1872. 1 MR. P. I,. SCLATER ON A CEYLONESE BIRD. 72!) 



Wagner. Of this species we have once before received a single spe- 

 cimen (see P. Z. S. 187 1, p. 223). 



2. A female Douroucouli, purchased of the same dealer, May 7th, 

 which, so far as I can tell from the examination of the living animal, 

 belongs to the species recently described by me (anted, p. 3) as Nyc- 

 tipithecus rufipes. 



3. Five Spotted-billed Ducks (Anas pacilorhyncha), presented, 

 May 16, by Mr. E. Buck, of the Indian Civil Service. We have had 

 two males of this fine Duck in our Gardens for four years, but, al- 

 though I have applied to many of our excellent Indian correspondents 

 on the subject, have never previously succeeded in obtaining females. 

 Mr. Buck's kind present has supplied us with specimens of this sex ; 

 so that we may hope to induce the species to breed with us. 



4. Two male Argus Pheasants (Argus giganteus), presented to the 

 Society by Mr. J. G. Fanshawe, F.Z.S., May 28th. 



The first specimen of the Argus Pheasant received alive by the 

 Society was that brought back by the late Mr. Hugh Cuming, on 

 his return to this country from the Philippine Islands in June, 1840, 

 which lived several years in the Gardens. 



In October last year, however, Messrs. Smith, Fleming, and Co. 

 deposited in the Society's care a pair of this magnificent bird, and a 

 second pair in January last. Of these the two hens are still living 

 in our aviaries ; so that at the present time we have two pairs 

 of Argus Pheasants in the Gardens. 



Mr. Sclater exhibited a pair of Ceylonese birds which had been 

 sent home to him for examination by Mr. W. Vincent Legge, K.A., 

 F.Z.S., with the following description : — 



"Male. Length 4-^"; tail 1-2"; wing 2 -3"; tarsus '5"; mid toe 

 with claw *5", hind toe ■^ s "; bill to gape %%", at front nfearly -4". 

 Third primary longest, slightly longer only than second. 



" Descr. Iris reddish ; bill, upper mandible black, lower mandible 

 lightish at the base ; legs and feet blackish brown ; entire head (ex- 

 cept the chin and throat), hind neck, back, rump, and lesser wing- 

 coverts dull steel-blue, palest on the rump, and with the bases of 

 the feathers dark ; quills blackish brown, the basal portion of inner 

 webs, with the under wing- coverts, white ; tertiaries, greater wing- 

 coverts, and tail black, the former edged with the hue of the upper 

 surface, the latter with the three outer feathers white towards the 

 tip, the colour extending a little up the shaft on inner web, the next 

 two with a small terminal white spot ; chin, throat, and chest white, 

 below which the under surface is saffron-yellow, paling at the vent ; 

 under tail-coverts white, edged pale yellow. 



"Female. Length 4-1"; wing 2-//; tail M". Bill slightly lighter 

 in hue than <$ ; legs, feet, and iris the same as <$ ; head and hind 

 neck faded bluish ashen, centres of feathers dark ; back olivaceous 

 brown ; secondaries and wing-coverts brown, edged with olivaceous ; 

 quills lighter than in the male ; sides of neck and chest ashy beneath, 

 paler yellow than the male, mingled with grey on the flanks ; tail 

 brownish black. 



