210 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [No. 2. 



its sandstone, which I take to be American ? These fine specimens are 

 well worth adding to our stock of the mineral. 



Beport of Curator, Zoological Department, October Meeting, 1853. 



A few specimens only have been added to the Society's collections 

 during the past month; but these few comprise several species of interest, 

 and some new to our museum. 



1. Dr. Fayrer. A bottle of sundries from Eangoon. Among them is 

 the Coluber kobeos, Eeinw., juv.,— Homolopsis hydeina, Cantor,— 

 Elaps melanuetjs, and a few Arachnidce and Termites. 



2. Capt. Haughton, Chaiebasa. Also two bottles of sundries, among 

 which are Eublephaets Haedwickii, Gray (Gymnodactylus lunatus, 

 nobis, noticed in XVI, 633), Hemidactylus Coctjei, Onychocephalus 

 acutus (very rare and highly acceptable), Boa conica, Helix (affined to 

 H. insculpta, Benson), numerous Scorpions and Tarantulas, and some 

 marine shells (Buccinum and Ianthina), and Barnacles. 



3. Dr. Kelaart, Colombo. A specimen of Cylindeophis maculata 

 and two bottles of marine fishes, the latter to be examined and returned. 



4. Lt. Eoberts, 7th Madras Cavalry. A young specimen of Emys 

 dhonghoka, Gray, picked up near Saugor in Central India ; and a few 

 marine shells from the Indian Ocean, comprising a fine Ceeithitjm that 

 we did not possess previously. 



E. Blyth. 



November Meeting, 1853. 



The contributions to our museum for the past month are as follow : 

 1. Babu Eajendra Mallika. A very large and fine male specimen of 

 the Binturong (Aectictis bintueono, Tern. ; Ictides ater, Valenciennes), 

 both skin and skeleton of which have been prepared.* Also the carcass 



* This animal belonged to the Society, and was presented by Capt. Phayre, as 

 noticed in nay Report for July, 1847, /. A. S. XVI, 864 : the Babu having long 

 kept it for us in his menagerie. It continued tame to the last, but was less trust- 

 worthy from the time it had been pent up in confinement. The species is remark- 

 able for being the only placental mammal of the Old World, or major continent, 

 which is furnished with a truly prehensile tail : certain Paradoxuri only, to my 

 knowledge, exhibiting even a slight degree of prehensiveness in that organ ; unless 

 the Pangolins (Manis) may also be said to shew some power of the kind. No Old 



