95 



therefore four in number, viz. Otis tarda, O. TetraXy 

 O. Houbara, and O. McQueenii. The specific distinctions of 

 the O. McQueenii as compared with O. Houbara are slight, 

 but the fine black-tipped crest feathers, grey neck, lighter 

 colouring of the upper surface which is also much less strongly 

 marked with brown, together with its smaller size, are characters 

 by which it may at all times be distinguished from the latter 

 species. The specimen killed in Lincolnshire appears to be an 

 immature female. 



The specimen of Otis McQueenii, forming the subject of 

 the above communication, was exhibited by Mr. Higgins, along 

 with a colored lithograph taken from the oiiginal by Mr. Gould, 

 for publication in a forthcoming supplement to his great work 

 on the Birds of Europe, where it will be accompanied by a full 

 description. 



In reference to the supposition of this bird being the Otis 

 Houbara, and therefore possibly one of seven examples of this 

 species which not long since had arrived in this country, 

 Mr. Higgins stated that careful inquiries having been instituted 

 upon this point by Mr. Charlesworth, it was ascertained that 

 Mr. Fraser, the importer of these Houbaras, had disposed of 

 them to the Earl of Derby, and to the Zoological Society, and 

 that no escape had occurred either at Knowsley or at the 

 Regent's Park. 



Additions to the Museum of Antiquities. 



Mr. Wellbeloved drew the attention of the Meeting to some 

 interesting additions recently made to the Collection of Anti- 

 quities in the Museum of the Society. 



The first of these was a thin plate of pure gold, measuring 

 about 1 inch by f in., having on one side an inscription, in two 

 lines, rudely and slightly formed.* The first line consists of 

 some kind of cabalistic characters, once, no doubt, significant, 

 but now wholly unintelligible. The second line is composed of 



• See Eburaciim, PI. xvii. Fig. 15. 

 M 2 



