610 SIR p. LUMSDEN ON SNOW LEOPARDS. [June 16, 



The following extracts were read from a letter addressed to the 

 Secretary by Mr. J. Biittikofer, dated Leyden Museum, May 30, 

 1885 :— 



" On reading the interesting account of a visit to the birds' -nest 

 caves near Elopura (British North Borneo) by Mr. Pryer, contained 

 in the last part of the ' Procedings,' Dr. Jentink, the Director of our 

 Museum, called my attention to a paper from the hand of the late 

 Dr. Bernstein, our celebrated traveller in the Malay Archipelago, 

 published in the ' Journal fiir Oruithologie ' as early as 1859. You 

 would oblige me very much by taking notice of this paper in the 

 next number of the ' Proceedings,' as that may serve to correct any 

 impression which might otherwise be entertained that the account 

 of Mr. Pryer, with the adjoined report on the edible birds' nests by 

 Mr. J. R. Green, is the first satisfactory solution of the question 

 which has been offered. In order to show how thoroughly and 

 successfully Dr. Bernstein has studied the question in loco, allow 

 me to quote some of the most interesting parts of his exhaustive 

 treatise." 



Mr. Biittikofer then quoted passages from the article alluded to 

 in the 'Journal fiir Ornithologie ' for 1859, pp. 112-115 ; following 

 from which it appeared that Dr. Bernstein had proved most con- 

 clusively from his own observations that the so-called edible nests of 

 Collocalia are formed from the spittle of these birds, the salivary 

 glands of which are abnormally developed during the breeding- 

 season for this purpose. 



The following extract was read from a letter addressed to the 

 Secretary by Major-General Sir Peter Lumsdeu, K.C.B. : — 



" The young Snow Leopards of which you inquire were captured 

 on the 17th of November, 1884, on the southern slopes of the 

 mountains which in Persia separate the valley of Zroabad from that 

 of Torbut-i-Jani, crossed here by a road known as the ' Istoipass,' 

 and not very far from where the range is penetrated by the Heri- 

 Rud river, separating Persia from Affghanistan. A native hunter 

 had shot a ' mish ' (or wild sheep) and had left it in order to go after 

 another, then in sight, which having also secured, he returned to 

 secure the first one , but on reaching it found a Leopardess greedily 

 devouring it. He shot her, and on going up to the body found no 

 less than five young kittens, perhaps ten days or a fortnight old, 

 very active and savage ; he with difficulty managed to secure two of 

 them, which he brought back to camp. They were taken care of by 

 a native, and carried along with us, fed on milk, meat, &c., to Kazan, 

 from wlience they were despatched on a mule to the British Agent in 

 Herat, with instructions to send them on the first opportunity to 

 Mr. Barnes, the Government Pohtical Agent, Quettah, who was to 

 arrange for their despatch to the Society's Gardens. 



" Nawab Mirza Hassim Ali Khan, my personal assistant, took them 

 over from the native huntsman who captured them, looked after 



