1868.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 127 



A letter from Sir R. Temple forwarding copies of correspondence 

 with the Commissioner of Coorg, respecting an interesting discovery of 

 a number of ancient Cromlechs in South Coorg, was laid on the table. 

 Also a letter from Colonel J. T. Walker, forwarding a letter from 

 Mr. Mulheran on the crosses and Cromlechs of Chindwara district. The 

 reading of these papers was deferred until the next monthly meeting. 



The receipt of the following communications was announced. 



1. Notes on rare and little known Malayan Birds by Dr. A. C. 

 Maingay. 



2. Contributions towards a Persian Lexicography, by H. Bloch- 

 mann, Esq. 



3. On Solar Eclipses and the total Eclipse, August 18th, 1868 # 

 By Major F. Tennant. 



The chairman stated that this paper, being of great present interest, 

 had been, by order of Council, sent to press for immediate printing. 



The following paper, postponed from the last meeting, was read by 

 the author. 



Notes on Elephants, by Lieut. Johnstone, Supdt. Kheddas, Cuttach 

 Tributary Mehals, 



The Indian Elephant is usually supposed to be one species, differing 

 slightly in external appearance according to the locality in which it 

 is found. 



Elephants are found in Chittagong, Burmah, Sylhet, Assam, 

 Bhootan, Nepaul, Cuttack, Chota-Nagpore, Central Provinces, Mysore 

 and Dehra Dhoon. Of all these places Chittagong, Jynteea and Mysore 

 are said to produce the finest kind, and Assam the worst. 



The " Elephas Indicus" has six true, and thirteen false ribs on either 

 side; the " Elephas Sumatranus," of Borneo, Sumatra and Ceylon has 

 fourteen false ribs, the true ribs being the same in both species. 

 I have found elephants in the Central Provinces of the latter descrip- 

 tion. Whether the Central Province elephant is to be considered a 

 distinct species from " Elephas Indicus," is a question to be decided 

 by naturalists. 



The African elephant differs from the Indian species in having 

 much larger ears and a sloping forehead ; both male and female have 

 tusks, and the specimens I have seen more resemble the " Mirga- 

 band," or very light built Indian elephants, than any other. The 

 teeth also differ from those of the Indian elephant. 



