732 Asiatic Society. [No. 103. 



Read a letter from Captain T. P. Cautley, forwarding a Memorandum on the 

 Fossil Camelidae of the Sewalik range. This paper was published in No. 102 of the 

 Journal. 



Read a letter from Captain F. Macgrath, Commanding the Arracan Local 

 •Battalion to the address of the Secretar)-, apprizing him of his having dispatched to his 

 address, to be disposed of as would appear most expedient, a fine specimen of that rare 

 and curious animal, the Sand Hog of Arracan. This animal was taken in the hills 

 above the Koladyne river (vide Dr. Evans' Memoir Asiatic Society's Journal, 

 August, 1838, No. 80.) Captain Macgrath, gives the following account of the 

 local name of the animal, and the habits-«f this specimen now supplied by him — 



" The Mugs call this animal Quado Waitdoo, this interpreted signifies an animal 

 between a pig and a dog, or more literally partaking of the character of both. I got 

 this creature about two months since, when he had not a tooth, and was fed on milk 

 with cotton ; as he grew up he took to eating cooked fish and even meat, also getting 

 under the Bungalow and groping for worms and insects. He used to run about the 

 house quite tame, and has never been confined day or night; his courage is great, and 

 indeed if it is not guarded against, he will be meeting his death in consequence, for he 

 will attack a dog, who with one gripe would destroy him; in fact he has no fear." 



The Officiating Secretary informed the Meeting that he had taken upon himself to 

 present the animal to the Menagerie at Barrackpore in the name of the Society, to 

 whom he considered it had been virtually presented by Captain Macgrath, and he 

 had great satisfaction in stating that the animal had thrived exceedingly well where 

 he was now placed, and that there was every reason to anticipate his attaining his 

 full growth without accident. 



It was proposed by the Honorable W. W. Bird, and seconded by Dr. 

 Wallich, when the subject of the choice of a permanent Curator was agitated, that 

 Mr. Blyth, in whose favor Professor Wilson had furnished Sir E. Ryan with the 

 highest testimonials, should be invited to this country for the purpose of assuming the 

 permanent duties of the Office, and that in the mean time arrangements should be 

 made for securing efficient supervision over the afiairs of the Museum, by employment 

 of a gentleman of due qualifications, whose services might be now available in 

 Calcutta. In pursuance of this determination, arrangements were made subsequently 

 to the Meeting by which the services of Mr. H. Piddington were secured as tem- 

 porarily in charge of the Curatorship. 



It was proposed by Sir E. Ryan, that a Standard Barometer among the collection 

 of Instruments belonging to the late Mr. James Prinsep, his Cabinet of Minerals, 

 his Comparative Barometer, and instrument for effecting correction of atmospheric 

 changes, should be proposed to Government as proper to be purchased for the general 

 purposes of science, and placed in the Society's Rooms for general reference by the 

 public, and the Officiating Secretary was directed to address Government on the 

 subject accordingly. 



For the above presentations and contributions the thanks of the Society were ac- 

 corded. 



