8 94 Zoological Society. 



CBsion constituted the first portion of the collection, which extends 

 in these classes to upwards of four hundred new species ; the whole 

 of which Mr. Cuming proposed to bring before the Committee from 

 time to time, as the descriptions of them are completed. The in- 

 tention of publishing coloured figures of all the new species was 

 announced. 



The following is a list of the new species brought, on this even- 

 ing, under the notice of the Committee, accompanied by charac^ 

 ters and descriptions by Mr. Broderip and Mr. G. B. Sowerby : 



Chiton GoodalUi, Stoke-ui, subfuscus , Lyellii, luridus, limaciformis, 

 Blainvillii, Elenetisis, Swainso7ii, crenulatus, setosus, Frembleii, sea. 

 briculus, and retusus; Placunanomia (new genus) Cumingii ; 

 Dentalium splendidum, tesseragonum , quadrangulare, perpusillum ; 

 Helix monile ; Carocolla globosa and quadridentata ; Bulinus 

 Broderipii, Coturnix, Coquimbensis, granulosus, cactivorns, nitidus, 

 translucens, guttatus, vittatus, and scaTariforrjiis ; Partula hyalina; 

 Achatina Dactylus; Cyclostoma Cumingii, siicciiieum, and mi- 

 nutissimum ; Fasciolauia ^ra?zosa; and Voluta Cumingii. 



A paper was read by Mr. Cox, in which he entered at some 

 length into the consideration of atmospheric causes as influencing 

 the health of exotic animals kept in confinement in this climate. 



March 13. — Mr. Gray described the following new animals, 

 brought from New Holland by Mr. Cunningham: — Pseudomys 

 (new genus) australis ; Diplodactylus (new genus of Geckos) 

 vittatus ; TiLiQUA Cu7ininghami. He also stated that the com- 

 parison of a young specimen of Mus giganteus, Hardw., with a spe- 

 cimen of Mus setifer, Horsf., presented to the British Museum by 

 their respective describers, had enabled him to correct an opinion 

 expressed by M. Temminck in the " Tableau Methodique," ap- 

 pended to his " Monographies de Mammalogie," that the latter 

 species is only the young of the former ; and he detailed the dif- 

 ferences between the two animals, observing also, that the com- 

 parative length of the hinder feet, and the relative distances of the 

 tubercles of the sole from the end of the toes and from the heel, 

 appear to furnish very good distinctive characters for the species 

 of this difficult genus. 



Mr. Gray further stated, that in examining a specimen oi Antipathes 

 sent to the British Museum by the Rev. II. T. Lowe from Madeira, 

 and which he believed to be identical with the Ant. dichotoma, Pall., 

 he had discovered the animals of this remarkable Coral, and thus 

 ascertained (what had previously been only presumed from the 

 close resemblance of their homy axes,) its near relation to the genus 

 Gorgonia. 



Mr. Owen read an Account of the Anatomy of the Ariel Toucan, 

 jRamphastos Ariel, Vig, 



The stuffed skin and skull of a Rodent Quadruped, brought from 

 Chili by Mr. H. Cuming, were laid upon the table, and charac- 

 terized by Mr. Bennett as forming a new genus, Octodon, of which 

 the species before the Committee was also characterized by Mr. 

 Bennett as Oct. Cumingii. 



