262 SIR VICTOR BROOKE ON A NEW [Mar. 16, 
rumours of the existence of a Spotted Deer in the countries imme- 
diately to the north of the Persian Gulf. He expressed at the same 
time his opinion that the matter was of considerable interest, and 
recommended me to take active steps to obtain specimens. This I 
at once did by writing to Capt. Jones, H.B.M. Consul at Tabreez, 
who was at the time most kindly endeavouring to procure for me 
specimens of all the Persian Cervidee and Bovidee. Upon the 
receipt of my letter, Capt. Jones put himself into immediate 
communication with Mr. Robertson, the English Vice-Consul at 
Busrah, requesting him, if possible, to obtain specimens of the 
Mesopotamian Spotted Deer. In his reply, Mr. Robertson wrote, 
* Please tell Sir Victor Brooke that I have already sent a skull with 
horns and a skin of the Spotted Deer to Mr. Sclater, Secretary of 
the Zoological Society, with whom doubtless Sir Victor is well 
Fig. 1. 
Head of Cervus (Dama) mesopotamicus 3 , with horns half-grown. 
acquainted. I shall send Sir Victor the horns and skin of the next 
buck I shoot.’ Having observed my interest in the matter, my 
friend Mr. Sclater, with characteristic generosity, handed these spe- 
cimens over to me upon their arrival, and requested me to lay before 
the Society the results of my observations. At the first glance the 
