105 



2. Oyp. Gambiensis, -vvith the cervical crest commencing some 

 distance below the occiput, arrangcd in two regular senes, one on 

 each side of the neck, \vith the intermediate space clear, and com- 

 posed of long spatule-shaped feathers, much broader throughout than 

 in the lašt species, though similarly decreasing in -vvidth towards the 

 root. In both these species the two middle feathers of the tail are 

 considerably longer than the others. Inhabits Senegambia. 



3. Gyp. Philippensis, "vvith the cervical crest spread irregularly 

 from the occiput to the bottom of the neck, the longest feathers being 

 those situated the lowest, which is just the reverse of what we ob- 

 serve in Gyp. Gambiensis, and -with the tvi^o exterior tail feathers the 

 longest, so that the tail appears forked. This is apparent not only 

 in Sonnerat's figure, but is expressly mentioned in his detailed de- 

 scription, and, if confirmed by future observation, is clearly indicative 

 of a specific distinction. Inhabits the Philippine Islands. Described 

 and figured in Sonnerat's ' Voyage h la Nouvelle Guinėe,' p. 87, t. 50. 



The colours of the three species or varieties here indicated do not' 

 seem to be materially difFerent in other respects." — W. O. 



A collection of skins of Birds, formed in Hayti by J. Hearne, Esq., 

 Corr. Memb. Z. S., and presented by him to the Society, "vvas ex- 

 hibited. At the request of the Chainnan, Mr. Gould brought the 

 specimens severally under the notice of the meeting. They com- 

 prised sixteen species, two or three of which appeared to be hitherto 

 undescribed ; including a Humming Bird, which Mr. Gould believed 

 to be the representative of a new species, allied to TrocMlus pec- 

 toralis, Lath. 



There was also exhibited the skin of the Mammiferoiis animal 

 recently described by M. Brandt, in the Transactions of the Imperial 

 Academy of St. Petersburgh, as the type of his new genus Soleno- 

 donta. It was obtained by Mr. Hearne in Hayti, -vvhere it is known 

 as the Agouta. Respecting it Mr. Hearne vvrites, " The only qua- 

 druped, I believe, found on the island on the landing of Columbus 

 Vfs.?:Ū3Le Agouta, a little larger than, and somewhat resembling, SiRat, 

 ■with an eąually long tail and with a longer snout; whose food is 

 chieflygrain, although the animal is carnivorous also; its hair isred. 

 I had one alive intended for the Society, but it received a Tvonud 

 from a cat of which it died, and the skin is too miserably preserved, 

 I fear, to be of use ; but I shall bring it myself, or early send it ; 

 and I shall endeavour to get another alive, and in such statė to send 

 it to you." 



The following note by H. Bruce Campbell, Esq., on a •vvhite va- 

 riety of the Blackhird, Turdus Merula, Linn., recently presented by 

 him to the Society and now living at the Gardens, was read. 



*' ITie curiosity -vvhich I have the pleasure topresent to the Zoolo- 

 gical Society, (a bird of the common Blackhird kind, the Merle noir 



