1862.] DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE JAPANESE PIG. 13 



rivers escape from the hill-range facing the Sea of Zanzi. Birds and 

 reptiles, especially snakes, are interesting and numerous. 



(Signed) "J. H. S." 



A letter was read from E. H. Rodd, Esq., dated Penzance, 

 January 7th, announcing the recent occurrence in Cornwall of a 

 female specimen of Scolopax sabini in very perfect plumage. 



Professor Owen concluded the reading of his memoir on the Aye- 

 aye {Chiromys madagascariensis), which had been adjourned from 

 the last meeting of the Society. The portions of the structure of 

 this animal successively examined were the dentition, the muscles, 

 the brain, the digestive organs, the organs of circulation and respira- 

 tion, and the renal and genital organs. The author then proceeded 

 to the comparison of its external characters, its osteology, and its in- 

 ternal structure with those of the Lemurs and Rodents, and showed 

 that in a variety of particulars its nearest approach was to members 

 of the lemurine group. In ordinary zoological or external characters 

 its nearest allies were certain Galagos of Africa {Otolicnus crassi- 

 caudatus and O. alleni). In conclusion, he entered into the evi- 

 dence afforded by the peculiarities of this animal on the question of 

 the origin of species, and, after shovdng the arguments in favour of 

 the derivative hypothesis and those against its mode of operation, as 

 propounded by Buffon, Lamarck, and Darwin, came to the conclu- 

 sion that, whilst the general evidence on this subject was in favour 

 of creation by law, he was compelled to acknowledge ignorance as 

 to the mode in which such secondary causes might have operated 

 in the origin of Chirotnys. At the same time he fully admitted that 

 the attempts to dissipate the mystery which environed the origin of 

 species, whether successful or not, could not but be fraught with 

 great collateral advantages to zoological science*. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. On the Skull of the Japanese Pig (Sus pliciceps). 

 By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., &c. 



I have lately had the opportunity of examining the skull of this 

 animal, and now lay before the Society the reasons which induce me 

 to believe that it is a distinct species — and a hitherto undescribed 

 species — of the genus Sus, which has as yet only been observed in 

 its domesticated state. 



Some time ago, when Mr. Bartlett showed me the Japanese Pig 

 which he had purchased, I was convinced of its belonging to a di- 

 stinct species, and urged him to send an account of the animal, 

 illustrated with a portrait of its very curious and characteristic face, 

 to the 'Proceedings' of the Society. 



The skulls of the domestic varieties of the common Pig, which 

 are bred in Europe, differ but little from the skull of the European 

 Wild Boar. 



* This Memoir will be published in full in the Society's ' Transactions,' accom- 

 panied by appropriate illustrations. 



