2G6 LETTER FROM DR. G. BENNETT. [JunC 25, 



" I am inclined to believe that this is ' Vipera russellii ' of E. W. 

 Gray ; but, if so, it is not known by the same native name here as 

 he gives to it. Russell, I think, calls it ' Runniadi vyrien ' (opening- 

 glass) ; but not seeing the double fang noticed in any work I have 

 consulted, and finding the same to exist in three snakes that were 

 brought to me, I take the liberty of sending this specimen, and should 

 be glad to have your opinion upon the matter." 



The Secretary stated that the skin of the snake in question was 

 referred by Dr. Giinther to Daboia elegans — a well-known Indian 

 and Ceylonese species. The double fangs were produced by the new 

 pair coming forward before the old pair were completely shed, and 

 were, therefore, only exceptionally present. 



The following extract was read from a letter, dated Sydney, April 

 19th, addressed by Dr. G. Bennett, F.Z.S., to the Secretary : — 



" You will recollect I mentioned in my ' Gatherings ' a specimen 

 of the Semipalmated Goose {Anseranas melanoleuca) . That bird I 

 found on my return to Sydney alive and well, and it has been pre- 

 sented to me by its owner Mr. Clarke. In the young bird the legs 

 and mandibles were flesh-colour ; in the adult they are of a light 

 reddish-orange colour, except the horny tip of the mandiljles, which 

 were of a light-blue colour. The black and white plumage — the 

 former colour predominating — imparts to the bird a very handsome 

 appearance as it walks with a stately tread (not with the waddling 

 gait of the goose) about the yard of my house like one of the Waders. 

 I have, however, from ignorance of its natural habits been the pro- 

 bable cause of the death of this bird, and I send you the following 

 remarks, considering they may be of some service to those desirous 

 of domesticating them. This bird was reared from the egg hatched 

 under a common hen, and has survived nearly four years and a half 

 domesticated in daily amicable intercourse with ducks, geese, and all 

 kinds of poultry, and always appearing playful and happy in their 

 society. But it unfortunately happened that, when sent to me, I was 

 not aware of its aversion to a solitary life. "When alone in the yard 

 I noticed that it did not eat. Fearing that it had not his usual food, 

 I made inquiry, but found that it had its accustomed food. Still, 

 however, it moped, and more frequently than usual made its peculiar 

 clanging noise ; and although he would walk about the yard, yet he 

 more frequently mounted the high flight of stone steps and squatted 

 upon the lofty wall, remaining there for the most part of the day. 

 Although it did not feed well, yet it would often wash itself in a tub 

 of water placed for its use, and drank a good deal of water. At last 

 it became ragged in plumage, the wings drooped, and it died after 

 having been in my possession only from the 28th of February to the 

 25th of March. On mentioning the circumstance to a relation of 

 the donor, I was then informed, but too late, that if kept by itself it 

 would droop and refuse food ; but when placed among other fowls 

 became lively, playful, and fed well. I fear that many birds and 

 other animals perish in our menageries by inattention to these ap- 

 parently trivial circumstances, which are, however, most essential to 



