MELANISM IN TIPPBLSKIRCh's GIRAFFE. 179 



1 Spectacled Bear {Treniarctos ornatus), from the Andes of 

 Peru, presented by H. Fox Strangeways, Esq., on January IGth. 



1 Persian Squirrel (Scn(,7ncs persious), new to the Collection, 

 from Mosul, presented by Major Dickson, CLE. . 



1 Lesser JSTiltava (JViltava niacgrigorice), from the Himalayas, 

 new to the Collection, presented by E. W. Harper, F.Z.S., on 

 January 24th. 



A large collection of N. American reptiles, including 2 Helo- 

 derms, 2 Confluent Rattlesnakes, 2 Moccasins, a Copperhead, 

 and a Three-lined Snake (Atractus trilineatus), from Trinidad, 

 new to the Collection, purchased on January 25th. 



Mr. D. Seth-Smith, F.Z.S., exhibited a number of skins of 

 Birds-of- Paradise and gave an account of the various forms of 

 sexual display, drawing special attention to the display of the 

 Magnificent Bird-of-Paradise {JDiphyllodes magnifica hunsteini), 

 a living specimen being now in the Society's collection of tropical 

 birds. 



A Cinematograph record of the life- history of the House-fly, 

 taken under the direction of Prof. H. M. Lefroy, F.Z.S., was 

 exhibited. 



The Secretary exhibited a photograph of the Polar Bears 

 " Sam " and " Barbara." 



Mr. R. I. PococK, F.R.S., F.Z.S., exhibited, and made remarks 

 upon, a sei-ies of drawings of the feet and nose of the Polar Bear, 



Marcli 6th, 1923. 



Sir S. F. Harmbr, K.B.E., F.R.S., Vice-President, 

 in the Chair. 



The Secretary read the following note from Mr. Caldwell, of 

 the Game Warden's Office, Nairobi : — 



" You may be interested to hear of a case of apparent melanism 

 in Tippelskirch's Giraffe, Giraffa Gamelo2:)ardalis tijjpelskirchii. 

 The animal, a bull, was recently seen in the South Game Reserve ; 

 its markings are said, by a competent European observer, to 

 have shown through the black in the faint manner that the 

 rosettes show in a black leopard. Wakamba and Masai natives 

 who saw it were much excited, and said they had never seen 

 such a thinof before." 



Mr. R. I. PocoCK, F.R.S., F.Z.S., exhibited, and made remarks 

 upon, a series of drawings of the feet and spurs of the Echidna. 



