I3~6.] THE SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. 



693 



November 7, 1876. 

 Prof. Newton, F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. 



The Secretary read the following reports on the additions to the 

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

 September 1876: — 



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

 gerie during the month of June was 156, of which 56 were by birth, 

 44 by presentation, 35 by purchase, 19 were received on deposit, 

 and 2 by exchange. The total number of departures during the same 

 period, by death and removals, was 149. 



The most noticeable additions during the month of June were as 

 follows : — 



1. Four Galapagan Tortoises (Testudo elephantopus), two of which 

 were deposited by Sir C. Wyville Thomson, on the 7th of June, and 

 two by Commander Cookson, R.N., on the 10th of June. These 

 Tortoises were obtained by Commander Cookson, of H.M.S. ' Pet- 

 erel,' under the circumstances stated in the letter read at the last 

 Scientific Meeting of the Society, at Albemarle Island, Galapagos 

 group. There is great interest attached to these large Tortoises, 

 now almost extinct ; and we have to thank Dr. Gtinther for arran- 

 ging for the deposit of the living specimens in the Gardens. 



The following are the present measurements of these animals : — 



2. Three Crows from Fao, one of the telegraph-stations at the 

 head of the Persian Gulf, presented by Mr. J. Huntley, in medical 

 charge of the station, June 16th. These Crows apparently belong 

 to an extreme form of the Hooded Crow (Corvus comix), which I 

 have never previously seen, the whole body-colour, except on the 

 head and neck and wings, being of a pure white. Mr. Huntley writes 

 to me as follows : — "A white crow, usually referred to as a wonder, 

 especially in the East, is far from uncommon here. Doubtless you 

 are familiar with its existence, though not a British bird. Deeming 

 it a novelty, I have ventured to send three of them to your address, 

 by kind favour of the Commander of the British Steam-Navigation 

 Company's steamship 'Assyria,' which vessel is due in London about 

 the 8th of June next. The bird is one bearing all the character- 

 istics of the Hooded Crow, with the exception of its white feathers, 

 which, from their resemblance to a surplice, have caused me to desig- 

 nate it the Chaplain Crow." 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1876, No. XLVI. 46 



