NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 197 



1875. He stated that this species is one of our least observed 

 migrants, and is seldom met with in Scotland. Like many other 

 marsh birds, it is decreasing, as its haunts — the fenny and marshy 

 lands — are being gradually drained. At one time it bred 

 regularly in some parts of England, in considerable numbers, but 

 now rarely, and in Scotland its nest has been taken only on one 

 or two occasions. According to Jerdon, in his " Birds of India," 

 it is found over all India in the cold season, frequenting marshes, 

 rice fields, and moist meadows, near rivers and tanks. It is also 

 found throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa, breeding in temperate 

 regions. Jerdon also states that it is said to make a floating nest 

 of rushes ; but this seems to be very doubtful, and is not mentiond 

 by some of the other authorities. 



Mr John M. Campbell exhibited a specimen of the Biscacha, 

 (Lagostomus trkhodadylus, Brookes), from South America, and made 

 some remarks on its distribution in the Argentine Provinces, which 

 it has overrun to a large extent, penetrating to a considerable 

 distance southwards. It has not, however, been found in the 

 Banda Oriental or in Paraguay, although, being a good swimmer 

 and taking readily to the water, the Parana need not have been 

 an obstacle to its progress. In a paper read before the Society at 

 the December meeting, a full account was given of the habits and 

 depredations of this rodent, which has become a thorough pest in 

 the countries where it prevails. Mr Campbell mentioned that its 

 skin is now imported as an article of commerce, and is taking the 

 place of more expensive furs. 



Mr D. C. Glen, F.G-.S., exhibited a number of specimens 

 from Brazil, recently brought to this country by Mr A. Smith, 

 C.E.,. Glasgow. In the collection were — the carapace of an 

 Armadillo ; the bony palate of a species of Cat-fish, the mouth of 

 which is paved, in a sort of tesselated manner, with a series of 

 roundish-shaped crushing teeth ; the legs and wings of the Horned 

 Screamer, Palamedea cornuta, a bird about the size of a goose, 

 whose wings are each armed with a pair of strong bony spurs, 

 which it uses for defensive purposes ; a Blue Crow, Corvus azureus, 

 and a Red-breasted Eoller, Coracias scutata ; a specimen of one of 

 the Lace Lizards, about four feet in length ; also several other 

 objects of interest. On these he made a few verbal remarks, 

 concluding by presenting the Blue Crow and Red-breasted Roller 

 to the Hunterian Museum. 



