i39 Zoological Society : — 



from the centra of the vertebrae *. The furcular bone is only appa- 

 rently simple, although in this specimen of Microglossa no sutures 

 can be seen. In the Ash-coloured Parrot (Psittacus erythacus), 

 however, and in the East- Indian Palceomis torquatus, the thick, 

 broad end of each ramus is seen to be a separate piece. This is 

 also to be seen in the Toucan (Ramphastos Toco) and in the King- 

 6sher (Alcedo ispida), but is still better developed in all the " Rap- 

 tores " and Totipalmatse, in the Balceniceps and Umhretta, and, in 

 a less degree, in most typical Herons. I have already spoken of 

 this part (P. Z. S. 1864, p. 339 et seq.), and may now say that it is 

 a rudiment of the so-called " clavicle " of the Batrachian, Chelonian, 

 and African Ostrich, and is well seen as a distinct bone in the 

 shoulder-girdle of the Salmon tribe and some other allied Fishes. 

 In Birds this rudiment is proximal ; in Mammals, generally, it is 

 distal or sternal ; but I have found such a piece at both ends of the 

 clavicle in certain Insectivora, e. g. the Mole {Talpa europcea), and 

 in the Shrew (Sorex tetragonurus). In Lizards the counterpart of 

 this cartilage is the anterior boundary of the coraco-acromial fenes- 

 trse. The supposed rudiment of the clavicle in certain small Par- 

 rots, e. g. the hove-^\xA.{Agapornis pullaria) and the Grass- Parakeet 

 {Melopsittacus undulatus), is an ossification of this acromial car- 

 tilage, la Psephotis multicolor neither this nor the furcular bone is 

 present. 



March 28, 1865.— John Gould, Esq., F.R.S., in the Chair. 



Notice of a New Species of Porpoise (Phoc^na tuber- 

 culifera) inhabiting the Mouth of the Thames. By 

 Dr. John Edward Gray, F.R.S., F.L.S., etc. 



The fact of a new species of Porpoise being found on our own 

 shores, at the mouth of the Thames, must be considered a proof of 

 how little we at present know of the species of Cetacea. 



The Zoological Society, who are so anxious to obtain specimens 

 of these animals that their habits may be studied, procured with 

 considerable trouble a fine male Porpoise, which had been caught at 

 Margate. It was carried to the Gardens, and placed in the pond 

 formed for these animals ; but, though showing no external injury, 

 it was in so weak a state when it arrived that it sank to the bottom, 

 and was obliged to be taken out and suspended by bands on the sur- 

 face of the water so that it might not be choked. After a time it 

 recovered so as to be able to swim about by its own exertion, but it 

 only survived the transport a few days. 



Messrs. Bartlett and Gerrard, when it was alive, said that it dif- 

 fered so much in general appearance from the Common Porpoise that 

 they were induced to believe that it might be a species of Lageno- 

 rhgnchus or Grampus. 



* I would remark that, to trace the affinities of the Parrot tribe, we should 

 take such forms as the Common Grey Parrot {Psittacus erythacus), Nestor, 

 Psephotis, &c., in wliich the Psittacine characters are somewhat enfeebled. I 

 have not fouud any other " family" so isolated as this. 



