1847-] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 727 



and in the class of birds — Picus (Campephilus) validus, mas, Batrachostomus 

 auritus, jun., Eupetes macrocercus, Tem., and various others of commoner 

 occurrence, among which may be mentioned the common Indian Corvus 

 culminatus, which, though abundant at Penang, I had never before seen from 

 so far south as Malacca, but in previous collections from that locality only 

 the C. macrorhj?ichos, Vieillot, a very distinct species of black Crow. Upon 

 the whole, this collection has added some valuable specimens to the Museum. 



The Hawk can be satisfactorily identified with neither of the two described 

 species inhabiting the Malay countries, viz. Accipiter soloensis, (Horsf., v. 

 cuculoides, Tern.), and Ace. virgatus, (Tern.), to which Mr. G. R. Gray refers 

 the Ace. besra, Elliot, of India.* I shall designate it 



Ace. nisoides. Presumed female in mature plumage differing only from that 

 of Ace. nisus (common to Europe and India), in its much inferior size, being 

 smaller than the male of Ace. nisus ; and in having the throat streakless 

 white, excepting a narrow median dark line ; the usual lateral lines occur, 

 but not conspicuously, bordering the ear-coverts beneath, which are observ- 

 able in various other species of Hawks, Eagle-Hawks, &c. Length of wing 

 7i inches, of tail 5J ; tarse If inch ; middle toe and claw 1| in. 



June 2d, 1847. E. Blyth. 



The usual display of stuffed animals that had been set up during the past 

 month was exhibited ; and after commenting briefly on these, Mr. Blyth 

 proceeded to call attention to the rich collection of Quadrumana now in the 

 Museum, amounting to above 100 specimens, either set up on wire, or to be 

 thus mounted as soon as the Society's taxidermists could be employed on 

 them. This series of Quadrumana was, for the occasion, ranged round the 

 meeting room, and the Curator proposed to exhibit, in like manner, the series 

 of other orders of mammalia and birds at future meetings of the Society ; 

 remarking that, from the greatly over-crowded state of the glass-cases, 

 visitors to the Museum could at present but very inadequately appreciate the 

 wealth of the Society's collections in these two classes more particularly, a 

 considerable proportion of the specimens being, of necessity, concealed from 

 view when piled one upon another in the glazed cabinets. 



The following additional Report refers to the Society's present collection 

 of Quadrumana. 



* Mr. Jerdon, in opposing this identification, regards my Ace. nisoides as the true Ace. 

 virgatus ; and certainly the besra does not accord with the descriptions of virgatus. The 

 adult female besra is exceedingly like that of Astur trivirgatus in its colouring and mark- 

 'ngs ; but the male is much more slaty above, and has much more rufous on the under- 

 pays, than I have seen in adult males of A. trivirgatus. I am far from being satisfied 

 that Ace. besra and Ace. virgatus are identical. 



5 B 



