1851.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 2 1 3 



Petersburgh, and B. Donn, Esq., Director of the Armenian Museum at 

 St. Petersburgh. Referred to the Council. 



10th. From T. B. Mactier, Esq., Offg. Joint Magistrate of Bancoorah, 

 announcing the despatch of a meteoric stone, which fell at Bishnupur on 

 the evening of the 30th November last, and forwarding two depositions 

 given by persons residing near the spot, and the result of his own 

 enquiries on the subject. 



Resolved, that the thanks of the Asiatic Society be conveyed to Mr. 

 Mactier for the zeal he has evinced in forwarding the specimen to the 

 Society. 



The papers connected with the proposal, by Rev. K. M. Banerjee, 

 for the publication of the Puranas were next brought forward, when it 

 was resolved, proposed by J. R. Colvin, Esq., and seconded by Rev. 

 "W. Kay, that it be referred to the Council to arrange with the Rev. 

 K. M. Banerjee as to the particular Purana, the publication of which, 

 with a translation, it may be most desirable to undertake in the first 

 instance, having regard to the MS. translations of portions of the 

 Puranas in the possession of the Society. 



Mr. Piddington, by permission of the President, read a paper from 

 the Chinese Repertory entitled, " Remarks on Showers of Sand in the 

 Chinese plain," by Dr. J. MacGowan. 



The Librarian and Zoological Curator having read their usual 

 monthly reports the Meeting adjourned. 

 Confirmed. March 5, 1851. 



J. Colvile, President. 

 Report of Curator, Zoological Department. 

 To the Secretary of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 



Sir, — I have only now to report the following donations : 



I. From E. C. Bayley, Esq. C. S. an imperfect skin of the Fox of 

 Tibet, described J. A. S. : XI, 589, and which I believe to be identical with 

 Vulpes ferrilatus, Hodgson, J. A. S. XI, 289, and also with V. nipalensis, 

 Gray, Mag. Nat. Hist. n. s. 1, 578, and probably also with V. Hodgsonii, 

 Gray, ibid, (vide J. A. S. XI, 589, note); the species varying somewhat in 

 colour both individually and with regard to season. In this case the name 

 Vulpes Hodgsonii, Gray, must be adopted ; for nipalensis is a misnomer. 

 Its difference from the Himalayan V. montanus is much the same as that 

 of the American V.fulvus from the European V. vulgaris; and the Afghan 

 and Persian V. jlavescens, Gray, is again very distinct from either. 



