386 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



come to his knowledge, on authority that seemed to be satisfactory, in which 

 eggs had been laid — both in the East Riding of York. He thought that if 

 the birds had not been prevented, they might have produced young, which 

 in their turn would have become regular visitants — but he never had any 

 faith in the species becoming resident. In the course of the discussion which 

 followed, Canon Tristram expressed his belief that the coast of Northumber- 

 land, which had been in three years visited by Syrrhaptes, might prove a 

 congenial home for a colony, and regretted that the bird was not more 

 protected by law. Mr. Elwes doubted whether there was any tract of 

 country east of the Volga that was suitable to the requirements of the bird ; 

 he thought that in Southern Russia it might establish itself and live for 

 many years without being noticed. He also referred to his having 

 obtained on the frontiers of Tibet four living examples of the larger 

 species, S. tibetanus, which, however, soon succumbed apparently to 

 climatic effects when brought into the lower country. Sir George Campbell 

 was beginning to speak of Sand Grouse in India, when he was stopped by 

 the Chairman (Dr. Sclater), who pointed out that he was mistaken in 

 supposing that any species of Syrrhaptes inhabited that country. The 

 usual vote of thanks to the author of the paper was passed. Through 

 the kindness of that venerable naturalist, the Rev. Leonard Blomefield, 

 specimens of Syrrhaptes paradoxus, the property of Mrs. Mackay, of 

 Bennett Street, Bath, were exhibited. 



In a discussion on Coral-reefs between the Biological and Geological 

 Sections, Mr. Thiselton-Dyer said it was a question which at the present 

 moment was attracting the interest of both biologists and geologists. In 

 consequence of the explorations of her Majesty's ship ' Challenger,' a 

 series of facts were brought before the scientific world which, in some 

 degree, made it extremely probable that Mr. Darwin's views did not form 

 the only explanation to which these curious phenomena are susceptible. 

 A distinguished individual had thought fit to bring before the scientific 

 world the preposterous assertion that they were leagued together in a 

 conspiracy of silence with the object of suppressing the progress of scientific 

 truth. He thought he might claim that their minds were absolutely open, 

 and that they attributed no weight to the authority of tradition, however 

 eminent. The only thing they really wanted to know was what was 

 the conclusion that commended itself to their minds with the greatest 

 probability, and which was based on the largest number of ascertained 

 facts. 



MAMMALIA. 



The Feral Deer of Barbuda. — The deer now running wild on Barbuda 

 is the Fallow-deer, Cervus dama. Last month Captains Harding and 

 Standish, of the East Yorkshire Regiment, visited Barbuda on a shooting 



