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Show 1891] MR. F. E. BLAAUW ON POEPHILA MIRABILIS. 465 The registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of September were 92 in number ; of these 61 were acquired by presentation, 17 by purchase, 4 by exchange, 3 were bred in the Gardens, and 7 were received on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period by death and removals was 79. Amongst the additions I may invite special attention to the following :- 1. A Dorsal Hyrax (Hyrax dorsalis) from Sierra Leone, presented by C. Burney Mitford, Esq., Colonial Treasurer, Sierra Leone, received September 3rd. This species is new to our list. It may be compared with the specimen of Hyrax capensis, which is now in the cage alongside of it. 2. A collection of animals from the territories of the Imperial British East Africa Company, presented by Keith Anstruther, Esq., of that Company's service. These comprise a specimen of a rare Monkey-the Mozambique Monkey (Gercopithecus rufo-viridis), of which no example has reached the Society since 1860. The present specimen is from the Kilimanjaro district. Mr. Anstruther also sent us a pair of Ostriches, of which only the female has reached us alive. It appears to belong to the form with blue naked skin named Struthio molybdophanes by Dr. Cabanis (J. f. O. 1884, p. 229). Mr. Keith Anstruther has recently changed his quarters from Taveta to Malindi, where Hippopotamuses are abundant, and has kindly undertaken to make every endeavour to procure for us a young pair of this animal, which we much require. 3. Two Cormorants from New Zealand, presented by the Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand, through the kind intervention of Captain F. H. Salvin, who is, as is well known, specially interested in birds of this group. These birds seem to be referable to the Pied Shag, Phalacrocorax varius (see Buller's 'Birds of New Zealand,' ed. 2, ii. p. 149, pi. xxxviii.), but do not quite agree with Sir W . Buller's description. 4. A young Agami Heron (Ardea agami) from Surinam, presented September 25th by Mr. Frank Fisher. This Heron is new to the Society's list. The Secretary exhibited, on behalf of Mr. F. E. Blaauw, C.M.Z.S., a stuffed example of a young Wondrous Grass-Finch (Poephila mirabilis), bred in captivity at his house (S'Graveland, Hilversum, Holland), together with a nest aud egg of this species, and read some extracts from his letter on the breeding of this bird :- " The male of m y pair of Poephila mirabilis is exactly like the bird represented in Gould's ' Birds of Australia.' The female is a little smaller and has no lengthened tail-feathers. The head at the first aspect looks black, but when examined closely is found to have a dark red glow, and even to have some dark red feathers. The breast is of a very pale bluish pink ; the rest of the plumage resembles that of the male, but all the colours are more indistinct. The young when they left the nest were conspicuous by the three beautiful 32* |
