Mr. Osbert Salvin exhibited and pointed out the character of a new genus and species of bird of the family Ampelidæ, from Costa Rica, and proposed to call it Phainoptila melanoxantha.
May 1, 1877.— Prof. Newton, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair.
Mr. Howard Saunders exhibited and made remarks on some nests and eggs of the Orphean Warbler (Sylvia orpheus), from the vicinity of Malaga, Spain. Amongst the eggs in each nest were one or two of larger size, supposed to be possibly the eggs of the Cuckoo. Mr. Howard Saunders also exhibited two skins of Dupont's Lark (Certhilauda Duponti) from the same locality.
Prof. St. George Mivart read a paper on the axial skeleton of the Pelecanidæ, selecting Pelecanus as his type and standard of comparison. Prof. Mivart first compared it, as regards its axial skeleton, with Struthio, and other Struthionidæ, and then compared the other Steganopodes with it and with one another.
A communication was read from Dr. M. Watson, Professor of Anatomy, Owen's College, Manchester, on the anatomy of Hyæna crocuta, in which he described the very peculiar conformation of the female generative organs of that animal.
Mr. A.G. Butler read a paper wherein he gave the description of two small collections of Heterocerous Lepidoptera, from New Zealand, recently brought to England by Dr. Hector and Mr. J.D. Enys.
A communication was read from Dr. O. Finsch, giving an account of a small collection of birds from the Marquesas Islands. Amongst these were three examples of a new species of Kingfisher, proposed to be called Halcyon Godeffroyi.
A communication from Mr. Frederick Smith contained descriptions of four new species of Ichneumonidæ in the collection of the British Museum. Amongst these was a new Bracon, remarkable for having its ovipositor more than nine times the length of its body. This was proposed to be called Bracon penetrator, and had been received from Yokohama, Japan.
Prof. A.H. Garrod read some notes on the anatomy and systematic position of the genera Thinocorus and Attagis, which he considered should be referred to the Limicolæ, in the neighbourhood of Glareola and Cursorius.
May 15, 1877.—Prof. Mivart, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair.
The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to the Society's Menagerie during the month of March, and called particular attention to a Ceylonese Fish-Owl (Ketupa ceylonensis) from Ceylon, presented April 4th by Capt. H.B. Turner; a female Antelope of an uncertain species, transmitted by the Sultan of Zanzibar, along with other animals, to the Prince of Wales, and deposited by His Royal Highness in
