xvm 



to the six great Geographical Regions of the earth^s surface. 

 Taking the described species of birds as about 1.2,000, each 

 volume appropriated to a Region would relate, on an average, 

 to 2000 species. After adding to each volume 500 species 

 for those that occurred in more than one Region, there 

 would thus be (on the average) about 2500 species to be 

 treated of in each volume. 



Mr. Sclater proposed that, besides a reference to the 

 British Museum Catalogue, only a short Latin diagnosis, a 

 few selected synonyms, and the pa Iria should be added to the 

 name of each species ; and he considered that, if this plan were 

 adopted, five or more species could (on the average) be easily 

 got into one page : at which rate each volume would consist 

 of about 500 pages. He thought that an appropriate title 

 for such a work would be ' Avium Viventium Expositio 

 Systematica ' ; the short title being ' Aves,' formed by the 

 initial letters of these four words. The six volumes might be 

 numbered I. to VI., but would have a second title according 

 to the Region to which they related — Aves Palsearcticse, 

 Aves JEthiopicse, &c. The compilation of each volume should 

 be assigned to an ornithological expert qualified to undertake 

 the particular task. 



A DISCUSSION' followed on Dr. Sclater's proposed scheme, of 

 which Dr. Giinther expressed approval. Dr. Bowdler Sharpe 

 stated that he would like to consider the question further 

 •before it was proposed to the B. O. U. in May, and stated 

 that he had promised to contribute to the volumes of the 

 ' Tbierreich,^ which Dr. Schultze was proposing to publish 

 in Berlin. The Chairman pointed out that the scope of his 

 proposed work was entirely difierent from that of the 

 ' Thierreich.' 



Mr. F. E, BLA.A.rw exhibited an egg of Psophia leucoptera 

 which had been laid in his aviaries at s^'Graveland during 

 the past summer. This was believed to be the first oppor- 

 tunity afforded to ornithologists of knowing what the egg 

 of Psophia was like, and it was interesting to find that the 

 Trumpeter laid a pure white egg. 



