16 



Among some drawings of this species which accompanied the 

 collection, one was observed in which the tail was elevated in the 

 same manner, although not to the same extent, as in the Toucans 

 of South America when at rest. Mr. Vigors called the attention of 

 the Committee to this peculiarity in the Toucans, which lie had as- 

 certained from a living bird in his own collection, and which he de- 

 scribed in the ' Zoological Journal ', vol. ii. p. 480, pi. xv. And he 

 dwelt on the additional proof thus afforded of affinity between these 

 two families of the Old and New World, which are equally allied 

 by the most important characters of their structure. 



A male and female Pheasant were also exhibited from the col- 

 lection which appeared to be the species described by Dr. Latham 

 under the name o? Phasianiis leucomelanos, (Ind. Orn ii. 633.) 

 Mr. Vigors pointed out the difference between this species and the 

 Pkasianus albo-cristalus, which he had described in the First Part of 

 the ' Proceedings', p. 9. This difference consisted in the deep black 

 colour of the crest in the Fhas. leucomelanos ; in the lanceolated 

 feathers of the under part of the body extending no further than 

 the breast ; and in the plumes of the lower part of the back being 

 doubly fasciated, by a slender violet-black band in the first instance 

 near the apex, and secondly by a slender white apical band. In 

 the Phas. albo-cristatus, on the contrary, the crest is white with a 

 somewhat dusky base ; the lanceolated feathers on the under body 

 extend over the abdomen ; and the feathers on the lower part of 

 the back are fasciated with one rather broad white apical band, 

 without any vestige of the black violet markings observed in the 

 other species. Mr. Vigors added that these two species, together 

 with the Phas. Uneatus of Dr. Latham, exhibited to the Committee 

 on the 11th Jan. of last year, and described in the ' Proceedings' 

 of that date, p. 24-, as well as the Jire -backed Pheasant, Pkasianus 

 Ignitus, Lath., formed a group among ih^ Pheasants, which appeared 

 intermediate between the typical birds of that family and the genus 

 Gallus, or Jungle Fowl. This group, distinguished by their crests, 

 and by the tail partaking equally of the elevated character of that 

 of the Jungle Foivl, and the recumbent character of that of the 

 Pheasant, had been set apart by MM. Temminck and Cuvier under 

 the name of Houppiferes, and by the former naturalist under the 

 scientific name of Euplocamus. 



The only species apparently undescribed in the collection was 

 the following Pigeon, which Mr. Vigors expressed his pleasure in 

 having it in his power to dedicate to the enterprising and scientific 

 discoverer. 



CoLUMBA HoDGSONii. Col. capite colloqiie pallide, dorse cris- 

 soque intensius vinaceo-griseis ; alis, regione interscapidari, abdo- 

 mineque vinaceo brunneis, hoc albo variegato ; scapularibus albo 

 guttatis ; nucha vinaceo-briinneo notatd ; remigibus rectricibus- 

 que, his intensiiiSjJii.scis; guld albcscenti-grised ; pcdibus satu- 

 rate Cceruleis, iinguibiis Jlavis. 



Longitude corporis, 15 unc. 



