Robert Swinhoe, Letters. Proceedings of the Scientific Meetings of the Zoological Society of London (1865)

Swinhoe, Robert. “Letters.” Proceedings of the Scientific Meetings of the Zoological Society of London (1865): 510, 677-678. [Dated Takow, 27 March, 18 May, 25 July, and 8 August 1865; read before the society 28 November 1865.]

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[28 August 2021 updated]

(A List of Taiwan-related Works by Robert Swinhoe is available here.)

 

[p.510]

June 27, 1865.

Professor Huxley, F.R.S., V.P., in the Chair.

 

The following extracts were read from a letter addressed to the Secretary by Robert Swinhoe, Esq., H.B.M. Vice-Consul, Formosa, dated Takow, S.W. Formosa, 27th March, 1865: –

“A friend of mine, who has been some time located in the river Yangtsze, at Chinkiang, tells me that large herds of a Hog Deer are found periodically on an island in that river. These animals have coarse bristles and pig-like faces, with tusks. I have never seen the animal, but from his description should take it to be the Hyelaphus porcinus. It swims across to the island at the flooding of the great river, and when the water sinks is left isolated, owing to the high banks of the island. It then lurks about the bushes and high coarse grass. Parties of Europeans and Chinese then land on the island with fire-arms and make easy prey of the poor beasts, driving them from one end of the island to the other. Every season large numbers of them are thus slaughtered. They are rather coarse eating, but are said to make pretty fair venison when hung for some days. I have lately procured you a fine female of the Cervus taivanus; it has gone on to Hongkong, and I trust will be thence forwarded all safe to you.

“I am sorry I cannot give you any particulars as to the where-abouts exactly of the pair of Sus*, which I obtained for the Society in July 1862, and one of which reached you in safety. The person from whom I got the pair told me he purchased them off a boat in Dampier’s Straits. This is all, I regret to say, I can tell you about their origin.”

 

The Secretary announced the safe arrival in the Society’s Gardens, on the previous evening, of a young male African Elephant, received in exchange from the Jardin des Plantes, Paris.

…

 

* Sus, sp. 235 of ‘List of Vertebrated Animals,’ 1865, p. 37.

 

[p. 677]

The following extracts were read from letters received from Mr. R. Swinhoe, F.Z.S., H.M. Consul for Formosa: –

 

“Takow, Formosa, May 18, 1865.

“I have lately been very energetic on the Society’s behalf, and have forwarded two Deer for shipment home. They are two females of the Cervus taëvanus. I have also on hand eleven Swinhoe’s Pheasants (Euplocamus swinhoii), which I am preparing to ship away. They are cocks and hens, in nearly equal numbers. The cocks are

 

[p. 678]

 

magnificent birds, and I am sanguine about getting them home. As soon as they are shipped I will advise you, and enclose you the captain’s receipt, so that you will be able to cover the risk. Most of the Pheasants come here from a distance of 200 miles, from the mountain-range near Tamsuy. I have spared no labour in getting them; and as they appear pretty hardy birds, there is no reason why they should not reach home. I am also trying to get a couple of females of Cervus swinhoii, and live specimens of the Capricornis, the Bear, and the Leopard.”

 

“Takow, July 25, 1865.

“From some Chinese notes which I have lately been reading on the Zoology of Formosa, I learn of the existence here of some animals to me hitherto unknown, –among others a Porcupine and a wild Bos which occurs in herds of hundreds and thousands. I think in this last I shall discover the wild stock of the small Yellow Cow of Sot1th China. I shall spare no pains, you may be sure, to investigate this interesting fact.”

 

“Takow, Formosa, 8th August, 1865.

“Chinese books tell of a Porcupine that occurs in this island. I have not yet seen it, but I suspect it will be the same as that found throughout India and in South China. In Mammals all that I have lately secured are several specimens of the pretty Kerivoula Bat, and a nearly unicolor variety of the Red-bellied Squirrel, Sciurus erythræus, from the southern mountains. In birds I have lately got several examples of the Green Dove (male and female), my Sphenocercus formosæ, and a skin of the Pitta oreas. The latter I got before from the northern mountains; my latest acquisition shows the species to extend also to the south.”