The Society’s Prize.



223



late Sir William Flower, that “ an animal can be converted after

death, by a proper application of taxidermy, into a real life-like

representation of the original, perfect in form, proportions, and

attitude, and almost, if not quite, as valuable for conveying

information on these points as the living creature itself.”—G. R.]



FOSSIL BIRDS*


Dr. Shufeldt has favoured us with a reprint of his paper on

the extinct avifauna of Vero in Florida. The fossils are of Pleistocene

age, and were obtained by Dr. Sellards in November, 1916 ; as

described by Dr. Shufeldt, they are very interesting, and the bones

are illustrated by two plates comprising twenty-five figures. The

series comprises relics of the Turkey Buzzard ( Ccithcirtes aura), the

extinct Floridan Teal ( Querquedula floriclana), a Heron of unknown

species, a Barn Owl (Tyto pratincola), and various Waders. One of

the prizes of the collection is a type bone (carpo-metacarpus) of a

new, but unfortunately extinct, Gull ( Larus vero). The majority of

the specimens are beautifully and distinctly figured in the plates

bound up with the reprint. G. R.



THE SOCIETY’S PRIZE.


After consultation with our late Editor, Mr. Astley, the

Society’s Prize in Literature for 1917 has been awarded to Lieut.

Delacour.


The prize is offered annually by the Society for the best

contribution to avicultural literature sent to the Magazine by

members resident abroad. The papers sent in have maintained a

high level of excellence, both as regards scientific accuracy and

literary style. During the present year we have again received

several contributions of considerable interest and merit, which will

be published as opportunity arises. The Council has been well

advised in stimulating aviculture by instituting this prize.


* ‘Fossil Binds Found at Vero, Florida, with Descriptions of New Species.’

By R. W. Shufeldt, M.D. From the Ninth Annual Report of the Florida

State Geological Survey.



