1898.] ItE. W. E. DE WINTOIf ON THE SKIN OF A ZEBRA, 3 



Dr. Forbes has also kindly sent us seven examples of the cele- 

 brated Walking-Fish of the West Coast of Africa {Periophthalmus 

 l-oelreuteri), which, however, we have unfortunately not been able 

 to keep alive. 



On behalf of Dr. E. Collett, of Christiania, F.M.Z.S., the 

 Secretary exhibited a mounted specimen of a bird obtained in 

 Norway, and believed to be a hybrid between the Fieldfare {Turdus 

 pilaris) and the Eedwing (T. iliacus). It was intermediate in size 

 and colour between these two species. 



t3 



Mr. W. E. de Winton exhibited the skin of a Zebra, obtained 

 by Mr. S. L. Hinde near Machakos, British East Africa, of the 

 form described by Dr. Matschie as Equus boehmi (S.B. Ges. naturf. 

 Fr. Berlin, 1892, p. 131). The only specimens from Brit. E. 

 Africa hitherto received by the British Museum had been obtained by 

 Dr. Gregory on the Thika Thika Eiver, one of the headwaters of 

 the Tana R., this form being named E. hurchelli granti De Winton 

 (Ann. Mag. N. H. 1896, xvii. p. 319). The form E. b. hoeJimi might 

 readily be distinguished from E. b. granti by the presence of well- 

 marked shadow-stripes upon the haunches, the body-markings 

 generally being of much the same character and proportions as 

 those of the Zebra of Mashonaland, E. b. selousi Pocock (Ann. 

 Mag. N. H. 1897, xx. p. 45) ; but the feet of the present specimen 

 being wanting, it was impossible to compare the pasterns ; the dorsal 

 stripe in this single specimen, from the saddle backwards, was not 

 separated from the side-stripes by distinct white spaces as in the 

 specimens from the Tana E., but how far this character would be 

 found constant could not now be determined. 



Mr. Hinde was of opinion that the two forms occur in separate 

 herds in country not geographically separate but of different 

 characters : one keeping to open plains, the other living in bush- 

 countrj'. Be this as it may, it was of very great interest to 

 have undoubted evidence of these two apparently distinct forms 

 occurring so close together, Dr. Matschie having described his 

 species from a sketch of an animal from the neighbourhood of 

 Kilimanjaro and from a living specimen in the Zoological Gardens 

 at Berlin of doubtful origin. 



It might be hoped that other specimens, with careful data 

 recorded, would be brought home when it was realized how badly 

 skins are wanted, and how little is known of the distribution and 

 habits of these interestmg animals. 



1* 



