortt, F.Z.S., 
relating to the fishing-propensities of the Pferopus of India:— 
© S1r,—At about 6 p.m. on the 30th of April last, when at Con- 
leeveram, my attention was attracted to a tank next the Dispensary, 
which, owing to a light shower of rain that had just fallen, literally 
seemed alive with small fish gambolling and jumping about in the 
water. There was nothing new in this; but my attention was drawn 
to a number of large birds with a somewhat heavy flight, hovering 
over the water and seizing with their feet the fish, with which they 
then made off to some tamarind-trees on the bund of the tank, to 
devour them at their leisure, I suppose. 
«On a closer examination, I discovered that what I had imagined 
mere birds were none other than Flying Foxes, the Pteropus edulis. 
After watching them fishing for some time, I had to leave, owing to 
the darkness of the evening. I returned to the tank the next evening 
half an hour earlier, and again witnessed the same occurrence. 
“T then got my assistant, Mr. Watson, to bring his gun and shoot 
some, so that I might satisfy myself as to the identity of these ani- 
mals. Mr. Watson shot some two or three whilst in the act of 
seizing their fishy prey, and on examination I found them to be 
actually Flying Foxes. During a second visit, on the 5th and 6th 
of June, I observed the same thing occur again. 
“Tam not aware of the fishing-propensities of this animal ever 
having been noticed, for | find no account of them in any work on na- 
tural history that I have had opportunities of consulting on the sub- 
ject. This habit of the Flying Fox appearing new to me, I send 
you this communication, as there may be others who have witnessed 
the same thing ; and if made known, this would, I am sure, prove of 
interest to the naturalist. 
“ Chingleput, June 12th, 1863.” 
The Secretary also read the following extract from Dr. Bennett’s 
latest letter (dated Sydney, Sept. 19th), respecting the Kagu of New 
Caledonia (Rhinochetus jubatus) :— 
“My young friend Mr. Ferdinand Joubert thus writes to me from 
‘Kai,’ in the interior of New Caledonia, August 2nd, 1863 :— 
“*«T see in the ‘ Sydney Herald’ your article on the Kagu. I will 
