X PREFACE. 



have been brought to light : while extracts from ancient Chinese 

 authors, independently scrutinized in Europe, have helped to 

 determine their exact chronological epoch. 



In numismatic research discovery has been no less rife. The 

 theory of a Grecian origin has been extended to various other 

 series of Hindu coins — and the only one (the Vardha series) 

 which remained of a doubtful source, has recently been traced 

 in a most satisfactory manner to the Sassanian coinage of Per- 

 sia, as will hereafter be shewn. We mav here correct an ignorant 



* JO 



error into which we have fallen in describing the legend of 

 Doctor Swiney's coin of Agathoclea — giving the epithet 

 0eoTpo7rvj, as if derived from rpecpto instead of rpeirw ; to this our at- 

 tention has been called by several correspondents — and we there- 

 fore thus conspicuously acknowledge our blunder. The true 

 meaning of the epithet (written 0eoTpo7tou though united to 

 jSaatXtacras) we conceive to be " godly-disposi turned." 



We must also caution our readers against implicitly adopting 

 our version of the Bactro-Pelilevi character — for we are now in 

 possession of the comparative alphabet lithographed by M. 

 Jacqukt, which differs in many respects from our system, 

 grounding it upon the Syriac instead of the Zend. — Not having 

 yet seen the author's memoir on the subject, we are unable to 

 make known his system, although we cannot doubt its supe- 

 riority to our crude attempt. 



In fossil geology one immense step has been made this year, 

 by the discovery of the remains of a quadruinanous animal, 

 the nearest approach to the human being that has yet been 

 found in a fossil state in company with the extinct monsters 

 of primeval antiquity. This important addition has enriched the 

 Dadupur museum ; but no less interesting have been the addi- 

 tions to its worthy rival the museum of Seharanpur. It is per- 

 haps right to explain how it has happened that the papers of 

 Lieuts. Baker andDuRAND have mostly appeared in the jour- 

 nal, while those of Dr. Falconer and Captain Cautley have 

 graced the new volume of the Researches. This selection was 

 made from no difference in the relative value of these most 

 interesting papers, but solely to accommodate best the draw- 

 ings which accompanied them. We hope at some future 

 period, to see the whole series collected together into a com- 



