1870.] MR. R. SWINHOE ON AMHERST’S PHEASANTS. 111 
libero, late expanso, umbilicum falsum formante ; rostro bre- 
viusculo, recurvato, canali aperto, sinuoso. 
Long. 130, diam. 60 mill. 
Hab. L’Agulhas Bank, Cape of Good Hope. 
This species of the genus Fusus is remarkable from its ventricose 
form, recurved rostrum, and from the columellar lip being much 
expanded at the fore part of the aperture, thus giving it the appear- 
ance of being umbilicated. It was dredged on the L’ Agulhas Bank, 
off the Cape of Good Hope, and has been placed in my hands for 
description by Mr. Cutter, of Great Russell Street. One specimen. 
only was obtained. 
February 24, 1870. 
Dr. E. Hamilton, V.P., in the Chair. 
A communication was read from Mr. R. Swinhoe, F.Z.S., stating 
that when at Hankow last summer he had ascertained from H.M. 
Consul in that city that some living Amherst’s Pheasants (Thau- 
malea amherstie) which had passed that way to England had been 
received from a French priest, Monseigneur Chauveau, Bishop of 
Sebastopolis, who was stationed at Ta-tsien-leou, on the Tibetan 
frontier. Mr. Swinhoe had been permitted to take a copy of M. 
Chauveau’s letter upon the subject, which ran as follows :— 
“You may possibly at this moment wait for a letter about the 
Lady Amherst’s Pheasants. Our exertions have been successfu! 
enough ; and we have to-day in my little mountain-home (so well 
known to Mr. Cooper) nine Lady Amherst’s Pheasants, some of 
them in a perfectly good state, some in a Jess suitable condition. 
These birds are exceedingly common in our hills, but exceedingly 
cunning likewise. When they perceive, say the natives, in any cor- 
ner of the hill a small handful of Indian corn or rice, suspecting a 
snare they do not approach easily, but endeavour with their long 
tails to sweep away some of the corn in order to eat it without 
danger. Unfortunately we cannot, at any rate or by any means 
whatever, save the old ones; they refuse every kind of food. If 
you present them any thing they will never eat, but they peck your 
fingers and wound you cruelly; their captivity irritates them, say 
our good Chinamen. The young ones, on the contrary, appear to 
be very gentle birds, eating corn or rice in your hand without fear. 
They have magnificent tails, 24 inches in length generally.” ' 
In reference to this communication, Mr. Sclater remarked that 
there could be no doubt that these birds were those subsequently 
received by Mr. Stone, and for some time deposited in the Society’s 
Gardens* ; and pointed out the position of Ta-tsien-leou on the slope 
* See P. Z. 8. 1869, p. 468. 
