Zoological Society. 



6041 



almost always without their legs. Mr. Wallace's skins, however, are perfect, and in 

 the highest possible condition : they comprise not only adult males and females, but 

 young birds in various stages of development. Mr. Gould remarked that the Orni- 

 thology of the Aru Islands, like that of New Guinea, partook more of the character of 

 the Australian Fauna than of any other. The woodpeckers {Plcidce) and hornbills 

 (Bucerotidce), so commtm in India and the Indian Islands, are totally wanting, while 

 the honeyealers {Melaphagidce) and kingfishers {Halcyonidce) are very numerous: on 

 the other hand, the collection did not contain a single Malurus or any of the finches, 

 forms represented by numerous species even in the northern parts of Australia. 

 Mr. Gould, in remarking upon the beautiful plumes which adorn the Paradiseae, 

 stated that he considered they were assumed, or are in their most perfect state, just 

 prior to the breeding-season, and that the bird was then adorned in its greatest 

 beauty, — a beauty apparently assumed not only for the purpose of attracting the 

 females, but to exhibit to each other their gorgeous finery, when they assemble 

 and perform many curious and extraordinary evolutions. In South America 

 the cock of the rock (Rupicola) has many singular habits at the like season, 

 while in Australia the bower birds attract every one by the curious structures 

 they make for a similar purpose. Mr. Gould instanced also the peacocks, the 

 turkey, and the well-known ruff of the British Islands, as birds which assemble 

 and make such displays. 



Mr. G. R. Gray communicated a paper, containing a list of the birds, with 

 descriptions of the new species, obtained by Mr. Wallace in Ke and Aru Islands. 

 The collection consisted of 121 species of birds (showing great perseverance and 

 energy on the part of Mr. Wallace), many of which were new and highly interesting 

 species, and it also exhibited the sexes of several species that were hitherto un- 

 known : Mr. Gray had therefore, in this paper, drawn up a list of them, with 

 descriptions. 



Mr. Sclater read notes on some birds from Southern Mexico, lately received by 

 M. Edward Verreaux, of Paris, in which he made some remarks on specimens of such 

 of the species as had not been included in his former lists, read before the Society, 

 together with a few corrections as to statements made in his previous papers on the 

 subject. 



Mr. Sclater communicated a note on the skeleton of the sheathbill (Chionis alba), 

 by Mr. T. C. Eyton. 



The Secretary read a paper by Mr. W. Thompson, containing remarks on the 

 British Actiniadae, with a proposed rearrangement of the genera. 



The Secretary also read a paper on Nemophis, a new genus of riband-shaped 

 fishes, by Dr, Kaup, of Darmstadt. 



Dr. Gray read a paper containing observations on the genus Cuscus, with 

 the description of a new species, characterized under the name of Cuscus Cele- 

 bensis. 



Dr. Gray read a second paper containing a list of Mammalia, sent from the Aru 

 Islands by Mr. A. R. Wallace. Two new species were described under the following 

 names : — Dactylopsila trivirgata and Myoictis Wallacei. 



Dr. Gray read another paper, on Aphrocallistes, a new genus of Spon«iiada*, from 

 Malacca: the type, which he named Aphrocallistes Beatrix, was received in 1842 

 from Capt. Sir Edward Belcher. Dr. Gray also read a description of Aphrocerus, a 

 XVT. 2 B 



