Zoological Society. 65 



Miller acknowledged to the Society his great obligations to Mr. Dick, 

 a singularly intelligent tradesman of Thurso, to whose geological 

 labours, prosecuted in his leisure hours, Mr. Aiiller mainly owed his 

 acquaintance with this gigantic Ganoid, and who had kindly made 

 over to him the interesting fossils now before them, illustrative of its 

 form and character. 



At the conclusion of Mr. Miller's paper several members spoke of 

 the interesting nature of his researches, and the desirableness of 

 those engaged in the study of palseontology exerting themselves to 

 have in Edinburgh a public collection of fossils, in which our city is 

 so deficient. An interesting discussion also took place, principally 

 bearing on the relation existing between the fossil fauna and flora of 

 ancient epochs and those of the recent sera, when some interesting 

 facts were stated by several members, which it is hoped will be 

 brought forward at a future meeting. 



Mr. R. Stark then exhibited to the meeting a few specimens of 

 mosses recently received from North America, and lichens from the 

 Falkland Islands. Among the former were fine specimens of Bryum 

 roseum, a large and beautiful species, with mature fruit, Neckera mi- 

 nor. Pal. Beauv., ^niAnomodon viticulosum, B. Auct., which is con- 

 fined to North America. These, and the other species shown, illus- 

 trated the modifications produced by the difference of climate and 

 other influences on them, as well as plants of a higher order common 

 to the European and American continent. The lichens from the 

 Falkland Islands, brought home by Dr. J. Hooker, were mostly of 

 species closely allied to or identical with those of Britain. One of 

 the most interesting was a minute species — Squamaria elegaiis — 

 which may be regarded as the most southerly plant known, being 

 found alone on the bleak and desolate southern coast of Cockburn's 

 Island, beyond which all traces of vegetation disappear. Mr. Stark 

 concluded by a few remarks on the desirableness of more fully inves- 

 tigating the geographical range of these plants, with a view of illus- 

 trating other branches of natural history. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Feb. 22, 1848.— William Yarrell, Esq. .Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The following paper was read : — 



1. On a new Species of Chimpanzee. By Professor Owen, 



F.R.S. 



This communication contained a description of the skulls of adult 

 and aged male and female Chimpanzees from the Gaboon river, west 

 coast of Africa, much exceeding in size and specifically distinct from 

 the previously known Troglodytes niger. The author proposed to 

 call the new species Troglodytes Savagei, after Dr. Thos. S. Savage, 

 by whom it had been discovered and its existence made known to 

 Professor Owen, in a letter dated April 24th, 1847, and of which the 

 following extract was read : — 



Ann. &: Mag. N. Hist. Ser. 2. Vol. iii. 5 



