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Show 324 LETTER FROM MR. T. D. FORSYTH. [June 2, Gardens; and I only recollect having seen one in any of the continental establishments. 6. A Guilding's Parrot, Chrysotis guildingi (Vigors), kindly purchased for the Society by Mr. G. H. Hawtayne of St. Vincent's, and received May 29th. Mr. Hawtayne tells me that this Parrot is now scarce in St. Vincent's, and that he has only succeeded in obtaining the preseut specimen after many inquiries. Mr. Hawtayne writes to me that another species of Chrysotis occurs in S. Lucia, of which he kindly undertakes to procure examples. The Dominican Chrysotis is C. augusta*; but I do not know what the S. Lucian species can be (unless it be C. bouquetiV). The following letter, addressed to the President by Mr. T. D. Forsyth, British Envoy to Kashgar, dated Kashgar, 27th January, 1874, was read :- " M Y L O R D , - I have much pleasure in forwarding for your information, and for that of the Members of the Zoological Society of London, a note on the Large Wild Sheep, Ovis poli of Blyth, which has been drawn up by Dr. F. Stoliczka, naturalist attached to the present Mission to Kashgar and Yarkundt. I am indebted to Lieut.-Col. Gordon for the sketch from life by which it is accompanied, as also for a drawing of the horns of the Maral Stag now forwarded. " Although I anticipate considerable difficulty in conveying live animals to India by the mountain route across the Karakorum, I am attempting to make a collection. Besides the Fat-tailed Sheep and the pushun-yielding goats of Eastern Turkestan, we have here the Gazella gutturosa and a particularly fine stag, which is worthy of special notice. This species is known here as the ' Maral,' under which name the Stag is spoken of in Persia. The animal now with the Mission collection is only about four years old, and has been kept in confinement from early days. The following measurements will give an idea of its proportions:-The height at shoulder 4 | feet (approximate) ; from between hori.s to root of tail 74 inches (approximate). " Of birds, we have at present only secured the Ular (Tetraogallus tibetanus) and the Kiklak (Caccabis pallidas), which H u m e separates under a distinct name from both the Ladak and the South- Himalayan Chukor. Many familiar European birds have been met with since the Mission entered Kashgar territory ; and Dr. Stoliczka hopes to send a note regarding those which have been collected during the winter to ' Stray Feathers.' "Trusting that these few notes may not be without interest, " I am, yours truly, " T. D. FORSYTH." * See P. Z. S. 1865, p. 437. t This paper is given below, p. 425. |
