302 mr. f. e. blaavw ox the [Mar. 20, 



be referable to the Sumatran species described as Hystrix lonyi- 

 cauda. In this same Small Mammals' House was also a tine 

 specimen of Perameles layutis, and a specimen of Echidna hystrix 

 which had lived more than five years in the Garden. 



In the large Bear-cages were, amongst other fine specimens of 

 Bears of various species, a remarkably large example of a Brown 

 Bear from Japan (Jesso), probably (Jrsus behrinyianus, and also 

 specimens of a small black Bear from Japan both with and without 

 a white collar. The all-black Bears have been described by 

 Dr. Matschie as U. rexi, after the name of the donor. 



The Equidce at Berlin are represented by six species, including 

 Equus hemioitus, E. onayer, E. africanus, and E. barchelli, the 

 typical form of which, with white unstriped legs, is getting ex- 

 tremely rare. Its place is now taken in most Zoological Gardens 

 by the more northern form with striped legs (E. chapmanni), which 

 is imported regularly by Reiche and other dealers. This form is 

 also represented in the Berlin Garden, as also is the Mountain 

 Zebra (E. zebra), by a fine female specimen. 



In the repaired and re-decorated Elephant-house I found 

 specimens of the Indian and African Elephants, and of the latter 

 an example from West Africa (Cameroons). This animal, as 

 Dr. Heck pointed out to me, differs in many respects from the 

 generally imported East- African Elephant, of which also a specimen 

 is exhibited. The most noticeable difference is that the ears in 

 the West-African specimen are comparatively much smaller than 

 in the East-African one, and also of a different shape. In the 

 East-African animal the lower part of the ears is much elongated 

 and projects forward along the lower jaw in a long pointed 

 triangle. In the West-African specimen the ears are very much 

 shorter and rounder, and do not project forward nearly so much. 

 The skull of the West- African Elephant is also much smaller and 

 flatter than the skull of the East-African one. As the West- 

 African specimen is still young, it will be interesting to watch 

 whether these peculiarities increase or decrease as the animal gets 

 older. In the same house was a fine Indian Rhinoceros, and four 

 varieties of the American Tapir, differing in size, colour, and coat. 

 An Indian Tapir was also present. 



The collection of Swine is a very good one. It comprises 

 examples of the Wild Swine from the Caucasus, Morocco, and 

 India; a fine specimen of Sus philippinensis with very remarkable 

 long pointed white whiskers, and round white warts halfway 

 between the eyes and the nose. Also of interest are examples 

 of Wart-hogs (Phacochcerus) from Senegal, German East Africa, 

 and South Africa. 



The Deer, which in former times were a rather ill-arranged and 

 badly-housed group of animals, have now got new houses and 

 enclosures, and form one of the most interesting series of 

 Ruminants. Amongst the very large number of species exhibited 

 I specially noted the following ; — C'ariacus iaornatus from Co- 

 lombia, remarkable for the yellow colour of its coat ; C'ariacus 



