25 [Vol. xii. 



PsEUDOPTYNX SOLOMONENSIS, I). Sp. 



Rufous, the underside with blackish-brown shaft-stripes, 

 the upper surface with blackish longitudinal and transverse 

 markings. 



Obs. This unexpected species is very much like Pseudo- 

 ptynx philippinensis and P. gurneyi, but differs in many 

 details. The most striking difference is in the black 

 markings of the back and wing-coverts, which in the two 

 Philippine species have only wide central black stripes, while 

 in P. solomonensis these markings are narrower and have a 

 number of cross-bars, more or less irregular in shape. The 

 buffy longitudinal stripes caused by the buff outer edgings 

 to the scapulars and outer series of wing-coverts in the 

 Philippine species are absent in P. solomonensis. The under 

 surface is of about as rich a rufous tint as in P. yurne.yi, 

 darker than in P. philippinensis, and uniform, the abdomen 

 and feathering of the legs being as dark as the chest. The 

 blackish shaft-stripes are rather narrower, and the feathers on 

 the sides of the abdomen show darker rufous, though not very 

 distinct, cross-bars. Rectrices rufous, the lateral ones 

 regularly, the central ones irregularly, barred across with 

 deep brown, not any lighter on the inner webs. Stiff 

 feathers of the chin white, the outer ones rufous with 

 brownish-black shaft-lines. Iris brownish yellow ; bare toes 

 yellowish white ; bill umber, slate-colour at base. Wing 300, 

 tail 170, metatarsus 60, middle toe without claw 45, 

 bill 45 mm. 



Hab. Isabel Island, Solomon Islands (A. S. Meek). 



The Hon. N. Charles Rothschild exhibited the skin of 

 a male Baer's Pochard (Nyroca baeri), shot on the Tring 

 Reservoirs on the 5th November, 1901 — the first recorded 

 instance of the occurrence of this Duck in a wild state in 

 the British Islands. 



The exhibitor urged in support of the view that the 

 specimen was a wild, rather than an escaped, bird : {a) that 

 no specimen of this Duck had escaped from the Zoological 

 Gardens, where there were now four pinioned examples sent 



