382 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



In the list of the recent Jubilee honours we were glad to see the name 

 of our contributor, Mr. E. W. Brabrook, as a recipient of the distinction 

 of the«C.B." 



The Zoological Society are exhibiting in their Gardens a specimen of 

 Testitdo daudini, which is said to be the largest laud Tortoise now living, 

 and which has been deposited there by the Hon. Walter Rothschild. It was 

 originally obtained from the Aldabra Islands, in the Indian Ocean, but has 

 been a captive elsewhere for over 150 years. The daily papers have not 

 lost so fiue a subject for comment, and extraordinary ages have been invented 

 for the animal, which has doubtless attained a considerable but uncertain 

 longevity. Its total length is about 4 ft. 7 in., its breadth 2 ft. 10 in. ; 

 while its present weight, about 5 cwt., may be taken as capable of con- 

 siderable increase by generous and judicious feeding. 



We learn from Durban that the largest Turtle known on the coasts of 

 Natal has recently been brought ashore at Port Shepstone, and which when 

 alive weighed upwards of 700 lbs. Its shell, which measured 3 ft. 9 in. 

 by 3 ft. 6 in., has been polished, ornamented with a gold shield and suitable 

 inscription, and presented by its owner, Mr. Osier, to President Kriiger of 

 the Trausvaal Republic. This gift will undoubtedly serve to localize and 

 preserve the specimen. 



A giant Salamander of Japan, that had lived for thirty-seven years in 

 the Jardin des Plantes, died on June 15th, having a length of 1*30 metre, 

 and a weight of 24 kilograms. — (' Natural Science.') 



An egg of the Great Auk was sold to Mr. Middlebrook at Stevens's 

 Sale Rooms, on July 27th, for the sum of 160 guineas. This egg was sold 

 in the same place on June 25th, 1895, for 165 guineas. Its description, 

 as given in the sale catalogue, was as follows : — " Taken in Iceland about 

 1830, by a shipowner of St. Malo, who bequeathed it to the Corate Raoul 

 de Berace, whose collection was purchased by the Baron d'Hamonville. 

 This specimen (slightly cracked), which, in colouring and texture, is unique, 

 was figured in the Memoirs of the Societe Zoologique de France in 1888, 

 plate 6, fig. c, and additional notes on its history appeared in the Bulletin 

 of the Societe in 1891." 



The Editor would be glad to receive information as to the remaining 

 eggs of this bird contained in British collections, so that a complete list 

 of the same may be published. 



