Zoological Club of the Linnean Society. 505 



most important viscera. The nine orders of birds as defined by M. 

 Blainville from the character of the sternum and its appendages were 

 noticed, as were also the generic divisions of Dr. F. J. Sherminier, de- 

 termined by the form of the same parts. 



The Tiumpeter, Mr. Yarrell observed, had been placed by Linnaeus 

 and Blumenbach after the Rails, and by other systematic writers either 

 among the Gallinaceous Birds or with the Cranes. On comparing its 

 skeleton with those of the genus Rallus, Linn., it was shown to possess 

 less affinity to that group than to any of the species of the more true 

 Waders or the Gallinaceous birds ; and an extended examination of its 

 osteology showed that it partook equally of the characters of those two 

 large divisions. To judge, therefore, from the skeleton, the true situa- 

 tion of the bird appeared to be at the point of contact of the two circles 

 described by the orders Rasores and Grallatores. 



Mr. Yarrell having purposely confined his remarks to the osteology of 

 the bird, Mr. Vigors adverted to the confirmation furnished by it of the 

 correctness of the views which he had advanced in his Essay on the Na- 

 tural Affinities that connect the Orders and Families of Birds. He had 

 there been induced by the consideration of the external characters and 

 habits alone to regard the genus Psophia as constituting the coimecting 

 link between the Rasores and the Grallatores ; and the anatomical in- 

 vestigations which had that evening been submitted to the Club having 

 led to the same conclusion, the propriety of this location in the system 

 might now be considered to be fully established. 



November 11. — Mr. Yarrell exhibited a drawing of a rare British fish, 

 the Spar as lineatus of Montagu, whose description and figure in the se- 

 cond volume of the Wernerian Transactions appear to be the only origi- 

 nal notices hitherto given of it. He also mentioned that he had recently 

 seen a specimen of the Scofopax Sabini, Vig., killed in Ireland, which 

 agreed in every respect with the individuals formerly exhibited to the 

 Club. 



Mr. Bell made some observations relative to the habits of the Toad, 

 Bufo vulgaris, Daud., particularly as regarded its mode of feeding. He 

 also stated that he had had several opportunities during the last summer 

 of observing the fact recorded by Schneider, that Toads devour the skin 

 which they shed. In one instance he witnessed the whole process of the 



