99 



fathers had never been requested to catch a Bison calf, and could not 

 comprehend why they should. I myself twice surrounded a calf with 

 a circle of beaters, but in both instances it broke the line and escaped. 

 Calves sometimes fall into the hands of the natives by accident, and 

 I have seen a young one so caught, which unfortunately died in the 

 possession of an English officer, who had bought it from its captors. 



All the natives with whom I have spoken on the subject are firmly 

 persuaded that there are two distinct species of Bison. To these two 

 species they give the name of " Gouwa " in common, but distinguish 

 them as the "Myse Gouwa" and the "Gaee Gouwa." " Myse " 

 signifies the common domestic buffalo ; " Gaee " the domestic cow. 

 I never succeeded in getting any man to give me a clear explanation 

 of what he imagined to be the difference, but I have found the belief 

 so universally spread amongst those natives who have the best oppor- 

 tunities of knowing, that I do not think it altogether to be dis- 

 credited. 



J.Wycliff Thompson, 



Capt. \Oth Royal Hussars. 

 D. W. Mitchell, Esq., Sec. Zool. Soc. 



2. Description of a new species of Hyrax from Fernando 

 Po. By Louis Fraser, H.M. Consul at Whidah. 



(Mammalia, PI. XXXIII.) 



Hyrax dorsalis, Fraser. 



Adult male. General colour grizzled brown, becoming darker 

 towards the back, where the hairs are annulated with black ; a line 

 of yellowish white, about four inches long, commencing over the 

 short ribs and running hindways ; muzzle naked and of a brown 

 colour ; eyes light hazel. 



Length of head 4^ in. ; neck and body about 18in. ; hind feet, 

 from heel to toe, 3 in. 



Hab. Island of Fernando Po. 



Its native name is 'Nay bar ; it is nocturnal in its habits, and is no 

 doubt common, as its loud cry of ccurr-ccurr-ccurr may be heard 

 every evening after dark, during the commencement of the rains. 



The Boobies say, it sleeps in the trees all day, and feeds upon 

 leaves at night, but is very difficult to find. 



Mr. Waterhouse, in a letter to Mr. Cuming, writes as follows re- 

 specting this Hyrax : — 



" The Hyrax is certainly distinct from the two species which I am 

 acquainted with, viz. H. Capensis and H. Syriacus, and upon com- 

 paring the skin with the description of H. arboreus, the only other 

 described species, I find several discrepancies which lead me to believe 

 it will prove distinct. I allude more especially to the texture of the 

 fur. In Mr. Fraser' s Fernando Po animal the fur is coarse, whilst 

 in H. arboreus it is said to be soft. This latter animal moreover 

 has a transverse black stripe about the middle of the tower jaw which 

 does not exist in Mr. Fraser' s species." 



