22 



inflammation, which could not be accounted for by the laceration 

 of the wounds alone. 



Dr. Antonio Porta in 1905 described a gland in the groove 

 lying medially to the rows of teeth on either side, which he stated 

 is similar to the gland found in Scorpcena. 



Major Evans's researches do not confirm Porta's description in 

 all particulars. The examination of a series of sections shows a 

 gland of a different tj^pe from that found in the Weevers, 

 Scoyycena, etc. The points emphasized are : — 



(i.) The origin of the gland from a special epithelial structure 

 at the base of the spine. 



(ii.) The arrangement of follicles discharging their secretion 

 by ducts or canals, communicating with the exterior by means of 

 nipples or filaments. 



(iii.) The ari-angement of these nipples at the base of the 

 teeth. 



(iv.) The presence of muscular fibres surrounding the main 

 canals which are instrumental in discharging the venom. 



Mr. R. I. PocoCK, F.R.S., F.Z.S., Curator of Mammals, read 

 a paper, illustrated by lantern-slides, " On the External Charac- 

 ters of the Mongooses (Mungotidfe)," dealing principally with 

 the ears, feet, and anal sac. Reasons were given for i^estoring 

 the genei'ic names Ariela for Crossarchus fasciatus and Atilax 

 for Mungos paludinosiis. It was also shown that the Mongooses 

 differ from other Yiveri'idte in the structure of the ears, and that 

 the type of ear in Suricata is different from that of all other 

 genera of the family. 



The next Meeting of the Society for Scientific Business will be 

 "held on Tuesday, May 9th, 1916, at half-past Five o'clock p.m., 

 when the following communications will be made : — 



EXHIBITI'PyS AND NOTICES. 



Miss Dorothea M. A. Bate, Hon.M.B.O.TJ. 



On a Small Collection of Yertebi^ate Remains from the 

 Har Dalam Cavern-, Malta, with Kote '©n a new Species of 

 the Genus Ci/gnzis. 



