62 DR. p. L. SCLATER ON THE RED RIVER-HOG. [Feb. 2(), 



Each of them is formed by larger and smaller separate lobes, which 

 give it the appearance of the kidney of a Dolphin ; only, the single 

 lobes are larger, less numerous, and more irregular in size. When 

 cut through, they cover the knife with a milky fat ; and their con- 

 sistence is altogether that of a fatty-degenerated liver. Although 

 the animal appeared to be very muscular and very well fed, no fat 

 was deposited at any other place. 



The cause of death was a disease which had nearly entirely de- 

 stroyed both the ovaria, and certainly greatly altered their natural 

 form. The one which 1 have examined contained a great many ir- 

 regular and lacerated cavities filled with extravasated blood. No 

 trace of the folliculi could be distinguished. A rounded mass, of 

 the size of a small walnut, enclosed in a tough membrane, surrounded 

 by coagulated blood, and composed of a cheesy substance, is evi- 

 dently an egg which had been developed dnring one of the previous 

 breeding-seasons, but had been retained in the ovarium. A similar 

 body can be felt in the other ovarium. The membranes coating the 

 ovarium are covered with cysts of the average size of a lentil, some 

 containing a gelatinous fluid, others matter. The neighbouring parts 

 of the peritoneum were much inflamed ; and the kidneys contained 

 an unusual quantity of fluid blood. The rectum was filled with a 

 large mass of hard, chalk-like urine ; and it became evident from 

 the excoriated state of the mucosa, that no discharge had taken place 

 for a long time. All the other organs were quite healthy ; and the 

 animal had fed only two days previously to its death. 



The preparation is preserved in the Collection of the British Mu- 

 seum. 



2. Note on the Reproduction of the Red River-hog (Po- 



TAMOCHfERUS PENICILLATUS) IN THE SoCIET\'s MeNA- 



gerie. By Philip Lutley Sclater, M.A., Ph.D., Se- 

 cretary TO the Society. 



(Plate XII.) 



The accompanying drawing (PI. XII.), executed by Mr. Wolf some 

 time since, represents the immature form of the Red River-hog 

 of Western Africa, which has of late years bred several times in the 

 Society's Menagerie, although but two individuals of the produce 

 have, unfortunately, lived to attain maturity. As our only male of 

 this species is now dead, and we have but a single female left in the 

 collection, it appears desirable that a short statement of the facts 

 connected with the reproduction of this rare animal in captivity 

 should be placed on record before they are entirely forgotten. 



The first specimen of the Red River-hog obtained by the Society 

 was purchased in Liverpool in September 1852, and was the example 

 described by Dr. Gray in the Annals of Natural History as Choiro- 

 potamiis pictus *, and subsequently in the Society's ' Proceedings ' 

 under the rectified name Potamochwrus penicillatus f . At the latter 



* Ann. N. H. ser. 2. vol. x. p. 280. f P- Z. S. 1852, p. 131. 



