432 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



the domestic breed, viz., the Grey Goose (Anser cinereus), the Bean Goose (A. 

 segetuni), and the White-fronted Goose (A. albifrons) ; all which are promiscu- 

 ously sold in the markets under the general name of " Wild Geese." The first 

 of them was stated to be the primitive stock of the domestic Goose, and to have 

 become of exceeding rare occurrence in the British Islands, although it formerly 

 bred plentifully in the fens. Until very recently, no specimen of it existed, that 

 he could learn of, in any of the London museums ; but aged examples of the Bean 

 Goose, that had the terminal nail of the beak white, were commonly ticketed 

 with its name. It differed, however, in various particulars, which were pointed 

 out, and might always be at once told by the pale grey colour of the rump, which 

 in both the others is very dark brown. The Bean Goose was mentioned as the 

 ordinary " Wild Goose" of these islands, which it annually visits in large flocks, 

 frequenting upland pastures, where neither of the others are ever seen. It was 

 the only species of the three brought to market during the continued severe 

 weather of last winter, when thousands of them were daily exposed for sale. 



A paper on the Natural History of the Nightingale (published in our number 

 for July, p. 343) was afterwards read by Mr. Blyth. 



The anniversary meeting was held en Friday the 18th of May, N. W. Ridley 

 Colborne, Esq., in the chair. — The Council, in their report, congratulated the 

 members on the position which the Society had already attained. The number 

 of its members was stated to be 205; a number probably unprecedented in the 

 first year of any other scientific society. Beference was then made to the greet 

 injury which the collection in St. James's Park at first sustained, from the 

 children and other frequenters of the Park : but the Council had now the satis- 

 faction of reporting, that a marked improvement in this respect might be observed; 

 and they are convinced that the gratuitous exhibition of living birds will have a 

 powerful effect in combating the childish propensity to tease and torture animals, 

 and in substituting an intelligent interest in their welfare. Little more than a 

 nucleus of the museum and library has as yet been formed ; but the Council 

 expressed a confident hope, that, with the valuable services of the curator, Mr. 

 Blyth, a sufficiency of specimens for the illustration of the monthly lectures will 

 very shortly be obtained. The accounts of the Society for the last year had been 

 audited, and the balance in hand was <£ll. 16s. The sums then owing by the 

 Society were £36. 17s. 9d. ; and the sums owing to the Society were £42. The 

 bye-laws have been printed and distributed. 



Some admirably-mounted specimens of rare birds were afterwards exhibited by 

 Mr. Blyth, which had been obtained in the London markets. Among them was 

 the elegant Squacco Heron (Ardea ralloides), an exquisite specimen in fully adult 

 plumage, and which had recently been shot in Suffolk ; and the little Hazel 

 Grous (Tetrao bonasia) of Continental Europe, the old-world analogue of the 



