Captain G. E. Shellhy communicated the descriptions of 

 four new species of birds from Nyasa Land : — 



]\Ielanoei"cco macclouxii, sp. n. 



Similar to J/. levaUtanti, but ^^■ith tliC back_ of the head 

 and neck black; a large bare patch round the eye, the 

 posterior half of "which is surrounded by the white of the 

 entire sides and front of tlie neck, this also extending over 

 the sides of the back. Total length 7 "2 inches, cuhnen 0"8; 

 wing 3-4, tail 2-6, tarsus OSS. 



CiSTICOLA ALTICOLA; Sp. U. 



Allied to C angusilcaada. lleichen., from Uuiamwesi_, and 

 vrith the back of neck, back, and wing-coverts uniform ashy 

 grey ; quills and tail brown, the latter with white ends, but 

 witliout dark sub-terminal marks on the feathers, and the 

 underparts Avhite shaded -with grey on the flanks. It is 

 distinguished by having the entire ear-coverts, and head above 

 the line of the gape, uniform deep rufous brown. Total 

 length o'G inches, culmen O'o, wing 2'25, tail 2'7, tarsus 0"8. 



]\Ialacoxotus man.mxgi, sp. n. 



Nearly allied to Laniar'ms melamprosopus, Reichen., but 

 readily distinguished bv the uniform deep grey colouring of 

 the crown, back of neck, and upper back, and the almost 

 entire absence of yellow tips to any of the wing-feathers. 

 Total length 7"5 inches, culmen 0"6j wing 3"7, tail 3'6, 

 tarsus I'O. 



MUSCICAPA NY1KEN3IS, Sp. U. 



Similar to M. lugens, with the bill entirely black, but 

 characterized by its large size and by having a narrow white 

 forehead ; the space in front of the eyes and the cheeks also 

 white, like the throat. Total length ^'^ inches, culmen 0'5, 

 wing 3-3, tail 3-1, tarsus 0-9. 



Hah. Nyika Plateau, 6000 to 7000 feet {Alexander TVhi/te). 



Mr. F, Curtis e.x.hibited a specimen of the Spotted Sand- 

 piper [T^'ingoides macularius) i which had been shot on 

 the 2nd of February, at Finea, Co. Longford, Ireland, bv 



