No. 107 . 



ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LO.NDON.* 



April 2nd, 1912. 



Dr. A. SiuTJi Woodward, F. R.S., Vice-President, 

 in the Chair. 



The Minutes of the last Scientific Meeting were confirmed. 



The Secretary read a Repoi-t on the Additions that had been 

 made to the Society's Menagerie during the months of February 

 and March 1912. 



Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, C.M.Z.S., sent for exhibition the shins 

 of two young Virginia Opossums [DiJeljyhis virguiiana). Tliese 

 specimens were each about ten weeks old and belonged to tlie 

 same litter. 



The bones of tlie entire skeleton at tliis age wei-e quite elemen- 

 tary in chnracter, especially the terminal vertebra^ of the tail, 

 the bones of either carpus and those of the tarsi, and the epiphj'ses 

 of the long bones, etc. The marsupial bones were well formed in 

 both sexes, and upon either side were nearly as long as the 

 corresponding ilium, and about one-fourth the size in bulk. 



According to Flower, the number of vertebrse in the spine of 

 the Virginia Opossum was 7 cei'vicals, 13 thoracic, 6 lumbar, nnd 

 26 caudals. This was probably correct for the adult animal of 

 this species, while in subadults, of an age here considered, the 

 last three caudals were not developed, and the three or four 

 anterior to them were in the most rudimentary condition 

 possible. 



* This Abstract is published by tlie Soeiety at its otRoes, Zoulogical Gardens, 

 Regent's Park, N.W., on the Tuesday ioUowhig the dale of Meetiuf; to whicli 

 it refers. It will be issued, along with the 'Proceedings,' free of extra charee. 

 to all Fellows who subscribe to tl e Publications ; but it may be obtained on the 

 day of publication at the price of Sixpence, or, if desired, sent post-free for 

 the sum of ^ix Shillings per annum, payable in advance. 



