322 MESSRS. SCLATKR AND SALVIN [May 28, 



" Comparing it mentally with fragments of another fish of the 

 same genus which reached me from Simon's Bay, I should say it 

 was a second species found on this coast ; the former was not nearly 

 so broad, and yet of equal length. I cannot identify it with either 

 G. ascanii, G. hawkenii, or Russel's Gymnetrus, descriptions of 

 which are in Shaw. It is probably G. capensis, Cuvier (Hist, des 

 Poissons, vol. x. p. 376). That was described from an imperfect 

 specimen ; but Cuvier says it much resembles his G. gladius, a figure 

 of which is given (No. 298). My fish does resemble it ; but the 

 caudal extremity is different, and so are the markings. I therefore 

 offer the accompanying sketches and description to the Zoological 

 Society. The hard bony plates of the head and the dorsal filaments 

 of G. gladius are very like those of my fish. 



" I am, Sir, yours &c., 



"E. L. La YARD." 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Descriptions of New or little-known American Birds of 

 the Families Fringillidce , Oxyrhamphidce , Bucconidte, and 

 Striffidte. By P. L. Sclater, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., and 

 OsBERT Salvin, M.A., F.L.S., &c. 



(Plate XXIX.) 



1. Tevcmx notosticta, sp. nov. 



Supra fuscescenfi-cinerea, interscapulio et alarum tectrieibus 

 distincte nigro siriatis : pileo medio cinereo, utriwpie rufes- 

 centi-brunneo nigro striato : superci/iis et oculorum ambitu 

 albis : alis et cauda nigricanti-cinereis, plumarum marginibiis 

 dilutioribus, secundariis extus brunnescente limbatis : subtus 

 alba, cinereo, prcecipue in pectore et luteribus, lavata ; ventre 

 medio et crisso dilute cinnamomeis : striga mentali utrinque 

 nigricante : rostro nigro : pedibus Jlavicantibus : long, tota 

 6'5, alee 27, caudce 3, tarsi 0'7 poll. Angl. 

 Hub. in Mexico meridionali (Boucard) . 



Obs. Similis P. boucardi, sed pilei lateribus rufescenti-brunneis 

 nigro striatis, et interscapulio nigro distincte strigato diversa. 

 Mus. Salvino-Godmannico. 



M. Boucard's recent collections from the States of Puebla and 

 Mexico contained a single skin of the present species, which, 

 although very closely allied to P. boucardi, is certainly distinct, and 

 may be easily recognized by the characters pointed out above. 



In the single specimen obtained the bill is black ; but this may be 

 a seasonal character. The wings are rather longer than in P. bou- 

 cardi, the fourth primary being longest and slightly exceeding the 

 third and fifth, which are equal. The first primary is 0""4 shorter 

 than the fourth. 



We are acquainted with five species of Peuccea, which we divide 



