108 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society, [No. 1. 



Report of Curatory Zoological Department , for the months of October, 

 November and December, 1849. 



Sir, — I have, the honour to report the following acquisitions in the Zoo- 

 logical Department of the Society's Museum ; the first six referring to 

 specimens which I personally make over to the Society. 



1. Received from C. T, Eyton, Esq. Skins of three species of Chilian 

 Rodentia, viz. Octodon degus, Spalacopus Poeppigii, and Cavia australis. 

 Also skeletons of Scolopax rusticola and of Podiceps cristatus j and numer- 

 ous bird-skins, comprising the following species new to the museum. 

 Psittacula passerina, Ieracidea berigora, Leuconerpes dominicanus, Eudy- 

 namys taitensis, Saurothera vetula, Diplopterus guira, JEgoiheles novce hol- 

 landice, Podager nacunda (?), Petrophanes Temminckii, Eulampis jugularis, and 

 some other Trochilidce, Strepera arguta, Donacobius atricapillus, Cichlaris 

 guianensis, Grauculus canus, Platysteira melanoptera, Todirostrum melanoce- 

 phalum, Petroica bicolor, Prosthemadera novce zeelandice, Odontophorus denta- 

 tus, Lobipes hyperboreus, and Dendrocygna arborea, with some other species 

 already in the museum. 



2. Collected by Lt. Abbott, of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment. A large 

 and very fine collection of shells from V. D. Land and Torres' Straits, also a 

 skin of Dasyurus maculatus, and a very fine example of Botaurus melanotus, 

 both from V. D. Land. Specimens of an Auricula from the Sunderbuns ; 

 and the young of Arachnothera magna from Darjiling. 



3. Collected at Muscat, by Captain Hodges of the l Almohammady.' A 

 collection of fishes mostly in excellent condition ; and another large jar con- 

 taining examples of most of the species brought to the fish-bazar at Muscat, 

 was unfortunately broken during rough weather, and the specimens destroy- 

 ed. Among those brought is a fine Acanthurus (wholly black, with bright 

 yellow caudal fin), which is not described in the Hist, des Poissons, — a large 

 Ostracion of the Lactophrys division, and specimens of Heniochus macrolepi- 

 dotus, Thynnus pelamys, Amphicanthus sutor, Scarus psittacus, Riippell, 

 Belone annulata, and others undetermined. Captain Hodges also collected 

 a few sea-shells and sundries ; and brought a spoiled specimen of a Frigate- 

 bird from the Indian Ocean, which corresponds with Attagen ariel, Gould. 



4. Another good collection of fishes in spirit was brought by Mr. Moxon 

 of the Pilot Service from Malacca. Among them are some not included in 

 Dr. Cantor's lately published Catalogue of Malayan fishes, and I recognise 

 an undoubted specimen of Caranx xanthurus, Kuhl and \. Hasselt, and a 

 Ccesio affined to C. erythrog aster, ibid. ; also Psettus rhombeus and other 

 genera new to the Society's collection. Mr. Moxon also brought some 



