Vol. xli.] 76 



Pak Mat on the Mekong, about 25 miles northwards of 

 Muang Liep ; also in French Laos. 



Since the ' Bulletin ' of 9th November arrived in Kuala 

 Lumpur, Mr. W. J. F. Williamson has sent me four 

 examples of Nigravis herherti from Ban Na Sao and two 

 specimens of S. r. major from Pak Mat. 



The wings of the former [2 S i 2 ? ) measure flattened 

 73, 71, 71, 70 mm. ; the 5th to 8th or 5th to 9th primaries 

 are subequal ; tail, central feathers, 74, 78, 71, 73 — outer- 

 most feathers when unworn 57-60 ; tarsus 25"5, 24, 25, 

 25-5 ; bill from gape 23, 22, 21*5, 22. "Iris brown, bill 

 blue (? plumbeous), feet brown." 



Mr. Baker is surely out of order in not characterizing 

 separately the new genus and species. 



Two females of S. r. major have wings 62"5 and 60 mm. 

 " Iris dull reddish brown, bill black, feet pale pinkish 

 fleshy." 



The new species '"'' Picus ruhricollaris " appears to be either 

 Gecinus rabieri Oustalet (Bull. Mus. d'Hist. Nat. 1898, 

 p. 12 ; Nouv. Arch, du Mus. (4) i. 1899, p. 255, pi. 7), 

 based on two females from Tonkin, or a slightly differ- 

 entiated race. 



Mr. P. F. BuNYARD exhibited a series of twenty-five 

 t3^pical and aberrant clutches of the eggs of the Blackcap, 

 S. atricapilla, to demonstrate the importance of studying 

 varieties, and made the following remarks : — As the type- 

 eggs of most British species are already sufficiently well 

 known, and as their characteristics have been frequently 

 well described and figured, it is now increasingly important 

 that Oologists should turn their attention to a closer study 

 of the varieties and aberrations which frequently occur in 

 the eggs of many species, as I am convinced that from these 

 eggs, and these eggs alone, we shall ultimately wrest from 

 nature her hidden secrets of pigmentation. The study of 

 varieties as an aid to identification is very important, many 

 Oologists are quite unable to identify a variety clutch 

 simply because only the type is known to them. 



