Zoological Society. 67 



de Poisson du Genre Histiophore, de la Mer Rouge : par M. E. Rup- 

 pell, M.D., Memb. Ext. Z. S." It was accompanied by a drawing 

 of the fish described in it. 



MM. Cuvier and Valenciennes have described, in their ' Histoire 

 Naturelle des Poissons,' three species of Sword-fishes of the genus 

 Histiophorus ; from all of which Dr. Riippell regards his fish as di- 

 stinct, although it apparently approaches most nearly to Hist. Ame- 

 ricanus : it should seem that its occurrence at Djetta, on the coast 

 of Arabia, was only accidental, as the Arab fishermen knew no name 

 for it. The most striking peculiarity of the new species is the uni- 

 formity of the colour of its dorsal fin : in all those which were pre- 

 viously known the first dorsal fin is varied with spots ; in the one 

 obtained by Dr. Riippell, the first dorsal fin is black throughout and 

 destitute of spots, on which account its discoverer proposes for it 

 the name of 



Histiophorus immaculatus, under which its characters are given in 

 the Society's " Proceedings." 



Dr. Riippell describes the fish in considerable detail. He has not, 

 however, examined it anatomically, on account of his possessing 

 only one specimen, which he had deposited in the Frankfort Mu- 

 seum. 



The following notes by Sir Robert Heron, Bart., were read. 



" In many books that I have seen some errors are made in the 

 history of the Kangaroos, which my long possession of those animals 

 enables me to correct. 



" The great Kangaroo does not make use of his tail in leaping. 

 He uses it in walking, and still more in standing. When excited, 

 he stands (the male only) on tip-toe and on his tail ; and is then of 

 prodigious height. In fighting he does not stand on the tail and one 

 leg, but balances himself for a moment on the tail only, and strikes 

 forward with both hind legs. 



" The bush Kangaroo, or Kanguru enfume of Cuvier, never uses 

 his legs in fighting. He generally contents himself with threatening 

 with his teeth and a low growl ; but I have seen him, when attacked 

 by an Emu, jump up at the bird's head. Neither of them, however, 

 has persevered in annoyance. 



" When sitting in a state of repose the great Kangaroo throws the 

 tail behind him: the lesser one before him, between his legs." 



The following note by Sir Robert Heron, Bart., was also read, as 

 giving an account of an extraordinary instance of want of sagacity 

 in a Dog. 



" A large old white female terrier followed me this autumn from 

 Grantham. She remained perfectly satisfied for three weeks, when, 

 on my again going to attend the petty sessions, she again followed me, 

 I then found that she belonged to one of my colleagues, the Rev. Mr. 

 Ottley ; and that she had long been a great favourite in the family, 

 who were greatly distressed at her loss. It happened that Mr. Ottley 

 and I each rode a chestnut pony with a long tail. This had com- 

 pletely deceived the dog, whose unsentimental friendship did not 

 prompt her to ask any further questions." 



12 



