2778 Linnean and Zoological Societies. 



my possession, and, like other gulls, seems easily reconciled to captivity. — /. H. Gurnet/ ; 

 Easlon, Norfolk, February 1, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Fork-tail Petrel (Thalassidroma Leachii) near Torquay. — A fork- 

 tail petrel was picked up on Tor-Abbey sands, in December last, dying from starva- 

 tion, but on examination it appeared also to have been wounded. For the knowledge 

 of the occurrence of this, as well as several other birds near Torquay, I am indebted 

 to Mr. Burt, of the museum at that place, who has kindly assisted me with all 

 the information in his power. — Alfred Newton; Elveden Hall, Thetford, January 

 31,1850. 



Proceedings of the Linnean Society. 



February 5, 1850.— William Yarrell, Esq., V.P., in the chair. 



A complimentary address to the new President was read, from the Royal Bavarian 

 Botanical Society. 



Mr. Gould exhibited and described a new species of Menura, an anomalous genus 

 of Australian birds; he proposed naming it M. Alberti, in honour of H.R.H. Prince 

 Albert : also a new species of Homarus and two new Lepidopterous insects from the 

 same country. 



A further portion of Mr. Huxley's paper on Medusae was read. 



February 19. — William Yarrell, Esq., V.P., in the chair. 

 Grains of maize, from the tomb of an Peruvian mummy, were exhibited. 

 Dr. Wallich read a memoir of the late Professor Schreber. 



The Secretary read two original letters, addressed by the late Sir James E. Smith 

 to Dr. Dryander. 



March 5. — William Yarrell, Esq., V.P., in the chair. 



The Rev. J. Yates exhibited a cone of Encephalartos horridus, from the Chats- 

 worth Conservatory. 



Dr. Wallich read a paper by Professor Lehmann, recording the perfection of the 

 seeds of a species of Cycas, in the absence of any male or staminiferous individual of 

 the order Cycadeae. 



Mr. Newport, F.R.S., read a paper on the habits of Monodontomerus, a parasite 

 on a British bee, and described — under the name of Heteropus ventricosus — an aca- 

 rideous parasite on the parasite : he described at great length the habits of this new 

 and very extraordinary creature. — E. N. 



Proceedings of the Zoological Society. 



February 12, 1850.— W. Yarrell, Esq., V.P., in the chair. 



Professor Owen read a continuation of his paper " On the Anatomy of the Rhi- 

 noceros," in which he described the thoracic viscera and the generative organs in 

 both sexes of that animal. 



