1873.] SUKGEON DAY ON BUCHANAN'S ' FISHES OF BENGAL.' 743 



this bird to the Meeting. It is evidently a male specimen in full 

 plumage ; and I propose for it the name Epimachus ellioti. 



This species differs from the Grand Promerops (E. magnus) of 

 Cuvier (of which I exhibit two specimens for comparison) in several 

 respects. It is about one third less in size ; and instead of being bluish 

 green on the back and tail, the head, wings, and tail of this bird are 

 beautifully illuminated with an amethyst colour ; the plumage is 

 also much thicker and more velvety in texture, probably even more so 

 than any other species of the whole group. The breast is greenish ; 

 and on the chest is a line of indefinite tertiary shades. A line of 

 steel-blue crosses the pectoral plumes, which are otherwise of a deep 

 black. The back in this species is of a plain amethyst shade, and 

 is not marked with spots as in E. magnus. 



The upper mandible is 2 inches long: the entire length from beak 

 to end of tail 22 inches ; whereas E. magnus is often 40 inches. 

 The two gorgeous central feathers of E. ellioti measure 16 inches. 

 Tail-feathers twelve in number, as in E. magnus. 



It is a custom of the natives of New Guinea to dismember their 

 birds when preparing the skins ; and in this specimen the legs and 

 primary feathers are wanting. In general form this bird resembles 

 E. magnus. 



Of the haunts and habits of this bird I regret to say I cannot at 

 present learn any thing. 



The unique specimen referred to in this paper has been added to 

 Mr. Gould's splendid collection, and will, I believe, be figured in 

 his forthcoming work, 'The Birds of New Guinea.' An illustration 

 of this bird by Mr. Wolf will appear in ' Elliot's Birds of Paradise.' 



e *Jn e - 8 » eaVe als ° t0 exhibit a curious parasite taken from the breast 

 of Elliot's Epimachus. In form this creature more resembles a 

 sheep-tick than a bird-louse. I have before now seen similar para- 

 sites, especially on E. magnus. 



I believe the parasites of Birds of Paradise remain as yet unde- 

 scnbed. ' 



6. Extracts from the late Dr. Buchanan's ' Fishes of Bengal/ 



with Remarks. By Surgeon-Major Francis Day. 



[Eeceived October 14, 1873.] 



It is with much pleasure that I am able to inform the Zoological 

 bociety that the long-missing papers of Dr. Buchanan on natural 

 history have at last been discovered, and that I have been permitted 

 to take copies of those relating to the ichthyology of Bengal 



Dr W W. Hunter, the Director-General of Statistics, when leav- 

 ing England this year, was allowed by the Secretary of State for 

 India to bring to this country the twenty-eight volumes of Dr 

 Buchanans original manuscripts which have lain so long m. the 

 India Office, and which contain a detailed account of his statis- 

 tical zoological, and botanical investigations in districts under the 

 Presidency of Bengal between the vears 1803 and 1813 



