PROCEEDINGS. 551 



Gray from Tibet, it behoves members of the Society, who may have the 

 opportunity to collect in Kashmir, Darjeeling or in Northern Burma beyond 

 Bhamo, to look out for such forms. In the same way the JMicromys of 

 Japan is hardly distinct from the English Harvest Mouse, while the Red Vole 

 of the British Isles is closely allied to the species • of Evolomys. Correspond- 

 ing forms may at any time be expected to be found in the Himalayas and other 

 parts that come within the Palsearctic area. 



A WHALE AT BASSEIN, 



The Honorary Secretary said since their last meeting, a whale measuring 

 some 63 feet in length, had been washed ashore near Bassein (Thana District), 

 but unfortunately the first notice he received was from a newspaper account 

 and from a letter from a Mr. Dias some fourteen days after the event. Al- 

 though a visit was paid to the carcass at once, it was too decomposed to obtain 

 any information of value as to the general external characters. This was greatly 

 to be regretted since the external characters of the great Indian Fin-whale 

 (Balcenoptera inclica) — to which species, from its size, this appeared to belong — 

 were absolutely unknown to science. If the Collector of the District had only 

 informed the Society in time, this information might have been obtained, but 

 although a local official had visited it on the first day, it was only to ascertain, 

 according to orders, if there was any treasure in its stomach ! It was to be 

 hoped that if an animal of this description was found on our shores in future 

 (and this is not the first occurrence of this whale on the Bombay shores) some 

 of the members of the Society would be able to obtain the information desired. 



WILD DOCS. 

 The Honorary Secretary asked members — particularly those residing in the 

 Central Provinces, United Provinces and Madras Presidency — to try and obtain 

 for them one or two good skins and skulls of Wild Dogs. He mentioned that 

 the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, had requested our Society to 

 try and obtain a specimen for mounting in their galleries. It would, of course, 

 be desirable that correct measurements (as many as possible) of the animal 

 should also be supplied, but no elaborate preparation of the skin is necessary. 

 Open from breast bone to vent and turn inside out and dry, leaving the feet 

 attached. 



PAPERS READ. 



The following papers were then read : — 



1. A new Tortoise from Travancore, by C, A. Boulenger, F.R.S. 



2. A note on Podoces plesleei, Zarudney, by R. Bowdler Sharpe, LL.D. 



3. On the Tenthredinidas and parasitic Hymenoptera collected by Major 



C. O. Nurse in Kashmir, by P. Cameron. 



4. Some hints for beginners on collecting and preserving Natural History 



specimens (Fishes), by E. Comber, F.Z.S. 



5. Flowering Season and Climate, by Eev. E. Blatter, S.J. 



6. The Kashmir Termite, Termopsk wroughtoni, by J. Desneux, 



