438 PROF. OWEN ON THE GENUS PALORCHESTES. [May 20, 



May 20, 1879. 

 Prof. W. H. Flower, LL.D., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. 



Mr. Sclater marie some remarks on the animals and other objects 

 observed in the Zoological Gardens of Rotterdam, Amsterdam, 

 Cologne, Frankfort, and Antwerp, which he had just visited. 



At Rotterdam Mr. Sclater had examined with great interest an 

 example of his recently described Plectropterus niger (P. Z. S. 1877, 

 p. 47, pi. vii.), being the third known individual of this peculiar 

 species. This bird had been received from Zanzibar from Hr. H. 

 Jansen, and so confirmed the habitat of this species as spoken of by 

 Mr. Trimen (P. Z. S. 1879, p. 5). 



At Amsterdam the series of Parrots of the genus Chrysotis lately 

 assembled by Mr. Westerman had been studied with much interest. 

 It contained an example of the recently described Chrysotis bodini of 

 Fiusch (P. Z. S. 1873, p. 569, pi. xlix.), being the second known 

 specimen of this near ally of 0. f estiva ; also two examples of the 

 rare C. erythrura, Kuhl, the first that had ever come under Mr. 

 Sclater's observation. At the time he wrote his ' Papageien ' Dr. 

 Fiusch was not autoptically acquainted with this fine species. 



Among the Antelopes in the Zoological Garden at Cologne was a 

 fine young female of Hippotrayus equinus. 



In the new and excellently arranged garden at Frankfort-on-tbe- 

 MainMr. Sclaterhad been much interested with the construction of the 

 Aquarium, finished about two years ago, and now in excellent working 

 order. The motive power used for raising the water was a gas- 

 engine. The sea-water was entirely artificial, but was very clear ; 

 and the fishes, both from the Mediterranean and North Sea, appeared 

 to be in excellent health. 



At Antwerp Mr. Sclater's attention had been principally devoted 

 to the New Lion-house just completed. Its dimensions were slightly 

 in excess of that of the Society, and the out-door cages and in-door 

 cages were arranged on the same side, facing south ; otherwise the 

 principles of the two buildings were nearly similar, although the 

 building at Antwerp was much more highly ornamented. 



Prof. Owen, C.B., F.R.S., read a memoir in which an account 

 was given of a portion of a mandible and teeth of a large extinct 

 Kangaroo of the genus Palorchestes, recently discovered in the 

 ancient fluviatile drift of Queensland, which was proposed to be 

 called P. crassus. 



This paper will be published entire in the Society's ' Trans- 

 actions.' 



The following papers were read : — 



