1890.] CAPT. p. ARMITAGE ON CERVUS ELDI. 97 



A communication was read by Mr.T. D. A. Cockerell, of "West Cliff, 

 Custer Co., Colorado, containing particulars of a series of Galls ob- 

 tained in that district and enclosing the specimens for exhibition. 



Mr. H. Seebohm, F.Z.S., gave an account of his proposed new 

 Classification of Birds as put forward in his recently pubhshed book 

 on this subject \ This communication was followed by a general 

 discussion of Mr. Seebohm's arrangement. 



March 18, 1890. 

 Prof. Flower, C.B., LL.D., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. 



The Secretary exhibited on behalf of the Rev. G. II. R. Fisk, 

 C.M.Z.S., an albino Bat shot in January last at Broadlands, 

 the farm of Mr. J. Rawbone, at Somerset West, not far from Cape 

 Town. 



Mr. Oldfield Thomas, F.Z.S., had kindly determined this specimen 

 to be an albino variety of Vesperus capensis. Smith. 



Capt. Percy Armitage, 24th Regiment, exhibited two mounted 

 heads of the Panolia Deer {Cervus eldi) which had been obtained 

 in Lower Burmah. One of these bore antlers of the normal form 

 of Cervus eldi, widely expanding at their base ; in the other head 

 the two antlers rose from the front much nearer together, more as 

 in the Sambur and its allied forms. Both specimens had been 

 obtained in the same district, and were undoubtedly of the same 

 species. 



Captain Armitage made the following remarks on this subject : — 

 "These two stags, of which the heads are on the table, were both 

 shot on the same day (28th April, 1888) near Wimpeedaw, a small 

 village on the Sittang river, some 52 miles below Shwigyin. Wim- 

 peedaw is in the Shwigyin district of Lower Burmah. The Burmese 

 name for Cervus eldi is 'Thanin.' These Deer are very wild and 

 difficult to approach, and are generally found on large plains covered 

 with patches of 'lime' grass 9 or 10 feet high. After proceeding 

 to the shooting-ground in a bullock-cart, the method pursued is to 

 drive slowly through the lime-grass, the sportsman standing up in the 

 cart and looking over the top of the grass until he sees a herd of 

 deer. The cart is then stopped and the stalking commences. This 

 is very often a long and troublesome business, as the 'Thanin,' 

 when alarmed, leave the jungle and make for the open plain, generally 

 keeping well out of range." 



1 Classification of Birds ; an attempt to diagnose the Subclasses, Orders, 

 Subordei-s, and some of the Families of existing Birds. By Henry Seebohm. 

 Loudon : E. H. Porter, 18 Princes Street, Cavendish Square, W., 1890. 



