XXX 



inhabiting the North and South Islands respectively; Dr. 

 Sliarpe maintained that it would be perfectly impossible to say 

 to which of these species the young birds belonged. After 

 comparing two of Mr. Reischek''s South-Island specimens 

 in the Rothschild collection, supposed by Sir Walter BuUer 

 to be the true 0. earli, with the series of so-called 0. greyi 

 from the North. Island, Dr. Sharpe admitted his inability to 

 separate them even as races. With regard to 0. australis 

 the question of races was much more difficult, and at first 

 sight it would appear that two well-defined forms could be 

 distinguished — one a sandy-tinted bird_, and the other a 

 cinnamon-tinted one. Between these two, however, there 

 appeared to be every possible link and gradation of colour; 

 so that it was impossible to define any races or subspecies. 

 Sir Walter BuUer, in his second edition, had indeed hinted 

 that altitude and locality had something to do with the 

 variations in plumage ; but the want of labels and definite 

 localities in the specimens of the Buller collection prevented 

 Dr. Sharpe from drawing any satisfactory conclusion. 



While speaking of the genus Ocydromus, Dr. Sharpe 

 remarked that the so-called OcAjdromus sylvestris, Sclater, 

 from Lord Howe Island, was not an Ocydroums in his 

 opinion, but a Cabahis, congeneric with Cabalas diefftnhachi 

 from the Chatham Islands, and should therefore be called 

 Cabalus syJcestris. 



'y.lv. Seeijohm made remarks ou the Geographical Distri- 

 bution of British Birds, recognizing -101 species and 13 sub- 

 • species as having more or less claim to be admitted lo the 

 list. 



The next Dinner will take place on February' 15th, at the 

 Restaurant Frascati (Krasnopolsky), 3.^* Oxford Street, W., 

 at 7 o'clock. 



(Signed) 



P. L. SCL.VTER, R. BOWDLER ShaRPE, . HoWARD SaUNDERS, 



Chairman. Editor. Sec. cs; Trcas. 



