316 



Rev. H. B. Tristram on the 



[Apr. 23, 



named in the contract, especially wlien it is considered that special works 

 had to be erected for the purpose of constructing the telescope. 



ROSSE, 



T. R. Robinson, D.D. 

 Peb. 19, 1868. Warren De la Rue. 



P.S. March 7th, 1868. — I would strongly recommend that the photo- 

 graphic apparatus should be fitted to the telescope before it leaves Ireland. 



Warren de la Rue. 



The Society then adjourned over the Easter Recess to Thursday, April 

 23, 1868. 



April 23, 1868. 



Dr. WILLIAM ALLEN MILLER, Treasurer and Vice-President, 



in the Chair. 



The following communications were read : — 

 I. " On the Geographical and Geological Relations of the Fauna 

 and Elora of Palestine.^^ By the Rev. Henry Baker Tris- 

 tram, M.A., E.G.S. Communicated by P. L. Sclater, M.A. 

 Received March 10, 1868. 



(Abstract.) 



A detailed examination of the fauna and flora exhibits results remark- 

 ably in accordance with the views expressed by Mr. Sclater and Dr. 

 Giinther on the geographical distribution of species. Palestine forms an 

 extreme southern province of the Palsearctic region. 



In every class, however, there are a group of peculiar forms, which can- 

 not be explained simply by the fact of Palestine impinging closely on the 

 Ethiopian, and more distantly on the Indian region, but which require a 

 reference to the geological history of the country. 



The results of the examination of the collections made in 1864 by the 

 expedition assisted by the Royal Society, may be tabulated thus : — 



Indian, including 

 Total. Palffiarctic. Etliiopian. those which are Peculiar. 



also Ethiopian. 



Mammalia r 82 



Aves 326 



Reptilia 48 



Pisces, fluviatile . . , . 17 



Mollusca 146 



Flora, general 963^ 



Flora, Dead- Sea basin 

 (Phanerogamic) . . 113 



^ Of which 9 are also Indian. 

 \ Of which 1 is also Indian. 

 II Of which 5 are also Syrian and Asia ]\Iinor. 

 ^ About 130(> species are known from Palestine (Phanerogamic). 

 Of which 26 are also Indian. 



41 



30* 



13 



7 



258 



36t 



14 



27 



25 



13t 



2 



4§ 



1 



3 



3 



1011 



48 



8 



2 



81 











27 



71** 



26 



3 



t Of which 8 are also Indian. 



§ And 5 others Asiatic, but not Indian. 



