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Show 1870.] MR. A. D. BARTLETT ON THE HABITS OF THE PANDA. 769 a closely allied but distinct family. This is a point which may still be left open for discussion. Some light will probably be thrown upon it when details are published of the structure of a remarkable new mammal lately obtained in Eastern Thibet by M. 1'Abbe David, and briefly noticed by M . Alphonse Milne-Edwards under the name of Ailuropoda *. This is a creature as large as some of the smaller species of Bear, but with the dental formula of the Procyonidce, and, as far as can be judged from a slight sketch of the skull kindly sent to me by M. Milne-Edwards, not very distantly related to the animal now under consideration. The drawings which illustrate this communication have been made from preparations of the viscera of Mlurus, which, together with the skeleton, are preserved in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons. 3. Remarks on the Habits of the Panda (Mlurus fulgens) in Captivity. By A. D. B A R T L E T T , Superintendent of the Society's Gardens. On the 22nd of May 1869, the subject of this notice was received at the Gardens. I found the animal in a very exhausted condition, not able to stand, and so weak that it could with difficulty crawl from one end of its long cage to the other. It was suffering from frequent discharges of frothy, slimy fsecal matter. This filth had so completely covered and matted its fur, that its appearance and smell was most offensive. The instructions I received with reference to its food were, that it had had about a quart of milk per day, with a little boiled rice and grass. It was evident that this food, the change of climate, the sea voyage, or the treatment on board ship had reduced the poor beast to this pitiable condition. M y first object was to endeavour to support the little life that remained by a change of food. I first tried raw and boiled chicken, rabbit, and other animal substances, all of which it refused to eat. I found, however, it would take arrow-root, with the yelks of eggs and sugar mixed with boiled milk; and in a few days I saw some improvement in its condition. I then gave it strong beef-tea well sweetened, adding pea-flour, Indian-cornflour, and other farinaceous food, varying the mixture daily. The fondness of the animal for sweet food was remarkable; and by adding a little sugar to the meat that had been boiled to make the beef-tea, it was induced to eat it freely. Finding a great improvement in the strength of the Panda, and the weather being fine, I gave him his liberty, by letting him out of his cage into the garden in front of m y house (having a boy to see that he did not escape) ; he soon began to eat a few leaves and the tender * Annales des Sciences Naturelles, 5 e series, vol. xiii. (1870) p. 18. |