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Show 546 THE SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. [June 20, checphone" (i.e. Mesomyodian), having "the muscles of lower larynx quite indistinct." In three specimens, however, of that genus examined by m e I find a perfectly Oscinine syrinx with its muscles as well developed as in other birds of the same size. Whether the statement made by that author to the same effect about Sittella is accurate still remains to be seen. June 20, 1882. Prof. Flower, LL.D., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The Secretary read the following report on the additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of M a y 1882 :- The total number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of May was 159, of which 11 were by birth, 71 by presentation, 69 by purchase, 4 were received on deposit, and 4 by exchange. The total number of departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 102. The most noticeable additions during the month of May were as follows:- 1. Four Pygmy Hogs, Porcula salvania, Hodgson (one male and three females), purchased May 15th of Mr. B. H. Carew, who has kindly furnished me with the following notes on this rare and interesting animal:- " ThePygrry Hog is indigenous to the Western Dooars ofBhootan, where the few that are found live in the thickest grassy jungles, and are only now and then seen in the daytime when the jungle is burnt. The natives do not attempt to catch them when netting deer and pigs, on account of their size, as being so small they always escape through the meshes of the nets which are used for the capture of the larger animals. There are but few natives who know of the existence of these animals at all; and some of those who know them say they are very pugnacious and plucky, and are able in fighting to* defeat the wild boar ; but I should doubt the truth of this story. " The tracks of the Pygmy Hog are often found in the rice-crops (of the aborigines of the Dooar) which are cultivated in patches in the middle of the jungle. The animals come out of the jungle at night, and root up the paddy-crops like the wild boar. I believe they live on the same food as the wild boar. I used to feed my specimens when caged in India on ripe plantains and paddy. 1 had a separate partition made in the cage; and I filled it with straw, as I found they required warmth. I found afterwards that from the rice-straw they all got a sort of mange or itch ; so I had them rubbed well with sulphur and oil and changed the straw for dry grass. " When in India I sold a pair of these animals to the Cooch Behar Maharajah for a fancy price ; and he presented them to the Zoological Gardens in Calcutta. But on going to see them when I was in Calcutta, I was sorry to learn that they had both died. They had given me no trouble to keep as long as they were well and regularly |
