74 Zoological Society : — 



the iiervus vagus and glossopharyngeus. The os petrosum is di- 

 stinguished by a spheroid flat bulla ossea, which is quite different 

 from that in some Mammals, being there the ossified cavum tym- 

 pani, here a part of the vestibulum ; it is very thin and transparent, 

 so that the calcareous concrement may be seen. The upper part of 

 the cranium is as broad as the os basilare is expanded ; from the 

 broad united ossa parietalia and frontalia suddenly projects a narrow 

 long bone, situated between th.e nostrils, parallel with the ascending 

 processes of the intermaxillary bone, and nearly reaching the sym- 

 physis of the intermaxillary bones. This is formed by the frontalia 

 anteriora ; and there is in front a vestige of a suture, ])erhaps of for- 

 merly-separated nasal bones. The edge of the maxillary and inter- 

 maxillary bones is sharp ; and the latter are provided with very long 

 and narrow ascending processes. There are nine vertebrae, the second 

 with hammer-like, the third and fourth with long cyUndrical diapo- 

 physes ; that of the sacral vertebra is moderately dilated, triangular, 

 and flat, and joined with the ossa ilea by a much-developed cartilagi- 

 nous symphysis. The scapula is not notched on the inner edge ; the 

 bones of the extremities are distinguished by their shortness and by 

 the large size of their condyles. There is no processus xiphoideus. 

 The contents of the stomach consisted of a great many excessively 

 small beetles, some lumps of earth, and small pieces of stick. I 

 suppose that the animal catches those insects by stretching out the 

 tongue, as some other animals do. In this action small particles 

 of earth, &c. adhere to the tongue. The lumps of earth found were 

 balled together only in the stomach, being too large to have passed 

 the narrow cleft of the mouth*. 



A FEW REMARKS ON THE HaBITS AND EcONOMY 0¥ THE 



Brown-Capped Pomatorhinus (P. ruficeps, Hartlaub). 

 By G. Krefft. 



The range of this bird does not appear to be a very extensive one ; 

 it was first discovered in the Polygonium Flats bordering the Murray 

 River and its backwaters ; but on the Darling they were not found 

 so plentiful. Their favourite haunts are clusters of dead box timbers, 

 and scrubby flats studded with salt bush, &c. 



This bird is remarkably shy, and so cunning, that in almost all cases 

 i. will evade pursuit by running into some scrubby bush, and hide 

 there till the danger is over. Its power of flight is exceedingly mo- 

 derate, and closely resembles that of the brown Tree-creeper. 



These birds are always found in flocks of from four or five to twenty 

 and more. They keep a good look-out ; and as soon as they suspect 

 danger, they will rise with a sharp whirring noise, and seek shelter 



* M. Salle, to whom science is indebted for the discovery of this strange animal, 

 writes in a letter, " Je sais bien pen de choses sur le Rhinophrynus dorsalis; il 

 vient des terres chaudes et temperees de I'Etat de Vera Cruz ; on le trouve dans 

 la terre et assez profondement enfonce, quelquefois a im pied ou deux ; il parait 

 y vivre, il a des mouvements tres lents et il est tres mou, ce qui fait, que les in- 

 digenes le desiguent dans des endroits sous le nom de Sapo sin hueros (Crapaud 

 sans os) ; je ne sais pas comment il peut s'enterrer ni de quoi il se nourrit." 



