LOFTUS TURKO-PERSIAN FRONTIER. 325 



Conclusion. — On commencing this report, it was my intention to 

 have made some general concluding remarks. As, however, I have 

 entered fully into the details of the subject, so far at least as a passing 

 examination of many of the localities would permit, I prefer leaving 

 it for the present ; in the hope that, during my proposed second 

 visit to the regions under consideration, various obscure points may 

 be further investigated, and doubts cleared up, — more especially such 

 as relate to the transition between the cretaceous and nummulitic 

 rocks, — between the latter and the gypsum series, — and the connec- 

 tion which the blue limestones bear to all three. 



In concluding, I trust that every allowance will be made for the 

 numerous imperfections contained in this communication, — owing to 

 the difficulty of the subject, in consequence of the extreme rarity of 

 the " Medals of Creation," — and to the haste with which the marches 

 were made. 



This report may be regarded only as a very rude sketch of a truly 

 interesting region. 



Note A. (See page 261.) 



Since writing the memoir, the author has had an opportunity of conversing on 

 the subject with Mr. Waterhouse, of the British Museum, who has kindly exa- 

 mined the natural casts of footprints referred to at pages 261, 262. Mr. "Water- 

 house has expressed a doubt of these footprints belonging to an animal of the 

 Feline Order, on account of the great prominence of the claws ; but he believes 

 that they are certainly referable to some of the Carnivora. The Chetah men- 

 tioned at page 262, does, however, appear to be an exception to the rest of the 

 Felidge in this respect, and does possess a relatively long claw. The author 

 by no means intends to imply that the foot-prints are those of the Felts jubata ; 

 there is no evidence of that animal having lived during the early tertiary period. 

 —July, 1855. 



Note B. (See page 320.) 



Ismail Bey's tradition agrees to a certain extent with the accounts of ancient 

 historians as regards the sudden disappearance of the rivers in the present bed of 

 Van Lake, by means of a subterranean outlet. May there not be a communica- 

 tion by this means between the Lakes of Van and Urumia, which would account 

 for the fluctuations in their respective levels ? An obstruction in such a channel 

 would produce all the effects alluded to above. 



The Lake of Van is at an elevation of 5467 feet above the sea-level, as ascer- 

 tained by Lieut. Glascott, R.N. (Journal R. Geogr. Soc. vol. x. p. 432) ; while 

 that of Urumia is 1367 feet lower. It should be observed that these Lakes are 

 separated 80 miles from each other by the intervention of a lofty mountain range. 

 —July, 1855. 



Note C. {Accentuation.) 



With regard to the pronunciation of the names of places mentioned in this 

 Memoir, the a and i have the sound of a and i in French ; the u, that of the 

 English 00. 



