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Show 396 MR. R. TRIMEN ON LANIARIUS ATROCROCEUS. [May 3, on each side. Pseudobranchia largely developed. Colours-After about five years' maceration in spirit the colours are now, rich brown with numerous round dull yellow spots, broader than the interspaces, on the head and upper half of the sides. Fins darker brown. May 3, 1887. Dr. Edward Hamilton, Vice-President, in the Chair. The Secretary read the following report on the additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of April 1887 :- The total number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of April was 99. Of these 14 were by birth, 50 by presentation, 15 by purchase, 8 by exchange, and 12 were received on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 97. The most noticeable additions during the month were :- 1. Two young Polar Bears ( Ursus marilimus), presented by Joseph Monteith, Esq., received April 16th. 2. Two Crested Ducks (Anas cristata) from the Falkland Islands, received April 16th, presented by Frederick E. Cobb, Esq., C.M.Z.S. This species is new to the Society's Collection of Waterfowl. The following extracts were read from a letter addressed to the Secretary by Mr. Roland Trimen, F.Z.S., dated "South-African Museum, Cape Town, 29th March, 1887":- " I know that you and other ornithologists will be interested in hearing that a second example of Laniarius atrocroceus, Trimen (see Proc. Zool. Soc. 1880, p. 623, pl. lix.), has been obtained. " It was brought to me yesterday for comparison with the original type specimen by Mr. A. W . Eriksson, who shot it on the Matlabast River, a stream not far north of the junction of the Marico with the Limpopo, and itself a tributary of the latter. "The label attached to this second known specimen (a<$) notes that its iris is ' lavender, with a narrow dark brown line next the pupil,' and that it was shot about ten miles from the locality where the late Dr. Biadshaw shot the first example. I can detect no difference between the two specimens. " Mr. Eiiksson gave me a graphic account of his discovery of the bird. L. atrococcineus was common in the locality, and when Mr. Eriksson first caught sight of the L. atrocroceus it was quarrelling with an individual of that most closely allied bird. The note of the L. atrocroceus exactly resembled that of the L. atrococcineus ; and this seemed to annoy the latter, who was the assailant in the squabble. When the L. atrocroceus resisted, it seemed to get the better of the other. So intent were the two birds on their contest that they for some time disregarded Mr. Eriksson's presence, and kept so close to him in a thorny brake that he could not fire without too great a risk |
