Vol. xlii.] 120 



crescentic dark marks on breast ; centre of belly black. 

 Head still in down stage. 



Second feather or Hemiptile plumage. Sexes distinct. 



S above, colouring much as in mesoptile plumage, but 

 feathers more grizzled than barred ; below, the few feathers 

 which are through show that most of the underparts will be 

 pale isabelline with dark markings on the pectoral region. 



? above, colour a little richer than in mesoptile 

 plumage ; the feathers do not show the grizzled appearance 

 of the male, but are more heavily marked with dark bars 

 and broken crescents. 



As in P. senegalensis one specimen may show at the same 

 time parts of all three plumages, and no specimen probably 

 ever shows entirely the mesoptile or entirely the hemiptile 

 plumage. 



The protoptiles of the head are not lost when other parts 

 show the hemiptile plumage already through on the back, 

 and, as the feathers of the head come through late, it is 

 doubtful whether they belong to the mesoptile or hemiptile 

 series. Further specimens are needed to clear up this point. 



The specimens exhibited were obtained by Sir Percy Cox 

 and Major R. E. Cheesman near Baghdad in 1921. 



For comparison, chicks in down of P. alcliata and P. sene- 

 galensis were exhibited, also mounted feathers showing the 

 generations of feathers in both sexes, as also in Game birds 

 as exemplified by Alectoris rufa and in Pigeons by Columha 

 cenas, and it was remarked that in these moults Sand-Grouse 

 closely followed Game-birds and not Pigeons, in which 

 either the mesoptile or hemiptile plumage was apparently 

 suppressed. 



Dr. C. B. TiCEHURST also exhibited the young in down, 

 immature and adult, of Phalacrocorax nigrogularis Forbes & 

 Grant : — 



This interesting and " rare " Cormorant was described by 

 Messrs. Forbes and Grant from Socotra (see ' Birds of 

 Socotra,' p. 49), where it was discovered on December 7th. 



