410 MR. P. L. SCLATER ON A GREATER VASA PARROT. [Jlllie 17, 



JEurynorhynchus pygmceus. — Two examples of this very rare Wader 

 obtained at Yokohama are interesting. 



Mr. Sclater exhibited the deciduous knob of the culmen of the 

 beak of the Rough-billed Pelican (Pelecanus trachyrhynchus), pur- 

 chased July 3rd, 1883 (see P. Z. S. 1883, p. 463, pi. xlvi.), which had 

 been shed by the bird in the autumn, and called attention to the fact 

 that, on coming into breeding-plumage again this summer, the bird 

 had grown another knob, which it still carried, although the knob 

 was no longer erect, but had turned over on the side. 



This confirmed the observations of the American ornithologists 

 on the same bird 1 . 



Mr. Sclater called attentionto a very singular habit of one of 

 the Greater Vasa Parrots (Coracopsis vasa), as observed in the 

 Society's Gardens. 



Two of these Parrots, believed to be a pair (one presented by Mrs. 

 Moon, May 11, 1866, and the other by Mrs. King, March 29, 1882), 

 had been for some time kept together in one large cage in the 

 Parrot-house. 



One of these birds, it was not known certainly which of the two, 

 but believed to be the female, had the habit of producing from its 

 cloaca a mass of dark flesh-coloured substance about 6 inches long 

 and 4 inches in breadth, and of drawing it in again, after exposing it 

 for several minutes. 



This phenonemon had been witnessed on several occasions by the 

 keeper of the Parrot-house, by Mr. Bartlett the Superintendent, who 

 had kindly prepared a rough sketch of the object, by Mr. Clarence 

 Bartlett, and others. 



The bird appeared to be in perfect health ; and the only suggestion 

 Mr. Sclater could make on the subject was that part of the membranous 

 lining of the cloaca in this bird was capable of being blown out in 

 periods of sexual excitement, like the bladder in the neck of the 

 Adjutant (Leptoptilus), and the wattles in the neck of the Tragopans. 



The Head- keeper, Benjamin Misselbrook, had stated that he 

 recollected the same occurrence taking place in the case of a Greater 

 Vasa Parrot in the Society's collection some thirty years ago. 



The following papers were read : — 



i Cf. Baird, Ibis, 1869, p. 350; Ridgw. Orn. 40tli Parallel, p. 627 (1877) ; Goss, 

 ' Rod and Gun,' June 12, 1875 (p. 167) ; Brewer, ' Rod and Ohm,' June l'J, 1875 

 (p. 194) ; Bendire, Pr. Bost. Soc. N. H. six. p. 146 (last three references kindly 

 furnished by Mr. Ridgway).— P. L. S. 



