■ XXVI 



The specimens were procured near Tozari in East Java, 

 7000 feet above sea-level, in August and September 1886, by 

 Mr. John Whitehead. 



Mr. Seebohm also made some critical remarks on a recent 

 paper by Mr. Biittikofer on the same group of Thrushes 

 (Notes Leyd. Mus. xv. p. 109), and exhibited the type 

 specimen of Merula papvensis of De Vis, v/hich had been 

 lent to him by the describer for illustration in his forth- 

 coming ' [Monograph of the Turdidte.' 



Mr. Seebohm next exhibited and made remarks upon 

 a new species of Zosterops from East Java, procured by 

 !^^^^ John Whitehead in 1886, which he proposed to call 



Zosterops neglecta, sp. n. 

 Similis Z. palpebrosce, sed magis olivascens, et macula ante- 

 oculari obscuriore distinguenda. 



This makes the sixth species of Zosterops found on the 

 island of Java. 



Dr. Bowdler Shakpe read a paper on the Classification 

 of the Ralliche. He pointed out that the popular division 

 of the family into Rails, Gallinules, and Coots was an un- 

 tenable one, the Coots alone having definite characters for 

 their separation as a subfamily, and that even these characters 

 were approached by those of the Gallinules. It seemed, 

 therefore, best to keep the whole of the Rails together as a 

 family, and not to recognize minor divisions such as those 

 specified. The gradual transition from typical Kails to 

 Crakes (e. g. Eulabeornis — Rallina), and from Crakes to 

 Gallinules {L'unnob<enus and Amuiirornis to Gulliiuila),\\d.ii so 

 marked that it uas impossible to say where the Rails ended 

 and the Crakes began, or where the Crakes ended and the 

 Gallinules began. 



According to Dr. Sharpens views, the Rails were an ar.cieut 

 group of birds, -which were once more numerously distri- 

 buted, especially in the southern hemisphere. ]\Iauy of the 

 surviving representatives of the family, from their isolation 



