18G6.] LETTER FROM DR. G. BENNETT. 417 



incline to the belief that some of these differences may be coexten- 

 sive with the families Hystricidce and Leporidce respectively ; but 

 even should they prove to be only distinctive m irks of subordinate 

 groups, these observations will not be destitute of some slight zoolo- 

 gical and classificatory value, in addition to whatsoever they may 

 express of anatomical interest. 



November 22, 1866. 



Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. 



The Secretary read a letter from Mr. A. Grote of Calcutta, F.Z.S., 

 stating that the Porcupine transmitted to the Society on April 1 8th, 

 1866, and subsequently described by Dr. Gray (P. Z. S. 1866, 

 p. 306, PI. XXXI.) as Acanthochcerus grotei, had been received from 

 Malacca. It had been procured for him by Capt. Maddison, Com- 

 mander of one of the Straits Mail Steamers, from the jungles behind 

 Malacca. Mr. Grote promised to endeavour to obtain other examples 

 of this animal for the Society. 



Mr. Sclater exhibited a young specimen of Chauna derbiana* in 

 spirits, which had been forwarded to him by Dr. W. Huggins of San 

 Fernando, Trinidad, C.M.Z.S., with the following note : — 



" This is a species of Wader, apparently a young bird ; the people 

 here call it ' Wild Turkey? These birds are very rare here, being 

 found now and then in a large lagoon. I saw one some forty years 

 ago, a large one, and have never met with one since until now, though 

 I have shot in a great mauy places over the island. Three young 

 birds of this species were brought to a friend of mine some little time 

 ago, one of which I now send you." 



Mr. Sclater remarked that the only species of the group of Pala- 

 medeidce given as occurring in Trinidad in M. Leotaud's recently 

 published work on the ornithology of that island t was Palamedea 

 cornuta (p. 488), and that he strongly suspected that the so-called 

 Palamedea cornuta of Trinidad would turn out to be the present 

 species, which was now ascertained to extend its range from the lit- 

 toral of New Granada and Venezuela into that island. 



The following extract from a letter addressed to the Secretary by 

 Dr. G. Bennett, F.Z.S., and dated Sydney, July 20th, 1866, was 

 read : — 



" Respecting the Whistling Ducks in the Botanic Gardens here, I 

 observe in the ' Proceedings ' for March last, just received (p. 149), 



* See P. Z. S. 1866, p. 369. 



t Oiseaux de l'isle de Trinidad, par A.. Leotaud. Port d'Espagne, 1866. 



