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Show 114 MR. P. L. SCLATER ON THE CERVID.E. [Feb. 24, " 9. Tanagra cyanoptera.-This bird frequents the tola-woods. They come in small flocks in spring, but are afterwards seen in pairs. Its note is low and plaintive. The absence of every colour but blue is the most remarkable characteristic of this bird, even its feet and bill being almost the same pale blue as the entire plumage. The Tanagra striata is a much more common bird. " 10. Stephanophorus leucocephalus (Vieill.).-A very beautiful bird; in size, shape, and habits like the last. There is no end to the beautiful contrasts of colours in birds; but in few species do they present so lovely an appearance as in this, with the uniform deep rich Prussian blue of its plumage, and the cap of silvery-white feathers with the crimson spot in its centre. It is met with frequently in the tola-woods in summer. There is nothing remarkable in the low, chattering song of the male, often repeated for hours while the female is sitting. "11. Guiraca glauco-ceerulea.-This bird, characterized by its thick bill, is much smaller than the last, but resembles it somewhat in its dark blue colour and low continuous song. It is a rare bird, inhabiting the sayus-swamps, and feeding on the ground on buds and seeds. " 12. Amblyrhamphus holosericeus.-A common bird in sayus-swamps, found in flocks and remaining with us all the year. The English residents here have called it 'Chisel-bill,' from its bill, formed for extracting insects from the soft stem of decayed reeds, resembling that instrument in shape. Its clear and mellow whistle has also won for it the name of ' Buellero' (Ox-driver). All its notes are soft, sweet, and flute-like. The plain red of its head and neck, contrasted with the shining black of the other plumage, gives to it a striking and beautiful appearance. Its nest is built in the reeds or shrubs growing in the water ; the eggs are four, pale blue and spotted with black ; the young birds are entirely black." Mr. P. L. Sclater read a paper on the Deer of the Old World living in the Society's Menagerie. Amongst these there were stated to be examples of several recently described and very little-known species, of which coloured drawings were exhibited. This paper will be printed in the Society's ' Transactions.' Mr. Sclater then made some remarks on the arrangement of the family Cervidee, which he proposed to divide, mentioning only their most obvious external characters, into eight genera, as follows:- Subfam. I. CERVIN.E. Cornua decidua: dentes eanini parvi aut nulli. a. Rhinarium pilosum. J Cornua in utroque sexu \ Cornua tantum maris b. Rhinarium nudum. a'. Cornua palmata b'. Cornua non palmata. Cauda pra-sens Cauda extus nulla 1. Bangifer. 2. Alces. 3. Dama. 4. Cervus. 5. Capreolus |
