22 



Mr. W. Woodland, F.Z.S,, read a paper in which an attempt 

 was made to explain the existence of the so-called " renal-portal " 

 system. Arguments and facts were adduced to prove that the 

 venous blood supplied to the " portal " kidney was not used for 

 excretory purposes. On the other hand, it was suggested that 

 the "renal-portal" system was solely due to the fact that the 

 lumen of the venous sinus oifered a convenient space for the 

 kidney-substance to intrude upon, the kidney developing under 

 conditions in which space was extremely limited, and con- 

 sequently under pressure. This view, which was justified by 

 all known morphological and physiological facts, implied that all 

 kidney-elements in the Vertebrata had a similar vascular supply. 



Mr. Woodland also read a paper on the anatomy of Ceidro- 

 phorios calceus, the Author describing in particular the anatomy 

 of the alimentary tract, which differed in several respects from 

 that of most Selachians and, as regards the length of the bile-duct, 

 from most Vertebrates, 



Mr. Oldfield Thomas, F.R.S., read a paper on mammals col- 

 lected in Korea and Quelpart Island by Mr. Malcolm P. Anderson 

 for the Duke of Bedford's Exploration of Eastern Asia, and 

 presented by His Grace to the National Museum. 



The collection consisted of about 130 specimens, belonging to 

 nine species, of which four were described as new. 



Quelpart Island proved to contain a very poor mammal-fauna, 

 and the only specimens obtained there were a Fiotorius and a 

 Microm.ys, both identical with forms found on the Korean 

 Peninsula. 



The next Meeting of the Society for Scientific Business will 

 be held on Tuesday, the 11th December, 1906, at half -past Eight 

 o'clock P.M., when the following communications will be made : — 



1. Messrs. John Rennie, D.Sc, and Harry Wiseman, M.A. — 

 On Collections of the Cape Yerde Island Marine Fauna made by 

 Cyril Ci*ossland from July to September 1904. Ascidians. 



2. Mr. Lionel K. Crawshay, M.A. — On Variations in the 

 Ai'terial System of certain Species of Anura. 



3. Mr. Guy A. K. Marshall, F.Z.S. — On new Species of 

 African Curculionidce. 



4. Mrs. 0. A. Merritt Hawkes. — The Cranial and Spinal 

 Nerves of Chlamydoselachus angidneus. 



5. Mr. R. Lydekker. — Descriptions of two Mammals from the 

 Ituri Forest. 



