No. 54. 



ABSTRACT OF THE PROOEEDINGS 



OF THE 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON* 



March 3rd, 1908. 

 G. A. BouLENGER, Esq., F.R.S., Vice-President, in tlie Chair. 



The Secretary read a letter from Mr. Eoland Trimen, F.R.S., 

 F.L.S., F.Z.S., in which he described the presence of a cuticular 

 claw-like growth, about seven lines in length, on the tip of the tail 

 of a domestic cat in his possession. The Secretary exhibited, for 

 comparison, the tail of a young lion on which such a structure is 

 well known to occur. 



The Secretary exhibited some skins of the Coypu {Myocastor 

 coypu) lent to him for the purpose by Mr. C. Hawkins, and called 

 attention to the dorso-lateral position of the nipples of the mam- 

 mary glands. The peculiar position of these organs in the Ooypu 

 and some of its allies had long ago been discussed by Sir Richard 

 Owen, but apparently was not known to writers of recent text- 

 books. 



Mr. F. E. Beddard, M.A., F.R.S., Prosector to the Society, 

 exhibited a preparation of the colon and rectum of the Badger 

 (Meles meles), and directed attention to the unusual size of the 

 Payer's patches. 



Dr. P. Chalmers Mitchell, M.A., F.R.S., Secretary to the 

 Society, read a paper entitled " On a Young Female Kordofan 

 Giraffe," and illustrated his remarks by lantern-slides. He com- 

 pared the coloration of this specimen, born at the Gardens, with 

 that of its parents and with that of a young female Giraffe from 

 Nigeria, now living in the Society's Collection, and stated that 



* This Abstract is published by the Society at 3 Hanover Square, London, 

 W., on the Tuesday following the date of Meeting to which it refers. It will 

 be issued, free of extra charge, to all Fellows who subscribe to the Publications, 

 along with the ' Proceedings ' ; but it may be obtained on the day of publication 

 at the price of Sixpence, or, if desired, sent post-free for the sum of Six 

 Shillings per annum, payable in advance. 



