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Show 1876.] THE SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. 693 November 7, 1876. Prof. Newton, F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. The Secretary read the following reports on tbe additions to Society's Menagerie during the months of June, July, August, and September 1876:- The total number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of June was 156, of which 56 were by birth, 44 by presentation, 35 by purchase, 19 were received on deposit, and 2 by exchange. The total number of departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 149. The most noticeable additions during the month of June were as follows :- 1. Four Galapagan Tortoises (Testudo elephantopus), two of which were deposited by Sir C. Wyville Thomson, on the 7th of June, and two by Commander Cookson, R.N., on the 10th of June. These Tortoises were obtained by Commander Cookson, of H.M.S. ' Pet-erel,' under the circumstances stated in the letter read at the last Scientific Meeting of the Society, at Albemarle Island, Galapagos group. There is great interest attached to these large Tortoises, now almost extinct; and we have to thank Dr. Giinther for arranging for the deposit of the living specimens in the Gardens. The following are the present measurements of these animals:- Sex. 6 2 6 2 Weight. lb. 273 101 104 23* Length. ft. in. 3 3 2 4£ 2 1 1 3 Breadth. ft. in. 2 4 1 10 1 74. 1 0 Eeceived from H.M.S. ' Peterel. H.M.S. ' Challenger.' 2. Three Crows from Fao, one of the telegraph-stations at the head of the Persian Gulf, presented by M r . J. Huntley, in medical charge of the station, June 16th. These Crows apparently belong to an extreme form of the Hooded Crow (Corvus comix), which I have never previously seen, the whole body-colour, except on the head and neck and wings, being of a pure white. Mr. Huntley writes to m e as follows : - " A white crow, usually referred to as a wonder, especially in the East, is far from uncommon here. Doubtless you are familiar with its existence, though not a British bird. Deeming it a novelty, I have ventured to send three of them to your address, by kind favour of the Commander of the British Steam-Navigation Company's steamship 'Assyria,' which vessel is due in London about the 8th of June next. The bird is one bearing all the characteristics of the Hooded Crow, with the exception of its white feathers, which, from their resemblance to a surplice, have caused m e to designate it the Chaplain Crow." PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1876, No. XLVI. 46 |