332 Topographical Remarks regarding Afghanistan. 



almost the same as in Europe — the horse, ass, mule, cow, 

 buffalo, sheep, goat, dog, and cat. The sheep are all of the 

 fat-tailed breed, and the goats have often the soft wool at the 

 roots of the long hair, from which pushmina, or the coarser 

 sort of shawl is formed. 



The bear and leopard are said at times to be seen in the 

 neighbouring mountains. The wild goat and wild sheep 

 browse on the aromatic herbs amongst the craggy steeps, and 

 the ibex in the most inaccessible places. The wild goats and 

 sheep found in Affghanistan differ from those of the Hyma- 

 layah. Amongst the mammalia may be enumerated the 

 wolf, jackal, fox, and hare, two or three species of jerboa, the 

 marmot, several of the pole cat and mongoose kind, as also 

 the badger, rats, mice, &c. 



As birds of prey, may be mentioned the bearded vulture, 

 vultures, kites, falcons, hawks, with ravens, crows, jackdaws, 

 and magpies. The owl is also found. Of game birds, a species 

 of otis or bustard, red-legged partridge or chicore, and a large 

 sized partridge, termed the couk-a-durrah, black partridge, 

 quails, woodcock, and snipe. 



Pelicans, storks, herons, spoonbills, wild-geese, and wild- 

 ducks, divers, and coots, lapwings and plovers. In winter the 

 bazar of Cabul is well supplied with water fowl. 



The birds of the order Passeres, as larks, starlings, black- 

 birds, and thrushes, &c. are numerous. 



The land tortoise, and many species of Lacertae, or lizards, 

 are very common. 



Leeches are found in great abundance in the numerous 

 water-courses and ditches of the cultivated valleys. 



In the mountain streams around Cabul, I believe there 

 is only one sort of fish found. 



In a country so extensive as Affghanistan, there can be 

 little doubt but that it will eventually be found to produce 

 many minerals ; rock-salt, iron, copper, antimony, lead, coal, 

 exist, as also sulphur and lapis lazuli. 



