1870.) | PROF. W. PETERS ON THE GENUS PECTINATOR. 673 
breast (Leistes anticus) from tree to tree clamouring for food; 
they were fed many times by their foster-mothers while I watched 
them. 
“It is very probable that they occasionally deposit their eggs in 
the nests of other birds. 
*T remain, very truly yours, 
“ Wiiiiam H. Hupson.” 

A communication was read from Mr. W. Vincent Legge, F.Z.S., 
containing notes on a bird of the Malurine group inhabiting Ceylon. 
Mr. Legge stated that the bird had the generic character of Prinia, 
but appeared different from P. soczalis, the only species given as 
inhabiting Ceylon. A full description of the bird, its nest, and eggs 
were appended. The nest was stated to be a loosely made and care- 
less structure, very different from that of P. socials. 

A communication was read from Professor W. Peters, F.M.Z.S., 
entitled “‘ Contributions to the Knowledge of Pectinator, a genus of 
Rodent Mammalia from Eastern Africa.” ‘This memoir was based 
upon five specimens in spirits, one imperfect skeleton, and one skin 
of the Pectinator spekii obtained by Mr. W. Jesse, Zoologist to the 
Abyssinian Expedition, between Zoulla and Senafé. After describing 
the external characters, anatomy, and osteology of this animal, and 
discussing the opinions of preceding authorities, Dr. Peters arrived 
at the following conclusions on this subject :— 
1. Pectinator differs from Ctenodactylus not only in the greater 
number of teeth and in its longer tail, but also in the different 
structure of the ears and of the skull. 
2. The Ctenodactyli (Ctenodactylus and Pectinator) cannot be 
associated with the Dipodes, their affinity with the latter being not 
greater than that of the Chinchilla, Octodontes, and Echinomyes. 
3. They show in nearly every part of their structure their near 
relationship with the last-named groups, and deviate from them only 
in a very few points (the form of the hyoid bone, of the sacral and 
caudal vertebral column, of the development of the.crest of the hu- 
merus and femur), in which, however, they do not show any in- 
clination towards the Dipodina, but rather some affinity with the 
Murina. 
4, They form a peculiar group of the Hystricide, as understood 
by Waterhouse, which in some points is more allied to the Chin- 
chille, in other points to the Octodontes. 
5. Petromys is not to be associated with the Ctenodactyli, but 
with the Octodontes. 
This paper will be printed in full in the Society’s ‘ Transactions.’ 

Prof. Newton, V.P., exhibited an example of the chick of the rare 
and remarkable wader dnarhynchus frontalis, Quoy and Gaimard, 
sent to him from New Zealand by Dr. Hector, F.R.S., who had 
