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Show 262 SIR VICTOR BROOKE ON A N E W [Mar. 16, rumours of the existence of a Spotted Deer in the countries immediately to the north of the Persian Gulf. He expressed at the same time his opinion that the matter was of considerable interest, and recommended m e to take active steps to obtain specimens. This I at once did by writing to Capt. Jones, H.B.M. Consul at Tabreez, who was at the time most kindly endeavouring to procure for m e specimens of all the Persian Cervidae and Bovidae. Upon the receipt of m y letter, Capt. Jones put himself into immediate communication with Mr. Robertson, the English Vice-Consul at Busrah, requesting him, if possible, to obtain specimens of the Mesopotamian Spotted Deer. In his reply, Mr. Robertson wrote, " Please tell Sir Victor Brooke that I have already sent a skull with horns and a skin of the Spotted Deer to M r . Sclater, Secretary of the Zoological Society, with whom doubtless Sir Victor is well Fig. 1. Head of Cervus (Dama) mesopotamicus cf, with horns half-grown. acquainted. I shall send Sir Victor the horns and skin of the next buck I shoot." Having observed m y interest in the matter, m y friend Mr. Sclater, with characteristic generosity, handed these specimens over to m e upon their arrival, and requested m e to lay before the Society the results of m y observations. At the first glance the |