1891.] MR. T. T. SOMERVILLE ON THE LEMMING. 655 



Skull No. 3 resembles in every respect one which is in the pos- 

 session of my father (Mr. A. D. Bartlett), which I remember per- 

 fectly well, although without particulars. My memory tells me that 

 my father's specimen appeared as though it had been burnt over a 

 fire, exactly like Nos. 3 and 4 above mentioned. The Dyaks roast 

 these animals for food. 



The specimen No. 5 in the photograph is similar to the one in my 

 father's possession. The prominence for the second horn is scarcely 

 visible, hence the doubt formerly expressed respecting its belonging 

 to a single- or a two-horned Rhinoceros. 



The above-mentioned skulls and horns came from the jungle 

 regions of the upper Rajah River, inhabited by the Kyans, a 

 dangerous race of people, very distinct fron the Dyaks. These 

 Kyans procure the horns for barter, for which they receive a high 

 price from the Chinese, who import them to China for medicine. 

 The horns are ground into powder for some diseases, while others 

 are cut into minute fragments to carry about the person. 



The general appearance of this animal (judging from the two 

 heads with skin attached) is similar to that of the Sumatran species 

 {Rhinoceros sumatrensisy . It is perfectly black, covered with short 

 black bristles ; the ears are short and covered with short black 

 hair without fringe (unlike R. lasiotis). 



The Rhinoceros is becoming extremely rare in the Province of 

 Sarawak, on account of the value set upon the horns, but in Central 

 and North Borneo in the very old jungle it is more plentiful. I 

 have heard that two species exist ; but this, I think, is doubtful. 



5, Notes on the Lemming [Myodes lemmus). 

 By T. T. SoMERviLLE, of Oppegarde, Christiania^ 



[Receiyed August 10, 1891.] 



Very little appears to be authentically known of the exact habitat 

 of the Lemmings, and they seem scarcely ever to be observed except 

 upon the occasion of their great migrations. Their home is pro- 

 bably confined to the great table-lands, at an altitude of 3000 feet 

 or more, on the mountains of Central Norway, and further north on 

 the ranges between Norway and Sweden. Indeed ancient writers 

 asserted that the sudden appearance of Lemmings was due to their 

 being showered from the clouds, and even to this day there are 

 many worthy peasants who are at a loss for any other explanation. 

 Certain it is that for indefinite periods, of from four or five up to, 

 perhaps, twenty years, the Lemming is never seen in the inhabited 

 parts of the country, and then suddenly appears in countless hordes 



1 Cf. Flower, P. Z. S. 1880, p. 69. 



^ [Along with the present communication we received from Mr. Somerville 

 seven living examples of the Lemming for the Menagerie. Of these two are 

 still living; the other five died on the follovring dates: — (1) Aug. 20, 1891, 

 (2) Aug. 31, 1891. (3) Oct. 19, 1891. (4) Nov. 7, 1891. (5) Nov. 27, 1891. 

 —P. L. S.] 



Proc. Zool. See— 1891, No. XLIV. 44 



