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Show 590 DR. A. B. MEYER ON PASTOR ROSEUS. [Nov. 4» The most noticeable additions during the month were :- I. Two Purple Porphvrios (Porphyrio cceruleus), presented by J. I. S. Whitaker, Esq., F.Z.S., of Palermo. These are the first specimens of the South-European Porphyrio received by the Society direct from Sicily, where they are said to be not uncommon in the marshes of the south-eastern portion of the island. 2. A young female of Speke's Antelope (Tragelaphus spekii), presented by James A. Nicolls, Esq., October 14th, being the first specimen of this rare and little-known Antelope that has reached Europe alive. The specimen was captured in the marshes north of Lake Ngami by Mr. Nicolls and his companions, under circumstances mentioned in that gentleman's letters to the ' Field' newspaper x, and was carried in their waggons 800 miles to Kimberley, whence it was brought to this country by rail and steamer. We have placed it in a sheltered compartment of the Gazelle sheds and covered the yard with dried peat fibre, as its peculiar elongated hoofs render it hardly able to move on a smooth surface. The accompanying sketch by Mr. Smit (Plate XLVII.) will give a good idea of the external form of this Antelope. It will be observed that the animal, although not much more than two years old, is nearly free from bars and spots. 3. A female Bay Colobus (Colobus ferrugineus), purchased of a dealer, October 16th, which, however, I regret to say, did not live many days in the Menagerie. This is the first specimen of this well-marked Colobus which I have ever seen alive. The sketch, which I exhibit, by Mr. Smit (Plate XLVIII.) will give a good idea of its appearance in life. This is a West-African species, of which positively ascertained localities are Gambia (Rendall) and Gold Coast (Pel). The Secretary exhibited, on behalf of Dr. A. B. Meyer, C.M.Z.S., a coloured photograph of a singular variety of the Rose-coloured Pastor (Pastor roseus) with a red head, and read the following note from him on the subject:- " It is well known that the invasion of Europe by the Rose-coloured Pastor in 1889 was repeated this year and that Bulgaria was again overrun with flocks of this bird. They arrived near Sofia on June the 4th, the same day as they made their appearance in the previous year. They came from the east, were observed in Philippopel, and bred again 8 km. south of Sofia, at Knjajevo, in flocks numbering altogether about 30,000. In 1889 the eggs were so numerous that the inhabitants made omelettes of them. The birds are not at all shy, and one can approach to within about 10 feet of them without disturbing them. One specimen with a red head was caught alive and lived a fortnight in the possession of H.R.H. the Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria, who sent me the foregoing notes and the photo- 1 See " Travel and Sport along the Botletle Eiver and around Lake Ngami." ' Field,' Feb. 22, 1890, p. 289; March 1, 1890, p. 325; March 8, 1890, p. 363. |
