322 [December, 



downy feathers in the male, naked in the female. Bill rather stout ; rictal mem- 

 brane small ; fourth and fifth quills longest; tertiaries longer than primaries; 

 upper and under tail coverts ample and long ; legs stout. Total length about 

 16J inches ; wing 9 ; tail 5 inches. 



Colors generally resembling those of iV^. cristata^ but without the black of the 

 neck and breast of that species. Crest in both sexes and downy plumage of the 

 head in the male black ; secondary quills with their outer webs yellowish white ; 

 tertiaries with narrow longitudinal stripes of bluish white on their outer and 

 exposed webs. All other parts of the plumage above and below (including the 

 neck and breast) bluish black or slate color, with numerous circular spots of 

 bluish white rather larger on the neck. Bill bluish, lighter at the tip, legs 

 bluish. Female similar to the male, but with the white spots rather larger on 

 the neck; naked skin of the head dark, (naked in the female only.) 



This interesting addition to African Ornithology is strictly of the same group 

 as Numida cristata, Pallas, Spic. Zool. pi. 2, but is readily to be distinguished by 

 its erect crest, which is peculiar, and the absence of the black neck and breast 

 of that species. The white spots on all parts of the body are smaller than in 

 N. cristata, and extend to the neck, breast and tibise, which in that species are 

 black. Specimens of both sexes are in the collection. 



Genus PHASIDUS. 



Allied to Numida, Linn, and to Agelastus, Temm. Bill strong, curved, rather 

 wide and rounded at the tip ; wing moderate ; fifth and sixth primaries longest; 

 tertiaries longer than primaries ; tail moderate ; tarsus stout, with large, some- 

 what rounded or hexagonal scales in front; toes rather long, claws long, stouts 

 Head naked, except a longitudinal stripe on the top of the head. 



47. Phasidus nigbk, nobis. 



Head and throat naked, but with a longitudinal stripe of short black feathers 

 from the base of the bill to the occiput, ending abruptly'. Neck before and throat 

 with a few short black feathers, behind and below the bare space densely 

 covered with short black feathers. 



Entire plumage black, very obscurely punctated and vermiculated, with a 

 lighter shade on the upper parts and lighter on the middle of the abdomen. 

 Bill corneous, with the edges of the mandibles nearly white; legs and toes dark 

 corneous. Naked space on the head probably yellow or light red. Male. 



Total length about 17 inches ; wing 8 ; tail G inches. 



This is the most remarkable bird yet discovered by Mr. DuChaillu, It belongs 

 to the same group as Numida and Agelastus, but is more intimately allied to the 

 latter, of which the only known form is Agelastus meleagrides, Temm. Cabanis' 

 Jour. 1855, p. 356, and for a fine specimen of which this Academy is indebted 

 to the liberality of the distinguished naturalist by whom it was first introduced 

 to the notice of ornithologists. 



A single specimen, labelled as a male, is in the collection, and is from a few 

 miles in the interior, ^t Cape Lopez. The general appearance of this bird is not 

 unlike that of Gallophasis purpureus, Gray, but is generically distinct. 



48. HiATicuLA PEC0ARIA, (Tcmmiuck.) 

 Charadrius pecuarius, Temm. PI. Col. v. pi. 183. 



Identical with South African specimens in the Academy's Museum. 



49. Nycticorax europ^us, Stephens. 



Nycticorax europasus, Steph. Gould B. of Eur. pi. 279. 



A single specimen in very mature plumage. Rather lighter in color than 

 specimens from Europe, and with the white of the front extending over and 

 behind the eye. 



The Committee on Proceedings presented a Special Report, which 

 was adopted. 



The Corresponding Secretary read his Report for last month. 



