SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. Ill 



Some observations on British Worms, by the Rev. H. Friend, were 

 read on his behalf by the Secretary. 



Zoological Society of London. 



February 14, 1893. — Osbert Salvin, Esq., 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 January, 1893. 



Prof. G. B. Howes exhibited and made remarks on an abnormal sternum 

 of a Marmoset, Hapale iacchus, in which the mesosternal elements of the 

 opposite sides were distinct, and alternately disposed, and discussed its 

 probable bearings upon the sternum of the Anthropomorpha, particularly 

 as represented by the Oraug. 



Prof. T. Jeffrey Parker read a paper on the cranial osteology, classifica- 

 tion, and phylogeny of the Dinornithidce. The author gave a detailed 

 description of the skull in various genera and species of Moa, founded upon 

 the examination of more than 120 specimens. A detailed comparison 

 with the skulls of the other Ratita followed, as well as an extensive series 

 of measurements. The bearing of the facts ascertained upon the classifica- 

 tion of the family was discussed. The author recognised five genera 

 of Dinornithida, arranged in three subfamilies as follows: — Subfamily 

 Dinornithina ; genus Dinomis. Subfamily Anomalopteryyince ; genera 

 Pachyornis, Mesopteryx, and Anomaloptenyx. Subfamily Emeina ; genus 

 Emeus. The phylogeny of the group was then discussed. Mesopteryx was 

 considered to be the most generalised form, while Dinomis and Emeus were 

 both highly specialised, but in different directions. Of the other Ratitae, 

 Apteryx came nearest to the Moas in the structure of its skull, and strong 

 affinities were shown to the New Zealand genera by Dromaus and 

 Casuarius. Struthio and Rkea, on the other hand, showed no special 

 affinities, so far as the skull is concerned, either to the Australasian forms 

 or to one another. 



Mr. R. Lydekker read a paper on the presence of a distinct coracoidal 

 element in adult Sloths, and made remarks on its homology. It was 

 shown that in two skeletons of Sloths in the British Museum the shoulder- 

 girdle exhibited a distinct coracoidal element. This element, like the 

 coracoid process of the human scapula, was correlated with the precoracoid 

 of the lower vertebrates; and the question was then discussed as to the 

 name by which it should properly be called. 



A communication was read from Dr. G. Radde, containing an account 

 of the present range of the European Bison in the Caucasus. — P. L. 

 Sclater, Secretary. 



