476 THE SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. [Nov. 4, 



acceptable addition to the Collection, as we have just lost our former 

 specimen of the Cape Sea-Lion, which was presented to the Society 

 by Sir Henry Barkly, C.M.Z.S., and lived nearly thirteen years in 

 the Gardens. 



4. An African Barbet of the genus Trachyphonus, purchased 

 July 29th, being the first example of this form of Barbet we have 

 received alive. The bird appears to belong to Trachyphonus 

 purpuratus of "West Africa, but is not quite in adult plumage. 



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

 gerie during the month of August was 143 ; of these 85 were 

 acquired by presentation, 41 by purchase, 4 by birth, 2 by exchange, 

 and 11 were received on deposit. The total number of departures 

 during the same period by death and removals was 137. 



The following are of special interest : — 



1. A Somali Wild Ass (Equus asinus somalicus), from Somali 

 Land, received in exchange August 1 1th. I propose to give a descrip- 

 tion of this apparently new form of Wild Ass in a subsequent 

 communication. 



2. Two Blue Snow-Geese {Chen ccerulescens), from Alaska, 

 obtained by purchase August 11th. These are the first examples 

 of this fine sjiecies which have been exhibited in the Society's 

 Gardens. 



3. A Flying Gecko (Plychozoon homalocephalum), from Java, 

 and six Black-spotted Toads {Bu/o melanostictus), also from Java. 

 They were presented to the Society by Dr. F. H, Bauer, C.M.Z.S., 

 of Buitenzorg, Batavia. 



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

 gerie during the month of September was 111; of these 57 were 

 acquired by presentation, 22 by purchase, 9 by birth, and 23 were 

 received on deposit. The total number of departures during the 

 same period by death and removals was 119. 



Mr. Sclater exhibited the flat skin of a Cheetah, obtained at 

 Beaufort West, South Africa, and forwarded to him by the Rev. G. 

 H. R. Fisk, C.M.Z.S. Mr. Sclater observed that this skin agreed 

 nearly with that of the animal formerly in the Society's Menagerie 

 and described and figured by him in P. Z. S. 1877, p. 532, pi. lv., 

 as the Woolly Cheetah (Felis lanea), the skin of which is now in 

 the British Museum. It was, however, rather smaller in size and 

 more distinctly spotted, and perhaps not quite so densely furred, 

 owing probably to the fact that the animal was, as Mr. Fisk believed, 

 a female. 



Mr. Sclater was of opinion that this skin went to corroborate the 

 existence of Felis lanea as a valid species, although he was assured 

 by Mr. Oldfield Thomas that the skull of the specimen formerly in 

 the Society's Gardens did not differ from that of the ordinary 

 Cheetah. 



