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Show 1880.] DR. G. HARTLAUB ON A NEW HERON. 39 the type specimens, and was able to assert that it was the young of AEgialitis curonica ; and had in his possession a specimen from Formosa, measuring 4*4 in the wing, which was the facsimile of Horsfield's type. As the smaller Indian Ringed Plover was without a name, Captain Legge proposed that one should be given it, and, after some discussion on the matter, agreed that it should be styled JE. jerdoni, in compliment to Dr. Jerdon, who had pointed out its specific characters, although he had applied an erroneous title to it. The following papers were read :- 1. On a new Species of Heron from Mohambo, in Northern Madagascar. Bv Dr. G. HARTLATTB. [Received January 20, 1880.] ARDEA RUTENBERGI, n. sp. Pileo et nucha cristata nigro-ceneis ; fascia postoculari rufe-scenti- fulva, alteraque inferiore latiore et breviore pileo conco-lori; coflo postico et laterali, pectoris lateribus abdomineque medio obscure cinerascentibus, nonnihilfulvo-brunuescenti lavatis mento et gula albidis, maculis nonnullis rufescentibus longitudi-naliter notatis ; collo antico superiore in fundo rufescenti-fulvo, maculis obscurioribus irregulariter vario ; inferiore, pectore epigastrio mediis ex aurantiaco fulvescentibus; abdomine imo, crisso et subcaudalibus eodem colore lavatis ; dorso, tergo, uropygio scapularibusque (subelongatis et sublanceolatis) nitide ceneo-viridibus, his strictissime et vix conspicue rufescenti marginatis ; alarum tectricibus omnibus ceneo-virescentibus, dilute rufescenti marginatis ; remigibus obsolete virescentibus, limbo apicali strictissimo albido ; subalaribus albo et rufescenti variis cauda virescente ,- pedibus fuscis; maxilla fusco-nigricante, mandibula flavido-pallida, tomiis obscuris. Long, rostr. a fr. 62 millim., alee 190, tarsi 57, dig. med. c. ung. 53. This new Heron is a typical member of the Butorides group (A. virescens, scapularis, javanica, etc.), and will take its systematic position next to its nearest ally, Ardea atricapilla. The differential characters of this new bird are very striking ones, and such that to confound it with any of the congeneric species seems out of the question. The neck and sides of the head, which are of a pure and light bluish grey in A. atricapilla, are of a dull brownish grey with an indistinct rufous hue in our new species. The marginal linings of the wing-coverts, whitish in A. atricapilla, are of a fine light fulvous-red in A. rutenbergi. The underparts, pale bluish grey in A. atricapilla, are of a darker brownish grey with a conspicuous shade of ochraceous, and the foreneck and middle of breast are rather of a |