OCR Text |
Show 1874.] THE SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. 605 Total length 10*5 inches from tip of bill; bill from forehead 06 from nostrils 03, from angle of mouth 075, in width 0"25; bristles black, in length 0-4 ; wing from flexure 3 2 ; tail 3*6. Hab. Margins of scrubs and " opens," Rockingham Bay, Endeavour river, and N.E. coast. Description of the Egg of Chlamydodera maculata. In form elongated, tapering; shell thin and delicate, somewhat shining and smooth. Ground-colour of a delicate greenish-white tint, surrounded with narrow, wavy, twisted, irregular, thread-like lines of brown, dark umber, light umber brown, and a few blackish brown, which cross and recross each other, forming an irregular network round the centre and thicker end ; towards the thinner end they are not so closely interwoven, and light brown lines appear as if beneath the surface of the shell, also a few black irregular-shaped linear markings, much broader than the rest, show conspicuously against the pale greenish white ground; and here and there, over the whole surface, are scattered ill-shapen figures resembling twos, threes, and fives (2, 3, 5), of various tints of colour. Length 1-5 inch, breadth 1. For the first specimen of this rare egg I am indebted to m y friend J. B. White, Esq., who procured it at Springsure, some 200 miles inland from the N.E. coast. November 17, 1874. George Busk, Esq., F.R.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. The Secretary read the following report on the additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of October 1874 :- The total number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of October 1874 was 69 ; of which 4 were by birth, 29 by presentation, 24 by purchase, and 12 were received on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period by death and removals was 72. The most noticeable additions during the month of October were as follows :- 1. A Gentoo Penguin (Pygosceles taniatus) from the Falkland Islands, purchased October 22nd, being the first example of this species of Penguin received alive. 2. A Tooth-billed Pigeon (Didunculus strigirostris) from the Samoan Islands, deposited by Mrs. Boddam-Whetham, October 23rd, and subsequently presented to the Society by Mr. J. W. Boddam-Whetham. The Secretary exhibited the egg referred to by the Rev. S. J. Whitmee, in his communication read March 17, 1874 (see P. Z. S. 1874, p. 184), as that of Pareudiastes pacificus, and an accompanying egg of the Samoan Porphyrio. In a letter recently received Mr. |