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Show 1873.] MR. SCLATER ON BIRDS FROM NEW GUINEA. 557 from San Francisco agrees with a skull from Newfoundland, and with normal skulls of P. vitulina from the English coast. " The thickening of the lower jaw may be a sexual distinction. " A skull, unquestionably of a male, possesses it in a marked degree, while that of a female, apparently of nearly the same age, is slender. " I a m therefore disposed, so far as present evidence goes, to consider the so-called Halicyon richardsi simply a synonym of Phoca vitulina." Mr. Sclater read a paper on the Curassows, based mainly upon specimens now or lately living in the Society's Gardens, and containing details on their geographical distribution and on the variations of sex of the known species. This paper will be published in full in the Society's • Transactions.' Dr. A. Leith Adams read a memoir on the osteology of the Maltese fossil Elephants, in which was given the description of a large collection of remains discovered by him in Malta in the years 1860- 1866. Dr. Adams referred these remains to two distinct species- a larger (Elephas mnaidriensis) and a smaller (the E. melitensis of Falconer), and assigned E. falconeri oi Busk to a smaller form of the latter species. This paper will be published in full in the Society's * Transactions.' Mr. Sclater exhibited a series of new and rare birds, which had been transmitted to him for examination by Signor d'Albertis, and which formed part of the extensive collection of natural history made in N e w Guinea by that gentleman during his recent expedition in company with Signor Beccari. Amongst these were examples of both sexes of a new Paradise-bird belonging to the Epimachine section of the group, which Mr. Sclater proposed to name Drepanornis albertisi, after its discoverer, and native skins of an apparently new species of true Paradisea. These birds had been forwarded to Mr. Sclater through the intervention of Dr. G. Bennett, F.Z.S., of Sydney, who had translated Signor d'Albertis's notes respecting some of the more remarkable species as follows :- 1. PAROTIA SEXPENNIS. Although this species has been described many years, it is not yet accurately understood, having only been described from birds in a mutilated condition. M y observations have been made in the natural haunts of these elegant birds, from numerous specimens both living and dead. These birds are found in the north of N e w Guinea. I met with them about 30 miles from the coast, at an elevation of 3600 feet above the level of the sea, near Mount Arfak. I have never found |