282 Miscellaneous, 



the upper : the upper grinders, on their inner surface, have each an 

 elevated ridge of enamel ; on the outer crest or edge of the tooth, 

 there are three sharp points instead of two obtuse elevations, as in 

 the Squirrels generally, and in this particular it approaches the 

 Spermophiles . In the lower jaw, the grinders, which are quadrangu- 

 lar in shape, present each four sharp points. 



" On the back and tail there are so many white hairs inter- 

 spersed, the white spot on the head being merely occasioned by 

 a greater number of hairs nearly or wholly white, that there is great 

 reason to believe that this species becomes much lighter, if not 

 wholly white, during winter. 



" In the shape of the head and ears, and in the pointed projec- 

 tions of the teeth, this species approaches the Marmots and Sper- 

 mophiles ; but in the shape of its body, its soft fur, its curved and 

 acute nails, constructed more for climbing than digging in the earth, 

 and in the third toe being longer than the second, it must be placed 

 among the Squirrels." 



Mr.Ogilby pointed out the characters of a new species of Muntjac 

 Deer, which lately died at the Gardens. This species is about the same 

 size as the common Indian Muntjac, but has a longer head and tail; 

 has less red, and more blue in the general shade of the colouring, 

 and is readily distinguished by the want of the white over the hoofs, 

 which is so apparent in its congener. The specimen, a male, was 

 brought from China by J. R. Reeves, Esq., to whom the Society is 

 already indebted for many rare and valuable animals, and to whom 

 Mr. Ogilby proposed to dedicate the present species by applying the 

 name of Cervus Reevesi. A female specimen which accompanied 

 that here described, is still living and has lately produced a fawn, 

 ■which is interesting from exhibiting the spotted character common to 

 the generality of the young in this extensive group. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



FORMATION OF INDIGO IN POLYGONUM TINCTORIUM. 



Prof. Morren of Liege in a memoir read before the Academy of 

 Sciences at Brussels, on the culture of, and method of obtaining the 

 indigo from Polygonum tinctorium, makes the following statement with 

 respect to the formation of the indigo in the leaves of this plant : — 

 " The indigo," he observes, " is contained in the mesophylle of the 

 leaf especially. It is dissolved originally in a liquid which fills the 

 cells, and in which float pure granules of chloroj)hylle either inclo- 



