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Show 368 PROF, MIVART O N THE SKELETON OF PELECANUS. [Apr. 17, sime flavis: rostro et pedibus nigerrimis. Long. tota. 9*0, alee 4*0, caudce 3*5, tarsi 1, dig. post, sine ungue *5, rostri a rictu *9. Hab. Costa Rica (H. Rogers). Mr. II. Rogers, who is now in Costa Rica collecting objects of natural history, shortly after his arrival in that country sent home a box, chiefly of insects, but with them four bird-skins, one of which is the remarkable individual which I exhibit to-night. That it belongs to an undescribed genus there can be little doubt; that it is a member of the family Ampelidse is perhaps not so certain. The presence of a large first primary shows its position amongst the true Oscines ; but the comparative narrowness of the gape, feeble bill, the longer and stouter tarsi than is usual in Ampelidse, and the fact of the front of the tarsus being covered by a single scute suggest that the bird may prove to be an aberrant member of the family Turdidae. The wing-formula is quite that of Ptilogonys, to which genus the glossy plumage and some of the characteristics of the coloration suggest an affinity; and these characters have induced me to place Phainoptila for the present near Ptilogonys in the family Ampelidse. May 1st, 1877. Prof. Newton, F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. Mr. Howard Saunders exhibited and made remarks on some nests and eggs of the Orphean Warbler (Sylvia orphea) from the vicinity of Malaga, Spain. Amongst the eggs in each nest were one or two of larger size, which were supposed to be possibly eggs of the Cuckoo. Mr. Saunders also exhibited two skins of Dupont's Lark (Alauda cluponti) from the same locality. Prof. Mivart, F.R.S., read a memoir on the axial skeleton of the Pelecanidae, selecting Pelecanus as his type and standard of comparison. Prof. Mivart first compared Pelecanus, as regards its axial skeleton, with Struthio and the other Struthionidse, and then compared the other Steganopodes with it and with one another. This memoir will be published in the Society's 'Transactions.' The following papers were read :- |