246 LF.TTEH FROM MR. J. H.THOMSON. [Mar. 14, 



o\ Antilope gutturosa (Spic. Zool. vii. 14, t. 2, 3. f. 14-17). The 

 horns are like those of Gazella dorcus, but rather longer and with 

 more numerous and closer rings. 



The "Yellow Sheep of Mongolia" {Procapra gittturosa) is known 

 from the nearly allied "Goa" of Tibet {Procapra picticauda of 

 Hodo'son) by its larger size and the shortness and thickness of the 

 horns, which have their tips turned upwards. The two species agree 

 in the length, softness, and colour of the fur, and in having a distinct 

 white rump-spot. The horns of the Goa are much more slender, 

 compressed, and longer than those of the Yellow Sheep, and have 

 the tips bent rather forwards. The length of the horn, along the 

 curves, of the adult Yellow Sheep ia Qg inches, of the Goa 1 H inches. 

 The latter has about twenty-four or twenty-five, and the former only 

 twenty rings. There are also several differences in the skulls. The 

 aperture of the front blood-vessels at the base of the horn in P. gnt- 

 turosa is very much larger than that in P. picticauda. Pallas de- 

 scribes the horns of P. gutturosa as " lutescenti-opaca ;" but in the 

 two specimens in the British Museum they are of a dark blackish 

 horn-colour, in this respect very different from those of the " Goa." 



March 14, 1807. 

 Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair. 



The Secretary read the following extract from a letter addressed to 

 him by Mr. J. H. Thomson, of New Bedford, Massachusetts: — 



"I notice in the 'Proceedings' (1865, pp. 390 &c.) some ac- 

 count of ' Deformity of the Lower Jaw of the Sperm-Whale,' by Dr. 

 J. Murie. Such deformed jaws are by no means uncommon ; there 

 are at this time some four or five specimens of such in the collection 

 of our High School and the Natural-History Society of this place, 

 and I have seen quite a number besides. As to the cause of this 

 deformity, whalemen generally attribute it to the fighting-propensi- 

 ties of the young 'Bull' Whales. I have never seen a specimen 

 except from male Whales. The difference of teetli mentioned on 

 page 396, 'Proceedings' (1865), is not in accordance with my ob- 

 servations. The lower jaws are very frequently brought home in 

 whalers, to use up as bone for manufacturers and for ornaments &c. ; 

 you can find them lying about in a great many places in this vici- 

 nity. I have myself seen Sperm-Whale jaws with the sides of the 

 same jaw differing by one or two teeth — that is, one or two more on 

 one side than the other. The male Sperm-Whales in the rutting- 

 season are very jealous of each other ; the old ' bulls ' at that time 

 fight and drive off the young males from the ' school ' or herd. 

 Their mode of fighting is with their jaws mostly, so much so that 

 you can approach a Whale directly behind to fasten or harpoon 



