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Show 1894.] THE SECRETARY ON APPITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. 595 Mr. Johnston writes to me as follows respecting this animal:- " This is the history of the Black Monkey. He was brought from the country of Burundi, at the north end of Tanganyika, by Rumaliza, the Arab who has been fighting recently with tbe Belgians. Rumaliza gave it at Ujiji to Mr. Swanu, then in the service of the London Missionary Society. Mr. Swann brought him down to the south end of Tanganyika, and gave him to the Mission Station. The missionary in charge of the station, subsequently hearing that I was collecting all sorts of beasts, sent him to me. I got him fetched down from Tanganyika to Zomba, and thence, as you know, to England. He is undoubtedly a native of the country at the north end of Lake Tanganyika : in other words, of the north-eastern border of the great forest-region of West Africa. Even there he would seem to have been rare, since he was given by the natives to Rumaliza as a curiosity." 3. A young male White-tailed Gnu (Connochcetes gnu), born in the Menagerie on June 23, being the produce of the male and one of the females that were purchased of Mr. C. Reiche, March 7, 1893 (see P. Z. S. 1893, p. 325). This is the first occasion of this Antelope having bred in the Society's Gardens. The registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of July were 106 in number; of these, 48 were acquired by presentation, 10 by purchase, 4 by exchange, 26 by birth, and 18 were received on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period by death and removals was 97. Among these special attention may be called to the following :- 1. A fine female Eland of the striped form (Oreas canna living-stonii), from the Transvaal, obtained by purchase July 10th, being the first individual of this variety received by the Society. 2. T w o Giant Tortoises from the Aldabra Islands (Testudo elephantina), presented by Rear-Admiral W . R. Kennedy, F.Z.S., July 12th. 3. A young male Pleasant Antelope (Tragelaphus gratus), bred in the Zoological Gardens, Hamburg, received July 27th. The following extract from a letter received from Admiral Kennedy gives particulars respecting the Tortoises :- " B y the kindness of Capt. Cragie, R.N., H.M.S. 'Crescent,' I am able to send you the two Giant Tortoises I promised you some time ago. They are now in very fine condition and very tame ; I have kept them in our grounds at Trincomalee, where they were very happy and had plenty to eat. I also gave them pumpkins, cabbage-leaves, bananas, Cape gooseberries, &c. In the wild state they feed on cactus and jungle-leaves. " These two are male and female ; the former weighs 178 lbs., the latter 162 lbs. " They are of an inoffensive and affectionate disposition and will probably breed, as the female laid an egg some time ago. I am sure you will value and appreciate these rare and curious creatures. I estimate their ages at about 50 years, but this is mere guess- 40* |
