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Show 1882.] MR. BOULENGER ON THE HELODERMA. 631 quired by presentation, 48 by purchase, 2 by birth,'and 13 were on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period by death and removals was 95. A pair of young River-Hogs (Potamochcerus africanus) from Zulu Land, presented by Col. J. H. Bowker, F.Z.S., and Mr. John Dunn, and received August 28th. These are a very interesting addition to the Society's series of Suidse. The total number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of September was 148; of these 81 were acquired by presentation, 33 by purchase, 7 by exchange, 6 were bred in the Gardens, and 21 were received on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period by death and removals was 87. The most interesting acquisitions of the month were :- 1. A n example of a species of Canis, said to have been received from the Amazons, and remarkable for its short coat and short ears. Being unable to identify this peculiar animal with any described form, I have given it the provisional name of the Short-eared Fox ( Canis microtis). Mr. Smit's sketch (Plate XLVII.) will give a general idea of this Canis, which can only be accurately described after death. It stands about 14 inches high over the shoulders; the body from the nose to the rump is about 30 in. in length and the tail 12 in. The short close fur is generally of a dark iron-grey, the hairs being whitish below and tipped with black ; the legs, feet, and tail are darker, nearly black ; the ears are short and pale rufous inside and out; the snout is of a darker rufous. 2. A cock and two hens of Elliot's Pheasant (Phasianus ellioti), from China, purchased of the Jardin d'Acclimatation of Paris, September 2/th. These are young birds, bred in France, and are the first specimens of this fine Pheasant that have reached us. 3. Eight Lemurs from Madagascar were received on deposit, September 30th. These animals belong to a species of Chirogaleus new to our Collection, apparently to C. coquereli (Poll, et v. Dam). The total number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of October was 121, of which 4 were by birth, 71 by presentation, 39 by purchase, 1 by exchange, and 6 on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period by death and removals was 152. Mr. Boulenger made the following observations on the subject of the Heloderma:- " A few days after the arrival of the Heloderma in the Society's Menagerie, I tried the effects of its poison on a Guinea-pig. The animal was bitten in the leg, and, after two or three minutes, fell into convulsions and died, exactly as if bitten by a Viper. Besides, no doubt could be entertained as to the poisonous nature of the Heloderma after the careful investigations recently made by Dr. |