13 
20. A brush-tailed porcupine (Atherura africana) from 
West Africa. 
21. A splendid pair of Carolina parrakeets [Conurus 
carolinensis) were presented by their owner. These are the 
first of the species which have been in the collection for 
some years, and it is much to be regretted that this beauti- 
ful parrot, the only one indigenous to the United States, has 
become so rare and in all probability will soon be extinct. 
22. A white-throated monkey (Cercopithecus alhogularis) 
was received among a collection of other African species. 
23. In November, was received by presentation, a yellow 
boa (Chilobothrus inornatus), from Jamaica, a species which 
is rapidly decreasing in numbers. 
24. A hairy armadillo (Dasypus villosus), which arrived in 
December, has remained in better condition than any of the 
group which have been exhibited in the Garden. Being 
placed in a large case, with a sufficiency of loose earth, it 
has afforded to visitors an excellent opportunity for observ- 
ing the habits of these curious animals. 
25. A young loon, received in January, was identified as 
the red-throated diver {Colymbus septentrionalis), a species 
by no means as common in the Middle States as its near 
relation, the great northern diver. 
26. A specimen of the least tinamou (Crypturus pileatus) 
from South America, was received in the same month. 
27. A very good specimen of that rara avis, a white crow 
of the common species (Corvus americanus) was presented. 
28. One of the most interesting specimens ever procured 
by the Society, is a brush-turkey {Tallegalla lathami) of New 
South Wales, which was purchased in January. In the 
whole home-histor}^ of birds there is nothing more remark- 
able than the habit displayed by the members of the Me- 
gapodidoe, or mound-builders, at the season of incubation. A 
mound of earth and rubbish is scraped together by the 
parent birds, and reaches sometimes a diameter of twenty- 
five feet and a height of four or five. The eggs are deposi- 
ted in layers in a large pit at the centre, packed in a mass 
of decomposing vegetable matter, the heat generated by 
