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Show 414 PROF. J. B. STEERE ON THE "TAMARON." [Nov. 20, scientific men \ This is the ' Tamaron.' From the native reports I could make out nothing but that it was a large fierce beast with sharp horns, which attacked all who came near it. While in this city last July I saw a professed example mounted in the Dominican College of Santo Tomas. From what I could make out of it at that time I thought the head was that of a calf of the species, and that the skin of a young Buffalo had been used for the remainder of the specimen. I now know that the first part of my impression was correct. I am not now so certain of the second part, as to the skin of a young Buffalo having been used, and shall examine the specimen again. " In Mindoro I procured three full-grown individuals (two males and one female) of the Tamaron, and have preserved the skins and skeletons. " The following is m y description, as taken from the animals when first killed:- " General colour of skin and hair black, hair short and rather fine. A greyish-white stripe running from near the inner corner of the eye towards the base of the horn (this stripe three inches long by one inch wide), a greyish-white spot above each hoof on all feet, and a greyish-white patch on inner side of lower fore leg ; skin and hair of groin white ; bare skin of nose and lips black ; horns and hoofs black ; tips of horns pointed and polished ; horns triangular, with a tendency in the bulls towards thickening and flattening at the base ; lower part of the horns with deep irregular pits ; several of the last vertebras of the tail aborted. Size of No. 1, an old bull:-length from point of nose to tip of tail eight feet one inch ; length of tail one foot five inches; length of tassel of hairs at end of tail two and a half inches; height at shoulder three feet six inches ; from breast-bone to sole of fore foot one foot eight inches ; length of horns one foot two inches ; circumference of horns at base thirteen inches ; horns, distance apart at base one and a half inch, at points ten inches; length of head, before skinning, one foot four inches. "No. 2, an old cow, differed but little in measurements, being eight feet in length ; height at shoulder three feet five inches ; the horns were weaker and rounder at the base. " No. 3, a full-grown young bull, was eight feet two inches long; height at shoulder three feet five inches, at hip three feet six inches; horns little worn and one foot five inches long. " The body of the Tamaron is very round and muscular, as are the legs. "The horns run downwards and backwards until they reach the line of the eye and upper edge of the nose, and then pass nearly straight backwards, turning towards each other moderately at the points. " The animals are Buffalo-like in habits ; they come out upon the sandy reaches of the rivers at night to fight and to escape the insects, 1 See communications from Mr. A. B. Everett, Dr. A. B. Meyer, and Mr. Bartlett on this subject, P. Z. S. 1878, pp. 792, 881,882 ; also Dr. Meyer's letter, ' Nature,' xxxix. p. 9 (1888); and Dr. Hoffmann's article in Abh. k. Zool. Mus. zu Dresden, 1886-87, no 3, p. 27. |
