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Show 1875.] IN THE SOCIETY'S COLLECTION. 421 6. PROCYON CANCRIVORUS. Ursus cancrivorus, Cuv. Tabl. El. d'H.N. des Anim. p. 113 (1798). Procyon cancrivorus, Wagner, Saugeth. ii. p. 160. Of this southern form oi Procyon we have certainly two very distinct kinds now living in the Gardens, which we call the Red-footed and Black-footed Crab-eating Raccoons. Of the former we have an adult male, being one of the two purchased of Dr. Ridpath, October 1, 1870, and stated to have been obtained at Colon, and a pair of young ones lately presented by Mr. J. R. H. Wilton, by whom they were brought from Demerara., Of the latter we have an adult male purchased of Mr. J. Simon in May, 1870, and probably from S.E. Brazil. On comparing these animals together, it will be at once remarked that the red-footed animal is easily recognizable by its pale reddish feet, which are almost denuded of hairs, and its yellow body underneath. In the black-footed form the feet are more hairy aud are of the same grey colour as the legs, and the body beneath shows no tinge of yellowish, although paler than the back. The paws and claws are black or nearly so, and the ears are much darker. I exhibit a skin of the redAooted animal, being that of the second male, received in October, 1870. Of this form we have also had another individual, brought by Mr. A. M . Sandbach from British Guiana in June 1872. All other examples of this animal previously in the Gardens have belonged, I believe, to the black-footed form. Upon these facts I come to the conclusion that there are two forms of Procyon met with in South America-the red-footed, from Guiana and Columbia, up to Colon, and the black-footed, probably from S.E. Brazil and Paraguay. As Cuvier's Ursus cancrivorus is founded on the animal of Cayenne, the northern red-footed animal must retain the original specific term, and the southern black-footed form will probably require a new name. 7. CERVULUS MICRURUS, sp. nov. (Plate LI. fig. 1.) The series of Muntjacs (Cervulus) in the Society's Collection has been largely augmented during the past year ; and we have now living in the Gardens no less than 12 specimens of the different forms of this animal. I will say a few words on each of the species, taking them in the order given by Sir Victor Brooke in his excellent article on this genus*. (1) Cervulus muntjac-Of this species we have a male obtained from the Jardin d'Acclimatation in November last, and a pair purchased in March last. It will be observed on comparison, how much larger and brighter in colour the Burmese male (from Saigon) is than the male of the pair subsequently purchased, which probably represent the* ordinary Indian form of this species. This leads m e to believe that Sir Victor Brooke's suspicions as to the specific distinctness of the Indian and Burmese forms are very likely to turn out to be correct. * P. Z. S. 1874, p. 33 et seqq. |
