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Show 610 SIR P. L U M S D E N O N S N O W LEOPARDS. [June 16, The following extracts were read from a letter addressed to Secretary by Mr. J. Biittikofer, dated Leyden Museum, May 30, 1885 :- " On reading the interesting account of a visit to the birds'-nest caves near Elopura (British North Borneo) by Mr. Pryer, contained in the last part of the ' Procedings,' Dr. Jentink, the Director of our Museum, called m y attention to a paper from the hand of the late Dr. Bernstein, our celebrated traveller in the Malay Archipelago, published in the ' Journal fiir Oruithologie ' as early as 1859. You would oblige me very much by taking notice of this paper in the next number of the ' Proceedings,' as that may serve to correct any impression which might otherwise be entertained that the account of Mr. Pryer, with the adjoined report on the edible birds' nests by Mr. J. R. Green, is the first satisfactory solution of the question which has been offered. In order to show how thoroughly and successfully Dr. Bernstein has studied the question in loco, allow me to quote some of the most interesting parts of his exhaustive treatise." Mr. Biittikofer then quoted passages from the article alluded to in the 'Journal fiir Ornithologie' for 1859, pp. 112-115 ; following from which it appeared that Dr. Bernstein had proved most conclusively from his own observations that the so-called edible nests of Collocalia are formed from the spittle of these birds, the salivary glands of which are abnormally developed during the breeding-season for this purpose. The following extract was read from a letter addressed to the Secretary by Major-General Sir Peter Lumsden, K.C.B. :- "The young Snow Leopards of which you inquire were captured on the 17th of November, 1884, on the southern slopes of the mountains which in Persia separate the valley of Zroabad from that of Torbut-i-Jani, crossed here by a road known as the ' Istoi pass,' and not very far from where the range is penetrated by the Heri- Rud river, separating Persia from Afghanistan. A native hunter had shot a ' mish ' (or wild sheep) and had left it in order to go after another, then in sight, which having also secured, he returned to secure the first one, but on reaching it found a Leopardess greedily devouring it. He shot her, and ou going up to the body found no less than five young kittens, perhaps ten days or a fortnight old, very active and savage; he with difficulty managed to secure two of them, which he brought back to camp. They were taken care of by a native, and carried along with us, fed on milk, meat, & c , to Kazan, from whence they were despatched on a mule to the British Agent in Herat, with instructions to send them on the first opportunity to Mr. Barnes, the Government Political Agent, Quettah, who was to arrange for their despatch to the Society's Gardens. " Nawab Mirza Hassim Ali Khan, m y personal assistant, took them over from the native huntsman who captured them, looked after |
