386 Scientific Intelligence. 



42. New Species of. Mammiferous Animal. — A correspondent informs us, 

 that M. Isidorus St. Hilaire, a young naturalist of great promise, has 

 obtained the honourable notice of the Institute, by adding a new species 

 to the list of mammalia already known. The animal was brought from 

 the Cape by the late M. de la Lande, (a collector employed by the 

 French °- vernment to add to the museum of natural history,) and is 

 described as being analogous in some respects to the hyena, and in others 

 to the civet. He has given it the name of Proteus. In the following 

 number of this Journal, we shall offer some remarks on this new species, 

 which probably has not hitherto been accurately described by any na- 

 turalist, though it is extremely well known to the colonists, and even to 

 occasional travellers in Southern Africa. The name by which the animal 

 is known on the banks of the Great Fish River, has at present escaped 

 our recollection. (K.) 



43. Fossil Elephant discovered between Ike Rhine and the Saonc — The 

 bones of this elephant were found on the east side of Lyons, in a garden 

 situated on a hill, between the Rhine and the Saone. The bones were 

 found in what the men supposed was virgin earth. M. Bredin found 

 that they were those of the elephant. The humerus was twelve and a 

 half feet long, and nine inches broad at its upper extremity. The 

 tibia was two and a half feet, and two fragments of the scapula were to- 

 gether two feet long. Some bones of an ox were found among the ele- 

 phant's ones. — Phil. Mag. vol. lxiv. p. 316. 



44. Lamantine. — Two species of this interesting genus have been deter- 

 mined by Cuvier, chiefly from the characters of the bones of the head, 

 viz. Manahts Americanus and 31. Senegalcnsis. The former inhabits the 

 shores of South America and the West Indies. Dr. Harlan has publish- 

 ed some valuable observations on another American species, which ap- 

 proaches so closely in character to the African one, as to give strong in- 

 dications of their identity. It is found in considerable numbers about 

 the mouths of rivers, near the Capes of East Florida, Lat. 25°, is killed 

 by the Indians with harpoons during the summer months, and measures 

 from eight to ten feet in length. Dr. Harlan, considering that the snout 

 of the Florida species is wider below the eyes than the African one, pro- 

 poses to denominate it M. Latirostris, but as yet no better marked speci- 

 fic difference has been ascertained. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philadelphia, 

 vol. iii. 390. (F.) 



45. Anas Rujitorques. — This species of duck, belonging to the genus Ny- 

 roca, has been lately established by Mr. Charles Bonaparte. Journ. Acad. 

 Phil. iii. 3S1. It was figured by Wilson in his American Ornithology, 

 vol. viii. p. GO. Tab. 67. f. 5. as the Anas Fuligula of European authors. It 

 differs, however, in the bill having two white bands, neck with a glossy 

 chesnut band, flanks with dusky zig-zag lines, and the speculum ash-grey. 

 Inhabits the North American rivers, as a winter visitant. It feeds on 

 vegetables, and its flesh is tender. Its summer residence and breeding- 

 place is unknown. (F.) 



