204 MR. R. I. POCOCK ON THE [ Mar. 2, 
2. The framework, muscles, and ligaments of a gill-pouch of 
Raja maculata. 
The expansion of the gill-pouch during the inspiratory move- 
ment is due to a series of elastic ligaments acting upon the 
branchial rays, drawing them away from the central member of 
the series. 
3. An elastic modification of the anterior wall of the capsule of 
the costo-vertebral joints in a Python (P. sede). 
This part of the capsule-wall is greatly thickened and consists 
almost entirely of elastic fibres arranged parallel to one another 
and to the long axis of the rib. 
The action of this plate of elastic tissue would no doubt be to 
protract the rib upon the relaxation of its retractor muscles. 
In Snakes forward locomotion is largely due to the forcible 
retraction of the ribs, their protraction being rather in the nature 
of a recovery to a state of repose—a movement requiring com- 
paratively little force.” 
Dr. R. F. Scharff, B.Sc., F.Z.S., exhibited some long-bones and 
antlers of Reindeer from a cave in County Cork in Ireland. 
He stated that Reindeer bones had been discovered sparingly 
in caves in the Counties of Sligo and Clare along with those of 
the Greenland Lemming (Dicrostonyx torquatus). During the 
Co. Cork cave explorations, the results of which will shortly be 
published in detail, Reindeer remains were found in extreme 
abundance. They were associated with the bones of Hyena and 
two species of Lemming. 
The main object of exhibiting the Reindeer bones was to draw 
attention to the fact that many of them showed distinct traces 
of having been gnawed by some other animal. Dr. Scharff had 
suggested that the tooth-marks might have been produced by 
young hyenas, but was disposed to accept the view that they 
were produced by Rodents. The marks on the antlers seemed 
to differ from those on the long-bones, the latter having often 
been gnawed through entirely in the middle. 
Mr. Pocock on the Skulls of Leopards. 
Mr. R. I. Pocock, F.L.S., F.Z.S., the Superintendent of the 
Gardens, exhibited the skulls of some West African Leopards 
which had come from Cette Cama in the Gaboon, and made the 
following remarks :—‘“ I owe to Mr. Edward Gerrard, taxidermist, 
of Camden Town, the opportunity of examining these skulls, 
which he sent to me on account of their unusual size. He was 
struck by the fact that three of them surpass in dimensions all 
the Leopards’ skulls out of the very large number that have passed 
through his hands, and are particularly remarkable for the length 
and thickness of the canine teeth. A comparison between their 
measurements and those cited in Rowland Ward’s ‘ Records of 
