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ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Proceedings of the Committee of Science and Correspondence, 



September 25, and October 9, 1832. — Colonel Sykes resumed the 

 exhibition of the collection of Birds formed by him in Dukhun. On 

 previous evenings he had brought under the notice of the Committee 

 the Raptores and Insessores ; and on the present he submitted the 

 remaining orders in the form of a u Catalogue of Birds (systematically 

 arranged) of the Rasorial, Grallatorial, and Natatorial Orders, ob- 

 served in the Dukhun by Lieut. Colonel W. H. Sykes, Bombay Army, 

 F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. &c." which is given in the " Proceedings" of the 

 Committee. In this catalogue are enumerated 95 species, making 

 together with 137 enumerated in the former catalogue 232, among 

 which 14 of those enumerated in the present catalogue are new to 

 science. Of these new species the specific characters, dimensions, 

 and localities are given, throughout j together, in many instances, 

 with observations on their habits, food, affinities, &c. Of the species 

 already described by naturalists, specimens of which are contained in 

 Colonel Sykes's collection, the synonymes and in some instances the 

 native appellations are given ; also references to figures, with remarks 

 on their fidelity j in many cases the dimensions and the localities of 

 the birds ; and various remarks on their characters and habits, &c. 

 We proceed to extract from Colonel Sykes's present Catalogue some 

 articles which appear to possess peculiar interest. 



14*2. Columba risoria, Linn. La Tourterelle a cottier du Senegal, 

 Buff., Ois. 2, 550 & 553. pi. 26. PI. Enl. 161 & 244. Le Vaill., Ois. 

 d'Afr. 6. pi. 268. 



Length, inclusive of tail, 13W inches : tail 5 inches. Gregarious, 

 and common in the open country. Sexes alike. In spite of the 

 proverbial gentleness of the Dove, Colonel Sykes has seen these birds 

 fighting with the most inveterate hostility ; seizing each other by the 

 bill and rolling upon the ground together. Outer webs of 2nd, 3rd 

 and 4th quill-feathers hollowed. 



146. Pavo cristatus, Linn. Peafowl. Mohr of the Mahrattns. 

 The wild Peafowl is abundant in the dense woods of the Ghauts : 

 it is readily domesticated, and many Hindoo temples in the Dukhun 

 have considerable flocks of them. On a comparison with the bird as 

 domesticated in Europe, the latter is found, both male and female, 

 to be absolutely identical with the wild bird of India. Irides intense 

 red brown. 



181. Phcenicopterus ruber, Linn., 1. 230. Le Flammant, Buff., Ois. 

 8. 475. PI. Enl. 63. Red Flamingo. Rajah Huns of the Hindoos. 



Irides light yellow. Length, inclusive of tail, 43^ inches : tail 6 

 inches. 



In the duodenum of a female were found two thick, remarkable 

 white worms composed of annuli ; one 7 inches long, the other A\ 

 inches j and filling up the intestinal canal, so that liquid food only 

 could have passed j nevertheless the bird appeared quite healthy. 



188. Ibis religiosa, Cuv., Regne Anim. 1. 483. Sacred Ibis. VIbis 

 sacre, Cuv., Recherches sur les Ossemens Fossiles, 1 . 161. Tauta- 



