908 THE SECRETARY ON ADDITIONS TO THE MENAGERIE. 



and of which only seven survived, two males and five females, 

 reproduced their species on September 29th and 30th, the adult 

 coloration of the males appearing only on October 7th and 16th. 

 When we consider the fact that these fishes, owing to the warmer 

 tanks being already occupied, were kept at the low average 

 temperature of 65°, we must conclude that, like their growth, the 

 period of gestation must have been slow, and that the male 

 undoubtedly bred at least a month before acquiring its full 

 secondary sexual characters. 



A parallel case is well known in the male Salmon, which 

 occasionally becomes sexually mature in the parr condition, 

 while the Wrass (Coris julis) and the Dragonet {Callionymus 

 lyra) have been observed by Mr. E. W. Holt also to become 

 sexually mature prior to having fully developed their adult 

 characters. In the two latter cases, however, the question is 

 one of degree only, the characteristic male livery not being 

 entirely absent, as in Girardinus. 



EXHIBITIONS AND NOTICES. 



October 29, 1912. 



Prof. E. A. MiNCHiN, M.A., F.R.S., Vice-President, 

 in the Chair. 



The Secretary I'ead the following i-eport on the Additions that 

 had been made to the Society's Menagerie during the months of 

 May, June, July, August, and September 1912. 



May. 



The registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the 

 month of May were 448 in number. Of these, 207 were acquired 

 by presentation, 60 by purchase, 43 were received on deposit, 

 72 in exchange, and 66 were born in the Gardens. 



The number of departures during the same period, by death 

 and removals, was 203. 



Amongst the additions special attention may be directed to : — 



A large collection of Mammals and Birds from Nepal, including 

 1 Indian Rhinoceros {Rhinoceros unicornis), 1 Kiang [Eqious 

 kiang), 2 Barasingha Deer {Cervus duvaucelli), 2 Sambur Deer 

 (Cervus aristotelis), 3 Hog-Deer [Cervus porcinus), 2 Monaul 

 Pheasants [Lophophorus ivipeyanus), 2 Cheer Pheasants [Gatreus 

 wallichi), and 2 Wedge-tailed Fruit-Pigeons [Sphenocercas sphe- 

 nurus); presented on May 21st by H.M. The King. 



A pair of European Bison {Bison bonasus), from Russia, pre 

 santed by H.G. the Duke of Bedford, K.G., on May 15th. 



