Vol. xxxiii.] 66 



name B. subalaris becomes a synonym of B. pallidus 

 (Mull.), and the larger Abyssinian bird is without a name. 

 I propose to call the latter form 



' f Bradyornis pallidus sharpei, subsp. n." 



Mr. Rothschild also described a new species of Casso- 

 wary, which he proposed to call 



Casuarius foersteri, sp. n. 



Adult. Sides and back of the head, below the casque, black 

 as in C. claudii. Face and fore-part of the neck pale blue ; 

 upper sides and middle part of the hind-neck dark blue ; neck 

 below the occiput and the lower hind-neck bluish-white ; a 

 large patch below the ear pink ; lower sides of the neck intense 

 crimson surrounded by pale blue. Casque horn-colour ; no 

 wattle. 



This new species was procured by Herr Keysser at a 

 height of 1000 metres ( = 3250 feet) two days' journey 

 inland from the north-west end of the Huon Gulf. 



Obs. This species is the representative in the south-east 

 of New Guinea of C. papuanus and C. claudii of Dutch New 

 Guinea. 



Mr. W. P. Pycraft gave a brief summary of the investi- 

 gations in which he was at present engaged respecting the 

 eclipse-plumage of the Wigeon. His observations were 

 being carried out on live birds, for the purpose of discovering 

 whether any of the feathers of the eclipse-plumage assumed 

 the coloration of the breeding-dress, as was supposed to be 

 the case according to some observers. 



At the beginning of the investigation a number of 

 feathers on the flanks and scapulars had been marked, 

 and in no case did these show any trace of change. Most, 

 of them had since been moulted out, and were quite un- 

 altered. 



He then proceeded to explain the inherent difficulties in the 

 way of such colour-changes, and the weakness of the supposed 

 evidence that such actually take place. He contended that 

 a more reasonable interpretation could be found of the fact 



