280 Zoological Society. 



to me an equally definite, natural and peculiar family, to which I 

 gave the name of Placodermi ; and if any palaeontologist can give 

 any reasons against this course, I for one should feel grateful 

 for the information. 



I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen, 

 Your most obedient servant, 



Frederick M'Coy. 

 17 Osborne Terrace, Cambridge. 



PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Nov. 23, 1847.— Wm. Yarrell, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Descriptions of some new sfecies of Australian Birds. 

 By John Gould, Esq., F.R.S., F.Z.S. etc. 



Melithreftus chloropsis. 



Upper surface greenish olive ; head and chin black ; crescent- 

 shaped mark at the occiput, and under surface, white ; wings and tail 

 brown, margined with greenish olive ; apical half of the external 

 webs of the primaries narrowly edged with white ; irides dull red ; 

 bill blackish brown ; naked space above the eye greenish white in 

 some, in others pale wine-yellow ; tarsi and outer part of the feet 

 light greenish olive ; inside of feet bright yellow. 



Total length 5 J inches ; bill -^ ; wing 3^ •, tail 2f ; tarsi j. 



Hob. Western Australia. 



Remark. — Allied to M. lunulatus, from which it differs in being of 

 a larger size, and in having the bare space over the eye pale green 

 instead of red. 



Melithreptus albogularis. 



Upper surface greenish wax-yellow ; head black ; crescent- shaped 

 mark at the occiput, chin, and all the under surface, white ; wings 

 and tail brown, margined with greenish wax-yellow ; irides dull red ; 

 bill brownish black ; legs and feet greenish grey, with a tinge of 

 blue on the front of the tarsi. 



Total length 4f inches ; bill 4 ; wing 2J ; tail 2J ; tarsi |£. 



Hab. Northern and Eastern Australia. 



Remark. — Rather smaller than M. lunulatus, from which it differs 

 in the brighter colouring of the back and in the total absence of any 

 black on the chin. 



Grus australasianus. 



The general plumage deep silvery grey ; the feathers of the back 

 dark brownish grey, with silvery grey edges; lesser wing-coverts 

 dark brown ; primaries black ; crown of the head and bill olive-green, 

 the bill becoming lighter towards the tip ; irides fine orange-yellow ; 

 raised fleshy papilke surrounding the ears and the back of the head 



