The Zoologist/3rd series, vol 1 (1877)/Issue 4/Proceedings of Scientific Societies
PROCEEDINGS of SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.
Linnean Society of London.
February 18, 1877.—Prof. Allman, F.R.S., President, in the chair.
Messrs. William Burns, E.T. Gardner, J.W.S. Micklejohn, Professor W.W. Harrington of Michigan, U.S., the Piev. John Stubbs.and Sir Charles W. Strickland, Bart., were elected Fellows at this meeting.
Mr. Arthur Lister exhibited under the microscope a most interesting example of the plasmodium of one of the lowly-organized Myxomycetæ. This common mass of protoplasm well illustrated the peculiar amœboid movements, and the object gave rise to an animated conversational discussion as to its oft-contested animal or vegetable nature. Professor Haeckel evades this knotty point by provisionally grouping it along with certain other doubtful organisms in his kingdom Prostita.
The Secretary read a short communication—"Note on a new example of the Phyllodocidæ (Anaitis rosea)," by Dr. W.C. McIntosh. This marine worm was obtained at St. Andrew's last autumn, at the margin of low water, and sunk several inches in the fine sand. In the genus Anaitis the buccal segment carries the first three pairs of tentacular cirri, the fourth being on the segment behind. A. rosea measures about one inch and a half long, the body being relatively broad to its length; the snout is blunt, and the eyes small and circular. The head and tentacles are pale, but in front of the eyes, and partly along segments behind, are roseate bands and speckles, continuing backwards in a bright yellow band, thus resembling certain of the Nemerteans.
The Secretary likewise read a paper "On certain New Forms of Actinaria dredged in the Deep Sea from on board H.M.S. 'Challenger'; with a Description also of certain Pelagic Surface-swimming Species," by H.N. Moseley, M.A., late Naturalist to the Government Circumnavigating Expedition. A small part only of what were obtained are accounted for in the present paper, occasional rough weather and other circumstances often preventing immediate attention and descriptions of the animals while fresh. Those now delineated and described are as follows:—
Family Actiniidæ. Subfam. Minyadinæ—(1) Nautactis purpureus n. sp.; (2) Larval minyad; (3) Oceanactis rhododactylis, n. gen. Subfam. Actininæ—(1) Actinia abyssicola, n. sp.; (2) A. gelatinosa; (3) Edwardsia coriacea, n. sp.; (4) Corallimorphus profundus, n.gen.; (5) C.rigidus, n.sp.
Family Cerianthidæ—(]) Cerianthus bathymetricus, n.sp.
The occurrence in the deep sea of representatives of shallow water forms of sea anemones is of high interest. For example, the above species of Edwardsia from 600 fathoms has undergone but a trifling modification from the littoral form. The Cerianthus from 2750 is dwarfed, but uncommonly like its shore brethren; moreover, under the full glare of the tropical sun in shallow water at the Philippines, one kind is found, another species of the same genus existing at three miles depth, where solar rays do not penetrate, and the water is at freezing-point. The fact of the deep sea anemones retaining vivid colouring in their dark watery abode is a point of special value connected with other generalizations. The genus Corallimorphus possesses interest as being a near ally to certain of the simple discoid corals, and it has besides the largest nematocysts yet recorded.
An extract from a letter from Mr. R.D. Fitzgerald, of Sydney, New South Wales, relative to the Marsupial Pouch, was briefly adverted to.
Two botanical papers were read;—"On the Rootstock of Marattia fraxinea, Sm.," by John Buchanan; and "On Algæ collected by Dr. I. Bailey Balfour at Rodriguez during the Transit of Venus Expedition, 1874," by Professor Dickie.
March 1, 1877.—Prof. Allman, F.R.S., President, in the chair.Mr. Robert Gillies (of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand), Mr. Herbert Goss (The Avenue, Surbiton), Dr. Albert Günther, F.R.S. (British Museum), and Mr. Matthew Moggridge (8, Bira Gardens, South Kensington) were elected Fellows; and Mr. W.C. Cooke (2, Grosvenor Villas, Junction Road, Holloway, N.)—well known for his researches on Fungi—was elected an Associate of the Society.
The only zoological paper read at this meeting was one by Mr. Edgar A. Smith, viz., "Description of a new Form of Ophiuridæ." The specimen in question was collected by the late Mr. Cuming in the Philippines between thirty and forty years ago, and was deposited in the British Museum, where its peculiarities seemed to have escaped notice until recently, when comparison with other later additions from a neighbouring locality directed attention to it. This remarkable species partakes more of the character of the genus Ophiomastix than of any other. The soft skin covered with minute scales, the mouth-organs, and the character of the arm-plates and upper series of spines agree precisely with those of that genus; but the absence of tentacle-scales is perhaps sufficient to separate it subgenerically. The author has therefore named it Acantharachna mirabilis, the subgeneric name being suggested by its fancied resemblance to a thorny-legged spider.
A highly important communication, "On the Flora of Morocco," was read by Mr. John Ball, F.R.S. (Pres. Alpine Club), special attention being called to the fact that, although but a few days' sail from London, the fauna and flora of that country are comparatively unknown to Europeans. Much remains to be done, but considerable difficulty attends exploration, especially in the mountainous districts, from the strong opposition of the inhabitants, descendants of the once warlike and fierce Berbers.
Mr. J.G. Baker gave the gist of his researches "On the Angolan Liliaceæ,' as represented in the valuable herbarium of the late Dr. Welwitsch, the proportion of new species being very great; Mr. W.P. Hiern exhibited and made remarks on the embryo of Embryopteris, Gaert.; and Dr. Maxwell Masters brought before the meeting a series of specimens illustrative of what is commonly known as "burrs" or "witch-knots." These examples were collected by Mr. Webster, gardener to the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, from the neighbourhood of Banff Castle; and their nature and cause of production formed the subject of an interesting discussion.
March 15, 1877.—Prof. Allman, F.R.S., President, in the chair.
The Rev. R. Gardner Smith, of Manningham, Bradford, and Mr. Alexander Young Stewart, Superintendent of the Apothecaries' Hall, were elected Fellows of the Society.
The Secretary read a paper forwarded by the Rev. Thomas Powell, missionary, resident in the Navigator's Islands, "On the Poisoned Spears and Arrows of the Samoan Islanders." The attention of the author had been called to this subject by the death of the late Commander Goodenough, R.N., said to have been caused by one of these weapons. His chief information has been derived from the son of a native chief. These arrows, it is said, are pointed with human bones, and in some instances with the spines of a large species of Echinus. The gummy product of several trees is used, and, besides being dipped in this, there is added a substance from wasp's nests and putrid liquid of the sea-cucumber (Holothuria). A kind of kiln is then prepared where the arrows are smoked, afterwards inserted into the dried flower of a species of Zacca, to prevent humidity, and tied up in bundles ready for use. Mr. Powell then noted the effects of the poison on the human system and the reputed means of cure.
Dr. A. Günther gave a "Notice of two large Extinct Lizards formerly inhabiting the Mascarene Islands." The fragmentary materials yielding evidence of these creatures had partly been obtained by Mr. Edward Newton, already well known for his acquaintance with the extinct fauna of the Mascarenes, and partly by Mr. H.H. Slater, one of the naturalists accompanying the Transit of Venus Expedition. The bones of one lizard must have been that of an animal above a foot long, not including the tail. As far as can be made out its nearest congeners were the Zonuridæ and Scineidæ, but nevertheless so far characteristically different as to be considered worthy of generic distinction, the name Didosaurus mauritianus being given it. The remains of another form from Rodriguez point to its being closely allied to the Geckos, although larger than G. verus: the name G. Newtonii has been assigned to it.
The second part of "Contributions to the Ornithology of New Guinea," by Mr. R. Bowdler Sharpe, was, in his absence, read by Mr. Howard Saunders. This paper contained an account of a collection of birds formed by Dr. James, a young and enthusiastic naturalist who was unfortunately murdered by the natives during an expedition to one of the islands in Hall's Sound, whither he had gone to collect Birds of Paradise. He collected in Yule Island and on the opposite coast of South-Eastern New Guinea. The collection contains fifty-three species, of which three appear to be new to science. The great bulk of the birds obtained were well-known Australian or Aru Island forms; and thus it becomes evident that the south-eastern corner of New Guinea cannot compare with the northern portion of the island as regards the species exclusively indigenous to the country. The new species are Melidora collaris, Thomygama Jamesii, and a long-tailed Kingfisher (Tanysiptera microrhyncha). The most interesting addition, however, is that of Machaeramphus alcinus, a night-flying black Kite, at present only known from the peninsula of Malacca and Southern Tenasserim, to which localities it was hitherto believed to be peculiar. As yet only four specimens of this rare bird of prey are known to exist, viz., the type in the Leyden Museum, one in Mr. Hume's collection in India, one in the possession of the Marquis of Tweeddale, and one in the British Museum, presented last year by Captain Stackhouse Pinwell.
Zoological Society of London.
February 20, 1877.—Prof. Flower, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair.
A communication was read from Professor Owen, C.B., containing some additional evidence recently obtained of the former existence in South Australia of extinct birds allied to the genus Dromornis.
Mr. Osbert Salvin exhibited a series of drawings made during Hunter's voyage to Australia in 1788–92, wherein Duke of York Island as it then existed was depicted, together with various objects of Natural History, and offered some remarks on the geographical position and climate of this island, by way of preface to a series of papers by different authors on a collection of mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes, and insects sent home by the Rev. George Brown from the island in question and the neighbouring parts of New Ireland and New Britain.
Mr. Sclater read a paper on the birds in this collection, and described eleven species as new to Science, amongst which were a new Kingfisher, proposed to be called Tanysiptera nigriceps, and a new Pigeon, to which the name Macropygia Browni was assigned.
Dr. G.E. Dobson enumerated the Bats collected, amongst which four were considered to belong to undescribed species, and one of these to a new genus of the frugivorous Bats, proposed to be called Melonycteris.
Mr. Edward R. Alston dealt with the Rodents and Marsupials in this collection, and pointed out that the species, six in number, were either identical with New Guinea forms or nearly allied. For three new species the names of Mus Browni, Uromys rufescens, and Macropus lugens were proposed.
Messrs. O. Salvin and F. Du Cane Godman described the Lepidoptera, and found that the series of butterflies contained twenty-six genera and forty species, while in that of the moths eleven genera were represented by fourteen species.
Mr. E.J. Miers enumerated the Crustacea, and stated that the collection, with one exception (Lysiosquilla arenaria), belonged to the Decapoda, and contained in all forty-four specimens representing sixteen species. Although none of the species were new to Science, several were interesting and little-known forms.
Dr. A. Günther read a paper on the Reptiles and Fishes in this collection. Of nine lizards, one was described as new, and of eleven snakes three were considered to be hitherto unknown. Amongst the latter was a new genus and species of Eryadæ, proposed to be called Erabophis asper.
Mr. H.W. Bates gave an account of the Coleoptera collected, and remarked that the collection comprised forty-four species, and contained some of the finest species of the New Guinea fauna. Amongst these were many examples of a new Longicorn, proposed to be called Batocera Browni, after its discoverer.
March 6, 1877.— Dr. E. Hamilton, 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 February, and called particular attention to a Mexican Eared Owl (Asio mexicanus), purchased of a dealer in Liverpool, and said to have been received from Para, being the first example of this very well-marked species of Eared Owl which had been received alive, and a Rhea, purchased along with the above-mentioned Owl, which appeared to belong to the species distinguished in 1860 as Rhea macrorhyncha (Trans. Zool. Soc. iv., p. 356, pl. lxix.), from an example then living in the Society's Gardens.
Mr. E.W.H. Holdsworth exhibited and made remarks on a rare bird received from Ceylon, Geocichla Layardi.
Professor Owen communicated some notes made by Mr. G.F. Bennett while exploring the burrows of the Ornithorhynchus paradoxus, in Queensland, with comments on them.
A communication was read from Lieut-Col. R.H. Beddome, containing the descriptions of three new snakes of the family Uropeltidæ, from Southern India.
Mr. A.G. Butler read the descriptions of some new species of Heterocerous Lepidoptera in the collection of the British Museum, from Madagascar and Borneo. Amongst the latter was the type of a new genus, proposed to be called Mineuplœa.
Mr. G. French Angas read a paper in which he gave descriptions of a new species of Bulimus from Western Australia, and a Paludinella from Lake Eyre, South Australia; these he proposed to call respectively Bulimus Ponsonbyi and Paludinella Gilesi.
A second paper by Mr. Angas contained the descriptions of one genus and twenty-five species of marine shells from New South Wales.
Mr. Angas also read a further list of additional species of marine Mollusca to be included in the fauna of Port Jackson and the adjacent coasts of New South Wales, with remarks on their exact localities, &c., thus bringing up the number of species now ascertained to inhabit Port Jackson and the adjoining shores to a gross total of 693.
Mr. Phineas S. Abraham read a paper containing a revision of the Anthobranchiate Nudibranchiate Mollusca. The paper comprised a general and historical introduction to this group of Nudibranchs, i.e., those which bear the branchiæ upon the dorsal surface, more or less surrounding the arms, and allusion was made to all the observations which had been made upon these animals. The second part consisted of definitions of the larger divisions and of the genera, with the enumeration, synonyms, and habitats, as far as possible, of every species hitherto recorded. In the last general list, viz., that by H. and A. Adams, but 163 forms were mentioned; this list included 457. The third part contained descriptions of forty-one hitherto undescribed species belonging to the genera Doris, Chromodoris, Hexabranchus, Acanthodoris, and Doridopsis.
A communication was read from the Count Salvadori, containing notes on some birds mentioned by Dr. Cabanis and Mr. Reichenow as collected in Papuasia and in the Moluccas during the voyage of the 'Gazelle.'
March 20, 1877.—Dr. E. Hamilton, Vice-President, in the chair.
Mr. Sclater called the attention of the meeting to an article in 'The Oriental Sporting Magazine' for May, 1876, in which it appeared that a two-horned Rhinoceros had been killed in February, 1876, at a place some twenty miles south of Comillah, in Tipperah. Mr. Sclater said that this was the third recorded occurrence of a two-horned Rhinoceros north of the Bay of Bengal.
Mr. Sclater also called attention to the fact that Mr. W. Jamrach had just imported a young living specimen of the Rhinoceros of the Bengal Sunderbunds, which was either Rhinoceros sondaicus or a very closely-allied form.
Mr. Sclater exhibited a small living Amphisbænian (Blanus cinereus), which had been accidentally brought to England in the roots of a hot-house plant from Port St. Mary, Spain, and was found at Clapham.
Messrs. Charles G. Danford and Edward R. Alston read a paper on the Mammals of Asia Minor, based principally on collections made by the former in that country. The list included one species of Bat, two of Insectivores, twenty of Carnivores, seven of Ungulates, and fourteen of Rodents. Spermophilus xanthoprymnus, Benn., was re-described, and the name Mus mystacinus was proposed for a new species of Field Mouse.
Mr. A.G. Butler read a paper on the Myriopoda obtained by the Rev. G. Brown in Duke of York Island. The species sent home were two in number, both of them allied to but distinct from previously described species. Mr. Butler proposed to designate them as Heterostoma Brownii and Spirobolus cinctifes.
A communication was read from the Rev. O.P. Cambridge, in which he gave the description of some Spiders collected by the Rev. G. Brown in Duke of York Island, New Britain, and New Ireland. Two of these appeared to be undescribed, and were named Argiope Brownii and Sarotes vulpinus.
Prof. A.H. Garrod read a paper containing notes on the Anatomy of the Musk Deer (Moschus moschiferus).
A communication was read from Mr. Edward Bartlett, containing remarks on the affinities of Mesites, a rare Madagascan bird, and the position which it should occupy in a natural classification. From an examination of the structure of the feathers, Mr. Bartlett had come to the conclusion that Mesites was an aberrant form of the Ardeine group.
Dr. Günther read a paper containing an account of the Fishes collected by Capt. Feilden during the recent Arctic Expedition. Amongst them were several of great interest, especially a new species of Charr, for which the name Salmo arcturus was proposed. This Charr was discovered in fresh-water lakes of Grinnell Land, and was stated to be the most northern fresh-water fish known to exist.
Mr. Edward Newton exhibited and read a paper on a collection of Birds made in the island of Anjuan or Johanna, one of the Cormoro group, by Mr. Bewsher, of Mauritius, whereby the number of species known to have occurred in that island was raised to thirty-five, of which fourteen were first observed there by that gentleman. Five of them—namely, Zosterops Anjuanensis, Tchitrea vulpina, Ellisia longicaudata, Turdus Bewsheri, and Turtur comorensis—were described as new.—P.L. Sclater.
Entomological Society of London.
March 7, 1877.—J.W. Dunning, Esq., M.A., F.L.S., Vice-President, in the chair.
Exhibitions, &c.
Mr. Douglas exhibited a specimen of the Longicorn, Monohammus sutor, brought to him alive, having been captured in a garden in the Camden Road. Also a melanic variety of Orthosia suspecta, taken at Dunkeld.
Mr. Hudd exhibited varieties of British Lepidoptera taken near Bristol and in South Wales. Amongst them were Sphinx ligustri, Lycæna Alexis, and Boarmia repandata, the latter a black variety.
Mr. Champion exhibited specimens of Cardiophorus rufipes, a species new to Britain, taken by Mr. J. Dunsmore near Paisley; also a British example of Aphodius scrofa, from the collection of Mr. Dunsmore, who unfortunately had no note of its locality.
The Secretary exhibited a specimen of an Isopod Crustacean, which had been forwarded to him by Mr. J.M. Wills, Surgeon S.S. 'City of Canterbury,' who stated that it was found occasionally parasitic on the flying fish, and generally close to the pectoral fins.
Mr. Douglas read the following extract from a letter received from Dr. Sahlberg from Helsingfors:—
"As you have already heard, I went on an entomological excursion to Yenisei. My plan was to meet Professor Nordenskjöld at the mouth of the river, and to return per steamer over the Kara Sea. I did not succeed, and therefore had to travel back through Siberia; still I have brought a mass of insects with me from the extreme north of Siberia, especially Coleoptera and Hemiptera, and now I am busy getting them into order. The insect fauna of Arctic Siberia agrees with that of Lapland, and I had the pleasure to find several species which I had formerly discovered in the north of my own country; for example, among Hemiptera, Platypsallus acanthioides and Bathysmatophorus Reuteri, the last being the most frequent of the Cicadaria in the district. In the neighbourhood of the River Yenisei, in places which are yearly flooded there were to be found many species strange to Europe, but not very many new.
"I have just looked through my Siberian collection of Hemiptera-Heteroptera, and as most of these were collected in the extreme north, the lot is rather poor, and consists of less than one hundred species, of which fourteen were new—viz., one Aradus, one Calocoris, two Orthotylus, one Orthops, one Pachytoma, one Anthocoris, one Acompocoris, five Salda, one Corixa. I am interested most in the Salda species, which were large and fine, and discovered in the extreme North (69°–70° 20'), in Tundra territory (extra limites arborum).
"I have just received the commission from the Nordenskjöld Yenisei Expedition (which consists of four naturalists, amongst whom is Phihp Trybom, an entomologist), to work at the collection of Coleoptera and Hemiptera, which, however, is still in Siberia. I shall therefore not publish anything until I have looked through it, although I have the descriptions of the new species ready. Pending the appearance of Fieber's 'European Cicadaria,' I shall begin the Coleoptera."
Paper read.
The Secretary read a paper by Mr. W.L. Distant, "On the Geographical Distribution of Danais archippus." The author remarked on the migration of the butterfly from North America (its original home) eastward to Europe and the Azores and westward to the South Sea Islands and Australia, and attributed the "means of dispersal" to "winds, currents, and the agency of man." After the reading of the paper a discussion ensued, in which considerable doubt was expressed as to the probability of insects being conveyed on floating timber by the agency of the Gulf Stream or other currents.—F.G.