530 LETTER FROM M. L. M. D’ALBERTIS. {Novy. 2, 
August 16th by Mr. W. E. Oates, being the first example we have 
received of this scarce bird. 
The total number of registered additions to the Society’s Mena- 
gerie during the month of September was 104; of these, 43 were 
acquired by presentation, 22 by purchase, 16 by birth, 8 by exchange, 
and 15 were received on deposit. The total number of departures 
during the same period by death and r2movals was 111. 
The most noticeable additions during the month were as follows :— 
1. A White-faced Owl (Sceloglaux albifucies) from New Zealand, 
purchased 3rd September 1875, new to the collection. 
2. A wild Dog, presented by Mr. Mumford, 7th Sept. 1875. 
This animal was formerly in Manders’s Travelling Menagerie, and 
was sold when that collection was dispersed by auction in the Agri- 
cultural Hall in Angust last, to Mr. Mumford, who has obligingly 
presented it to the Society. Its origin is unknown; but, as far as 
can be ascertained from examination of the living specimen, it would 
appear to be an adult male of the Wild Dog of Sumatra (Canis ruti- 
luns, Temm.). It has been placed in the same cage along with its 
near elly, the female Indian Wild Dog (Canus primevus), received 
from Lord Northbreok in March last. 
3. An American Darter (Plotus anhinga), from South America, 
purchased 30th September, 1875. The Society now possesses two 
living examples of this interesting bird. The first une, obtained 28th 
December, 1872 (sce P. Z.S. 1873, p. 2, where there is an excellent 
drawing of this bird), is now in adult plumage; the last arrival is in 
immature dress. 
The following translation of a letter addressed to the Secretary by 
M. L. M. D’Albertis, C.M.Z.S., was read :— 
‘ “Yule Island, May 24, 1875. 
“Since the 14th of March I am on thisisland, at the south of New 
Guinea, from which it is divided by a few miles of sea only. I have 
already made several excursions on the Papuan coast, and succeeded 
in penetrating a little way inland—not really far, it is true, but far 
considering the circumstances of my situation, and the country in 
which I am. 
“ First of all, I may observe that the general aspect of the country 
resembles that of the north of Australia much more than the nerth 
of New Gninea. On the coast the beautiful forest-trees are wanting, 
and Lucalypti abound in their place, and there are large open spaces 
covered only with long grasses and small shrubs or “scrub,” as you 
eall it. There are also lagunes. The climate is dryer than in the 
north. When I ascended the mountains a little and penetrated the 
interior, the Australian plants disappeared, and those more specially 
Papuan were again found. In the same way as the flora, the fauna 
of the coast shows much affinity to that of Northern Australia; and 
in ove of the lagunes I have seen in abundance Parra gallinacea, Por- 
phyrio melanotus, and a species of Lodivanellus, of which I cannot tell 
