1839.] Asiatic Society. 965 



ascribes this to a change of level in the rocks composing this part of the coast, and 

 regards the perforations as identical to those which have been observed in the sandstone 

 at Cherra Ponji. With regard to the Cherra Ponji rocks, lam indebted to Mr. H. 

 Walker for an observation of very great importance when observing the number of 

 Echinidce in my collection from that quarter ; he suggested the probability of the 

 elongated moulds contained in what seemed to be perforations, being nothing more 

 than the spines of a Cidaris, a species of Echinus. On this subject, as well as the 

 Echinidce generally, which I find to be very abundant in the Cherra beds, I hope soon 

 to have a communication to make, being now employed in an examination of the 

 Indian species, particularly those which I have found fossil. 



These departments of the animal kingdom are of the more importance to our 

 collections, as we can hardly advance a single step in geology until our cabinets are 

 complete, or nearly so, in recent species. 



Mr. Phayre has liberally undertaken to collect for us at Akyab, but we require 

 equally zealous correspondents at Chittagong, Kyuk Phyu, Sandoway, Moulmein, 

 Mergue, and at all the different stations along the coast, before our Museum can be 

 considered in a progressive state. 



With regard to fossil species, our collection is equally defective ; indeed so long as 

 we are without a complete collection of recent shells, fossil species would be of little 

 interest in our Museum. As a proof of the poverty of our collection, I may remark, 

 that of one striking and numerous family, affording probably some hundred species, 

 most of them found in the Indian seas, yet two species only are all we have in our 

 Museum, and these from unknown localities, probably New South Wales. 



As animals of this family have been found in a fossil state, in a bed of sand, reposing 

 beneath the common soil of the Sylhet mountains, under circumstances which we are 

 bound to investigate, the fact may induce those who reside along the coasts above al- 

 luded to, to contribute their share towards the inquiry by forwarding specimens of 

 them to our Museum. The dried testa of Echinida, called sea-eggs, are very abundant, 

 I understand from Captain Brown, on the shores of Rambree Island, and all the 

 islands from thence to the Straits, while the living animals usually named sea-hedge- 

 hogs, from the number of spines with which they are covered, may be had from rocks 

 in the same vicinity. The bleacher shell is seldom perfect, so that the living animals 

 when put fresh into spirits form the more valuable specimens ; but from the ease with 

 which the former may be collected and preserved, as well as from their beauty as mere 

 ornaments, they ought to form a portion of every collection, and from the philosophi- 

 cal interest of the subject they would be a welcome addition to our Museum. 



Enough I trust has been said to induce residents on the Malay coast and other situ- 

 ations where similar facilities are afforded, to enable the Society to avail itself of the 

 offer of Mr. Lyell, and at the same time to enlarge, or rather form its own collections 

 of Indian species. 



The interest now awakening in Europe regarding the natural history of this coun- 

 try, is calculated to produce a more powerful effect in exciting a spirit of inquiry here 

 than any arguments that could be urged on the spot. Thus, we have not only a Muse- 

 um at the India House, now opened for the exhibitions of animals collected in India, 

 but the first philosophers are ready to co-operate with us and aid our inquiries. 



In addition to the instances of this kind already referred to, Mr. E. Charles- 

 worth and Mr. S, V. Wood have each presented us with collections of tertiary shells, 



6 H 





