290 Zoological Society. 



Meeting two tribes of Birds, viz. the Tamatias, from the warmer 

 parts of America, and the Coursers, from the arid regions of Africa 

 and India. Mr. Gould obser\'ed, that of the first group, only five 

 species appear to have been known to Linnaeus; eleven others had 

 since been added, making sixteen: the Society's collection contained 

 thirteen species. Mr. Gould exhibited a series of drawings in illus- 

 tration of the group, and characterized one new species under the 

 name of Tamatia bicincta. 



Mr. Gould stated in conclusion, that this formerly limited group 

 now constitutes a considerable family, or subfamily, whose members 

 appear naturally to form themselves into at least three or four genera : 

 thus divided, the genus Tamatia, Cuv. {Capita, Vieill.) contains 9 

 species, that of Lypornix, Wagl., 3 species; thsit of Monasa, Vieill., 3 

 species ; and that of Chelidoptera, Gould, 1 ; the latter being a generic 

 title provisionally instituted by Mr. Gould for the Lypornix tenebrosa, 

 Wagl., a species which differs in many essential characters from all 

 the other members of the group, possessing as it does a very length- 

 ened wing, and being in every way adapted for powerful flight. He 

 observed, that he had consulted with M. Natterer on the propriety 

 of separating this bird from the other members of the group, in which 

 opinion that eminent naturalist had coincided, and at the same time 

 stated, that it usually resorted to the topmost branches of the trees, 

 whence it sallied forth over the forest in search after its insect food, 

 while, on the other hand, all the other members of the group kept to 

 low thickets and the neighbourhood of the ground. In their general 

 economy they offer a striking resemblance to the Shrikes and Fly- 

 catchers ; they are, however, more indolent in their disposition, and 

 sit motionless on a dead branch for hours together, until their atten- 

 tion is drawn to some passing insect, when they sally forth, capture 

 it, and return to the same branch, which they are known to frequent 

 for months together. With the exception of three or four species 

 all the members of this group are confined to the Brazils. 



Mr. Gould exhibited six species of the genus Cursorius, one of 

 which was described as new by the appellation of Cursorius rufus. 



This new species of Cursorius was from the islands of the Indian 

 Ocean, but from what particular locality Mr. Gould had not been 

 able to ascertain. It differs from Curs. Asiaticus, by being smaller 

 in all its proportions, by having the whole of the upper surface of a 

 rich rufous brown, and by not possessing a white band across the 

 rump. In its affinities it is closely allied to both Curs. Asiaticus And 

 Curs. Temminckii. 



Mr. Martin placed on the table two examples of the Potto or 

 Kinkajou from the Society's Museum, and, at the request of the 

 Chairman, read some notes describing the differences in colour, size, 

 and comparative measurements of parts in the two specimens, of 

 which the following is an abstract. 



*' The differences which exist in two specimens of the Kinkajou in 

 the Society's Museum have led me to introduce them to the atten- 

 tion of the Meeting, as it is not improbable that they may ultimate- 

 ly prove to be distinct species. The Kinkajou, however, is so rare 



