MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 937 



No. VI.— HYENAS IN MESOPOTAMIA. 



Reference Jounml of the Society, Vol.XXVII, No. 2. pages 332 and 333, Item 

 16. On .two occasions T saw a hysena on the Tigris, both occasions on the 

 left or Persian bank, and between Amarah and Sheikh Saad. 



GuNA Cantonment, C. I., 

 3l5i January 1921. 



STEWART CAPPER, 



Lt.-Colonel. 



No. VII.— A LARGE BEAR {U. LABI ALUS) SHOT NEAR GUNA. 



A very big male bear (Ursus lahiatus) was shot close to this Cantonment a 

 few days ago. Weight 276 pounds, measurement romid curves 6'-3". All 

 present agreed that it was quite the biggest specimen they had seen. He was 

 a very old animal that had been in the local jungles for the past three years 

 but had always broken back through the beat till this occasion. 



Gtjna, C. I., 

 Z\si Janiiary 1921, 



. STEWART CAPPER, 



Lt.-Cohnel. 



No. VIIT.— '- SORE NECK" IN SAMBHAR. 



We have had several enquiries from members in reference to the prevalence 

 of 'sore neck' in Sambhar and would be very glad if members could send us any 

 information in regard to the above. 



In this connection a note appeared in the Journal of the Natural History 

 Society of Siam under signature of I\Ir. P.R. Kemi?, who was engaged on survey 

 work in the district lying approximately between lat. 14°-00 & 16°00 N. & long. 

 93-30 E. Mr. Kemp shot several Sambhar in this district during the months of 

 December and June and observed that they were all affected by a peculiar sore 

 upon the neck situated in the middle line in front. The actual sore was round 

 about li inches in diameter and the skin around it was devoid of hair which had 

 apparently been rubbed over an area about 8 inches long by 6 wide. The 

 sore was superficial and did not extend deoply. Mr. Kemp states that the 

 disease is recognised among the Siamese as the Khi-Ruon-Kwang or the Le- 

 prosy of the Sambhar and is believed to be due to the animals eating the fruit 

 of the Ma-Kawk tree, a kind of v,'ild plum generally known as the wild olive. 

 The appearance of the sore in these animals is stated by the Siamese to syn- 

 chronize with the time of the appearance of the fruit on the Ma-Kawk trees. 



The same disease has been observed by members in Assam and it would be 

 interesting to know if this has been the case in other parts of India. Mr. Dunbar 

 Grander, I.F.S., to whom we applied for inforination in regard to the above, 

 writes as follows : — 



"I was much interested in the notes re the mark or disaase observed in the 

 throats of Sambhar. I have several times observed the same thing on Sam- 

 bhar in the United Pro\ances, always during the period that hair and horn were 

 undergoing a change. At this period Sambhar do not come under much observ- 

 ation and I am inclined to think the wound is more common than is generally 

 thought. The wound has always emanated from the centre of a Avhorl of hair on 



