224 Zoological Society. 



cone is 60 ; that at the smaller end, where they begin to resolve 

 themselves into their constituent filaments, is 30. The diameter of 

 the longitudinal fibres is about ^^th of an inch ; that of the trans- 

 verse fibres is somewhat less. The oblique fibres, where they are 

 most regular, average p^jth of an inch ; the longitudinal fibres, where 

 they begin to resolve themselves into their component filaments, ex- 

 pand in the direction of a line passing to the centre of the cone, and 

 not in the direction of the plane of its circumference ; maintaining, in 

 the latter respect, nearly the same breadth to their entire unraveling ; 

 whilst in the other dimension they equal one line in breadth before 

 they are wholly decomposed. Small portions of a finely reticulate 

 plate were loosely attached to some parts of the internal surface. 

 The fibres of these pieces consisted of minute filaments, irregular in 

 their course, branching, anastomosing, and sending off abrupt pro- 

 cesses like thorns. The component filaments of the parietal fibres 

 are of two kinds ; the one simple, cylindrical, and smooth ; the others 

 barbed at pretty regular distances through their whole course, like 

 the hair of certain caterpillars. I have also observed a long filament, 

 simple at one extremity, and becoming barbed at the other. They 

 consist of material like the dried gluten of marine plants, containing 

 a small proportion of azote, and burning away to a charry residuum. 



" If the basal aperture of the cone were open, the resemblance to 

 many of the beautiful reticulate Alcyonoid sponges would be very 

 close : its closure by the reticulate convex cap, in the present in- 

 stance, establishes the generic distinction ; and in the exquisite 

 beauty and regularity of the texture of the walls of the cone the 

 species surpasses any of the allied productions that I have, as yet, 

 seen, or found described." 



A letter from G. T. Vigne, Esq. M-as read. In this letter, at the 

 request of the Society's Curator, Mr. Mgne furnishes the following 

 list of Birds constituting part of a collection this gentleman had formed 

 during his travels in Thibet, Cashmere, &c. 

 Aquila Bonelli, Gould. Cashmere and Lower Himalaya. 



Buteo ? Cashmere. 



Accipiter fringiUarius, Ray. Cashmere. 



Falco biarmicus} Temm.l Common in the plains under the Alpine 



Chicquera } Lath. / Panjab. 



Athene Cuculuides, Gould. In the Alpine Panjab. 

 Caprimulgus Asiaticus, Lath. Plain of Attok. 

 Merops Apkister, Linn. Cashmere and Persia. 

 Alcedo Bengalensis , Gmel. Cashmere. 



Smyrnensis. Al])ine Panjab. 



Phcenicornis brevirostris, ^'ig. lb. 

 Muscipeta castanea, Temm. lb. 

 Tardus (itrogularis, Temm. lb. 

 Oriolus galbvloides, Gould. lb. 



Ixos leiicogenijs {Brachypus leiicogenys of Hardwick and Gray's ' In- 

 dian Zoology'). Cashmere. 



2<[ote. — An allied species, differing in having red instead of yellow 

 under the tail, is found in the plains of India. 



