109 



November 22, 1836. 



Richard Owen, Esq., in the Chair. 



A communication from Mr. Harvey, of Teignmouth. in Devon- 

 shire, was read, which referred to a specimen of the electric Ray 

 then on the table. The fish was caught in a trawl-net near Teign- 

 mouth, and was presented to the Society by Mr. Harvey. When 

 taken, part of a specimen of the small spotted Dogfish was hanging 

 from its mouth. The fishermen handle the electric Ray while it is 

 alive without being at all affected by it, always taking care to lay 

 hold of the tail. 



Mr. Yarrell exhibited a very large Carp taken by a net in a piece 

 of water called the Mere, neare Payne's Hill, in Surrey. The length 

 of the specimen was 30 inches, the girth of the body at the com- 

 mencement of the dorsal fin 24 inches; the weight, 22 pounds. The 

 fish belonged to Edward Jesse, Esq., author of the " Gleanings in 

 Natural History," by whose permission it was exhibited. Mr. Yar- 

 rell observed, that he could find no record of any Carp so large 

 having before been taken in this country. 



Mr. Martin, at the request of the Chairman, read the following 

 notes on the anatomy oi Koala, Phascolarcios fuscus, Desm. 



" The acquisition of a young male Koala preserved in spirits, and 

 presented to the Society by Captain Mallard, has afforded me the 

 opportunity of examining the viscera of this rare and curious animal; 

 which I did with the utmost care. Differing from the Wombat in 

 its dental formula, in which respect it closely resembles the Kanga- 

 rqps, the visceral anatomy of the Koala closely approximates to that 

 of the former animal, as will be perceived by comparing the follow- 

 ing notes with the description of the anatomy of the Wombat by 

 Mr. Owen. 



" On reflecting the skin of the abdomen, there appeared a small 

 transverse muscle arising from the skin on either side, which passed 

 over the marsupial bones, towards their upper extremity, acting as 

 a support to, and a compressor of them. 



" ITie pyramidalis muscle, to which, on its outer side is attached 

 the inner edge of the marsupial bone, radiated from this bone to the 

 middle line, and sent off a broad/asda of fibres over the rectus mus- 

 cle to the cartilages of the ribs. The rectus began broad from the 

 cartilages of the lower ribs, its fibres appearing to mix with those of 

 the j}ectoralis; it continued its course broad to the ^Mi/s, and was 

 inserted in the usual manner. The external oblique was thick and 



