.] Proceedings of tlie Asiatic Society. 85 



and is expected to be through to Koomeylee in six weeks. Stores 

 are coming in and are now procurable in considerable quantities. 

 Sheds are rapidly being erected. The bushes around are fast dis- 

 appearing for fire-wood. The water is scarcer than before and slightly 

 brackish. Dr. Cook, the Meteorologist has arrived, and I think we 

 may probably go on together. Everything, however, depends on 

 transport. 



" The fauna here is rather poor. The man whom I left behind to 

 collect, had only eighteen or twenty species of birds when I returned, 

 and almost all of them I had before. The only very common birds 

 are three species of Wagtail, a Mota cilia which I cannot distinguish 

 from M. Dehhinensis (vera), Sykes, and two Budytes, four larks, (1) a 

 true skylark, (2) the little CalendreJIa brachydactyla so common in 

 open places in India, or a very nearly allied form, (3) a Phyrrhulauda, 

 the male handsomer than the Indian species, with all the lower parts 

 black and (4) a fine desert lark Gerthilauda. Two Saxicolce abound, 

 and a Drymoica is common in the bushes. Cercomela melanura is 

 scarce here, but abounds in the passes. 



"The game birds are a guinea fowl (Niimidid) with blue wattles and 

 a horny casque, — a fine partridge, with much naked skin of a bright 

 orange and yellow colour on the head and forepart of the neck ; one 

 species of bustard at least ; and a sand-grouse closely allied to the 

 Indian Pterocles fasciatus. It may be Pterocles qUadrinctus, Temm. 

 which Jerdon mentions. There are a few shore waders ; a pelican, of 

 which I have not a specimen yet, and some gulls ; a white necked 

 crow and a few rapacious birds almost complete the Zoulla avi-fauna. 



" The mammals are two species of Gazella ; one typical, always soli- 

 tary or in pairs, and closely allied to the Indian Chinkara ; the other, 

 a much larger animal which goes in large herds, and is about the size 

 of the Indian antelope, but higher on the legs. A wart-hog (Phaco- 

 cfieirus) is common. The jackal is quite different from that of India : 

 it is a slighter built animal with longer legs and ears. The hair is 

 also peculiar. There is a fox, but I have not seen him. One species of 

 Syr ax inhabits the shores of the bay. Another, and much larger 

 form inhabits the passes. 



