The specimens of Gerhillus microcephahs above referred to, were 

 presented by Dr. Harlan to the Society ; and also a species of Sper- 

 mophilus, which Dr. Harlan exhibited to the Meeting. The last- 

 mentioned animal very closely resembles the S. Franklinii ; but 

 being of a much smaller size. Dr. Harlan was anxious that it should 

 be submitted to examination, and should be carefully compared with 

 that animal upon some future occasion. 



Several specimens of the Bean Goose (Anser segetum), the Gray- 

 Lag Goose {Anser cinereus), the White-fronted Goose, {Anser albi- 

 frons), and of another species allied to these, were exhibited by Mr. 

 A. D. Bartlett, in order to illustrate a paper which he communicated 

 to the Meeting, " On a new British species of the genus Anser, with 

 remarks on the nearly-allied species." 



" It may be necessary, before describing the new species," says 

 Mr. Bartlett, " to notice the three birds most nearly allied, in order 

 more clearly to point out the distinctions existing between them ; I 

 do this in consequence of the imperfect descriptions given by au- 

 thors, from which it is almost impossible to distinguish the species. 



1 shall commence with that which is the most common. 



" Anser segetum, Meyer. Bean Goose. Entire length, 33 inches ; 

 extent, 64 ; from the carpal joint to the end of wing, 19 inches. 

 The head and neck are brown, tinged with grey : back and scapulars, 

 darker brown, slightly tinged with grey, each feather being mar- 

 gined with greyish white ; primaries, dark brown, tinged with grey ; 

 shoulders of wings and secondary quill-feathers, greyish brown ; 

 rump, blackish brown ; upper tail-coverts, white ; tail, dark brown, 

 deeply edged with greyish white ; breast and belly, dirty white ; 

 abdomen and under tail-coverts, pure white ; bill, 2^ inches long, 

 rather slender, flattened and narrow towards the tip ; the base, sides 

 and nail, black ; immediately above the nail commences a yellowish 

 orange mark, extending a little beyond the anterior margin of the 

 nostrils in front, and passing under and beyond the termination of 

 them at the sides, but seldom reaching the corner of the mouth, 

 except in very old individuals, in which this mark extends under 

 and behind the nostrils, crosses the base of the bill next the fore- 

 head, leaving only the central part of the bill (between the nostrils) 

 and the nail black ; which latter part is sometimes, though rarely, 

 white ; legs and feet, reddish orange ; wings, when closed, reaching 



2 inches beyond the tail. The young of this species are darker, 

 and the markings less distinct ; the bill is shorter, the mark upon it 

 narrower, and of a deep red colour ; the legs and feet, pale orange. 



" Anser cinereus, Meyer. Grey Lag Goose. Entire length, 35 

 inches ; extent, 64 ; from the carpal joint to end of wing, 17-^ inches. 

 The plumage more cinereous than in the last-described species ; the 

 shoulders and rump, light grey ; breast and belly, white, sometimes 

 spotted with black; the bill, 2^ inches long; more robust, deeper, 

 broader, and the laminae much more developed than in the Bean 

 Goose, and of a dull yellow, inclining to flesh colour towards the 

 nail, which is white ; in summer the bill assumes a redder tint ; legs 



