201 



cies thus seem to form only one group, divisible however into still 

 smaller sections from the presence or absence of wings, and form and 

 colouring of the elytra ; the Australian species stands alone ; and the 

 New-World species constitute the four following subgenera : — 



Ammosia, Westw. Type, M. bifasciata, Brulle. 



, Westw. Type, M. testudinea. King. 



Anaira, Hope. Type, M. sepulchralis, Fabr. 

 Tetracha, Westw. Type, M. Carolina, Linn. 



Julys, 1851. 



In consequence of the death of the President, no meeting was held 

 on this day. 



July 22, 1851. 



John Edward Gray, Esq., F.R.S. &c., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. On the largest known species of Phaleridine Bird. 

 By Charles Lxjcien, Prince Bonaparte. 



(Aves, PI. XLIV.) 



Among the new additions lately made to the British Museum I was 

 struck by one of the Alcidce, which I had never seen before, and 

 which was very properly placed close by two beautiful specimens of 

 my singular Ceratorrhina, also lately added to the zoological treasures 

 of the English nation. The bird which is the subject of the present 

 note is evidently the Labrador Awk of Latham, so miscalled from 

 the erroneous impression that it came from those eastern shores of 

 America, but too well described not to be recognized. Gmelin com- 

 piled his Alca labradora from the description of Latham, and all 

 those who did not follow him blindly, have referred that indication 

 to an immature state of the Razor-bill (Mormon arctica), a course in 

 which they were led by geographical consideration only. Although 

 our bird belongs to the family of the Alcidce, it is not even an Alcine, 

 as the Razor-bill, but, as is shovni by the nakedness of the cere, it 

 belongs to the other subfamily, or Phaleridine, of which it is at pre- 

 sent the largest known. 



