1871] LETTER FROM DR. BROWN. 39 



same species is again figured as Aquila impertalis $ ; and this has 

 been the probable source of the error. So far bifasciata is a very 

 good name for the Indian bird. The young bird of this species was 

 obtained by Mr. Tristram near Lebanon, its most western known 

 occurrence. 



" I may remark that there is a great difference in the cry of these 

 two species, that of A. neevioides being a yelp, whereas that of A. 

 impertalis is a hoarse bark, not unlike that of the adult Great Black- 

 backed Gull (Larus marinus). 



" Major Irby first drew my attention to these Eagles ; and an exa- 

 mination of Lord Lilford's birds, and of the sterna of many of 

 these birds now on the table, confirmed the views which he suggested. 

 For the loan of the sterna I have to thank Prof. Newton. 



" Seeing that these two species run so close, it is impossible to say 

 what many of the isabelliue-coloured birds in Spanish museums may 

 be ; but at least we have one authentic specimen of A. neevioides 

 here. I have hitherto no knowledge of its breeding in Spain, though 

 I think it not improbable. 



" Like some better ornithologists than myself, I at one time confused 

 A. neevioides with A. clanga, a specimen of which I now exhibit to 

 show how totally distinct they are, the affinities of the latter being 

 with A. ncevia, of which it appears to be little more than a larger race. 



"The peculiarity in A. neevioides -whew adult is that the feathers are 

 half of one colour, half of another ; but in the young this is not so." 



Mr. J. E. Harting, F.Z.S., exhibited and made remarks on a spe- 

 cimen of the so-called Sabine's Snipe (Scolopax sabini) in the flesh, 

 recently killed. This bird was usually regarded as a melanoid variety 

 of the Common Snipe (Galfinago gallinulti) ; but Mr. Harting was 

 not quite certain whether this view was correct. 



Mr. Sclater exhibited a typical example of Ateles variegatus, 

 Wagner (Saugeth. v. p. 78), collected on the Sena de Cocoi, on the 

 Upper Rio Negro, by the late Johann Natterer, on the 9th of 

 February 1831, which he had received in exchange from the Impe- 

 rial Cabinet of Vienna, and pointed out its unquestionable identity 

 with A. bartletti of Gray, as already stated by him (P. Z. S. 1871, 

 p. 6G8, and Ann. Nat. Hist. ser. 3, vol. vi. p. 4/2). 



Some extracts were read from a letter addressed to the Secretary 

 by Dr. R. Brown, of Campster, F.R.G.S., concerning the best me- 

 thod of destroying poisonous Serpents, in reference to the discussion 

 at the last Meeting upon this subject. Mr. Brown suggested the 

 introduction of domestic Pigs into localities infested by Serpents, and 

 stated that the plan had been successful in various parts of America 

 where he had resided. 



" For instance, no locality in the State of Oregon was more the 

 haunt of the deadly Rattlesnake (Crotalus lucifer) than the valle\s 

 of Columbia River — a localitv well known to all readers of the 



