624 THE SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. [Nov. 7, 



Major Irby informs me that these Eagles were taken from the 

 nest near Coto del Rey, about twenty miles from Seville. They were 

 hatched about the third week in April of the present year, and were 

 brought to Major Irby in the down. 



5. A second specimen of the Tamandua Ant-eater (Tamandua 

 tetradactyla), probably from Brazil, purchased of a dealer in Liver- 

 pool, June 27th. This animal appears to present well-marked points 

 of difference from the Santa-Marthan specimen, acquired May 29th*. 

 It is not possible to make an accurate comparison of these animals 

 while alive ; and I shall therefore beg leave to defer my remarks on 

 this subject to a future occasion. 



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

 gerie during the month of July 1871 was 98, of which 9 were by 

 birth, 48 by presentation, 10 by purchase, 2 by exchange, and 29 

 were received on deposit. The total number of departures during 

 the same period, by death and removals, was 100. 



The more remarkable arrivals were as follows : — 



1. Three Daubenton's Curassows (Crax daubentoni, G. R. Gray) 

 from Tucacas in Venezuelaf, presented July 11th by Mr. A. War- 

 mington, who has kindly favoured me with the following notes on 

 them : — 



" The three Curassows (one male and two females) were captured 

 at ' Maron,' near Tucacas, N. Venezuela, and at the present time are 

 nearly two years old, having been taken from the nest when scarcely 

 larger than a chicken of two months old. They soon became per- 

 fectly tame and would follow me about. When able to fly they 

 made short flights, always returning quickly, and seldom alighting. 

 At night they invariably roosted on the highest spot they could find 

 in the home Coral. They are called by the natives ' Porii.' Their 

 cry is a sort of mournful prolonged whistle, and in the forest, when 

 eight or ten are together, has a singular effect. It is not common 

 to see these birds on the ground. When they alight in a tree they 

 almost invariably utter their cry, and at the same time raise the 

 tail-feathers fan-like, thus exposing the white plumage beneath, and 

 offering a conspicuous and tempting mark for the sportsman. They 

 are excellent eating. I have never heard of these birds breeding in 

 confinement, though I cannot say they do not. The young ones are 

 exceedingly beautiful delicate little creatures, marked very much 

 like, and having a very similar appearance to, young Partridges or 

 Quails. They become much attached to individuals who treat them 

 kindly. These birds are common in all parts of Venezuela where 

 there is a forest. The other, or blue-knobbed species J, is not so 

 common, and is more difficult to domesticate." 



2. A collection of Ceylonese animals, brought home on his return 

 from Ceylon and presented to the Society by Mr. E. W. H. Holds- 



* See cmtett, p. 546, PI. XLIIL 



t I have already noticed the arrival of this species from the same locality 

 (P. Z. S. 1870, p. 671). Cf. also Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 516. 

 J Pai/xi galeata. see P. Z. S. 1870, p. 520.— P. L. S. 



