4 PROF. OWEN ON THE OSTEOLOGY OF THE DODO. [Jan. 9, 



too is common in all the dense jungles in the neighbourhood. A 

 fine specimen of Gecinus viridanus killed, and also the Chrysonotus 

 intermedins of Blyth. A Pitta, new to me, inhabits the bamboo 

 jungles at base ; it" does not agree with any of Jerdon's descriptions. 

 It may be P. cyanura, and is much spotted on the breast. I must 

 keep it for comparison with specimens in our museum. Hearing 

 that the rare Nemorhcedus snmatrensis, or Goat Antelope, was to be 

 found at the base of the mountain, we determined to have a beat 

 for them, and I was lucky enough to secure a fine female, the spoils 

 of which I will send home to you at an early opportunity. They 

 frequent the talus of the mountain described above, and when dis- 

 turbed make for the inaccessible parts. Their general appearance is 

 somewhat porcine, between a goat and a hog. I made the following 

 memoranda, which may be interesting : — 



"Zwagaben, October 19, 1865. — Female full-grown, but had not 



had young. 



ft. in. 



Tip of nose to tip of tail 4 6 



Tail 5 inches ; with hair, 7 



Shoulder, height (afore), including hoof . . 2 10£ 



Girth, behind forearm 2 10 



Ear 8| 



Horn along curve, ringed at the base 6 



Hoof. ]| 



Mane 6 



Extreme stretch of legs apart C 4 



" Lacrymal sinus small, slightly developed. General colour black, 

 with a tinge of hoary ; inside of ears white, with black tips and edges ; 

 belly and tibise rufous ; throat rufous, white-tipped. Intradigital 

 pores apparently absent. False hoof of fore and hind legs If inch. 

 Irides dark brown. Teats four. Buttocks rufous and white. Said 

 by Karens to have only one young one at a time. Progresses like 

 a goat through the jungle, with a series of jumps when disturbed; 

 utters a kind of half snort, half grunt. 



"Hab. Grass- and bamboo-covered sides of Zwagaben, and pro- 

 bably other limestone hills in Burmah. Has been seen at Thyet 

 Mayo, in Pegu. 



"Native name 'Thorsek,' pronounced Thorzike." 



Professor Pi. Owen, F.R.S., read a memoir " On the Osteology of 

 the Dodo" (Didus ineptus, Linn.). The materials upon which Pro- 

 fessor Owen's researches were based consisted of about one hundred 

 different hones belonging to various parts of the skeleton, which had 

 been recently discovered by Mr. George Clark, of Mahe'berg, Mau- 

 ritius, in an alluvial deposit in that island. After an exhaustive 

 examination of these remains, which embraced nearly every part of 

 the skeleton, Professor Owen came to the conclusion that previous 

 authorities had been correct in referring the Dodo to the Columbine 

 order, the variations presented, though considerable, being mainly 



