1869.] | PROF. FLOWER ON A SKULL OF HYRAX BRUCEI. 603 
6. A South-American Rat-snake (Spilotes variabilis) from Deme- 
rara, presented to the Society by Thomas Hounslow, Esq., of 
Georgetown, Demeyara, and received on the 5th of November. 
7. Two Gibbons, deposited in the Society’s Gardens by Mr. G. S. 
Rodon of the Ist Royals, Cannanore, India. These Gibbons, ac- 
cording to a letter received from Mr. Rodon, had been obtained on 
the Malayan peninsula. The larger one (a male), supposed to be 
about three years old, had been caught in one of the islands of 
the Mergui archipelago, where the species is said to abound. The 
smaller (female), believed by Mr. Rodon to be about eighteen months 
old, had been obtained in the province of Tenasserim. Both were 
probably referable to the White-handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar). 
These Gibbons were in very feeble health when received, but had 
slightly improved since their arrival, which gave some hope of their 
ultimate recovery. 
The following extract was read from a letter addressed to the 
Secretary by Capt. G. E. Bulger, C.M.Z.S. :— 
‘IT suppose it is right to tell you that I committed a great error 
by including Corvus splendens in my list of birds observed at Wel- 
lington, in the Neilgherry Hills, which was published in the P. Z. S. 
1866, p.568. I cannot account for the mistake, nor can I even guess 
how it occurred. My attention was first drawn to the matter by 
my friend Lieut.-Col. M‘Master, who assured me Corvus splendens 
was not found in the hills. I was difficult to convince ; for, though 
I could not actually remember having seen the bird, I had perfect 
reliance on my notes, which were made on the spot. I found, how- 
ever, on examination, that I had nothing whatever about Corvus 
splendens in my notes about the Neilgherries, and that which ap- 
peared in the P. Z. 8S. referred not to Wellington but to Burmah. 
I regret I should in any way have been instrumental in propagating 
error. Corvus splendens, I feel convinced, has not yet, at all events, 
been found in the Neilgherry range of mountains,” 
Prof. Flower exhibited for Mr. Blanford the skull of a Hyrax 
(Hyrax brucei) collected by that gentleman in Abyssinia, which, 
in addition to the normal dentition, had a supernumerary tooth at 
the posterior end of the molar series on each side of the upper jaw. 
The skull is evidently that of an old animal (a female), and the 
teeth are much worn. The crown of this supernumerary tooth is 
simple, slender, tapering, broad in front, and sharp-edged behind, 
and placed in close apposition to the last normal molar. It has a 
slight curve forwards and a sharp apex, which, having nothing to 
oppose it in the lower jaw, projects beyond the worn surface of the 
tooth in front of it. The crown of the right tooth, which is rather 
larger than the left, shows a slight tendency to develope a second 
cusp on its posterior edge. The root of the left tooth is simple, 
cylindrical, and tapering slightly to its rounded closed apex. The 
root of the right is thicker, and partially bifurcated at the apex. 
