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Show 186 MR. W. K. PARKER ON CROCODILUS PALUSTRIS. [Mar. 16, March 16, 1880. Dr. A. Gunther, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. The Secretary made the following report on the additions to the Society's Menagerie during February 1880:- The total number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of February was 102, of which 14 were by birth, 37 by presentation, 42 by purchase, and 9 on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period, by death and removal, was 75. The most noticeable additions during the month were:- 1. Two female Thars (Capra jemlaica), mother and young, presented by H.R.H. the Prince of Wales on the 5th February, 1880. The mother is the same animal that was brought home by the Prince of Wales on his return from India in 1876, and was deposited for some time in the Society's Gardens'. The young female was born whilst the mother was in the Society's Gardens. The male, which arrived at the same time, is unfortunately dead; so that another male of this species would be a very desirable acquisition to the Society's Menagerie. 2. Two Burrhel Wild Sheep (Ovis burrhel), purchased February 19th, being the first examples of this fine Himalayan Sheep that have been acquired by the Society. Mr. W. K. Parker exhibited the eggs and embryos of some Crocodiles (Crocodilus palustris) obtained in Ceylon by Dr. W . R. Kynsey, Principal Medical Officer of Colombo, and kindly placed at Mr. Parker's disposal for embryological investigations by Sir Joseph Fayrer, F.Z.S. Mr. Parker read the following notes on the breeding of this Crocodile by S. Waytialingam, the native Assistant at the Civil Hospital, who had formed the collection:- " 13th September, 1879. ""I have been giving m y close attention for the last two months to the eggs of Crocodiles. I find they commence to lay eggs in the months of June, July, and August, particularly in the former two months. They do not lay in muddy places, but always select sandy soil. They go far from the embankments of the tanks or pools in which they live in search of such suitable soils; and I have seen places where they have laid eggs at distances of from a quarter to half a mile from their water-places, where they live in holes made for themselves for the time being. " They always try, if possible, to secure a part of the jungle unfrequented either by men or cattle. " They make, first, a large hole for themselves to live in during the day in order to watch their eggs, and then make a small hole near and sometimes at the very mouth of the previous one, and lav the 1 See P. Z. S. 1876, p. 464. |
