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Show Iii any case the tracheal lung does not exist in Amphisbcena brasiliana. The trachea opens into the lung some way behind the heart, and is only continued into the lung for a very short way. The short portion of tlie trachea which lies within the lung shows an irregularity in the cartilaginous rings, which are no longer uniform hoops. The rudimentary right lung is exactly half an inch long, and, like the long left lung, extends for a short way in front of the entrance of the trachea. The left lung reaches down the body as far as the end of the liver. Of the lung of Amphisbcena (presumably the species fuliginosa) Dr. Wie-dersheim writes in the same work (referred to in footnote) : " Die Lunge, deren interessantes Verhalten zur Trachea icli friilier schon erwahnt habe, ist insofern holier entwickelt als diejenige der Lacertilier, als es kein einheitliches centrales Lumen mehr besitzt, sondern von einem feinen Balkchennetz durch-llochten ist." The lung, in fact, of that species would appear to resemble that of higher Reptiles, such as the Croc-odilia. In Amphisbcena brasiliana, there is nothing of the kind to be seen. The lung is a simple sac as in Lizards generally. It has not, indeed, even traces of a more complex structure, such as are to be found in many Lacertilia. The walls show the usual honeycomb appearance, and they are fairly thick, which would seem to allow of a considerable inflation of the lung. These important differences between two species placed in the same genus would seem to suggest that the genera of Ampliisbfenidfe need revision. They are remarkably analogous, as I have observed, to the differences which distinguish the Hamadryad Snake from the Cobra ; and these two are by many authorities confounded in one genus *. 1 9 0 5 .] THE SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. 4 8 9 December 12, 1905. H oward Sa u n d e r s , Esq., Vice-President, in the Chair. The Secretary read the following report 011 the additions that had been made to the Society's Menagerie in November 1905 :-■ The number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of November was 147, of which 64 were by presentation, 24 by birth, 9 by purchase, 35 were received on deposit and 15 in exchange. The number of departures during the same period, hy death and removals, was 166. Amongst the additions attention may be called to :- An Abyssinian Guereza (Colobus abyssinicus matschiei) and a White-tailed Mongoose (Herpestes albicauda) from the Upper Nile, presented by Mr. J. J. Harrison, on Nov. 3rd. A Water-Chevrotain (Dorcatherium aquaticum) from Liberia, * See Beddard, " On the Trachea &c. of the Hamadryad," P. Z. S. 1903, vol. ii. |
