41 



May 27, 1834. 

 William Yarrell, Esq., in the Chair. 



A Letter was read, addressed to the Secretary by Sir R. Ker Por- 

 ter, Corr. Memb. Z. S., dated City of Caracas, April 7, 1 834. It 

 related chiefly to a Monkey, and to some Tortoises, recently presented 

 to the Society by the writer. 



The Monkey is described in detail. It is the Pithecia sagulata, the 

 jacketed Monkey or Siviia sagulata of Dr. Traill. Sir R. Ker Porter 

 points out the several differences in colouring which exist between 

 this individual and the published description by the Baron Humboldt 

 of the Pithecia Chiropotes : these consist chiefly in the comparative 

 paleness of its back, and the greater darkness of the remainder of its 

 body and of its bushy beard. He adds that the animal drinks fre- 

 quently, always bending down on its hands, and putting its mouth 

 to the surface of the water, heedless apparently of wetting its beard, 

 and indifl'erent to the observations of lookers-on : he never saw it 

 take up water in the hollow of its hand, and carry it in this manner 

 to its mouth in order to drink. Its favourite fruit is the apple ; and 

 it does not refuse the pinion of a roasted chicken. Its voice is a 

 weak and chirping whistle, which becomes shrill and loud when the 

 animal is angry. It was obtained from the vicinity of the Orinoco, 

 not far distant from the Rio Negro, in the heart of Guiana. It is 

 known as the Mono Capuchino. 



The Tortoises are referable to the Testudo carbonarin, Spix. 



The Secretary announced that there had recently been added to the 

 Menagerie a white-crested Cockatoo, Plyctolophus cristatits, Vieill.; 

 - and a pair of the blue Jay, Garrulus cristatus, Cuv. 



He also stated that there had been acquired for the Menagerie a 

 Rhinoceros of the one-horned species of Continental India. It is said 

 to be about four years old. Its height at the loins, the highest part 

 of the back, is 4 feet 10^ inches ; its length, from the root of the tail 

 to the tip of the nose, measured in a straight line, is 10 feet 6 inches j 

 its weight is about 26 cwt. 



o 



A specimen was exhibited of the young of the Sandwich Island 

 Goose, Bernicla Sandvicensis, Vig., which was hatched at Knowsley. 

 It was accompanied by the following note from the President, Lord 

 Stanley. 



" Through the kindness of Jolin Reeves, Esq., I received at 

 Knowsley a pair of these birds on the 15th of February, 1834. 



