9.". 



February 23, 1858. 



Dr. Grny, F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. 



Mr. Gould brought before the notice of the Society a highly in- 

 teresting series of birds collected by Mr. A. EL. Wallace in the Am<> 

 Islands. Among them were two species of Birds of Paradise — Pa- 

 radisea apoda and P. regia. Hitherto these magnificent birds have 



only been sent to this country in a mutilated condition, their >k in- 

 having been prepared and dried by the Papuans frequently without 

 their wings, and almost always without their legs ; Mr. Wallace's 



skins, however, arc perfect, and in the highest possible condition. 

 They comprise npt only adult males and females, but young birds 

 in various stages of development. Mr. Gould remarked that the 

 ornithology of the Aroo Islands, like that of New Guinea, partook 

 more of the character of the Australian fauna than of any other. 

 The Picidfc (Woodpeckers) and BuceroHdce (Ilornbills), so common 

 in India and the Indian Islands, are totally wanting, while the Me- 

 tiphagidce (Honeyeaters) and the Haley ontdts ( Kingfishers) arc very 

 numerous ; on the other hand, the collection did not contain a single 

 Malurtu, nor any of the Finches — forms represented by numerous 

 species even in the northern parts of Australia. Mr. Gould, in re- 

 marking upon the beautiful plumes which adorn the Paradisecp, 

 stated that he considered they were in their most perfect state just 

 prior to the breeding season, and that the bird was then adorned 

 in its greatest beauty, — a beauty assumed apparently not only for 

 the purpose of attracting the females, but to exhibit to each other 

 their gorgeous finery, when they assemble and perform many curious 

 and extraordinary evolutions. In South America the Cock of the 

 Rock (Iiiipicofa) has many singular habits at the like season, while 

 in Australia the Bower Birds attract every one by the curious struc- 

 tures they make for a similar purpose : Mr. Gould instanced also 

 the Peacock, the Turkey, and the well-known Ruff of the British 

 Islands, as birds which assemble and make such displays. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Notes on some Birds from Southern Mexico. 

 By Philip Lutley Sclater, M.A., F.L.S. 



M. Edouard Verreaux of Paris has lately received a very fine series 

 of birds from the tierra eaUente of Southern Mexico — the I 

 country where the collections made by MM. Salle* and 1 *>■ >t t <-ri. which 

 I have already brought before the notice of this Boci< ty, were formed. 

 He has kindly submitted to my inspection specimens of such of the 



BpecieS BS have nut been included in my former QBtS, Concerning 



which I beg to offer the following remarks, together with ■ feu cor 



reetions of statements made in my previous papers OTJ thi~ BObject. 



