73 



The thanks of the Society were voted to Dr. Savage for 

 his many valuable donations, recently presented. 



Dr. Abbot announced the following additions to the Cabi- 

 net of Birds, viz. 



Charadrius semipalmatus ; female. 

 Ch. Helveticus ; male and female. 

 Strepsilus interpres ; female. 

 Scolopax grisea ; male. 

 Fringilla tristis ; male. 

 Tanagra rubra ; male. 



DONATIONS TO THE CABINET. 



Shells of the genera Nerita, Navicella, Trochus, Monodonta, 

 Truncatella, Auricula, Buccinum, from the Fejee Islands. From 

 T. J. Wkittemore. 



Helicina, Caracolla, Helix and Cyclostoma from the same local- 

 ities. From /. P. Couthouy. 



July 6, 1S42. 



Mr. Whittemore was elected Chairman. 



Dr. Cabot read a paper on the Meleagris ocellata. 



The only specimen of this bird, known to naturalists is in the 

 Jardin des Plantes. This was taken by log-cutters in the Bay of 

 Honduras, and died on its passage to Europe. Plates are given in 

 the Naturalist's Library, and in the work of Temminck, both very 

 imperfect, but the description annexed in the former work is cor- 

 rect as far as it <K>es. This bird inhabits the region south of Texas 

 to the Isthmus of Panama, and in those countries takes the place of 

 the common or Wild Turkey of North America. Whether it is found 

 in South America is uncertain. Latham expresses doubts whether 

 it should be considered a distinct species ; a doubt which Dr. Cabot 

 says " no one who has seen the living bird could entertain for a 

 moment.'" The plumage is very different from the common Tur- 

 key, as are its form and motions also. The male bird is nearly 

 a foot shorter than the common Turkey. There is no pectoral 

 appendage. The tail consists of eighteen feathers, rounded at the 



10 



