37 



February 22, 1831. 



N. A. Vigors, Esq. in the Chair. 



A specimen was exhibited of a young Nyl-ghau, (Antilope picta, 

 Pall.,) which was born at the Society's Farm in January last. The 

 mother of this individual had borne two young about twelve months 

 since, while in the possession of His late Majesty. On the present 

 occasion she had also borne two, one of which is still living. The 

 differences between the young and the adult animal were pointed 

 out. The latter is well known. The former is generally of a dull 

 reddish fawn colour, which is brighter on the lower part of the legs. 

 A line along the belly, descending a short distance down the inside 

 of the legs, together with a line on the fore part of the hock, is 

 white. The under lip, a line along its under surface, and a cres- 

 cent-shaped spot mounting on each side round the base of the lower 

 jaw, are also white. A spot above the front of the eye, and one 

 behind the angle of the mouth are white, as are also the inside of 

 the ears. A black line passes along the middle of the nose, and 

 spreading out between the eyes, becomes suffused and lost. From 

 between the ears a black line passes along the middle of the back to the 

 root of the tail. A black line passes down the front of the fore legs, 

 commencing near their upper part, expanding in front of the knees, 

 then contracting, and afterwards dilating again above the base of the 

 hoof, which it surrounds. Above the pastern on the inner side is a 

 white spot ; and there is a white spot just above the hoofs both on 

 the outer and inner side. On the front of the lower part of the 

 hinder legs there is a black line, and the pastern and feet are black. 

 Above the pastern the limb is surrounded in front by a broad half 

 ring of white ; and there are two white spots, nearly uniting in 

 front, above the hoofs. The ears at their base for more than half 

 their length, together with their extreme tip, are of the general fawn 

 of the body becoming much lighter towards their outer margin : but 

 a broad black blotch occupies nearly their upper half, with the ex- 

 ception of the extreme tip. The tail is white beneath, and its tip 

 is black. 



Mr. Cox adverted to the prevalence among Sheep of prolapsus 

 uteri, which he stated to be almost universally fatal to the animals 

 afflicted with it, and for the relief of which he pointed out a simple 

 and efficient method. In a sheep suffering from this cause he re- 

 moved the protruded parts by the application of a ligature ; the 

 animal was subsequently turned out to grass, and became^s healthy 

 and as fat as any of the flock with which it was associated. Mr. 

 Brookes stated that prolapsus is equally frequent in some other 

 animals, and gave the history of a case in which profuse and almost 



[No. IV.] Zool. Soc. Proceedings of the Comm. or Science. 



