Zoological Socie/j/. 515 



one. Subcervical and ventral scales in eight rows ; subcaudal in 

 five rows, of which the middle row is the larger. There is a single 

 row of anal scales, curved upwards. Scales of the upper surface of 

 the body 3-keeled, of the lower smooth. A semicircular series of five 

 plates over each orbit separated by a long narrow frontal : five occi- 

 pital plates, the posterior ones largest : nasal, post- nasal, and labial 

 plates varied in form and size. 



" Head, back, tail and upper surface of the extremities reddish 

 brown, a blackish line intersecting each row of scales ; sides lighter, 

 marked by a series of irregular blackish streaks ; belly and under 

 surface of tail a brownish white; throat alternated longitudinally with 

 light and dark-brown lines ; submental scales whitish, bordered with 

 a broad dark-brown edge. 



" A single row of blunt teeth on the margin of the jaws. 

 " Body of nearly uniform shape from the commissure of the lips 

 to the tail." 



June 28. — A note addressed to Colonel Sykesby Lieut. Henning, 

 R.N., was read. It noticed the capture of an Albatross by a hook; 

 and stated that the bird, while so attached, was fastened on by an- 

 other of the same species, but whether with the intention of endea- 

 vouring to release it, or with the view of taking advantage of its help- 

 less condition, the writer did not attempt to determine. 



Some observations were read by Mr. Gray " On the genus 3fos- 

 chus of Liimseus, with descriptions of two new species." 



The only character, Mr. Gray remarks, by which this genus, as 

 established by Linnaeus and others, differs from the genus Cervus, 

 consists in the absence of horns ; for the elongated canines are com- 

 mon to it and most of the Indian species of Cervus, especially the 

 Cerv. Mvntjac. The character of the fur, the degree of hairiness or 

 nakedness of the metatarsus, and the presence or absence of the 

 musk-bag in the male, offer, however, good characters for the sub- 

 division of the group into three very distinct sections or subgenera. 

 The first of these divisions, for which Mr. Gray would retain the 

 name of Moschus, comprehends only the Thibet Musk, Moschus mos- 

 chiferus, Linn. In common with the Deer and Antelopes it has the 

 hinder and outer side of the metatarsus covered with close erect hair; 

 like many of the Deer also, its fur is quill-like and brittle ; it has, 

 moreover, a throat entirely clothed with hair ; and the males are 

 provided on the middle of the abdomen with a large pouch secreting 

 musk. Its young, like those of most of the Deer, are spotted, while 

 tlie adult animal is plain-coloured. 



The division to which Mr. Gray in the year 1821, in a paper in 

 the Medical Repository, gave the name of Memitina, also consists of 

 but a single species, the Moschus Meminna, Linn. In tliis group the 

 hinder edge of the metatarsus is covered with hair, but there is on 

 its outer side, a little below the hock, a rather large smooth naked 

 prominence, which is flesh-coloured during life ; the fur is rather 

 soft, spotted and varied with wliite, which becomes less conspicuous 

 in the older specimens, 1)ut does not appear ever to be entirely lost; 

 the throat is entirely covered with hair ; and there is no musk-bag 



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