BIRTH OF A PORPOISE AT BRIGHTON AQUARIUM. 1061 
2 Red-necked Phalaropes (Phalaropus hyperboreus), from 
Iceland, new to the Collection, presented by W. H. St. Quintin, 
F.Z.8., on October 8th. 
The Secretary exhibited a photograh showing Oysters 
growing upon mangroves at Lobito Bay, Portuguese West 
Africa. 
Mr. R. H. Burne, M.A., V.P.Z.S., exhibited some paraffin 
Simulacra of Molluscan and other Shells made accidentally by 
Dr. C. V. Ariens Kappers while embedding objects for the 
microtome. During this process, paraffin in a molten state 
inadvertently escaped from the mould and set in the shell-forms 
shown, probably owing to distorted crystallization. 
Mr. H. R. Hoce, M.A., F.Z.S., read his Report on the Spiders 
collected by the British Ornithologists’ Union and Wollaston 
Expeditions in Dutch New Guinea. 
This paper will be published in the ‘ Transactions.’ 
Lirth of a Porpoise at the Brighton Aquarium. 
Mr. Lewis H. James, B.A., F.Z.8., communicated the following 
notes upon the birth of a porpoise at the Brighton Aquarium :— 
On the 26th May, 1914, a female porpoise (Phocena communis) 
was caught in a kettle-net at Dungeness. She was transferred 
to a sluice immediately she was landed and left there for a short 
time. She was then seen to be inanadvanced stage of pregnancy. 
Later, she was transferred by road and rail to Brighton Aquarium, 
where she was placed in a tank containing 110,000 gallons of 
sea-water. During the journey the porpoise was wrapped in 
wet blankets and the eyes and nares were frequently sponged 
with sea-water. On being placed in the tank, she seemed in good 
condition and swam well. 
On the afternoon of Sunday, 31st May, the porpoise seemed to 
be in great pain. She swam to and fro in the tank, resting at 
intervals on the surface. This was about 3.15 p.m., and from 
this time typical labour movements set in. While lying at the 
surface of the tank she made straining movements by arching 
her back, and in about half an hour the first signs of the offspring 
appeared in the form of the tail. Labour was now very strained, 
and the mother appeared in great pain, probably owing to the 
fact of a breach presentation. About one-half of the young was 
forced out by spasmodic contractions, while presentation was 
completed by a final forced contraction. The whole process 
lasted from 3.15 to 5.50 P.M. 
