1882. ] MR. BOULENGER ON THE HELODERMA. 631 
quired by presentation, 48 by purchase, 2 by birth, and 13 were received 
on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period 
by death and removals was 95. 
A pair of young River-Hogs (Potamocherus africanus) from Zulu 
Land, presented by Col. J. H. Bowker, F.Z.S., and Mr. John Dunn, 
and received August 28th. These are a very interesting addition 
to the Society’s series of Suidee. 
The total number of registered additions to the Society’s Mena- 
gerie during the month of September was 148; of these 81 were 
acquired by presentation, 33 by purchase, 7 by exchange, 6 were bred 
in the Gardens, and 21 were received on deposit. The total number 
of departures during the same period by death and removals was 87. 
The most interesting acquisitions of the month were :— 
1. An example of a species of Canis, said to have been received 
from the Amazons, and remarkable for its short coat and short ears. 
Being unable to identify this peculiar animal with any described 
form, I have given it the provisional name of the Short-eared Fox 
( Canis microtis). 
Mr. Smit’s sketch (Plate XLVII.) will give a general idea of this 
Canis, which can only be accurately described after death. It stands 
about 14 inches high over the shoulders; the body from the nose 
to the rump is about 30 in. in length and the tail 12in. The short 
close fur is generally of a dark iron-grey, the hairs being whitish below 
and tipped with black; the legs, feet, and tail are darker, nearly 
black ; the ears are short and pale rufous inside and out ; the snout 
is of a darker rufous. 
2. A cock and two hens of Elliot’s Pheasant (Phasianus elliot), 
from China, purchased of the Jardin d’Acclimatation of Paris, Sep- 
tember 27th. These are young birds, bred in France, and are the 
first specimens of this fine Pheasant that have reached us. 
3. Eight Lemurs from Madagascar were received on deposit, Sep- 
tember 30th. These animals belong to a species of Chirogaleus new 
to our Collection, apparently to C. coquereli (Poll. et v. Dam). 
The total number of registered additions to the Society’s Mena- 
gerie during the month of October was 121, of which 4 were by birth, 
71 by presentation, 39 by purchase, 1 by exchange, and 6 on deposit. 
The total number of departures during the same period by death and 
removals was 152. 
Mr. Boulenger made the following observations on the subject of 
the Heloderma :— 
«A few days after the arrival of the Heloderma in the Society’s 
Menagerie, I tried the effects of its poison on a Guinea-pig. The 
animal was bitten in the leg, and, after two or three minutes, fell 
into corivulsions and died, exactly as if bitten by a Viper. Be- 
sides, no doubt could be entertained as to the poisonous nature of 
the Heloderma after the careful investigations recently made by Dr. 
