1894.] DR. H. E. SAUTAGE ON THE EAELIEST KNOWN SNAKE. 391 



The collection, Avhen shipped by Dr. Anderson at Alexandria on 

 the 13th March last, contained 42 specimens representing in all 

 19 species. They were all beautifully packed, and only one animal 

 (a Hedgehog, Erinaceus cethiopicus) died during the voyage, while a 

 single Gerbille was reported as missing. Besides the Long-legged 

 Jackal, Ganis varier/atus, three other species of Canis belonging to 

 the large-eared section of Fennecs are represented in the collection. 

 There is also a beautiful G-enet with a long black vertebral stripe, 

 which I take to be Genetta soiegalensis, and examples of two 

 distinct species of Zorilla (Ictoni/x). The Eodents of the genera 

 Gerlillus, Dipodillas, Aconiys, and Isomys I must leave Dr. Ander- 

 son to determine. 



There can be no doubt that this fine collection will be of great 

 use to Dr. Anderson in the preparation of his proposed work on 

 the Zoology of Egypt. 



Dr. Giinther exhibited the hollow trunk of a Tree-Euphorbia 

 (Euphorbia grandidens) which a pair of Hornbills (Buceros melaao- 

 leucus) had selected for nidification. The trunk, with the female 

 bird and eggs, had been obtained by Dr. Schonland in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Grahamstown, Cape Colony, and transmitted by him 

 to the British Museum. The female when taken was unable to fly 

 and was simultaneously moulting all the wing- and tail-feathers, 

 thus presenting the appearance of a half-fledged young bird. This 

 specimen, therefore, confirmed the observation which had also 

 been made on other species of the genus, viz. that the female 

 Hornbills pass through a complete moult in the six or eight weeks 

 during \^hich they are imprisoned with their eggs and young. 



Mr. W. Bateson exhibited several hundred specimens and coloured 

 drawings of Gonioctena variabilis, a Phytophagous Beetle, from 

 Granada, Spain, in illustration of discontinuous variation in colour. 

 These specimens, which were to form the subject of a future paper, 

 were exhibited in the fresh state, as, after death, their colours 

 faded rapidly. 



Dr. H. E. Sauviige (Director of the Station Aquicole, Boulogne- 

 s.-Mer) exhibited a vertebra of what was believed to be the 

 earliest known Snake yet discoA-ered. It was from the Gault of 

 Portugal. 



The following papers were read : — 



26* 



