1 8^8.J Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 669 



fallen, the fact having heen officially reported to the Resident of Indore by the Oujein 

 akhbar navis. I also heard of it from private letters. 



Mr. Bax has ordered them to be sent to him, and has promised to forward them 

 on to me when he shall have satisfied his curiosity by the sight of them. 



Should they not be required by superstition for gods, which is more than pro- 

 bable, specimens shall be sent to the Asiatic Society and to yourself. 



A note on the geology of the desert and the navigability of the Loni 

 river was communicated by Captain Burnes, in consequence of a remark 

 in the Report of the Coal Committee, on the want of such information. 



Natural History. 



The following presentations to the museum, were noticed by the Cu- 

 rator. 



Skeleton of the Bengal Bustard, Otis Bengalensis. 



Skeleton of the Negro Money, Semnopitkecus Maurus. 



This monkey preserved in spirits, was on a former occasion presented by Dr. 

 Pearson, but falling into a state of decay, it was thought advisable to prepare and 

 articulate the bones for a skeleton rather than allow the specimen to be lost to 

 the Society's museum. 



Crania of the Red, or Asiatic Orang Otang. ( Pithecus Satyrus, Geoff.) 

 one from Borneo, the other from Sumatra*. 



These valuable relics of what appear to have been most extraordinary gigantic 

 monkeys were presented by Major Gregory. They are those of adult males each 

 exceeding in size even that of the large one killed on the N. W. coast of Sumatra, 

 figured and so admirably described by Dr. Abel in the Society's Transactions and 

 which is stated to have measured 8 feet when suspended for the purpose of being 

 skinned, parts of the spoils of which are now deposited in the museum. As no very 

 marked differences are perceptible in the general conformation of the skulls of these 

 two animals, and they exactly correspond with each other in their dental systems, it 

 is evident that the individuals to which they belonged must have been of the same 

 species. The one from Sumatra is the larger of the two and must have been a most 

 formidable and stupendous animal in the living state. The skulls may be considered 

 a valuable enrichment to the Society's collection, for they probably surpass any 

 thing of the kind yet seen. 



Inflated and dried stomach and ccecum of the Semnopithecus Entellus, or 

 Hanuman monkey. 



This is intended to show the sacculated and complex form of the first named viscus, 

 in this group of monkeys, which in this particular respect differs most essentially 

 from the Orangs and most of the other Simise where the organ is of the usual 

 simple construction, as may be seen by comparing it with the stomach of the Pithe- 

 cus Satyrus placed with it in the museum. 



Distended and dried stomach of a wild cat, Felis Catus. 



Exemplifying the simple form of the organ in this genus of Carnivora. 



Specimens of the head, wings and legs of the Flamingo ( Phcenicopteru% 

 ruber J, Cranium and imperfect skin of the Crested Porcupine (Histrix 

 cristatus), and a dried skin of a large Armadillo, Dasypus ? pre- 

 sented by Mr. Kittoe on behalf of Mr. Colquhoun. 



A Centipede, ( Scolopendra morsitans ), of large size, captured at the 

 mint and presented by the Secretary. 



Skull and skin of a Civet Cat, Viverra Zibeta, or Indian variety of that 

 animal, presented by Colonel Stacy. 



A fine and perfect specimen of the Silhet mole (a variety of the Talpa 

 Europasa), preserved in spirits, presented by Mr. J. Taylor. 



The existence in India of this little obscure animal having been doubted by some 

 and denied by others, it affords pleasure in being able to set the matter beyond the 

 power of contradiction by the exhibit of a fine specimen, and the mutilated skin of 

 one of former receipt, one from Silhet, the other from Assam and which may lead 

 to the belief of their habitat in our move immediate possessions. 



From the circumstance of its so completely resembling the European mole in 

 almost every particular it may reasonably be considered a variety of that animal. 



G. E. 



* The latter is reserved by Majot Gregory, as the Society possesses one jaw 

 of the same species. 



