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Show 36 THE SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. [Jail. 17, January 17, 1871. Professor Newton, F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. The Secretary read the following reports on the additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of December 1870 : - The total number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of December 1870 was 57, of which 1 was by birth, 12 were by presentation, 31 by purchase, 1 by exchange, and 12 were animals received on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 89. Amongst the additions the most remarkable were:- 1. A n example of the Amphiuma (Amphiuma means), purchased, Dec. 6th, of a dealer, and probably from one of the Southern States of North America. The Society have previously possessed two specimens of this animal, which were living in the Gardens from 1858 to 1861*. 2. A Praslin Parrakeet (Coracopsis barklyi, E. Newton, P. Z. S. 1867, p. 346, pl. xxii.), received in exchange Dec. 13th, being the second example of this rare Parrot acquired alive by the Society. 3. An example of Erxleben's Monkey (Cercopithecus erxlebeni, Dahlb. et Puch.), purchased Dec. 17th, and believed to be the first example of this rare and beautiful Monkey ever acquired by the Society. This species has been well figured by Dahlbaum in his ' Studia Zoologica' (plate v. fig. 12). The original describers were not acquainted with its exact locality. The present specimen, however, is certainly from some part of tbe West-African coast. 4. An example of the likewise rare Pluto Monkey (Cercopithecus pluto, Gray, P. Z. S. 1848, p. 56, M a m m . pl. hi.), purchased along with the last-named animal. 5. A small Tortoise of the genus Podocnemis from the Upper Amazons, purchased Dec. 16th, and certainly referable to P. unifilis of Troschel (Schomb. Guian. iii. p. 647). Mr. Edward Bartlett, who has met with this species in the same district, informs me that his specimens of it in the British Museum have been referred to the young of P. dumeriliana. This, I think, can hardly be correct. Butl shall have some further remarks to make on this subject in some notes, which I have in preparation, on the Tortoises living in the Society's Gardens. 6. A Piping Guan (Pipile cumanensis)f purchased Dec. 20th, having been obtained by Mr. H.A. Wickham during his recent voyage down the river Cassiquiare. The bird was unfortunately in poor condition, and lived but a few days, but was of interest as being the only example of this species received alive by the Society for many years. On concluding my series of reports upon the additions to the Society's Menagerie for the past year, I beg leave to take this oppor- * Two Amphiumas were purchased of Mr. Jamrach, Sept. 3, 1858. One died March 3, 1861, and the second May 1, 1861. t Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1870. p. 529. |