238 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Mr. F. E. Beddard read the third of his contributions to the anatomy 

 of Picarian birds. The present paper related to the variations in pterylosis 

 and in anatomy of the Alcedinidce, of which he had examined specimens. 

 Although this family was so uniform in external structure, it presented 

 considerable differences when the pterylosis and anatomy were examined. 



Mr. de Win ton described a new Rodent of the genus Lophuromys from 

 British East Africa, which he named L. ansorgei. Its nearest ally was 

 L. sikapusi, Temm.; but it differed externally in its larger size and in 

 being of a smooth dark chocolate colour on all its upper parts, and, as 

 regards the skull, in having a longer facial portion in comparison to the 

 cranium. 



June 2nd. — Mr. F. DuCane Godman, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the 

 chair. 



The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to 

 the Society's Menagerie during the month of May, and called particular 

 attention to a Red-naped Fruit-Bat, Pteropus funereus, from Australia, 

 acquired by purchase, and new to the Society's list; to four examples of a 

 Tortoise belonging to the group of Gigantic Tortoises (apparently Testudo 

 daudini) from the Aldabra Islands, deposited by the Hon. Walter Rothschild ; 

 and to two Ruppell's Vultures, Gyps rueppelli, from Egypt, received in 

 exchange from the Zoological Gardens, Cairo. 



Mr. Sclater exhibited the skin of an African Monkey of the genus 

 Cercopithecus, originally received alive from Mombasa, which he believed 

 to be referable to Stairs's Monkey, C. stairsi. 



Mr. Sclater also exhibited a series of water-colour drawings of African 

 Antelopes by Mr. Caldwell, and a photograph of the Gorilla now living in 

 the Society's Gardens, by Mr. Henry Scherren. 



A communication was read from Mr. Henry J. Elwes and Mr. Edwards, 

 containing a revision of the European and Asiatic Butterflies of the Family 

 Hesperiidce. The species treated of in this paper were about 450 in number, 

 and were divided into about 100 genera. 



Mr. Charles Davies Sherborn gave an explanation of the plan he had 

 adopted in preparing his ' Index Generum et Specierum Animalium.' He 

 stated that the absence of any reliable lists of the species of particular 

 genera had led him to commence the compilation of an 'Index Generum 

 et Specierum Animalium' in 1890. Since that time 130,000 generic and 

 specific names had been recorded in a manuscript which was stored at the 

 Natural History Museum. 



Mr. G. A. Boulenger read a paper on the dentition of Snakes, and 

 added remarks on the evolution of the poison-fangs in this order of Reptiles. 

 — P. L. Sclater, Secretary. 



