466 PROF. FLOWER ON THE DELPHINID.E. [NoV. 20, 



Mr. H. E. Dresser, F.Z.S., exhibited and made remarks on some 

 Ringed Pheasants from Corea, which appeared to be intermediate 

 between the Chinese Pheasant (Phasianus torquatus) and the For- 

 mosan form of the same bird. 



Mr. Seebohm exhibited an example of a new species of Owl from 

 Yezo, the north island of Japan, which he proposed to call Bubo 

 blalistojii. It was most nearly aUied to B. coromandus from North 

 India, which it resembled in general style of coloration ; but w'as much 

 larger, and had the toes entirely bare of feathers, thus forming a link 

 between the genera Bubo and Ketupa. 



Prof. F. Jeffrey Bell, Sec. R.M.S., exhibited some specimens of 

 a small undescribed species of tea-armed Antedon from the neigh- 

 bourhood of Port Stephens, which had been placed in his hands by 

 Mr. E. P. Ramsay. These were remarkable for the large number of 

 egg-cases on them, which, at first sight, closely simulated the para- 

 sitic Myzostomata. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. On the Characters and Divisions of tlie Family Belphinidce. 

 By William Henry Flower^ LL.D., F.R.S.^ Pres. 

 Zool. Soc., &c. 



[Eeceived November 10, 1883.] 



In few groups among the higher animals has our knowledge 

 made greater advances during the last twenty years than in the 

 Cetacea. The materials for their study contained in our museums 

 have considerably increased, and the literature devoted to them has 

 expanded to a great extent. Many valuable and solid contributions 

 have been made to the knowledge of the anatomy of various species 

 and groups, contributions which will always remain as fixed points 

 gained, from which no retreat will ever be required. There has 

 also been a great amount of imperfect and hasty compilation, and 

 attempts at systematizing, based upon erroneous conceptions of 

 affinities and imperfect anatomical knowledge, which have thrown a 

 haze over the subject, often most difficult to penetrate. 



Only two attempts have been made during this time by original 

 workers of recognized authority, who have had ample materials at 

 their disposal, to assemble together the main facts bearing upon a 

 general revision of the classification and nomenclature of the genera 

 and species of the group. It is to these two that all who commence 

 the study of the Cetacea have to look for guidance. 



