6 
Mv, Grorcr JENNISON sent for exhibition a mounted specimen 
of a hybrid Sea-Lion (Otaria pusilla g x O. californiana @), 
which had been born in the Belle Vue Gardens, Manchester, 
together with photographs of another specimen now living in the 
same Gardens, and notes upon its habits. 
Dr. R. T. Lerreer, F.Z.S8., and Surgeon HE. L. Atkinson, R.N., 
gave a lantern demonstration of the Helminthes collected by the 
British Antarctic Expedition (Terra-Nova), 1910-1913. The 
collection contained nine forms previously recorded from the 
Antarctic Zone, three previously recorded only from the Arctic 
Regions and one other previously recorded elsewhere and now 
found in the Antarctic Zone, and fifteen new species and four 
new genera. Of the forms obtained in Tropical and Temperate 
Zones during the voyage, three had been recorded previously and 
five were new species. 
Messrs. CO. G. SreLiamMann, F.Z.S., and S. G. SHarrock com- 
municated the results of some observations made to ascertain 
whether any relation subsists between the seasonal assumption of 
the “eclipse” plumage in the Mallard (Anas boscas) and the func- 
tion of the testicle. The observations consisted in the micro- 
scopic examination of the testicle each month of the year, and in 
a study of the results of castration. The first observation showed 
that the passage from the eclipse to the full winter plumage was 
not associated with the advent of spermatogenesis. The Mallard 
had passed out of eclipse by September, but at this date and till 
early spring the spermatogenic function was in abeyance. Castra- 
tion carried out during the eclipse (July and August) did not 
delay the assumption of the winter plumage. If carried out in 
December, however, the eclipse was delayed, though only for a 
few weeks. This delay had its parallel in the well-established 
fact that, if a colt is castrated when shedding its winter coat, the 
shedding was for a time arrested, and then proceeded only slowly. 
The complete castration of birds was a difficult procedure, even 
under anesthetics and after free incision and inspection of the 
abdominal organs. And in no instance in the case of the Mallard 
was no testicular tissue reproduced, though the amount was quite 
small. 
Whilst it would appear that the seasonal change of plumage did 
not correspond with the spermatogenic function of the testicle, 
its connection with the production of an internal secretion could 
only be settled by castration followed absolutely without regen- 
eration; this could be ensured only by re-opening the abdomen 
under an anesthetic and removing any reproduced tissue found. 
Dr. F. Woop-Jones, F.Z.8., read a paper on some phases in 
the reproductive history of the female Mole (Talpa europea). He 
dealt with the nature-lore connected with the sexual evolution of 
the Mole, the embryological development of the reproductive 
