13 [Vol. xi. 



fact that, by modification of the characteristic joint between 

 the pterygoid and palatine bones, the pterygoid had assumed 

 a form bearing a superficial resemblance to that of the 

 Struthious birds. He showed conclusively, however, that 

 there was really nothing in common between these two types 

 of pterygoid bones, a description of which would appear later. 



Mr. H. F. Witherby exhibited specimens of the following 

 birds, obtained by him on the White Nile between Khartoum 

 and 150 miles to the south, viz. : — Scops leucotis, Spiloptila 

 damans, AUgithalus punctifrons, and the young of Pyrrhu- 

 lauda leucotis. 



Mr. Witherby also described the following apparently 

 new species of Cisticola : — 



ClSTICOLA AltlDULA, n. Sp. 



Adult male. Of the same group as Cisticola terrestris and 

 closely allied to C. hindei, but smaller and very much lighter 

 in colour, the prevailing colour being a pale fawn-buff, 

 with narrow longitudinal streaks on the upper surface. 

 General colour of the upper parts light buff, the feathers 

 being very narrowly mesially streaked with dark brown. 

 Throat silvery white and the rest of the underparts, including 

 the under wing-coverts and under tail-coverts, white, washed 

 with buff; quills dusky, edged on the outer webs with light 

 buff; underside of the quills very light brown, the light 

 pattern of the inner webs ashy isabelline ; tail-feathers very 

 dark brown tipped with white, but with no sub-terminal bar 

 as in C. cisticola. Iris greenish straw-colour ; bill flesh- 

 colour; legs and feet yellowish flesh-colour. Total length 

 about 3*75 inches, culmen 0"44, wing 1'75, tail 1*4, 

 tarsus 0'68. 



Hob. About 60 miles south of Khartoum, on the White 

 Nile. 



Mr. Meade- Waldo gave some interesting experiences of 

 the nesting-boxes put up on his estate in Kent. He found 

 that practically they were never used by Sparrows, if placed 

 low down and away from houses. The S.W. was found to be 



