No. 85. 



ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



ZOOLOGICxVL SOCIETY OF LONDON.^ 



May 24tli, 1910. 

 Dr. Hexry Woodward, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the Clmir. 



The Minutes of the last Scientific Meeting were confirmed. 



The Secretary read a Report on the additions that had been 

 made to the Society's Menagerie during the month of April 1910. 



Mr. Ernest Gibson, F.Z.S., exhibited a skin of Fells geofroyi 

 and made some remarks on the distribution of the animal. 



Mr. D. G. LiLLiE, B.A., read a paper, communicated by Dr. H. 

 Gadow, F.R.S., F.Z.S., entitled " Observations on the Anatomy 

 and General Biology of some Members of the larger Cetacea." 

 This paper was the outcome of seven weeks spent at the Irish 

 whaling station during the summer of 1909, The object of the 

 A"isit was to make a preliminaiy survey of the opportunities which 

 are now ofiei'ed for a study of the larger Cetacea by the recent 

 establishment of whaling stations ofi' the shores of the British 

 Isles. It was pointed out that hitherto our knowledge of whales 

 had been chiefly derived from the examination of stranded speci- 

 mens, which had often reached an advanced state of decay ; 

 Avhei-eas it was now possible to obtain a plentiful supply of large 

 wliales fairly near at hand which were sufficiently fresh for histo- 

 logical study. It was particularly desirable to increase our know- 

 ledge of the larger Cetacea before these much-hv;nted animals 

 became too scarce. A list was given of the species captured at 

 the Irish station during the two yeai's of its existence, with notes 

 on the species J5alce7iopteramusctdus Linn., B.sibhaldii Gi'ay, and 

 Physeter macrocephalas Linn., which were seen by the author. 



* 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, along with the 'Proceedings,' free of extra charge, to all Fellows who 

 subscribe to the Publications; but it may be obtained on the day of publication 

 at the price of Sixpence, or, if desired, sent post-free ior the gum of Six 

 Shillings per annum, payable in advance. 



