23 



February 28, 1838. 



Richard Owen, Esq., in the Chair. 



Some observations were made by M. Bibron upon two European 

 species of Triton indigenous to this country, Triton cristatus and Trit. 

 marmoratus, which many naturahsts consider to have been errone- 

 ously separated. M. Bibron, however, entertains no doubt whatever 

 of their being really distinct, and pointed out a character by which 

 he states they may readily be distinguished, and which he believed 

 to have been hitherto unnoticed. This distinction consists in the 

 form of the upper lip, which in Triton cristatus is so largely de- 

 veloped as to overlap the under lip posteriorly when the jaws are 

 closed, a condition never present in Trit, marmoratus. 



Mr. Ogilby exhibited and characterized, under the name of Mu' 

 cropus rufiventer, a new species of Kangaroo which Mr. Gould had 

 received from Tasmania, where it is known by the name of Walla- 

 bee. The external incisor tooth of the upper jaw was marked by a 

 duplication or fold : the general colour of the animal above was 

 grayish brown, considerably darker than the wild rabbit, and co- 

 piously intermixed on the back with pure black hairs, which in cer- 

 tain lights gives this part a perfectly black appearance ; the paws 

 and outer surface of the fore-legs are of the same colour ; the tarsus 

 and hind paws brown ; the chin, throat, belly, and abdomen, sandy 

 red, more or less intense ; ears yellowish red within, brownish black 

 without ; tail rather short, dark brown above, dirty yellowish on the 

 sides, naked, and granulated two-thirds of its length on the under 

 surface; claws long and pointed; nose naked ; length of body 2 feet; 

 of tail 1 foot 2 inches. 



Mr. Waterhouse exhibited a drawing, and the tail and jaws of a 

 new species of Delphinus, which he characterized as 



Delpiiinus Fitzroyi. Delph. supra niger ; capitis corporisqne 

 laterihus, corjioreque subtiis, niveis ; caudd, pedibus, labioque 

 inferiore, nigris ; fasciis latis duahus per latiis utrumque ob- 

 lique excurrentibus, hujusque coloris fascia utrinque angulo 

 oris ad pedem tendente, 



ft. in. lin. 



Total length (measuring along curve of back) 5 4 



Length from tip of muzzle to vent 3 10 9 



Length from tip of muzzle to dorsal fin 2 6 5 



Length from tip of muzzle to pectoral 1 4 5 



Length from tip of muzzle to eye 9 9 



Length from tip of muzzle to breathing aperture (fol- 

 lowing curve of head) 10 7 



