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Show 1878.] THE SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. 789 The registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of July were 154 in number; of these 68 were acquired by presentation, 45 by purchase, 7 by exchange, 18 were bred in the Gardens, and 16 were received on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period by death and removals was 108. The most noticeable additions during the month were: - 1. A male Beatrix Antelope (Oryx beatrix), presented 10th July, 1878, by Commander F. M . Burke, of B. I. S. N. SS. 'Arcot.' Capt. Burke writes me that he obtained this animal at Jeddah from a friend of his, who received it as a present from the Shereff of Mecca. It had been originally captured in the neighbourhood of Tyeff or Tayf, some 150 miles E.S.E. from the Red Sea, in the Hedjaz passes. I am sorry to have to add that this interesting animal (so far as I know, the third * specimen of its species known) reached the Gardens in a very poor state of health, and died shortly afterwards. 2. A fine young female Orang (Simia satyrus) received in exchange from the Zoological Gardens of Calcutta, July 27th. The registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of August were 117 in number. Of these 40 were acquired by presentation, 12 by purchase, 13 were bred in the gardens, 14 were obtained by exchange, and 38 were received on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 116. The most noticeable additions during the month were:- 1. One Spanish Blue Magpie (Cyanopolius cooki), presented August 2nd, by Lord Lilford, F.Z.S. 2. A young example of the Prairie-Wolf of North America (Canis latrans), presented by Prof. C. M.Vincent, F.G.S., F.R.G.S., August 21st. Both these species are new to the Society's collection. 3. Three hybrid Boas, bred between a male of Chilobothrus inornatus and a female Epicrates anyulifer, and born on the 30th of August. There can be no question about the paternity of these curious hybrids, as there is no male Epicrates in the collection, and the Chilobothrus was observed in copula with her in March or April last. The three young ones were brought forth alive on the 30th of August; and six eggs, more or less decomposed, came away subsequently. So far as I know, hybridism among the Ophidians in captivity has not yet been recorded, and in this instance is the more singular as occurring between species of different genera. The total number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of September were 85 in number ; of these, 43 were acquired by presentation, 4 by purchase, 13 by birth, and 1 For a notice of two previous specimens, see P. Z.S. 1857, p. 158, Mamm., pl. Iv., and P. Z. S. 1872, p. 603. P R O C ZOOL. Soc.- 1878, No. LII. 52 |
