f 96 DR. O. FINSCH ON THE WILD [Nov. 7, 



been placed in one of the large cages in the parrot-honse, and make 

 a fine and novel addition to the series of rarer Passeres. 



■4. A Bengal Pitta (Pitta bengalensis), purchased August 18th, 

 being the first specimen of any species of this magnificent Asiatic 

 genus of birds that has reached us alive. 



5. Two Wattled Guans (Aburria carunculata), presented by Mr. 

 L. Merino, August 2ifth. Mr. Merino informs me that these birds, 

 which are the first examples of this form of Guan that have reached 

 us, are from the State of Tolima, U. S. of Columbia. 



The totTf! number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie 

 during the month of September was 105 ; of these 55 were acquired 

 by presentation, 35 by purchase, 4 by exchange, 5 were bred in the 

 Gardens, and 6 were received on deposit. The total number of 

 departures during the same period by death and removals was 80. 



The most noticeable additions during the month were as follows : — 



1. A Slaty-headed Parrakeet (Paheornis schisticeps), purchased 

 September 25th, being the first living example we have received of 

 this North-Indian species, which is verv rare in captivity. 



2. A RuppelFs Spur-winged Goose (Ptectropterus rueppelli), pre- 

 sented by M. J. M. Comely, C.M.Z.S., September 28th. No ex- 

 ample of this form of Spur-winged Goose has been living in the Gar- 

 dens since I8(i0. The present specimen was until recently in the 

 Zoological Gardens at Antwerp. 



3. Four American Darters (Plotus anhinga), purchased Septem- 

 ber 29th. These birds are very acceptable, as we have recently lost 

 the two specimens of this most interesting form that have previously 

 lived in the Gardens. 



I may take this opportunity of calling attention to the species of 

 Muntjac doubtfully recognized by me in 1875 as Cervulus micrurus 

 (P.Z.S. 1875, p. 422, pi. li. fig. 1). 



The pair of this supposed species bred that year ; and a young 

 female was born on the 30th of July, 1875. In this the tail is longer 

 than in the parents, but not so long as in the ordinary Cervulus 

 reevesi. 



They bred again this year ; and a young male was born on the 30th 

 ult. In this the tail is fully as long as in the true C. reevesi. 



I have therefore come to the conclusion that the so-called O. mi- 

 crurus has been founded on examples of C. reevesi with docked tails. 



A letter was read from Dr. O. Fiusch, C.M.Z.S., dated Saissan, 

 S.W. Siberia, May 22, 1870, containing the subjoined remarks on the 

 supposed existence of the wild Camel in Central Asia : — 



" During my recent trip through Turkestan and the northern fron- 

 tier of China I had the opportunity of collecting some notes relating 

 to the existence of the wild Camel (Camelus bactrianus), which I 

 hope will be of some interest to the members of the Society. 



"When in St. Petersburg, Colonel Przewalsky had told me that 

 he was sure of finding the Camel wild during his proposed new ex- 



