July, 1847.] 233 



A communication was read from J. F. Frazer, Esq., Secre- 

 tary of the American Philosophical Society, acknowledging 

 the reception of a recent number of the Proceedings of the 

 Academy. v 



Meeting for Business, July 27, 1847. 

 Vice President Morton in the Chair. 



The Committee on Dr. Hare's Synopsis of his paper on 

 Electricity, reported in favour of publication of the same in 

 the Journal, as the commencement of said paper. 



The Committee on Major M' Call's communication read 

 13th inst., reported in favour of publication in the Proceedings. 



Description of a supposed new species of Columba, inhabiting 

 Mexico, with some account of the habits of the Geococcyx viaticus , 

 Wagler. 



By George A. M'Oall. 

 Columba *solitaria. 



Length 13 inches 9 lines. Alar extent 23 inches. Wing, from 

 the flexure, 7 inches, 5 lines. Tarsus 1 inch; middle toe 1 

 inch, 2 lines ; first toe 9 lines, and longer than the third ; Bails 

 light flesh colour; feet and legs deep red. Iris dark-orange. Bill 

 above, 1 inch, 1 line, but feathered to within 5 lines of the tip'; 

 reddish near the base, whitish near the tip. Head chocolate-blue. 

 Throat chocolate-white. Neck and breast bluish-chocolate with 

 brilliant reflections. Back, belly, flanks, underwing-coverts and 

 greater exterior wing-coverts light red colour, the last faintly 

 bordered with white. Lesser wing-coverts chocolate red, forming 

 a bright shoulder spot of elliptical shape. Quill feathers dusky, 

 tinged with lead colour on the outer vanes. 3rd primary longest. 

 Upper and under tail coverts bluish-lead colour. Tail 5 inches ; 

 slightly rounded ; of twelve feathers ; dusky. 



Individuals of this fine species, which, in general contour, re- 

 sembles Columba (Enas, were found on the Rio Grande, from 

 Matamoras to Camargo these were shy, and only met with at 

 intervals. They were again observed on one or two of the smaller 

 water courses between the former place and Victoria, but never 

 in flocks ; nor were more than half-a-dozen seen anywhere in 



