172 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [July, 



(Pterocles) and a small bustard or florikin. One of the most curious 

 birds I have obtained lately is a very small grey dove not larger than a 

 lark, with a very long tail. As I have no books I cannot identify it. 

 A waterhen is, I think, the only wader, and I have seen a duck which 

 is, I hear, a mallard-like bird, probably alied to the Indian Anas 

 poecilorliynchus (or some such name) but I have not shot a specimen. 

 I have not seen a Tern in the country. 



I have not so much as seen a snake or a tortoise on the highland ; 

 frogs and toads are scarce, and lizards far from numerous. I have two 

 species only, one of them a Scinque ; I have no fishes as yet : there 

 are some, however, of fair size in the streams. It is a wretched country 

 for land shells. On the limestone, one Helix certainly abounds, and 

 there are one or two Pupas : that is all I can find. Insects are rare 

 at this season of the year, and I have neither time nor appliances for 

 collecting them. 



Captain Beavan, as I think I mentioned, has been unable to come 

 out, and the Zoological Society have sent out Mr. Jesse. He has an 

 assistant with him, and both were, by the last accounts, busily collecting 

 at Zoulla. Markham, the geographer, is in front with the advance. Dr. 

 Cook has been very ill, but is somewhat better ; he is working at 

 Meteorology at Senafe. 



In the probable event of the expedition terminating soon, I have 

 made the following disposition with regard to my collectors. One 

 man is at IJndul in the pass with Captain Sturt of the Transport Train 

 Another who can shoot, I have left with my Madras boy, who can skin 

 a little, to assist him at Attegerat.' The third I carry on with me. 

 He is a lame man (Gooloo by name) and consequently rather an im- 

 pediment, but he skins well and quickly. Now and then I get speci- 

 mens from various officers, and altogether, although, if the expeditioi 

 is over in June, as appears probable at present, the time will have beei 

 far from sufficient to enable me to collect the fauna thoroughly, I hope 

 to have a very fair collection. 



Camp PJsindye, Wadala plateau, near Magdala, April 1st, 1868. 



I have been unable to write for a long time. Finding I couk 



not get my kit on fast enough, I left everything behind at Ashangi 



and went on with my horses. I just reached in time to go into 



