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Show 1874.] MR. H. E. DRESSER ON HYPOLAIS RAMA. 655 Golden Wolf; but whether it was a light-coloured specimen of the common Chanko or a different variety I a m unable to say"*. I propose, therefore, for the future to designate the Black Wolf of Thibet Canis niger, and to restrict the term Canis laniger to the grey form, to which Hodgson originally applied it. In the Appendix to the Mammals of Thibet (p. iii.) Dr. Jerdon has referred to the existence of this animal. The Black Wolf of Thibet is readily distinguishable from every other species of Canis known to m e by its nearly uniform black shaggy fur. The muzzle, feet, and a patch on the breast are white. The height of our specimen is about 2 feet 5 inches; the length of the body from the nose to the tail 3 feet 4 inches, that of the tail 1 foot 4 inches. The two examples received were alike in every respect; and the young male which attained full age was also similar. I think, therefore, that this singular form can hardly be only a variety of the C o m m o n Wolf, which, however, m a y be the case with Hodgson's Lupus lanigerf. 7. On the Nest and Eggs of Hypolais rama (Sykes). By H. E. DRESSER. [Eeceived November 3, 1874.] (Plate LXXIX.) Though far from believing that eggs alone are of any great use in discriminating birds generally, I think that no one who has at all studied them will deny that they are of great secondary importance, and that, where other characters are but slightly defined, the eggs and nests of tolerably closely allied species or genera frequently differ so widely and constantly as to form a very clear distinctive character. I may, for instance, name Acrocephalus streperus and Acrocephalus pa-lustris, which are so exceedingly difficult to separate from dried skins alone, though in life the colour of the tarsus is said to be invariably different; but their eggs differ so constantly and greatly that they cannot possibly be mistaken. The various species belonging to the Hypolais group also are clearly distinguishable from the different allied species by their nest and eggs; and though some of the species belonging to that group approach so nearly in form and coloration others of the Arocephalus group, still their "eggs alone show that they belong to the former. Mr. Blanford has lately brought from Persia the nest and eggs of Hypolais rama, which clearly show that this bird is a true Hypolais, nearest to Hypolais pallida, Ehr. (H. elaica, auctt.). Curiously enough, however, the eggs of this species, which I am * It is probably on a skin of this variety that Canis chanco, Gray, P. Z. S. 1863, p. 94, was established. . • . w + This species was described by Mr. Hodgson in 1847, in the 7th volume of the ' Calcutta Journ. of Nat. Hist.' (p. 474). Under the same name, in the same vear M r Blyth notices (J. A. S.B. xvi. pt. 2, p. 1176) an imperfect skin of a " blackish or melanoid variety of the Thibetan Wolf" received from Lieut. Stra-chey by the Calcutta Museum. |