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Show 220 LETTER F R O M DR. J. A N D E R S O N . [Apr. 28, Mr. Sclater had already read before the Society his notes on these two interesting birds (see anted, p. 162). 3. Four young Hornbills, which had been obtained by Mr. William Jamrach during his recent visit to Malacca and Sumatra, and appeared to be all young birds of the last breeding-season. Two of these Mr. Sclater had provisionally determined as being a male and a female of the Plait-billed Hornbill (Buceros plicatus), although it appeared possible that the smaller female bird obtained at Malacca might be referable to the nearly allied species Buceros subruficollis of Blyth, if, indeed, this were really to be considered distinct from B. plicatus. The third Hornbill, from Sumatra, appeared undoubtedly referable to the female of Buceros gracilis (Temm. Pl. Col. 535); the fourth to Buceros bicornis. 4. Four Burrowing Owls (Pholeoptynx cunicularia), presented by George Wilks, Esq., C.M.Z.S., of Buenos Ayres, and received March 19th, being the only specimens of this interesting species ever received, except the one previously presented by Mr. Wilks in 1868 (cf, P.Z.S. 1868, p. 261). 5. A Wood-loving Antelope (Cephalophus sylvicultrix), purchased of a dealer March 24th, and believed to be the first specimen of this beautiful Antelope, which was formerly living in the Knowsley Menagerie, ever received by the Society. Dr. E. Hamilton communicated the follow! lg extract from a letter lately received from his nephew, Capt. Francis Hamilton, of the 21st Regt., commanding detachment at Port Blair, Andaman Islands:- "All of us here have been much amused by the account of the so-called 'Andaman Monkey' (Macacus andamanensis) lately received by the Zoological Society*. But in point of fact there are no Monkeys indigenous to the Andaman Islands. One of the superintendents brought some Monkeys to this island (Ross), which got loose; and 'Andaman Jenny' is one of them. There are three others still left; they live among the commissariat sheds. There are two old ones and one young. They were brought from the mainland of Burmah." The following extract was read from a letter addressed to the Secretary by Dr. J. Anderson, F.Z.S., dated Indian Museum, Calcutta, 15th March, 1870:- " I have succeeded at last in procuring a specimen of the Irawady Dolphin from Bhamoo, six hundred miles from the sea. I am indebted to m y friend Capt. Burns for it. He found it newly stranded on an island opposite Bhamoo, and, according to m y instructions, had it packed in salt and arsenic and sent down by a special boat to Mandalay, whence it was forwarded to me by steamer. It arrived in capital condition after a journey of twelve hundred miles. " It belongs to the genus Globiocephalus, and internally has all the characters of G. indicus oi Blyth ; but its skull has certain well-marked features that separate it from the latter. * See P. Z. S. 1809, p. 4G7. |
