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Show 324 THE SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. [Apr. 16, apteria of Caprimulgus being very different from the characters of either of the other two. The median dorsal apterion is common to the three, and the general arrangement on the back is otherwise not so different as is that of the neck, or rather the difference is more one of degree ; for the broad saddle of the Humming-bird includes the lumbar and femoral tracts of Collocalia, and the apterion between is in part occupied by scattered feathers in the Goatsucker. As an instance of the great divergence of characters to be found in certain groups often more or less closely approximated to the Macrochires, under such names as Picarice or Coraciiformes, we may take the Kingfisher, than which it would be scarcely possible to find a bird whose pterylosis, at least, is in more striking contrast with those above described. The nearly complete and close feathering of the head, the junction of the occipital feathers with those of the strong posterior cervical tract, the separation of the latter from the dorsal tract, the numerous secondaries, the close feathering of the patagium-all these and other differences contrive to form a strong and evident contrast. O n the balance of evidence, I am inclined to think that the facts of pterylosis, so far as they go, tend to justify the association of the Humming-birds with the Goatsuckers and Swifts, and, if anything, to bring them somewhat nearer to the former than the latter of the last two. But I a m bound to confess that the evidence is confused and the judgment far from clear. There are many resemblances and many differences, and we are not yet in a position to decide what proportion of weight several characters deserve. • April 16, 1901. HOWARD SAUNDERS, Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. The Secretary read the following report on the additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of March 1901 :- The total number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of March was 106, of which 33 were made by presentation and 34 by purchase, 37 were received on deposit and 2 in exchange. The total number of departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 160. Amongst the additions special attention may be called to a male Tasmanian Wolf (Thylacinus cynocephalus), received in exchange on March 19th, this animal having now become extremely scarce and seldom seen in captivity. I may also call attention to the Indian birds presented to us on March 8th by M r . E. W . Harper, F.Z.S., of Calcutta, nearly all of which are new to the Society's series. |