300 Zoological Society : — 



in all directions subdichotomously, and making a tolerably thick 

 bush. They are much thinner than the main stem, and they become 

 gradually more slender upwards, the calcareous joints at the same 

 time becoming longer. Occasionally two of the ultimate branchlets 

 come into contact and are soldered together. Each branchlet bears 

 at its apex a cell of a shape between campanulate and infundibuli- 

 form, the margin of which bears eight pairs of long, upright, spine- 

 like spicula. There are also sessile cells at the sides of the ultimate 

 branchlets, one at each interjoint. All the cells are of a pale brown 

 colour. The pellicle covering the branchlets contains long spicula, 

 which are for the most part large and fusiform, whilst the smaller 

 ones are cylindrical, and all are brown and minutely tuberculated. 



A single example of this Coral was obtained from a fisherman at 

 Cama de Lobos, Madeira, and it is now in the British Museum. Its 

 length, without the base, which is wanting, is 13 inches, and it is 

 7 inches across. The lower part of the main stem has a diameter of 

 three-tenths of an inch, and its calcareous joints are about three- 

 eighths of an inch in length. The branches are broken away from 

 this part of the stem ; but there are remains to show that some of 

 the interjoints bore four branches, others only one. A cell, with its 

 marginal spines, measures the fifth of an inch. 



This coral seems to be nearly related to Mopsea dichotoma ; but 

 M. Milne-Edwards gives the Indian Ocean (with a mark of doubt) 

 as the habitat of that species. Strange to say, that writer, in his 

 work on Corals (' Histoire Naturelle des Coralliaires,' forming one 

 of the ' Nouvelles Suites a Buffon'), is altogether silent as to the cells 

 of Mopsea. Lamouroux says that the polypi (? cells) of M . dicho- 

 toma are mammiform on the higher, tuberculous on the middle, and 

 superficial on the lower branches. This would ill accord with the 

 Madeiran specimen. Little agreement can be made out between that 

 specimen and the figures of Esper, " Pflanzenthiere," Isis, pi. 5, 

 figs. 1-5. 



Nov. 25, 1862.— E. W. H. Holdsworth, F.Z.S., in the Chair. 



Mr. W. K. Parker read the following abstract of a Memoir on 

 the Osteology of the 'genera Pterocles, Syrrhaptes, Hemipodius, and 

 Tinamus, intended for publication in the Society's ' Transactions :' — 



" The classification of the gallinaceous birds would be easy enough 

 if it were not for certain outliers, which refuse to conform to that 

 particular plan of structure with which we are all so familiar in that 

 very convenient and natural type of the group, the Common Fowl. 



" Agreeing with this bird in all essential respects are the genera 

 Phasianus, Polyplectron, Lopkophorus, Tragopan, Pavo, Meleagris, 

 Numida, and many others, the species of which are in many instances 

 creatures of unsurpassed beauty. This properly typical group has, 

 amongst other characteristics, its species provided with a robust body, 

 short rounded wings, and very strong legs ; whilst the tarsi are 

 naked, provided with one or two spurs, and having the generally 

 small heel elevated above the anterior toes. 



" Notwithstanding the more subdued style of colouring, and 



