18G1.] 
Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 
185 
Report of the Curator, Zoological Department, July. 
I have the pleasure to acknowledge the following presentations : — 
1. From H. E. H. The Prince Consort. An exquisitely stuffed 
head with horns of the Scottish Eed Deer. This having been a 
desideratum in the Society’s museum, I wrote to Andrew Murray, 
Esq., of Edinburgh, requesting that he would endeavour to procure a 
fine specimen for our collection. In reply he remarked that — “ The 
Eed Deer head with the full complement of tines and a tolerable 
crown is not easy to get. It is called a ‘ Eoyal Stag,’ and is 
usually preserved by the sportsman as a trophy. But 1 took the 
opportunity,” he adds, “of being at Balmoral with the British 
Association to ask one for you, from Prince Albert through his factor 
or factotum, Dr. Eobertson, who promised to bring my request before 
his Eoyal Highness.” # * * The following is an extract from a 
letter from Dr. Eobertson, Chamberlain to H. E. H., to A. Murray, 
Esq. — ‘I embraced an opportunity before H. E. H. the Prince 
Consort left Balmoral, to place your letter into his hands, and was 
much gratified to receive the commands of H. E. H. to forward to 
you for the object stated in your letter, the head of a ‘ Eoyal Stag’ 
having the ‘ cup,’ and the usual complement of tines. It is a fine 
specimen. I have seen larger ; but it is remarkably regular and 
well developed. Perhaps it may add a little to its value, not only 
that it is presented by the Prince, but shot by H. E. H. The fol- 
lowing is the history of the specimen, which I am directed to com- 
municate. ‘ This Stag was killed by His Eoyal Highness, the Prince 
Consort, upon Lochnagaar, the 8th September, 1859 ; weight, after 
being cleaned out, 16 stone 121b ’ It would be very difficult to get 
the series, shewing the horns in their different years ; the growth 
of the horn depending so much on pasture. If fine, the horns are 
developed quickly ; if poor and precarious, as in our country, they 
are slower and uncertain in their growth. In parks where the food 
is rich, the full complement of tines is seen at three or four years. 
The received opinion with us is that the animal never shews a royal 
head under six or seven years.” 
Unquestionably the Cervus EiApmrs is stunted in its develop- 
ment in the Scottish Highlands, for the reason assigned ; as also on 
