152 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Previous to the meeting being dissolved, the sum of £2,710. was 

 voted for the prosecution of scientific inquiries during the ensuing 

 year, being an access of £950 on the previous grant. After a 

 lengthened and animated discussion, it was determined that the 

 meeting of 1837 should be held at Liverpool : the Earl of Bur- 

 lington was elected president, Dr. Dalton, Sir. P. Egerton, and the 

 Rev. E. Stanley, vice-presidents, Dr. Henry and Mr. Parker se- 

 cretaries. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



At a meeting at the Society's Rooms, Leicester Square, Mr. 

 Gould, after making some remarks on various birds which 

 were on the table, entered into a description of a new genus of 

 birds, for which he proposed the name of Aplornis, on account of 

 its simple structure. This genus, Mr. Gould observed, partakes of 

 the characters of the genera Lamprotornis, Lanius, and Turdns ; 

 we will, however, endeavour to give an idea of its distinguishing 

 characters by comparing it with the genus Lamprotornis. When 

 thus compared, Mr. G. remarked that the species of Aplornis are 

 altogether of a more robust form : the beak, which is distinctly 

 notched, the wings, the legs, and the tail, are shorter in proportion ; 

 the latter is slightly forked. It may also be distinguished by the 

 want of the splendid colouring so remarkable in Lamprotornis, all 

 the species of which, it will be remembered, are of a beautiful rich 

 green colour, with a satin-like gloss. There were two species of 

 this new genus on the table, both belonging to the society ; one 

 from New Holland, and the other from the Friendly Islands. 



At a subsequent scientific meeting, Mr. Gould exhibited eight 

 species of a genus of Sylviidze ; a genus characterized, some time 

 back, by Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield, under the name of Zosteros, 

 at which time only two species were known : one or two have 

 since been described. Of others, which were new (and then before 

 the society), Mr. Gould intended describing only two, as he thought 

 it probable the remainder would be noticed in works about to be 

 published by other individuals. For one Mr. G. proposed the name 

 of albogularis, and the other, tenuirostris. The genus Zosteros, 

 Mr. G. observed, is principally distinguished from others of the 

 Warbler tribe by a zone of white feathers, which surrounds the eye, 

 the attenuated and somewhat curved beak ; the nostrils being co- 

 vered by an operculum, and the plumage of both sexes being alike, 

 and undergoing no seasonal changes. All the species known are 

 found in the old world, and they are all, more or less, of a greenish- 

 yellow colour. They approach nearest to the genus Sylvia, as re- 

 stricted by Mr. Swainson. 



The continuation of a paper was then read, entitled " Catalogue 

 of the Birds found in the neighbourhood of Scarborough," by 

 Mr. Williamson, which contained considerable information relating 

 to the habits of many of the British birds. 



