448 MR. R. H. BURNE ON TELEOSTEAN FISHES. 



May 9th, 1916. 



Dr. S. F. Harmer, M.A., F.K.S., Vice-President, 

 in the Chair. 



The Secretary read the following report on the Additions to 

 the Society's Menagerie during the month of April, 1916 : — 



The number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie 

 during the month of April was 90. Of these 36 were acquired 

 by presentation, 23 were received on deposit, 30 by purchase, 

 and 1 was born in the Gardens. 



The number of departures during the same period, by death 

 and removals, was 117. 



Amongst the additions special attention may be directed to : — 



2 Capybaras {Hydrochcei-us hydrochcerus), from South America, 

 presented by Sir Edmund G. Loder, Bart., V.P.Z.S., on April 18th. 



1 Long-haired Armadillo {Euphractus vellerosus 2^a,n')iostts), 

 from Cordova, presented by Wilfred A. Smithers, C.M.Z.S., on 

 April 10th. 



2 Australian Barn-Owls {Strix delicatula), from Kalgoorlie, 

 Western Australia., presented by Dr. J. Vere Arkle, on April 3rd. 



3 South-American Ctecilians {Siphonops annulatus), from 

 Brazil, presented by Prof. J. P. Hill, F.R.S., F.Z.S., on April 4th. 



Mr. E,. H. Burne, M.A., F.Z.S., exhibited preparations from 

 the Royal College of Surgeons Museum of various Teleostean 

 Fishes *, showing connections of difierent kinds between the 

 swim-bladder and the ear. The fishes belonged to several 

 distinct families. In some (Berycidae, Gadida), Hyodontid*, 

 Notopteridse) the connection was shown to be by direct contact 

 between a process of the swim-bladder and a fenestra in the 

 periotic capsule, or even (Clupeidte) between the swim-bladder 

 and part of the internal ear ; while in others (Ostariophysi) it is 

 indirect and the swim -bladder is connected with the perilymph 

 spaces that surround the ear by a chain of ossicles (Weberian 

 ossicles). 



It was suggested that the above connections are probably an 

 aid in the perception of sound, and, in furtherance of this view, 

 specimens were shown of the " elastic spring " mechanism in 

 several Siluroids, by which the walls and contained gases of the 

 swim-bladder can be made to give rise to sonorous vibrations. 



* Presented to the College by Col. C. E. Shepherd. 



Correction. 



On p. 109 of Prof. Poulton's paper on Moths from Somaliland 



" Genus Pachycoa" should read : " Genus Pachycoa, nov." 



