30 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



non-incubating male when the temperature was takeu on the surface, and 

 of more than double that amount when the temperature was takeu between 

 the folds of the body. 



Dr. Gwyn Jeffreys read the fourth of his series of papers on the Mollusca 

 procured during the Expeditions in H.M.SS. ' Lightning' and ' Porcupine, 

 1869 and 1870. This part concluded the Conchifera or Bivalves. Eighteen 

 additional species, chiefly belonging to the genus Nema, which is peculiar 

 to deep water, were described. The geographical, hydrographical, and 

 geological distribution, as well as the synonymy of all the species named in 

 the paper, were treated of. 



A communication was read from Dr. G. Hartlaub, describing the birds 

 collected in Socotra and Southern Arabia by Dr. E. Riebeck. Among the 

 Socotran birds was an example of a new species of Finch of the genus 

 Rhynchostruthus, which he proposed to call, after its discoverer, R. Riebecki. 



December 13, 1881.— Prof. W. H. Flower, F.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 November, and called attention to 

 certain interesting accessions which had been received during that period. 



Mr. Sclater exhibited and made remarks on two skins of a Rail from 

 Macquarie Island, south of New Zealand, which had been sent to him by 

 Sir George Grey, K.C.B. 



Mr. H. Seebohm exhibited and made remarks on specimens ofjhe 

 Rusty Grakle, Scolecophagus ferruginous, and Pallas 's Great Grey Shrike, 

 Lanius major, which had been shot near Cardiff, and were new to the 

 British avifauna. 



A communication was read from Mr. Clements R. Markham, containing 

 an account of his researches into the former Whale Fishery of the Basque 

 Provinces of Spain. 



Messrs. J. J. Lister and J. J. Fletcher read a paper on the condition of 

 the median portion of the vaginal apparatus in the MacropodidcB, in which 

 they arrived at the following conclusions; — (1) In the Macropodidce the 

 median vaginal canal is closed in early life. (2) In the genera Macropus, 

 Halmaturus, and Petrogale (and perhaps also Dorcopsis and Deudrologus) 

 an opening is formed, leading directly from the median vaginal canal into 

 the urogenital sinus, which opening most probably gives passage to the 

 young. This opening may be formed early in life, as is usual in the genus 

 Halmaturus, or not till young are about to be produced, as in Macropus 

 nifus. (3) The evidence with regard to Macropw major is conflicting; in 

 one case the median canal has been found open after parturition, and in two 

 others closed. (4) In Hypsiprymnus Gaimardi (and propably in H. murium) 

 the median canal remains closed, and the young passes down the lateral 



