1887.] MR. G. A. BOULENGER ON A NEW SNAKE. 397 



of damaging the L. atrocroceus. At length (several interlacing 

 branches partly screening the birds) he ventured a shot, and had 

 the satisfaction of securing the prize in excellent condition. The 

 L. atrococcineus still kept in close proximity, apparently looking out 

 for his opponent. Mr. Eriksson shot this specimen also, in order 

 to make sure of its being a male. 



" This discovery of a second example of L. atrocroceus in a locality 

 so little removed from that of the first is of much interest ; and in 

 the complete absence of any record of so conspicuous and striking a 

 bird from any other part of Africa, tends strongly to localize the 

 race or variety within very narrow limits. [The sex of Dr. Brad- 

 shaw's specimen was not ascertained.] 



" The case of this Laniarius seems much to resemble those of the 

 singular form of Cheetah {Felis lanea of Sclater), of which only five 

 specimens are known, all from the very limited area of Nel's Point, 

 in the Beaufort District of the Cape Colony, and the equally aberrant 

 Leopard (F. pardus, L., var. melas ; see Trimen, P. Z. S. 1883, 

 p. 535, and Giinther, P. Z. S. ]885, pi. xvi. p. 243), of which only 

 three examples are known, from the neighbourhood of the Koonap 

 Eiver, in the Fort-Beaufort District on the eastern side of the Cape 

 Colony. It is very noticeable that, in all three cases, the abnormal 

 form does not replace the normal one to which it is so nearly re- 

 lated, but occurs in the midst of the latter, quite isolated, yet ap- 

 pearing to maintain and perpetuate (albeit in but very few individuals) 

 its peculiarities of colouring or of pattern." 



Mr. J. Jenner-Weir, F.Z.S., exhibited and made remarks on the 

 skull of a feral Boar {Sus scrofa) recently obtained at Tauranga, New 

 Zealand, by Mr. Arthur J. Vogan. 



The animal was supposed to be a descendant from those introduced 

 by Capt. Cook. 



The skull was intended for the British Museum. 



The following papers were read 



1. On a new Snake of the Genus Lamprophis now living in 

 the Society's Gardens. By G. A. Boulenger. 



[Received March 29, 1887.] 

 (Plate XXXIA^) 



Among some S. -African Reptiles recently presented to the Society 

 by the Rev. G. II. R. Fisk was a lovely little Snake, to which its 

 sender directed partieuhir attention, suspecting it to be new, and 

 expressing the desire that, should this be the case, it should be 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1887iJia.».SXVlI. 27 





