IX 



their young. Several members present at tlie meeting 

 could bear testimony, as regard the Gourami, to the truth 

 of this statement. 



The Conchology of Rodrigues, only a few years ago^ 

 was unknown, until Mr. Bewsher visited that Island to 

 study its Ornithology. It had been already explored by 

 Mr. Desmazures, who had been cast there by shipwreck. 



The shells collected by our colleague were sent to the 

 Editor of the Journal de Conchyologie and were described 

 and figured by Mr Morelet. 



Four of those belonging to fossil and semi fossil species, 



found amongst the bones of the Solitaire'^ were recpgnised 



to be new, and the names of two members of the iciety, 



MM. C. E, Bewsher and Ev. Dupont, were bestowed on 

 them. 



Thanks to his activity and by frequent searches among 

 the caverns of Rodrigues, M, J. Caldwell sent in a special 

 mission to that Island, found fossil bones belonging to 

 several animals, and especially to the Solitaire, that gi- 

 gantic Bii'd of whose habits, the traveller Leguat, has given 

 such an interesting account, 



From scattered bones, Mr J. Caldwell has been enabled 

 to construct an entire skeleton, a few small missing frag- 

 ments having been artificially added. 



It is perhaps the most perfect existing specimen of that 

 curious bird. 



* Tezo;p]ios Soliiarla Gmel, Bidus SoJitar!ns Oyveii. 



