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Show 1897.] ON THE EOSSIL VERTEBRATA OE SOUTH AMERICA. 311 March 16, 1897. Dr. W. T. BLANFORD, P.E.S., V.P., in the Chair. The Secretary read the following report on the additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of February 1897:- The total number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of February was 87, of which 32 were acquired by presentation, 5 by birth, 40 by purchase, 8 were received on deposit, and 2 in exchange. The total number of departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 74. Amongst the additions, attention may be called to a young female African Monkey of the genus Cercopithecus, from the Upper Benue Eiver, obtained by purchase on Feb. 2nd, which seems to be referable to C. tantalus, Ogilby, described in the Society's ' Proceedings ' for 1841 (p. 33) : also to Two Uvtean Parrakeets (Nymphicus uvceensls), from the Island of Uvea, Loyalty Group, obtained by purchase Feb. 16th (see P. Z. S. 1882, p. 408, pl. xxvi.): and to A second female hybrid Antelope, bred between Tragelaphus gratus <$ and T. spelcll $ , born Feb. 28th. The former hybrid between the same animals was born Feb. 12th, 1896 (see P. Z. S. 1896, p. 304). The period of gestation of the Antelope was ascertained to be eight calendar months. I take this opportunity of calling the attention of the Meeting to two Otters received by the Society on tbe 27th August last year (having been purchased of Mr. James Silcock, of Drummatti-connor Mills, Listdoor, Co. Down, Ireland), and now thriving and very tame in our Gardens. The Irish Otter was separated specifically from the English Otter (Lutra vulgaris) by Ogilby as long ago as 1834 (see P. Z. S. 1834, p. Ill) under the title of Lutra roensls, and I am not aware that the subject has been alluded to since except in reference to his observations (see Bell's ' British Quadrupeds,' p. 138, 1837). But it must be allowed that the Irish Otters which we now have seem to be rather different from the ordinary form, having the tail more flattened, a longer head, a more distinctly white under-lip, and a generally darker colour of the fur. It appears to me, therefore, that the matter is worthy of further investigation. If the Irish Weasel is specifically different from the British species, as believed by Mr. Thomas and other good authorities, why should not the Irish Otter be also distinct ? It would be well, therefore, that a series of the two forms should be carefully compared together. Mr. A. Smith Woodward, F.Z.S., gave an account of his recent visit to South America for the purpose of examining the Fossil Vertebrata of that country, and exhibited a series of photographs and fish-remains. His main object was to see the Museums and collections in the Argentine Eepublic, but on the way he was also |