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=v 
Zoological Society. 211 
orifice at theirapex. A careful examination of the interior structure, 
however, makes it evident that the shell is multilocular, and that it 
is formed upon the type of the Helicostégue Foraminifera, closely 
resembling Globigerina in the commencement of its growth; the 
supposed ‘valves’ being the walls of the outer whorl, the chambers 
of which are very large, and are partially subdivided by incomplete 
septa. All the principal chambers communicate by orifices of their 
own with a sort of central funnel which leads to the external orifice ; 
and thus their relation to it is very much that of the separate orifices 
of the chambers of Globigerina to its umbilicus. The cavities of the 
chambers are occupied by a spongeous tissue, which contains sili- 
ceous spicules; and although the possibility that this spongy sub- 
stance may be parasitic must not be lost sight of, yet reasons are 
given which seem to render it almost certain that this is the proper 
body of the organism, on which Dr. Gray, who first discerned its 
true affinities, has conferred the generic name of Carpenteria. 
The author concludes with some general observations upon the 
mutual affinities of the “typical forms ” of Foraminifera whose struc- 
ture he has now elucidated ; and he sums up the evidence which his 
examination of them has furnished in regard to the very wide range 
of variation which seems especially to characterize this group,— 
avowing his conviction that the only classificatiou of it which can 
approach to a really natural arrangement, will be one founded upon 
the idea of ‘‘ descent with modification’ as the means by which an 
almost infinite variety of special forms has been evolved from a few 
fundamental types. 
ZCOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
May 8, 1860.—E. W. H. Holdsworth, Esq., F.L.S., in the Chair. 
ON AN APPARENTLY New Species oF ParaApise-Birp. 
By Wixii1Am Goopwin. 
I beg permission to introduce to your notice a Bird of Paradise, 
which I believe to be either altogether unknown, or at least hitherto 
undescribed. 
I have interested myself for many years in this branch of Orni- 
thology, and possess in my own collection twenty-nine specimens, re- 
presenting all the different species known up to the present time, 
with the exception of Semioptera Wallacii. I have had opportunities 
of inspecting the fine collections of these birds sent to England by 
that energetic and able naturalist Mr. Wallace, and have searched 
in vain for any specimen similar to that which I have now the 
honour of introducing to the meeting. I therefore conclude it to 
be in all probability an entirely new and undescribed species. 
The bird now before you, which I believe to be the female, came 
into my possession about twenty years ago, together with another, 
which I have no doubt is the male bird. This latter specimen is 
now in the British Museum. 
I received them both from Mr. Bartlett, and we then agreed in 
