30 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
expected as further exploration proceeds. The recorded species of birds 
from the Philippines at present amount to 285. 
A letter containing observations on the American Grasshopper (Caloptenus 
femur-rubrum), with remarks on the same, by Mr. F. Smith, was noticed. 
December 7, 1876.—G. Bentoam, Esq., Vice-President, in the chair. 
Thirteen new Fellows were balloted for, and duly elected. 
The botanical papers read were “ New British Lichens,” by the Rev. W. A. 
Leighton, and “A General Systematic Arrangement of of the Iridacee (the 
Iris family),” by J. G. Baker, of Kew. 
Dr. Francis Day read a paper “ On the Geographical Distribution of the 
Fresh-Water Fishes of India.” He says that out of nine families of Spiny- 
rayed Fish (Acanthopterygians) only two are likewise found in the African 
region; but one of these is in Madagascar, therefore doubtfully African, the 
other is also found in the Malay Archipelago, which possesses representatives 
of eight out of nine families. The fresh-water fishes of Ceylon, the Anda- 
mans and Nicobars, he believes, are strictly Indian, while, as these fishes 
cannot be spread except by line of fresh-water communication, it thus appears 
highly probable that these islands were at one time connected with the Con- 
tinent of India. Moreover, certain forms exist in Malabar which are absent 
from the rest of India, but reappear in the region of Chittagong or Siam. 
The evidence derived from his data shows that the Fauna of Hindostan 
preponderates towards the Malayan, and not African, region, as many aver. 
Mr. Christy exhibited and made remarks on specimens of the so-called 
Black Coral (Antipathes) from the Philippines. 
——__- 
ZootoaicaL Society or Lonpon. 
November 7, 1876.—Prof. Newron, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair. 
The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to 
the Society’s Menagerie during the months of June, July, August and 
September, 1876. 
A letter was read from Dr. Otto Finsch relating to the supposed existence 
of the Wild Camel (Camelus bactrianus) in Central Asia. 
A letter was read from Mr. E. Pierson Ramsay, giving a description of 
the habits of some Ceratodi living in the Australian Museum, Sydney, 
which he had lately received from Queensland. 
Mr. W. K. Parker read a memoir on the structure and development of 
the skull in the Sharks and Rays. 
Prof. A. Newton made a correction of some of the statements in Canon 
Tristram’s “ Note on the Discovery of the Roebuck in Palestine” (Proc. 
Zool. Soc., 1876, page 421). 
