71 i • REPORT — 1895. 



The following Reports and Papers were read : — 



1. Third Report on the Marine Zoology, Botany, and Geology of the Irish 



Sea. — See Reports, p. 455. 



2. Interim Report on the Migration of Birds. — See Reports, p. 473. 



3. Fifth Report on the Zoology of the Sandtcich Islands. 

 See Reports, p. 467. 



4. Report on the Occupation of a Table at the Zoological Station at Naples. 



See Reports, p. 474. 



5. Rejjort on Investigations made at the Laboratory of the Marine 

 Biological Association at Plymouth. — See Reports, p. 469. 



6. Report on the Investigation of the Zoology and Botany of the West 

 India Islands. — See Reports, p. 472. 



7. Report on the Compilation of an Index Generum et Sj^ecierwin 

 Animalium. — See Reports, p. 473. 



8. Report on Physiological Aj)plications of the Phonograph. 

 See Reports, p. 454. 



9. Some, Remarks on the Stereornithes, a Group of extinct Birds from 

 South America. By C. W. Andrews. 



A brief liistory of tlie discovery of these reraarkable birds is given, together 

 ■with a short account of the more important opinions that have been expressed 

 concerning their affinities. 



The structure of the slieleton of Phororhacos, recently described by Ameghino, 

 is considered, and, after comparison with certain other birds, some suggestions are 

 made as to the probable affinities of the genus. Phororhacos is regarded as a true 

 carinate bird, in which, as in the dodo, aphanapteryx, and many others, the wings 

 have undergone reduction through disuse. It seems to have been a highly 

 specialised form, aud probably has left no direct descendants : its nearest relatives 

 may perhaps be found among the Gruiformes, especially in the Psophiidje and 

 Dicholophi, aud it possibly represents a specialised offshoot from the generalised 

 stock which gave rise to these forms. No special affinities with the living Ratitte 

 are found, aud it appears very doubtful whether Gastornis is any way related. 



The other genera described by Ameghino are much less completely known ; 

 some of them, however, difl'er so, considerably from Phororhacos, and in several cases 

 from one another, that they should probably be referred to several distinct families, 

 as, indeed, has already been done by Moreno and Merrerat. The Stereornithes, there- 

 fore, appear to include a somewhat heterogeneous group of birds, whose chief points 

 of resemblance seem to lie in their lai'ge size and more or less reduced power 

 of flight. The unfortunate absence of specimens of these interesting fossils from 



