862 MR. SCLATER ON A NEST OF THE TIJERETA. [Dec. 3, 



October 28th by Mr. C. E. Bewsher, of Mauritius. This species, 

 which we have never previously received alive, appears to be closely 

 allied to V. indica. 



The total number of registered additions to the Society's Me- 

 nagerie during November 1872 was 54, of which 2 were by birth, 

 17 by presentation, 14 by purchase, 10 by exchange, and 11 were 

 received on deposit. The total number of departures during the 

 same period by death and removals was 76. 



The most noticeable additions were as follows : — 



1 . Two Starred Tortoises {Testudo elegans, Schcepf) from Ceylon, 

 presented by Mr. W. Vincent Legge, R.E., C.M.Z.S., Nov. 2, 

 1872. 



2. A young male Hippopotamus {Hippopotamus amphibius), 

 born November 5th, as already announced*, and now daily increasing 

 in bulk and vigour. 



3. A Nippon Ibis {Ibis nippon, Temm. PI. Col. 551), presented 

 by R. Swinhoe, Esq., F.Z.S., H.B.M. Consul at Ningpo, Nov. 9th, 

 1872. 



4. A Chinese Tree-pie {Dendrocitta sinensis, Lath.), received 

 from the same donor in company with the above. Both these birds 

 are new to the collection. 



5. A Red-fronted Lorikeet, Chalcopsitta scintillata,Temm., pur- 

 chased November 22ud, likewise new to the Society's collection. 



6. A Wied's Aracari, Pteroglossus wiedi, Sturm, purchased No- 

 vember 23rd, likewise new to the Society's collection. 



The Toucans in the Society's Parrot-house now form a beautiful 

 series, illustrating the following species : — Rhamphastos toco, R. 

 vitellinus, R. ariel, R. carinatus, and Pt. wiedi. 



Mr. Sclater exhibited a nest of the Tijereta {Milvulus tyrannus)f, 

 containing one egg of that bird and nine of the parasitic Molothrus 

 bonariensis, and, having called attention to Mr. W. H. Hudson's 

 previous remarks on this subject (P. Z. S. 1870, p. 548 et seq.), 

 read the following communication from the same correspondent 

 respecting this nest and eggs : — 



" I send you a nest of the ' Tijereta,' found last summer on a 

 low thorn tree, and at the extremity of a branch very much exposed 

 to sight. The birds had not forsaken it, but hovered about anxiously 

 when I removed it. I took the eggs out only to blow them, so that 

 you will see the nest with all its contents, just as it was in the tree 

 when I found it. There is in it but one egg of the Milvulus, easily 

 known from its pointed shape, pale cream-colour, and chocolate 

 spots ; the other eggs are all of the Molothrus bonariensis. These 

 eggs were all perfectly fresh ; and as there were none that I could 

 find on the ground beneath the nest, I believe that the Milvulus had 

 as yet laid only one, and that many more eggs would have been laid 



* See antea, pp. 795 & 819. 



t In my Catalogue of American Birds, I have called the southern form of 

 Milindus violenfus (Vieill.), following Bonaparte and Cabanis, but I now con- 

 sider the southern and northern forms specifically inseparable. 



