1833.) of the second part Phys. Trans. 421 
‘production of the former; and evenat this day stories of a, mixed 
prolific breed being common in Russia and America are rather dis- 
believed to be true than proved to be false, though reason and 
analogy alike condemn a theory so little supported by what we see, 
and so contrary to the common received opinions of modern science. 
Indeed, were it proved that such a breed is in existence, the fact would 
go much farther than to overthrow a mere generic distinction. It 
would shew that the established notion of specific differences depend- 
ing upon the test of an unprolific offspring, is incorrect ; and, that, 
instead of there being two genera of goats and sheep, there is in fact 
but one species of the whole. Mr. Hopeson of course leaves the matter 
where he found it. 
Some uncertainty prevails as to the goat Mr. Hopason describes 
being identical or not with one noticed by M. Duvaucet. The notice 
appears to have been sent to Paris, and it is appended by the 
Secretary to the Society to the present article, taken however from 
the original manuscript. M. Duvavceu’s specimen, also, was a young 
one, and as he has not given it a name, nor yet appended the native 
one, it is impossible to ascertain whether or not his and Mr. Hope- 
son’s Capra Jhiral are the same. At all events Mr. Hopeson does 
not seem to have known of M. Duvauces.’s paper, and the credit of 
first bringing this animal to notice properly belongs to him*. 
Of the sheep, the Ovis Nayaur, Mr. Hopason has seenonly the female 
in the adult state, and the young of the male, and he is consequently 
uncertain whether it is a new species. But in a note appended to the 
9th article the author says :— 
“From much conversation that I had with the Bhotea who brought me the skin 
of the young male Nayaur, I now incline to believe that I was mistaken in suppos- 
ing there are two species of wild sheep in these regions. The Bharal of one dialect 
is probably the Nayaur of another, and the Him4layan wild sheep most likely only 
a variety of that widely-diffused species Ovis Argali ; though I must confess I can- 
not reconcile Linnxus or SHaw’s descriptions of the horns of the Nayaur.”’ 
The Ratwa deer of Mr. Hopeson, perhaps the Cervus Muntjak of 
Pennant, forms the subject of the 9th article. There is little doubt of 
this animal being really the Cervus Muntjak, the Kijang, or at least a 
variety of that species. Though Mr. Hopeson attaching more impor- 
tance to colour than it deserves, thinks, that as 
* Mr. Hopeson, in a private note, explains that, ‘‘ M. Duvaucev’s description 
refers to the Ghoral, which all our English zoologists class with the antelopes, be- 
eause it has suborbital sinuses and cylindrical horns, The latter obvious character 
should have prevented its being confounded with the Jhdra/, which has angular 
horns.’’—Ep, 
