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Show PROCEEDINGS OP THE SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS OP TIIE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. • January 6, 1874. Dr. A. Giinther, F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. The Secretary read the following report on the additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of December 1873 :- The total number of registered additions to the Society's Menagerie during the month of December was 54, of which 4 were by birth, 27 by presentation, 10 by purchase, 4 received in exchange, and 9 received on deposit. The total number of departures during the same period by death and removals was 108. Amongst the additions two only are of sufficient interest to call for special remarks. These are :- 1. A female Onager, or Wild Ass of Cutch (Equus onager), presented December 23rd by Captain Henry Lowther Nutt, Acting Assistant Political Agent in Kattagwar. The following extract from a letter of Captain Nutt relates to this animal:- " I think I told you that I ran it down on the Runn of Kutch. I was riding hard after it for 3 hours and 5 minutes; and the estimated length of the chase was 40 miles. I rode two horses, as I discovered from the ' puggies,' or watchers near the Runn, that if the animals were disturbed from where they were they would probably make for another place some 12 or 13 miles distant. I was therefore able to post a fresh party of horsemen and a fresh horse for myself at the place further on; and true enough the herd did make for the spot indicated, so that the running was taken up and continued with the fresh horses ; and in this way the capture was effected, but even then not until both m y horses, which were in good order at the time, had been ridden to a standstill. This will give you an idea of the speed and endurance of these animals. " I wrote an account of the chase ; and it appeared in the June number, I think, of the 'Oriental Sporting Magazine,' under the head of * Donkey-Hunting on the Runn of Kutch.' " PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1874, No. I. 1 |
