190 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



A paper was then read by Mr. Spencer Moore on some micro-chemical 

 reactions of Tannin. In this an account was given of the behaviour of 

 Nessler's test for ammonia upon tannin, which it usually colours almost 

 immediately some shade of brown or reddish brown. The -great value of 

 the reagent is held to reside in the rapidity of its action ; moreover, in none 

 of the many experiments did it fail. Reference was also made to some other 

 new tannin tests, especially to some in which, as in Nessler's fluid, caustic 

 potash furnishes the basis, and which, like that fluid, are very rapid in 

 their action. 



A paper by Mr. E. Saunders, " On the tongue of the British Hymen- 

 optera Anthophih," in the absence of the author, was read by Mr. W. Percy 

 Sladen, and was illustrated by excellent drawings. 



Zoological Society of London. 



April 1, 1890. — Dr. A. Gunther, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the 

 chair. 



The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to the 

 Society's Menagerie during the month of March, and called special attention 

 to a fine example of a rare passerine bird, Hypocolius ampelinus, from 

 Karachi, presented to the Society by Mr. W. D. Cumming, Curator of the 

 Museum, Karachi ; and to two Mantchuriau Cranes, Grus viridirostris, 

 presented to the Society by Mr. C. W. Campbell, of H.B.M.'s Consular 

 Service, Corea. 



Mr. J. H. Gurney, Jun., exhibited and made remarks on an hybrid 

 between the Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus, and the House Sparrow, 

 P. domesticus, bred in captivity at Norwich. 



Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier exhibited a specimen of a Greek Partridge, Perdix 

 saxatilisy shot in the Rhone Valley, and of an abnormal Viper. 



Mr. A. Smith-Woodward exhibited and made remarks on a specimen of 

 a mesozoic Palseoniscid Fish from New South Wales, and pointed out that 

 the structure of its pelvic fins seemed to confirm the recent opinion that the 

 Palaoniscida are related to the Acipenseridce, and not to the Lepidosteida. 

 The author believed the specimen exhibited to be the only one of the kind 

 in existence. 



Mr. C. M. Woodford made some remarks on the fauna of the Solomon 

 Islands, and exhibited a large number of photographs in illustration of his 

 remarks and of his recent explorations in these islands. 



A communication was read from Dr. R. W. Shufeldt, entitled " Con- 

 tributions to the Study of Heloderma suspectum" containing a complete 

 account of the osteology and anatomy of this venomous Lizard. A list of 

 the literature on the subject was added. 



Dr. A. Gunther read the description of a new species of deep*sea fish 



