IfiS MR. F. K BEDDARD ON THE CUCKOOS. [Feb. 1", 



February 17, 1885. 

 Osbert Salvin, Esq., F.R.S., Vice-President, in tbe Cbair. 



The Secretary made the following report on the additions to the 

 Society's Menagerie during January 188.5 : — 



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

 gerie during the month of January was 81, of which C were by birth, 

 41 by presentation, 22 by purchase, 1 by exchange, and 11 were 

 received on deposit. Tiie total number of departures during the 

 same period, by death and removals, was 100. 



The most noticeable additions during the month were : — 



1 . A female Blacii-and- Yellow Hawfinch {Mycerobas melanoxanthus) 

 from Northern India, and an Andaman Starling (Sturnia andnma- 

 nensis) from the Andaman Islands, purchased January 10th. Both 

 these species are new to the Society's Collection. 



2. A young male European Moose {Alces mac/ilis), presented by 

 Evelyn Hubbard, Esq., January 22nd. Mr. Hubbard informs us 

 that this animal was captured on the Ladoga, Russia, when evidently 

 but just dropped, in June 1884. It has been placed in the Gardens 

 in company with an American specimen of the Moose, purchased in 

 April 1884, so that the two forms of this animal, sometimes supposed 

 to be of ditferent species, may now be seen side by side. 



3. A pair of Yaks {Poephagus grunniens), purchased January 23rd. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. On the Structural Characters and Classification of the 

 Cuckoos. By Frank E. Beddard, M.A., F.R.S.E., 



Prosector to the Society. 



[Received February 17, 1885.] 



The structure of the Cuckoos and their affinities to other birds 

 have been discussed by several writers ; but no one, so far as I am 

 aware, has attempted to indicate the mutual resemblances and 

 differences between the very numerous genera which compose the 

 family, except as regards particular structures : thus Nitzsch ' has 

 pointed out the variations in the disposition of the feather-tracts, and 

 Garrod has classified the Family by the muscles of the thigh ^. In 

 the present paper it will be my endeavour to supply this deficiency so 

 far as the material accessible enables me to do so, and to record those 

 structures which vary in the different genera of Cuckoos, laying 

 particular stress upon such as appear to bear upon the classification 

 of the family. 



1 Pterylograpliy, Eng. Ed. p. 91. ^ q^h papers, p. 220. 



