| OCR Text |
Show 810 THE SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. [Nov. 16, November 16, 1897. Dr. A. GITNTHER, F.B.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. The Secretary read the following reports on the additions made to the Society's Menagerie during the months of June, July, August, September, and October, 1897 :- The registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of June were 178 in number. Of these 132 were acquired by presentation, 15 by purchase, 14 were received on deposit, 13 were bred in the Gardens, and 4 were received in exchange. The total number of departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 137. Amongst the additions the following are worthy of notice :- 1. T w o fine adult King Penguins (Aptenodytes pennantl), purchased out of a lot of five offered for sale by a dealer, on June 23rd. 2. A young female Orang-outang (Simla satyrus), brought home from Sumatra and presented by Dr. H. Dohrn, C.M.Z.S., on June 30th. The registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of July were 102 in number. Of these 34 were acquired bv presentation, 17 by purchase, 14 were received ou deposit, and 37 were bred in the Gardens. The total number of departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 143. Amongst the additions attention may be specially called to :- 1. A young pair of Babirussas (Bahlrussa alfurus), from Celebes, presented by H.G. The Duke of Bedford, F.Z.S., July 3rd. 2. A n example of the Thick-billed Penguin (Eudyptes pachy-rhynchus), from Stewart Island, N e w Zealand, deposited by the Hon. Walter Rothschild, F.Z.S., July 5th. 3. A very large example of Daudin's Tortoise (Testudo daudlnl), deposited by the Hon. Walter Eothschild on July 21st. This Tortoise, no doubt originally from the Aldabra Islands, is said to have been kept in captivity in Mauritius for about 150 years, and is believed to be the largest Land-Tortoise now living in the world. It is about 4 ft. 7 inches in length, 2 ft. 10 inches in breadth, and weighs about 5 cwt. The registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of August were 132 in number; of these 91 were acquired by presentation, 7 by purchase, 15 were received on deposit, 18 were bred in tbe Gardens, and 1 was received in exchange. The total number of departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 128. Amongst the additions attention may be specially called to:- 1. A male and two females of a large Deer from the Altai Mountains, probably referable to Cervus eustephanus, Blanford, received on deposit on August 10th, and apparently different in species from any Deer previously exhibited in the Society's series. |
