Zoological Society, 491 



the ends of some of her fingers. The foot is thrown less on the 

 external edge than in the lower Quadrumana. 



I am fully conscious of the imperfection of this account of the 

 osteology of the Active Gibbon, yet trust that I have called atten- 

 tion to some points in which the organization of the skeleton is 

 beautifully adapted to the habits of the creature. No part of the 

 studies of a naturalist is more interesting or instructive than thus to 

 trace, however imperfectly, the hand of an all-wise Creator in the 

 works of nature. Edw. Fry. 



The next paper contained " Descriptions of eleven new species of 

 Australian Birds," by John Gould, Esq. : — 



Athene marmorata. Ath. omni superiore corpore, alis, cauddque, 

 saturate fuscis, nuchd autem, alarum tectricibus, et scapularibus, 

 obscure alba maculatis ; pogoniis internis primariorum ad basin et 

 rectricum lateralium fasciis stramineis, ad extremam pogoniam 

 albicantibus, ornatis ; facie et mento albidis ; corpore inferiore 

 saturate f usee , alba et arenaceo colore maculate. 

 All the uj)per surface, wings and tail dark brown, obscurely spotted 

 with white round the back of the neck, on the wing-coverts and sca- 

 pularies ; inner webs of the primaries at their base, and the inner 

 webs of the lateral tail-feathers crossed by bands, which are buff next 

 the shaft and white towards the extremity of the webs ; face and chin 

 whitish ; under surface dark brown, blotched with white and sandy 

 brown ; legs and thighs fawn-colour ; bill horn-colour ; feet yellow. 

 Total length, 14 inches ; bill, 1^ ; wing, 9| ; tail, 6 ; tarsi, 2. 

 Hab. South Australia. 

 " Remark. — Nearly allied to Athene maculata, but much exceeding 

 that species in size. 



Athene rufa. Ath. disco faciali saturate fusco ; omni corpore, 

 suprcL saturate fusco, infrh arenaceo-rufo , multis autem lineis rufo- 

 fuscis transversim fasciato. 



Facial disc dark brown ; all the upper surface dark brown, crossed 

 by numerous narrow bars of reddish brown, the tints becoming paler 

 and the barrings larger and more distinct on the lower part of the 

 body, wings and tail ; all the under surface sandy red, crossed by 

 numerous bars of reddish brown ; the feathers of the throat with a 

 line of brown down the centre ; vent, legs and thighs of a paler tint, 

 with the bars more numerous, but not so decided ; bill horn-colour ; 

 toes yellowish, slightly clothed with feathers. 



Total length, 20 inches; bill, 1| ; wing, 13^ ; tail, 9^ ; tarsi, 2^. 



Hab. Port Essington. 



Remark. — A very powerful species, nearly allied to Athene strenua. 



Alcyone pulchra. Ale. omni corpore superiore splendide purpu- 



rascente-cyaneo ; alis fusco-nigris ; loris, cristuld post aurem, et 



guld, stramineis ; lateribus pectoris purpurascente-cyaneis, in vini 



colorem ad latera mergentibus. 



All the upper surface shining purplish blue ; wings brownish black ; 



lores, tuft behind the ear and throat buff; under surface deep fer- 



2 L2 



