311 
onward, Dr. Aitchison frequently sent small parcels of seeds 
and dried plants from the various districts in whic e was 
stationed. During the winter of 1878 he served with the 
he was attached to the force as botanist ; and during 
1880 he very thoroughly explored the country from Thal to the 
Shutar Gardan, at elevations r: ranging from 2,000 feet up to 13,000 
feet on Mount Seratigah, and 15,000 feet on Mount Sikaram. 
epa 1 x A ; 
the same Journal. Subsequently Dr. Aitchison was appointed 
naturalist to the Afghan Delimitation Commission, and on this 
expedition, during 1884-5, he collected some 10,000 specimens, 
comprising about 800 me This very important collection 
was published in the ond series, third volume, of the 
Transactions of the idofi Society, and was illustrated by 
forty-eight plates; and, as the author states in his * Introduction," 
was made under very great difficulties. The value of these 
collections is not to -be estimated by mere numbers, though no 
han fift 
spot. Each of the papers to which reference has been given was 
preceded by an essay on the vegetation and vegetable products, 
both wild and cultivated, of the country explored ; and much 
Indie Desert (i.e. North-west India, Afghanistan, and 
Baluchistan), but his sufferings prevented him from working them 
out. 
Dr. Aitchison was of an enthusiastic and energetic A ee 
and of an amiable and warm hearted disposition, an will 
feel his loss. Much. of his success in collecting in a hostile EY 
was due to his kindness to the natives, pesca to the sr 
whom he treated medically or surgically ; and reputation as 
‘doctor preceded him in many places that he vi idw 
Descanso House.—It was mg above (p. 201) that “ nothing 
seems known as to the origin the name Descanso House 
which is now devoted to the pea offices of the Royal 
