158 MR. H. SAUNDERS ON A CALIFORNIAN GULL. [Mar. 16, 
same extent; in fact the second curve is not so decided as in the O. 
polit; but the first curve is much rounder. 
“TI am therefore inclined to believe that the wild sheep of the 
Thien-Shan belongs to a species hitherto not described. It certainly 
is not the O. ammon of the Himalayas, as it differs not only in the 
shape of the horns but also in being of a smaller size, having a longer 
tail and smaller ears. 
“A full description of the Thien-Shan Ovis was sent to the Zoo- 
logical Society with the drawing ; but I believe the O. polit has never 
yet been described in the flesh. 
“‘The above opinion is not formed from single specimens, but, 
directly my attention was called to it, I at once remarked that the 
characteristic differences held good through all the specimens 
brought away.” 
A letter was read from the Rev. S. J. Whitmee, C.M.Z.S., dated 
Samoa, South Pacific, Nov. 17, 1874, giving particulars as to the 
occurrence of the Palolo (Palola viridis) on the shores of that island 
in 1874. In that year these singular worms had appeared on Noy. Ist 
and 2nd, Samoan time, =Oct. 31st and Noy. Ist by Greenwich date. 
There were very few on the first day ; but the supply was large on the 
second. Mr. Whitmee had removed the ova, which were well deve- 
loped, and had endeavoured to hatch them in vessels of sea-water 
regularly changed, but had only been able to keep them alive four 
days. Drawings of the ova in different stages accompanied the com- 
munication. It would appear, therefore, probable that the periodical 
appearance of the Palolo in such prodigious numbers might have 
something to do with its reproduction. 
Mr. Howard Saunders, F.Z.S., exhibited a specimen of a Gull, 
which he considered referable to Larus fuscus, obtained at Magdalena 
Bay, Lower California, by Mr. Gervaise Mathew, R.N., of H.MLS. 
‘Resolute,’ in November 1873, being the first instance recorded of 
the occurrence of this species in the New World, and made the fol- 
lowing remarks :— 
“In colour of mantle, webs of primaries, feet, and in every respect 
but one, this specimen appears to be identical with Larus fuscus. The 
sole difference consists in this—that in LZ. fuscus the tarsus is, so far 
as my experience goes, longer than the foot, including the middle 
toe-nail ; but in this Californian specimen the reverse is the case. 
This may, of course, be an individual peculiarity ; and the example in 
question is certainly much further off from LZ. occidentalis, Aud., 
than from true L. fuscus. In the coloration of the webs of the pri- 
maries it does not agree with L. occidentalis, a branch of the group 
which has LZ. argentatus for type, but perfectly coincides with L. 
JSuscus, from which it differs in the size of the foot alone.” 
The following communications were read :— 
