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312. British Association for the Advancement of Science. 
Rev, L. Jenyns exhibited a series of specimens of the square- 
tailed shrew, (Sorex tetragonurus, Herm.) and also a specimen _ 
of the chestnut shrew, (S. castaneus, Jen. a iaiom in his 
- opinion, a distinct species. 
Mr: Gray made some observations on the boring of Pholades. 
The action of these animals in boring rocks he was inclined to 
consider mechanical. 
Sir Wm. Jardine read the teport drawn up.at the ae of the 
Association on the present state of our noplaiye of the Salmo- 
nide of Scotland. 
Mr. Allis, of York, read a paper on the Toes of the African 
Ostrich, and the maiseslog of phalanges in the toes of other birds. 
Mr. A. had not been able to find the rudiments of a third toe, 
alleged t to exist in the Ostrich, He further stated, that Cuvier had 
erroneously given the number of phalanges of the toes of the fol- 
lowing birds. In the Cassowary, which had 3 toes oS beg num- 
bers are 3, 4, and 5. Inthe Ostrich 4and 5.’ he C Caprimulgus 
has the outer and middle toe, having 4 phalanges each. . 'The 
Swift has only 3-phalanges, except in the hallux. vane * “mi 
ming-bird has the full number of-phalanges in all its toes. 
Dr. Charlton showed a specimen of Tetrao Rakkelhan of Tem- 
ninck, and endeavored to substantiate the old theory, that this 
bird is nothing but a hybrid between the hen capercailzie and 
blackcock. 
Dr. Handyside, of { Edinburgh, presented a paper on the Stern- 
oplixinee, a family _ osseous. fishes, including a minute deserip- 
tion of a. new species, the Sternoptir telebes. 
The next paper was on the distribution of the serrégeriat Pul- 
_monifera in Europe, by Edward Forbes. 
A notice of the annual appearance of some of the Lestris tribe 
(Arctic Gulls) on the coast of Durham, was communicated by 
_ Edward Backhouse, Esq., of. Sunderland. 
Mr. Owen stated some of the results of his investigations made 
in procuring materials for his report on-the Marsupiata. The 
report was drawn up under three heads.- 1. The zoology of the 
Marsupiata. 2. Their relation to other Mammalia, and 3. ‘Fhe pe- . 
culiarities of their reproductive economy. He concluded with 
some geological account of the bones of these animals. © 
Mr. Yarrell gave a description of a new species of Smelt, caught 
7 bay of Rothsay, which he denominates Osmerus aa 
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