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Show 1902.] REINDEER SKULL FROM NOVAIA ZEMLIA. 361 tlie Spitsbergen Reindeer, of which a head is figured in Murray's ‘ Geographical Distribution of Mammals/ p. 154, fig. 9 In that race the antlers are smaller and lighter, usually with less palmation of the brow-tine, and with the bez-tine simple. The summit of the antler is, moreover, devoid of palmation. In the Siberian Reindeer (Rang if er tarandus sibiricus) as typified by the heads figured in Murray's ‘ Geographical Distribution of Mammals,' p. 153, the palmation of the brow- and bez-tines is less marked than in the present specimen, and in one case at least these tines are unsymmetrical, The same condition obtains in the antlers of a Reindeer skull in the British Museum from " Siberia" which approximates to the American woodland race. Turning to American Reindeer, or Caribou, of which a great number of local phases are now recognized, the Novaia Zemlian specimen seems to me to come nearest as regards relative length of antlers to forms like the Alaskan Rangifer tarandus stonei2, intermediate between the true woodland and the true barren-ground type. The present antlers differ, however, markedly from those of the Alaskan race by the much greater palmation of the summit, the much more developed back-tine, and the greater symmetry between the brow- and bez-tines of opposite sides. From R. t. osborni3, of the Cassiar Mountains-another of the intermediate types-they differ by the smaller length of beam, as well as in the greater palmation, although both show a large back-tine. From R. t. montanus ‘, which more closely resembles the woodland type, as well as from the true woodland, the Newfoundland, and the barren-ground races, the Novaia Zemlian form is markedly distinct, although it is decidedly nearer to the woodland than to the barren-ground type. On these grounds, coupled with its insular habitat, I feel little hesitation in regarding the Novaia Zemlian Reindeer as forming a distinct local race (American naturalists would probably consider it a species) ; and 1 propose to call it Rangifer tarandus pearsoni, after the owner of the type specimen here figured. It may be briefly characterized as distinguished from other Old World forms of Reindeer by the symmetry of the antlers and the excessive palmation of both their brow- and bez-tines and their summits. 1 may add that Baron Nordenskiold has suggested that the Novaia Zemlia Reindeer reach that island from more northern lands by crossing the ice. I regret to say that Mr. Pearson is at present unwilling to part with the type specimen ; but it may be hoped that he will make arrangements whereby it will eventually come to the !N"ational collection. Mr. Pearson informs me that the animal to which the type skull belonged was killed in the winter of 1894-95, near the hut 1 The antlers figured by Camerano, Mem. Ac. Torino, vol. Ii. pi. ii. (1901) are stated by Winge (Meddelelser om Gronland, vol. xxi. p. 457) to come from Greenland. 2 See J A. Allen, Bull. Amer. Mus. vol. xiv. p. 145 (1901). 3 Allen, op. cit. vol. xvi. p. 149 (1902). 4 Allen, Inc. c ,t |