1836.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 519 



A memoir on the fossil remains of the smaller Carnivora of the Sub= 

 Himalayas, by Lieutenants W. E. Baker and H. M. Durand, Engineers, 

 with a lithograph, was submitted. 



Description of some new species of the Strigine family ; and indication 

 of a new genus of the Picidae, by Mr. B. H. Hodgson. 



A specimen of the sea-horse (Hippocampus) called by the Mag inhabit, 

 ants of Ramri a young Ngaga, or " volcano serpent," was presented by 

 Captain D. Williams, Senior Assistant Commissioner in Arracan. 



Dr. McClelland exhibited to the Society the collections made by him, 

 of Zoology and Geology, in the late expedition to the Tea province of 

 Asam, and submitted two written notices, one of which he read in eluci- 

 dation of the geology of the Kasia range. 



Dr. McClelland stated, that the fossil shells were found in such numbers 

 and variety at Chirra Punji, as to afford the most unquestionable evidence of the 

 tertiary nature of the Kasia mountains : and further, that when the species 

 shall be rigidly identified and compared with those of the London and Paris 

 basins and the sub-Appenine beds, as well as with existing species in the Indiau 

 seas, it may be possible to rind their place in the Eocene and Pliocene divisions 

 of Lyell. 



This he considered the first instance of any extensive deposit of fossil shells 

 having been found in sub-Himalayan beds, calculated to throw sufficient light 

 upon the period of upheavement. 



Mr. Cra croft, and long before him Mr. Scott, had indeed made known the 

 cerithia and turrilites of Chirra, and a variety of the nummulites of the Sylhet 

 limestone, which is in fact made up of shells and nothing else ; but to Dr. 

 McClelland belongs the honor of having found 27 varieties of shells in the same 

 limestone ; also, of having found an extensive deposit of marine shells on the 

 S. W. face of the mountains quite distinct from any limestone whatever, but 

 imbedded in a superficial layer of partially consolidated sandy matter, which 

 reposes on the surface of sandstone covered only by the soil, and of having 

 exhibited 100 species nearly of these shells for the first time to the Society. 



The great extent of the collection and the variety of objects of natural history 

 particularly — embracing 120 fishes of the Brahmaputra ; besides birds, quadru- 

 peds, insects, shells, and a very numerous and regular series of rock specimens 

 taken from the whole line of journey, — did great credit to the industry of 

 Dr. McClelland. A vote of thanks was unanimously passed to him for the 

 opportunity he had so kindly afforded the Society of inspecting his portion of the 

 fruits of the late expedition to Asam. The descriptive catalogues of the whole 

 are now in a state of forwardness, and will, it is presumed, be incorporated in a 

 general report to Government by Dr. Wallich, who conducted the expedition, 

 and it is hoped be eventually published for general information, either in a se- 

 parate volume, or through the medium of the Society's Researches. 



[We shall hasten to insert the two notes as soon as space permits.] 



