144 Zoological Society : — 



in the Leyden Museum, there appears to be little doubt of the fact. 

 I am therefore induced to believe that the following may prove to be 

 the correct synonymy of this species of Deer : — 



Cervus stka. 



Cervus si/ca, Temm, & Sieb. Fauna Japonica, Mamm. pi. . (fig. 

 mala), 



Cervus pseudaxis, Eyd. & Soul. Voy. Bonite, Zool. p. 0-1, pi. 3 ; 

 Puch. Arch. Mus. Par. vi. pp. 41G, 489 ; Wagn. Suppl. Schreber's 

 Saug. V. p. 3G4(?). 



Cervus axis, ex China, Cantor, Ann. N. H. ix. p. 274. 



Cervus taiouanus, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xxix. p. 90. 



Rusa japonica, J. E. Gray, Ann. N. H. ser, 3. vi. p. 218. 



Mr. Blyth, it may be remarked, is of opinion (J. A. S. B. xxix. 

 p. 90) that this Deer " belongs strictly to the Elaphine, and not to 

 the Axine group," and states that its skull " has the same large round 

 iufra-orbital foramina as C. elaphus and its immediate congeners. 



On the Affinities of BALiENiCEPS. By Professor J. 

 IIeinhardt, For. M. Z.S. 



The majority of ornithologists seem to look upon the Balceniceps 

 as approaching nearest to Cancroma, and to consider it the iV-frican re- 

 presentative of this South American type. Now it shall be freely con- 

 ceded that it indeed appears more nearly allied to the Boatbill than to 

 the Pelicans, to which Mr. Gould was inclined to refer this, perhaps 

 the most extraordinary of the numerous highly interesting new forms 

 introduced by him into ornithology. The Balceniceps seems, further, 

 better placed in the neighbourhood of the Cancroma than between 

 the Spoonbills and the Flamingos, as proposed by M. Des Murs, — 

 a position admissible, I think, only when the texture of the egg is 

 made the ruling principle of classification. But it may be question- 

 able whether the large Storks {Leptoptilos) do not make a nearer 

 approach to it than the Boatbill ; and I do not hesitate to advance 

 that at all events this last-mentioned bird is not its next of kin. 



When, several years ago, I first became acquainted with the de- 

 scription and the admirable figures of the bird in question in the 

 'Proceedings' of the Zoological Society of London, I was struck 

 with some features in the gigantic new form, recalling to my mind 

 another curious bird, and I wondered why it had not been compared 

 with this as well as with the Pelicans, Cranes, Herons, and the Boat- 

 bill ; but having no opportunity to examine the Balceniceps itself, I 

 could not arrive at any settled opinion. 



The Museum at Copenhagen having last year obtained a female 

 specimen of this rare bird from the Imperial Museum at Vienna 

 through the generous intermediation of Prof. Steenstruj), I have at 

 length been able to substantiate, through immediate comparison, that 

 (indeed as I presumed) the equally African Scopus is the nearest 

 relation of the Balcoiiceps. I may be permitted shortly to state my 

 reasons for this rapprochement. 



