630 THK SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. [NoV. 14, 



November 14, 1882. 

 Prof. Flower, LL.D., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. 



The Secretary 'read the following reports on the additions made 

 to the Society's Menagerie during the months of June, July, August, 

 September, and October, 1882: — 



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

 gerie during the month of June was 1 14, of which 40 were by birth, 

 h2 by presentation, 8 by purchase, 2 by exchange, and 12 were re- 

 ceived on deposit. The total number of departures during the same 

 period by death and removals was 93. 



Amongst these I beg leave to call attention to the New-Caledonian 

 Parrakeet received from Mr. E. L. Layard, June 28th, of which I 

 exhibit a drawing by Mr. Smit (Plate XL VI.). 



Dr. Finsch (Papag. ii. p. 274) has united this New-Caledonian 

 species (described by Verreaux and Des Murs, Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 

 18fi0, p. 387, uuder the name Cyanorhamphus saisseti) with C. novm 

 zelandia. 



I agree, however, with Canon Tristram ' that the New-Caledonian 

 species is distinct. It differs from its New-Zealand representative 

 in its larger size, and in the yellow colouring of the under surface, 

 and when the two birds are exhibited side by side, as they now are 

 in our Parrot-house, seems to be very easily recognizable. 



The registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the 

 month of July were 282 in number ; of these 198 were acquired by 

 presentation, .57 by purchase, 1 by exchange, 21 by birth, and 5 

 were received on deposit. The total number of departures during 

 the same period by death and removals was 114. 



The most noticeable additions during the month were : — 



1. A young male African Elephant {Elephas africanus), purchased 

 July 8th. 



This animal is supposed to be from three to four years old. At 

 the time of purchase it was about 4 ft. 2 in. in height, and weighed 

 788 pounds. 



2. A Kolbe's Vulture (G?/psA-o/6n) from South Africa, purchased 

 July ] 5th, being the first example of this species of Vulture that we 

 have received. 



3. A Heloderm Lizard {Heloderma suspectum) from Arizona, pre- 

 sented by Sir John Lubbock, Bart., M.P., F.K.S., F.Z.S., July 16th. 



This Lizard, which is new to the Collection, is remarkable as be- 

 longing to the only positively known venomous form of the Lacertian 

 Order. It has been ascertained by actual experiment that its bite is 

 fatal to small mammals (see below, p. 631). 



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

 gerie during the month of August was 160 ; of these 97 were ac- 



1 ' Ibis,' 1882, p. 525. 



