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Show 1877.] MR. A. ANDERSON ON PODICEPS CRISTATUS. 807 Other skins were principally interesting as extending our knowledge of geographical distribution, such as those of Phylloscopus trochilus and Acrocephalus schcenibeenus from long. 88° E., Anthus gustavi of Swinhoe ( = A. seebohmi of Dresser, -A. batchianensis of Gray) from the same longitude, and young birds in first plumage of this species from the Kurile Islands. Mr. W . Saville Kent, F.Z.S., exhibited the plans of a Zoological Station and Museum and Institute of Pisciculture to be established at St. Helier's, Jersey, of which he was the originator. The object sought in the establishment of this institution was the provision within British waters of facilities for pursuing marine biological investigations similar to those which exist at the Naples Aquarium and Zoological Station, and at the Anderson School of Natural History at Penikese Island, Buzzards Bay, U. S. A. The Secretary exhibited on the part of Mr. A. Anderson, F.Z.S., one of the spotted eggs of Ascalaphia coromanda referred to by him at p. 316 of the Society's ' Proceedings ' for 1876. Mr. Anderson was of opinion that Owls laying such remarkably well-marked eggs was one of the most extraordinary facts in oology he had heard of. He regretted that the companion egg, which was equally well marked, had been left by an oversight in India. The Secretary also exhibited on the part of Mr. A. Anderson, F.Z.S., the young of Rhynchops albicollis and Seena aurantia on first exclusion from the egg-shells, these chicks having been hatched in Mr. Anderson's own house along with a number of others. Mr. Anderson drew attention to the fact that there was no appreciable difference between the bills of the two species at this early stage, so that the extraordinary scissor-shaped bill of Rhynchops albicollis must be developed when the bird is in a state of adolescence. Mr. Anderson had never yet succeeded in procuring one of these birds showing the partially developed bill, owing to their habit of keeping well in the centre of large rivers, and of secreting themselves on islands, sandbanks, and drift-wood on the first approach of danger. The Secretary also exhibited on the part of Mr. A. Anderson, F.Z.S., portions of the skins of the parent Grebes (Podiceps cristatus), together with two of the nestling birds in a downy state, the nidification of which had been described by him in ' Stray Feathers,' vol. iii. p. 274. Mr. Anderson was of opinion that it was the extraordinary heavy rainfall during that year that had induced some of these birds to linger in the plains of the North-west Provinces for the purpose of breeding. Still he considered it likely enough that a few pairs regularly nested in the Oudh tarai, and on some of tbe larger sheets of water in Bundelkhand, where the country had not yet been thoroughly explored during the rainy season. |