954 MR. W. H. FLOWER ON HYOMOSCHUS AQUATICUS. [DeC. 12, 



by accident have been very trifling. The male I originally pur- 

 chased at the Gardens I fattened and shot. Its meat I thought ex- 

 cellent. The female that came at the same time died in the park, 

 from overeating dried leaves. Another male injured his shoulder, 

 and I was obliged to make away with him. One calf also, this last 

 year, broke its hind legs by some means ; and another died soon after 

 its birth about two years ago. These are all the casualties I can 

 recollect, and I really am not able to tell you how many I have dis- 

 posed of; but I have parted with several pairs to Zoological Socie- 

 ties on the Continent, and others in England. I have now five 

 females remaining (all, I believe, in calf), and three others born last 

 summer, with two males — the one I got from the Gardens about two 

 years ago, and an older one which I shall be glad to dispose of; 

 he is feeding well, and would either do for the butcher or for stock- 

 purposes. 



" It has long been a surprise to me that nobody else has taken a 

 fancy to the Eland. It is unquestionably a noble animal, and re- 

 quires no more attention than a cow, living well upon the same food, 

 out the whole year with merely a shed to run under, and acclimatized 

 as much as any animal can be. I am very sorry I cannot send you 

 a more detailed statement ; but any questions you may ask I shall 

 be happy, if possible, to answer." 



The herd of Elands in the Society's Gardens was stated to consist 

 at this time of seven individuals, namely : — 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Notes on the Visceral Anatomy of Hyomoschus aquaticus. 

 By W. H. Flower, F.E.S. &c., Conservator of the Mu- 

 seum of the Royal College of Surgeons. 



Of the aberrant family of the Tragulidee, situated on the confines 

 of the great order Ruminantia, and leaning strongly in the direction 

 of the Artiodactyla omnivora, the African genus Hyomoschus 

 has generally been considered the most aberrant and pig-like form. 

 This opinion has been founded chiefly upon the structure of the ex- 

 tremities, as the visceral anatomy is at present entirely unknown. 

 It was with much interest, therefore, that I availed myself of the 

 opportunity of investigating certain points connected with the orga- 

 nization of this animal, afforded by the acquisition, by the Museum 



