11 



February 11, 1840. 



The Rev. J. Barlow in the Chair. 



A letter addressed to the Secretary by Sir John McNeill, and dated 

 January 31, 1840, was read. It related to the two Persian Deer" 

 presented by that gentleman to the Society's menagerie, and con- 

 tained an answer to some inquiries from the Secretary respecting 

 them. 



The letter states that this species of Deer is called by the Persians, 

 Maral, or Gevezu, or Goo Koohee, and is frequently noticed in their 

 literature. It is found in all the wooded mountainous districts of Per- 

 sia, but apparently does not occur in the central parts of the country. 

 The Persian Deer " rarely descend into the plains. During the 

 summer they are found in the highest wooded parts of the mountains, 

 and during the winter in the lower ravines near their bases, where 

 they are frequently tracked in the snow. 



" The horns of the adult male closely resemble those of the Red 

 Deer of this country, insomuch that I doubt whether an unscientific 

 observer could distinguish them, unless by the superior size of those 

 of the Maral." 



Mr. Yarrell communicated to the meeting, on the part of R. H. 

 Sweeting, Esq., some facts relating to a female Rorqual Whale {Ba- 

 Icenoptem boops of authors), which was stranded neiir high-water- 

 mark at Charmouth, Dorsetshire, early in the morning of Wednesday, 

 February 5th, 1840. 



The whole length was 44 feet. 



Girth 21 — 



Breadth of tail .... 9 — 



Probable weiglit from twenty to twenty-five tons. 



The jaws long and slender, but not sharp, the tip obtuse and con- 

 vex ; the upper jaw the shortest, and received, when the mouth is 

 closed, within the lower jaw, which projected nine inches beyond it. 

 The plates of whalebone amount to upwards of 250 on each side of 

 the jaw ; the palate and tongue of a pale pink colour ; no warts about 

 the lips. The back black ; the under surface of the body white ; the 

 throat plicated. The nostrils or blow-holes are two longitudinal 

 fissures, the anterior points nearly touching, but diverging posteri- 

 orly to a distance of three inches, and separated by a furrow. The 

 opening of the eye six inches in length, from canthus to angle ; the 

 bony socket froni anterior to posterior margin is eight inches ; eye- 

 ball seven inches ; the pupil oval ; the irides hazel. There was not 

 the slightest appearance of eyelashes, which some authors state 

 whales possess. 



The distance from the end of the under jaw to the origin of the 

 No. LXXXVI. — Proceeding.? or the Zoological Society. 



