4 A. Alcock — Distribution of Certain Beep Sea Animals. [Jak. 



arguments, based principally upon the affinities o£ the fossil corals 

 of Barbadoes with the fossil corals of the Mediterranean basin and 

 with corals still living in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, in sup- 

 port of the view that, in or shortly before Miocene times, a Mediter- 

 ranean Sea extended from America eastwards, and included both the 

 present Caribbean and Mediterranean basins. In this Mediterranean 

 Sea, the present North and South Atlantic Oceans were represented 

 by bays running north and south. 



Now is it possible that Phoherus, Bathynomus, and Mystaconuriis 

 fiarerwos?/^ are remnants of the deep fauna of this sea? The question 

 seems to be a not unreasonable one, especially as it is strengthened 

 by the curious distribution of some other forms of which specimens are 

 exhibited here to-night. These are : — 



1. Biplacanthopoma brachysoma, a fish distantly related to the 

 Cod-fishes, which is only known to occur (a) off Pernambuco (at the 

 north-east angle of Brazil) in 350 fms., and (b) in the Andaman Sea 

 in 490 fms. 



2. Flabellum laciniatum, a Turbinolid coral which has been found 

 living (a) in the Norwegian and North Atlantic Seas, and (6) off the 

 east and west coasts of India at 400 to 700 fathoms. This species is 

 also fossil in the (Pliocene) deposits of the Mediterranean basin. 



The following papers were read .• — 



1. Tivo copper-plate grants of Batnapala of Pragjyotisa in Asdm. — 

 By Dr. A. F. R. Hoernle, CLE. 



The paper will be published in the Journal^ Part I. 



2. On the seasonal change of plumage in the Male of the Purple 

 Honey-sucher (Arachnecthra asiatica), and of an analogous American 

 Bird, the Yellow-winged Sugar-bird (Coereba cyanea) with Exhibition of 

 Specimens. — By F. Finn, B.A., F.Z.S., Beputy Superintendent of the 

 Indian Museum, 



The paper will be published in the Journal, Part II. 



3. On a Bain-ceremony from the District of Murshedabad, Bengal. — 

 By ^AUki Candra Mitra, M. A., B.L., Corresponding Member of the 

 Anthropological Society of Bombay. Communicated by the Anthro- 

 pological Secretary, 



The paper will be published in the Journal, Part III. 



4. On a Fragment of a Manuscript of Aryadeva^s Work from Nepal, — 

 By Pandit Haraprasad Jastri, M.A. 



The paper will be published in the Journal, Part I. 



