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Show ."•80 MR. P. L. SCLATER ON CENTROPSAR MIRUS. [June 1, in fine condition. Besides the adult Casuarius westermanni*, a second, younger, example of the same Cassowary was in the collection. In the gardens belonging to the Society " Natura Artis Magistra " at Amsterdam, the series of Pheasants and Cranes had attracted his special attention. Amongst the former were several fine pairs of Euplocamus vieillot if and E. nobilis (of the latter of which species a pair had been obtained for the Society's collection) and a single example of E. pyronotus of Borneo. Besides examples of both the common and Victoria Crowned Pigeons (Goura coronata and G. victoria), was a single specimen of what appeared to be a third form of this group, most nearly allied to G. coronata, but having a vinaceous red chest. Of this bird, Mr. Sclater hoped, throngh the kindness of Mr. Westerman, to be able to give further particulars upon a future occasion. At Antwerp the Pheasants and Antelopes had specially attracted Mr. Sclater's attention, as had likewise three young Tiger-cubs, born in the Gardens on the 14th of October, 1873, and most successfully foster-mothered by a large bitch. Most interesting specimens were likewise a West-African Bos brachyceros (sive pumilus), and the light-coloured Eagle from the Dobrudscha, upon which the species Aquila culleni had recently been established by Dr. Bree ('Birds of Europe,' 2nd edit. vol. i. p. 89). Mr. Sclater laid on the table the typical specimen of his Centro-psar mirus (P. Z. S. 1874, p. 176, pl. xxvi.), and made the following remarks:- " M y suspicions having been awakened as to this specimen by information received from Mr. E. Bartlett and by the criticisms of Dr. Cabanis ('Journ. fiir Orn.' vol. xxii. 1874, p. 458), I have made a thorough reexamination of it. " The result arrived at is that the supposed novelty is undoubtedly composed of parts of three other birds. The head, wings, and body are those of a female or immature Icterus, possibly I. auduboni, though I have no specimen quite agreeing with it. To this have been added the worn tail of an Ageleeus gubernator or A.phceniceus, and the legs of an Otocorys. "Centropsar mirus may therefore be removed from the ornithological category. Mr. E. Bartlett tells m e that there were other fictitious specimens in the same collection." * Called Casuarius kaupi, P. Z. S. 1872, p. 147, pl. ix. t Mr. Elliot, in his recent monograph of the Pheasants (plate xxvi. of vol. ii.), has united E. vieilloti to E. ignitus, considering the latter (founded on Phasianus ignitus of Shaw, not of Latham, as usually quoted) to be the young of the former. This I believe to be an error, aa I cannot but consider the specimens of E. ignitus in the Leyden and British Museums to be fully adult birds. Mr. Westerman also tells m e he lias had an example of E. ignitus (Shaw) alive, and that it is decidedly distinct. Unfortunately its patria is not yet positively known. See m y diagnosis of these three species, P. Z. S. I860, p. 118. |