558 Correspondence. 



species which the French naturalists discovered near Cairo, and which 

 Cuvier and Desmarest have considered to be Pennant's Bearded sheep, and 

 have placed in our systems as the Ruffled Mouflon (Ovis tragelaphus ) ; 

 as mine is distinct from it I have, in order to interfere as little as possi- 

 ble with established names, assigned to the Afghan sheep the title of 

 Ovis cycloceros, from the circular position of its horns ; — but this per- 

 haps I may see reason to change, when I can get access to my books. 

 There is also an antelope, of which at present I am loath to speak, for 

 fear of blundering. 



The jerboa (Dipus jaculus) is abundant in the plains. 



There is a small species of Lagomus, on the hills. 



A Gerbillus and true rat, as also a mole at Quetta, which I think may 

 prove to be the " Chrysochloris asiaticus," or Golden mole. Of this I am 

 not certain however as yet ; there are three lynx, the common striped 

 hyaena, the wolf, jackal, and a fox allied to Pearson's Vulpes mottana 

 of the Himalaya. An otter, leopard, hedgehog, porcupine, mongoose, 

 and a ferret (which I also think new.) There is a hare, if not two. 



In the winter, ducks and waders are abundant. Among the former, 



European forms as follows : 



The Mallard, Anas Boschas, 



— Golden Eye, Clangula vulgaris, 



— White Eye, Nyroca leeccophthalma, 

 White Goosander, Mergus albellus, 



Shoveler, Spathulea clypenta, 



Teal, Anas Crecca, 



The Coot, Fulica atra, 



A Grebe, Pelican, Spoonbill, Brahminee Duck, 



— Snipe, Scolopax gallinago, 



— Snipe, Scolopax gallinula, 



— Woodcock, Scolopax riisticola, 



Summer birds are abundant, and among them the English swallow 

 (Hirundo rustica) appears in immense numbers about the beginning of 

 March, although some are seen earlier. 



The tree sparrow (Fringilla montana) is very numerous, and holds the 

 place of the H. domestica, or common house sparrow. 



The magpie (Pica Europeea) and the Chough (Pyrrkocorax graculus), 

 the first perennial, the latter a winter visitant. The raven and the rook 

 (Corvus frugiligus) are also seen, the former in summer, the latter in 

 winter. Neophron percnopterus arrives in summer and retires in au- 

 tumn. 



