llOi MR. R. H. BURNE ON FCETAL SKELETOXS, 



Armadillo {Tatusia novem-cincta), from Mexico, purchased on 

 October 8th and 30th. 



1 Dorsal Hyrax {Dendrohyrax dorsalis), from Sierra Leone, 

 presented by Mrs. A. M. Bettington on October 7th. 



1 Black-bached Hangnest [Icterus mesomelas), from Central 

 America, 1 Loo-Choo Jay (Lalocitta lidthii), from the Loo-Choo 

 Islands, and 1 Purple- breasted Parrot {Tridaria cyanogastra), 

 from S.E. Brazil, all new to the Collection, received in exchange 

 on October 27th. 



2 American Harriers (Circus htodsonius) and 1 Mississippi Kite 

 (Icterus mississijjpiensis), from North America, both new to the 

 Collection, received in exchange on October 7th. 



3 Pileated Guans (Penelope pileata), 3 Araucuan Guans (Ortcdis 

 araucuan)j and 2 Rufous-necked Rails (Aramides chiricote), from 

 Para, all new to the Collection, presented by the Goeldi Museum 

 on October 20th. 



2 Brazilian Tortoises (Platemys platycephala), new to the 

 Collection, purchased on October 15th. 



Prof. H. Maxwell Lefroy, M.A., F.Z.S., Honorory Curator of 

 Insects, briefly described the arrangement of the New Insect 

 House, the progress made with the fittiug-up of the interior, and 

 the installation of and method of displaying the exhibits. 



Mr. R. H. BuRNE, M.A., F.Z.S. , showed some specimens of 

 foetal skeletons prepared by the Beale-Schultze method. The 

 fcetus after being dehydrated is soaked in 1-3 per cent, caustic 

 potash, and finally mounted in glycerine. By this procedure the 

 soft pa,rts become almost completely transparent, leaving any 

 calcareous deposit opaque. 



The specimens shown were foetuses of the Fowl, Horse, and 

 Man. In the Fowl attention was drawn to the three separate 

 metatarsals that at an older stage fuse to form the single tarso- 

 metatarsus. In the same way in the Horse the ossifying shafts 

 of the ulna, fibula, and splint-bones could be clearly distinguished. 



A specimen of the skeleton of a Star-fish (Asterias rtthens) 

 prepared by the same method was also exhibited. 



