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Show 1870.] PROF. W. PETERS ON THE GENUS PECTINATOR. 673 breast (Leistes anticus) from tree to tree clamouring for food; they were fed many times by their foster-mothers while I watched them. " It is very probable that they occasionally deposit their eggs in the nests of other birds. " I remain, very truly yours, "WILLIAM H. HUDSON." A communication was read from Mr. W. Vincent Legge, F.Z.S., containing notes on a bird of the Malurine group inhabiting Ceylon. Mr. Legge stated that the bird had the generic character of Prinia, but appeared different from P. socialis, the only species given as inhabiting Ceylon. A full description of the bird, its nest, and eggs were appended. The nest was stated to be a loosely made and careless structure, very different from that of P. socialis. A communication was read from Professor W . Peters, F.M.Z.S., entitled " Contributions to the Knowledge of Pectinator, a genus of Rodent Mammalia from Eastern Africa." This memoir was based upon five specimens in spirits, one imperfect skeleton, and one skin of the Pectinator spekii obtained by Mr. W . Jesse, Zoologist to the Abyssinian Expedition, between Zoulla and Senafe. After describing the external characters, anatomy, and osteology of this animal, and discussing the opinions of preceding authorities, Dr. Peters arrived at the following conclusions on this subject:- 1. Pectinator differs from Ctenodactylus not only in the greater number of teeth and in its longer tail, but also in the different structure of the ears and of the skull. 2. The Gtenodactyli (Ctenodactylus and Pectinator) cannot be associated with the Dipodes, their affinity with the latter being not greater than that of the Chinchillee, Octodontes, and Echinomyes. 3. They show in nearly every part of their structure their near relationship with the last-named groups, and deviate from them only in a very few points (the form of the hyoid bone, of the sacral and caudal vertebral column, of the development of the crest of the humerus and femur), in which, however, they do not show any inclination towards the Dipodina, but rather some affinity with the Murina. 4. They form a peculiar group of the Hystricidee, as understood by Waterhouse, which in some points is more allied to the Chinchillee, in other points to the Octodontes. 5. Petromys is not to be associated with the Ctenodactyli, but with the Octodontes. This paper will be printed in full in the Society's 'Transactions.' Prof. Newton, V.P., exhibited an example of the chick of the rare and remarkable wader Anarhynchus frontalis, Quoy and Gaimard, sent to him from New Zealand by Dr. Hector, F.R.S., who had |
