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Show 356 ON RARE BIRDS' EGGS FROM MADAGASCAR. [Apr. 4, mere identification of the species under the name bestowed upon it by Pucheran (Rev. Zool. 1845, p. 279). Thus, it appears in a collection of Madagascar birds brought home by Mr. W . Gerrard, and described by Professor Newton in the ' Proceedings ' of this Society, 1865, p. 83*2 ; it is noted as amongst the birds observed in Madagascar by M . Grandidier between the years 1865-67 (Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1868, p. 4) ; and it appears again in a collection made in Madagascar bv Mr. Crossley in 1S69, and described by Mi. Sharpe, P.Z.S. 1870," p. 399. Dr. Hartlaub has of course included it in both his works on Madagascar (Orn. Beitrag Faun. Madagasc. 1861, p. 78, and 'Die Vogel Madagascar,' 1877, p. 333) ; but little information is given concerning it beyond what had already been made known by Messrs. Roch and Edward Newton in their remarks on Madagascar birds, published in 'The Ibis' in 1863, where the fullest notice which has appeared of this bird is given. These gentlemen state that they found it tolerably common along the coast, where it had evidently just been breeding, as Dr. Roch found a young one about four days old, on the 3rd October, between Tranomaro and Mamorack ; unfortunately it was not preserved. In colouring it was said to approach the young of Gallinayo scolopacina more than either G. major or G. gallinula. In the valleys near Ambohitroni, about ninety-four miles from the coast, Messrs. Roch and Newton found it more numerous, and in about half an hour killed nine couple. Their flight was slow and steady, and they did not twist in the least. These were evidently not breeding. Tbe largest measured was 19*25 inches in extent of wing, and 17*5 inches from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail. According to Messrs. Roch and Newton sixteen appeared to be the normal number of tail-feathers in this Snipe, or two more than originally ascribed to the species by Bonaparte. Unfortunately, of the three specimens of this bird now before me, not one of them has the tail perfect, so that at present I am unable to check the observations of m y predecessors upon this point. With regard to the breeding of this species, Dr. Hartlaub has briefly described the egg (Vogel Madagascars, p. 335), and Dr. Roch, as already stated, found a young one which he was unable to preserve. I have now before me both egg and young, brought home by Mr. Deans Cowan from Fianarantsoa, Betsileo, where the bird is called Kelcakeka. The native name Rava-rava referred to this species by Prof. Newton, in the Catalogue already referred to (P.Z.S. 1865, p. 832), is, according to Mr. Deans Cowan, properly applicable to the Painted Snipe (llhynchaa capensis). The egg, which measures 1*7 inch by 1*2 at its greatest diameter, is of a honey-yellow colour (Werner), spotted chiefly at the larger end with umber-brown. The young bird when a few days old is scarcely to be distinguished from the young of our Common Snipe (G. scolopacina) at the same age, save for its greater length of bill, legs, and toes. As regards |