113 



lis concolor, the Lion in America ; but the numerous cases are fami- 

 liar to all naturalists and need not be enumerated ; and with respect 

 to the Aguara Guazu (Catiisjubaius), if it be not an Hycena, it is at 

 least the analogue of the Hyccna. The multitudinous reasons of Azara 

 already quoted against his two Zorros being Dogs, may be applied 

 almost verbatim in proof of one of them being an Hymna ; and in his 

 detailed description of the Aguara Guazu he mentions many of its 

 nabits that are common to the Hycena vulgaris — its walk with long 

 paces, its absence of a predal disposition on living animals (Azara in- 

 stances poultry not being touched while passing within reach of the 

 animal he had chained up) in its wild state, not committing havock 

 amongst herds or lesser flocks, and its indifference to a meat or 

 vegetable diet, indeed its predilection for fruits and sugar cane. An 

 HycEna I brought from India with me, and which is now living in the 

 Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park, London, and which is as affec- 

 tionate to me as a spaniel dog would be, was fed during the whole 

 voyage from India on boiled rice and a little ghee (liquid butter;) 

 and these instances of a community of habits between the Hyaena and 

 Canis jubatus could be greatly multiplied. If Azara's dental formula 

 be right, the Aguara Guazu cannot technically be an Hyana, and 

 it may be desirable to constitute it a subgenus ; but as I before said, 

 it will suffice if my speculations assist in any way to rivet a link in 

 the chain of nature." 



With respect to the skin of Felis Pardina Col. Sykes remarked, 

 " Although Temminck, in his Monographie de Mammalogie, p. 116, 

 in a note, says the skin of this European Felis is well known amongst 

 the furriers as the Lynx of Portugal, I have nowhere been able to 

 meet with a specimen in London ; and as amongst my friends scarcely 

 any one appeared to be aware of the existence of a Spanish Lynx, I 

 thought it might be acceptable to the members to exhibit specimens 

 in a state of maturity and nonage. In Andalusia, whence the speci- 

 mens come, it is called Gato clavo (clavo meaning the pupil of the 

 eye), illustrative of the spotted character of the skin. Some pea- 

 sants in Andalusia make short jackets of the skins. The animal 

 inhabits the Sierra Morena. I bought both skins at Seville for thirty 

 reales, about 6s. 2d. Neither the British Museum nor the Zoological 

 Society have specimens. 



" Temminck describes the Pardina as ' Toutes les parties du coi-jis 

 lustre, a peu pres de la meme teinte que dans le caracal.' This is 

 certainly not the description of my animal, the colour of the adult 

 being reddish gray, and that of the non-adult light fawn ; never- 

 theless there are so many other points common to both, that it would 

 be unadvisable to consider them distinct." 



A specimen of the Alauda Calandra, Linn., from Andalusia, was 

 afterwards exhibited by Col. Sykes, accompanied with the following 

 notice : 



" I brought two specimens of these delightful singing-birds from 

 Andalusia with me tliis spring ; and on comparing them with the 

 type of the genus, I am satisfied they approximate more closely to 



