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Show 974 DR. 0. I. FORSYTH MAJOR ON A [Dec. 1, described and its relationships discussed in a paper under preparation. The Avian collections are there to prove that if the Mammals for which I was anxiously looking out did not come in in greater numbers, it was not for want of careful investigation. The collection of Birds' remains was partly damaged, partly destroyed by the falling in of the ceiling of m y house at Sirabe, in which they were placed for drying. Fortunately there remains enough. The Mpyornis bones, some thousand in number, form the great bulk of the collection ; the family is here represented by two species of JEpyornls and one of Mullerornls. One smaller species is predominant, and of this we shall be able before long to put together an almost complete skeleton, as the smaller and rarer parts, such as sternum, coraco-scapula, cerebral vertebrae, phalanges, & c , are all at hand. Six more or less complete skulls of the smaller species of AHpyomis were obtained. The Carlnatce are represented by several hundred bones, belonging chiefly to aquatic birds. Mr. Andrews will be so good as to give some further particulars about the birds' remains. Of the rest the collection will speak for itself. Of recent Birds I collected chiefly skeletons ; and I hope to have done a useful work in bringing home over 160 birds' skeletons. Of recent Mammals many hundred specimens have been obtained; of numerous species whole series, including skins, skeletons, and spirit-specimens. LEMTJRID.E. Of Lemuridae examples of 13 species have been collected, amongst which two (Lepidolemur microdon and Chlrogale melanotic), preserved in the National Museum, were known only by a single specimen each. Amongst the number is one new species, a Chlrogale, and besides this some remarkable varieties of others. There is a curious character in the skull of Malagasy Lemurs, to which attention was first drawn in 1835 by a Swiss anatomist, Hagenbach, who observed it in a species of the genus Lemur; the same was later (in 1845) more fully described by Hyrtl in two species of the same genus : the tympanic ring is completely enclosed by the bulla ossea, but without osseous connection with the same. Winge has stated that this peculiarity holds good with regard to all tbe Malagasy Lemuridae which have come under his observation, including Chiromgs, and be therefore places them in a separate family. It is in fact of general occurrence amongst the Lemuridae of the island; and having found other peculiarities in their skull besides, I have come to range myself with Winge's opinion, so that we have to consider Chlrogale, Opolemur, and Mlcrocebus as being more nearly related to the rest of the Malagasy Lemurs than to the African genus Galago. CARNIVORA. Examples of 5 species \\ ere collected, which for the present call for no special remarks. The Cryptoprocta ferox is amongst them. |