18/3. J MR. SCLATER ON BIRDS FROM NEWT GUINEA. 557 



from San Francisco agrees with a skull from Newfoundland, and 

 with normal skulls of P. vitulina from the English coast. 



"The thickening of the lower jaw may he a sexual distinction. 



" A skull, unquestionably of a male, possesses it in a marked de- 

 gree, while that of a female, apparently of nearly the same age, is 

 slender. 



" I am therefore disposed, so far as present evidence goes, to con- 

 sider the so-called Halicyon richardsi simply a synonym of Phoca 

 vitulina.'" 



Mr. Sclater read a paper on the Curassows, based mainly upon 

 specimens now or lately living in the Society's Gardens, and con- 

 taining details on their geographical distribution aud on the varia- 

 tions of sex of the known species. 



This paper will be published in full in the Society's 'Transactions.' 



Dr. A. Leith Adams read a memoir on the osteology of the Maltese 

 fossil Elephants, in which was given the description of a large col- 

 lection of remains discovered by him in Malta in the years 1860- 

 1866. Dr. Adams referred these remains to two distinct species — 

 a larger {Elephas mnaidriensis) and a smaller (the E. melitensis of 

 Falconer), and assigned E.falconeri of Busk to a smaller form of the 

 latter species. 



This paper will be published in full in the Society's ■ Trans- 

 actions.' 



Mr. Sclater exhibited a series of new and rare birds, which had 

 been transmitted to him for examination by Signor d'Albertis, and 

 which formed part of the extensive collection of natural history 

 made in New Guinea by that gentleman during his recent expedition 

 in company with Signor Beccari. Amongst these were examples of 

 both sexes of a new Paradise-bird belonging to the Epimachine 

 section of the group, which Mr. Sclater proposed to name Drepa- 

 nornis albertisi, after its discoverer, aud native skins of an apparently 

 new species of true Paradisea. 



These birds had been forwarded to Mr. Sclater through the 

 intervention of Dr. G. Bennett, F.Z.S., of Sydney, who had trans- 

 lated Signor d'Albertis's notes respecting some of the more remark- 

 able species as follows : — 



1. Parotia sexpennis. 



Although this species has been described many years, it is not yet 

 accurately understood, having only been described from birds in a 

 mutilated condition. My observations have been made in the 

 natural haunts of these elegant birds, from numerous specimens both 

 living and dead. 



These birds are found in the north of New Guinea. I met with 

 them about 30 miles from the coast, at an elevation of 3600 feet 

 above the level of the sea, near Mount Arfak. I have never found 



