20 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. {January, 1913. 
my visit in October it rose on several occasions to 106° F. 
The rainy season is in winter, the first heavy showers usually 
falling in October or November. 
of oleander and thorny shrubs. The banks of the streams, 
whether true streams or merely the outflow of fountains, sup- 
port a fairly dense growth of gigantic reeds and, if the water 
is fresh, permit thickets of willow, wild fig and Ricinus to 
flourish. In the pools themselves there is often a dense growth 
of Ranunculaceous water-plants. 
Later I propose to discuss in detail the effects that local 
and geological conditions have had on the fauna: at present 
it will be sufficient to call attention to one or two of its most 
outstanding features. 
As is the case with most if not all lakes the edges of which 
are covered with small stones, there is a marginal or inter- 
mediate fauna. This merges gradually into the true terrestrial 
tween the village of Semakh (which must not be con- 
fused with Wad-es-Semakh) and the exit of the Jordan there is 
a 
