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Show 1867.] LETTER FROM DR. G. BENNETT. 473 May 9, 1867. George Busk, Esq., F.B.S., V.P., in the Chair. The Secretary called the attention of the Meeting to the following interesting additions to the Society's Menagerie:- 1. A-Vn example of the Parrot (Coracopsis barklyi) described by Mr. Edward Newton at the last Meeting of the Society, from Praslin Island, Seychelles ; presented to the Society by Swinburne Ward, Esq., H.M. Commissioner to the Seychelles, on the 8th ult. 2. A Tortoise from Digue Island, Seychelles (Sternotheerus sub-niger, Gray, P. Z. S. 1863, p. 195) ; presented by the same gentleman on the 23rd of March last. 3. A pair of K a Ka Parrots (Nestor hypopolius), from New Zealand ; presented to the Society by the Acclimatation Society of Canterbury, New Zealand, on the 25th of April. 4. A Boatbill (Cancroma cochlearia), obtained in exchange from the Zoological Gardens, Antwerp, on the 25th of April. 5. A male Ground-Hornbill, from West Africa (Bucorax abyssinicus) ; presented May 6th by C. B. Mosse, Esq., Staff-Surgeon ; and very acceptable, as the Society's collection had previously contained three females of this rare and interesting species. Mr. Sclater exhibited a skull of Tapirus bairdi, which had been forwarded to him by Capt. J. M . Dow, C.M.Z.S. This skull had been obtained on the side of the Volcan Viejo in Nicaragua, and was of great interest in proving that this species of Tapir extended its range northwards so far. Mr. Sclater also remarked that it would be of still greater interest now to ascertain to what species the Mexican Tapir was referable, it being well ascertained that a species of this genus occurs in the southern parts of Mexico*. A letter was read from Dr. G. Bennett, F.Z.S., dated Sydney, February 21st, and addressed to the Secretary, in which details were given respecting the rediscovery of Casuarius australis in Queensland, and photographs were enclosed of a specimen of this bird recently received by the Sydney Museum. Dr. Bennett's communication enclosed a copy of the following letter, addressed to the Editor of the ' Sydney Herald' by Mr. W . Carron, the only survivor of Kennedy's Expedition, during which the original example of Casuarius australis had been procured:- " Botanic Gardens, Sydney, 8th February, 1867. « SIR,-In the - Herald' of to-day is a letter from Mr. G. Krefft * " Our Museum " (i. e. that of Copenhagen) " possesses a very bad and much mutilated skin (without any bones) of a Tapir from Mexico (Oaxaca), brought back in 1843 by the late botanist Prof. Liebmann. It is indeed too bad to found any decisive opinion upon it; but I cannot find any difference between it and the common American Tapir (Tapirus americanus)."-Prof. R E I N H A R D T , in lift. |