466 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [Mayj 



3. Detached bones of a kangaroo, Kangurus labiatus. 



There being neither a stuffed specimen, or a skeleton of a kangaroo in the 

 Society's collection it is to be regretted that the bones presented by Lieut Vica- 

 ry, in belonging to a young animal, and being defective in number, are unfit 

 for articulation. 



4. Portion of the stem of Alsophila Australis, the tree fern of the blue moun- 

 tains, which bears a strong resemblance to the fossils depicted in Buckland. 



5. Flower of anthorrma hastilis, the grass tree of the colonists. 



6. Cidaris ? a species of Echinus. 



7. Birds. The nonpareil parrot platycorus eximius, (Vig.) Kingfisher, 



Alcedo ? and white-headed Grosbeak, Loxia leucocepfiala, which owing 



to their injured state cannot be preserved. s 



The following were presented by Mr. Evans the curator. 



Upper jaw of a small fish. 



A preparation showing the ring of bony plates surrounding the eye of the 

 large horned owl of India. Asio bubo. 



Preparation of the eye of the ringtailed eagle ; 



Showing an analogous formation, only in a minor degree. These bony rings 

 composed of a series of plates admit of a limited motion, by moving on each 

 other and by which mechanical means these birds most probably have the power 

 of regulating the convexity of the cornea so as to vary the exteut or intensity of 

 vision according to their habits and necessities. 



Specimens of the following stuffed birds, were presented by Lieutenant 

 Montriou, Indian Navy; Perdix Franco/inus, hATH. Francoline Partridge. 

 Perdix Asiatlca, Lath. Asiatic Partridge, and Cotumix Pintah, (Sykes,) 

 mountain quail of the Dukhun. 



The scapulae, ossa humeri and two vertebrae of a whale, (query) Balcena 

 Australis, or Cacholot Macrocephalus. 



Lieut. Eraser, Engineers, presented through Dr. McClelland, a speci- 

 men of rock-salt found in digging a well at Mhow. 



*■* Lieut. Hodgson of the artillery stationed at Mhow, when recently engaged in 

 sinking a well in his compound at that station on a high spot of ground composed 

 of two ordinary black soil of Malwa, found at a depth of 3£ feet an insulated mass 

 of rock-salt, the size of two fists, imbedded in trap rock which appears too much 

 cracked and broken so as to render it easily separated with the pick ; mixed with 

 this brecciated rock there is a considerable quantity of carbonate of soda." 



Lieut. Fraser inquires " whether that mineral be usually found in detached 

 masses, and whether there be a prospect of finding it in more important quanti- 

 ties at Mhow or the vicinity. 



" Salt springs ai'e common in volcanic countries such as Mhow would seem to 

 be, and it is possible that the crystal may have been thus formed by infiltration 

 of brine into the natural cells of the basalt; but the salt lakes in the valleys along 

 the northern base of the table-land of Malwa, render it probable that extensive 

 deposits of the salt formation may exitit in central India." 



Colonel Macleod presented a fresh rolled fragment of lignite from the 

 fort boring, depth 404^ feet. 



" It exactly resembled some of the CultacJc specimens, or burnt charcoal, on one 

 surface. Since then a lump of decayed wood has been brought up, rounded ou the 

 edges as if rolled in a stream, but not in the least carbonized ; just such as is 

 met with in the Sundarban alluvium." 



Dr. McLeod, Inspector General of H. M. Hospitals, forwarded specimens 

 of the rocks found at Simla. 



1. " Granite from the Choor mountain, 13,000 feet alt. 



2, 3, 15, 16 ditto, lower down the same mountain. 



4, 6, quartz; 5, 7, mica ; 8,9, 10, micaceous schist ; 11, iron stone melted 

 by the natives; 12, puddingstone ; 13, breccia from a stream; 14, decomposed 

 quartz; 17, stalactite from Mastiri." 



Captain McLeod, forwarded some bottles of water and minerals from a 

 hot spring up the Palouk river (Mergui) lately visited by him. 



" The springs are situated up the Palouk river, which takes its rise on the 



