Zoological Society. 229 



Geoff. ; the African Moufflon, Ovis Tragelaphus, Geoff., presented 

 by Sir Thomas Reade, His Majesty's Consul- General at Tunis ; and 

 a remarkably darkly coloured variety of the European Bear, Ursus 

 Arctos, Linn., presented by R. H. Beaumont, Esq. 



Among the Birds there have been added a pair of the pied Pigeon 

 of New Holland, Columba armillaris, Temm. ; a pair of the Caper- 

 cailzie or Cock of the Woods, Tetrao Urogallus, Linn., obtained from 

 Norway and presented to the Society by J. H. Pelly, jun., Esq. ; a 

 pair of the Buffonian Touraco, Corythaix Buffonii, Le Vaill. ; and a 

 specimen of the naked-legged Owl of the Indian Islands, Ketupa Ja- 

 vanensis,Liess., (Strix Ketupu, Horsf.,) presented by James Harby, 

 Esq., and stated to have been brought from Manilla. 



Among the Reptiles there have recently been added an interesting 

 collection of Tortoises from China, presented by John Russel Reeves, 

 Esq., of Canton, and including specimens of the three-banded Box- 

 Tortoise, Cistuda trifasciata, Gray ; of Spengler's Terrapin, Geoemyda 

 Spengleri, Gray, {Testudo Spengleri, Walh.); (see our last number, 

 p. 152) ; of the Emi/s Sinensis, Em. Reevesii, and Em, Bealii, all 

 lately described by Mr. Gray ; and also of the Platysternon megace- 

 phalum. Gray. A Crocodile apparently referrible to the Crocodilus 

 cataphractus, Cuv., is also at present living in the Menagerie: its 

 nuchal plates constitute a series continuous with those of the back, 

 but consist of only four rows instead of five, the number existing 

 in the individual on which the species was originally founded. The 

 specimen is stated to have been brought from Fernando Po. 



Mr. Ogilby called the attention of the Meeting to a specimen of 

 an Irish Otter, which he at the same time presented to the Society 

 in the name of Miss Anna Moody of the Roe Mills near Newtown 

 Lemavaddy, by whom it was preserved and mounted. On ac- 

 count of the intensity of its colouring, which approaches nearly 

 to black both on the upper and under surface ; of the less extent of 

 the pale colour beneath the throat as compared with the common 

 Otter, Lutra vulgaris, Linn., as it exists in England ; and of some 

 difference in the size of the ears and in the proportions of other 

 parts ; Mr. Ogilby has long considered the Irish Otter as constitut- 

 ing a distinct species ; and he feels strengthened in this view of the 

 subject by the peculiarity of its habitation and manners. It is, in 

 fact, to a considerable extent a marine animal, being found chiefly 

 along the coast of the county of Antrim, living in hollows and caverns 

 formed by the scattered masses of the basaltic columns of that coast, 

 and constantly betaking itself to the sea when alarmed or hunted. 

 It feeds chiefly on the salmon, and as it is consequently injurious to 

 the fishery, a premium is paid for its destruction ; and there are 

 many persons who make a profession of hunting it, earning a liveli- 

 hood by the reward paid for it and by disposing of its skin. Mr. 

 Ogilby stated his intention of comparing it minutely with the com- 

 mon Otter as soon as he should be enabled to do so by the possession 

 of entire subjects, and especially of attending to the comparison of 

 the osteological structures. He added that he proposed to desig- 

 nate it, provisionally, as the Lutra Roensis, in honour of the lady by 

 whom it was presented. 



