78 
objects of his own ornithological ambition, but that until within the 
last few years no naturalist had visited it. The splendid collection 
sent by Mr. Hauxwell, of which the birds exhibited to the Meet- 
ing formed a part, fully bore out the anticipations entertained by 
Mr. Gould, that when explored it would prove one of the richest 
and most interesting ornithological districts with which we are ac- 
quainted. 
Amongst the birds exhibited were some Cotingas, differing from 
the ordinary species found in the lower countries of Brazil, and 
remarkable from the splendour of their colouring, together with spe- 
cies of Pheenicercus, Rhamphocelus, &c., of the most dazzling bril- 
liancy. As a contrast to these, Mr. Gould exhibited a series of dull- 
coloured Thamnophili, also contained in this collection, and remarked 
that this striking difference in the coloration of birds inhabiting the 
same locality was due almost entirely to their different degrees of 
exposure to the sun’s rays; the brilliantly coloured species being 
inhabitants of the edges of the forests, where they fly about amongst 
the highest branches of the trees, whilst the others form a group of 
short-winged insectivorous birds, which inhabit the low scrub in the 
heart of the dense humid jungle, where the sun’s rays can rarely, 
if ever, penetrate. 
Mr. Gould also remarked, that the colours of the more brilliant 
species from the banks of the Ucayali, a district situated towards the 
centre of the South American continent, were far more splendid than 
those of the species representing them in countries nearer to the sea, 
and from this circumstance he took occasion to observe that birds 
from the central parts of continents were always more brilliantly 
coloured than those inhabiting insular or maritime countries. This 
rule applies equally to birds of the same species, the Tits of Central 
Europe being far brighter in colour than British specimens. Mr. 
Gould had observed that the like difference existed between spe- 
cimens of the same species inhabiting Van Diemen’s Land and the 
continent of Australia. He attributed this principally to the greater 
density and cloudiness of the atmosphere in islands, and countries 
bordering the sea; and in further illustration of the influence of 
light upon colour, he stated, that the dyers of this country are never 
able to produce tints equal in brilliancy to those obtained by their 
continental rivals, and that in England they never attempt to dye 
scarlets in cloudy weather. 
The following papers were then read :— 
1. DEscRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF RUTICILLA FROM 
Erzreroum. By Joun Goutp, F.R.S. erc. 
RUTICILLA ERYTHROPROCTA, Gould. 
Forehead black; crown of the head clouded silvery-grey ; back, 
shoulders, throat, chest, and the upper part of the abdomen, jet- 
black ; lower part of the abdomen, upper and under tail-coverts dull 
red ; tail-feathers dull red, except the two middle ones, which are 
