764 ON BIRDS FROM THE ATRECK VALLEY. [Dec. 16, 



purchased November 14th. This bird was in the uniform brown 

 down plumage of the first year when it arrived, but has now nearly- 

 thrown off that dress, and attained the ordinary feathering. It is 

 said to have been captured at Staten Island, Tierra del Fuego. 



Mr. T. Jeffery Parker read a paper on the Intestinal Spiral Valve 

 in the genus Raia. Mr. Parker showed that there were four types 

 of valves exhibited in individuals of that genus, differing from one 

 another in morphological characters, in the extent of absorption- 

 surface presented to the food, and in the resistance offered to the 

 passage of food. _ 



This paper will be printed entire in the Society's 'Transactions. 



Mr. Seebohm exhibited a small collection of birds made by Capt. 

 the Hon. G. C. Napier in the valley of the Atreck river which flows 

 into the Caspian Sea not far north of Asterabad, and form3 the 

 boundary line between Russia and Persia. The species were as 

 follows : — 



Falco cenchris, Cuv. 



Coracias garrulus, Linn. 



Pratincola caprata, Linn. [This species has not hitherto been 

 found further west than Baluchistan, though it ranges eastward as 

 far as the islands of the Malay archipelago. — II. £.] 



Ember iza luteola, Lath. [Not hitherto found west of Turke- 

 stan.] 



Emberiza hortulana, Linn. ( $ ). 



Hypolais caligata, Licht. 



Cypselus melba (Linn.). Shot on 12th April, flying in company 

 with the Common Swift, at 3000 feet elevation. 



Pterocles alchata (Linn.) Shot near Teheran, 26th September, 

 at 4800 feet elevation. 



Glareola pratincola (Linn.). Shot 10th May. 



Botaurus stellaris (Linn.). 



(Edicnemus scolopax (Gmel.). Shot 26th April at 3000 feet 

 elevation. 



Plegadis falcinellus (Linn.). Shot 26th May. 



Phalaropus hyperboreus, Linn. Shot 25th May. [Doubtless on 

 migration towards its breeding-grounds in the valley of the Petchora, 

 where it arrives during the first or second week of June. — H. S.~] 



Mr. Sclater exhibited a small collection of birds from the island 

 of Montserrat, West Indies, which had been prepared and kindly 

 sent to him for examination by Mr. J. E. Sturge, of Plymouth, 

 Montserrat. 



As nothing was yet known of the ornithology of Montserrat, 

 Mr. Sclater thought it desirable to record the names of the species. 



