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Show 152 LETTER FROM SIR HENRY BARKLY. [Mar. 3, above and below. The horns were four-pronged, slender, and short in spaces between snags. The general coat was dark brown, with a darker line down back terminating in a white patch on rump and a white tail. The tarsal patch was large, and consisted of close short hair. A black spot occurred below each lower lip, uniting by a central line with a similar spot on the chin. The animal had a wiry active look, and, I was told, was a fine runner and jumper when out of the enclosure. " I was convinced it was a new species, and sent home a description of it to the Secretary of this Society, in company with that of Cervus kopschi from Kiukiang. Meanwhile, on learning the name of the gentleman who was said to have procured it at Newchwang, I sent to ascertain whether such an animal had been noticed at that port. N o one knew any thing about it; and the gentleman himself declared that he did not recollect the purchase. I feared then that there might be some mistake, and that this specimen was merely an individual variety of C. sika. I wrote this to the Secretary, and begged him for the present to cancel m y species. "The other day I heard from m y friend Mr. A. Michie, at Shanghai, that he had been so fortunate as to procure two bucks of the same Deer, which had just arrived in a ship from Tientsin, and that he had at once shipped them for England in the steamer * Deucalion.' One died on the passage ; the other arrived safe and well, and has been acquired by the Society, in whose Gardens it is now to be seen." 4. Two males of the beautiful Falcated Teal (Querquedulafalcata), which arrived along with the Deer above mentioned, and are, I believe, quite new to European collections. A letter was read from Sir Henry Barkly, Corresponding Member, dated Government House, Cape Town, January 26, 1874, stating that he had obtained from Robben Island, in Mossel Bay, a pair of young Eared Seals, Otaria pusilla, and proposed to send them to the Society by the next Union Company's steamer. Sir Henry was also hoping to get an Elephant Seal (Morunga proboscidea) from the Crozettes, having arranged with Professor Wyville Thomson, who had proceeded there with the ' Challenger ' Expedition, to endeavour to procure one, and send it up either alive or dead. As regards the White Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros simus), concerning which the Secretary had been in correspondence with him, Sir Henry almost despaired of getting one, on account of the vast distance in the interior from which such an animal could now only be procured. The following papers were read :- |