68 J. Scully — On a Collection of Mammals and [No. 1, 



VI. — On the Mammals and Birds collected hy Captain C. E. Yate, C. S. I. 



of the Afghan Boundary Commission. — By J. Scully. 

 [Received May 30th ;— Read June 1st, 1887.] 



Mr. Wood-Mason has asked me to contribute a paper on the collec- 

 tion of mammals and birds made by Captain C. E. Yate in Northern 

 Afghanistan and presented by that officer to the Indian Museum ; the 

 following notes are the result. The collection, I understand, was made 

 after the departure of the Naturalist of the Commission, so it may possi- 

 bly include some forms not secured by him, and doubtless additional 

 localities will now be made known for many of the species previously 

 obtained. 



The collection contains 13 species of mammals and 110 species 

 of birds, those comprised in the first class being particularly interest- 

 ing, I have carefully examined every specimen entered in the follow- 

 ing lists, and the identifications are as accurate as I can make them 

 with the rather limited means of effecting comparisons. The localities 

 and dates are carefully entered by Captain Yate on every ticket and 

 most of the specimens of birds are sexed also ; but I have found so 

 many errors in the sexing of the birds that I have thought it best to 

 omit this part of the record. When I have noted the sex, I am respon- 

 sible for the entry. 



I have to express my thanks to Mr. Wood-Mason for giving me 

 access to the collections under his charge at all sorts of unofficial hours, 

 for permitting me to take most of Captain Yate's collection to my house 

 for identification, and for procuring for me from many quarters sundry 

 works for reference. 



MAMMALIA. 

 1. Erinaceus albulus, Stoliczka. 



1. Maruchak, Murghab, Herat, May 23. 



2. Badghis, Herat. 



This Hedgehog agrees well with typical examples of the species to 

 which I have referred it, from Yarkand. The fur on the whole lower 

 surface of the body is white, the head and cheeks are pale rufescent 

 fawn, the ears pale isabelline behind and white in front ; the hands and 

 feet are brown above, with a few white hairs intermixed. There is no 

 nude area on the vertex ; the spines measure 0*8 to 0*9 inch and have two 

 dark and two pale bands, the tip being pale. Length of ear in front, 

 from orifice, 1'45 ; fore foot 0-85, with claws 1 "02 ; hind foot 1.4, with 

 claws 1-53 ; tail O'S. Teeth : 'tl Mf the size of ^- 3, c. has two fangs 



