ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 



569 



NILE CROCODILE. 



is an agile climber, and is Drifted witli a ]).ir- 

 ticularly vigorous temper. Tliis aniin.il w.is 

 purchased from a London dealer, and is the 

 first of its kind to be exhibited in the Zoological 

 Park. 



Owing to the scarcity of Primates in tlie 

 European markets, the writer obtained but few 

 monkeys and lemurs. Among these animals his 

 most important purchases were a Coqucrel's 

 Dwarf Lemur, Microcebtis coquereli, and a pair 

 of Golden Marmosets, Mitlas rosalia. The lat- 

 ter is a beautiful species, covered with long, 

 silky hair, of a uniform golden color. Owing 

 to the hair falling in a mane over the neck and 

 shoulders, the species is sometimes called the 

 Lion ilarmoset. This was another species 

 quite new to the Park collection. 



A fine series of the larger Egyptian Jerboa. 

 Dipiis aegi/pfius, was obtained for the Small 

 Mammal House. These curious rats make a 

 lively exhibit. Two females and a male of the 

 Coyjju Eat, Myocastor coi/pus, were also among 

 the rodents. A pair of Vulpine Phalangers. 

 Plialaiii:;ista vulpiiia, a pair of Sooty Phalang- 

 ers. /'. canina. Mange's Dasyure, Da.s-i/iiriix 

 I'ircrriiius maugei, the Common Dasyure. D. 

 viverrinus, Bridled Kangaroo. Oiii/chogair 

 frenata, and a fine example of the Tasmanian 

 Devil, Sarcophilus ursinus, made uj) the list of 

 marsupials. The latter was included in the 

 material from the Zoological Gardens of Lon- 

 don, ottered in exchange for a list of reptiles 

 taken over. 



In the series of birds brought over are the 

 following: Patagonian Burrowing Owl, Speoti/- 

 to ciiniciilaria. Tawny Owl, Si/rnium aluco. 

 Bleeding-heart Pigeon. Phlogoenas luzoulca. 

 Pied Flycatcher. Muscicapa atricapilhi, .Tack- 

 ass Penguin. Sphetiisciis demersus. ^'aried Htni- 

 ipode, Tunii.v reiria, Satin Bower-bird. I'tiloit- 



orhi/nchiis violaceus. Carrion Crow. Corrus 

 corone. Rook, Corvus frugilegiis. With one or 

 two exceptions these birds formed part of the 

 exchange list from the Zoological Gardens of 

 London. 



It was among the reptiles that the most suc- 

 cessful and elaborate series of purchases were 

 made. Over fifty species new to the Park are 

 now on exhibition in the Reptile House. For 

 the first time since the opening of the Reptile 

 House, we have a highly interesting series of 

 the poisonous snakes of Australia, which we are 

 exhibiting in a si)ecially constructed case. 

 Three species are exhibited — the Purjile Death 

 Adder, or Australian Black Snake. Pseudechis 

 porpJii/riaciis, the Gray Death Adder. Deiiisonia 

 siiperba, and the Tiger Snake. Uracil i/a.i pis 

 curt us. 



Of these the Purple Death Adder is repre- 

 sented by a young male s])ecimen. This is a 

 handsome species, of a lustrous purplish-black, 

 with a row of scarlet scales on eacii side of the 

 body. There are six specimens of the Gray 

 Death Adder, all fully grown (about five feet 

 long) and looking mucli like our American 

 "coachwliip snake." The Tiger Snake is rep- 

 resented bv two mature specimens, each about 

 twenty-four inches long. This reptile derives 

 its name from the tawny bands that encircle 

 the yellowish body. All of these snakes slight- 

 Iv dilate the neck, when angry, in cobra fashion. 

 They are vicious, highly active and \ery ))oison- 

 ous.' Of the three the Purple Death Adder has 

 the most extensive range, being found over a 

 great part of the Co'itinent of Australia. The 

 Gray Death Adder inhabits Southern Australia 

 and Tasmania. Of the three species the Tiger 

 Snake is particularly interesting. It attains a 

 niaxiuunn length of two and one-half feet, is 

 verv common in Western Australia and owing to 



