1882.] MR. BOULENGER ON THE HELODERMA. 631 



quired by presentation, 48 by purchase, 2 by birth, and 1 3 were received 

 on depo'sit. The total number of departures during the same period 

 by death and removals was 95. 



A pair of young River-Hngs (Potamochoerus africanus) from Zulu 

 Land, presented by Col. J. H. Bowker, F.Z.S., and Mr. John Dunn, 

 and received August 28th. These are a very interesting addition 

 to the Society's series of Suidse. 



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

 gerie during the month of September was 148; of these 81 were 

 acquired by presentation, 33 by purchase, 7 by exchange, 6 were bred 

 in the Gardens, and 21 were received on deposit. The total number 

 of departures during the same period by death and removals was 87. 



The most interesting acquisitions of the month were : — 



1. An example of a species of Canis, said to have been received 

 from the Amazons, and remarkable for its short coat and short ears. 

 Being unable to identify this peculiar animal with any described 

 form, I have given it the provisional name of the Short-eared Fox 

 {Canis microtis). 



Mr. Smit's sketch (Plate XLVII.) will give a general idea of this 

 Canis, which can only be accurately described after death. It stands 

 about 14 inches high over the shoulders; the body from the nose 

 to the rump is about 30 in. in length and the tail 12 in. The short 

 close fur is generally of a dark iron-grey, the hairs being whitish below 

 and tipped with black ; the legs, feet, and tail are darker, nearly 

 black ; the ears are short and pale rufous inside and out ; the snout 

 is of a darker rufous. 



2. A cock and two hens of Elliot's Pheasant {Pkasianus ellioti), 

 from China, purchased of the Jardin d'Acclimatation of Paris, Sep- 

 tember 27th. These are young birds, bred in France, and are the 

 first specimens of this fine Pheasant that have reached us. 



3. Eight Lemurs from Madagascar were received on deposit, Sep- 

 tember 30th. These animals belong to a species of Ghirogaleus new 

 to our Collection, apparently to C. coquereli (Poll, et v. Dam). 



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

 gerie during the month of October was 121 , of which 4 were by birth, 

 71 by presentation, 39 by purchase, 1 by exchange, and 6 on deposit. 

 The total number of departures during the same period by death and 

 removals was 152. 



Mr. Boulenger made the following observations on the subject of 

 the Heloderma : — 



" A few days after the arrival of the Heloderma in the Society's 

 Menagerie, I tried the effects of its poison on a Guinea-pig. The 

 animal was bitten in the leg, and, after two or three minutes, fell 

 into convulsions and died, exactly as if bitten by a Viper. Be- 

 sides, no doubt could be entertained as to the poisonous nature of 

 the Heloderma after the careful investigations recently made by Dr. 



