usually taken in large quantities : the presence of these may proceed 

 from their being attracted by the phosphoric light. Sometimes 

 during heavy rains within the tropics the sea would become suddenly 

 luminous, as rapidly passing off again, and the effect of the sudden 

 transitions was exceedingly splendid to the beholders. During its 

 continuance luminous si^ecies of Salpa, Beroe, Pyrosoma, and other 

 molluscs were captured in the towing net if the weather admitted of 

 its being placed overboard." 



On placing some of these luminous Meduste in a bucket of water, 

 Mr. Bennett observed that the phosphoric light is not emitted from 

 any one particular part of the animal, but commences at different 

 points, gradually extending over the whole body, sometimes suddenly 

 disappearing, and at others slowly dying away. Upon squeezing the 

 animal the hands became covered with a profusion of the luminous 

 secretion, which could be communicated from one object to another. 

 In conclusion several additional instances are related, occurring in 

 different latitudes, of the beautiful and varied appearances presented 

 by the phsenomena of marine phosphorescence. 



Mr. Martin directed the attention of the Meeting to three speci- 

 mens of the genus i^e/is, recently presented to the Society by Charles 

 Darwin, Esq. One of these appeared to be a cat of the domestic race, 

 shot in a wild state at Maldonado, differing only from our common 

 cat in the elongation and greater size of the head. The second was 

 the " Chat Pampa " of Azara, Felis Pajeros of Desmarest, shot at 

 Bahia Blanca in latitude 33. The third and most interesting speci- 

 men, which had been shot at Buenos Ayres, Mr. Martin was dis- 

 posed to consider as the Yagourondi or a closely allied species, since 

 it agrees with that animal in its elongate form, stout limbs and small 

 head, but differs from it in the greater proportionate length of tail, 

 and also in its entire dimensions, as recorded by Desmarest, who 

 gives the following : 



ft in. lin. 

 Length from nose to the root of the tail . 1110 



Length of tail ■ 1 1 9 



Length from nose to the ear 3 2 



In the present specimen, which is evidently adult, the measure- 

 ments were found to be as follows : 



ft. in. lin. 



Length from nose to root of tail 2 2 



of tail 1 8 



■ from nose to ear 3 9 



Height at shoulders Oil 6 



• at haunches 1 6 



Length of ear 1 2 



Breadth of ear 1 6 



From nose to eye 1 2 



_ The hair is black, annulated with ochre, and sometimes with whi- 

 tish yellow; each hair is pale brown at the base and then alternately 

 black and yellow, the colpurs being repeated two or three times. 



