103 



The following extract was read from a letter, dated Madeira, 

 August 18, 1845, received from the Society's Corresponding Mem- 

 ber, the Rev. R. T. Lowe : — 



" The Rev. R, T. Lo\ve has the pleasure of adding to the Society's 

 collection a fine sijecimen of a new Zeus (Zeus conchifer, Lowe) of 

 the greatest rarity ; the present being the second example only which 

 has hitherto occurred." 



The specimen was exhibited to the Meeting. 



' On the genus Anous, Leach (Megalopternis, Boie)." By John 

 Gould, Esq., F.R.S. &c. 



There is no family of birds more generally diffused over the globė 

 than the Terns, and certainly no group of the Natatorial Order less 

 understood, or ■which \voiild more amply reward the studious investi- 

 gation of the scientific omithologist. The present short paper is 

 limited to some species of the genus Anous, for the purpose of de- 

 scribing three or four new ones, rather than aiming at anything likę 

 a complete monograph of even this little group. It vd\\ not, how- 

 ever, detract from the interest of the paper if I give a list of the spe- 

 cies with which I am familiar, and reserve to some future time the 

 completion of the subject. Upon the present occasion I shall exhibit 

 five well-defined species ; a sixth, of \vhich I am not aware that an 

 example exists in the museums of this country, is figured in the 

 ' Planches Coloriees' of M. Temminck. They are — 



1. Anoūs stolidus : Sterna stolida, hitm. ; Gavia fusca, Btehm ; 

 Anous niger, Steph. 



2. Anotjs LEucocAPiLLTJS, Hov. sp. A. vertics et nuchd albis ; 

 loris, et partibus circumocularibus, intense nigris ; omni inferiore 

 corpore alisgue fuUginosis, necnon occipite, dofso, et caudd, sed 

 cinereo tinctis. 



Crown of the head and nape of the neck white ; lores and space 

 surrounding the eye deep black ; near the posterior angle of the upper 

 and lower eyelids a small patch of white ; breast, all the under sur- 

 face and the wings deep sooty black ; back of the neck, back and tail 

 the šame, slightly tinged with ash ; bill black ; feet browTiish black. 



Totai length, 14 inches ; bill, 2į ; wing, 9 ; tail, 5 ; tarsi, į ; middle 

 toe and nail, lį. 



Hab. North coasts of Australia. 



3. Audus MtLANOPS, nov. sp. A. veftice et mchd pallidh ci- 

 nereis ; dorso saturate griseo ; macnld ante oculum^ alterdque mi- 

 nore post oculum intense nigj-is. 



Crown of the head and back of the neck light ash-colour, passing 

 into deep grey on the mantle and back ; immediately before the eyes 

 a large patch, and behind a smaller one, of jet-black; posterior half 

 of the lower and a smaller space on the upper lash snow-white ; 

 throat, fore-part of the neck and all the under surface deep sooty 

 black ; -vvings and all the upper surface of the šame colour, but rather 

 browner ; bill black ; tarsi and toes brownish black. 



Totai length, 12 to 13 inches ; bill, 2į ; wing, 8f ; tail, 5 ; tarsi, | ; 

 middle toe and nail, 1^. 



