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Show geographical species or races of the Short-horned African Buffaloes may render interesting the accompanying photographs, taken by myself, of a pair of Short-horned Buffaloes which have lived for many years in the Antwerp Zoological Gardens. Seen sideways, the horns of both specimens sloped back almost in the plane of the forehead. Seen from the front, the horns of the bull were broad and flattened, without transverse markings, and with but a small development of the boss, which forms a ring-like projection where the horn springs from the skull. The horns bore considerable resemblance to those of the Senegambian Buffalo (Bos cajfer planiceros), and perhaps the animal is referable to this subspecies. The horns of the cow, however, were more curved at the tips, and recalled those of the Lake Tchad Buffalo (Bos caffer brachyceros). Both animals were in the prime of life, of a deep dark blackish-brown colour; the edges of the ears were heavily fringed with hair, but there was no hair inside the pinna. A very sparse line of hair (the individual hairs being about 4 inches long) extended from the occiput to the root of the tail. The tail was very dark brown; tail-tuft black. The dorsal line of hair was hardly noticeable in the cow. The animals were labelled ‘ Babalas pumilus, Afr. Australe et Centrale (Buffle nain du Senegal).' However, they do not agree at all with Bos caffer nanus (Bush- Cow of the West Coast sportsmen)." 1904.] ON TIIE GROWTH OF THE ANTLERS IN THE WAPITI. 131 Mr. F. E. Beddard, F.R.S., exhibited and made remarks upon the skull of the Cape Crowned Crane, Balearica chrysopelargus, showing paired lateral and single median bony bosses suggestive of those of horn-bearing vertebrates. Mr. R. E. Holding exhibited and made remarks upon a series of 12 platinotype photographs, three of which are here reproduced (text-fig. 24, p. 132), taken by Mr. Henry Irving, of Horley, showing the growth and development of the horns in the Wapiti Stag (Cervus canadensis) bred by the Society and now living in the Gardens. The first of the series was taken on March 20th, 1903, the date on which the horns were shed, and photographs were taken at fortnightly intervals until the following September, when the horns were fully adult and almost free from the velvet covering. The photographs showed in an interesting manner the rapid growth of the antlers in the Cervidse, the time occupied being six months. On March 20th, 1904, these horns were in the usual course shed, the weight of the pair being 21 lbs. and length of beam 45 £ inches. Simultaneously with the development of the horns, the photographs showed the rapid seasonal change in the coat of the animal, the winter coat beginning to fall off shortly after the 9* |
