A letter was read from Thomas Keir Short, Esq., datecl Launces- 

 ton, ^'^an Diemen's Land, August lOth, 1836, containing some re- 

 marks upon the Apteryjc, t\vo living specimens of which had been 

 seen by the writer. The general correctness of the description pub- 

 lished by Mr. Yarrell of this bird is confirmed by the observations 

 of Mr. Short, with the exception of its progressive powers, which 

 are stated to be remarkably great. The natives employ two methods 

 of capturing it ; one by hunting it down with very swift dogs, the 

 other by imitating its call at night, and \vhcn by this means the bird 

 is decoyed \vithin a short distance, it is suddenly exposed to a strong 

 light, which so confuses it that it is then readily taken. The usual 

 position is standing, with the head draw'n back between the shoul- 

 ders, and the bill pointing to the ground. The food is stated to be 

 principally worms and insects, and these birds are strictly noctiirnal 

 in their habits, feeding only during the night. Mr. Short remarks, 

 that he has not been able to learn the place in which the Apteryx 

 buikls its nešt, or the number of eggs which it lays. In conclusion, 

 he promises to use his utmost endeavours to procure specimens for 

 the Society. 



Mr. Gould resumed the exhibition of his collectlon of Australian 

 Birds, as also several species, from the šame country, forming por- 

 tions of the coUections of the United Service Museum, and of King's 

 CoUege, London. Among his o\vn birds Mr. Gould characterized 

 tvv'O new species of Meliphagidce, constituting a subdivision of that 

 family, including Meliphuga tenuirostris of authors. For this new 

 group he proposed the generic title of Acanthorhynchus, and for the 

 two new species the names of A. svperciliosus and A. dubius. 



AcANTHOEHTNCHUs. (Gen. chat.) Rostrum elongatum gracilc et 

 acutum ; ad latera compressum ; tomiis incurvatis ; culmine acuto 

 et elevato. 



Nares basales elongatse et operculo tect£e. 



Lingua iit in Gen. Meliphaga. 



Ala mediocres et sub-rotundatse, remigibus primis et quintis fere 

 sequalibus ; tertiis et ąuartis intcnse seąualibus et longissimis. 



Cauda mediocris, et paululum furcata. 



Tarsi elongati, fortes ; halluce digito medio longiore et robustiore ; 

 digito externo medium superante. 



Ungites curvati. 



Typus, Certhia tenuirostris, auct. 



Acanthorhynchus superciliosus. Ac. summo cajnte, corpore 

 superiore, alis, caudaąue rectricihns sex iiifermediis cinerascenti- 

 fuscis, rectricihus religuis nigris albo ample terminatis ; loro 

 plumisrjue cnmcuhiribus nigrescenti-fiiscis ; guUure summo, 

 genis linedgue siiperciliari albis ; gutture colloque ?iitide et pal- 

 lide coslnneis ; illiits colore vitid albd infrd circumdato, cui vilta 

 nigra accedit ; abdomine crissogtte pallidė cinerascenti-fuscis ; 

 rostro pedibusfjuc nigris. 



3. 



