58 Dr. P. L. Sclater on the Antilocapridse. 



skeleton or supporting lamella of the Sertularia, Campanularia, 

 and Hydridce must be regarded as hardened excretions of the 

 contractile layer of the Hydrozoon-body, their comparison to 

 structures formed of connective tissue is inadmissible (KoUiker). 



XV. — On the Antilocapridse. By P. L. Sclater^ F.R.S. &c. 



To the Editors of the Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 



Gentlemen, 



It is very good of Dr. Gray to put me right concerning the 

 absence of the ^^ false hoofs ^' in some of the smaller Antilopean 

 forms, such as NesotraguSf NanotraguSj and some species of 

 CalotraguSj which I had quite overlooked. These organs are 

 stated, and, I believe, correctly, to be also deficient in the 

 Pallah [Antilope melampus). 



I did not, however, make a " useless synonym '' in changing 

 SundevalFs name Digitigrada into Phalangigrada, but merely 

 followed M. Alphonse Milne-Edwards (Ann. Sc. Nat. ser. 5. 

 vol. ii. article on the *^ Chevrotains ") in applying the latter term 

 (which in some respects is preferable to the former one) to the 

 Camelidse. 



I may add that I cannot agree with Dr. Gray in considering 

 the genera Tragulus and Moschus to be ^'nearly allied.^^ M. 

 Alphonse Milne-Edwards, in the memoir above referred to, has, 

 in my opinion, clearly shown them to be very different, Moschus 

 being affine to the Cervidse, while Tragulus and Hyomoschus 

 constitute a distinct family of Artiodactyles, leading off towards 

 the non-ruminating Suidse. It is well remarked by M. A. Milne- 

 Edwards that, if an isolated foot of Hyomoschus had been found 

 fossil, it would certainly have been referred to an animal allied 

 to the Peccaries (Dicotyles). 



Nor can I agree with Dr. Gray in " doubting the applicability 

 of placental characters to zoological classification." After the 

 labours of Von Baer, Cams, Kolliker, Milne-Edwards, Huxley, 

 and Rolleston upon this subject, I can no longer doubt that, in 

 the words of the last author*, " the modifications of the placental 

 structures form a very safe basis for zoological classification -" 

 and I believe that I am by no means singular in this opinion. 



I am. Gentlemen, 



Yours, &c., 



P. L. Sclater. 



II Hanover Square. 

 Dec. 13, 1866. 



* Trans. Zool. Soc. v. p. 311. 



