35 [Vol. xv. 



nuptial moult, and one of the two following plumages 

 results : — 



" a. A simple plumage, which lasts until the next nuptial 

 moult. This may be called the annuo-nuptial plumage, and 

 the moult the annuo-nuptial moult. 



" b. A simple plumage which is wholly or partly shed before 

 the next nuptial moult. This may be called the post-nuptial 

 plumage, and the moult the post-nuptial moult. 



" If the post-nuptial moult is complete there results a 

 simple nuptial plumage ; if partial, a compound nuptial 

 plumage. 



" The protective plumages of Lag 'opus and of some Anatida 

 are called by Dr. Dwight tutelar plumages. 



" I will take the opportunity here afforded me of urging 

 those Members of the Club who form collections of bird- 

 skins to lose no opportunity of securing specimens in the 

 moult. There is at present a singular dearth of specimens 

 in this condition in most collections/'' 



A discussion on Mr. Butterfield's proposals ensued, in 

 which Mr. Henry Pearson, Dr. Hartert, Mr. Bonhote, 

 Mr. Pycraft, and Mr. Meade-Waldo took part, the last- 

 named gentleman giving some interesting details of the 

 successive moultings of Sand-Grouse. 



Mr. H. F. Witherby exhibited some Tree-Creepers from 

 Algeria, and made the following remarks : — 



" On examining my specimens of Certhia collected in Algeria 

 last year I found them to be nearly allied, but differing in 

 several ways from typical Certhia brachydactyla. 



" On mentioning this to Dr. Hartert, he told me that he was 

 about to describe the Algerian Creeper in the forthcoming 

 part of his book on Palsearctic birds ; but he has now very 

 kindly lent me some of his material, and allowed me to 

 describe the bird, which I call 



"Certhia brachydactyla mauritanica, n. subsp. 



" This form has the main features of typical Certhia brachy- 

 dactyla clearly pointed out last year by Dr. Hartert (Bull. 

 B. O.C. xiv. p. 50) and also by Mr. Buskin Butterfield (' Ibis,' 



