70 Proceed inffs. 



Evening Meeting. — March 18th, 1887. 



The following donations to the Library were received, and 

 thanks were voted to the donors : — ' Equisetim. Htomie as a 

 British Plant,' presented by Mr. W. H. Beeby ; ' Proceedings 

 of the Entomological Society of London' for the years 1884, 

 1885, and 1886, presented by the Society. 



Dr. Bossey exhibited a specimen of pyramidal form, and 

 consisting entirely of corky tissue, believed to be Xunthoxijlon. 



Mr. Albert J. Crosfield read a paper on ' Birds observed 

 IN December, 1886, and January, 1887, in Bombay and the 

 Central Provinces of India ' : — 



It was dark when we landed in Bombay on November SOtli, 

 so our acquaintance with the birds of India did not begin till 

 December 1st. The sun had not risen when the Crows began 

 to compete with one another for an early introduction. Let 

 it be said of them that they remained faithful friends to the 

 last moment of our stay in India. During the hours of day- 

 light they were rarely, if ever, out of sight. 



Both in Bombay and the Central Provinces two kinds of 

 Crows are about equally abundant. Slightly the larger of the 

 two is the jet-black Indian Corby (Corvus cuhninatm), not 

 distinguishable to common observation from our Carrion 

 Crow. The other bird is the Common Indian Crow (Coi-vus 

 splendens), a bird with grey shoulders and sides, otherwise 

 black. Both species were in the Banyans close to our hotel- 

 windows, and seemed determined that we should not sleep 

 after the first streaks of daylight had lighted the eastern 

 horizon. These Crows seem ever on the watch around the 

 houses, both in city and village, for any fragments of food 

 that may be thrown out to them, nor are they above thieving, 

 if they see a likely chance. Lizards and Chameleons are said 

 to suffer cruel treatment at their hands, or rather beaks. 

 One day, as I sat writing in my bed-room, a Grey-necked 

 Crow came in at the dressing-room window, sat on the edge 

 of the wash-hand basin, and sipped the water. They are said 

 to destroy eggs and insects, and they also eat the Banyan figs. 

 I have scon one settle on a wretched pony's back, and peck at 



