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Show 1870.] THE SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. 667 9. MARECA CHILOENSIS (King). The Chiloe Widgeon also, although well known in collections, is new to our series of living Anatidce, and forms a fine addition to them. It is sufficiently well figured by Eyton in his 'Monograph' (pl. 31). The sexes (contrary to the usual rule in this section of the Anatidce) are coloured nearly alike. 10. GEOCLEMMYS ANNULATA, Gray. This Tortoise was described and figured by Dr. Gray in our 'Proceedings' (1860, p. 231, t. 29), from specimens obtained by Mr. Fraser on the coast of Ecuador. The present example was probably brought to Santiago from the coast of Peru or Ecuador, as Gay (Fauna Chilena, ii. p. 8) and other authorities assure us that no species of Chelonian is found in Chili. 11. TESTUDO ELEPHANTOPUS, Harlan. Dr. Gray has identified one of the two Tortoises which we obtained in the present collection with the above-named species, originally described by Harlan as coming from the Galapagos Islands. The present individual was probably imported into Chili from the same quarter as the Geoclemmys annulata, as Mr. Cope (Pr. Ac. Sc. Phil. 1868, p. 96) has recorded the occurrence of the species on the coast of Ecuador. 12. TESTUDO CHILENSIS, Gray. Testudo (Gopher) chilensis, Gray, Ann. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, vol. vi. p. 190. Dr. Gray has lately described this Land-tortoise, of which we received two specimens, as a new species, and has proposed to call it Testudo chilensis. I do not profess to be specially acquainted with the Testudinata; but I must observe that, if this species be really new, Dr. Gray has chosen a most unfortunate name for it; for, as already above mentioned, the best authorities deny the existence in Chili of any animals of this order; and, as we know several other species in the present collection were imported from different parts of the South-American continent, it is, of course, obvious that the same may have been the case with the present animals. Now Dumeril and Bibron (Erpetologie Generale, ii. p. 74) record the occurrence on the Rio Negro, in Northern Patagonia, of a species of Tortoise (Testudo stellata), to which the present animal, according to Dr. Gray, is very nearly allied; and Burmeister (La Plata-Reise, ii. p. 521) tells us that this T. stellata is common in the vicinity of Mendoza and all over the neighbouring pampas of the Argentine Republic. I have no doubt whatever, therefore, that the present Tortoises are from La Plata, and belong to the species called Testudo stellata by D'Orbigny and Burmeister. It is very probable that Dr. Gray may be right in separating the species from T. stellata of Africa; but it would have been better to have called it by some other name*. * For further remarks on this Tortoise, see Ann. Nat. Hist. ser. 4, vol. vi. p. 470. |