7 



[Vol. xxxi. 



On behalf of the Rev. J. Courtois, Mr. W. L. Sclatek 

 described a new species of Pucras Pheasant : — 



PUCRASTA JORETIANA, Sp. n. 



Adult male. Resembling P. darwini in most respects, but 

 differing in the much heavier black markings on the back and 

 sides of the breast, the absence of chestnut on the under 

 tail-coverts, and the shape of the crest, which is shorter and 

 more stumpy and is composed of broader feathers, rounded at 

 the ends. From P. ocanthospila it can be at once distinguished 

 by the absence of the yellow patch on the nape. 



Length 228 inches; wing 8*8; tail 7*8; tarsus 2*9; 

 middle toe and claw 2 9. 



Obs. Mr. Courtois, who is the Director of the Siccawei 

 Museum near Shanghai, sent one example of this new 

 species and states that he has two others in his Museum. 

 All three come from the mountainous region of Hwosthan 

 or Hochar, in the Province of Anhwei or Nganwei, at 

 altitudes of 2000 to 5000 feet. 



The type has been presented to the British Museum. 



Mr. F. W. Smalley gave an account of his observations 

 on the moults of the Long-tailed Duck (Harelda ylacialis). 



His conclusions, which he illustrated by a series of 

 examples killed at different seasons of the year, were briefly 

 as follows :— 



1. The spring-moult in the male was not a complete one, 

 the primaries, breast-shield, and feathers of the abdomen 

 being retained; it was really a building-up process, as it were, 

 from the breast-shield to the top of the head and a changing 

 of the scapulars from grey to pale chestnut. 



2. The complete moult in August was followed by a 

 plumage perhaps corresponding to the eclipse-plumage of 

 other ducks, in which the entire head and neck were white; 

 and by the complete winter-dress, in which the cheeks were 

 grey, and the black and chestnut patches on the sides of the 

 neck were gradually assumed, reaching their full perfection 

 in February. 



