Proceedings of the Scientific Meetings of the Zoological Society of London 1869

Page 648

602 MR. SCLATER ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. [Dec. 9, 11. Description of a New Species of Dacelo from North­western Australia. By J O H N G O U L D , F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., &c. I have long had in my collection a pair of a species of Dacelo which I could not satisfactorily determine ; but not having a sufficient series of Dacelo cervina for comparison, I have hesitated to describe it as new. Having, however, recently obtained several examples of the last-named bird, I find that the species from North-western Aus­tralia is quite distinct, and I therefore propose for it the name of DACELO OCCIDENTALIS, sp. nov. D. affinis D. cervinae sed diversa, rostro multo robustiore, colori-bus pallidioribus, et preecipue pogonio externo rectricis extima-conspicue albo fasciato distinguenda. Long. tot. 16 0, rostri 3*2, al. 7*5, caud. 4*5 poll. Angl. December 9, 1869. Dr. E. Hamilton, V.P., in the Chair. Mr. Sclater made some remarks on recent additions to the Society's Menagerie, amongst which were particularly noticed :- 1. A Two-toed Sloth, obtaiued at Panama by Mr. C. Gilman of the R.M.S. 'Neva,' and purchased of him for the Society's Mena­gerie on the 29th of September. Mr. Sclater believed that this Sloth, which was obviously distinct from the common Cholcepus didactylus associated with it in the collection, might ultimately be found to be referable to the newly described Cholcepus hoffmanni of Peters*, but was unable to decide this question positively from an examination of the living specimen. 2. Two Persian Gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa), presented by Thomas Kerr Lynch, Esq., on the 1st of October, being the first examples of this rare Gazelle that had been received by the Society since those received in 1852, and figured in Wolf and Sclater's ' Zoological Sketches' (vol. i. pl. 22). 3. A female of the Cape Ant-bear (Orycteropus capensis), from the same locality as the male of this animal, purchased October 6th. This example has been placed along with the male purchased on the 18th of June last; and the pair seemed thriving and likely to do well together. 4. A Say's Snake (Coronella sayi) from North America, pur­chased 15th of October, being the first example of this species exhi­bited alive. 5. A second example of the Collared Fruit-bat (Cynonycteris collaris) from Natal, purchased November 1st. * Monatsb. Berl. Acad. 1858, p. 128, and 1864, p. 678.