190 



PPIOTOMICROGRAPHS OF ACARI. 



2 Sun-Bitterns {Eurypyga helias), from South America, pur- 

 chased on December 16th. 



1 Matamata Terrapin {Chelys fimhriata), from the Rio Negros, 

 presented by Dr. A. Bremner. 



Mr. A. J. Elwes, F.R.S., communicated a letter relative to 

 the condition of the herds of Moose in Yellowstone Park. 



Mr. D. Seth-Smith, F.Z.S., read a letter from Messrs. Tullis, 

 Russell & Co., drawing attention to an interesting case of 

 response of Sparrows to colour, in which the birds appeared to 

 be peculiarly attracted to a Paper-making machine when paper 

 of a dark blue tint was being run oflf. 



Mr. E. G. BouLE-YGER, F.Z.S., Curator of Reptiles, exhibited 

 living specimens of a remarkable new Land-Tortoise, Testudo 

 loveridgii, recently discovered by Mr. A. Loveridge in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Djdoma, East Africa, and described by Dr. G. A. 

 Boulenger, F.R.S, This Ti!irtoise differs from all previously 

 described Lind-Torbois3S in the carapace being quite flat, in the 

 so-called '"shell" being perfectly soft, and in the complete 

 absence of ribs, costal and neural bony plates. Mr. Boulenger 

 stated that quite young examples differed from the specimens 

 exhibited, their carapace being dome-shaped and possessing ribs 

 and all other banes present in previously described Tortoises. 

 In referring to its habits, it was stated that the animal, having 

 been deprived of the protection of a bony " shell," had taken to 

 living much after the manner of a Lizard, inhabiting holes in 

 the rocks, and that, according to Mr. Loveridge, great difficulty 

 is experienced in extracting the Tortoise from these holes, owing 

 to its habit of distending itself, and thereby wedging itself firmly 

 in the rock-cavity. 



Mr. F. Martin Duncan, F.Z.S., exhibited and made remarks 

 on a series of photomicrographs of Acari from the lungs of 

 Maoctcus rhesus, illustrating the larval, nymph, and adult stage 

 of the Acarid. He stated that both young and adult Rhesus 

 Monkeys appeared to be infected, but so far as his observations 

 had gone, the presence of the Mites in the lungs had in no case 

 been the cause of death. So far eggs had not been observed in 

 the vesicles formed by the presence of the Mites, though serial 

 sectioiis of adult Acarids had shown the egg in an advanced state 

 of development, pointing to the probability of this stage being 

 completed within the body of the female. 



