1834.] Indian Zoology. 307 



popular error respecting the ferocious and untameable disposition of the common 

 Hyana, Hyaena vulgaris, Cuv. His opinions were founded partly on observation 

 of a cub which he had domesticated, and partly on facts communicated by his 

 friends. He went on to state as follows : 



" Two years have elapsed since I placed in the Gardens of the Society the above- 

 mentioned cub (a female), which has now attained its full growth, and I am happy 

 to be enabled to confirm the opinions I formerly advanced. In India it was allowed 

 to run about my house, and on board ship it was released from its cage two or 

 three times a day, to play with the sailors and gambol with the dogs. It early 

 rocognised my person and voice, and would obey when called ; and in general was 

 as playful and good-humoured as a puppy. My visits to it in the Gardens have 

 been rare, and at long intervals, nor have I ever carried it food ; I anticipated, 

 therefore, that it would outgrow its early associations, and that I should be to it 

 as any other stranger ; but it has always greeted me not only as an acquaintance, 

 but as an old friend ; and if I am to judge from its agitation and peculiar cries, 

 the animal's recognition is that of affection. 



" On Sunday last it was asleep in its cage when I approached. On calling to 

 it by its name it looked up, distinguished me in the crowd, started on its legs, and 

 on my applying my hand to its mouth to smell to, it threw itself down against the 

 bars, rubbed its head, neck, and back against my hand, and then started on its 

 legs and bounded about its cage, uttering short cries. On ceasing to speak to it, 

 and moving away, it stopped, and looked wistfully after me, nor resumed its mo- 

 tions until I addressed it again. Its manifestations of joy were so unequivocal, 

 as to excite the surprise of a great number of bystanders. As these pleasing traits 

 in the disposition of a calumniated animal appeared so new to those who surround- 

 ed me on that occasion, they may possibly be deemed of sufficient interest to be 

 worthy of extended promulgation by record in our Proceedings. 



" I take occasion to repeat my conviction, that association with man, constant 

 kindness, and abundance of food, will suffice not only to modify, and indeed era- 

 dicate, the worst traits in the disposition of any animal of the higher classes, but 

 give birth to others of which their natures were not deemed susceptible." 



September 10, 1833. 

 A letter was read, addressed to Mr. Vigors by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., Corr. 

 Memb. Z. S., and dated Nepal Residency, February 23, 1833. It referred to the 

 zoological specimens which the writer had forwarded to Calcutta, to be thence 

 transmitted to England, some account of which, as contained in a letter from Mr. 

 Prinsep, was read at the last Meeting. 



[The account given of tbe Mammalia of Nepal in this day's proceedings has 

 already appeared in the Journal for 1832. A letter from Mr. Bennett, Sec. Zool. 

 Soc. gives a sad account of the result of Mr. Hodgson's consignment of animals : 

 of the few which remained alive to be shipped by the Susan, in April, 1833, none 

 reached England 1 One of the deer leaped overboard, the other knocked itself to 

 death against the bars of its cage. The pheasants and pigeons lived until the ves- 

 sel got into the colder latitudes, when they died one after the other I a most unfor- 

 tunate termination of an attempt from which much had been hoped, and on which 

 no trouble or expense had been spared by our zealous naturalist.] 



A " Description ofPerdixLerwa," by B. H. Hodgson, Esq., Corr. Memb. Z. 

 S., was read. It was accompanied by a coloured drawing of the bird, which in- 

 habits the northern region of Nepal, and forms, by its half-plumed tarsi, a sort 

 of link between the Partridges and the Grouse. Its habits assimilate with those 



