856 Proceedings of the Astatic Society. [July, 



works of science or of art, they fall far below that standard to which 

 the Society's patronage should be extended. 



3. As to the other question, — the amount of remuneration due to 

 Mr. Blyth,— while they regret that the funds of the Society should be 

 expended so uselessly, the members of the Section are equally unani- 

 mous in their opinion, that whatever the Society has promised should 

 be fulfilled. I am, Sir, 



Your obedient Servant, 

 bth June, 1847. J. W. Laidlay. 



To Capt. Munro, J. W. Grant, Esq. R. W. G. Frith, Esq. 



Members of the Zoological Section, Asiatic Society. 



Gentlemen, — In compliance with the instructions of the Committee of 

 Papers, I beg to circulate the accompanying portfolio of the " Burnes" Litho- 

 graphs, and to solicit your opinions as to the mode of publication and the 

 amount of remuneration due to Mr. Blyth for his annotations. 



2. As to the former point, although these drawings are for the most part 

 of very insignificant value for the purposes of science, and therefore not likely 

 to extend the reputation of the Asiatic Society ; yet if in your opinion publi- 

 cation be desirable, the cost of the letter-press, in addition to the very heavy 

 expense already incurred for the drawings, would be very trifling, and even 

 in the present embarrassed state of the Society's finances need not form any 

 obstacle to the fulfilment of your wishes in that respect. 



3. Regarding the second point ; Mr. Blyth's remuneration was fixed by the 

 Society at Co.'s Rs. 3,200, and it appears to me beyond our province to 

 interfere in any way with its amount ; although it rests with the Committee 

 to determine whether the work required has been done or not. 



I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, 

 Your obedient Servant, 

 Calcutta, 25th May, 1847. J- W. Laidlay, Secretary. 



I have carefully examin ed the accompanying portfolio of drawings and the 

 MS. notes which are attached to each — I trust the Society will not in any 

 way authorize the publication of these very bad and useless drawings, which 

 can only entail ridicule on any scientific body giving them a place in their 

 transactions. For instance, Plate 22 represents a Lark sitting in a tree. Plate 

 19 represents a Kingfisher with four toes in front of the foot instead of one 

 behind and three very unequal ones in front. 



With most of the Mammalia I am personally well acquainted and can con- 

 fidently say that not one figure is even a fair representation of the animal 



