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Show 294 MR. P. L. SCLATER ON CERVUS SIKA. [M March 18, 1879. Prof. St. George Mivart, F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. The Secretary called attention to some Japanese Deer (Cervus sika) lately presented to the Society by Viscount Powerscourt. These Deer were from the herd of Japanese Deer belonging to Lord Powerscourt, at Powerscourt, in Wicklow, Ireland, which had been originally commenced in 1859 with three hinds and a stag of Cervus sika, purchased of a London dealer. These animals had thriven well and multiplied exceedingly ; and the herd now consisted of at least eighty individuals. Lord Powerscourt had at various times supplied stock from it to the following Deer-parks :-• 1. That of Earl Annesley, Castle Wellan, co. Down. 2. That of Sir Victor Brooke, Colebrooke, Fermanagh. 3. That of Sir Croker Barrington, Bt., Glenstal, Limerick. 4. That of the Earl of Ilchester, Melbury, Dorset. 5. That of Lord William Osborne, Tally-allan, Scotland. The following extracts from a letter recently addressed to the Secretary by Viscount Powerscourt on this subject were read:- "There are certainly more than eighty Japanese Deer in the parks here now. It is very difficult to count them accurately, as there is so much wood; but I saw sixty-five in one lot together one day last autumn. I know that that was not the whole lot, because there were little lots scattered about besides. There are certainly eighty, if not more. Japanese Deer require no care of any kind ; they are as hardy as Fallow or Red Deer ; and the venison is as good : we had a haunch last year with more than two inches of fat on it. The haunches are small and of a handy size, about the size of mutton. Japanese Deer rut at the same time as the Fallow Deer. They are certainly not less hardy than Fallow Deer, I think more so. They have a very thick coat in winter; and I often see them up on the high ground when the Fallow Deer are in the shelter. The bucks are quite black in winter, and only show their spots very little ; the old ones do not show them at all. Like all Deer, the young ones are spotted, and the spots get fainter as the animal gets older; the old does as well as tbe old bucks almost lose them; the old bucks lose them altogether. They make two noises when rutting-one a sort of scream, the other a prolonged whistle, just like a man calling another at a distance; till I knew what it was, I was several times almost sure it was some one looking for me when I was shooting in the park. Their beauty is unquestionable; and when they are startled, and spread out the white long hairs on their haunches like a target as they jump away, they are very graceful." The following papers were read :-• |