484 



DR. ST. G. MIVART ON THE PINNIPEDIA. 



[May 19 



which, however, must have acted so as to prevent the escape of food 

 into the abdominal cavity. 



Mr. Day likewise exhibited a portion of the sifting-apparatus of 

 the Basking Shark (Selache maxima) which had been captured off 

 Dendmans on May Gth. These branchial combs or teeth had been 



Intestines of diseased Trout. 



fully described by Prof. Turner. The food taken from the Shark's 

 stomach was exhibited, and had the appearance of " red stuff like 

 bruised crabs, or the roe of the Sea-Urchin, as described by Low," 

 and in the pharynx were quantities of sessile-eyed crustaceans, 

 mostly Amphipoda and Copepoda in a fresh condition, and evidently 

 what the substance iu the stomach originally consisted of, as was 

 further j)roved by a microscopic examination. The specimen was a 

 female over eleven feet long, and the longest tooth in its jaws was 

 0"09 of an inch. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Notes on the Piunipeclia. 

 By St. George Mivart, V.P.Z.S. 



[Received AprU 16, 1885.] 



To the question whether or not the group of Pinnipeds should 

 form a distinct order of Mammalia, modern science adds that con- 

 cerning their genetic affinities. This latter inquiry suggests another 

 question, namely, the question whether the group is genetically 



