29 [Vol. xiii. 



Melanobucco tsaisle, n. sp. 



Adult female. Differs from the female of M. undatus 

 (Riipp.) in having the top of the head black to the base of 

 the bill. Total length ca. 5*5 inches, culmen from feathers 

 on forehead 0*75, wing 3'1, tail 1*75, tarsus 0'75. 



The type was collected at Zegi, on Lake Tsana, on the 

 28th May, by Mr. E. Degen. 



Dr. Bowdler Sharpe sent for exhibition a specimen of 

 JEgialitis venusta, Fischer & Reichenow, from Port Elizabeth. 

 The species was previously known only from the salt-plains 

 of Masai Land, and was new to the avifauna of South Africa. 

 The specimens were shot by Lieut. C. H. T. Whitehead, who 

 had given one of them to the British Museum, and another 

 to the South African Museum. 



Dr. Sharpe also sent a description of a new Silver Pheasant 

 from the Southern Shan Hills, for which he proposed the 

 name of 



Genn^eus ripponi, n. sp. 



<J . Similis G. rubripedi, sed plaga collari postauriculari pure 

 alba, et albedine rectricum magis extensa distinguendus. 



$ . A foeminis specierum affinium valde distincta. Subtus 

 albo nigroque variegata, plumis late sed irregulariter 

 albo transfasciatis vel fasciatim late irroratis et albo 

 marginatis. 



Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier showed an interesting variety of 

 the Woodcock (Scolopax rusticula), with the ground-colour 

 of a lilac-grey and the chestnut vermiculations of a bright 

 tint. The ends of the primaries were all white, with 

 the usual black markings replaced by lilac-brown. The 

 under-parts were creamy buff, faintly barred with pale 

 greyish brown. The throat white ; the bill rather paler 

 than usual, but the iris of the normal colour. The bird 

 was a female, and was procured in the Galtee Mountains, 

 Tipperary. 



