BALUCHISTAN NAT. HIST. SOC. PROCEEDINGS. . 943 



across in Baluchistan, while only one or two had been seen previously in 

 Quetta by Captain T. E. Marshall and Mr. H. R. Smith ; that the Indian Oriole 

 and its nests had been obtained at Galbraith Spinney in Quetta ; and that the 

 Hntton's Owlet, though probably not noticed by many, was a fairly common 

 bird in the station. 



As regards the Quetta Vole he pointed out that its head and body measured 

 5", making it a larger specimen than the one previously obtained by Mr. A. 

 Anderson and another described in the Fauna of British India, and asked 

 whether, in view of the fact, it should be forwarded to the Bombay Natural 

 History Society, to whom he had promised the next specimen secured. It was 

 agreed that the specimen should be presented to the Bombay Natural History 

 Society, members doing their utmost to try and secure further specimens for 

 the Quetta Museum. 



■i. As regards the snakes, the Hon'ble Sir Henry McMahon remarked that 

 the Euphratic Viper was of a very sluggish nature, and would not move out 

 of the way for anyone ; that so far it had been recorded from Persia and 

 Ziarat in Baluchistan, but the two specimens before the meeting having been 

 found on the Sor Range, near Quetta, showed that they were also to be found 

 in between these tracts of country, and would, doubtless, soon be recorded 

 elsewhere in the mountainous tracts of Baluchistan ; it would appear in this 

 country to take the place of the Russell's Viper {Daboia russellii), of which 

 he had only seen two specimens in Baluchistan — one at Gwazba, South of 

 Chamau, and one in the Kundar river valley in North Zhoc ; that the sea snakes 

 had been obtained from Sonmiani, in Las Bela, where he had himself seen 

 large numbers in the sea ; that though such sea snakes were always supposed 

 by Scientists to be deadly poisonous, the people in Sonmiani and the Mekran 

 Coast thought nothing of them, as was instanced by a man catching one for him 

 with his hand. These people told him that the bite of these snakes produced 

 no worse effects than a sore. 



5. Read letter, dated 21st May 1908, from Dr. N. Annandale, in which he 

 acknowledged the receipt of a land tortoise ( Tesludo horsfieldii, Gray), found 

 at Sibi by Captain A. D. G. Ramsay, and forwarded to the Indian Museum, 

 the Honorary Secretary remarking that from this very tortoise a number of 

 ticks had been removed, and they had also since been forwarded to Dr, 

 Annandale for identification. 



l>. Read list of donations made to the Museum since the last meeting. In 

 this connection the Hon'ble President asked the members to try and secure 

 further specimens of the Mottled Pole Cat and the Quetta Vole, and suggested 

 that an attempt be made to keep alive the two young Mottled Pole Cats 

 referred to in the list with a view to their being forwarded, later on when the 

 weather became cooler, to the Bombay Natural History Society. 



7. A list of the Birds of Ormara, prepared by Mr. W. D. Cumming 

 of the Persian Gulf Telegraph Department, was finally placed before the 

 meeting. 

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