608 TIP SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. [June 2, 
description of Mus aquilus: this is a smaller animal, freckled with 
light tips to the hairs, and is otherwise very distinct from the 
animal now under notice, but shows that Mr. True’s specimen was 
about full-grown, and that the tail was not materially shortened by 
the injury mentioned. 
Dr. Ansorge has been hitherto known in connection with 
zoology as a collector of insects, but be gives me an interesting 
account of the accident which put him in possession of this collec- 
tion of mammals. The site of a long disused village had been 
purchased for the purpose of building the new Government 
Medical Hospital, and in clearing the long grass and serub in the 
usual manner of surrounding it and burning towards the centre, 
as the circle narrowed it was discovered that there were a large 
number of small mammals enclosed. It being observed that there 
were “ rats of all colours,” a selection of pairs of different sorts was 
made, with the result that some ten or a dozen specimens were 
obtained. Dr. Ansorge describes the Rhizomys heaving up the 
ground like giant moles; many of the new Lophuromys, quite 
twenty, were left on the ground. 
The two specimens agree in every particular and are said to be 
male and female, but are not labelled. 
The other species represented in the collection are Rhizomys 
splendens, Riipp., Gerbillus afer, Gray, Mus (Isomys) abyssinicus, 
Riipp., and Mus (Leggada) mainutoides, Peters. 
June 2, 1896. 
F. DoCanz Gopman, Esq., F.R.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. 
The Seeretary read the following report on the additions to the 
Society’s Menagerie during the month of May :— 
The registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the 
month of May were 154 in number. Of these 52 were acquired by 
presentation, 62 by purchase, 14 by exchange, 4 were born in the 
Gardens, and 22 were received on deposit. The total number of 
departures during the same period, by death and removals, was 86. 
Amongst the additions the following are worthy of special 
notice :— 
1. A Red-naped Fruit-Bat (Pteropus funereus), purchased May 
1st. This Australian animal is new to the Society’s list. 
2. Four examples of a Tortoise belonging to the group of 
Gigantic Tortoises, deposited by the Hon. Walter Rothschild, F.Z.S., 
May 26th. These Tortoises are believed to be referable to 
Daudin’s Tortoise (Testudo daudini), from the Aldabra Islands, 
which is a species peculiar for the form of its carapace, the two 
anterior and the two posterior marginal plates being strongly 
reverted (see Giinther, ‘ Gigantic Land-Tortoises,’ p. 33, pl. 5). 
