302 ON A SIAMESE FIGHTING-FISH AND A COLOMBIAN CAX-FISH. 



4. The fourth antlers, shed March 15th, 1915, measured 



7| inches ; the left antler was simple, the right was 

 forked, the supplementary tine measuring 1^ inches. 

 The two antlers together weighed 3| oz. 



5. The fifth antlers, unburnished, were taken off the head of 



the dead animal on Dec. 27th, 1915. The longer of the 

 two measured 8^ inches. The right was simple, the left 

 forked, the supplementary tine measuring | inch. The 

 two together weighed 3|^ oz. 



Thus, although there was a great and, so far as I am aware, 

 normal increase in size of the second antlers as compared with 

 the first, the third, fourth, and fifth antlei-s showed no corre- 

 sponding elaboration, but, on the contrary, degeneration, the 

 third being shorter and lighter than the second, and producing 

 no tines. The fourth also Avere lighter and shorter than the 

 third. Nevertheless, the right one produced a supplementary 

 tine which, however, was shorter than the supplementary tines 

 of the second pair. The fifth antlers in the matter of length 

 showed a slight recovery as compared with the fourth, and the 

 two together acquired the same weight, but the supplementary 

 tine was still shorter, and the dried integument adhered to the 

 antlers instead of peeling ofi" and leaving them normally bur- 

 nished. Since, in Prof. Plimmer's opinion, the growth of the 

 cancer from which this Stag died was probably a gradual process 

 extending over a few years, it seems justifiable to infer, in the 

 absence of any other obvious cause to account for the fact, that 

 degeneration of the antlers was attributable to this disease. It 

 may be added that the testicles, which Prof. Plimmer particularly 

 examined at my request, were unafiected by the cancer, and were 

 normal except for the absence of ripe speimatozoa." 



February 22, 1916. 



Dr. A. Smith Woodward, F.R.S., Vice-President, 

 in the Chair. 



The Rev. H. N'. Hutchinson, M.A., F.Z.S., exhibited a number 

 of drawings prepared by Mr. T. W. Parfitt of restorations of 

 vai'ious extinct animals. 



Mr. C. Tate Regan, M.A., F.Z.S., gave a lantern-exhibition 

 illustrating the breeding-habits of a Siamese Fighting- Fish [Betta 

 splendens Regan) and the climbing-habits of a Cat-fish (Ai'ges 

 marmoratus Regan) from the Andes of Colombia. 



