1846.] Rough Notes on the Zoology of Candahar. 141 



This species inhabits the rocks of Afghanistan from the Bolan Pass, 

 where they were first seen, to Girishk and elsewhere northerly. They 

 shelter beneath ledges of rock, and make their nests in the fissures, 

 where it is next to impossible to get at them ; and although I paid high 

 for all specimens, and kept two men purposely to bring me the produc- 

 tions of the country, I only succeeded in procuring two examples of this 

 animal, one of which escaped during the night ; the other I send for 

 inspection. It is probably the " Coney" of Scripture. 32 



No. 29. [Myospalax fuscocapillus ; Georychus fuscocapillus, Blyth, 

 J. A. S. XI, 887.] 33 The Quettah Mole, as it was commonly called, is 

 I think, a species of Aspalax ; it burrows like the mole, throwing out 

 heaps of earth. It is difficult to dig out, and is said to make long 

 horizontal galleries, with earth -heaps thrown up at intervals. It pro- 

 bably feeds upon bulbous roots with which the plains around Quettah 

 abound, such as red and yellow tulips, &c. I never saw or heard of the 

 animal except around Quettah in the valley of Shawl, about 5,500 feet 

 above the sea level, and I am indebted to the kindness of Lieutenant 

 Holroyd, 43rd Light Infantry, for the specimens which are sent for in- 

 spection. 



No. 30. Lepus ? Hares are common all over the plains, 



and I kept several tame ones at Candahar. I have, however, unfortunately 

 lost my notes, and have preserved no specimen. It is said by several 

 who have written upon Afghanistan, that there are two species, a large 

 and a small one, the latter somewhat like a rabbit. I cannot positively 

 deny the correctness of this assertion, although I have strong doubts on 

 the subject ; the small hares that I saw both at Quettah and Candahar, 

 being nothing more than immature specimens or leverets of the same 

 species, and I suspect that observers have mistaken the Lagomys for a 

 small hare, an error by no means of infrequent occurrence. They are 

 said to be remarkably strong and swift in some parts of the country, 

 and the dog that can catch one single-handed, is reckoned a good one. 

 Having neither notes nor specimens to refer to, I cannot pronounce upon 

 the species, though it appears from memory to correspond with the 



32. The "Coney" of our English version is, beyond doubt, the Hyrax syriacus, 

 Schreber.— Cur. As. Soc. 



33. This type differs from Myodes, or the Lemming genus, in the much greater size 

 and strength of the feet, in the elongation and protrusion of its upper incisive tusks, 

 &c. I will describe it more particularly with some other new rodents. — Cur. As. Soc. 



