18/2. j LETTER FROM MR. G. KREFFT. 795 



in size and markings, has been kindly lent to us by the Royal Zoologi- 

 cal Society of Amsterdam ; so that we have now a buck aud two does 

 of this form of Deer in the Society's Gardens. 



3. Two male and one female Gambel's Colins (Callipepla gam- 

 belli), received in exchange August 29th. This beautiful species has 

 never reached us alive before ; and the female was not known to Mr. 

 Gould (see his ' Monograph of the Odontophorinse,' pi. xvii.)*. 



4. A Kea or Mountain-Parrot {Nestor notabilis), presented by the 

 Acclimatization Society of Canterbury, N.Z., August 3 1st. This rare 

 Parrot unfortunately only survived its arrival in this country a few 

 days. 



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

 gerie during the month of September 1872 was 94 ; of these, 1 was 

 by birth, 50 by presentation, 40 by purchase, and 3 were received 

 on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period, 

 by death and removal, was 76. 



The most noticeable of the additions were : — 



1. A collection of Parrakeets from New Zealand, purchased Sept. 

 23rd. Besides Cyanorhamphus novce-zelandice and C. auriceps (both 

 of which we had previously received), this series embraced two ex- 

 amples of Cyanorliamphus alpinus "f, which its describer now again 

 holds to be a good species, and which is new to the collection. 



2. A Snake of the genus Coronella, from Robben Island, near 

 Cape Town, S. Africa, presented, September 24th, by Mr. G. H. B. 

 Fisk. Dr. Giinther considers that this belongs to a new species, and 

 will describe it as Coronella pliocarum J. 



The Secretary also reported the birth of a third Hippopotamus 

 {Hippopotamus amphibius), which had taken place that day in the 

 Society's Gardens at 7 a.m. 



The period of gestation in the present instance had been eight 

 calendar mouths less four days, according to the keeper's observa- 

 tions. 



The two former births had taken place on the 21st of February 

 1871 and the 7th of January 1872 ; but neither of these animals 

 had lived many days. 



In the present instance, the little animal having already begun to 

 suck, and being more lively in its movements, a more favourable 

 result was hoped for. 



The following letter, dated Australian Museum, Sydney, June 14th, 

 1872, addressed to the Secretary, was read: — 



." Dear Dr. Sclater, — I have had a series of photographs made 

 of the different Wombats ; and as it appears there is still some doubt 

 about certain species, I now enclose copies of them. 



" 1 . The Phascolomys latifrons, of a yellow colour, comes from 

 the north-west bend of the Murray River. This species was first de- 



* Both sexes arc well figured in the ' Field ' for Nov. 28, 1872, p. 300. 

 t Plafycercus alpinus, Buller, Ibis, 1860, p. 39. 

 X See below, P. Z. S. for Nov. 19. 



