1832 British Association. 



of whales was determined by their food. Whales travelled slowly — at quickest cer- 

 tainly not more than six or eight miles an hour. The young differed in appearance 

 from the old ones, which might account for the want of an accurate knowledge of 

 their external character. 



Dr. Melville read a paper 'On the whale Ziphius Sowerbii.' For a»long time it 

 was supposed that the only specimen of this animal existed in the Ashmolean 

 Museum. From an examination of this specimen, the author regarded it as an ex- 

 ample of the male of the Delphinus micropterus, and not as belonging to the extinct 

 genus Ziphius. 



Mr. Gray thought the reasons of Dr. Melville not sufficient to place this animal 

 in the genus Delphinus, and on that account would still prefer leaving it in the genus 

 Ziphius. — Prof. Owen concurred in the view taken by Dr. Melville, and believed 

 it to be most philosophical to regard this animal as the male of the Delphinus 

 micropterus. 



Mr. W. Thompson, ' On Additions to the Fauna of Ireland.' — The additional spe- 

 cies brought forward were about fifty in number, chiefly invertebrate animals. 



The Prince of Canino observed ou the great interest of the Natural History of 

 Ireland on account of its contiguity to the Continent. 



Mr. Busk read a paper, ' On the Application of the Gutta Percha to Modelling.' 

 After alluding to his experiments, he described the mode he followed in obtaining his 

 moulds: — " It is to be rolled out on a smooth surface in sheets of any convenient size 

 suitable to the object to be taken, and varying in thickness according to the size. For 

 small objects, from the T ' 2 to ^ of an inch is thick enough. The sheet is dipped for a 

 moment or two into boiling water, and placed warm upon the object, upon the surface 

 of which it is to be carefully pressed with the finger point, or a convenient elastic pad, 

 so as to insure its close and uniform adaptation. In moulding soft objects it is, of course, 

 necessary that they should possess elasticity or resiliency, as in the case with living or 

 recently dead animal bodies. The gutta percha does not seem to be applicable to tak- 

 ing moulds from very fragile bodies, — such as many fossils, which would not bear the 

 requisite pressure nor admit of the removal of the mould when rigid without risk. 

 The most delicate objects, however, and slender projections, if firm enough in the ori- 

 ginal, may in the plaister-cast be removed from the matrix without any difficulty 

 when the latter is softened by momentary immersion in hot water. 



Mr. Jerdan stated that there were two kinds of gutta percha — one white, the other 

 black. The former was the best for modelling. He had written to Mr. Brooke, of 

 Borneo, on the subject, who informed him that an unlimited supply might be obtained 

 from that country. — Mr. Crawfurd said it was not hard till after it was submitted to 

 the heat of boiling water. The proper way of pronouncing the word was gutta pertsha, 

 which was a Malay term, and signified ragged gum. 



The Prince of Canino read a paper ' On four new Species of Bat.' One, a new 

 genus, he dedicated to the President of the Association, under the name of Inglisius 

 rhedicinus. The genus is closely allied to Anoura. The remaining new species were 

 Anoura Bourcieri, Molossus Delatrei, and Arctibeus Floresi. 



The Prince of Canino made some general remarks on the classification of Mam- 

 malia ; more especially in reference to Prof. Owen's views of the connexion between 

 the Pachydermata and Ruminantia. He was sure he only expressed the feelings of a 

 great many continental naturalists when he said that he was sorry Prof. Owen had 

 come to this conclusion ; although, if truth compelled him to give up the old order 



