Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/175

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EDITORIAL GLEANINGS.
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heard of it further north, and it has only been occasionally found in our area,—the region which the naturalists here have called the L.M.B.C. district. I have two specimens which have been brought into Liverpool, and the fishermen at Port Erin, at the south end of the Isle of Man, occasionally catch the species. It is recorded in the 'Fauna of Liverpool Bay,' vol. iii. p. 53 (1892)."


The 'Times of Swazieland' lately received from Mr. John A. Major, of the Umhlaba Bomvu, Lubombo, an interesting communication on the subject of rinderpest amongst the game which at one time abounded on his farm and in its vicinity. Mr. Major writes:—"All the game of any consequence has pretty well died from rinderpest. I believe every Koodoo on the eastern range is dead, together with most of the Rooi-rheibuck; the mortality seems to have been greater amongst these two kinds of Buck than amongst others. From Mr. Whittaker and the natives I hear all the Inyala about the top end of the Tembi have died. Hearing of a Buffalo down near Wests' place in Portuguese territory, I went out with my boys to try and get a shot at same. We found the spoor well in Portuguese territory, as also a great number of dead game. I picked up and carried home no fewer than six pair of Koodoo horns, from a very old bull downwards. This does not include what the Kaffirs picked up. The game appear to die by the banks of the rivers; where the Palata runs through the mountain is a perfect charnel-house. From my own observation here the game seem to die, and the disease spread, in much the same manner as it has done with cattle, but sooner or later to become contaminated. The place where the disease appears to be absent is at the top end of the Umnyama River. Buffalo, Waterbuck, and Blue Wilderbeeste, appear to be the only game not affected with the disease; all other game are totally disappearing. Wild Pigs are particularly subject to the disease, and seven Pigs belonging to Karl Groening, which were herded with his cattle, died of the pest."


The Johannesburg 'Star' has received from King William's Town the following communication:—"Mr. J.D. Ellis, Honorary Secretary of the Society for the Acclimatization of British Fish in the Cape Colony, yesterday received from Messrs. Halse's farm at Carnarvon a magnificent Loch Leven Trout, weighing 9 lb., 25 inches long and 16 in girth, which escaped from the reservoir and was accidentally killed. It was one of a number of fry liberated in Messrs. Halse's dam only three and a half years ago, and is a great credit to the Pirie Hatchery, from which it was taken in the first instance."