The Zoologist — February, 1869. 1557 



enabling the animal to move through the water in any direction and 

 comparative swiftness. The entire structure of the Thalassites is skil- 

 fully adapted to their essentially aquatic mode of existence. Their 

 respiration alone is aerial, like that of the terrestrial reptiles, and for 

 this reason they may claim to be ranked among the guests of the 

 ocean. Their shell is much depressed, and presents the form of a 

 shield enlarged in front, with a gash or indentation, and terminating in 

 a point at the other extremity : it is so disposed that the animal can 

 entirely conceal beneath it his head and feet. The head, nearly 

 square, is armed with a kind of horny beak, very strong, curved and 

 hooked down. The jaws are strong; the tongue is broad, short, fleshy 

 and very moveable ; along with the beak it is the only prehensile organ 

 of these reptiles. The neck is long, the tail short, round and tolerably 

 thick."— p. 369. 



Edward Newman. 



Elephant Preserving. — We understand that the Madras Government have decided, 

 with regard lo the destruction of elephants, that on all waste and forest land the pro- 

 perty of government, of zemindars, or others, the destruction of the female elephant 

 should be prohibited under a penalty of from ten to five hundred rupees fine, and im- 

 prisonment not exceeding one month in default of payment. The destruction of the 

 male elephant should he prohibited on all waste or forest lands, the property of govern- 

 ment, under the same penalty, except by persons holding a license to shoot the male 

 elephant from the collector of the district. Zemindars and other proprietors would 

 retain the right to shoot the male elephant on their waste lands without the license of 

 government. Tlie right to shoot elephants trespassing on cultivated lands and on the 

 high roads would remain as at present common lo all. Persons shooting on waste lands 

 and others would be exonerated from the penalties attached to the destruction of an 

 elephant, when it could be proved that the act was committed in self-defence. The 

 same exoneration would be extended to those who should destroy on waste land an 

 elephant found on cultivated land, and pursued from thence. In addition to these 

 legal provisions it will be desirable lo oflfer rewards to persons belonging to the forest 

 department, and others, who may give such information of the illicit destruction of 

 elephants as may lead to the conviction of the offenders; that a stipulated price should 

 also be paid for every elephant caught or trapped on private lands, and brought in alive 

 and uninjured to any officer of revenue, police, or commissariat department; and that 

 rewards for the destruction of elephants will no longer be given except in cases where 

 it may be necessary for the protection of life or properly to offer specific rewards for 

 elephants known lobe dangerous or notoriously infesting and destroying cultivation. — 

 Madras Times. 



Oilers in Suffolk. — During the last week in November, 1868, a large otter was 

 trapped in theEev. William's park at Glenring, near Wickham Market, Suffolk ; and 

 on the lOth uf December a dog otter was shot, as it was in the act of taking refuge in 



