678 DR. J. E. GRAY ON THE SPECIES OF CHRYSOCHLORIS. [ Nov. 28, 
magnificent birds, and Iam sanguine about getting them home. As 
soon as they are shipped I will advise you, and enclose you the 
captain’s receipt, so that you will be able to cover the risk. Most 
of the Pheasants come here from a distance of 200 miles, from the 
mountain-range near Tamsuy. I have spared no labour in getting 
them; and as they appear pretty hardy birds, there is no reason 
why they should not reach home. I am also trying to get a couple 
of females of Cervus swinhoti, and live specimens of the Capricornis, 
the Bear, and the Leopard.” 
“ Takow, July 25, 1865. 
“From some Chinese notes which I have lately been reading on 
the Zoology of Formosa, I learn of the existence here of some 
animals to me hitherto unknown,—among others a Porcupine and 
a wild Bos which occurs in herds of hundreds and thousands. I 
think in this last I shall discover the wild stock of the small Yellow 
Cow of South China. I shall spare no pains, you may be sure, to 
investigate this interesting fact.” 
“ 'Takow, Formosa, 8th August, 1865. 
“* Chinese books tell of a Porcupine that occurs in this island. I 
have not yet seen it, but I suspect it will be the same as that found 
throughout India and in South China. In Mammals all that I 
have lately secured are several specimens of the pretty Kerivoula 
Bat, and a nearly unicolor variety of the Red-bellied Squirrel, 
Sciurus erythreus, from the southern mountains. In birds I have 
lately got several examples of the Green Dove (male and female), my 
Sphenocercus formose, and a skin of the Pitta oreas. The latter I 
got before from the northern mountains; my latest acquisition 
shows the species to extend also to the south.” 
The following papers were read :— 
1, A Revision or THE SpEecius or GoLpEN Motes (Curyso- 
cHLoRIs). By Dr. Joun Epw. Gray, F.R.S., V.P.Z.S. 
Several species of Golden Moles have been described by various 
zoologists on specimens procured from different parts of Africa— 
the size and form of the muffle, the size and form of the claws, and 
slight differences in the colour of the fur being regarded as sufficient 
to separate the species. I have examined the large series of speci- 
mens which is contained in the British Museum, received from 
various parts of Africa, and I find that the form of the mufile 
greatly depends on the art, or amount of care on the part of the 
persons who skinned and stuffed the specimens, and that its form 
can be altered at pleasure. The form ot the claws of the front feet 
seems to vary according to the age, and probably also according to 
the sex of the specimens; but ‘unfortunately the sex is seldom 
marked on the specimens in Museums. 
The general colour and, especially, the distinctness of the white 
and dark marks on the head seem to vary greatly in specimens from 
the same locality. Moreover this animal is often put into spirits on 
