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Show 1891.] MR. T. T. SOMERVILLE ON THE LEMMING. 655 Skull No. 3 resembles in every respect one which is in the possession of my father (Mr. A. D. Bartlett), which I remember perfectly well, although without particulars. M y memory tells me that m y father's specimen appeared as though it had been burnt over a fire, exactly like Nos. 3 and 4 above mentioned. The Dyaks roast these animals for food. The specimen No. 5 in the photograph is similar to the one in my father's possession. The prominence for the second horn is scarcely visible, hence the doubt formerly expressed respecting its belonging to a single- or a two-horned Rhinoceros. The above-mentioned skulls and horns came from the jungle regions of the upper Rajah River, inhabited by the Kyans, a dangerous race of people, very distinct fron the Dyaks. These Kyans procure the horns for barter, for which they receive a high price from the Chinese, who import them to China for medicine. The horns are ground into powrder for some diseases, while others are cut into minute fragments to carry about the person. The general appearance of this animal (judging from the two heads with skin attached) is similar to that of the Sumatran species (Rhinoceros sumatrensis)1. It is perfectly black, covered with short black bristles; the ears are short and covered with short black hair without fringe (unlike R. lasiotis). The Rhinoceros is becoming extremely rare in the Province of Sarawak, on account of the value set upon the horns, but in Central and North Borneo in the very old jungle it is more plentiful. I have heard that two species exist; but this, I think, is doubtful. 5. Notes on the Lemming (Myodes lemmus). By T. T. S O M E R V I L L E , of Oppegarde, Christiania2. [Received August 10, 1891.] Very little appears to be authentically known of the exact habitat of the Lemmings, and they seem scarcely ever to be observed except upon the occasion of their great migrations. Their home is probably confined to the great table-lands, at an altitude of 3000 feet or more, on the mountains of Central Norway, and further north on the ranges between Norway and Sweden. Indeed ancient writers asserted that the sudden appearance of Lemmings was due to their being showered from the clouds, and even to this day there are many worthy peasants who are at a loss for any other explanation. Certain it is that for indefinite periods, of from four or five up to, perhaps, twenty years, the Lemming is never seen in the inhabited parts of the country, and then suddenly appears in countless hordes 1 Cf. Flower, P. Z. S. 1880, p. 69. 2 [Along with the present communication we received from Mr. Somerville seven living examples of the Lemming for the Menagerie. Of these two are still living- the other five died on the following dates:-(1) Aug. 20, 1891. (2) Aug" 31, 1891. (3) Oct. 19, 1891. (4) Nov. 7, 1891. (5) Nov. 27, 1891. - P . L. S.] PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1891, No. XLIV. 44 |