1898.] F.Finn — On Eumeces hlythianus. 189 



opposite lesson which this comparative study teaches us: the artists 

 of Gandhara took over the Indrasalagnha scene from purely Indian Art, 

 and though they apparently re-modelled it according to their own 

 higher standard of artistic taste, yet they remained true to their Indian 

 models even so far as to copy minor details from them, as for instance, 

 the curious animals and rather conventional trees which we noticed in 

 the Swat sculpture. Hitherto, Archaeologists, in dealing with Gand- 

 hara Art, have been in the habit of searching very eagerly for the 

 Greek or Roman prototypes of the various sculptures that are found in 

 the North- West of India. I am afraid they have often ran the risk of 

 overlooking the Indian character of this Art. So, to give one 

 example out of many. In Gandhara we often meet with a scene where 

 a serpent-king with some of his daughters is represented in the act of 

 worshipping Buddha. Those Nagas or Naginis are always figured as 

 human beings with a huge cobra coming out over their head. This is 

 decidedly Indian, and I doubt if a Greek or Roman sculptor to whom a 

 similar task is set, would have ever chosen this way. But there is 

 another still more important point. Snakes, according to Indian super- 

 stition, inhabit tanks and ponds of water. Consequently in all those 

 Naga-sculptures they are represented with onlj^ the upper portion of 

 their body coming out from the water. This latter point has always 

 been declared a true mark of Greek influence. But it is not so. For in 

 Bharhut already, we meet with the same artistic trick, if I may call it 

 so, in the relievo, labelled as JSrapato Nagaraja Bhagavato vadate, i.e., 

 the serpent-king Erapato worships the Blessed One {i.e., Buddha), ^ 

 and here, of course, the idea of Greek influence is quite out of place. 



This is only one instance of what might almost form a lengthy 

 paper on the connection of Gandhara Art with ancient Indian Art. To 

 discuss this point in full, is not my intention now ; I merely want to 

 say that if I be right, those sculptures from Gandhara which show a 

 more Indian character, must be considered as more primitive and 

 consequently older than the higher developed Grecian sculptures. 



2. Note on a specimen of the rare Scincoid Lizard Eumeces hlythia- 

 nus, (Anderson ) from the Afridi Country ; with exhibition of the type 

 specimen. — By F, Finn, B.A., F.Z.S., Deputy Superintendent of the Indian 

 Mtiseum. 



While with the British forces during the recent military operations 

 against the Afridis, Dr. C. R» M. Green made a small collection of 

 Reptiles in the Afridi country, which he has generously made over to 

 the Museum. 



I Plate XVI in Cuilningham'g Stupa of Bharhut. 



