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Show 1867i] PROF, O W E N ON DINORNIS. 891 Toccus erythrorhynchus, Temm., ex Afr. occ. Bucorvus abyssinicus (Gm,), ex Africa. (3) A specimen of the very rare Australian Parrot lately described by Mr. Gould in the Society's 'Proceedings' (1861, p. 100) under the name of Geopsittacus occidentalis, presented to the Society by Dr. Ferdinand Muller, of Melbourne, C.M.Z.S., and received November 17th by the ship 'Essex,' under the special charge of Capt. Ridgers, the obliging commander of that vessel. Dr. Miiller, who had forwarded this bird to the Secretary under the impression that it was undescribed, had supplied the following particulars concerning it:- "This peculiar Parrot was presented to me by Mr. Ryan, on whose sheep-station, on the Gawler ranges west of Spencer Gulf, it was obtained. The most extraordinary circumstance connected with this bird is, that it is nocturnal! It lives in the rocky caves of the ranges, and comes out at night to feed." Mr. Sclater stated that it was evident from observations made upon this bird since it had reached the Society's Gardens that Dr. Muller's account of its nocturnal habits was correct. Mr. P. L. Sclater also exhibited a skin of the Lesser Sheathbill (Chionis minor, Hartlaub), being that of an individual of this species which had been transmitted living to the Society by Mr. E. L. Layard, F.Z.S. This bird had been brought from the Crozet Islands by Capt. Armson, and had been for some time in the Aviary of Mr. Searle of Cape Town, who had kindly parted with it in favour of the Society. An extract was read from a letter addressed to the Secretary by Capt. J. M . Dow, Corr. Memb., dated Panama, 10th September, 1867, announcing that, after many endeavours, he had succeeded in procuring for the Society a young living specimen of the newly discovered Tapir of Panama (Tapirus bairdi), and was intending to transmit it to the Society at an early opportunity. Capt. D o w enclosed some photographs of the animal, which were exhibited to the Meeting*. Prof. Owen communicated two memoirs on the extinct birds of the genus Dinornis of N e w Zealand, forming the eleventh and twelfth of a series of papers on this subject. These were entitled "On Dinornis (Part X L ) , containing a description of the integument of the sole and tendons of a toe of the foot of Dinornis robustus;" and " O n Dinornis (Part XII.), containing a description of the femur, tibia, and metatarsus of Dinornis maximus, Owen." These papers will be published in the Society's ' Transactions.' * See Dr. Gray's remarks, antea, p. 886. |