578 Zoological Society. 



1-4572 

 1-4800 

 1-5052 

 1-6000 

 1-3555 



Average . . 1-4660 

 " 3. White-whiskered Paradoxure {Paradoxurus leucomystax, Gray). 



1-4500 

 1-4365 

 1-4000 

 1-6000 

 1-3200 



Average . . 1-4236 



** From a comparison of these measurements with the notes of nu- 

 merous others, published in the Philosophical Magazine for January, 

 February, March and August, 1840, it will appear that, although the 

 corpuscles of the Two-spotted and of the White-whiskered Para- 

 doxure are not very remarkable for minuteness, yet the corpuscles of 

 the common Paradoxure are not only smaller than the red particles, 

 which have yet been examined, of any other carnivorous animal, 

 but so minute as to approach to those of the goat in size. 



" The blood-corpuscles of the latter animal were the smallest 

 known to physiologists previously to my announcement in the Dub- 

 lin Medical Press for November, and in the Philosophical Magazine 

 for December 1839, of the singularly minute size of the corpuscles 

 of the Napu Musk Deer (Moschus Javanicus) ; and I may notice, that 

 another examination of the very remarkable blood- discs of this little 

 ruminant has fully confirmed the accuracy of my former observations. 



" It has long since been observed, that the size of the blood-cor- 

 puscles does not seem to be influenced by that of the animal. Thus 

 Hewson figures them of the same magnitude in the ox, cat, ass, 

 mouse, and bat. If, however, we compare a great number of mea- 

 surements, taken from the corpuscles of different animals of the same 

 order, it will appear generally that the larger species have compara- 

 tively large blood- corpuscles, and vice versd. For numerous confir- 

 mations of this rule, if it may be so called, it will be sufficient to 

 refer to my measurements in the Philosophical Magazine before 

 quoted. Compare, for example, among the Rodents, the blood- 

 corpuscles of the Capybara, the Coypu and Hoary Marmot, with 

 those of the Squirrels; and among the Ruminants the large corpuscles 

 of the Sambur, Wapiti, and Moose Deer, with the small corpuscles of 

 the Napu Musk Deer, Sheep, and Goat. Many exceptions, however, 

 will be found to the rule, particularly in the order Ferce"^ ; but as I 

 propose, on a future occasion, to treat more at length on the subject, 

 it is merely mentioned now with the view of suggesting what may 

 appear to be a curious and interesting inquiry." 



♦ Vide Proc. Zool. Soc, May 25, 1841. 



