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for letters. The United States Post Office Department also stated that it had 
recently submitted a proposition to the countries composing the Postal 
Union, to modify the regulations so that such specimens might be received 
into the mails at the same rates as samples of merchandise, but that a suffi- 
cient number of those countries had voted against the proposition to defeat it. 
This Academy has therefore resolved to address the various scientific 
bodies, with which it is in communication, in those countries whose govern- 
ments have voted against the proposition, and to request those scientific bo- 
dies to memorialize their respective governments in favour of the same. 
The Governments of Austria, Bolivia, British India, Canada, Germany, 
Great Britain, Guatemala, Hungary, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Russia, 
Spain, Sweden, Tunis, Uruguay and Venezuela having voted in the nega- 
tive, this Academy respectfully requests the favorable consideration of this 
question by scientific Societies and begs that they take such steps as they 
deem advisable to inform the Postal authorities of their respective govern- 
ments of the manifest advantages to scientific research which would result 
from the adoption of the proposed modification, and to request those autho- 
rities to take such steps as may result in the adoption of the same. 
The letter rate for postage (Universal Postal Union) is ten times that 
required for samples of merchandise; such a rate for specimens of Natural 
History is virtually prohibitive. 
This Academy would respectfully urge upon scientific Societies prompt 
action on this matter if it meets with that approval which we so strongly 
desire. 
Philadelphia, 14. November 1893. Beam a 
Edw. J. Nolan, Recording Secretary. 
2. Zoological Society of London. 
7th November, 1893. — The Secretary read a report on the addi- 
tions that had been made to the Society’s Menagerie during the months of 
June, July, August, and September 1893. Among these special attention 
was called to four South-Island Robins (Miro albifrons) from New Zealand, 
presented by Capt. Edgar J. Evans; an adult male of Stairs Monkey (Cerco- 
pithecus Stairsi), presented by Mr. F. Hinze on June 7th; a family of six 
European Beavers (Castor fiber), consisting of a male, a female, and four 
young ones, from the Lower Rhone; a young Corean Sea-Eagle (Haliaötus 
Branickii), obtained from Corea; and a fine specimen of the Great Grebe of 
Antarctic America (Aechmophorus major) in full plumage. The Secretary 
also exhibited a living example of the Goliath Beetle (Goliathus Druryi), the 
largest of known Coleoptera, from the Society’s Insect-house. — Mr. Scla- 
ter read some notes on the most interesting animals he had seen during a 
recent visit to the Zoological Gardens of Stuttgart, Frankfort, and Cologne. 
— An extract was read from a letter addressed to the Secretary by Mr. J. 
G. Millais, F.Z.S., relating his endeavours to obtain specimens of the 
White Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros simus) in Mashunaland. — A communication 
was read from Babu Ram Bramha Sänyäl, C.M.Z.S., describing a Hybrid 
Monkey of the Genus Semnopithecus, born in the Zoological Gardens, Cal- 
cutta. — Mr. Tegetmeier exhibited a specimen of a hybrid Grouse 
between the Blackgame (Tetrao tetrix) and the Red Grouse (Lagopus scoticus). 
— Mr. Boulenger read a paper »On a Nothosaurian Reptile from the 
