51 
same type as the spermatozoa of other Mammalia, several of which 
are figured in Professor Wagner’s excellent ‘ Elements of Physiology,’ 
translated by Dr. Willis, part i. page 11.” 
Various specimens presented to the Society since the previous 
Meeting were laid on the table; they consisted of a very valuable 
collection of insects from the interior of South Africa, presented by 
the President, the Earl of Derby ; a specimen of a Manis from China, 
presented by the Honourable Sir Alexander Johnstone; and a series 
of Insects, Birds’ Eggs, &c., collected at Samsoon and Erzeroom by 
the Society’s Corresponding Members, E. D. Dickson, Esq., and H. 
J. Ross, Esq. This last-mentioned collection also contained a spe- 
cimen of the European Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis of authors), 
and of the Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus, Linn.). 
Mr. Fraser exhibited a specimen of a Pouched Rat (Cricetomys 
Gambianus) and various species of Birds which he had procured on 
the western coast of Africa during the Niger expedition, and read 
the following notes relating to them :— 
Cricetomys Gambianus, Wat. Lives in holes in the ground, more 
abundantly under the storehouses, where of a night they may be 
heard squeaking and fighting, similar to our common Rat (Mus decu- 
manus, Linn.); they climb the paw-paw trees and feed on the fruit 
as it hangs: the cheek-pouches contained paw-paw seeds. Caught 
in iron gins baited with boiled yam. The natives set great store on 
this animal, its flesh being considered the greatest delicacy that can 
be offered at a wedding-feast. 
Hab. Clarence, Fernando Po. Common. — 
Neophron niger, Less., Cathartes monachus, 'Temm. Pl. Col. 222. 
Common in the neighbourhood of Cape Coast Castle, living in the 
smaller trees near the houses. 
Hirundo leucosoma, Swains. Jard. Nat. Lib. vol. (Orn.) viii. ; B. of 
W. Africa, page 74, 1837. 
Hab. Accra. ~ Very common. 
Ispida bicincta, Swains. Jard. Nat. Lib. vol. (Orn.) viii.; B. of W. 
Africa. Common: seen in flocks of six or eight, making a continual 
chattering noise as they fly ; this species dives into the salt as well as 
fresh water, sometimes from the height perhaps of twenty feet; I 
have seen them hover over their scaly prey like a kestril. 
Hab. Fernando Po and river Niger, as far up as Iddah. 
Macronyzx flavigaster, Swains. Jard. Nat. Lib. vol. (Orn.) vii. ; B. 
of W. Africa, p. 215, 1837. 
Hab. Accra. 
Ploceus textor, Cuv. 
Hab. Cape Palmas, Cape Coast and Fernando Po. 
At each of the above places I found this bird extremely common ; 
they commit much mischief in the rice and Indian-corn plantations. 
As many as fifty pairs may be seen building their domed nests in one 
