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Show 476 THE SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. [Nov. 4, acceptable addition to the Collection, as we have just lost our specimen of the Cape Sea-Lion, which was presented to the Society by Sir Henry Barkly, C.M.Z.S., and lived nearly thirteen years in the Gardens. 4. A n African Barbet of the genus Trachyphonus, purchased July 29th, being the first example of this form of Barbet we have received alive. The bird appears to belong to Trachyphonus purpuratus of West Africa, but is not quite in adult plumage. The total number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of August was 143 ; of these 85 were acquired by presentation, 41 by purchase, 4 by birth, 2 by exchange, and 11 were received on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period by death and removals was 137. The following are of special interest:- 1. A Somali Wild Ass (Equus asinus somalicus), from Somali Land, received in exchange August 11th. I propose to give a description of this apparently new form of Wild Ass in a subsequent communication. 2. Two Blue Snow-Geese (Chen ccerulescens), from Alaska, obtained by purchase August 11th. These are the first examples of this fine species which have been exhibited in the Society's Gardens. 3. A Flying Gecko (Ptychozoon homalocephalum), from Java, and six Black-spotted Toads {Bufo melanostictus), also from Java. They were presented to the Society by Dr. F. H. Bauer, C.M.Z.S., of Buitenzorg, Batavia. The total number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of September was 111; of these 57 were acquired by presentation, 22 by purchase, 9 by birth, and 23 were received on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period by death and removals was 119. Mr. Sclater exhibited the flat skin of a Cheetah, obtained at Beaufort West, South Africa, and forwarded to him by the Rev. G. H. R. Fisk, C.M.Z.S. Mr. Sclater observed that this skin agreed nearly with that of the animal formerly in the Society's Menagerie and described and figured by him in P. Z. S. 1877, p. 532, pi. Iv., as the Woolly Cheetah (Felis lanea), the skin of which is now in the British Museum. It was, however, rather smaller in size and more distinctly spotted, and perhaps not quite so densely furred, owing probably to the fact that the animal was, as Mr. Fisk believed, a female. Mr. Sclater was of opinion that this skin went to corroborate the existence of Felis lanea as a valid species, although he was assured by Mr. Oldfield Thomas that the skull of the specimen formerly in the Society's Gardens did not differ from that of the ordinary Cheetah. |