1891.] PROF. E. C. STIRLING ON NOTORYCTES TYPHLOPS. 327 



been produced by a male Lophophorus impeyanus and a female 

 Euplocamus albocristatus. 



The Menagerie in the Jardin des Plantes was fortunate in still 

 having a male example of the Black African Rhinoceros {Rhinoceros 

 bicornis), received about ten years ago. 



From the Antwerp Gardens Mr. Sclaterhad succeeded in obtaining 

 a few interesting birds for the Society's collection. Amongst these 

 were two small Hornbills (Toccus erythrorhynclius) and two African 

 Spoonbills {Platalea alba), the latter being new to the Society's series. 



In the Zoological Gardens of Rotterdam two interesting Antelopes 

 had lately been received from the Congo : these were a female of 

 Tragelaphus gratus and a male Cephalophus dorsalis. The colony 

 of wild Herons adjoining the large covered aviary in which the 

 Night-Herons bred (see P. Z. S. 1889, p. 219) was still flourishing 

 and consisted this year of twenty-eight pairs. 



The Gardens of the Royal Zoological Society of Amsterdam (since 

 the death of the late Mr. Westerman under the direction of Dr. 

 C. Kerbert) had been next visited and many objects of interest had 

 been noted. Amongst these were a pair of the Elk {Alces machlis), 

 born in the Gardens on the 13th of June, 1890, a pair of the Bantang 

 Ox of the Sunda Island {Bos banteng), and a female example of 

 the Sassabey Antelope (Damalis lunata). The herd of the graceful 

 Antelope {Tragelaphus gratus) (see above p. 213) now consisted of 

 a male, two females, and two young ones lately born. 



In the small Zoological Garden at the Hague, Mr. Sclater had 

 noticed an example of a beautiful species of Ground-Pigeon, 

 Phlegcenas tristigmata, (see Ibis, 1865, pi. ix.), of Celebes, which he 

 had never seen before alive. 



A drawing, sent to England by Professor E. C. Stirling of the 

 University of Adelaide, M.D. and a Corresponding Member of the 

 Society, was exhibited. This, being the first received in Europe, 

 represented the remarkable Australian mammal which that gentleman 

 had now called Notoryctes typhlops, having described it without a 

 name in 'Nature' (vol. xxxviii. p. 588) of the 18th of October, 

 1888, in the following terms : — 



"The total length is 13 cm., inclusive of the tail, which is 2 cm. 

 long. The head, relatively shorter than in Chrysochloris, has a 

 rounded muzzle, the dorsal surface of which is covered by a horny 

 shield. Nostrils transversely slit-like. No eyes visible, the skin 

 passing uninterruptedly over the ocular region ; but on reflecting 

 the skin on one sride of the face a small circular pigment-spot is 

 visible in the position of the eye. No apparent bony orbit. Tongue 

 fleshy, broad at the base, and tapering to a blunt point. No ex- 

 ternal ears, but the ear-openings distinct, 1 mm. wide, and covered 

 over with fur. 



"The fore limbs are short, resembling somewhat those of a Mole ; 

 but the manus is folded, so that the large nails of the fourth and 

 fifth digits only are visible in the natural position of the limbs. Of 

 these nails the fourth is 15 mm. long and of a uniform width of 



