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Show 1894.] THE SECRETARY ON A GAUR OR INDIAN BISON. 249 way as to produce a result which is approximately bilaterally symmetrical. Of the general significance of this phenomenon I have spoken in the place referred to. It should be observed that this specimen does not at all precisely conform to the principle of symmetry illustrated by the Brill described above. There was nevertheless in it also an imperfect correspondence between the distributions of the spots upon the areas dorsal and ventral to the median axis. Asymmetry, however, was exhibited in the presence of one spot on the dorsal fin, and of one spot over the dorsal neural spines, that were not represented in the area ventral to the lateral line. I am not aware that Flat-fishes having pigment upon their "blind " sides have before been examined with a view to this question ; and owing to the importance of the matter with regard to the defining of the principles of Symmetry, such an examination should be made in all cases where the presence of definite spots or marks makes the determination possible. In contrast wdth these cases of symmetrical variation were exhibited photographs of a sample of Flounders (Platessa flesus) from the shallow water near Bournemouth. In this locality there is a high percentage of specimens having pigment on the " blind " sides. Of a sample of 32 all but 3 were to some extent spotted with pigment. In 5 this spotting was so great as to give them a piebald appearance, and of these one was over the greater part of the " blind" side of a full brown colour. No regularity whatever could be detected in the distribution of the pigment. This sample represented the normal condition of the Flounders of the locality, and had not been in any way selected. EXPLANATION OF PLATE XVII. Fig. 1. View of the " blind " side of abnormal specimen of Rhombus Icevis. § nat. size. 2. Enlarged view of the spot dd. 3. Enlarged view of the spot vb. March 20, 1894. Prof. G. B. HOWES, F.Z.S., in the Chair. The Secretary exhibited a photograph of a young male Gaur or Indian Bison (Bos gaurus)x, forwarded by Major G. S. Bodon, of the Boyal Scots Begiment. Major Bodon had captured this animal when out Bison-shooting in the Neelampattry Hills, in Cochin, in August 1893, and had kindly offered to present it to the Society. The Secretary was now endeavouring to make arrangements for its transmission home. He remarked that no Gaur, so far as he was aware, had ever reached Europe alive, except the specimen 1 See Blanford, P. Z. S. 1890, p. 592, pi. xlix. |
