Zoological Society. 311 



Mahrattas — The Biiffaloe of Dukhun is the long-horned variety, 

 and is mostly bred in the Mavvals or hilly tracts along the Ghauts. 



Major Sykes subsequently called the attention of the Committee 

 to a Monkey presented by him to the Society, and now living at 

 the Gardens. It was obtained at Bombay, where it was believed 

 to have been taken from Madagascar; and as it has some characters 

 in common with the Cercopitheci (especially with the group of which 

 the Cere. Sabceus forms a part) and the Semiwpitheci of India, it 

 was remarked that it may ultimately prove to be a connecting link 

 between the African and Asiatic monkeys. It wants the long limbs 

 of the Semnopitheci ; and although its tail is very long, it is not par- 

 ticularly thin. Major Sykes referred it provisionally to the Semno- 

 pitheci, until by an examination of its posterior molars its real station 

 in the system should be determined. 



It is thus characterized : 



Semn.? ALBOGULARis, Sykes. Semn.? supra Jiavo nigroque, 

 infra albo nigroque irroratus ; guld alba; arlubus nigris : triysta- 

 cibus latis aures pene obvelantibus ; superciliorum pilis rigidis 

 exstantibus. 



Hah. in Madagascar ? 



Its canines are remarkably long (nearly 4 of an inch), slender, 

 sharp; the incisors very short and even. Head rounded and short. 

 Ears very small, nearly rounded, and for the most part concealed in 

 the long hair about the head. Eyes deeply seated, and shaded by a 

 continuous arch of long hairs directed forwards. Irides broad ; of 

 a brown ochre colour. Hair forming a bunch on each cheek and 

 resembling whiskers : no beard. Cheek pouches rudimentary only, 

 not observable externally, even when filled, being concealed by the 

 bushy hair of the cheeks. Thumbs of anterior hands short and di- 

 stant ; those of the posterior long. Whole of the upper surface of 

 the animal of a mingled black and yellowish ochre colour, each 

 hair being banded black and ochre ; the black prevailing on the 

 shoulders, the ochre on the back and flanks. Under surface griz- 

 zled white and black. Anterior limbs uniform black ; posterior black 

 with a little of the dorsal colour. Chin and throat pure white. 

 Tail black, half as long again as the body. 



The manners of this monkey are grave and sedate. Its disposi- 

 tion is gentle but not affectionate : free from that capricious petu- 

 lance and mischievous irascibility characteristic of so many of the 

 African species, but yet resenting irritating treatment, and evincing 

 its resentment by very smart blows with its anterior hands. It never 

 bit any person on board ship, but so seriously lacerated three 

 monkeys, its fellow passengers, that two of them died from the 

 wounds. It readily ate meat, and would choose to pick a bone, 

 even when plentifully supplied with vegetables and dried fruits. 



Mr. (jray exhibited a specinien of a Tortoise which he regarded 

 as the type of a new genus in the family Emydidcc. It is charac- 

 terized as follows ; 



Platysternos. 



Sternum latum, nntice Iruncafum, poslice emargiiiatum. Scutella 



sterni 



