1874.] W. M. Campbell— iVbif(?5 on the Transit of Venus. 241 



I do not at all feel sure that these species are undeseribed, but I could 

 find no names for them and had to provide names, and as I have 

 published them elsewhere, think it right, to prevent confusion, to put them 

 on record in a scientific Journal. 



I may also take this occasion to mention that in my account of 

 the birds of the Nicobars and Andamans, I noticed that I had obtained at 

 the latter Islands, a small dove, resembling Twrtur kumilis, but as I believed 

 difierent. 



I have since obtained a really good specimen which has convinced me 

 that it is distinct, and I wish to take this opportunity of characterizing it. 



TiJETUR HTJMILIOR, sp. nOV. 



Length, 9 ; Wing, 5, 6 ; Tail, 3'3 ; Bill, at front, (from where the 

 feathers end), 0*55 ; Tarsus, 0*75. 



? Female, — Head greyish-brown paling on forehead. Eump deep 

 slatey, rest of upper parts, breast and middle of abdomen brown, with a broad 

 black half-collar, on the back of the neck, and a more or less venaceous tinge 

 on the lower parts ; wing-lining, sides and flanks deep slatey-grey. 



I had no specimens to compare it with, so sent it to Mr. Brooks, he 

 remarks. " I have never seen any dove like the Andaman one you have sent. 



" Its characteristic points are — 1, the broad collar ; 2, (and the most 

 important) the dark slate coloured wing-lining ; 3, the very brown hue. Its 

 wing is much longer that of jT. humilis $ which has a pale wing-lining and 

 is quite a difiFerenbly toned bird. It is of similar size to T. camhayensis, but 

 has a much longer wing. It is very much smaller than $ risoria whicli 

 has a hght wing-lining and the brownest risojHa is quite pale compared with 

 this dusky Andaman dove." 



I hope to figure this sombre little Dove later, in the mean time this 

 will serve to call attention to it. 



2. Description of a neic species of HelicidcB of the genera Helix and 

 Achatina^ from the Khasi Hills and Manipur, — By Majoe H. H. God; 

 WIN- Austen, F. Z. S. 



This paper will be published in the Journal, Part II, 1875, with illus- 

 tration. 



3. Notes on the Transit of Venus of 1874. — By Captain W. M. Camp- 

 bell, B. E. ; communicated hy Captain J. Wateehouse. 



The following brief notes regarding the preparations being made in this 

 country to observe the rare and important phenomenon of the Transit of 

 Venus, may be of interest to the Society. 



The observations will be made at Eoorkee in the North-West Provin- 

 ces by Col. J. F. Tennant, B. E., assisted by Captains W. M. Campbell of 



