500 Zoological Society, 



packed up by the Rev. Robert King, on the 26th of January 1849, 

 at Wide Bay in Australia, having been enclosed in a dry drawer for 

 231 days, but was first submitted to the test of water, when its valves 

 opened and it was alive. On its arrival at Southampton about the 

 latter end of June 1850, 498 days after it had been taken from the 

 pond, Mr. Newnham, to whom it was consigned, in consequence of 

 what Mr. King had written, a second time placed it in water, when it 

 expanded its valves and was living. It was then forwarded, iiiter alia^ 

 to the British Museum, and is restored to its element with full vital 

 powers, in the care of Dr. Baird of that establishment, to whom I am 

 indebted for this relation. 



I have now living, the Helix Fraseri, Australia ; U. lactea^ Africa ; 

 H. turricula, Madeira ; H. laciniosa, Madeira ; H, undata^ Madeira ; 

 H, tectiformisy Madeira ; and the Carocolla Wollastoni, Madeira. 



On new Birds in the Collection at Knowsley. By Mr. 

 Louis Fraser. In a Letter to the Secretary. 



Knowsley Hall, November 11, 1850. 

 Sir, — Having received a notification, through Lord Derby, of my 

 appointment to the Consulship at Whydah, my stay in England is 

 necessarily drawing to a close. I have endeavoured to meet your 

 wishes by forwarding a few brief descriptions from novelties contained 

 in this extraordinary Collection, and with his lordship's permission 1 

 forward the original drawings made by Mr. Wolf, who has been en- 

 gaged here for some considerable time. 



I have the honour to be. Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 

 X ' Louis Fraser. 



t). W. Mitchell, Esq., Sec. Zool. Soc. Lond. 



The first specimen to which I would wish to draw the attention of 

 the Society is a Parrakeet of large size, which I propose calling 



Pal^eornis Derbianus. 



Forehead, round the nostrils, a small stripe from the nostrils to the 

 eyes, and a broad moustache, black ; head, towards the bill and round 

 the eyes, green, passing into a light violet-blue on the occiput and ear- 

 coverts ; the remaining upper parts of the bird, the thighs, vent and 

 under tail-coverts green, being more yellow on the back of the neck 

 and centre of the wdngs ; the shafts of the two centre tail-feathers 

 dark purplish brown, with their webs, towards the apex, blue ; from 

 the hinder part of the ears, down the side of the neck, and behind 

 the moustache, runs a narrow line of light rose-coloured purple, which 

 colour extends over the whole under surface ; the under side of the 

 tail-feathers greyish yellow ; bill black ; feet the usual parrakeet 

 colour ; eyes pale straw-colour, 

 .^lio , 5s; Length from base of beak to tip of tail, 20 inches. 



Curve of upper mandible If >j -^' 



Wing 8f „ 



Tail .. 10^,,; ..w 



