NOTES AND QUERIES. 63 



mostly, especially at the edges, dotted over with circular pigmented spots of 

 the prevaihng dark colour about half an inch or more in diameter, which 

 give a remarkable and even beautiful effect. The largest and clearest 

 light-coloured tract is on the fiice, extending from the level of the eyes to 

 the base of the trunk. A few white patches can be detected at various 

 parts of the dorsal surface of the truuk, and more on its under surface. 

 There is a very distinct and circumscribed oval light patch behind each eye. 

 Another, which is larger aud more diffused and speckled, is seen upon each 

 side of the neck, behind the ears, and extends to the throat and chest, so as 

 to form a sort of collar. The eyes themselves are of the usual colour and 

 surrounded by normally pigmented skin. The free border of the outer 

 surface of each ear, extending inwards to the breadth of 6 in. in the middle 

 part, is light coloured, but variegated with round dark spots. The greater 

 part of the under surface of the ear is light. A group of small, not very 

 distinct, uncoloured spots can be detected on the outer side of the fore 

 limbs, above the elbow joint, and there is a similar one, still less distinct, on 

 the outer side of the upper part of the hind limbs. The hoofs are of 

 a pale horn-colour, with a few longitudinal dark streaks. The animal is 

 therefore not a pale variety of tlie ordinary Elephant, as some have 

 supposed the so-called 'White Elephant' to be, but one characterised by a 

 local deficiency of the epidermic pigment, in symmetrically disposed patches, 

 and chiefly affecting the head and anterior parts of the body. It does not 

 result from any disease of the skin, as has been suggested, but is doubtless 

 an individual congenital condition or defect. If Elephants are prone to 

 such a condition, it is easy to believe that sometimes it may exist greatly 

 in excess of that shown in the specimen now exhibited, and if complete 

 and extending over the whole of the integument, as well as the tissues of 

 the eye, would constitute true ' albinism.' It is perfectly clear that the skin 

 of an Elephant could not under any circumstances present the milky white- 

 ness some of us have lately been picturing to ourselves, as this one clearly 

 shows what may be called the ' uncoloured ' tint of its skin, strongly tinged 

 by the hue of the blood circulating within its tissues. Unpigmented hair 

 or feathers are pure white, hence albinism in a furred or feathered animal 

 produces a perfectly white effect, which the almost naked skin of an 

 Elephant can never show. Such local deficiencies of pigment are common 

 enough in domestic animals, and are occasionally met with in the dark 

 races of men. They are also by no means unknown among wild animals, 

 but very rarely present the perfect bilateral symmetry noticeable in the 

 very curious and interesting specimen now to be seen in the Zoolof^ical 

 Society's Gardens." 



Badger in North Yorkshire.— On the 5th December last the Bedale 

 hounds met at Sleningford Park, the seat of Mr. John Dalton, six miles 

 from Masham and four from Ripon. The covers having been drawn blank. 



