OCR Text |
Show 1871.] LETTER FROM DR. BROWN. 39 same species is again figured as Aquila imperialis $ ; and this has been the probable source of the error. So far bifasciata is a very good name for the Indian bird. The young bird of this species was obtained by Mr. Tristram near Lebanon, its most western known occurrence. " I may remark that there is a great difference in the cry of these two species, that of A. ncevioides being a yelp, whereas that of A. imperialis is a hoarse bark, not unlike that of the adult Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus). " Major Irby first drew m y attention to these Eagles ; and an examination of Lord Lilford's birds, and of the sterna of many of these birds now on the table, confirmed the views which he suggested. For the loan of the sterna I have to thank Prof. Newton. " Seeing that these two species run so close, it is impossible to say what many of the isabelline-coloured birds in Spanish museums may be ; but at least we have one authentic specimen of A. ncevioides here. I have hitherto no knowledge of its breeding in Spain, though I think it not improbable. " Like some better, ornithologists than myself, I at one time confused A. ncevioides with A. clanga, a specimen of which I now exhibit to show how totally distinct they are, the affinities of the latter being with A. neevia, of which it appears to be little more than a larger race. " The peculiarity in __. ncevioides when adult is that the feathers are half of one colour, half of another ; but in the young this is not so." Mr. J. E. Harting, F.Z.S., exhibited and made remarks on a specimen of the so-called Sabine's Snipe (Scolopax sabini) in the flesh, recently killed. This bird was usually regarded as a melanoid variety of the Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinula) ; but Mr. Harting was not quite certain whether this view was correct. Mr. Sclater exhibited a typical example of Ateles variegatus, Wagner (Saugeth. v. p. 78), collected on the Serra de Cocoi, on the Upper Rio Negro, by the late Johann Natterer, on the 9th of February 1831, which he had received in exchange from the Imperial Cabinet of Vienna, and pointed out its unquestionable identity with A. bartletti of Gray, as already stated by him (P. Z. S. 1871, p. 668, and Ann. Nat. Hist. ser. 3, vol. vi. p. 472). Some extracts were read from a letter addressed to the Secretary by Dr. R. Brown, of Campster, F.R.G.S., concerning the best method of destroying poisonous Serpents, in reference to the discussion at the last Meeting upon this subject. Mr. Brown suggested the introduction of domestic Pigs into localities infested by Serpents, and stated that the plan had been successful in various parts of America where he had resided. " For instance, no locality in the State of Oregon was more the haunt of the deadly Rattlesnake (Crotalus lucifer) than the valleys of Columbia River-a locality well known to all readers of the |