| OCR Text |
Show 1899.] MR. SCLATER ON OVIBOS MOSCHATUS. 985 December 19, 1899. Dr. HENRY WOODWARD, LL.D., P.E.S., V.P., in the Chair. The Secretary read the following report on the additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of November 1899 :- The registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of November 1899 were 123 in number. Of these 35 were acquired by presentation, 8 by purchase, and 1 in exchange, 78 were received on deposit, and 1 was born in the Gardens. The total number of departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 110. Amongst the additions attention may be specially directed to the two Snake-Pishes (Polypterus senegalus) from the Eiver Gambia, obtained by Mr. J. S. Budgett, P.Z.S., during his recent expedition to the Gambia, and presented by him on Nov. 22nd. These are believed to be the first examples of this remarkable fish ever brought alive to Europe. On behalf of Mr. G. S. Mackenzie, P.Z.S., a photograph was exhibited of two remarkably large tusks of the African Elephant (Elephas africanus) recently sold at Zanzibar, and stated to have been obtained in the district of Kilimanjaro. They each measured, on the outside curve, 10 feet 4 inches in length, and weighed respectively 235 lbs. and 225 lbs. Mr. Sclater exhibited the hind portion of the skin of a Giraffe, which had been shot on the east bank of the Great Loangwa Eiver, Northern Ehodesia, in latitude 13° South, and read the following extract from a letter on the subject addressed to him by Mr. Alfred Sharpe, dated Zomba, June 14th, 1899 :- " As you know, there have been from time to time reports of Giraffes existing north of the Zambezi on the Loangwa, but no one has been able actually to verify this until now. This skin was sent to Mpeseni's while I was there, the beast having been shot by a prospector. H e stated that they were not plentiful at all, and were restricted in area, but that he had seen a herd of 35. The skin was sent down to Capt. Chichester, aud was not complete, as it consisted of the hind-quarters only, but possibly this will be sufficient for determination as to whether it belongs to a different variety from the S. African Giraffe." Mr. W . E. de Winton, P.Z.S., who had examined this specimen, was of opinion that it was decidedly referable to the Southern form (Giraffa capensis). Mr. Sclater stated that during a recent visit to Woburn he had had the pleasure of inspecting, under the guidance of the President, two young male Musk-oxen (Ovibos moschatus) which had been |
