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Show 1884.] ON REPTILES ETC. FROM THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. 251 May 6, 1884. Prof. Flower, LL.D., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The Secretary read the following report on the additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of April 1884 :- The total number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of April was 220. Of these 43 were acquired by presentation, 61 by purchase, 7 were born in the Gardens, and 30 were received on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 128. The most noticeable additions during the month were:- 1. Two Nepalese Hornbills {Aceros nepalensis), purchased April 4th, being the first examples of this fine species of Hornbill that have been acquired by the Society. 2. A fine Gigantic Salamander of Japan (Megalobatrachus maximus), purchased April 23rd. No specimen of this Batrachian has been in the Society's collection for some time. The present example is about 2 feet 8 inches in length. 3. A series of animals collected by Charles T. Kettlewell, Esq., F.Z.S., during the voyage of the yacht 'Marchesa' in the Eastern Archipelago, amongst which were three examples of the Lesser Bird of Paradise (Paradisea minor) from Johie Island, and one of the White Cockatoo of the Philippines (Cacatua philippinarum), obtained at the Sooloo Islands-a new locality for this species. 4. A fine example of the Mediterranean Seal (Monachus albi-venter), an animal now growing scarce and difficult to procure, purchased April 26th. 5. A Banded Gymnogene (Polyboroides typicus), purchased April 30th. This is the first example of this very curious bird of prey that has been acquired for the collection. Professor Bell exhibited some specimens of Estheria melitensis sent from Malta by Captain Becner, R.A., and stated that, in answer to his inquiries, that gentleman had confirmed the fact of the males appearing to equal in number the females, as had been stated by previous observers of the members of the genus. Lieut.-Col. H. H. Godwin-Austen exhibited and made remarks on an old Indian drawing representing a Tiger-hunt, and called attention to the colour of one of the Elephants represented in it, which was of a creamy-white. A communication was read from Mr. G. A. Boulenger, F.Z.S., containino* an account of the Reptiles and Batrachians of the Solomon Islands. ° This memoir was based principally on two important collections made in the Solomon Islands and transmitted to the British Museum by Mr. H. B. Guppy of H.M.S. 'Lark' in 1883 and 1884, in which were found several new and interesting forms. |