1897.] THE SECRETARY ox THE GLOSSY IBISES. 811 



2. A younof male of the Caucasian Wild Groat (Capra eaucasica), 

 received in exchange on August 12rh. There was already an adult 

 female of this species living in the collection, presented by H. H. 

 P. Deasey, Esq., in November 1893 ', so that there is now a pair 

 of this scarce bovine animal iu the Society's Gardens. 



The registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the 

 month of September were 19-1: in number. Olt these 49 were 

 acquired by presentation, 13 by purchase, 130 were received on 

 deposit, and 2 were bred in the Gardens. The total number of 

 departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 

 121. 



The registered additions to the Society's Meuagerie during the 

 month of October were 109 in number. Of these 71 svere 

 acquired by presentation, 17 by purchase, 5 in exchange, 9 were 

 received on deposit, and 7 were bred in the Gardens. The total 

 number of departures during the same period, by death and re- 

 movals, was 112. 



The Secretary took this opportunity of calling attention to the 

 Glossy Ibises living in the Society's Gardens, and made the 

 following remarks : — 



"In January 1893 we purchased seven examples of a species 

 of Glossy Ibis, stated, I believe quite correctly, to have been 

 received from South America. These birds were entered on the 

 register as ' White-faced Ibises, PlegacUs rjuarauna (Linn.),' of 

 which I supposed them to be the young. In August of the same 

 year we received as a present from the late Lord Lilford twelve 

 examples of the European Glossy ihis {Plegadis fcdcineUus) from 

 Spain. These were turned into the large Aviary along with the 

 former lot. They mixed themselves together, and it seemed quite 

 impossible to distinguish the two supposed species, in the plumage 

 which they then bore. I called Mr. Thomson's special attention 

 to the subject, and supposed that when the birds became fully adult 

 we should be able to see the differences that have been pointed out 

 between these forms by the American ornithologists (see Ridgw. 

 Man. N. A. B. ed. 2, p. 1 24). Mr. Thomson has supplied me mth 

 the following notes on this subject : — 



" Notes on the Breedhig of the Qlossy Ibises. 



" Judy 23rd, 1897.— The Glossy Ibises bred for the first time 

 in 1895, when three were hatched. I cannot now remember how 

 many birds ' paired,' but only three young birds lived long, 

 others were killed by falling out of the nest and by neglect of the 

 parent birds. The average number of eggs was three, of which 

 generally only two were hatched. At the present time there are 

 three young ones living, hatched this year, about three weeks old. 



' See P. Z. S. 1893, p. 729. 



54» 



