324 THE SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MEIS-AGEBIE. [Apr. 16, 



apteria of Gaprimulgus being very different from the characters 

 of either of the other two. The median dorsal apterion is common 

 to the three, and the general arrangement on the back is otherwise 

 not so different as is that of the neck, or rather the difference is 

 more one of degree ; for the broad saddle of the Humming-bird 

 includes the lumbar and femoral tracts of Co^ZocaZm, and the apterion 

 between is in part occupied by scattered feathers in the Goat- 

 sucker. 



As an instance of the great divergence of characters to be found 

 in certain groups often more or less closely approximated to the 

 Macrochires, under such names as Picarice or Coraciiformes, we may 

 take the Kingfisher, than which it would be scarcely possible to find 

 a bird whose pterylosis, at least, is in more striking contrast with 

 those above described. The nearly complete and close feathering 

 of the head, the junction of the occipital feathers with those of the 

 strong posterior cervical tract, the separation of the latter from 

 the dorsal tract, the numerous secondaries, the close feathering of 

 the patagium — all these and other differences contrive to form 

 a strong and evident contrast. 



On the balance of evidence, I am inclined to think that the 

 facts of pterylosis, so far as they go, tend to justify the association 

 of the Hamming-birds with the Goatsuckers and Swifts, and, if 

 anything, to bring them somewhat nearer to the former than 

 the latter of the last two. But I am bound to confess that the 

 evidence is confused and the judgment far from clear. There are 

 many resemblances and many differences, and we are not yet in a 

 position to decide what proportion of weight several characters 

 deserve. 



April 16, 1901. 

 Howard Saunders, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The Secretary read the following report on the additions to the 

 Society's Menagerie during the month of March 1901 : — 



The total number of registered additions to the Society's Mena- 

 gerie during the month of March was 106, of which 33 were made 

 by presentation and 34 by purchase, 37 were received on deposit 

 and 2 in exchange. The total number of departures during the 

 same period, by death and removals, was 160. 



Amongst the additions special attention may be called to a 

 male Tasmanian Wolf {Thylacinus cynocephalus) , received in ex- 

 change on March 19th, this animal having now become extremely 

 scarce and seldom seen in captivity. 



I may also call attention to the Indian birds presented to us on 

 March 8th by Mr. E. W. Harper, E.Z.S., of Calcutta, nearly all of 

 which are new to the Society's series. 



