PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 73 
Prof. W. H. Flower described the skull of a very large Elephant Seal, 
Macrorhinus leoninus, lately received in the Museum of the College of 
Surgeons from the Falkland Islands, and discussed the question of affinities 
and systematic position of this animal among the Pinipeds. Prof. Flower 
arrived at the conclusion, from an examination of its dental, cranial, and 
limb characters, and from some other points in its anatomy, that the 
Elephant Seal is the member of the group the farthest removed from the 
terrestrial Carnivora, and showing most Cetacean analogies. He also 
considered that at present there is no evidence of the existence of more 
than one species of the genus. 
Dr. A. Ginther read some notes on the species of Insectivorous Mammals 
belonging to the genera Rhynchocyon and Petrodromus, and described two 
new species of the former genus, proposed to he called A. macrurus (from 
the Rovuma river), and R. chrysopygus (from the Mombaga river). 
January 18, 1881.—Prof. W. H. Fiower, LL.D., #.R.S., President, 
in the chair. 
The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to 
the Society’s Menagerie during the month of December, 1880, amongst 
which special attention was called to a young female Red Wolf, Canis 
jubatus, from the Argentine Republic, presented by Mr. W. Petty, of Monte 
Video, being the second example of this scarce animal received; and to a 
Pig from Brooker Island, Louisiade Archipelago, presented by Lieut. De 
Hoghton, of H.M.S. ‘ Beagle.’ 
A paper by Mr. P. L. Sclater and Dr. G. Hartlaub was read, on the 
birds collected in Socotra by Prof. I. B. Balfour in the early part of the 
year 1880. The collection contained 124 examples referable to 34 species. 
Of these seven of the Passeres appeared to be new, and were proposed to 
be called Cisticola incana, Drymeca hasitata, Lanius uncinatus, Cinnyris 
Balfouri, Passer insularis, Rhynchostruthus socotranus, and Amydrus frater. 
Mr. A. G. Butler read a paper on the Lepidoptera collected in Socotra 
by Prof. I. B. Balfour. The collection contained 24 specimens referable to 
13 species, seven of which were stated to be new to science. 
Mr. W. A. Forbes read a paper on some points in the anatomy of the 
Koala, Phascolarctos cinereus, as observed in the specimen recently living 
in the Society’s Gardens. 
A communication was read from Mr. R. Bowdler Sharpe, in which was 
given the description of a new form of the family Zimelide, from Mada. 
gascar, proposed to be called Neomizis. 
A communication was read from Dr. John Scully, containing an account 
of the Mammals of Gilgit, a district in the extreme north-western part of 
Kashmir. Thirty-three species were enumerated, and notes on their vertical 
ranges and habits were added. The Mammals of Gilgit were shown to 
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