Zoological Society. 



5991 



Proceedings of Societies. 

 Zoological Society. 

 January 12, 1858. 



Mr. Sclaler exhibited a small collection of birds lately transmitted by Mr. Thos. 

 Bridges (Corr. Member) from Northern California, accompanied with notes on their 

 localities, habits, &c., by the collector. Two species, both belonging to the family 

 Picidae (woodpeckers), were pointed out as of great interest: one of these was the 

 elegant Melanerpes albolarvatus, lately described and figured by Mr. Cassin, of Phi- 

 ladelphia, and hitherto unknown in European collections : several specimens of both 

 sexes of this bird were obtained by Mr. Bridges in Trinity Valley, where it is not un- 

 common in the pine forests. The other Mr. Sclater considered as probably new to 

 science, and he proposed to call it Melanerpes rubrigularis : it was found in the same 

 locality, but is represented as very rare, only one specimen having been procured. 



The Secretary read a " Monograph of the Genus Nyctophilus," by Mr. R. F. 

 Tomes. The characters of this genus were first briefly given by Dr. Leach, in a com- 

 munication to the Linnean Society read in March, 1820, but not published until 1822. 

 In describing the teeth of the lower jaw, Mr. Tomes considered that two errors which 

 have been made respecting their number required correction. Dr. Leach states that 

 the lower incisors are six in number, and M. Temminck, describing afterwards from 

 the same specimen, could only find four. After diligently examining a considerable 

 number of skulls, Mr. Tomes satisfied himself that the account given by Dr. Leach 

 is correct, for in no instance could he discover less than six lower incisors ; but in two 

 examples the outer one on each side is wholly hidden by the one next to it, so that, 

 unless the skull be carefully cleared of the investing membranes, it would be extremely 

 difficult to see more than four of these teeth : hence has probably arisen the error. 

 In the course of the paper Mr. Tomes gives descriptions of two new species under 

 the following names, — Nyctophilus Gouldi and N. unicolor. 



The Secretary next read a paper by Dr. L. Pfeiffer, containing descriptions of 

 eleven new species of land shells, from the collection of Mr. Cuming. They were 

 characterized under the following names, viz. — Helix Wallacei, Testudo, congener, 

 Purchasi and Fricki, Achatinella (Newcombia) cinnamomea, gemma, sulcata and 

 minnis, Cylindrella eximia and Bulimus Binneyanus. 



The Secretary also read a paper by Mr. Hanley, containing descriptions of a new 

 Cyrena from Ceylon, and of new Siphonarias, and which he named as follows, — 

 Cyrena Tennantii, Siphonaria brunnea, Carbo, parma, exulorum and redimiculuni 

 (var.). 



Dr. Gray read a paper on a new arrangement of species in the genus Oliva. 



Tuesday, January 26, 1858.— P. L. Sclatek, Esq., F.L.S., in the Chair. 



Dr. Harley made some further observations on the anatomy of a new species of 

 Pentastoma found by him in the lung and air-sac of an Egyptian Cobra, an interesting 

 paper on which was read before the Society in June last. 



The Secretary read a notice of a new genus of Uropeltidae from Ceylon, in the 



