2916 Birds. 



Occurrence of the Sun-fish (Orthogariscus Mola) off the Isle of Wight. — On 

 the 30th ultimo, a small specimen (about 18 inches long) of the sun-fish was taken 

 off Sea View in this island, by the yachtsmen of Le Merchant Thomas, Esq., and I 

 believe subsequently presented to the museum of the Royal Navy Hospital, Haslar. — 

 Warner Varnham ; Bembridge, Isle of Wight, August 3, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Tunny (Scomber Thynnus) near Weymouth. — Yesterday, July 

 25th, a specimen of the common tunny, measuring eight feet six in length, was caught 

 off the Chesil Beach in a mackerel net. The captors sold it for twenty-five shillings, 

 to two men who are reaping a rich harvest by exhibiting it at threepence each person, 

 in a temporary tent they have erected on the sands.— William Thompson ; Weymouth, 

 July 26, 1850. 



Proceedings of the Zoological Society. 



Monthly General Meeting, August 1. — W. Yarrei.l, Esq., V. P., in the chair. 



The Earl of Abergavenny, Sir. J. Ranisden, Bt., The Hon. A. Russell, the Hon. 

 Capt. G. Campbell, R. N., Capt. W. Payne, the Rev. H. J. Cummins, and H. Pad- 

 wick, Esq., were elected Fellows. Arthur Walker, Esq., of Port Natal, was elected 

 a Corresponding Member. Viscount Newport, M.P., Sir Cornwallis Ricketts, Bt., 

 G. Ransome, Esq., and H. Wordsworth, Esq., were proposed as candidates for the 

 Fellowship. 



The Report of the Council stated that the number of Fellows elected since the 

 1st of January exceeded the whole number of elections in 1849, by 11 ; that the num- 

 ber of visitors to the Gardens during the month of July exceeded the corresponding 

 period of 1849, by 34,484, and that the total number of visitors since the 1st of Jan. 

 exceeded the number admitted in the whole 12 months of 1849, by 59,810. The 

 Report concluded by stating that Her Majesty had honoured the Society by visiting the 

 Gardens on the 18th ult, for the purpose of seeing the hippopotamus, and had been 

 most graciously pleased to add to the collection the most remarkable example of land 

 tortoise {Tesludo elephantopus) which had ever reached this country. — D. W. M. 



Proceedings of the Entomological Society. 



August 5, 1850. — G. R. Waterhouse, Esq., President, in the chair. 



Mr. F. Smith was balloted for and elected a Member of the Society. 



The President read a most interesting letter from Mr. Spence, informing him of 

 the death, on the 4th of July, of the Rev. W. Kirby, Honorary President of the So- 

 ciety ; Mr. Westwood moved, and Mr. Stephens seconded, and it was unanimously 

 agreed to request Mr. Spence would have the kindness to draw up for publication in 

 the Transactions, a biographical and bibliographical memoir of Mr. Kirby, in which 

 the substance of his letter should be incorporated, and also that he would allow a por- 

 trait of Mr. Kirby, in his possession, to be lithographed and added. The President 

 then submitted to the meeting, that out of respect to the memory of Mr. Kirby, all 

 scientific business should be adjourned, which was unanimously agreed to. — H. T. S. 



