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Show 120 MR. W. A. FORBES ON BIRDS [Feb. 5, the essence of which is " impressibility," and may be described as a more or less complex arrangement for carrying about, nourishing, and propagating a plexus of sensations. The two initial questions may then, in conclusion, be answered as follows : - (1) Vertebrate limbs are differentiations of continuous lateral folds. They are therefore not limited to four, and are for locomotive convenience. There might apparently be several successive paired limbs on each side, just as there are often several successive dorsal fins paired ; and azygos fins and limbs being of the same nature, each separate part may be called a pterygium, and for the sum total of the whole the term sympterygium may be employed. ( 2) Piscine limbs are related to digit-bearing limbs as structures which have diverged less from the primitive condition, a natural consequence of fishes making use of their fins in that medium in which the primitive continuous lateral folds were first developed. This paper will be puplished entire in the Society's Transactions. The following papers were read :- 1. Reports on the Collections of Birds made during the Voyage of H.M.S. ' Challenger/-No. VII. O n the Birds of Cape York and the neighbouring Islands (Raine, Wednesday, and Booby Islands). By W . A . F O R B E S, F.Z.S. [Received December 18, 1877.] The collection of Birds made by H.M.S. 'Challenger' at Cape York and in its neighbourhood, of which the following is an account, comprises 61 skins, referable to 37 species. As might have been expected, all, or nearly all, belong to well known Australian forms, one or two only being left uncertain for want of more materials and on account of the immature condition of the specimens. Most of the skins are in excellent condition; and their value is much increased by the notes in M r . Murray's journal as to the colour of the soft parts &c. Besides Cape York, Raine Island (at the end of the Barrier Reef), Wednesday Island (in Torres Straits), and Booby Island (also in Torres Straits) were visited, and collections made. I copy the following extracts from Mr. Murray's journal as regards the localities where birds were obtained :- " Raine Island, Barrier Reef, Australia. Ship landed two boats for nearly three hours. The following birds were taken " (several sea-birds, Rallus pectoralis, and Strepsilas interpres). " Cape York, Somerset. Ship arrived on evening of 1st Sept., 1874 ; left Cape York on Sept. 8th." (44 skins were obtained here). "Wednesday Island, Torres Straits. Parties landed the same day (Sept. 8). Most of the birds seen were the same as those shot |