Zoological Society, 143 



blow that no dog that we have will face it a second time. It is not 

 meant that a dog could not be made to resent such an attack, but 

 only that of their own accord they seem unwilling to do so. 



" It is, however, exceedingly familiar, and would become attached 

 to any one that would notice it kindly, and with me will often make 

 a kind of purring noise when being patted and caressed. Still I have 

 seen it run after children when they have been teasing it. 



" On one or two occasions it has recovered the use of its wing 

 sooner than expected, but it never flew beyond the garden — alighting 

 upon the top of its aviary, flying off again, wheeling round in a circle 

 and returning. In their wild state I should consider these birds good 

 flyers ; their long wings and light bodies, with a most complete appa- 

 ratus of external air-cells, would conduce to that result. I hardly 

 know why it should be called a screamer ; no noise that I have ever 

 heard it make could be called a scream. It has certainly a tolerably 

 sharp cry, and also a lower note or cry, somewhat resembling the 

 trumpet- note of a peacock, but not so loud ; both appear to be notes 

 of pleasure and satisfaction, and may generally be called forth in the 

 following manner. If for instance the bird is on the lawn, and any 

 of those known to it should pass close by, it will utter one or two 

 of the lower notes, and if encouraged by the person endeavouring to 

 imitate the same note, it will utter two or three more, and finish 

 with one of the shrill notes ; it will then often lie down to be patted 

 and caressed. Its walk is rather ludicrous, partaking both of state- 

 liness and awkwardness. The head is carried high and well, but as 

 its toes are so long it is compelled to raise each foot very high, in 

 order to get it clear of the other, and this produces the appearance 

 described. In standing, the toes of one foot are crossed a good deal 

 over those of the other. 



" It has evidently more confidence in man, and seems also to have 

 more intelligence than most birds." 



The reading of Professor Owen's memoir on the Myology of the 

 Apteryx was continued. 



Mr. Gould then brought before the notice of the Meeting some 

 additional ornithological novelties from Australia, and character- 

 ized an Artamus, conspicuous for the white colouring of the rump, 

 as 



Artamus leucopygialis. Art. capite, guld, et dorso fuliginoso- 

 cinereis ; pectore, partibus inferioribus , et uropygio albis ; rostro 

 pallide caruleo-cinereo. 



Head, throat and back sooty grey ; primaries and tail brownish 

 black, washed with grey ; chest, all the under surface, and rump, 

 pure white ; irides brown ; bill light bluish grey at the base, black at 

 the tip ; legs and feet mealy greenish grey. 



Total length, 5£ inches ; bill, |J ; wing, 5£ ; tail, 2\ ; tarsi, |. 



Hob. Australia. 



A new Pitta, being the third species of that form from the Austra- 

 lian continent, as 



Pitta Iris. Pitt, capite, collo, pectore, abdomine, lateribus, et fc- 



