xxviii 



NOTICE OF WILLIAM GRIFFITH. 



the collection of every form in numbers, and in various localities, so 

 that the geographical limits of each may be estimated, and the ex- 

 amination be open. They also require information as to habitat, 

 locality, climate, whether the plants are gregarious or not, and whether 

 they contribute to giving peculiar features to the country. I do not 

 hesitate to say that this collection contains almost all the plants that 

 existed in flower or fruit along the line of march of the army be- 

 tween Cabul and Syghan, about Chugur- Serai, Otipore, and Pushut, 

 and in the neighbourhood of Khaggah. 



" The extent over which it was formed is about 1,600 miles, and 

 on the variety of geographical position a considerable part of its value 

 depends. If the plants between Cabul and Peshawur are less rich, as 

 my journeys between those cities always occurred at unfavourable 

 seasons, the deficiency has been lessened by my friend Dr. Ritchie. 



" The Ornithological portion of the collection, consists of about 350 

 specimens, is in good order, and contains many objects of interest, valu- 

 able for throwing some light on the geographical distribution of birds. 



" To the fish of the various tracts I paid considerable attention, but 

 owing to the difficulties of travelling and of climate, the collection 

 has suffered severely. At Shikarpore I made an extensive collection 

 of the fish of the Indus. I had collected most of the fish of the 

 river, of the Bolan Pass, of the streams of Quettah, and of the 

 Urghundab, near Candahar, unfortunately I relied too much on the 

 preservative powers of alcohol. Subsequently I took the additional 

 precaution of preserving skins separately ; and it is to these which 

 amount to about 150 specimens, that the collections are chiefly 

 limited. The collections contain the fish of the Cabul river, be- 

 tween its source near Sir-i-Chushme, and Peshawur, of the Helmund 

 at an altitude of 1 1,500 feet, of the Bamean river, and of the Chenab, 

 Ravee, and Sutledge. 



" This collection is particularly interesting, as showing that while 

 the plants, quadrupeds, and birds of the southern and northern 

 declivities of the Kohi-Baba, the continuation of the Hindoo-koosh, 

 are much alike, yet that a total difference exists in their fish. 



" Lord Keane, and Sir Willoughby Cotton, left me in complete 

 possession of my own time, a great kindness due no doubt to the 

 considerate instructions of Lord Auckland, but for which I was not 

 the less grateful. 



" I always found Sir Alexander Burnes very considerate and very 

 willing to forward my views, and put me in possession of information. 



