1878.] B. R. Bmn^W—PJir/siot/rcrpJiical Notes on T^mjore, Sfc. 179 



little short of one hundred. I myself twice saw some fifteen carcases of 

 small Ibex embedded in the snow-drifts of the Tilail valley. 



The most convincing proof, however, of the havoc caused among the 

 wild animals by the great snow-fall, is the fact that scarcely any Ibex were 

 se^n during last summer, in those portions of the Wardwan and Tilail 

 valleys, which are ordinarily considered as sure finds. Near saline springs 

 in the latter valley, Ibex are always to be found in the later summer, 

 but this year I only heard of one solitary buck, probably the sole sur- 

 vivor of a herd, having been seen at these salt-licks. The native shikaris 

 say that almost all the Ibex have either been killed by the snow, or have 

 migrated into Skardo where the snow-fall was less. 



The Red- Bear (TIrsus isahellinus) was also far less numerous durin<y 

 the past summer than in ordinary seasons, and the shikaris say that num- 

 bers of them have perished, owing to their winter quarters having been snowed 

 up so long that the occupants perished from hunger. 



The same explanation will probably account for the fact that in the 

 higher regions I found many of the marmot burrows deserted. 



Much has been said lately as to the destruction inflicted on the game 

 of the Kashmir Himalaya by the rifle of the European sportsmen, but I 

 think that the destruction caused by the snow of the past winter has 

 far exceeded any slaughter which would be inflicted by sportsmen during 

 a period of at least five or six years. 



XV. — "Physio gra'phical Notes Sfc. onTanjore (Tanjd-ur), — By Lietjtettant- 

 CoLo:xEL B. R. Branfill, Deputy Superintendent, Great Trigonome- 

 trical Branch, Survey of India, — Communicated hy Colonel J. T. 

 Walker, C. B., R. E., Surveyor- General of India. 



The Tanjore district of the Madras Presidency is nearly contained 

 within an equilateral triangle of 75 to 80 miles on each side, on the 

 Coromandel coast (Choramandal = Cholan's region) immediately south of 

 the river KoUadam {Anglice " Coleroon"), which is the north and north- 

 west boundary, running S. W. by W. 75 miles inland from the river mouth. 

 The Bay of Bengal forms the east side, running from the same point nearly 

 75 miles due south to Point Calimere (Kallimed). The third side is an 

 irregular line of much the same length from Point Calimere to the " Cauvery" 

 (Kav^ri and Kolladam) 10 miles east of Trichinopoly (Trisirdpalli). This 

 triangular area contains about 3,000 square miles, two thirds of which is 

 Kdveri delta, and two thirds of this portion, or about 1,400 square miles 



