302 DR. E. EAT LANKESTER ON OICAPIA. 



pattern of the stripes on both the hind and fore limbs is difficult to describe, and 

 can best be judged of by the figure given in Plate XXX. and by tlie woodcut of 

 the bandoliers (text-fig. 1, p. 281) cut from another individual. There appears to be a 

 small range of individual variability in the exact proportions of the dark and light 

 stripes. 



The true foot — tliat is to say, the part of the leg extending from the calcaneum to 

 the hoof inclusive — is white with a dark girdle encircling the first phalanx and leaving 

 a white circle between itself and the hoof, which was seen by one of Sir H. Johnston's 

 officials before it was lost, and reported to be blue-black in colour. 



The upper region of the fore limb is of the same colour as the trunk ; black and 

 white striping is not developed upon it until we come to the region of the forearm or 

 radio-ulnar region. This is encircled by a few narrow and two incomplete broad bands 

 of black hair separated by bands of white. The carpo-metacarpal region is peculiarly 

 marked : an oblong disc of white hairs is found on the carpus encircled by black. 

 The black hairs extend as a thick band round the back of the carpus, the white disc 

 having a nearly median frontal position. From the black ring extends downwards over 

 the front of the metacarpal region a thick black band lying a little to the outer side 

 of the mid-line. This black band joins a ring of black hair which encircles tlie 

 phalangeal region as in the hind foot, the rest of the hair being creamy white. The 

 appearance of this upper upright ring, bar, and lower transverse ring joined to form 

 one piece is very remarkable and calls to mind the shape of a leg-iron or shackle 

 such as is fastened to the legs of convicts. It probably has some significance in 

 producing illusion when seen by the enemies of the Okapi ; but it is difficult to 

 imagine its exact effect. I have not been able to find a closely similar marking 

 in any other animal except in certain goats — especially the Wild Goat of Asia 

 Minor [Ca'pra (egagrus). The corresponding region is very similarly marked in 

 specimens of that animal preserved in the Natural History Museum. The one- 

 sided position of the vertical bar is very striking and tends to give an unreal and 

 distorted appearance to the leg. 



VI. — Chaeactebs of the Genus Okafia and of the Species 0. joHNsrom. 



At the Meeting of this Society on June 18th, 1901, I established the genus Okapia 

 for the reception of the Okapi. A brief account of the skin and skulls was published 

 by me in the Proc. Zool. Soc. 1901, vol. ii. p. 280. I now amend the characterization 

 of the genus in some important respects ^ 



The " Pecora " are ruminant Artiodactyle Ungulates with a cotyledonary placenta 

 and are divisible into the Cervidse, Giraffidse, Antilocapridse, and Bovidge. 



^ ilay 27tli, 1902. — So as to take cognizance of the fact as to the existence of hony frontal horns in the 

 adult, reyealed by the specimen received in Brussels a month ago. See Appendix, p. 304. 



