186 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



and it was thirty-nine days before it opened its eyes. It has been very 

 vigorous and healthy from the first, and its development was evidently 

 normal." 



In the Annual Report of the Royal Zoological Society of Ireland for 

 1896 we read that " the most interesting event which has occurred in the 

 Gardens for many years took place early in the year. On the 6th of 

 January, the female Cape Hunting Dog, Lycaon pictus, presented the 

 Society with a litter of four cubs. It is very rare for these valuable and 

 interesting auimals to breed in captivity, although one or perhaps two 

 litters are known to have been born in the Zoological Gardens in Amsterdam. 

 In no case, however, has the mother reared her offspring. Two or three 

 days after birth they have died through excessive anxiety for their welfare 

 on the part of the mother during the nursing period. The slightest noise 

 alarms her, and, seizing the pups in her mouth, she careers round the cage 

 seeking a place where she can conceal her progeny. Unfortunately the 

 litter born in the Dublin Gardens met the same fate. The puppies stood 

 this treatment for three days and then they succumbed." 



In the ■ Cape Times,' uuder date of Jan. 20th, a summary of Govern- 

 ment Notice, No. 4, of 1897, is given, which relates to the general close or 

 fence season for game in the various divisions of the Colony. The interest 

 to zoologists is found in the list of animals which have been specially pro- 

 tected, for here we cau read decrease and possible extinction on the wall. 



Iu mammals, as restricted to various districts, and whose slaughter is 

 prohibited for periods expiring in 1897, 1898, 1899, and even 1900, we 

 find enumerated Aardvaaik or Ant-eater, Rietbok, Eland, Klipspringer, 

 Klipbok, Duiker, Grysbok, Bushbuck Ewes, Rhebok, Oribi, Steinbuck, 

 Hartebeest, Wildebeest, Gemsbok, Koodoo, Blesbok, Bontebok, Giraffe. 



In birds: Paauw, Plovers and Larks, Quail, Knorhaan, "Partridges," 

 " Pheasants," and Guinea Fowls. 



Insectivorous and other birds, in Albany and Uitenhage, to Dec. 23rd, 

 1899 ; all kinds of birds in Beaufort West Dam, to May 31st, 1898 ; and 

 in Mossel Bay Municipal Commonage, to June 30th, 1897. 



Great and Small Locust Bird, throughout the whole Colony to Jan. 

 22nd, 1899. This no doubt to increase the destruction of locusts. 



According to a Reuters telegram from Blantyre, dated Jan. 12th, 

 Mr. Poulett Weatherley, said to be the only British sportsman at the time 

 in the interior, and who had circumnavigated Bangweolo and Chifunanti, 

 bears witness to the ravages of the rinderpest among the wild game of 

 South and East Africa: — "The rinderpest has killed off all Antelope 



