324 DR. H. DOHRN ON THE BIRDS OF PRINCE'S ISLAND. [June 12, 



cit. p. 110), though it is perhaps hardly distinct from the Peruvian 

 P. unicofor. But looking at the bill of Spodiornis, with its perfectly 

 straight culmen and gonys, it would, I think, be impossible to place 

 this little bird otherwise than in the neighbourhood of Conirostrum. 

 There can be no doubt, however, to my mind, of the close connexion 

 of the Ccerebidce with the Tanagridce, and through them with the 

 Fringillidee. 



June 12, 1866. 



Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. 



Mr. A. D. Bartlett made some observations on the singular bird 

 of prey described by Mr. J. H. Gurney on the 14th of November, 

 1865, before the Society under the name Stringonyx andersso?ii*, 

 and suggested its identity with the Machaerhamphus alcinus of 

 Westerman, Bijdr. t. d. Dierk. i. p. 29. Mr. Westerman had given 

 the locality of this bird as " Malacca," which had, no doubt, pre- 

 vented Mr. Gurney from recognizing it in a specimen coming from 

 Damaraland. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Synopsis of the Birds of Ilha do Principe, with some Re- 

 marks on their Habits and Descriptions of New Species. 

 By Dr. H. Dohrn, C.M.Z.S. 



(Plate XXXIV.) 



Two of the islands in the Bight of Benin have been pretty well 

 explored by ornithologists. Mr. Fraser has given large accounts of 

 the birds of Fernando Po ; and during several years' stay in San 

 Thome, Mr. Weiss has collected a number of birds sufficient to show 

 the peculiarities of the ornithological fauna of that island. During 

 six months' stay in Ilha do Principe I have collected birds, and notes 

 upon their habits, which, I hope, will not be without interest, the 

 more because this island forms an intermediate link between the 

 two above-mentioned localities. 



It seems to me the most remarkable feature in the fauna of Ilha do 

 Principe is that not a single bird of prey exists on the island, whilst 

 they are abundant on the two other islands and on the nearest part of 

 the continent. I saw hundreds of Milvus parasitus in San Thome; 

 Gypohierax angolensis and some other species are not uncommon in 

 Fernando Po ; but the whole tribe avoids Principe. The inhabitants 



* See P.Z. S. 1865, p. 618. 



