110 LETTER FROM MR. L. M. d'aLBERTIS. [Feb. 3, 



February 3, 1874. 

 Dr. E. Hamilton, V.P., in the Chair. 



Tbe Secretary read the following report on the additions to the 

 Society's Menagerie during the month of January, 1874 : — 



The total number of registered additions to the Society's Mena- 

 gerie during the month of January 1874 was 96 ; of which 2 were 

 by birth, 29 by presentation, 45 by purchase, 2 by exchange, and 

 18 were received on deposit. The total number of departures during 

 the same period, by death and removals, was 78. 



The most noticeahle additions during the month were as follows : — 



1. A female of the Chinese Water-deer (Hydropotes inermis, 

 Swinhoe) purchased January 1, making a pair of this rare animal now 

 iu the Society's Gardens. 



2. A pair of Pink-headed Ducks (Anas caryophyllacea) purchased 

 January 12, being the first living examples of this Indian Duck ever 

 received by the Society. 



3. A Dusky Monkey (Semnopithecm obscurus) purchased Janu- 

 ary 26. 



I am not aware that any example of this rare Malaccan Monkey 

 has been previously brought alive to Europe. 



4. Two Vulturine Guinea-fowls (Numida vulturina) presented 

 January 8, by Dr. J. Kirk, C.M.Z.S. 



The Secretary read an extract from a letter addressed to him by 

 Mr. Luigi M. d'Albertis, C.M.Z.S., dated Sydney, N. S. W., Decem- 

 ber 1, 1873, and containing an account of a new species of Kanga- 

 roo from New Guinea, proposed to be called Halmaturus luctuosus, 

 of which he had obtained a living specimen from a sailor of H.M.S. 

 'Basilisk.' The specimen was described as follows : — 



"Length from the nose to the occiput 4| inches; length of the 

 ears If inch; length of the thigh 5f inches ; length of the tarsus, 

 including the nail, 4f inches ; length of the tail 11| inches; total 

 length, from the nose to the tip of the tail, 2 feet 5 inches. Its 

 weight is 7| pounds. 



" The fur is short ; its general colour dark ashy brown, with a 

 silvery tinge, white at the roots ; chin, throat, and chest white, with 

 two horizontal ashy stripes under the pouch ; on the top of the head a 

 silvery- whitish spot ; the thighs more grey ; feet dark, almost black ; 

 the arm white inside ; the hand black. The tail moderately strong, of 

 a similar colour to the body, but white and bare of hairs for about an 

 inch at the extremity. The lips are barely covered with fur ; the eye- 

 brows are puffed, almost naked, and provided with eyelids so fine as 

 not to be readily seen at first sight. Habitat, S. E. of New Guinea." 



The following papers were read : — 



