1878.] DR. A. GtJNTHER ON MIDIAN REPTILES. 977 



latter had the teeth of Odontaspis, whereas the other had the teeth 

 in the upper jaw furnished with cross serrations, approaching in 

 this respect Galeocerdo, while the teeth in the lower jaw were more 

 like those of Odontaspis. 



Mr. Sclater read a letter with enclosures from Mr. R. Davenport, 

 of 124 Georgiana Street, Bury, whereby it appeared that there could 

 be no doubt of the specimen of the Black-throated Wheatear 

 (Saxicola stapazina) exhibited at the last meeting having been 

 obtained in Lancashire, as there stated 1 . The bird was shot by Mr. 

 David Page, of 103 Spring Street, Bury, on or about the 8th May, 

 1875, whilst sitting on the ridge of the outbuildings belonging to the 

 Bury Angling Association near the reservoir. It was taken in the 

 flesh to Mr. Wright Johnson, of Prestwick, to be mounted. Mr. 

 Johnson had ascertained the sex by dissection to be male. 



The Secretary called attention to the error that had accidentally 

 taken place in reference to the Collection of Butterflies from Billiton, 

 on which Messrs. Salvin and Godman had reported in the last 

 number of the Society's ' Proceedings ' (antea, p. 637). The col- 

 lection had been made and forwarded to England by Hr. J. G. F. 

 Riedel, of Koepang, Resident of Timor and its dependencies. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. On Reptiles from Miclian collected by Major Burton. By 

 Dr. Albert Gunther, F.R.S., F.Z.S. 



[Received October 31, 1878.] 

 (Plate LXII.) 



Major Burton has kindly presented to the Trustees of the British 

 Museum the zoological specimens collected by him in Midian 2 . The 

 reptiles are five in number, viz. Gongylus ocellatus, Zamenis clif- 

 fordii, Zamenis elegantissimus (sp. n.), Echis carinata, and Echis 

 colorata (sp. n.), — all of which are characteristic of the Circum- 

 mediterranean fauna. A toad proved to be the common Bufo vul- 

 garis. 



Major Burton does not seem to have had the means of preserving 

 any mammals and birds ; and it is to be hoped that travellers who 

 may succeed him in the exploration of this interesting country will 

 be more fortunate in this respect, as, at present, we are entirely 

 ignorant of this part of the Midianitish fauna. 



Zamenis elegantissimus. (Plate LXII.) 



The body is moderately slender, head rather narrow, eye of 

 moderate size. Rostral shield convex, reaching the upper surface 

 of the head. The scutes of the upper surface of the head are not 



1 Above p. 881. 



2 See Burton's 'Gold-mines of Midian,' London, C. Kegan Paul & Co., 1878. 



