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Show 574 MR. R. E. HOLDING ON THE WILD IRISH GOAT, ETC. [May 29, May 29, 1906. F red er ic k G il l e t t , Esq., Yice-President, in the Chair. Mr. R. H. Burne, F.Z.S., exhibited, on behalf of Prof. Stewart, some dissections prepared for the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons from material derived from the Society's Gardens. The specimens included the head of a Ki wi (.Apteryx mantelli) in sagittal section, showing the relatively large size of the olfactory parts of the brain and the complexity of the olfactory chamber; the head of a Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum), showing the dilatable pharynx, which by its inflation when the bird crows causes a sudden distension of the gular wattle, and apparently acts as a resonating-chamber ; preparations of the cheek-pouches of a Spotted Cavy (Codogenys paca) and the stomach of a foetal Giraffe (Giraffa Camelopardalis antiquorum <3 x G. c. wardi 5 ). Dr. L. W. Sambon exhibited a series of diagrams illustrating the transmission of diseases by Insects and Ticks. Prof. Robert T. Jackson exhibited a photograph of the Champley collection of eggs of the Great Auk taken before the collection was dispersed, and made remarks on specimens of the bird that had lately come under his notice. He also exhibited a long-focus lens for museum work and dissections. The Secretary exhibited the skull of a Wild Boar that had lately been dug up during building operations in James Street, Oxford Street, W. Mr. R. E. Holding exhibited and made remarks upon the skull and horns of a fine male so-called Wild Irish Goat. He stated that these animals existed in considerable numbers in the mountainous district of the West of Ireland, and were undoubtedly domesticated Goats which had taken to a wild life and had t-o become to all intents and purposes feral; that they were of wary disposition and sure-footed, and difficult to get a shot at. At times, however, during the breeding-season the males came into the lowlands to the she-goats and so were occasionally shot. The age of the specimen exhibited was probably 7 or 8 years. Mr. Holding also exhibited the skull of a male domestic Cat, in which the posterior border of the orbit was complete. In the majority of the existing Felidce this portion of the orbit remained open throughout life. There were, however, about four or five existing species, viz. Felis viverrina, F. subrugosa, F. planiceps, in which the orbit was complete; there was also a figure in de Blainville's 1 Osteographie ' called F. longicaudata in which this condition was also |