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Show 1891.] MR. P. L. SCLATER ON FELIS UNCIA. 197 March 17, 1891. Prof. G. B. Howes, F.Z.S., iu the Chair. Mr. Sclater exhibited- two specimens of the horns, with scalps attached, of au Antelope from Somali-land which he had received from his correspondent Capt. H. G. C. Swayne, B.E. Writing from Berbera (February 11th, 1891), Capt. Swayne stated that the specimens had been lately given to him by some Dolbohanta Somalis (see map in James's ' Unknown Horn of Africa,' where the district of Dolbohanta is marked to the S.E. of Berbera about 100 miles distant), who had brought them from the interior, and told him that this " kind of Gazelle " was not found anywhere near the coast-line. Its size was said to be " about the same as that of Waller's Gazelle, which is found all over Somali-land." Its Somali name was " Dip-tag." Capt. Swayne was starting next day on a shooting expedition into the Dolbohanta country, where he hoped to meet with this Antelope and to be able to send better specimens. Mr. Sclater stated that, with the kind permission of Mr. Oldfield Thomas, he had compared the present specimens with the skull upon which Mr. Thomas had just founded his Cervicapra clarkei (Ann, & Mag. Nat. Hist. 1891, vii. p. 304), and that there was no doubt that they all belonged to the same species. But Mr. Sclater could not at all agree with Mr. Thomas that the Antelope in question was a Cervicapra. It appeared to him to be rather one of the Desert Antelopes allied to Gazella, and, judging from the form of the cranium shown in Mr. Thomas's specimen, to be probably allied to Waller's Gazelle (Lithocranius walleri). Mr. Sclater exhibited two skins of the Ounce (Felis uncia) in reference to the specimen of this Cat lately acquired by the Society1, and made some remarks on its distribution, which appeared to be entirely confined to the High Plateau of Central Asia. From the Himalayas it undoubtedly extended north of the Altai and into Amur-land and the island of Saghalin (cf. Schrenck, Amur-Reisen, vol. i. p. 96). But the story of its occurrence in Asia Minor, invented by Mr. D. G. Elliot, had now been quite upset by Messrs. Danford and Alston (see P. Z. S. 1880, p. 51). Nevertheless, Mr. Sclater had thought it would be of interest to get a living specimen of the so-called Felis tulliana, from the mountains above Smyrna, and had consequently applied to Mr. Frederic Holmwood, F.Z.S., at present H.B.M.'s Consul General at Smyrna, to use his best endeavours to obtain an example of this animal. The following papers were read:- 1 See below, p. 212. |