Vol. xxxvi.] 34 



to hand, the expected collections from the Louisiade Islands 

 having not yet reached us. The principal collections which 

 have arrived at the British Museum lately are the Siamese 

 collections of Mr. Kloss and the very important one made 

 by Mr. Butler south of Khartoum. It is of importance to 

 mention here the exploring expedition of Stotzner to the 

 interior of China, the Ornithologist accompanying which is 

 Dr. Wei gold. 



" In apologising for the shortness of this report of the 

 last fourteen months' ornithological progress, I hope, if we 

 live to enjoy another Session, we shall meet under happier 

 conditions and in a restored peace." 



Mr. E. C. Stuakt Baker exhibited two specimens of a 

 new subspecies of Mirafra, for which he proposed the name 



Mirafra assamica marionae, subs p. nov. 



He made the following observations : — 



"The interesting specimens shown form a link between 

 Mirafra assamica and Mirafra microftera, resembling the 

 former most nearly in coloration and the latter in size. 



" From M. assamica it also diifers in being more brown 

 and less grey above and paler below, whilst from M. rnicro- 

 ptera it differs in being grey-brown rather than rufous- 

 brown or sandy brown and, generally, much darker. It has 

 the same ill-defined nuchal markings as are to be found in 

 M. microptera, but these are whitish instead of rufescent. 

 The wing averages about 75*0 mm. or about the same as iu 

 M. microptera as against a full 84 mm. in M. assamica. 



" I name this new Lark after Mrs. Iklarion Williamson, 

 who obtained the specimens. 



" The types are : 



$ . Ayuthia, Central Siam, 8.7.14. 



"These two skins, which are those of a pair killed by 

 the same shot, have been presented to the Museum by 

 Mr. Williamson." . 



