1908.] ON A WILD CAT FROM SZE-CHUEN. 433 



to be explained as a mechanism for bringing the toxin secreted by 

 the gas-gland cells ( Jteger) into contact with the erythrocytes before 

 these reach the region of the gas epithelium, so that when the 

 blood does reach this region, the oxygen, liberated by the action 

 of the toxin on the erythrocytes, has become freely mixed with the 

 plasma and is therefore in a condition to be abstracted by the gas- 

 gland cells." 



Mr. T. A. Coward, F.Z.S., exhibited a specimen of a Petrel, 

 (Estrelata neglecta Schleg., the property of Mr. Ai-thur Newstead, 

 of Cheshire, which had been picked up dead, yet in a quite 

 fresh condition, at Tarporley in Cheshire, on April 1st, 1908. 

 This bird is a native of the Southern Pacific, and has almost 

 certainly never been recorded from the northern hemisphere, 

 and certainly never from Europe before. 



Mr. C. Davies Sherborn, F.Z.S., exhibited a specimen of chert 

 from the Middle Culm-measures (Carboniferous) of Christow 

 Down, near Doddiscombe Leigh, Devonshii'e, showing nvunerous 

 large and well-preserved Radiolaria. 



On behalf of Mr. R. Lydekker, the Secretary exhibited the 

 tanned skin (without the legs and part of the tail) of a Wild Cat 

 obtained by the Hon. Mason Mitchell, of the American Consular 

 Service, in Sze-chuen, and sent by that gentleman to Mr. Rowland 

 Ward. Compared with a light-coloured skin of Felis temminckl 

 from Sikhim (B.M. No. 91.10.7.10), the Sze-chuen specimen differs 

 by the much lighter colour of the upper parts, which are golden 

 tawny, with a comparatively narrow dorsal streak of light rufous 

 (in place of a broad one of mahogany rufous) — the tail being 

 golden rufous above, difierent in tint from both the middle 

 and sides. The under parts are white with a few brown spots, 

 instead of pale buff with similar sjDots. The specimen is of 

 interest as extending the range of the Bay Cat into Sze-chuen ; 

 and may be regarded as representing a local race, for which 

 Mr. Lydekker suggested the name F. temmhichi mitchelli. 

 It was likewise pointed out that the Bay Cat presents striking- 

 resemblances to the African Tiger-Cat {F. chrysothrix, or 

 F. aurata), from which it is distinguished by the broad white 

 band between a pair of darker ones on each cheek, and a some- 

 what similar mark on the forehead. Sikhim and Nepal specimens 

 exhibit both a bright rufous phase with pale and spotted undei' 

 parts, and a wholly dark reddish-brown phase. A grey phase is 

 represented by a skin (B.M. No. 0.6.30.1) from Upper Burma, 

 presented by Mr. C. W. A. Bruce, and by the Cat from Foochow 

 figured in plate i. of the Society's 'Proceedings' for 1898 by 

 Dr. P. L. Sclater as a new species under the name of F. domini- 

 canorum. This phase corresponds with the one of F. chrysothrix 



28* 



