OCR Text |
Show 1868.] LETTER FROM DR. R. A. PHILIPPI. 531 fowl (Pavo nigripennis, Sclater*), and had subsequently ascertained that this was the ordinary species of Cochin-China. In reference to the Elaphurus, the Secretary announced that the two adult specimens of Elaphurus davidianus, which had been presented to the Society at Pekin by Mons. H . de Bellonnet, had died at Pekin before they could be sent to this country ; but that the skin and skeleton of one of them had been sent home and safely received. The Council had presented the complete skeleton of this rare mammal, being the first specimen of it that had ever been received in this country, to the Royal College of Surgeons, and the skin to the British Museum. Two pairs of shed horns had been likewise received along with the skeleton, and were exhibited at the Meeting. A letter was read, addressed to the Secretary by Mr. Gerard Krefft, C.M.Z.S., dated Australian Museum, Sydney, April 1st, and enclosing some photographs of a large specimen of a Skate of the genus Cephaloptera, recently captured near Sydney. The body of this fish, from the snout to the anus, was stated to measure 4 feet 10 inches, and the tail 2 feet 8 inches. The species was believed to be undescribed, and further particulars were promised. Mr. Sclater read an extract from a letter addressed to him by Dr. W . Peters, F.M.Z.S., in reference to a Pteropine Bat acquired by the Society on the 29th April, 1867, and subsequently deceased. This Bat had been entered in the Society's register as Pteropus argentatus, Gray (see P. Z. S. 1867, Appendix, p. 1037). Dr. Peters, to whom the specimen, when dead, had been sent for more accurate examination, had determined it to be Pteropus hypomelanus, Temm. (cf. Peters, Monatsb. Berl. Ac. 1867, p. 320), of Ternate. It had been recently ascertained that the true locality of this specimen was not "China" (as given in the Society's Report for lb68, p. 25), but that it had been captured at sea by a vessel coming from China. Mr. Sclater read extracts from letters received from Dr. R. A. Philippi, C.M.Z.S., dated Santiago, M a y 30th and July 16th, and containing some remarks upon Mr. Sclater's article upon the " Birds of Chili," published in the Society's 'Proceedings' for 1867, p. 319. Of his Anas iopareia Dr. Philippi had procured but one specimen, and believed now that it was probably a bastard between the common Anas and Anas moschata. Erismatura vittata he acknowledged was merely the young of E. ferruginea, as already suggested by Mr. Sclater (I. c. p. 336). Some of the birds mentioned in Mr. Sclater's list were considered by Dr. Philippi to be not Chilian, such as Progne * P. Z. S. 1860, p. 221, et 1863, p. 123. See Mr. Darwin'i remarks on the interest attached to this species, 'Animals and Plants under Domestication,' vol. i. p. 290. |