1848.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 559 



Reports of Curator, Zoological Department. 



For March Meeting, 1848. 



The following Donations have been received. 



1. Walter Elliot, Esq. Madras C. S. A living specimen of the Chceta, 

 (or Hunting Leopard,) Felis jubata : a species, remarks Mr. Elliot, which is 

 " common, though not plentiful, throughout Southern India, and which I 

 have myself met with in the wild state, though I have never actually killed 

 one.* This one is quite tame, and may be handled with perfect freedom. I 

 let him loose in my stables, and he plays about with the dogs and suffers 

 himself to be tied up again without difficulty ."t 



2. Mr. H. Greenfield, Akra farm. A very fine adult male of the common 

 Bengal Otter, Lutra ckinensis et indica, Gray, as now identified by that syste- 

 matise — L. tarayensis, Hodgson. 



3. Capt. Phayre, Maulmein. A specimen in spirit of Sciurus Barbei, 

 nobis, XVI, 875 : and two skins of Rhizomys sumatrensis, (Raffles, v. cinereus, 

 M'Clelland), adult and young, sent in weak spirit and the hair coming off 

 with the cuticle, so that the skulls only have been retained for the museum. 



4. Baboo Rajendro Mullick. A dead Tragopan (Satyra cornuta), young 

 male. 



5. Mr. E. Lindstedt. A dead white-handed Gibbon (Hylobates lar), from 

 Malacca. This animal had been living for some months on the Society's 

 premises ; and the contrast which it offered with H. hoolock, was very re- 

 markable. The body is proportionally much shorter ; and it was quite incapa- 

 ble of walking in the erect attitude commonly assumed by H. hoolock, always 

 creeping forward when on the ground in a crouching position. Both skin 

 and skeleten have been preserved. 



6. J. Pybus, Esq. Carcass of a Bear (Ursus labiatus) ; now mounted 

 in the museum. 



7. Mr. Robt. J. Rose, of the Police. A small Crocodilus biporcatus, 

 6 ft. long, taken out of the Wellington tank, Calcutta. 



8. Major Brodie, 5th N. I. Two fine Buffalo skulls, with large horns; 

 from Assam. 



9. Robt. Ince, Esq., Chittagong. A few insects in spirit. 



10. F. Skipwith, Esq., C. S., Chittagong. Two bird-skins. 



11. Mr. Birch, of the Pilot service. A few common fresh- water shells from 

 the Soonderbuns. 



12. Mr. Templeton, of the museum. Skin of Cuculus innotatus, juv. ; 

 Australia. E. Blyth. 



For April Meeting, 1848. 



1. Raja Buddenath Roy. A dead female Cassowary, now mounted in the 

 museum. 



2. G. T. Lushington, Esq., C. S., Almorah. Two fine skins of the Goral. 



3. Mr. J.Bell, of the Preventive Service. A brown variety of the Black Rat 

 (Mus rattus, L.) ; dead. 



* Since writing the note to Vol. XVI, 1272, I have learned from Dr. R. Templeton, 

 that the Leopard, and not F. jubata, is the so called " Tiger" of Ceylon. 



f Mr. Elliot adds — "I had three kittens of Fetis rubiginosa for you, but unluckily 

 they all died. With reference to your Report in the March Journal (p. 247 ante), I 

 may remark on the subject of Cats that I recently met with an undoubted hybrid be- 

 tween F. chaus and the domestic Cat. The Lynx-like tail, the bars on the thighs, the 

 patches of true chaus colour and fur, with the more variegated colour and white pelage 

 of the domestic kind, were distinct and patent to the most careless observer." 



