2 MR. P. L. SCLATER ON CHRYSOTIS BODINI. [Jan. 18i 



Simpson, and received December 25th. This is an important 

 acquisition, as the only other specimen we possess of this huge 

 animal is the male presented by the late Arthur Grote, Esq., F.Z.S., 

 which has lately shoivn serious symptoms of old age. 



Mr. F. "W. Styan, F.Z.S., placed on the table for exhibition a 

 collection of eggs of Chinese birds, which he had made in the 

 vicinity of Kinkiang and Shanghai. The collection contained 

 clutches of the eggs of Cyanopolius cyunus, Chibia hottentotta, 

 Acridotheres cristatellus, Corvus torquatus, Munia acuticauda, 

 Rhynchcea capensis, Hydrophasianus chirurgus, Gallicrex cristatus, 

 Ardetta Jlavicollis, Anas zonorhyncha, and Podiceps minor. 



Mr. Howard Saunders, F.Z.S., called attention to a specimen of 

 the Mediterranean Black-headed Gull (Larus melanocepkalus), shot 

 on Breydon Water, near Great Yarmouth, on the 26th December, 

 1886, and sent up for exhibition by Mr. G. Smith of that town. Mr. 

 Saunders remarked that the bird was an adult in winter plumage 

 {i.e. without the black nuptial hood), as indicated by the primaries 

 being of a pure white, except a narrow black streak on the outer web 

 of the first primary, a coloration which distinguishes the adult of this 

 species from any other Gull of the Hooded group. An immature 

 example of the same bird, said to have been shot near Barking 

 Creek, on the lower Thames, in January 1866, was in the British 

 Museum ; and there could be little doubt of the correctness of its 

 history, which Mr. Saunders had given in 'The Ibis,' 1872, p. 79, 

 and in the fourth edition of ' Yarrell's British Birds,' vol. iii. 

 p. 605. The somewhat restricted breeding-area of L. tnelano- 

 cephalus was known to extend from the Black Sea along the Medi- 

 terranean to the south-west coast of Spain outside the Straits of 

 Gibraltar. Mr. Saunders had also reason for believing that this 

 species breeds on the shores of France south of the Gironde; it 

 undoubtedly frequented that coast up to Bordeaux in winter, and 

 MM. Marmotton and Vian had stated that an example taken at Le 

 Crotoy, in Normandy, on the 28th of November, 1878, was in the col- 

 lection of the former. South-westerly gales, such as prevailed in 

 December, would easily bring a straggler to our shores. 



Mr. Sclater exhibited a skin of the rare Amazon Parrot, Chrysotis 

 bodini of Finsch (P. Z. S. 1873, p. .569, pi. xlix.), brought by Mr. 

 W. L. Sclater, F.Z.S., from British Guiana. 



The specimen had been obtained alive from a settler on the 

 Amacuru River, British Guiana, by Mr. E. F. im Thurn, in October 

 last, and kept for some tim^e living at Maccasseema, his residence 

 on the Pomeroon. This Parrot was stated to be known to the 

 Warrau Indians of the Amacuru district as the " Toua-toua," and 

 to be found wild in the mountainous district of the Upper Amacuru. 

 It was considered by the Indians to be rather a rare bird, and was 

 much valued for its talking proclivities. 



