Vol. xxiii.] 6 



there is one objection to it — which is, that, if it becomes law, 

 it must diminish the importation of bird-skins and bird- 

 plumage into this country, and put an end to the plume- 

 auctions in London; but France, Germany, and the Continent 

 generally will not be touched by it. We must therefore 

 do our best not only to get the Bill passed here, but 

 also to urge other countries to adopt a similar measure. 



The Hon. Walter Eothschild exhibited a series of bird- 

 skins collected by himself and Dr. E. Hartert in Algeria, 

 during the winter and early spring of the present year, and 

 made some remarks on them. The majority of these skins 

 had been collected near Biskra, and in the desert within 

 30 or 35 miles south of Biskra. Altogether 374 skins, 

 belonging to 91 different species, were collected. Mr. Roth- 

 schild called special attention to the rare Sylvia nana 

 deserti (Loche), a bird not yet represented in the British 

 Museum. Three examples of this beautiful little Warbler 

 were collected south of Biskra, more than 50 miles north of 

 the spot where it had been first found by Professor Koenig. 

 He also mentioned the rare Sylvia deserticola, Tristr., of 

 which one specimen had been obtained, the series of Larks, 

 the series of Merops persicus saharce, and others. 



The Hon. Walter Rothschild also exhibited and de- 

 scribed a new species of the genus Lioptilus, as follows : — 



Lioptilus rufocinctus, sp. n. 



Adult male and female. Bill yellowish-white, brownish at 

 the base. Lores and crown to the nape black ; sides of 

 head, throat, fore-neck, a ring round neck, and the upper 

 and under tail-coverts cinnamon-rufous ; rest of the upper 

 surface, including the upper wing-coverts, brownish-ashy ; 

 wings blackish -brown ; tail brownish-black; breast and 

 abdomen greyish-brown, more or less washed with pale 

 rufous; under wing-coverts cinnamon-brown. "Iris white 

 or yellowish-white, feet grey.^* Culmen 17 to 18 mm. j 

 wing 09 to 106 ; tail 77 to 78*5 ; tarsus 30-31. 



