214 ¥. Stoliczka — Mammals and Birds inhabiting Kachh. [No. 3, 



and Katrol range, nearly through the centre of the mainland of Kachh. 

 These two ranges more gradually decrease in height towards their ends and 

 join each other near the western extremities, hut diverge on the eastern side, 

 the former passing in its prolongation through Wagur. The fourth range is 

 the lowest, lying south only a short distance from the Charvar-Katrol range, 

 and is sometimes not very distinctly separated from it ; it entirely consists of 

 basaltic trap and is locally rather thickly covered with bushes and Kunda. 



As the configuration of the ground very much depends upon its lithologi- 

 cal structure, I may notice that sandy or shaley limestones only occur in the 

 axes of the first and second ranges, but far more prevalent are sandstones 

 and shales. Solid basalt and quartzitic rocks occur in isolated hills, or in 

 dykes, and there are also a few shorter and longer ridges consisting of varied 

 trap-rocks which easily break up in fragments and, if any moisture exists, 

 readily decompose. Decomposition goes on, however, at a much more rapid 

 pace in the softer rocks, namely, the sandy limestones, sandstones and shales. 

 It is indeed often not easy to meet for days with a rock, that would not 

 crumble almost under the fingers, unless it be accidentally hardened, by a 

 neighbouring basalt dyke, or some other causes producing dislocations of 

 strata, &c. 



On account of this rapidity with which the disintegration of the rocks has 

 been going on from time immemorial, all the depressions between the hills, 

 the ravines and river courses, had been deeply filled up with sand, which with 

 equal facility also spread into the longitudinal valleys separating the princi- 

 pal ranges. Thus instead of fertile valleys, we meet with extensive sandy 

 plains, which are capable of supporting only a very scanty vegetation, and 

 the monotony of which is merely interrupted by an isolated basalt hill, or a 

 trap or quartz dyke of a few miles in length. There exists some geological 

 evidence which indicates, that at least along the northern precipitous slopes 

 of the ranges locally a very large accumulation of water had taken place in 

 comparatively recent geological time, and then moisture, vegetation and 

 animal life might no doubt have in equal proportion been greater and more 

 prosperous. It was probably also at that somewhat remote time, when the 

 great and deep ravines had locally been cut, the existence of which, with the 

 present comparatively insignificant water supply, it is almost impossible to 

 explain. But now the fine water sheets have given way to desert ground, 

 on which the sand is shifted about at the will of the agitated atmosphere. 



The prevailing, and usually heavy, winds within the greater part of the 

 year, appear to come from South-West or "West, although during the cold 

 season North-east winds are by no means uncommon. But instead of bring- 

 ing any moisture from the sea side, they seem to take away the little which 

 exists. The ground is so dreadfully heated under the powerful glare of a 

 rarely covered sky, that it seems entirely to prevent even the approach of 



