322 MR. p. L. SCLATER ON A NEW PHEASANT. [Apr. 21, 



species, their present geographical distribution becomes less puzzling ; 

 otherwise we should expect a priori that the eastern form would differ 

 more from the two others than these do from each other. Moreover, 

 since it rarely happens that two large species of a certain order or 

 family of creatures inhabit the same tracts of country unless they do 

 so through immigration, it is probable that the original home of 

 Rh. americana was Central South America, and that it spread from 

 there into regions occupied by Rh. darwini. 



April 21, 1885. 

 Prof. Flower, LL.D., V.P.R.S., President, in the Chair. 



The Secretary read the following report on the additions to the 

 Society's Menagerie during the month of March 1885 : — 



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

 gerie during the month of March was 94, of whicii 3 were by 

 birth, 35 by presentation, 35 by purchase, 4 were received on deposit, 

 and 17 by exchange. The total number of departures during the 

 same period, by death and removals, was 114. 



The most noticeable additions during the month of March were 

 as follows : — 



J. A female Roan Kangaroo {Macropus eruhescensY , being the 

 third specimen of this Kangaroo acquired by the Society, and the 

 first of the female sex. During the present month we have, 

 singularly enough, acquired a second female specimen of the same 

 animal, along with other Kangaroos, in exchange from the Zoological 

 and Acclimatization Society of Victoria, Melbourne. 



2. Six "Wattled Starlings {Bilophus carunculatus) from South 

 Africa, purchased March 20th and 27th. These are the first 

 examples we have received of this curious Starling, which is 

 remarkable for the extreme development of the wattles in the adult 

 male. We have specimens believed to be of both sexes, but all are 

 in immature dress at present. 



3. Two Cape Colies {Colius capensis), purchased March 2flth. 

 These are the first examples of this Coly yet received ; they have 

 been placed in the Parrot House along with the specimens of two 

 other species of the same genus recently acquired, viz. C. erythromelon 

 and C. nigricollis. 



Mr. Sclater exhibited specimens of a pair of Pheasants from Bala 

 Murghab, Northern Afghanistan, belonging to H.R.H. the Prince 

 of Wales. Mr. Sclater was inclined to refer this bird to Ph. insigiiis, 

 Elliot (P. Z.S. 1870, p. 404, and Mon. Ph. vol. ii. pi. 3), of which 

 the true locality (unknown to Mr. Elliot) was thus established. 

 Mr. Elliot's skins were without heads, but Mr. Elliot had correctly 



' Cf. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 21 0, pi. X., and p. S6S ; P. Z. S. 1871, p. 240. 



