MR. A. DE CARLE SOWERBY OX 



variable characteristic, disappearing almost altogether in the 

 winter specimens, and being better developed in some summer 

 specimens than in others. 



A comparison of the series of skulls from Moupin including the 

 one from W. Ssuchuan, with the series from Chen-kou-ting at 

 once revealed a difference, permanent throughout the series (six 

 specimens), in the horns. Those of the Moupin series were much 

 more deeply ringed and longitudinally grooved, and at the same 

 time were shorter and had a greater tendency to spread. The 

 longest horn in the Moupin series measured 9 /; as compared with 

 10^'' in the Chen-kou-ting series. The widest spread occurred 

 in the two specimens labelled cormitus from Moupin and West 

 Ssuchuan. 



In other respects there were no really specific differences 

 between the specimens of the two series. 



After my examination of this large series of skulls and skins, 

 finding as I did that the individuals were subject to considerable 

 variation in the predominance of the white hairs of the mane over 

 the chestnut and black hairs, and also that the rusty colour on 

 the legs is more intense in summer and more inclined to grey- 

 ness in the winter, I cannot agree with the late Mr. Lydekker's 

 opinion, expressed in his paper (P. Z. S. 1908, p. 942), that 

 there are two species of Serow, one dark-maned and the other 

 light-maned, occupying the same localities in West China, but 

 would adhere more to the opinion that there are two species, 

 both with a tendency to have the white mane, one occupying 

 Western and North-western Ssuchuan, the other a more easterly 

 region. 



1 <k 2. Capricornis milne-edwardsi David and C. vidtanus 

 Heude. 



To the former I would give David's name of Capricornis milne- 

 edwardsi, and to the latter Heudes name of vidianus, as it is 

 under this name that the first description of the N.E. Ssuchuan 

 and Shensi Serows occur (tome iii. p. 154 of his Memoires). 



3. Capricornis argyroch^etes Heude. 



The name argyrocltcetes cannot be given to the Ssuchuan arid 

 West China Serows, as it belongs to the Chekiang Serow, which is 

 certainly distinct from either of the above. The rusty brown 

 of the legs, for instance, is distinctly lighter, while the mane is 

 creamy brown, due to a greater prevalence of chestnut hairs. It 

 is interesting to note, however, that here again the presence of 

 the light mane is not a permanent character, for a mounted head 

 in the collection from Chao-hing (Shao-shing-fu, Chekiang) showed 

 no trace of a light mane. This specimen had horns like the 

 Chen-kou-ting ones, but smaller and with a wider spread. The 

 name argyrocltwtes seems to have been given to the Chekiang 

 species in 1888 by Heude, the description appealing in tome ii. 

 p. 228 of his Mem. cone. l'Hist. de l'Emp. Chin. 



