132 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [May, 



The President thought the Society would join him in thanking 

 Lieutenant Johnstone for his brief and modest, but very suggestive 

 notes. There were many, very many, points of interest, which few 

 could have such opportunities of settling as Lieutenant Johnstone. 

 The very question of the number of ribs in the Indian elephant had 

 been open to discussion, and there were many other points of the 

 highest interest which, he doubted not, the writer of these notes 

 would now bear more fully in mind. 



Lieutenant Johnstone would be very happy to aid to the best of his 

 ability in carrying out any investigations concerning elephants. He 

 would beg to suggest that some competent person would take up a 

 question of very high importance, — he alluded to the diseases of 

 elephants. He himself knew very little about it, while the oldest and 

 best mahuts appeared to know even less. They were possessed of a 

 number of empirical remedies handed down for generations, but many 

 of which were grossly absurd. The roasted head of a dog was, for 

 instance, considered specific in some cases. There were several attacks 

 quite fatal to these animals, which, if properly studied, he felt 

 convinced, could be brought under control. 



In reply to a question from Mr. Atkinson, he said he never had 

 met with a white elephant. Elephants frequently became partially 

 light-coloured, or what was called white ; he had seen one himself in 

 Assam, which was quite piebald. This change of colour was brought 

 on, he believed, by attacks of a kind of fever. Wild elephants 

 never were so prettily varied in colour in this way about the trunk 

 as those in captivity. 



The President announced at the request of Colonel H. Yule, R. E. 

 that he was engaged in the preparation of a commentary on Marco 

 Polo ; and would feel very grateful to any member who would favour 

 him with notices tending to illustrate the localities visited by Marco 

 Polo, or the subjects noticed by him. 



Mr. Waldie gave notice that he would, at the next meeting, move 

 the following alteration in Rule 51 of the Bye-laws. 



That " the general meeting of December," be substituted for " the 

 day of election," and that the following be inserted at the end of 



