1838.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society, 749 



Specimens of two species of land shells, the " Bulimus" ? No. 5, and 

 Pupa No. 8, described by Lieut. Hutton in his paper on the land shells 

 of India. (See 3rd Vol. Society's Journal). 



They are found living in company with each other precisely as stated by Lieut. 

 II. though in very unequal proportions, the Pupa beh»2 about 1 to 50 or even 100 

 of the other; from which they are easily distinguished by their beautiful scarlet 

 color, each individual looking like a single head of long seed coral. It is an 

 elegant little auimal, and with its shell is a fine ohject for microscopic examination. 

 They are common in the gardens and moist grounds of Calcutta during the rainy 

 season, living generally under rotten vegetation where they feed secure from the 

 sun's scorching rays. They are evidently oviparous, as the eges can be distinctly 

 seen through the diaphonous shell and are also found scattered upon the surface 

 of the earth. 



The following letter from Capt. Pemberton was read, and the collection 

 alluded to was spread out on the table for the inspection of members. 



To J. Prinsep, Esq., Secretary to the Asiatic Society. 

 Sir, 



Under instructions from Government I have the honor to present to the Asiatic 

 Society a selection consisting of 145 prepared specimens of birds from the ornitholo- 

 gical collections of the Bootan Mission. 



I have, &c. 

 Calcutta, R. Boileau Pemberton, Capt. 



Sept. 5th, 183S. Envoy to Bootan. 



Dr. Helper, employed by Government to explore the natural produc- 

 tions of the Tenasserim provinces, had arranged around the hall and stair- 

 case a part of the very extensive ornithological collection he had brought 

 up from Maulmain, concerning the disposal of which he awaited the orders 

 of Government. 



He had prepared a note on the animal productions of the Tenasserim provinces, 

 but on account of the lateness of the hour the President requested him to postpone 

 the reading until next meeting. 



Statistical Committee. 

 Dr. Spry, submitted his report, embodying the various tables he had 

 produced at the last meeting. 



The report commenced by quoting the instructions of Government to Dr. Bucha- 

 nan, (printed in the Statistics of Dinajpur, Appendix I. to J. A. S.) in illustration 

 of the Committee's objects. The results hitherto obtained are summed up in the 

 closing paragraph. 



*' One of the first attempts of your Committee has been to obtain possession of 

 some of the numerous recorded documents and reports : and your Committee have 

 now the satisfaction of stating that they have collected and arranged for immediate 

 publication, partly from these sources, Tables hearing on the vital statistics of Cal- 

 cutta ; the education of the people of Lower Hindustan ; and the commerce and in- 

 dustry of the country ; making a total of forty tables. These your Committee con- 

 sider will he sufficient to supply materials for a first number of a series of proceed- 

 ings, and they hope thus to bring 'forward from time to time a series of numbers, 

 that shall contain a mass of useful and practical knowledge. Your Committee desire 

 however to he guarded in their professions at the outset of their undertaking, and 

 not to be understood as attempting more than is feasible, or presuming to grapple 

 with more than may be considered fairly within their power. In conclusion your 

 Committee trust that the language of the French Government, when addressing its 

 diplomatic and consular agents, quoted by M. Hemso in his Theorie de la Statistique, 

 page 78, may always be borne in mind when application is made to their labors, 

 namely 4 that a result of two lines will sometimes cost a month of toil, but that 

 these two lines are a truth, and every truth is an everlasting contribution to hu- 

 manity.' " 



Henry Harpur Spry, 



13th August, 1838. Hon, Sec. Statistical Committee. 



Resolved, that the report and tables be immediately made over to the 

 Committee of Papers to decide on the propriety and on the manner of 

 their publication. 



