PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 265 
A communication was read from Mr. Edgar A. Smith, containing remarks 
on some specimens of Cyprea decipiens, lately received by the British 
Museum. 
A second paper by Mr. Smith contained the descriptions of two new 
species of shells from Lake Tanganyika. 
Capt. G. E. Shelley read a paper containing an account of seven 
collections of birds recently made by Dr. Kirk in the little-explored regions 
of Eastern Africa. Two new species were proposed to be called Coccystes 
albo-notatus and Urobrachya Zanzibarica. 
Mr. Arthur G, Butler read a paper on a collection of Lepidoptera made 
in Western India, Beloochistan, and Afghanistan by Major Charles Swinhoe. 
The collection contained examples belonging to three new genera and fifteen 
new species. 
May 17, 1881.—Dr. Ginruer, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair. 
The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to 
the Society’s Menagerie during the mouth of April, 1881, amongst which 
special attention was called to an Indian Darter, Plotus melanogaster, 
received in exchange from the Zoological Gardens, Calcutta; a female 
Beisa Antelope, Oryx beisa, born in the Gardens April 12th, believed to 
be the first example of this Antelope that had been bred in captivity; and 
a Mountain Ka-ka, Nestor notabilis, transmitted as a present to the Society 
by Dr. A. de Lautour, of Otago, New Zealand. 
Mr. Sclater exhibited and made remarks on examples of four Parrots of 
the genus Chrysotis, from various islands of the Lesser Antilles. 
A communication was read from Mr. Carl Bock, in which he gave an 
account of the Land and Fresh-water Shells collected in the highlands of 
Padang, Sumatra, and in the Eastern and Southern parts of Borneo, during 
his travels in those districts. Eight new species were described. 
A communication was read from Mr. G. B. Sowerby, jun., containing 
descriptions of eight new species of Shells from various localities. 
Mr. W. A. Forbes read a paper on the anatomy and systematic position 
of the Jacanas (Parride), which he showed were in no degree related to the 
Rails, but form a separate group to be placed amongst the Plovers and allied 
birds (Limicole). The author also called attention to the peculiar form of 
the radius in the genus Metopidius, which is not developed in the other 
genera of this group. 
A communication was read from Mr. L. Taczanowski, containing the 
description of a new species of Weasel from Peru, proposed to be called 
Mustela Jelskii, after its discoverer. 
A communication was read by Mr. W. I’. Kirby, containing a description 
of the Hymenopterous Insects collected in Socotra by Prof. Bayley Balfour. 
Of these two were apparently new to science. 
2M 
