86 



Obb River, and made remarks upon the characteristic variation in the horns 

 of this species. Mr. Holding also exhibited a pair of the horns of a stag, 

 from the same district, probably Cervus eustephanus, in which the third tine 

 was absent in both horns. — Dr. Forsyth Major exhibited the foetal skulls 

 of various Malagasy Lemurs, showing the development of the osseous tym- 

 panic bulla, in which the tympanic ring did not participate. The tertiary 

 Adapts in this and other features closely approached the Malagasy Lemurs. 



— He also exhibited an almost complete skull of a new species of Nesopi- 

 thecus [Olohilemur). In this subfossil Malagasy mammal, characters of the 

 Malagasy Lemurs were associated with others characteristic of the Monkeys. 

 The new species, N. australis, was distinguished from N. Roberti by its 

 smaller size, less steep facial profile, by the position of the lacrymal foramen 

 on the margin of the orbit, and by the slightly outward direction of the orbit. 



— A huge new species of Megaladapis ì M. insignis, was revealed by fragments 

 of the jaw and beautifully preserved cheek-teeth. The length of the skull 

 was approximately 330 millim. — Mr, W. L. Sclater, F.Z.S., made some 

 remarks on a forthcoming series of volumes which he proposed to issue under 

 the title of 'The Fauna of South Africa'. The first volume, which was now 

 nearly ready, and would deal with the first half of the Passerine Birds, had 

 been undertaken by the late Dr. A. C. Stark. The volume on the Mammals, 

 by Mr. Sclater himself, was now in the printer's hands, and would also 

 shortly be issued. Mr. Sclater then proceeded to make some general obser- 

 vations on the Mammals of Africa south of the Zambesi, and concluded with 

 some remarks on the older travellers and naturalists who had contributed to 

 our knowledge of this subject in past times. — Mr. W. P. Pycraftread 

 the fourth part of his "Contributions to the Osteology of Birds", which 

 dealt with the Grebes and Divers [Pygopodes). The author considered that the 

 Grebes and Divers were closely related inter se, that they could not be asso- 

 ciated with the Auks, as had been done by some ornithologists, but were 

 more nearly allied to the Tubinares, Impennes, and Steganopodes. The 

 author also stated that he was of opinion that Hesperornis undoubtedly be- 

 longed to the suborder Pygopodes. — Mr. F. G. Parsons, F.Z.S., read a 

 second portion of a paper "On the Myology of the Edentata", prepared by 

 Prof. B. C. A. Windle, F.R.S., and himself. It dealt with the muscles of 

 the hind limb, and also contained a summary of the conclusions that the 

 authors had arrived at respecting the musculature of the Order. — P. 

 L. S elate r, Secretary. 



2. Linnean Society of New South Wales. 



November 29th, 1899. — 1) and 2) Botanical. — 3) Contributions to a 

 Knowledge of the Australian Crustacean Fauna. No. 2. On Sacculina para- 

 sitic upon Pilumnopeus serratifrons. By David G. Stead. The parasitised 

 crabs examined were found to represent both sexes in about equal proportions, 

 and neither the pleon nor the abdominal appendages were affected in either sex 

 — a different state of things from that recorded by Prof. Giard in the case of 

 certain European crabs attacked in a similar manner, and by Prof. Haswell in 

 that of two Australian species. — 4) and 5) Botanical. — 6) Observations on 

 the Reproductive System of Digaster [Didymogaster) sylvaticus, Fl. By Sarah 

 O. Brennan, M.A.,B.Sc. From the Biological Laboratory, Sydney University. 



