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Show 624 THE SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. [Nov. 7, Major Irby informs me that these Eagles were taken from the nest near Coto del Rey, about twenty miles from Seville. They were hatched about the third week in April of the present year, and were brought to Major Irby in the down. 5. A second specimen of the Tamandua Ant-eater (Tamandua tetradactyla), probably from Brazil, purchased of a dealer in Liverpool, June 27th. This animal appears to present well-marked points of difference from the Santa-Marthan specimen, acquired May 29th*. It is not possible to make an accurate comparison of these animals while alive; and I shall therefore beg leave to defer m y remarks on this subject to a future occasion. The total number of registered additions to the Society's Mena-gerie during the month of July 1871 was 98, of which 9 were by birth, 48 by presentation, 10 by purchase, 2 by exchange, and 29 were received on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 100. The more remarkable arrivals were as follows:- 1. Three Daubenton's Curassows (Crax daubentoni, G. R. Gray) from Tucacas in Venezuela-)-, presented July 11 th by Mr. A. War-mington, who has kindly favoured me with the following notes on them:- " The three Curassows (one male and two females) were captured at 'Maron,' near Tucacas, N.Venezuela, and at the present time are nearly two years old, having been taken from the nest when scarcely larger than a chicken of two months old. They soon became perfectly tame and would follow me about. When able to fly they made short flights, always returning quickly, and seldom alighting. At night they invariably roosted on the highest spot they could find in the home Coral. They are called by the natives • Poru.' Their cry is a sort of mournful prolonged whistle, and in the forest, when eight or ten are together, has a singular effect. It is not common to see these birds on the ground. When they alight in a tree they almost invariably utter their cry, and at the same time raise the tail-feathers fan-like, thus exposing the white plumage beneath, and offering a conspicuous and tempting mark for the sportsman. They are excellent eating. I have never heard of these birds breeding in confinement, though I cannot say they do not. The young ones are exceedingly beautiful delicate little creatures, marked very much like, and having a very similar appearance to, young Partridges or Quails. They become much attached to individuals who treat them kindly. These birds are common in all parts of Venezuela where there is a forest. The other, or blue-knobbed species J, is not so common, and is more difficult to domesticate." 2. A collection of Ceylonese animals, brought home on his return from Ceylon and presented to the Society by Mr. E. W . H. Holds- * See antea, p. 546, Pl. XLIII. t I have already noticed the arrival of this species from the same locality (P. Z. S. 1870, p. 671). Cf also Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 516. + Pauxi galeata, see P. Z. S. 1870, p. 520.-P. L. S. |
