13 



In the adjacent soft parts there were extensive abscesses, and a 

 wide spread of discoloration, evidencing the progress of the dis- 

 organization. 



Mr. Cox exhibited a Nightingale in fine plumage and full song, 

 which had been for four years in confinement. He stated that the 

 error generally committed by persons attempting to keep these birds 

 and the other species cf Sylviadce, was the over care bestowed upon 

 them. A treatment not more tender than that afforded to granivo- 

 rous species, agreed well with the Nightingale, for which it was by 

 no means necessary to provide insects as food ; meat scraped fine and 

 mixed with egg forming a sufficient substitute, and furnishing a 

 nourishment at once grateful to the bird and fully adequate to supply 

 its wants. 



Mr. Bennett called the attention of the Committee to two birds 

 which had been for some time living in the Society's Garden. In 

 many respects, especially as regards the nakedness of their cheeks, 

 and the nakedness, length, and reticulation of their tarsi, they agree 

 with the Caracaras (Polyborus, Vieill.) ; but differ from the type of 

 that genus in the greater compression of their beaks ; their trans- 

 verse oval nostrils ; their comparatively slender make ; and their 

 more vulturine appearance, which is much increased by the soft 

 downy nature of the plumage of their head and neck. From the 

 genus Morphnus of M. Cuvier, which they resemble in many parti- 

 culars, they are at once distinguished by the length of their wings, 

 which reach, when closed, to the extremity of the tail. He stated 

 his opinion that they would be found, on a close examination, (which 

 could only be made after death,) to constitute a new genus. Until 

 the opportunity of determining this question should occur, he asso- 

 ciated them provisionally with the Caracaras ; and having met with 

 no trace of a description of them in any ornithological writer, he 

 proposed for them the following specific character : 



Polyborus ? hypoleucus. Pol. P capite, collo, pectore, abdomine- 

 quealbis; scapularibus fusco-griseis ; dor so tegminibusque fuscis ; 

 remigibus nigricantibus ; caudd basi nigrd, apice fascid latd al- 

 bidd. 



Jun. Fuscus, capite, collo, corporeque subtus dilutioribus, remigibus 

 fusco-nigricantibus. 



The following observations, by Mr. Yarrell, on the subject of his 

 attempts to preserve Whitebait alive, were read. 



" Several dozens of strong lively fish, four inches in length, were 

 transferred with great care from the nets into large vessels, (some 

 of the vessels, to vary the experiments, being of earthenware, and 

 others of wood and metal,) filled with water taken from the Thames 

 at the time of catching the fish. At the expiration of twenty mi- 

 nutes nearly the whole of them were dead, none survived longer 

 than half an hour ; and all fell to the bottom of the water. On 

 examination, the air-bladders were found to be empty and collapsed. 



