590 DR. A. B. MEYER ON PASTOR ROSEUS. [NoV. 4> 



The most noticeable additions during the month were : — 



1. Two Purple Porphvrios {Porph/rio cceruleus), presented by 

 J. I. S. Whitaker, Esq., F.Z.S., of Palermo. These are the first 

 specimens of the South-European Porphyrio received by the Society 

 direct from Sicily, where they are said to be not uncommon in the 

 marshes of the south-eastern portion of the island. 



2. A young female of Speke's Antelope {Tragelaphus spekii), 

 presented by James A. Nicolls, Esq., October 14th, being the first 

 specimen of this rare and little-known Antelope that has reached 

 Europe alive. The specimen was captured in the marshes north 

 of Lake Ngami by Mr. Nicolls and his companions, under circum- 

 stances mentioned in that gentleman's letters to the ' Field ' news- 

 paper \ and was carried in their waggons 800 miles to Kimberley, 

 whence it was brought to this country by rail and steamer. We 

 have placed it in a sheltered compartment of the Gazelle sheds and 

 covered the yard with dried ])eat fibre, as its peculiar elongated 

 hoofs render it hardly able to move on a smooth surface. 



The accompanying sketch by Mr. Smit (Plate XLVII.) will give 

 a good idea of the external form of this Antelope. It will be observed 

 that the animal, although not much more than two years old, is 

 nearly free from bars and spots. 



3. A female Bay Colobus (Oolobus ferrugineus) , purchased of a 

 dealer, October 16th, which, however, I regret to say, did not live 

 many days in the Menagerie. This is the first specimen of this 

 well-marked Colobus which I have ever seen alive. The sketch, 

 which I exhibit, by Mr. Smit (Plate XLVIII.) will give a good idea 

 of its appearance in life. 



This is a West-African species, of which positively ascertained 

 localities are Gambia (Retidall) and Gold Coast {Pel). 



The Secretary exhibited, on behalf of Dr. A. B. Meyer, C.M.Z.S., 

 a coloured photograph of a singular variety of the Rose-coloured 

 Pastor (Pastor roseus) with a red head, and read the following note 

 from him on the subject : — 



" It is well known that the invasion of Europe by the Rose-coloured 

 Pastor in 1889 was repeated this year and that Bulgaria was again 

 overrun with flocks of this bird. They arrived near Sofia on June 

 the 4th, the same day as they made their appearance in the previous 

 year. They came from the east, were observed in Philippopel, and 

 bred again 8 km. south of Sofia, at Knjajevo, in flocks numbering 

 altogether about 50,000. In 1889 the eggs were so numerous that 

 the inhabitants made omelettes of them. The birds are not at all 

 shy, and one can approach to within about 10 feet of them without 

 disturbing them. One specimen with a red head was caught alive 

 and lived a fortnight in the possession of H.R.H. the Prince Ferdi- 

 nand of Bulgaria, who sent me the foregoing notes and the photo- 



' See " Travel and Sport along the Botletle River and around Lake Ngami." 

 ' Field,' Feb. 22, 1890, p. 289 ; March 1, 1890, p. 325 ; March 8, 1890, p. 363. 



