Professor Duns on Fishes and Reptiles from Old Calabar. 55 



Dr Duns pointed out the advantages of using carbolic acid for 

 the preservation of specimens. In its crystallized form it is 

 much more portable than methylated spirit, and not more 

 than about one-fifth of the price. An ounce will saturate 

 two gallons of water at least, rendering it strong enough for 

 this purpose. 



Among the fishes were two large specimens of Calamoichtliys 

 Galabaricus, originally described by the Society's president, 

 Dr J. A. Smith. They are larger, and in a better state of 

 preservation than those characterised by Dr Smith. 



Dr Duns exhibited three specimens of the West African 

 electric fish (Malapterurus Beninensis) one of the Siluridt^ ; 

 and pointed out a characteristic mark of age in these forms. 

 The first, which is laroje and full grown, has lost the black 

 blotches, usually held to belong to this species. The second, 

 which is not mature, is marked by these ; and, in addition to 

 them, has a band of dim white passing round the extremity, 

 between the dorsal and caudal fins. The third, a young 

 specimen, has the band of a pure and distinctly marked 

 white, and the black spots not so well marked as in the 

 second. 



Two large and beautiful specimens of the new boa (Cala- 

 . haria fusca) were shown to the Society, and described. This 

 form was first characterised byDr J. E. Gray, in 1858. Having 

 noticed the form of the labial, rostral, and frontal shields, Dr 

 Gray says that the three pairs of frontals are followed by a 

 band-like shield from side to side, that is, between the eyes. 

 He afterwards adds, " I think it is probable, when some 

 other specimens have been examined, that the band -like 

 shield, extending across from the upper edge of each eye, will 

 be found to be composed of three shields, like the band behind 

 it" (Proc. Zool. Soc, 1858, p. 154). He afterwards adds, in 

 a note, that he had found a young specimen of this boa, in 

 which the number and order of the shields were as he had 

 anticipated. In the largest specimen shown to the Society, 

 the shields have most distinctly tliis form ; but this specimen 

 has all the appearance of age about it. It is nearly a foot 

 larger than that originally described by Dr Gray. It is 3 

 feet 9 inches in length, and 7 inches in girth. In the other 



