Mr. P. L. Sclater on the genus Parra. 411 



This bird is hardly distinguishable from the P.jacana, except by 

 the browner and more purplish tinge of the back, in which respect 

 it seems intermediate between that species and P. melanopygia. 



I should hardly have ventured to separate it specifically on my 

 own authority ; but, as the MS. name has attained circulation, I 

 think it right to point out the apparent differences. 



3. Parra melanopygia, sp. nov. 



Capite toto cum cervice supera et corpore infra nigris : interscapulio, 

 alls caudaque purpurascenti-brunneis : dorso imo et tectricibus 

 caudce siiperioribus nigris : hypochondriis et tectricibus sub- 

 alaribus nigris : remigibusflavescenti-viridibus, nigra extus partim 

 marginatis. 



Hab. S. Martha in New Grenada (Verreaux). 



MM. Verreaux's specimens of this bird are labelled P. hypomelcena, 

 but that name is properly applicable to the next species. 



4. Parra hypomel^na. 



Parra hypomelcena. Gray & Mitch. Gen. of B. pi. 159. 



Nigra : alis fusco-nigris purpurascente tinctis : I'emigibus flaves- 



centi-viridibus, nigra extus partim marginatis. 

 Hab. New Grenada, S. Martha {Verreaux) ; Bogota {Mus. Brit.); 

 Cartagena (Mus. Paris.) ; Chiriqui, Panama (Bridges^. 



B. Species caruncula frontali trilobata : carunculis rictalibus 

 nullis. 



5. Parra gymnostoma. 



Parra gymnostoma, Wagl. Isis, 1831, p. 517. 

 Parra cardifera, Less. R. Z. 1842, p. 135 ; Desmurs, Icon. Orn. 

 pi. 42. 



Capite tota cum cervice supera et infra ad medium pectus nigris, 

 ceneo micantibus : dorso toto alisque castaneis : urapygia purpuras- 

 cente : abdamine purpurascenti-brunneo : remigibus fiavescenti- 

 viridibus, nigra margiiiatis. 

 Hab. Southern Mexico ; Mazatlan {Mus. Brit.) ; Acapulco {A. 

 Lesson) ; New Grenada, S. jNIartha {Verreaux) ; Honduras {Dyson). 

 Wagler's accurate diagnosis of this bird has been generally passed 

 over, and Lesson's more recent appellation is commonly employed for 

 this species. 



November 11, 1856. — Dr. Gray, F.R.S., in the Chair. 



On a New Species of Squirrel (Sciurus macrotis) from 

 Borneo. By J. E. Gray, Ph.D., F.R.S. etc. 



Among the specimens of animals which the British Museum has 

 lately received from Mr. Wallace from Sarawak, is a large, well-marked 

 species of Squirrel, particular for having very large, longish pen- 



