1859.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. , 411 



Meport of Curator, Zoological Department, for September, 1859. 



1. From Major H. B. Lumsden, 59th N. I., late in charge of the Kan- 

 dahar Mission. 



The skin and skull of a Ghur-hhur (Asinus onager), as noticed in p. 

 237 ; horns of the Ahu, or Afghan and Persian Gazelle (Gazella subgut- 

 turosa); and skins of Tadorna vulpanser and Fuligula ferina 

 from Kandahar : with specimens of a Lizard sent as the Keg Mdhi from 

 the same locality. 



The species is Sphenocephaly tridactylus, nobis, J. A. S. XXII, 

 654 ; but finer than those previously described, which latter were blanched 

 in spirit. Those now sent are of a light brown colour above, paler below ; 

 with a darker reticulation of the upper parts, indicating the scutation. 

 Head pale, with three dark lines, more or less broken into spots, one of 

 them mesial, and the lateral passing through the minute eyes. Tail a third 

 longer in what appear to be the males, than in what appear to be the females. 

 Length from snout to vent of a presumed male, 3| in., the tail *2\ in. ; of a 

 presumed female, 3| and If in. 



Major Tytler has a pair of true Sctncus officinalis, Laurenti, also 

 from Kandahar, and bearing the same Persian name, which he spells Raig 

 Mahie (meaning ' Sand-fish') ; and both this and the preceding species, it 

 appears, are sold in a dry state for medicine throughout India, as the true 

 Scinque was formerly and is even now sold over a great part of Europe ! 

 The latter has not previously been recorded from so eastern a locality. 



2. From Capt. Eales, commanding the ' Fire Queen' S. V. A specimen 

 of the rare Hamadryas vittatus (Naia villala, Elliot, H. hannah et 

 ophiophagus, Cantor) ; from Port Blair ! 



3. From Babu Rajendra Mallika. A dead Orang-utan. 



4. Major S. R. Tickell, Maulmein. A collection of specimens obtained ; ^ ., 

 in the'miountainous interior of thefTenasserim province^. 



Of mammalia, only a fine skin oJ" Rhizomys sumatrensis, (Raffles), v. 

 cinereus, McClelland. 



Of birds, a highly interesting series, supplying fine examples of Bulaca 

 seloputo, (Horsfield, Strix pagodarum, Tern.), Buceros Tickelli, nobis 

 (J. A. S. XXIV, 266, 285), and Podica personata, Gray ; with a few 

 species hitherto undescribed, and numerous specimens of others excellently 

 prepared. 



Huhua orientalis ; Strix orientalis, Horsfield : Sir. sumatrana, 

 Raines, (juv.J ; Str. strepitans, Temminck ; Huhua nipalensis, Hodgson; 

 H pectoralis, Jerdon. A nestling specimen, corresponding to the descrip- 



3 H 



