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Show 1891.] DISCUSSION O N F A U N A O F BRITISH C E N T R A L AFRICA. 301 May 5, 1891. Prof. Flower, C.B., 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 :- The registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of April were S3 in number. Of these 37 were acquired by presentation, 23 by purchase, 11 by exchange, 6 were born in the Gardens, and 6 were received on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 73. The most noticeable additions during the month were :- 1. An adult male example of what appears to be the Lesser Orang (Simla morio) of Owen, P. Z. S. 1836, p. 92 *, presented by Commander Ernest Rason, R.N., and received at the Gardens on April 15th. Commander Rason writes to m e that he obtained this animal at Kuching, Sarawak, from some natives, who brought it to him suspended from a pole after the manner of a Sloth. At first it was extremely savage and tried to bite, but soon became comparatively tame, and after a week would allow itself to be carried about and made a pet of. After three months' time he says "George," as he calls the animal, does not seem to have grown in height at all, and, judging by the look of his teeth, must be about ten years old ; but having had plenty to eat and little exercise has grown much fatter. Simia morio is generally stated to differ from the larger S. satyrus not only in its smaller size but also in the entire absence of cheek-callosities, which are certainly not apparent in the present specimen. The skull is also stated to be quite different from that of the larger form. 2. An example of the Great-billed Tern (Phaethusa magnirostris) from South America, obtained by purchase. This Tern is new to the collection. Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell read notes on some Slugs of the Ethiopian Region, based on specimens in the collection of the British Museum. It having been arranged that a special discussion should be held on the Fauna of British Central Africa, Mr. S C L A T E R opened the subject with the following remarks: - " British Central Africa " is the official name for that portion of East-African territory under the British sphere of influence which is situated immediately north of the Zambesi. On the south it is bounded mostly by the Zambesi, a corner between the Zambesi and the Lower Shire having been cut off for the benefit of the Portuguese, while to the east of the Shire the Ruo forms the southern border. From the highest affluents of the Ruo the boundary runs north to Lake Shirwa, and thence in a slanting line to the eastern bank of Lake Nyassa, which it reaches at about 13° 50' S. lat. The whole of 1 See also Eajah Brooke's Note on this subject, P. Z. S. 1841, p. 55. PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1891, No. XXI. 21 |