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Show 886 REV. H.B.TRISTRAM ON NEW SOUTH-AFRICAN BIRDS. [Nov. 14, intermaxilla. It remains cartilaginous until it reaches its adult size, and then becomes ossified, forming a thick bony erect plate. In the younger skull the cartilaginous septum is produced nearly to the root of the cutting-teeth ; but in the older skull, where the septum has become ossified, the front parts of the intermaxilla are produced, and the septum ends over the root of the canines. The shortness of the nasal cavity and the sharp-edged crest of the maxillae distinguishes the skull from those of the Tapirs in all ages. The sides of the face of the skull are flattened ; the zygomatic arch and the front of the orbit over the preorbital foramen is expanded, flattened, and compressing the foramen into an oblong erect shape ; the upper edge of the orbit is narrow and flat, not produced into lobes as in the American Tapir ; the nasal bones are narrow, longer than broad at the base, with an oblong deep concavity on each side of their base, which is continued upwards behind it, so as to be only separated by a small central ridge; the hinder palatine nasal opening varies in size in the two sexes, or it becomes much wider and broader in front as the animal increases in age. In the skull with the cartilaginous internasal septum, and only four grinders in each side, the concavity containing the internal nostrils is narrow and oblong. In the older skull with the septum entirely bony, and with seven grinders in each side, the concavity containing the internal nostrils is much broader, being nearly as wide as long, and the vault is more evenly rounded. The young animal, like the young of the Brazilian and other Tapirs, is spotted and striped with white. Mr. Sclater has kindly lent me a photograph of a young Panama Tapir, which is on its way to the Society's Gardens ; and a copy of the photograph has been added to Mr. Wolff's figure (Pl. XLII.) of the half-grown animal, which Mr. Salvin has obtained for the British Museum. The young animal is described by Mr. Verrill as above quoted ; and the description is printed in the 'Annals and Magazine of Natural History' for 1867, xx. p. 232. The animal is similar to the Brazilian Tapir externally ; indeed all the naturalists and zoologists who have observed it at Costa Rica regarded it as the same as that species until the skull was examined; and it is said that one was exhibited alive in the Jardin d'Acclimata-tion at Paris for some time as a Brazilian Tapir; but it is easily distinguishable by the bay cheek and white chest. 10. O n N e w Species of Birds from South Africa. By Rev. H. B. TRISTRAM, M.A., F.L.S., C.M.Z.S. Among a collection of birds recently sent to me from the Cape Colony hy Mr. E. L. Layard I find two specimens of a Swift labelled by Mr. Layard Cypselus melba. These birds are clearly distinct from C. melba. In size and form there is no difference, excepting that the wing of the South-African |