164 Zoological Collections. .^^ 



yond the snows by the Kuoti pass ; that in this valley beds of salt abound, 

 to which the Chirus are said to resort in vast herds. They are represented 

 as in the highest degree wild, and unapproachable by man, flying on the 

 least alarm, but if opposed, assuniing a bold and determined front. The 

 male and female are said to present the same general appearance. 



The living subject of Mr Hodgson's description presented none of those 

 formidable attributes with which the tales of the Bhoteas had clothed 

 the Chiru. In form and size he offered the common character of the an- 

 telope tribe, lived chiefly on grass, and did not seem dissatisfied with his 

 captivity, although his panting showed that even the climate of Nepal was 

 oppressive to him, — he at length sunk under a temperature which rarely 

 exceeded 80* as a maximum at the commencement of the hot weather. 

 Although timid, and on his guard against the approach of strangers, he 

 would, when warily laid hold of, submit patiently to handling. 



The general form of the animal was graceful, like that of other antelopes, 

 and was adorned with their matchless eye. His colour was reddish or 

 fawn on the upper, and white on the lower part of the body. His dis- 

 tinguishing characters were, first, long sharp black horns, having a wavy 

 triple curvature, with circular rings towards their base, which projected 

 more before than behind ; and secondly, two tufts of hair projecting on 

 the outer side of each nostril, together with an unusual quantity of bris- 

 tles about the nose and mouth, and which gave to his head a somewhat 

 thickened appearance. The hair of the animal resembled in texture that 

 of all the trans-Himalayan animals which Mr Hodgson has had the oppor- 

 tunity of examining, being harsh and of a hollow appearance. " It was 

 about two inches long, and so thick as to present to the hand a sense of 

 Bolidity ; and beneath lay a spare fleece of the softest wool. 



Dr Abel's remarks on Mr Hodgson's paper chiefly concern the specific 

 characters and dimensions of the animal, and present a formal description 

 of it drawn from the data furnished by Mr Hodgson, and Dr A's. own 

 examination of its remains. Dr Abel proposes to call the animal Anti- 

 lope Hodgsonii, after its discoverer. 



4. On the size of the Asiatic Elephant. 

 The following notice respecting the size of the Asiatic elephant we have 

 received from a correspondent in India. " The catching of the elephants 

 has just commenced, and at least a score of subjects may be procured in 

 the course of the season. It is strange that M. Cuvier should continue 

 to repeat the old story of the Asiatic elephant being Jifteen or sixteen feet 

 high. I do not believe that they ever exceed eleven feet ; and some years 

 ago I wrote a letter on this subject, which was published in the Calcutta 

 Journal, and in which I requested information respecting any elephant 

 exceeding that size ; — but no answer was ever returned to that request." 



5. On the Growth of the young Boa Constrictor hatched from the Egg. 



In the eighth Number of this Journal, p. 22, we communicated, from a 

 correspondent in India, a very interesting notice respecting a young brood 

 of Boa Constrictors hatched from the egg on the 6th July 1823. 



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