OCR Text |
Show 1871.] MR. P. L. SCLATER ON ANIMALS IN THE MENAGERIE. 743 North-American form, Strix richardsoni, will present a similar asymmetry. In the ' Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia' for 1870 (p. 73), Mr. Streets states that in the collection of the Academy there are two asymmetrical skulls of an Owl, which he supposes to be S. acadica; and these, from the short description, seem to show exactly the same asymmetry as S. tengmalmi does. It is possible that this remarkable feature is not peculiar to S. tengmalmi and its transatlantic relative, but that it may appear in all the species of the group Nye tala. However, until this is proved, there is reason to suspect that the skulls described by Mr. Streets as belonging to S. acadica are rather those of S. richardsoni *. 6. Notes on rare or little-known Animals n o w or lately living in the Society's Gardens. By P. L. S C L A T E R , M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., Secretary to the Society.-Part Ill.f Reptiles. [Eeceived November 15, 1871.] The concluding portion of my notes written during the preparation of the new edition of the ' List of Vertebrates' (which I hope to have ready very shortly) relates to the Testudinata, of which group we have of late years received a considerable number of specimens. As regards the other Reptilia and the Batrachians, Dr. Giinther has always had the kindness to name them for us ; so that all doubtful specimens have been referred to his determination. In the arrangement and nomenclature of the Testudinata in the new edition of the ' List of Vertebrates' I have followed very nearly the system adopted by Dr. Straueh in his "Chelonologische Studien," Mem. Ac. St. Pe't. 'ser. 7, vol. v. (1862), and "Vertheilung der Schildkroten," ibid. vol. viii. (1865). 38. TESTUDO TABULATA, Walbaum. Dume'ril and Bibron J make Testudo carbonaria oi Spix a distinct species from this; and Dr. Straueh follows them in so doing. Dr. Gray, in his recent catalogue, throws the two species together. The examination of two Tortoises purchased for the Society's collection in February § last, which are since dead, leads me to believe that the former view is correct. As Dumeril and Bibron observe, the two animals are unquestionably very nearly allied. But Testudo carbonaria is recognizable by its much more compressed shape, blacker * [In justice to Herr Collett it should be observed that, with the exception of the concluding paragraph, the foregoing paper was in m y hands early in June, at which time, I believe, the Philadelphia 'Proceedings' for 1870 had not reached Europe.-A. N.] •J- See Part I. Mammals, antea, p. 221, and Part II. Birds, antea, p. 489. t Erp. Gen. ii. p. 99. § Purchased Feb. 3, 1871. |