49 



May 10th, 1837. 

 William S. Macleay, Esq. in the Chair. 



The group of groundfinches, characterised, at a previous meeting, 

 by Mr. Gould, under the generic appellations of Geospiza, Cama- 

 rhynchus, Certhidea, and Cactornis, were upon the table ; and Mr. 

 Darwin being present, remarked that these birds were exclusively 

 confined to the Gallapagos Islands ; but their general resemblance in 

 character, and the circumstance of their indiscriminately associating 

 in large flocks, rendered it almost impossible to study the habits of 

 particular species. In common with nearly all the birds of these 

 islands, they were so tame that the use of the fowling-piece in 

 procuring specimens was quite unnecessary. They appeared to sub- 

 sist on seeds, deposited on the ground in great abundance by a rich 

 annual crop of herbage. 



The remainder of the evening was occupied with the examination 

 of an extensive series of drawings, taken from various subjects in 

 zoology, during the progress of the late exploring expedition into 

 central Africa; and which will form the materials for a separate 

 Work, now preparing for publication by Dr. Andrew Smith. 



A considerable proportion of the illustrations were those of new 

 and highly interesting species ; and Dr. Smith stated that it was his 

 intention, on a future evening, to bring a part of his collection before 

 the Society, that the Members might have the opportunity of ex- 

 amining the original specimens, from which the drawings had been 

 taken. 



No. LIII. — Proceedings of the Zoological Society. 



