1871.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 249 
thoschistos are—length 43 ; bill from gape 4 ; tail 1 ; wing 24 to 2 5%; 
tarsus 3. 
Dr. Jerdon’s dimensions of Albo-superciliaris are—length 44 ; wing 
21; tail 13; tarsus 3. Inasmuch as these are the dimensions of 
Hodgson’s bird, and as his drawing exactly represents the North- 
West species, I have no hesitation in putting Albo-superciliaris as a 
synonym of Xanthoschistos. Abrornis Jerdoni is the eastern repre- 
sentative of A. Xanthoschistos. 
Mr. Ball exhibited several birds captured by him in the Red 
and Arabian Seas, and said—“ I wish to make afew remarks upon 
some birds which I recently captured in the Red and Arabian Seas, 
when on board the Mail Steamer ‘ Mongolia.’ I am more particularly 
anxious to exhibit them as they have been cured by a process 
somewhat novel. Having neither the facilities nor inclination for 
skinning them, and being unable to procure any pure carbolic acid, 
T tried the effect of injecting them with common disinfecting fluid. 
The result has been that the birds have kept admirably and are 
only now gradually drying up into mummies. The specimens 
include— 
1st.—A male and female of the common Zinnunculus alaudarius. 
Briss. 
2nd.—A bird which I rather think may be a Hobby, Hypotrior- 
chis subbuteo, L., but if so, it presents a very unusual phase of 
plumage. At some future time, I hope to describe it more fully. 
3rd.—A species of Roller (Coracias) distinct from both the Euro- 
pean and Indian birds. It comes nearest to the former, but differs 
from it in many details of plumage. Speaking generally, it has a 
more subdued coloration, and the violet blue of the lesser wing- 
coverts is not continued, asin C. Garrula, on to the shoulders. The 
head and neck too are a dirty green rather than a bluish green. 
I have not yet had time to ascertain whether it belongs to a known 
species. 
4th—A specimen of the somewhat rare Sanderling, Calidris 
arenaria, Tem. It came on board in the Arabian Sea in a very 
exhausted condition. 
Besides the above, I observed many other land birds flying about 
or resting upon the ship. Notably a small party of six owls 
