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Show 506 PROF. FLOWER ON PHOCA HISPIDA. [Julie 6, June 6, 1871. George Busk, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. Prof. Owen, F.R.S., read the seventeenth of his series of Memoirs on Dinornis, containing a description of the sternum and pelvis, with an attempted restoration of the whole skeleton of Aptornis defossor. This paper will be published in the Society's 'Transactions.' Prof. Flower, F.R.S., read a paper on the so-called Risso's Dolphin (Delphinus rissoanus), based on an examination of two specimens of this supposed species that had recently occurred on the English coast*. Prof. Flower, after a thorough investigation of this subject, came to the conclusion that the so-called Delphinus rissoanus was specifically identical with the Delphinus griseus of Cuvier, and that the species ought to stand as Grampus griseus. This paper will be published in the Society's 'Transactions.' The following papers were read :- 1. On the Occurrence of the Ringed or Marbled Seal (Phoca hispida) on the coast of Norfolk, with Remarks on the Synonymy of the Species. By W . H . F L O W E R , F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., &c. [Received June 5, 1871.] While engaged in preparing a catalogue of the animals of Norfolk for the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society, Mr. Southwell met with the skull of a Seal in the Norwich Museum, which, with the permission of the authorities of the Museum, he submitted to m y examination for the purpose of identification and, if need be, description, sending m e the following history of the specimen : " Mr. J. H. Gurney bought the Seal in the Norwich Fish-market, and had the skull and skin preserved. When purchased it was in the flesh, quite fresh and in perfect condition ; the fur was of a grey colour. The person of w h o m he bought it told him it came from some neighbouring part of the coast; but the exact locality he does not now remember. The date of its occurrence was some time previous to June 1846, probably in the spring of that year. It was also examined in the flesh by the late Mr. Thomas Brightwell, of Norwich ; but I cannot find any record of the occurrence. The skull was presented to the Norwich Museum on Sept. 14, 1846, as the cranium of the ' Marbled Seal.' " I am not able to learn whether the skin is at present in existence. As this skull belongs to a species which is not generally admitted into the actual British fauna, it appears desirable that its characters * Cf. P. Z. S. 1870. p. 128. |
