974 DK. C. I. FOESYTU MAJOR ON A [Dec. 1, 



described and its relationships discussed in a paper under prepara- 

 tion. 



The Avian collections are there to prove that if the Mammals 

 for which I was anxiously looking out did not come in in greater 

 numbers, it was not for want of careful investigation. Tlie collec- 

 tion of Birds' remains was partly damaged, partly destroyed by the 

 falling in of the ceiling of my house at Sirabe, in which they were 

 placed for drying. Fortunately there remains enough. The 

 yEpyornis bones, some thousand in number, form the great bulk 

 of the collection ; the family is here represented by two species of 

 uEpyornis and one of Mulleroi-nis. One smaller species is 

 predominant, and of this we shall be able before long to put 

 together an almost complete skeleton, as the smaller and rarer 

 parts, such as sternum, coraco-scapula, cerebral vertebra), 

 phalanges, &c., are all at band. Sis more or less complete skulls 

 of the smaller species of JEpyomis were obtained. 



The Carinatce are represented by several hundred bones, 

 belonging chiefly to aquatic birds. Mr. Andrews will be so good 

 as to give some further particulars about the birds' remains. Of 

 the rest the collection will speak for itself. 



Of recent Birds I collected chiefly skeletons ; and I hope to have 

 done a useful work in bringing home over 160 birds' skeletons. 



Of recent Mammals many hundred specimens have been obtained ; 

 of numerous species whole series, including skius, skeletons, and 

 spirit-specimens. 



Lemtteid^. 



Of Lemuridse examples of 13 species have been collected, amongst 

 which two ( Lepidolemur microdon and ChiroffaU melanoiis), pre- 

 served in the National Museum, were known only by a single 

 specimen each. Amongst the number is one new spncies, a Chiro- 

 gale, and besides this some remaricable varieties of others. 



There is a curious character in the skull of Malagasy Lemurs, 

 to which attention was lirst drawn in 1835 by a Swiss anatomist, 

 Hagenbach, who observed it in a species of the genws, Lemar ; 

 the same was later (in 1845) more fully described by Hyrtl in 

 two species of the same genus : the tympanic ring is completely 

 enclosed by the bulla ossea, but without osseous connection with 

 the same. Winge has stated that this peculiarity holds good 

 with regard to all the Malagasy Leraui'idiB which have come under 

 his observation, including Chiromi/s, and be therefore places them 

 iu a separate family. It is in fact of general occurrence amongst 

 the Lemuridse of the island ; and having found other peculiarities 

 in their skull besides, I have come to range myself with Winge's 

 opinion, so that we have to consider Chirogah, Opolemur, and 

 Microcehus as being more nearly related to the rest of the Malagasy 

 Lemurs than to the African genus QaliKjo. 



Cabnivoea. 

 Examples of 5 species were collected, which for the present call 

 for no special remarks. The Cryptoprocla ferox is amongst them. 



