286 Zoolugical Sociely. 



Mr. Curtis states that the cells most analogous to these are those 

 formed by the Microgaster alvearia, which are as regular as those of 

 a honey-comb, and adds that it ajjpears from a notice in the ' Trans- 

 actions of the Entomological Society,' vol. iii. p. 35, that the pupae 

 of the Eggar-moths are also infested by parasitic Ichneumonldce. A 

 sketch of the cocoon of the Emperor Moth and of the cells formed by 

 its parasitic inhabitants accompanied the note. 



Read also, " Some Notes on the Natural History of Norfolk 

 Island," extracted from the papers of Capt. Alexander Maconochie, 

 R.N., late Lieutenant-Governor of the island. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



August 13, 1844. — Professor Owen, V.P., in the Chair. 



The following notes from Sir Robert Heron, on the Jerboas in his 

 collection, were read : — 



"June 14th, 1844. — The Jerboas were received into this mena- 

 gerie in June 1843. They are in a box full of cotton : the box is in 

 a room five and a half feet by four and a half, floored with wood, and 

 warmed by a flue which has always been heated at night ; the room 

 opens into a pen secured with wire, nine and a half feet by eight and 

 a half. They have been offered many kinds of food, but eat only 

 wheat and lettuce ; they have never been seen to drink, but from the 

 water diminishing and their parting with a considerable quantity of 

 urine, we have no doubt of the fact. On the 14th of Maj' last they 

 produced two young ones ; on the 1 2th inst. these young ones are 

 still blind and unable to "walk, also nearly naked, but they are grown 

 and appear to be healthy : it is intended to make a pit in their abode 

 about two feet square, filled with earth, where they may burrow. 



" June 29. — It was not till their fifth week that the young Jer- 

 boas appeared to have the use either of their eyes or limbs ; they 

 had still little fur, but were a good deal grown. Now, being forty-six 

 days old, they are about three-quarters grown, are well-clothed and 

 active ; they have been seen to eat corn, and are apparently quite 

 established. A second box has been put into their chamber, and last 

 night all four had removed into it. They have never been seen to 

 drink, but it is thought they do so, as the water is sometimes di- 

 minished. 



" July 20. — The young Jerboas are now exactly like the old ones." 



" Description of the Felis Melanura," by R. Ball, Esq., Secretary 

 to the Royal Zoological Society of Ireland. 



" Felis melanura, n. s. ? — Size larger than the Margay, but propor- 

 tionately slighter ; on the fore-toes are longitudinal black stripes, on 

 the hind-toes spots. Three irregular narrow stripes of white on the 

 sides, connected by anastomosing branches, divide the coloured part 

 into island-like irregular spaces, which are black on the edges, 

 shading into fulvous in the centre ; these island-like spaces are spotted 

 with black. The tail nearly touches the ground, is pointed and 

 black, save at the under part near the anus, w'here it is marked with 



