153 
July 25, 1854. 
John Gould, Esq. F.R.S., in the Chair. 
The following papers were read :— 
1. Descriprion or A New Species OF REGULUS, FROM 
Maperra. By Epwarpv VeRNon Harcourt. 
** Mr. Gould exhibited two specimens of a new spzcies of Regulus, 
from Madeira, belonging to Edward Vernon Harcourt, Esq., and at the 
request of that gentleman gave them the name of Regulus Maderensis. 
Mr. Gould remarked that there could be no doubt of their specific 
value, as they not only differed from all the other European species, 
but from all the known species of the group. The following notes 
from Mr. Harcourt are given in his own words. 
** This bird, which is a true Regulus, differs from all the three Euro- 
pean species ; namely, cristatus, ignicapillus and modestus. It may 
be described as follows :— 
« Recuius MADERENSIS. 
“ Beak black ; forehead white, the white extending backwards and 
forming a small band ; base of the crest black, the crest bright orange, 
differing in this respect from the ignicapillus, the crest of which is 
fiery red; from the beak to the eye a small black band, not extend- 
ing beyond the eye, in which respect it also differs from ignicapillus ; 
upper part of the neck and the whole of the back olive-green, with a 
bright mark of orange-yellow on each side of the neck ; greater wing- 
coverts brownish-black, and tipped with buffy-white, forming a band ; 
primaries brownish-black, with a narrow external edging of green ; 
secondaries similar, but with a broad velvet black mark at the base ; 
tail-feathers brownish-black, tinged with greenish-yellow on the outer 
web; chin and throat white slightly tinged with green; under sur- 
face white tinged with yellowish-green; under wing-coverts white ; 
legs pale brown. 
“Total length, 4 inches; from the carpus to the end of the wing 
2.3,; tarsus, 2. 
‘Believing so small a bird to have but a limited range, and not 
finding it recorded among the birds of the Canary Islands by Webb 
and Berthelot, or among the birds of Africa, I am induced to regard 
it as new, and have ventured to propose for it the name of Regulus 
Maderensis. 
**The sex of the birds I examined was not noted; but from the 
brightness of their colours, which surpassed those of the ignicapillus, 
they were probably males. 
“This species lives in the laurel forest and in the urze (or tree 
heaths) in the northern and more unfrequented parts of the island of 
Madeira. I have frequently seen it on the wing, but could never get 
near enough to hear its voice.” 
