48 Zoological Society. 



described it, with a very slight notch at the summit, and by no 

 means obcordate. The descriptions of other eminent authors are 

 by no means concordant. According to Koch and Wahlenberg 

 the capsule is obcordate ; Bertoloni describes it as " subrotundata 

 emarginata ;" while Reichenbach says, " capsula obovato-trian- 

 gulari, vix emarginata/' I am disposed to believe that the Italian 

 plant known to Bertoloni, and possibly also the specimen in good 

 fruit preserved in Mr. Bentham's herbarium, may be V. longi- 

 styla, while the common alpine plant known to Reichenbach is 

 the true V. aphylla. 



The difference of habit and appearance between the plant here 

 described and the ordinary V. aphylla might be referred to the 

 peculiarity of its birthplace upon the arid marble rocks of the 

 Carrara Apennines ; but it would be a large concession to the 

 views of those who most believe in the modifying influence of 

 external conditions, to Mippose that they can so far change the 

 form of the essential organs of vegetation as would be required 

 if these plants be not specifically distinct. 



Having lately received Corsican specimens of Veronica repens, 

 Lois., from my friend M. Jordan of Lyons, I may remark that 

 that plant appears to me to be a mere variety of V. serpylli- 

 folia, L. It differs from the mountain form of that plant, known 

 to the Scotch botanists as V. humifusa, Dicks., in no respect 

 except in the somewhat more hairy segments of the calyx, and 

 apparently in the leaves being rather more fleshy than in the 

 Scotch plant. 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Jan. 9, 1849. — William Yarrell, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Descriptions of three new species of Delphinid^;. By 

 J. E. Gray, Esq., F.R.S. 



The species which form the subject of the present communication 

 were collected by Dr. Dickie, R.N., during his voyage in the Pacific, 

 and have been transferred by him to the British Museum. 



Delphinus Eutropia. 



Nose of skull rather longer than the length of the brain-cavity, 

 rather dilated on the sides before the notch, very convex and rounded 

 above ; triangle elongate, produced before the tooth-line, concave on 

 the sides, and strongly keeled in the centre behind ; hinder edge of 

 blow-hole rather prominent. Intermaxillar wide, convex above, leaving 

 a rather broad open space in front. Palate rather concave in front, 

 convex in the centre behind, the hinder part keeled on each side. 



