1839] 



On the Statistics of Dukhun. 



167 



The iiihabifants of Dukhun have the Georgian form of skull : their 

 stature is low, but not very slender; the colour of the skin is brown, 

 with shades running into yellow and white in the higher classes, and 

 black in the lower ; the females are not distinguished for beauty or ferti- 

 lity, the average number of births to a marriage being less than in Eu- 

 rope ; more males are born than females, and, unlike Europe, they pre- 

 ponderate through all periods of life. 



Quadiumana. — Of the monkey tribe I met with only two kinds, Sem' 

 ncpiihecus Enfellus and Macacus radiatus. A new species described by 

 me, Cercopithecus alboguhris, was not from Dukhun. 



Cheiroptera. — Three species of bats, Wurbagool, Pteropvs medius ; 

 Nyctmonms plicatus ; and Rhinolphus DuJchunensis. 



Plantigrada. — Chuchoondur, Soreoe Indicus, or musk-rat ; Aswail, 

 Ursns lahiatus, or labiated bear; Juhl Manjur, Lutra Nair, otter. 



Digitigrada. — Of these animals, the first is the Kolsun or wild dog, 

 Canis DukhunensiSy which was first described and brought to Europe by 

 myself ; Land guh, Canis 2^cdlipes, anew species; Kholah, Canis 



«wm^5, jackal ; Kokree, Canis Kokree, a new species of fox; of the 

 Viveridce, the Juwadee Manjur, Viverra Indica or civet cat of Dukhun ; 

 Moongus, Herpcstes griseus, Mungoose ; Ood, Paradoxurus Typus* 

 The Hycena, Turrus of the Mahrattas, Hycena vulgaris, is common in 

 Dukhun, and is capable of domestication like a dog. The FelinidcB are 

 ii«merous, not only in individuals, but in species, excepting the lion, 

 •which is not met with. Puttite Wagh, FeJds tigris, royal tiger ; Cheeta, 

 Felis leopardus or genuine leopard, is rare ; but the Beebeea Wagh, or 

 panther, Felis Panthar^ is most abundant. Cheeta, Felts jubata, or 

 hunting leopard, is common. Mota Rahn Manjur, Felis chaiu ; Lhan 

 Eahn Manjur, Felis torquatus, or lesser wild cat ; the preceding being 

 considered the larger wild cat. The species of the genus Felis here ter- 

 minate. Of the rat family there is the Ghoos, Mus giganteus, or Bandi- 

 koot rat ; Chooa, Mus decumanus, or Norway rat ; Mus mvsculus, the 

 mouse; and a very pretty field mouse of a bright chesnut colour, which is 

 a new Mus oleraceus, also a second new mouse, Mus platythrix. Of the 

 squirrel family there are only two species ; the first, a splendid animal 

 as large as the Sciurns max'mus, of a chesnut colour, with a whitish tail; 

 I have called it Sciurus Elphinstonii, the Mahratta name is Shekroo : the 

 other species is the Khurree, or Sciurus palmarum. The porcupine, 

 Sayal, is anew species, which I have called Hystrix leucurus. The hare, 

 Sussuh, which abounds in Dukhun, is the Lepus nigricollis of F. Cuvier. 

 That very curious animal, the Pangolin, Manis crassicaudata, is common * 

 Jlie Mahrattas call it Kuwlee Manjur, or tiled cat, the scales being im- 



