54? Zoological Society. 



upon Zoological subjects may be received and discussed, and occa- 

 sional selections made for the purpose of publication. They propose 

 from time to time to publish in the cheapest form an abstract from 

 the most interesting of these communications ; and they trust that 

 the first of these papers will be ready for delivery on the first of 

 January, 1831. They further propose, that these meetings shall 

 take place on the second and fourth Tuesdays in every month; and 

 they have invited, for the 9th of November next, such members 

 of the Society as appeared likely, from their scientific pursuits, to 

 take an interest in their views. 



" The Council have moreover suggested that letters be sent to 

 the superintendents of the principal Menageries in Europe, viz. at 

 Paris, Leyden, Munich, Vienna, Madrid, &c. proposing mutual 

 communication of all observations upon these matters, arid an 

 occasional interchange of such animals as may be most easily pro- 

 duced or imported in each country. They have also proposed, that 

 circulars be addressed to the Corresponding Members of the So- 

 ciety, requesting particular information upon such facts of Na- 

 tural History as it may be desirable to investigate at each place ; 

 and they further propose that a prize be offered for the Essay which 

 shall contain the best and most extensive practical knowledge upon 

 the importation and domestication of foreign animals in this and 

 other countries." 



The Chairman concluded his Address by calling on the Members, 

 collectively and individually, to forward the views of the Council, 

 by communicating such facts as might tend to the advancement of 

 Zoological Science. 



Mr. Vigors called the attention of the Committee to a Galli- 

 naceous group of America, which supplied in that continent the 

 place of the Quails of the Old World. Of this group, or the 

 genus Ortyx of modern authors, which a few years back was 

 known to ornithologists by two well ascertained species only, he 

 exhibited specimens of six species ; namely, of Ort. virginianus and 

 californicus, which had been the earliest described, the former by 

 Linnaeus, the latter by Dr. Latham ; of Ort. capistratus, a species 

 lately named and figured in Sir W. Jardine and Mr. Selby's " Il- 

 lustrations of Ornithology"; and of Ort. Douglasii, Montezunuz, and 

 squamatus, which had been characterized by himself in the "Zoolo- 

 gical Journal ". In addition to these species he exhibited plates of 

 three others of which he regretted that he could obtain no spe- 

 cimens in London ; namely, of Ort. macrourus, figured by Sir W. 

 Jardine and Mr. Selby ; of Ort. Sonninii, figured by M. Temminck 

 in the "Planches Coloriees " [No. 75.] ; and of the Ort.cristatus, fi- 

 gured in the " Planches Enluminees" [No. 126.] of M. Buffon. To 

 these nine described species, he added two others apparently new 

 to science, and which he characterized under the names of Ort. ne~ 

 oxenus and affinis ; stating at the same time his doubts whether 

 both might not be the females or young males of the imperfectly 

 known species Ort. Sonniniior cristalus. The following are the spe- 

 cific characters of these birds. 



ORTYX 



