0/ 



tained a width of nearly six inches : here the free portion of the 

 membrane is about two and a half inches in width. The head is in 

 the form of an elongated triangle ; the snout is considerably pro- 

 duced and attenuated : the width of the head at the base is two inches 

 and a quarter ; the total length of the skull is three inches five lines ; 

 the space from the eye to the upper lip, beneath the nostrils, is eleven 

 lines ; the space between the orbits is five lines ; on the vertex, above 

 and between the orbits, the skull is smooth and convex. In both 

 the fore and hind feet the first or front claw is the largest. The tail 

 is rather short and thick ; its length is about four inches and a half. 



" When aUve this animal was of an uniform mud colour, slightly 

 tinted with olive-green. 



" In many respects this animal agrees with the Gymnopus jEgyp- 

 tiacus (Trionyx ^gyptiacus), as described by M. Bibron, but neither 

 the head nor the margin of the carapace is spotted with yellowish 

 white, as in that species; besides, the two nearly confluent de- 

 pressions on the anterior part of the carapace are not alluded to 

 in the account of G. JEgyptiacus ; they are, however, very conspicu- 

 ous in the animal in question. There are, it may be added, no pel- 

 lucid scales, placed in a transverse direction, on the under surface 

 of each elbow, nor are there any depressed convex tubercles, either 

 anteriorly or posteriorly, on the cartilaginous expansion of the cara- 

 pace, as are often, though not invariably, found in the G. ^gyptiacus. 



" With respect to the Gymnopus Euphraticus {Trionyx Euphrati- 

 cus), originally described by Olivier {Voyage en Perse, torn. iii. p. 453, 

 tabl. 41.), the carapace is described as being broader behind than be- 

 fore, which, if reference be extended only to the osseous disc, is not 

 the case in the present animal. As in that species, however, the 

 circumference of the carapace is smooth, and the skin is folded at 

 the elbow-joint above, but does not simulate scales. The circum- 

 stance of a mesial depression, or rather double channel, with a con- 

 vex line between, down the vertebral column, is not noticed as cha- 

 racteristic of the G. Euphraticus, nor yet are the smooth anterior 

 oval fovea. 



" Still, however, it is not improbable that the animal in question 

 may be identical with that described by Olivier ; but it remains to 

 be seen whether his species be distinct from G. JEgyptiacus, a point 

 which his short and imperfect account does not enable us to solve. 



" The sternum of the specimen having been removed by the ani- 

 mal preserver, and lost, has prevented my noticing this part in the 

 above description." 



A skull of an adult Chimpanzee, recently purchased by the So- 

 ciety, was exhibited, and Professor Owen pointed out the distinguish- 

 ing characters between this and the skull of the Orang, also on the 

 table ; he also called attention to certain points of agreement be- 

 tween this skull and that of the Hottentot. 



