33 



May 13, 1834. 

 Richard Owen, Esq., in the Chair. 



A Note was read from Mrs. Barnes, in which it was stated that 

 that lady had brought up from the nest two of the smallest species of 

 Jamaica Humming-birds. They were so tame, that at a call they 

 would fly to her, and perch upon her finger. Their food was sugar 

 and water. During the passage to England one of them was killed 

 by the cage in whicii they were kept being thrown down in a storm ; 

 its companion drooped immediately, and died shortly afterwards. 



It was remarked that injury to the bird in consequence of such an 

 accident might be prevented by the introduction of a gauze-net screen 

 into the cage, at some little distance within the wires. 



Specimens were exhibited of several Mammalia from India, which 

 had recently been presented to the Society by Lord Fitzroy Somer- 

 set. They were brought under the notice of the Meeting by Mr. Ben- 

 nett, who called particular attention to the skin of a Paradoxurus, 

 which he regarded as that of Par. prehensilis, Gray, a species hitherto 

 known only by a drawing of Dr. Hamilton's preserved in the East 

 India House. 



The general colour of the animal is a pale greyish brown, in which 

 longer black hairs are sparingly intermixed on the sides. On the 

 back of the head and neck, and along the middle line of the back, 

 these black hairs are almost the only ones that are visible. On the 

 loins they form three indistinct black bands, of whicli the lateral are 

 in some measure interrupted. The head is brownish, with the usual 

 grey mark both above and below the eyes, and there are some short 

 grey hairs between the eyes and across the forehead. The limbs are 

 brownish black, rather darker towards their upper part. The tail, at 

 its base, is of the same colour ar, the back, and rapidly becomes black ; 

 its terminal fifth is yellowish white. The ears are rather large, and 

 sparingly covered with short brownish hairs. 



Specimens were exhibited of three species of horned Pheasants, in- 

 cluding the Tragopan Temminckii, Gray. In illustration of the hi- 

 story of the latter bird, Mr. G. Bennett, Corr. Memb. Z.S., placed 

 upon the table drawings of specimens observed by iiim at Macao, and 

 showing the remarkable wattle in various degrees of development. He 

 also read a note on the subject. 



In its contracted state the membrane has merely the appearance 

 of a purple skin under the lower mandible ; and it is even sometimes 

 so much diminished in size as to be quite invisible. It becomes de- 

 veloped during the early spring montlis or pairing season of the year. 



No. XVn. — Proceedings of the Zoologic.\l Society. 



