280 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [No. 3. 



3. 11. Swinhoe, Esq., of Amoy, has favored us with a collection of 

 bird-skins from Amoy and Formosa, supplying fine examples of several 

 species which have hitherto been poorly represented in the museum. 



Among these may be noticed Gracupica nigricollis (Pastor tempo- 

 ralis, Tern.), and Temenuchus sinensis (Oriolus sinensis, as distinguish- 

 ed from chinensis, Gmelin) ; and there are also fine specimens of S. seri- 

 ceus and of Acridotheres cristatellus. 



Also several species more or less common in Lower Bengal, or hitherto 

 known only or chiefly from the Himalaya ; as Halcyon smyrnensis, 

 Ceryle rudis, Alcedo bengalensis, Yunx torquilla, Cuculus te- 

 nt uirostris, Hirundo rustica (gutturalis) , H. daurica, Dicrurus 

 macrocercus, Lanius lucionensis (verusj, ; Copsychus saularis 

 (fcem.), Ianthta rufilatus (foem.), Phylloscopus fuscatus, Regu- 

 loides proregulus, R. chloronotus, Hemichelidon latirostris, 

 Motacilla luzoniensis (summer and winter plumage), Corydalla 

 Richardi, Pipastes agilis, and some common small waders, as Actitis 



GLAREOLA and A. HYPOLEUCOS, and TRINGA SUBARGIUATA. 



Of species new to the museum, a fine Bat (undetermined), the hand- 

 some Grosbeak — Eophona melanura, (Geo.), and several apparently 

 new species which Mr. Swinhoe will name and describe. 



4. J. H. Gurney, Esq., M. P., of Catton Hall, Norwich. Skeletons of 

 Sula bassana and Graculus carbo ; and some skins of British birds 

 of species either previously wanting in our museum, or iu sufficiently re- 

 presented, and one of Macrorhamphus griseus from N. America for 

 comparison with M. semipalmatus, nobis (J. A. S. XVII, 252), of India. 



The last named species, of rare occurrence unless on the sea-coasts of 

 this country, was not admitted as distinct by the late Prince of Canino, 

 who, had he seen a specimen, would unquestionably have elevated it to 

 the rank of a separate named division. It is a much larger bird that M. 

 griseus, with a proportionally longer and still more thoroughly Snipe- 

 like bill, while the semi-palmation of the toes at once distinguishes it. 

 The plumage, too, is very different, and in our Indian bird considerably 

 resembles that of most Ruffs in winter dress : the rump is uniformly 

 coloured with the back ; whereas the other has a pure white rump, be- 

 coming gradually more mottled to the upper tail-coverts ; and the Indian 

 bird is almost wholly white under the wings, where the other has every 

 feather mottled with dusky. The diversity of the two species is accord- 

 ingly about as obvious as it well can be, while the difference of form is 

 much greater that in very many divisions separated and named by the 

 Prince of Canino. Concurring in the opinion that it should be thus sepa- 

 rated, I propose for it the name Pseudoscolopax semipalmatus. 



