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Show 1868.] LETTER FROM MR. E. L. LAYARD. 319 tinct in the early tertiary epoch as they are now. It is in accordance with this supposition that the remains of Alectoropodes, but not of Peristeropodes, have been found in the older tertiary deposits of Europe. I watch the progress of M . Alphonse Milne-Edwards's researches with great interest, to know whether Parrots, Pigeons, Dromceidee, and Rheidee occur in force, or at all, among the miocene birds. If they are absent from the miocene fauna of Arctogaea, it will be necessary to suppose that these groups of birds are of sufficiently ancient origin to have been segregated, even before the miocene epoch, in Austro-Columbia and Australasia, whence they have subsequently colonized parts of Arctogaea ; while, on the other hand, their presence in European miocene formations will render it possible that the colonization has taken place the other way, and that these birds have attained their wonderful multiplicity and diversity of forms in Austro-Columbia and Australasia simply in consequence of the very favourable nature of the conditions to which they have been exposed in that country. I confess I incline to the latter supposition. The distribution of Psittacula, for instance, is quite unintelligible to m e upon any other supposition than that this genus existed in the miocene epoch, or earlier, in Northern Arctogaea, and has thence spread into Austro- Columbia, South Africa, India, and the Papuan islands, where it is now found. May 28, 1868. George Busk, Esq., F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. The Secretary reported that two living examples of Owen's Apteryx (Apteryx owenii), destined for the Society's Menagerie, had been recently shipped from Australia (one by Dr. George Bennett, F.Z.S., of Sydney, and the other by Mr. E. S. Hill, C.M.Z.S., of Wollahra, Sydney), but that they had both, unfortunately, died on the voyage home. Dr. Giinther exhibited specimens of the ova and young of the Axolotl (Siredon mexicanum) which had been deposited and hatched in a freshwater tank iu this country, and made remarks on the strange facts connected with the development of this animal and its systematic postion. The following letter was read, addressed to the Secretary by Mr. E. L. Layard, of Cape Town, F.Z.S.:- " South-African Museum, Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, February 1868. " SIR,-Herewith I forward, for the purpose of being laid before |