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Show 1887.] MR. G. A. BOULENGER ON A NEW SNAKE. 397 of damaging the L. atrocroceus. At length (several interlacing branches partly screening the birds) he ventured a shot, and had the satisfaction of securing the prize in excellent condition. The L. atrococcineus still kept in close proximity, apparently looking out for his opponent. Mr. Eriksson shot this specimen also, in order to make sure of its being a male. "This discovery of a second example of L. atrocroceus in a locality so little removed from that of the first is of much interest; and in the complete ahsence of any record of so conspicuous and striking a bird from any other part of Africa, tends strongly to localize the race or variety within very narrow limits. [The sex of Dr. Brad-shaw's specimen was not ascertained.] " The case of this Laniarius seems much to resemble those of the singular form of Cheetah (Felis lanea of Sclater), of which only five specimens are known, all from the very limited area of Nel's Point, in the Beaufort District of the Cape Colony, and the equally aberrant Leopard (F. pardus, L., var. melas; see Trimen, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 535, and Gunther, P. Z. S. 1885, pl. xvi. p. 243), of which only three examples are known, from the neighbourhood of the Koonap River, in the Fort-Beaufort District on the eastern side of the Cape Colony. It is very noticeable that, in all three cases, the abnormal form does not replace the normal one to which it is so nearly related, but occurs in the midst of the latter, quite isolated, yet appearing to maintain and perpetuate (albeit in but very few individuals) its peculiarities of colouring or of pattern." Mr. J. Jenner-Weir, F.Z.S., exhibited and made remarks on the skull of a feral Boar (Sus scrofa) recently obtained at Tauranga, N ew Zealand, by Mr. Arthur J. Vogan. The animal was supposed to be a descendant from those introduced by Capt. Cook. The skull was intended for the British Museum. The following papers were read - 1. On a new Snake of the Genus Lamprophis now living in the Society's Gardens. By G. A. B O U L E N G E R . [Eeceived March 29, 1887.] (Plate XXXIV.) Among some S.-African Reptiles recently presented to the Society bv the Rev. G. II. R. Fisk was a lovely little Snake, to which its sender directed particular attention, suspecting it to be new, and expressing the desire that, should this be the case, it should be ' PROC. ZOOL. S O C - 1887, No. XXVII. 27 |