raised from the domestic Turkey crossed with the wild species of the Atlantic States are rarely prolific.

Civilized man-or at any rate European civilized man-has domesticated no animal from the New World; he has tamed and bred certain Curassows and Guans, but it is doubtful if they can ever be trusted loose and unmutilated in the poultry-yard, like the indigenously domesticated Turkey. The only truly domesticated animals of America are sundry native Dogs, the Llama and Alpaca, and the little insignificant Guinea-pig, among mammalia; and the Turkey and the Musk Duck among birds. Of Old World species, the Rabbit has been domesticated probably within the Christian æra, and also the Ferret (to a certain extent) among Carnivora; but neither of these are allowed their liberty (though some Rabbits, I think, might be,) any more than are the races of white and parti-coloured Mice, all of which are so far domesticated that individuals require no taming, and may be freely handled without occasioning distrust: the development of the breeds of domestic Rabbits is, indeed, quite of modern date; unless, perhaps, in the instance of the long-haired Angora Rabbit. I believe that all of the true Geese are most readily domesticable; and the fine Canada Goose falls within the category, but although tame Canada Geese multiply freely, they have not yet so far succumbed to the usual influences of domestication as to vary in colour, like the Pea-fowl and Guinea-fowl, and even the semi-wild and protected Pheasant and the Fallow Deer. Neither, for that matter, has the semi-domestic Swan, which differs in no respect from the wild mute species, nor the Pea-fowl and Guinea-fowl more than the semi-wild Pheasant. All of the more thoroughly subdued (and highly varying) and of the more important of domestic animals would seem to have been subjected by mankind in an exceedingly low stage of civilization.

The only domestic Insessorial bird is the Canary-bird; and it remains to be shewn that this also is not descended from a tame stock possessed by the ancient Guanche inhabitants of the Canary islands. With the exception of the Canary-bird, all domestic members of the class Aves are either Pavonidæ, Columbida, or Anatidæ. The only domestic mammalia are the Dog and Cat (and Ferret to a certain extent) among the Carnivora, the Rabbit, Mouse, and Guinea

pig among Rodentia, the Horse, Ass, and Pig among Pachydermata, and the rest are Ruminantia including the Camelide.

Of other Vertebrata, only the CYPRINUS or CARASSIUS AURATUS; and of Invertebrata only one or more species of Hive-bee and of Mulberry silk-moth, unless the grana-fina Coccus which is doubtful, -but the fact is attested that certain insects are domesticable. Among mammalia, however, there is the crowning instance of all-dominant civilized and domesticated mankind. Other species are or have been (the individual, not the race,) tamed and trained, as the Elephantthe Chita, Caracal, and even the Lion,-the Otter and the Cormorant, -and various Falconida ;* but not any of these can claim to be regarded as domesticated races. A few more years will perhaps show whether civilized man is competent to add to the number of the latter.

I now pass to another and comparatively unimportant matter, which I have not before discussed in a scientific Journal. Having treated of the domestic Turkey, it may further be remarked that the origin of the English name Turkey has been much discussed, as applied to a bird indigenous to America. The question has often been asked, and I think that it can be answered satisfactorily. It is certain that the Guinea-fowl was commonly termed the "Turkey Hen" in former days, and hence a difficulty sometimes in knowing which bird is meant by sundry old authors. As the Portuguese discoveries along the west coast of Africa preceded those of the Spaniards in America, there is reason to infer that our British ancestors became acquainted with the Guinea-fowl prior to their knowledge of the Turkey; and the English trade being then chiefly with the Levantine countries, our ancestors may well have fancied that it came from thence. Referring to a curious old dictionary in my possession (published in 1678), for the word Meleagris, I find it translated "a Guinny or Turkey Hen:" Gallina Africana seu Numidica, Var. sine que vulgo Indica" (Coq d'Inde of the French, corrupted into Dinde and Dindon!). Again, Numidica guttata of Martial is rendered "a Ginny or Turkey Hen." Looking also into

* Add the Pig-tailed Monkey (INUUS NEMESTRINUS) in Sumatra, where trained to gather cocoa-nuts; whence termed by Raflles Simia carpolegus. Also CrNOCEPHALUS HAMADRYAS by the ancient Egyptians. (Vide figure in Wilkinson's 'Domestic Manners of the ancient Egyptians,' I, 150.)

an English and Spanish Dictionary of so late as 1740, I find Gallipavo rendered "a Turkey or Guinea Cock or Hen." Well, it is known that our British forefathers originally derived the domestic Turkey from Spain; and meanwhile they are likely to have obtained. a knowledge of the true habitat of the Guinea-fowl; and therefore may very probably have supposed the former to be the real Turkeyfowl, as distinguished from the Guinea-fowl; and if the word 'fowl' be dropped in the one instance and not in the other, be it remembered that there was another special meaning for the word Guinea, having reference to the Gold Coast ;* otherwise the bird might have come to be known as the 'Guinea,' as the Bantam-fowl is now currently designated the Bantam,' and the Canary-bird as the 'Canary,' or the Turkey-fowl the Turkey.' The latin-sounding name Gallipavo seems to be of Spanish origin, and obtains among the Spaniards to this day; but their earliest name for it was Pavon de las Indias, "c'est a dire," as Buffon remarks, " Paon des Indes Occidentales;" which explains the reference to India (perpetuated in Dindon).

* The name Guinea-pig, I believe, is not a corruption of Guiána-pig' (as has been suggested); but the animal was brought to Europe in the Guinea slavers on their return voyage; who also brought sundry small African Finches, which have been described as natives of Brazil. It is curious that the Musk Duck was formerly known in England as the 'Guinea Duck,' also because brought from S. America by the Guinea slavers, and it was considered as a great delicacy for the table; and the white breed of it is mentioned by Dr. Caius, so early as 1570, by the name of the Turkish Duck!' This species was noticed by Crawfurd in the Siamese capital, and there known as the Manilla Duck.' It has long been diffused over S. E. Asia, and is now common even in Polynesia. (Vide Ellis's Missionary Tour through Hawaii, &c.)

Another curious instance of the kind is that of the small speckled red Finches of India (ESTRELDA AMANDAVA), which have long been known in Eng. land by the name of 'Amadavats.' They are more than once familiarly referred to, as Amadavats,' in Sheridan's 'School for Scandal' (Act V, Sc. 1), brought out in 1777. And they actually take this name from the city of Ahmedabad in Guzerát! Witness the following passage from A New Account of East India and Persia,' by John Fryer, M. D., Cantabriy. (1698). Among other curiosities brought to Surát, were-"From Amadavad small birds, who, besides that they are spotted with red no bigger than measles, the principal chorister beginning, the rest in concert, make an admirable chorus." In the History of the Settlements of the Europeans in the East and West Indies,' translated from the French, by J. Justamont in 1776, I find the name of the Guzerát city spelt Amadabat! And hence, again, the specific name Amandava of Linnæus, and the generic name Amadina of Swainson! The French term these pretty little birds Bengális, adopted as the English generic appellation by Swainson in treating of sundry African species. Our Indian bird is the Bengalus punctulatus of Brisson, le Bengali piqueté of Buffon, and Amaduvade_Finch of Albin (about 1750). The name Bengali has probably reference to Benguela in W. Africa, whence sundry of the tribe had been brought to Europe.

At the present time the domestic Turkey is nowhere raised more abundantly, nor is more cheaply procurable, than in the country from which it thus erroneously derives its English name: for, although the Musalmáns of India refuse to eat its flesh, (alleging that it partakes of the nature of the Hog, as shewn by the tuft of bristles on its breast,) their co-religionists of Turkey, Egypt, and even Arabia (at Jidda at least, the port of Mekka), esteem it highly; and at Cairo it is customary, some hours before killing one, to give it a dose of ráki, which is believed to render the flesh more tender. The only Turkeys I have seen in India are of the Norfolk breed, with generally black plumage; and this, with the bare skin of the head and neck, may possibly have led to a supposition that the bird is akin to a common black Vulture of the country, with bare red neck, the OTOGYPS PONTICERIANUS ;* yet, if the bird had been introduced by Muhammedans-say from Persia, instead of by Christians from Europe, it is probable that people of that faith would have eaten the Turkey here as elsewhere. Old Chardon mentions its introduction into Persia from Venice by some Armenian merchants.

* Some Turkeys which I once possessed did actually associate, to a certain extent, with a Vulture of the kind chained to a post; that is to say, they gener ally kept near it, as if imagining the black Vulture to be one of their own kind.

*

Literary Intelligence.

Dr. Haug writes from Poona, in a letter dated November 16th, that he has sent to press, in Bombay, the text of the Aitareya Bráhmana, prepared from three MSS. He is also engaged in making an English translation with notes. Dr. Haug has some thoughts of having a Mahratta translation prepared as well;- which will indeed be a novelty in India! "An edition and English translation of the most important parts of the Rig Veda and Yajur Veda will follow." -The second part of his very able work on the Gáthás of Zoroaster is also shortly expected from Germany.

The British Museum has lately secured the pick of Capt. Hay's Bactrian collections for £260, and the choice cabinets of Col. Abbott have also, by the owner's liberality, been temporarily placed in the same Institution so as to be available for all scientific purposes.

The following is an extract from a very interesting letter received by the President from Col. Cunningham. It is dated 30th September, and is, we hope, only the forerunner of further valuable communications from the same quarter. The inscriptions here referred to have arrived in safety, and are now undergoing translation by Babu Rajendralal Mitter. We publish also the list of coins sent by Col. Cunningham for sale or exchange, in order that others may have the opportunity of supplying themselves at the prices fixed with such coins as the Society do not take.

"The inscriptions which I possess are about equal in number and in importance to the whole that have yet been published in the Journal from its first commencement.

"The earliest inscription which I can bring to your notice is one of Asoka's rock edicts in Indian Pali containing the names of Antiochus, Ptolemy, Antigonus, Magas and Alexander. For the knowledge of this inscription I am indebted to Mr. Forrest of the Canal Department, who discovered the inscription on a huge boulder, or isolated rock, on the western bank of the Jumna, at Khalsi (or Khalsi kangra) within the Sewâlik range. I have only seen a portion of

* M. Regnier, we believe, is preparing an edition in Europe, which will be accompanied by Sáyana's Commentary.