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Show 1878.] DR. A. GUNTHER ON MIDIAN REPTILES. 977 latter had the teeth of Odontaspis, whereas the other had the teeth in the upper jaw furnished with cross serrations, approaching in this respect Galeocerdo, while the teeth in the lower jaw were more like those of Odontaspis. Mr. Sclater read a letter with enclosures from Mr. R. Davenport, of 124 Georgiana Street, Bury, whereby it appeared that there could be no doubt of the specimen of the Black-throated Wheatear (Saxicola stapazina) exhibited at the last meeting having been obtained in Lancashire, as there stated1. The bird was shot by M r. David Page, of 103 Spring Street, Bury, on or about the 8th May, 1875, whilst sitting on the ridge of the outbuildings belonging to the Bury Angling Association near the reservoir. It was taken in the flesh to Mr. Wright Johnson, of Prestwiek, to be mounted. Mr. Johnson had ascertained the sex by dissection to be male. The Secretary called attention to the error that had accidentally taken place in reference to the Collection of Butterflies from Billiton, on which Messrs. Salvin and Godman had reported in the last number of the Society's 'Proceedings' (antea, p. 637). The collection had been made and forwarded to England by Hr. J. G. F. Riedel, of Koepang, Resident of Timor and its dependencies. The following papers were read :- 1. On Reptiles from Midian collected by Major Burton. By Dr. ALBERT GUNTHER, F.R.S., F.Z.S. [Received October 31, 1878.] (Plate LXII.) Major Burton has kindly presented to the Trustees of the British Museum the zoological specimens collected by him in Midian2. The reptiles are five in number, viz. Gongylus ocellatus, Zamenis clif-fordii, Zamenis elegantissimus (sp. n.), Echis carinata, and Echis colorata (sp. n.),-all of which are characteristic of the Circum-mediterranean fauna. A toad proved to be the common Bufo vulgaris. Major Burton does not seem to have had the means of preserving any mammals and birds ; and it is to be hoped that travellers who may succeed him in the exploration of this interesting country will be more fortunate in this respect, as, at present, we are entirely ignorant of this part of the Midianitish fauna. ZAMENIS ELEGANTISSIMUS. (Plate LXII.) The body is moderately slender, head rather narrow, eye of moderate size. Rostral shield convex, reaching the upper surface of the head. The scutes of the upper surface of the head are not 1 Above p. 881. 2 See Burton's 'Gold-mines of Midian,' London, C. Kegan Paul & Co., 1878. |
