722 PROF. W. H. FLOWER ON THE [DcC. 19, 



■who informed me that it had been taken by a bird-catcher in his nets 

 at Elstree Reservoir on Saturday, November 1 9. I received the bird 

 in the flesh from Mr. Burton, along with a specimen of Reed-Bunting 

 (Emberiza schceniclus $ ), also in the flesh, for comparison. Lt.-Col. 

 Irby called shortly after I had received these birds, and we examined 

 this specimen together, and had the advantage of comparing it with 

 a large series of Buntings in the collection of Mr. H. E. Dresser and 

 with some in my own collection. We came to the conclusion that 

 it is a Rustic Bunting {Emberiza rusticu), of which species only 

 one specimen has hitherto been recorded as having been met with in 

 Great Britian. Our opinion was subsequently coniirmed by yourself, 

 who saw the bird in the flesh, and since that time by ^Ir. H. E. 

 Dresser. 



" Mr. Burton informs me that the bird is a male by dissection ; and 

 I think that it is undoubtedly a bird of the year." 



The Rev. H. H. Slater, F.Z.S., exhibited an example of a Shrike 

 killed near Spurn Point in Yorkshire, which was believed to be re- 

 ferable to Lanius major of Pallas, or to a dark variety of L. excubitor. 



Dr. A. Giinther, F.R.S., exhibited on behalf of Sir J. W. P. 

 Campbell Orde, Bart., F.Z.S., a specimen of a Charr (Satmo alpinus) 

 which had been obtained in a loch on North Uist, Hebrides, being 

 the first specimen ever obtained in this loch, and the third known to 

 have been obtained in the island. 



Prof. Flower exhibited a photograph (presented to the Society by 

 Mr. James Farmer, F.Z.S.) of Seal Point, Farallone Islands, off 

 the coast of California, showing the immense number of Sea- 

 lions {Otaria gillespii) frequenting that locality. 



Mr. P. H. Carpenter exhibited and made remarks on some 

 microscopical preparations of Antedon eschrichti, in which a nervous 

 plexus derived from the fibrillar envelope of the chambered organ was 

 visible at the sides of the ambulacra of the disk. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. On the Whales of the Genus Hyperoodon. 

 By William Henry Flower, LL.D., F.E.S., P.Z.S., &c. 



[Eeceived November 28, 1882.] 



Apart from that indicated by the waterworn and imperfect cranium 

 from Australia, brought before the notice of the Society in May 

 last\ but one species of the genus Hyperoodon, as constituted by 

 Lacepede", has been generally recognized. This has long been known 

 under various specific names — H. rostratus, hidentatus, diodon, 



1 SeeP.Z.S. 1882, p. 392. 



* Histoire natiirelle des Cetaces. Tableau des Ordres &c., p. xliv (1804). 



