— 134 — 
Dr. Ayres just found in a cavern at Black River fragments 
of bones of several animals, amongst them one which appears 
to correspond with the drawing given by Strickland of the 
Tibia of the Solitary bird. This fact, until further informa- 
tions is important, inasmuch as the existence of the Solitary 
bird in Mauritius has not been established by the old voya- 
gers ; Leguat found it, indeed at Rodrigues, and on his arri- 
val at Mauritius only saw the Dodo ; other voyagers who 
followed Leguat did not find the Solitaire at Mauritius, or at 
least only mentioned the Dodo. 
In examining the bones of the Turtle deposited in the Mu- 
seum, the attention of the Secretary was directed to two bo- 
nes which appeared to him to approach the one fig. I. plate 
XV of Strickland's work and which in that case would be a 
fragment of the right Tibia of the Solitaire. The other bear- 
ing a ressemblance to fig. 20 of the same plate would be the 
right metatarsal bone of the same bird ; but a part of the in- 
ferior articulation and the whole of the superior is wanting. 
The two fragments of bones were sent to London by the 
mail of the 3rd November with the request that they might 
be examined and that the result of the examination might be 
communicated to the Society. 
Several questions have been addressed officially through the 
Colonial Secretary to the Secretary of the Society and Cura- 
tor of the Museum. They emanate from the Secretary of 
State for the Colonies and tend to confirm the belief that it 
is intended to be ascertained if sufficient materials are in exis- 
tence to write the natural history as complete as possible, of 
all the colonies belonging to the British Empire. 
These questions relate to Botany, Zoology and Geology. 
The information desired is whether such and such Colony 
possesses a Museum or Scientific Societies, and whether any 
works have already been written in it on the several branches 
of natural science. Information is also sought for on Meteo- 
rology, the Tides, Magnetism etc. 
The Secretary has answered some of the questions which 
are within the attributions of the Society, and if the contem- 
plated work is to be carried out, there are men in its ranks 
