618 MR. P. L. SCLATER ON BIRDS FROM JAPAN. [Nov. 14, 
counters which are supposed to have taken place in ancient times. 
Unfortunately, before the man who was digging discovered the 
natural treasure, the implement he was using came in cantact with 
the shell and broke a small piece out of the side of it ; but the frag- 
ments have been carefully preserved, and might readily be fitted into 
the aperture. The egg itself is about 10 inches in length, and 
7 inches in breadth, the shell being of a dirty brownish colour, and 
rather better than the thickness of a shilling coin. The inside is 
perfectly clear and free from all traces of decayed matter. From 
what Captain Davidson tells us, we should suppose that the ground 
where this relic was discovered must have been used as a cemetery at 
some distant period of the past, as Mr. Fyffe had previously found 
some interesting Maori emblems about the same place ; but none of 
the natives about there—and some of them, we are informed, have 
arrived at very mature ages—have the slightest recollection of even 
having heard, as a matter of history, that any of their ancestors had 
found a final resting-place in that particular locality.”’ 
Mr. Blyth exhibited some remarkably large horns of the Wapiti 
Deer (Cervus canadensis), and made some remarks on the different 
varieties of this Deer, two of which (Cervus canadensis verus and 
C. canadensis occidentalis) were represented by fine examples in 
the Society’s Menagerie. 
A paper was read by Mr. J. H. Gurney, F.Z.S., on a new and 
very singular Raptorial Bird, of general Buteonine aspect, but re- 
markable for its extremely wide gape, small bill destitute of a tooth, 
and the rudimentary pectination of the middle claw. For this curious 
form, a single specimen of which had been obtained by Mr. C. J. 
Andersson at Objimbinque, Damaraland, Mr. Gurney proposed the 
new generic and specific name Stringonyx anderssoni. 
This paper will be published in the Society’s ‘ Transactions.’ 
Mr. P. L. Sclater exhibited a collection of bird-skins formed by 
Mr. Henry Whitely in the vicinity of Hakodadi, Japan, during the 
winter of 1864-65. Mr. Sclater called particular attention to the 
following species, which were additional to those given in Captain 
Blakiston’s papers on the birds of Hakodadi, published in the ‘ Ibis,’ 
1862-63 :— 
Caprimulgus jotaka. Totanus glareola. 
Certhia, sp. Gallinago, sp. 
Troglodytes, sp. Podiceps, sp. 
Parus minor. Spatula clypeata. 
Anthus japonicus. Fuligula clangula. 
Turdus chrysolaus. histrionica. 
Fringilla montifringilla. Harelda glacialis. 
Montifringilla brunneinucha. Phalacrocorax, sp. 
Emberiza variabilis. Larus niveus, Pall. 
personata. Phaleris cristatella. 
