r^Tr. TIartert further exLihiterl a neyi' species of Fincli of 

 the genus / oephila and its nearest ally. He described the 

 new form as follo^YS : — 



POEPHILA XirTROTECTA, Sp. U. 



Similar to P. cincfa, from uliich it differs in beinsr con- 

 siderably smaller and in liavini;- the upper tail-coverts black 

 like the rump. In P. chicia the upper tail-eoverts are 

 perfectly white : — not black Avith white tips as described in 

 Butler's ' Foi-eiiin Finches/ where, howcverj an excellent 

 plate is given. 



Total lengrh about 100 mm.j wing 59-GO (about 63 in 

 P. cincia), tail 41. cnhnen 95. 



Hub. Cape York, Queensland, where it was obtained by 

 Mr. Meek. 



jMr. ScLATER read some extracts from a letter he had 

 received from jMajor A. Cowie, H..E., at present stationed in 

 the island of St. Lucia, West Indies. Among the birds 

 observed were examples of the American Laughing-Gull 

 {Larns atriciUa), which had not been previously recorded 

 from the island. 



ISIr. N. F. TiCEHUKST exhibited a fine example of the two- 

 barred Crossbill [Loxia hifasciata) which had been obtained 

 in East Sussex on the 23rd of February. 



A discussion arose regarding the changes oi plumage in the 

 male of the Common Crossbill, in which Messrs. Howard 

 Saunders, Rotlischild, Hartert, and Bonhote took part. 



Mr. Philip Cro^vley exhibited two eggs of Paradise-birds 

 which had been obtained on Lit. Victoria, British New 

 Guinea. One of these was stated to be undoubtedly an egg 

 of Paradisca ragyiana. 



]\Ir. Howard Saunders read an extract from a letter 

 received from Mr. Heatley Noble, in v\-hich the latter de- 

 scribed the breeding of the Scaup Duck [Fuliyula rnarila) 

 in Sutherlaudshire. 



