SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 89 



male Emberiza rustica, which had been taken at Elstree Reservoir on the 

 19th November last. Only two other examples of this bird had hitherto been 

 recorded as having been met with in Great Britain. 



Dr. Giinther exhibited, on behalf of Sir Campbell Orde, Bart., a specimen 

 of a Charr, Salmo alpinus, obtained in a loch in North Uist, being the first 

 example ever obtained in this loch. 



Mr. P. H. Carpenter exhibited, and made remarks on, some microscopical 

 preparations of Antedon Eschrichti, in which a nervous plexus derived from 

 the fibrillar envelope of the chambered organ was visible at the sides of the 

 ambulacra of the disk. 



Prof. Flower exhibited a photograph (presented to the Society by Mr. 

 James Farmer) of Seal Point, Farallone Islands, off California, showing the 

 immense number of Seals, Otaria Gillespii, frequenting that locality. 



Prof. Flower read a paper on the Whales of the genus Hyperoodon, in 

 which he pointed out that one of the most important points in the history 

 of these animals yet unsolved was whether the large-headed form, with great 

 development of the maxillary crests, called by Dr. J. E. Gray Lagenocetus 

 latifrons, was a distinct species, or whether, as suspected by Eschricht, it 

 was the adult male of the common form known as Hyperoodon rostratus. 

 The author had asked Capt. David Gray to avail himself of his exceptionally 

 favourable opportunities of observing these animals in their native haunts, to 

 solve this question, with the result shown in the next communication. 



A communication was read from Captain David GraM;, S.S. ' Eclipse,' 

 called " Notes on the Characters and Habits of the Bottle-nose Whale 

 [Hyperoodon)" in which it was stated that he had killed 203 of these animals 

 last season, and had traced in the males every gradation of development 

 between the two forms, and had therefore conclusively proved that 

 Hyperoodon or Lagenocetus latifrons had no existence as a distinct species. 

 The communication was illustrated by sketches and photographs, showing 

 the external characters and cranium in various stages of growth. 



Mr. P. H. Carpenter read a paper on the classification of the Comatulm. 

 He criticised the method of formulation recently proposed by Prof. F. J. 

 Bell, and pointed out its disadvantages for the purposes of classification, 

 owing to its being inapplicable to those Comatulce which have irregular arm- 

 divisions. He explained his own system of formulation and classification, 

 and stated that he believed it to be capable of dealing with all possible 

 variations of Comatula structure. 



Mr. F. Day read a paper on the identity of Arnoglossus lophotes, Gthr., 

 with Pleuronectes Orohmanni, Bonap. A second paper by Mr. Day contained 

 remarks on some hybrids between Salmon and Trout. 



A paper by Messrs. Godman and Salvin was read, describing some 

 Butterflies from New Ireland, received from the Bev. G. Brown and 

 Mr. E. L. Layard. Among these were examples of two new species, named 

 respectively Prothoe Layardi and Danais adustus. 



