207 



strength for so small an animal. Two small flattened Cowper'ji 

 glands, of a circular figure, open by long ducts into this part of the 

 urethra-., the remainder of the canal is narrow. 



"ThepeHJs is abruptly bent backwards, and terminates in a trun- 

 cate extremity, which I have observed frequently hanging down in 

 the living animal. The eredores muscles are short and strong, but 

 quite inadequate to perform the office their name implies. The 

 erection or extension of the penis is performed, as in other retro- 

 mingents, by two muscles arising from the symphysis pubis, and in- 

 serted wediT t\\Q glans by a single tendon, which traverses the dorsum 

 penis. One can hardly conceive how even these muscles can be 

 adequate to the complete extension of i\\c penis, unless assisted by 

 the action which Cuvier attributes to the acceleratores urincB, viz. 

 that of expelling the accumulated blood from the buJbous part, and 

 chasing it to the other end of the penis, — an action which one can 

 readily conceive must have a considerable influence in the erection, 

 as well as in driving onwards the fluids accumulated in the bulb. 



" The viscera of the chest, the tongue, and the larynx presented 

 nothing remarkable. 



" The chief peculiarity observed in the muscular system was a 

 modification of the digastric muscle of the lower jaw, which arose, 

 as in the Armadilloes , from the upper part of the sternum, instead 

 of the occiput or temporal bone ; and was inserted into the whole 

 ramus and angle of the lower jaw ; it was of remarkable strength, 

 being as large as the sterno-cleido-mastoideus in man. It is this 

 muscle which occasions the peculiar fulness of the neck in the 

 Hyrax." 



The following extract from the Report of the Council to the 

 General Meeting on December 6th, was read : 



"In their last Annual Report, the Council adverted with un- 

 mixed satisfaction to the meetings of the Committee of Science 

 and Correspondence, and to the published Proceedings which have 

 emanated from those meetings. The Council saw in them proofs 

 of the scientific zeal of the Members of the Society, both at home 

 and abroad j and subsequent meetings and proceedings have con- 

 firmed the impression made by them, that much important informa- 

 tion was likely to be afforded to the public by the industry and 

 talent of those Members who have taken a share in producing them, 

 as well as of other Members, not less qualified to add to the general 

 stock of zoological knowledge. Aware from such ample evidence 

 that the Society may, by the exertions of its Members, assume a 

 rank in the scientific world commensurate with its resources and 

 their zeal, the Council have under consideration a plan for substi- 

 tuting in lieu of meetings of a Committee, general meetings of the 

 Society for scientific purposes. They trust to be able to lay before 

 an early meeting the details of such a plan. With it will be con- 

 nected the publication, with the requisite illustrations, of all the 

 more important papers which may be communicated to the scientific 

 meetings." 



