346 ME. E. T. GtJNTHEE ON THE 



concerning the aquatic fauna of the Urmi basin, althougli its fossil 

 fauna hacl been frequently described. 



The fascination of an apparently entirely unknown zoological 

 region near the waterparting of the bydrographic systems be- 

 longing to the Atlantic, Arctic, and Indian Oceans, induced me 

 to devote a summer vacation to visiting the plateau of North- 

 western Persia. 



The chief problems which attracted my attention were naturally 

 those which centred around the salt lake and its fauna, and its 

 tributaries and their faunas ; but incidentally I was able to 

 collect a few terrestrial animals, which are described in the Reports. 

 The results obtained during a few weeks of summer show, I think, 

 how much still remains to be done by a naturalist-explorer who 

 may be able to work the Urmi district during those months of the 

 year which are most favourable for the purpose of collecting. 



The present communication is chiefly concerned with observa- 

 tions and collections made between the middle of July and the 

 middle of September, 1898. Wherever I have profited by the 

 work of others I have endeavoured to make due acknowledgment 

 but, in addition, I should like to record my especial obligations 

 to a more extended circle of helpers. I am indebted to the Eoyal 

 Society for a grant in aid of my expedition ; to the Foreign Office 

 for most useful letters of introduction ; to Prince Imam Gruli 

 Mirza, at the intercession of the Amir Nizam, for the loan of the 

 ' Nahangk,' a vessel of some 20-tons burden, upon the Lake of 

 Urmi ; to Mr. E. Chapman ; and to the past and present members 

 of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Mission to the Assyrian 

 Christians at Urmi. Lastly, my sincere thanks are due to my 

 friends and coadjutors, who have unselfishly helped on my own 

 studies at the expense of their own, and who have contributed the 

 most valuable part of the present paper. My readers are indebted 

 to the Council of the Eoyal G-eographical Society for permission 

 to republish my map of the neighbourhood of Urmi, originally 

 contributed to the Journal of that Society. 



Before proceeding to the more purely biological characteristics 

 of the region, it may be well to recall to mind its main physio- 

 graphical features — its " external conditions of existence." 



The geographical and, more particularly, the hydrographical 

 relations of Azerbaijan, the N.W. province of Persia, are of 

 interest because the highlands of this province are part of the 

 system in which the most important waterpartings of the Old 



