1904.J ON THE ANTLERS OF THE ALTAI STAG. 179 



davidianics), recently exhibited to the Society (Proc.Zool. Soc. 1904, 

 ii. p. 83). When this sketch was exhibited it was understood to 

 have been drawn fi-om a specimen in the possession of Mr. E. T. 

 C. Werner, then British Consul at Hainan, and was thus taken (in 

 spite of the addition by the artist of a pair of Peking-Deer antlers) 

 as evidence of the existence of Elaphurus davidianus in Hainan. 

 In a letter dated June 26, Mr. Werner states, however, that the 

 artist drew the sketch from memory after the death of the animal, 

 and also that there was considerable doubt as to whether the latter 

 i-eally was Pere David's Deer (Tsu-pu-hsiang) at all. Nevertheless 

 the writer expressed his belief that the species did exist in Hainan. 

 On the other hand, in answer to further enquiries, Mr. Hughes, 

 now Consul at Hainan, wrote that, so far as he could ascertain, 

 Pere David's Deer was unknown in Hainan, and that the drawing 

 in question must be regarded as a fancy sketch. Under these 

 circumstances, despite the fact that the sketch undoubtedly 

 portrayed that species, no credence could at present be given to the 

 allesred occurrence of Pere David's Deer in Hainan. 



Mr. F. E. Beddard, F.R.S., called the attention of the meeting 

 to a fact in the life-histoiy of Kangaroos concerning which Ijut 

 little appeared to be known. An example of Macropus dor salts, 

 which died on the 4th Nov. last, was found to contain a young 

 one in the pouch which had survived the death of the parent. 

 The young kangaroo was 6 inches in length (to the root of the 

 tail) and still perfectly naked. On being i-emoved from the 

 pouch, it moved its limbs vigorously and emitted a sound which 

 was rather more voice-like than a hiss. 



It was difficult to describe the nature of the sound accurately. 

 It was vittered at continuous intervals. The production of any 

 sound in so impei-fectly formed an animal was remarkable. 



Mr. Frederick Gillett, F.Z.S., exhibited some antlers of the 

 Altai Stag [Cerims euste2:>hanus), and made the following remarks 

 on their growth based on his own observations in the Society's 

 Gardens : — 



"An Altai Stag, purchased by the Society on Aug. 10th, 1897, 

 although in pooi' condition and not expected to live, in the 

 following year jDroduced three sets of antlers and served two 

 hinds, becommg the parent of a stag and a hind. The young stag 

 shed his first pairs of antlers in a twelvemonth, aiid I am able to 

 show these antlers to-night. This young stag grew very large, 

 and when two years old bore antlers with twelve points. This 

 stag was then sold to Hagenbeck. 



" The stag now in the Gardens shed a set of antlers on May 28th, 

 1902, having produced two sets in the year before ; and the three 

 sets which I exhibit to-night were shed by it on the following 

 <iates:- Jan. 6th, 1903; June 10th, 1903; April 23rd, 1904." 



1 2* 



