1^1.] LETTER FROM MR. K. BLYTH. 307 



that of Rhinoceros crossii by Gray, in your ' Proceedings,' is the well- 

 developed anterior horn of an old male R. sumutrcmus — the common 

 species of these provinces. My host at tliis place is a great sports- 

 man, and some noble trophies of the chase hang in his verandah ; 

 but what fixed my attention was the head of R. sumatranus, 

 with a development of horns which I had never imagined to occur 

 in this species ; and the resemblance of the much curved anterior 

 horn to that of Gray's supposed species, R. crossii, struck me at once. 

 Conversing with my host on the subject, he remarked that he took 

 a similar head to England (where it now adorns bis family hall), with 

 the front horn at least 3 inches longer, and still more curved. A 

 little reflection, and I felt satisfied that R. crossii must sink into a 

 synonym of jR. sumatrmms." 



In a subsequent communication Mr. Blyth remarked : — 

 " All doubts now removed about the identity of R. sumatranus 

 and R. crossii. Mason states that the skin of the Tenasserira spe- 

 cies 'is quite smooth, like a buffalo's' — meaning devoid of folds; 

 but Col. Fytche assures me that the one he shot had the slight folds 

 described and figured o( R. sumatranus. The mature female horns are 

 small, and the nasal bones comparatively narrow ; I am not aware 

 that a corresponding sexual difference occurs in any other Rhino- 

 ceros. In the Indian one-horned species the sexes are alike in size 

 and development of horn." 



The Secretary reported the return from the Cape, on the 1st instant, 

 of the Society's collector, Mr. James Benstead, with a second collec- 

 tion of animals presented to the Society by His Excellency Sir George 

 Grey, K.C.B., the Governor of the Colony. The collection consisted 

 of the following : — 



Mammals. 



1. A young male Hartebeest {Antilope caamci). 



2. A female Reh-bok {Antilope capreola). 



3. A four-horned Sheep {Ovis aries, var.). 



4. A male Ratel (Mellivora ratel). 



Birds. 



5. One male and two female Ostriches {Struthio camelus). 



6. Three Stanley Cranes {Grus paradisea) . 



7. Two Jackal Buzzards {Buteo jacal) . 



The Hartebeest was of great interest, as having been only exhi- 

 bited once before in the Society's collection. The Ostriches, being 

 from the Cape, afforded an opportunity of comparing together the 

 northern and southern birds, which had long been desired, and which 

 would probably lead to their being distinguished as different local 

 varieties, if not as species. 



