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Show 1885.] MAJOR YERBURY ON CHAM.ELEO CALCARIFER. 833 November 17, 1885. Prof. W. H. Flower, LL.D., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The Secretary made the following report on the additions to the Society's Menagerie during October 1885 :- The total number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of October was 131, of which 102 were by presentation, 11 by purchase, 1 by birth, 3 were received in exchange, and 14 on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 84. Amongst these special attention may be called to :- 1. A collection of North-American Reptiles, presented by F. J. Thompson, Esq., amongst which are examples of the Alleghany Snake, Coluber alleghaniensis, new to the Society's Collection. 2. Two collections of Reptiles from the Cape Colony, presented by the Rev. G. H. R. Fisk, C.M.Z.S., amongst which is an example of a species of Elaps (Elaps hygia) from Uitenhage, Cape Colony, new to the Collection. 3. A n example of the Black-eyebrowed Albatross (Diomedea melanophrys), obtained in False Bay, Cape Colony, and presented to the Society by W . Ayshford Sanford, Esq., F.Z.S. Along with the Reptiles Mr. Fisk has sent us for the Insect House two curious Millipedes, believed to be referable to Spiro-streptus annulipes, which I have now the pleasure of exhibiting to the Meeting. In reference to the question as to the correct locality of Chamaleo calcarifer (supra, p. 717), the following extract was read from a letter addressed to the Secretary by Major S. W . Yerburv, dated July 12, 1885:- " In answer to your question about the Chameleon, there is no doubt of its locality, as I caught it myself, and I fancy that it is not uncommon in the neighbourhood of Aden. At any rate I met with it myself three times in three different places. On reference to my note-book I find the dates, localities, &c. to be as under:- "No. 1. Shaik Othman, 1st September, 1883. A large light green Chameleon with yellow-brown markings, 15 inches long, caught on a lime-bush in the garden of Hassan Ali's bungalow. After death the colour turned to dull grey. An Arab carpenter at work in the bungalow, who could talk a little Hindustani, told me that this Chameleon was to be found at the tanks in Aden, and that it was common in the jungle round ; he had an extraordinary story about its climbing up the legs of the cows and goats and sucking their udders. " No. 2. East branch Toban river, beyond Isfian, 29th December, 1884, I caught a large green Chameleon on a bush with pink flowers. " No. 3. Huswah, 15 March, 1885, I got a big Chameleon on a Salsola bush. |
