Dr. P. L. Sclater onnew Species of Birds from Bogota, 309 



nest of eggs forty-eight in number. Both Snake and eggs were pre- 

 sented to me by a friend, who knew that I was interested in such 

 things. My object now was to secure this prize, and see what would 

 result from the detention. Unfortunately I was taken seriously ill, and 

 neglected to keep notes on the subject, and all I now state is from 

 recollection. The Python was in my possession for upwards of two 

 months and a half, and was constantly coiled around her eggs, re- 

 fusing food in various forms, living and dead, viz., fowls, rats, and 

 frogs. I then quitted Arracan on sick-leave and came to Calcutta, 

 bringing the Snake and eggs with me, and made them over to Dr. 

 Pearson (since dead) and Dr. Evans. The Snake was in my posses- 

 sion, as I said before, about ten weeks in the province and ten days 

 (more or less) in Calcutta, and nearly a week on the voyage up to 

 Calcutta, as we went to Chittagong : this will bring the eggs and 

 Snake to be known to me three months ; and the eggs were still not 

 hatched. 



** On visiting the Museum and finding the eggs in the condition 

 I sent them in, curiosity led us to detach an egg from the mass ; and 

 looking at it carefully it was supposed to be bad, as it exhibited 

 marks of green mildew and soil, and there was no motion in it. We 

 then determined to open it with a knife, and to our surprise we ex- 

 tracted a fully formed live young one, active and strong, which would, 

 I have no doubt, have lived had it been allowed. I left Calcutta 

 shortly after this, and do not know what became of the Boa and re- 

 maining eggs; but, should further information be required, I would 

 suggest that application be made to Mr. Blyth, if still in Calcutta, 

 or to the Curator of the Asiatic Museum of Calcutta." 



The following papers were read : — 

 Characters of Nine New Species of Birds received in 



COLLECTIONS FROM BoGOTA. By P. L. ScLATER, M.A., 



Ph.D., F.R.S., Secretary to the Society. 



I have lately had an opportunity of examining several large col- 

 lections of bird-skins from Bogota, containing altogether some three 

 or four thousand individuals. The greater number of the species 

 to which these belong are now well known in Europe, from their 

 repeated importation in Bogotan collections ; but I have found a 

 few, principally among the less known groups, which appear to 

 have been altogether overlooked or hitherto not collected, I beg 

 leave to submit to the Society 4he following descriptions of these 

 species. 



Fam. Turdid^, 



1. Turdus ephippialis. 



Supra cinereus, alls extus, nisi in primariorum parte terminali, et 

 interscapulio rufescente indutis : subtus pallide cinereus : gut- 

 ture albo, maculis triangularibus fuscis striata : ventre imo et 

 crisso albis : tectricibus subalaribus et remigum parte interna 



