1l4 MR. P. L. SCLATER ON THE CERVIDE. [ Feb. 24, 
«9. Tanagra cyanoptera.—This bird frequents the to/a-woods. 
They come in small flocks in spring, but are afterwards seen in pairs. 
Its note is low and plaintive. The absence of every colour but blue 
is the most remarkable characteristic of this bird, even its feet and 
bill being almost the same pale blue as the eitire plumage. The 
Tanagra striata is a much more common bird. 
“©10. Stephanophorus leucocephalus (Vieill.).—A very beautiful 
bird; in size, shape, and habits like the last. There is no end to 
the beautiful contrasts of colours in birds; but in few species do 
they present so lovely an appearance as in this, with the uniform 
deep rich Prussian blue of its plumage, and the cap of silvery-white 
feathers with the crimson spot in its centre. It is met with frequently 
in the fo/a-woods in summer. There is nothing remarkable in the 
low, chattering song of the male, often repeated for hours while the 
female is sitting. 
“11. Guiraca glauco-cerulea.—This bird, characterized by its 
thick bill, is much smaller than the last, but resembles it somewhat 
in its dark blue colour and low continuous song. It is a rare bird, 
inhabiting the sayus-swamps, and feeding on the ground on buds 
and seeds. 
“12, Amblyrhamphus holosericeus.—A common bird in sayus- 
swamps, found in flocks and remaining with us all the year. The 
English residents here have called it ‘Chisel-bill,’ from its bill, formed 
for extracting insects from the soft stem of decayed reeds, resembling 
that instrument in shape. Its clear and mellow whistle has also 
won for it the name of ‘ Buellero’ (Ox-driver). All its notes are 
soft, sweet, and flute-like. The plain red of its head and neck, con- 
trasted with the shining black of the other plumage, gives to it a 
striking and beautiful appearance. Its nest is built in the reeds or 
shrubs growing in the water; the eggs are four, pale blue and spotted 
with black ; the young birds are entirely black.” 
Mr. P. L. Sclater read a paper on the Deer of the Old World 
living in the Society’s Menagerie. Amongst these there were stated 
to be examples of several recently described and very little-known 
species, of which coloured drawings were exhibited. 
This paper will be printed in the Society’s ‘ Transactions.’ 
' 
Mr. Sclater then made some remarks on the arrangement of the 
family Cervide, which he proposed to divide, mentioning only their 
most obvious external characters, into eight genera, as follows :— 
Subfam. I. Cervinz. 
Cornua decidua: dentes canini parvi aut nulli. 
a. Rhinarium pilosum. 
Cornuainiutroquesexw). 5 Seeiis ec. il tet ee doth te eee 1. Rangifer. 
Vicsaban PATHUIEDOTBATIG sah URS. Jase. sath acstehnaele 2. Alces. 
}, Rhinarium nudum. 
@. Corns palmMatamatcre acdeck -cpceedes.c+euanae ooaseaceseans 3. Dama, 
2’. Cornua non palmata. 
Canad anprecsensy. eee seeps .Wabes dh. ces enaey ae asdeae 4. Cervus. 
Cauda extusiullay hac. we os ae seaten te owbinnk- See 5. Capreolus. 
