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Show 1875.] ON T H E O R I G I N A L F A U N A O F R O D R I G U E Z . 39 Obs. Sp. T.fasciato quoad coloribus proxima, sed mandibular basi nuda, fasciis corporis supra crebrioribus et pileo immaculato distinguenda. This species of Tiger Bittern, of which Mr. T. K. Salmon has sent two specimens from Medellin, one in adult (the tarsi of which are wanting) and the other in immature dress, is certainly quite distinct from T. brasiliense, the well-known species found in Guiana, the valley of the Amazon, and on the Isthmus of Panama. From T. brasiliense it differs at first sight in the head being black instead of rufous and in having the sides of the neck blackish, banded by numerous whitish bars, whereas in T. brasiliense the neck is rufous, mottled with black spots. It agrees, however, with T. brasiliense in the absence of the patch of feathers which in T. fasciatum (fig. 1, p. 38) run forward along the middle of the rami of the mandible (see fig. 2, p. 38). O n reexamining the specimen in the British Museum referred by us in «Exotic Ornithology' to T. fasciatum (Ex. Orn. p. 183) we find that we were in error in our determination. The patch of feathers already mentioned as existing at the base of the mandible in the true T. fasciatum being absent in this specimen, it should, we believe, be referred to the bird which we are now describing. Nothing is known concerning the origin of this specimen. A short synopsis of the three species of Tigrisoma hitherto known to inhabit South America will be found in ** Exotic Ornithology' (p. 185). This synopsis expanded to include the present bird may stand as follows :- A. Species gula media plumosa lateraliter nuda. a'. Mandibula ad basin nuda. <z". Pileo colloque supero castaneis T. brasiliense. b'f. Pileo colloque nigris, hoc albido transfasciato T. salmoni. b'. Mandibula ad basin plumosa T. fasciatum. B. Species gula omnino nuda T. cabanisi. 4. Additional Evidence as to the original Fauna of Rodriguez. By ALFRED NEWTON, M.A., F.R.S., F.Z.S., &c. [Eeceived January 15, 1875.] M. Rouillard, a magistrate of Mauritius, having occasion last summer to make some researches among the Archives of the Minis-tere de la Marine at Paris, accidentally came upon a manuscript 'Relation de file Rodrigue,'* which fact he, with great kindness, immediately reported to m y brother, Mr. Edward Newton, offering, if the latter wished, to obtain a copy of it for him. My brother gladly availed himself of the opportunity, and requested M . Rouillard to place the transcript in m y hands. I now have the pleasure of exhibiting it. It gives in many respects a very precise description of the island and its productions; but on this occasion I will content myself with extracting from it what is said * "Isle de France. Correspondance gle. Volume 12 (Archives de la M a rine), 1760." " |