Zoological Society. 301 



was of gigantic size, and probably double tbe weight of the Dodo. I 

 am sure it cannot be supposed (after what has been said) that Leguat 

 was describing this great bird when he wrote his beautiful description 

 of the Solitaire. Another important fact will, I think, set this question 

 at rest. Leguat states, that some of the males of the Solitaire weigh 

 forty-five pounds. Now we know the weight of the largest Turkeys 

 to be considerably less, rarely reaching thirty pounds, while the weight 

 of the Dodo is stated to have been at least fifty pounds. It cannot, 

 therefore, be supposed, had Leguat seen birds nearly double the size 

 of the Dodo, he could have made the statements or comparison he 

 has made between the Solitaire and Turkey. 



I have before expressed my great dislike to an unnecessary increase 

 of names : I feel, however, the necessity of finding an appropriate 

 name for this large bird, and therefore propose one somewhat familiar 

 to all who have paid any attention to the subject, and apply the name 

 of Didus Nazarenus to this the largest species of the genus. In doing 

 this, I may remark that Mr. Strickland, in his work before alluded 

 to, has considered the Didus Nazarenus to be a phantom species, 

 which he says has haunted our systems of ornithology from the days 

 of Gmelin downwards. 



The conclusions which I have arrived at from the examination of 

 the bones to which I have just called your attention are these : — That 

 there existed formerly three distinct species of Apterous birds in the 

 island of Rodriguez ; namely, one which is apparently identical with 

 the Dodo (Didus ineptus) of the Mauritius ; a second, which was 

 well described under the name of Solitaire ; and a third, which was 

 much larger than either of the above. 



12 College Street, Camden Town. 



Description of two new species of Mammalia of the 

 genus Antechinus. By John Gould, F.R.S. etc. 



One of these species is remarkable for being spotted on the under 

 instead of on the upper surface, and the other for its very diminutive 

 size : both rank among the smallest members of the genus. For the 

 former I propose the specific appellation of maeulatus ; it may be 

 thus described : — 



Antechinus maculatus. 



Fur short, dense, and closely applied to the skin ; general tint of 

 the upper surface dark blackish brown, minutely grizzled with yellow- 

 ish brown ; lower part of the flanks and under surface of the body 

 dark brownish slate-grey, ornamented with oblong spots of greyish 

 white arranged in irregular rows in the direction of the body ; down 

 the centre of the throat a streak of white. 



inches. 

 Length from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail 3\ 



of the tail 2£ 



from the tip of the nose to the base of the ear £ 



of the ear ^ 



■ of the tarsi and toes ^ 



Hab. Brushes of the river Clarence, on the east coast of Australia. 



