368 PROF. MIVART ON THE SKELETON OF PELECANUS. (Apr. 17, 
sime flavis: rostro et pedibus nigerrimis. Long. tota. 9:0, ale 
4:0, caude 3:5, tarsi 1, dig. post. sine ungue °5, rostri a rictu *9. 
Hab. Costa Rica (H. Rogers). 
Mr. H. Rogers, who is now in Costa Rica collecting objects of 
natural history, shortly after his arrival in that country sent home a 
box, chiefly of insects, but with them four bird-skins, one of which 
is the remarkable individual which I exhibit to-night. That it 
belongs to an undescribed genus there can be little doubt ; that it is 
a member of the family Ampelidee is perhaps not so certain. The 
presence of a large first primary shows its position amongst the true 
Oscines ; but the comparative narrowness of the gape, feeble bill, the 
longer and stouter tarsi than is usual in Ampelide, and the fact of the 
front of the tarsus being covered by a single scute suggest that the 
bird may prove to be an aberrant member of the family Turdide. 
The wing-formula is quite that of Ptilogonys, to which genus the 
glossy plumage and some of the characteristics of the coloration 
suggest an affinity ; and these characters have induced me to place 
Phainoptila for the present near Ptilogonys in the family Ampelicz. 
May lst, 1877. 
Prof. Newton, F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. 
Mr. Howard Saunders exhibited and made remarks on some nests 
and eggs of the Orphean Warbler (Sylvia orphea) from the vicinity 
of Malaga, Spain. Amongst the eggs in each nest were one or two 
of larger size, which were supposed to be possibly eggs of the Cuckoo. 
Mr. Saunders also exhibited two skins of Dupont’s Lark (dlauda 
duponti) from the same locality. 
Prof. Mivart, F.R.S., read a memoir on the axial skeleton of the 
Pelecanide, selecting Pelecanus as his type and standard of compa- 
rison. Prof. Mivart first compared Pelecanus, as regards its axial 
skeleton, with Struthio and the other Struthionide, and then com- 
pared the other Steganopodes with it and with one another. 
This memoir will be published in the Society’s ‘ Transactions.’ 
The following papers were read :— 
* 
