Miscellaneous. 407 



The observation of Professor Verrill is interesting, as since I 

 described it I thought it might probably be the axis of a species of 

 his genus Stylatula, which has a subcylindrical axis instead of the 

 quadrangular one of Virgularia, and of which he describes two 

 species from California ; but Professor Verrill does not recognize it 

 as being a species of that genus. 



Sowerbij and Lear's ' Tortoises.^ 

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

 Gentlemen, — In the notice of Sowerby's Plates of Tortoises &c. 

 recently pubhshed by Sotheran, edited by Dr. J. E. Gray, it is 

 stated that " Many of the specimens figured and the rest of Mr. Bell's 

 collection of reptiles are now to be found in the Anatomical and 

 Zoological Museum at Cambridge." 



This statement is incorrect, as Professor Bell's collection of reptiles 

 (both in a dry condition and in spirit) was purchased by the late Rev. 

 F. W. Hope, and was by him presented to the University Museum 

 of Oxford. Professor Bell's admirable collection of Crustacea is also 

 in the same museum, having been purchased by myself and presented 

 to the University on my appointment as Hope Professor of Zoology. 



I am, Gentlemen, 



Your obedient Servant, 



J. 0. Westavood. 

 The correctness of the statement in Dr. Gray's preface to this work 

 having been called in question, we thought it our duty to submit 

 Prof. Westwood's letter to Dr. Gray, from whom we have received 

 the following answer : — 



British Museum, 

 October 24th, 1872. 

 Mr DEAE Francis, — Mr, Westwood's letter is entirely erroneous. I 

 have had one specimen of Mr. Bell's lent me by Prof. Newton ; and I 

 have consulted the others in the museum of the Cambridge Philo- 

 sophical Society, where they were before they were transferred to 

 the Anatomical Museum. I never before heard that Mr. Bell had a 

 second collection, and think it must be a mistake ; I knew the col- 

 lection of Crustacea was purchased by Mr. "Westwood. 



Yours truly, J. E. Gray, 



The Ahu (Capreolus pygargus). By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S. &c. 



We have three specimens of this animal in the British Museum 



one from North China, and the others from Siberia ; they are of very 

 different sizes. 



The Siberian specimens, male and female, are much the largest. 

 They stand 38 inches high at the withers, and the length from the 

 nose to the place of the tail is 53 inches ; length of the hind leg to the 

 hock 16 inches. In the specimens in the museum the horns are very 

 slender, elongate, nearly smooth, and simple ; one has a single branch 

 on the inner side near the tip. 



The Chinese specimen, on the other hand, is much smaller, about 

 the size of the common Scotch roebuck, and of the same dark colour 

 as it is in the summer. The horns are stout and long, with distinct 



