86 DR, p. L. SCLATER ON A NEW MALACOPTILA. [Feb. 25, 



by the natives. The eggs are deposited by the birds in the sand 

 about the borders of a large lake of brackish water situated in the 

 middle of the island (evidently an extinct crater, as the soil in which 

 the eggs are deposited consists of sulphureous sand), and are hatched 

 by the heat generated in the mound, as in all the MegapodidtB. In 

 Nua Fou Island the birds and eggs are, I am informed, under the 

 protection of the king, and can only be procured by his permission. 

 I have seen the same kind of eggs from the New Hebrides group. 

 Captain McLeod has promised, on his return to the island in a few 

 weeks, to procure me some of the birds alive or dead, when I shall 

 be able to send you more accurate accounts." 



The following papers were read : — 



1. On A New Species of Malacoptila from Western 

 Ecuador. By P. L. Sclater, M.A,, Phil.D., F.R.S., 

 Secretary to the Society. 



(Plate VIII.) 



A re-examination of my specimens of birds of the family Bucconidce 

 mduces me to believe that I have confounded under the name Mala- 

 coptila panamensis (Lafr.), which I assigned to a series of examples 

 of this genus collected at Esmeraldas by Mr. Fraser, two species. 

 One of them may probably be the true M. panamensis of Lafresnaye, 

 though this must remain rather uncertain until the original of La- 

 fresnaye' s description shall have been accurately compared with it ; 

 the other I propose to call 



Malacoptila poliopis, sp. nov. (PI. VIII.) 



Cinerascenti-fusca, dorso toto et alarum tectricibus maculis tri- 

 angularibus albidis distincte notatis; pileo et facie cinereis; 

 fronte loris et plmnis mystacalibus pure albis, his cinereo partim 

 mixtis; laterum eervicis plumarum scapis elongate albido lineo- 

 latis: subtus alba, pectore toto pallide fulvo; ventre summo et 

 lateribus cinerascenti-brunneo variegatis : rectricibus et remi- 

 gibus dare nigricanti-brunneis ; caudce, ipsa immaculata, apice 

 pallidiore, fulvescente : rostro plumbeo, mand. inf. in una spe- 

 cimine ad basin Jlavida: pedibus fusco-nigris : tectr. subalaribus 

 pallide fulvis. 

 Long, tota 7*0 ; alse 3*5 ; caudse 2'8 ; rostri a rictu 1*4 poll. Angl. 

 et dec. 



Hab. in reg. litt. reipublicse ^quatorialis, Esmeraldas (Fraser'). 

 Mr. Fraser procured two examples of this species when at Esme- 

 raldas ; and, as they are both marked females, I was induced to be- 

 lieve they might be referable to that sex of M. panamensis of which 

 (or of a species which I have referred to this name) he procured 

 several examples. I am now convinced that these two examples 

 cannot be referred to M. panamensis, that species being wholly of a 

 rich reddish brown above, and having a deep ferruginous chest and 

 a much larger amount of white on the frontal plumes. This bird is. 



