358 MR. W. A. FORBES ON THE DEATH OF A LEOPARD. [May 4, 



bare band of considerable extent, on tbe actinal surface, between 

 tbe anus and tbe actinostome. This is more marked than any space 

 on tbe actinal surface of JE. depressa. 



The final question as to tbe specific relationship of the form now 

 imder description appears to me to be one which lack of material 

 prevents us from answering completely. The considerations which 



1 now adduce, and a comparison of this specimen Tvith tbe figure 

 given by Prof. A. Agassiz of E. depressa (and of Conocli/pevs) will 

 prevent us from associating it with that species ; it can hardly be, I 

 think, a young specimen of E. hellei, if, indeed, that be a distinct 

 species. Unfortunately we have no intermediate specimens, and Dr. 

 Traqiiair has no information with regard to this one, which might 

 help us to determine whether or no it be a young specimen of 

 the widely distributed E. ovifonnis. 



If such be not tbe case, it will be the young of some undescribed 

 and unknown Ecliinolampns, with which, when found and described, 

 there will, I hope, be associated the name of tbe eminent naturalist 

 to whose kindness we owe the present opportunity of inspecting this 

 very interesting form. 



Mr. W. A. Forbes exhibited a small fragment of bone which had 

 caused the deatii of a Leopard (Felis j)nrdus) in the Society's 

 Menagerie on April 20, under the following circumstances : — 



For about a week previous to its death the animal, a fine adult 

 male, had refused food, and, having been separated from its com- 

 panions, was noticed by tbe keeper to be apparently suffering from 

 some intestinal obstruction. 'J'be animal was in good condition and 

 very fat. On o[)ening the abdominal cavity after death, about a gallon 

 of an opaque, dirty-red-coloured, chyly-looking fluid was found in 

 it. There was a large clot of indurated faeces in the large intestine. 

 In addition, near the commencement of the jejunum, was found a 

 small bolus of straw that had been swallowed, as is often done by 

 these animals in the absence of grass. In this a triangular splinter 

 of bone, about Ig inch long by 1 inch high, with a very sharp edge, 

 liad become impacted firmly, so much so as to perforate the walls of 

 the intestine, and to j)roject outside into the abdominal cavity for 

 about ■!■ of an inch. The movements of the animal, or the peristaltic 

 action of the intestines, had caused this sharply-projecting angle of 

 the bone to cut through the intestinal walls for the distance of some 



2 inches. Through this wound the juices of the stomach and 

 intestinal canal, together with the fluid swallowed by tbe animal 

 had apparently leaked, and bad given rise to the accumulation of fluid 

 in the abdominal cavity which had caused death. 



Prof Flower called the attention of the meeting to the fact that 

 a young specimen of the Lesser Fin-Whale (^Buhetiojjtera rosii-ata), 

 fifteen feet long, taken off tbe coast of Cornwall, was now being 

 exhibited in London. 



The following papers were read : — 



