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atra, common; †Gallinula chloropus, do.; G. Javanica v. phœnicura, do.; Porphyrio smaragnotus, do. ; †Porzana maruetta (Gallinula porzana, Lin.), do. ; †P. Baillonii, do.; P. rubiginosa, comparatively rare ; †Rullus aquaticus, do. ; R. Javanicus, do. : fine picked specimens of nearly all these birds have been procured, and series of some of them illustrating their various phases.

†Podiceps minor has been added to the collection, which previously contained only specimens of †P. cristatus; the former is very common in Bengal.

Lastly, several species of Anatida have been procured, of which the following occur in the bazaars: †Anser cinereus (verus), not rare; A. Indicus, common; Dendrocygna major, Jerdon, somewhat rare; D. Awsuree (Mareca Awsuree, Sykes), abundant; Microcygna Girra, do. ; † Casarca rutila, do.; † Tadorna Bellonii, rare; Plectropterus melanotos, not common; Anas pæcilorhyncha, do.; A. caryophyllacea, do.; †A. querquerdula, extremely abundant; †A. crecca, hardly less so; †A. acuta, common; †A. Penelope, somewhat rare; †4. stepera, common; †4. clypeata, do. *; †Fuligula rufina, not rare; †F. ferina, do.; +F. nyroca, extremely common; †F. cristata, somewhat rare. I trust soon to have handsome and well mounted specimens of all these species in the Museum.

Altogether, 69 specimens of recently killed birds have been set up since the last meeting of the Society, in addition to some skins. Several skeletons of birds are also in process of preparation, a few being likewise included in Mr. Masters's donation. The same gentleman has also presented the Society with a few skins of birds from Tipura; consisting of common Bengalese species, with the exception of a beautiful Trogon, which I believe is the Tr. Hodgsonii of Mr. Gould, unfortunately, however, in very frail condition, as are also the others.

Reptilia, &c.

As so very many species have lately demanded my attention in the two warmblooded classes of vertebrated animals, it will rightly be surmised that comparatively small progress has been made in investigating any other department, howsoever desirous I might feel to neglect none whatever, but to bestow the same attention upon all. This will, of course, become more practicable in process of time, when I shall have successively paid that especial attention to each class in its turn, which hitherto I have found it impossible to do in more instances than those of the Mammalia and Birds. I defer, therefore, at least as a general rule, bringing forward what observations I may have to offer relative to objects appertaining to other departments of Zoology, until such time as I shall have brought my mind to bear, for a while, exclusively upon the particular group or groups, and thus have become more familiarized with the state of knowledge concerning such in this country. On the present occasion, I have only to mention that the skin of the Crocodile noticed in my last Report has been mounted, and its bones cleaned, the latter being intended to be kept separate, for purposes of reference and comparison; and that the donation received

The A. Boschas I have never yet obtained, nor is it included in the catalogues of Messrs. Franklin, Sykes, and Jerdon; but it is found in the Himalaya, though also unnoticed in Dr. Royle's list.

from Mr. Masters contains a stuffed skin of a small Python Tigris, and another of a large specimen of Tropidonotus Dora, or Coluber Dora of Russell, vel Tr. quincunctiatus, Schlegel, this latter being a very common species in the neighbourhood. In the same collection was likewise a species of Sponge and a large Madrepore has been presented to the Society by Mr. T. P. Harding.

I am, Sir,

Yours obediently,

Thanks were voted for the various communications.

ED. BLYTH,

Curator, Asiatic Society.

The following are the names of the Society's Officers elected at this Meeting, for the year 1842.

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JOURNAL

OF THE

ASIATIC SOCIETY.

A Geographical Notice of the Valley of Jullalabad. By Lieut. MACGREGOR, Political Department.

Geographical Notice.

The country which is subject to the controul of the governor of Jullalabad is the valley of the Cabul river, but it is generally termed Ningrahar or Nungnihar, the former being a corruption of the latter word, which signifies in the Affghan language, nine rivers, or rivulets, and has reference to those by which the valley is intersected.

Boundaries.

The Khybur mountains cross the valley at its eastern end; the snowy ridge of Soofaid Koh forms its southern boundary; the hills of Kourkutcha, and Seah Koh, and the desert of Gumbeer trace its western limits; and on the north it is bounded by the primary and inferior ranges of the Safee and Momund hills, which are separated by the Koshkote river.

The Cabul river flows through the northern part of the valley, and its direction is east by south, and west by north On its left bank from Salpoorah to Kama, a distance of about thirty-five miles, lie the Momund (Bé-doulut) hills. In some places they form ridges, which advance and overhang its banks, and then bend back, and form the plains of Goshta and Kama; at the confluence of the Koshkote and Cabul rivers the valley opens out to the north, and forms the fertile districts of Shiwah, Shegee and Beysoot; the two latter are divided by No. 122 NEW SERIES, No. 38.

R

a low ridge of barren hills, called Tungee Phagoo. The northern boundary of Shiwah, which skirts the Safee hills, may be estimated at fifteen miles from the left bank of the Cabul river, and the mean width of these districts, limited on the east by the Koshkote river, and on the west by the Gumbeer desert, at six miles. This part of the valley is not generally considered as belonging to Nungnihar, but as it bears on the Koshkote river, which is one of those that give origin to the term, it seems to me, to be very properly included under the denomination.

On the south side of the Cabul river are the plains of Jullalabad, Chardeh, Buttee Kote, Besh Boolay and Dukka. The first mentioned are divided by the Alee Boghan hills, termed by the natives Soork Dewar, these cross the valley and form a low connecting ridge between the Momund hills and the Soofaid Koh. The plain of Buttee Kote is joined on the north by that of Chardeh, and the country to the south of it, and of the plain of Jullalabad, slants up to the base of the Soofaid Koh. Besh Boolay is included in this highland, which Lieut. Wood, of the Indian Navy, describes as embracing all the rough and broken ground between the Khybur and Kurkutcha ranges, and estimates its length at fifty-nine miles, and its mean width at fifteen. The small plain of Dukka lies on the western entrance of the Khybur pass, the Cabul river marks its northern boundary; it is enclosed on all other sides by the inferior ranges of the Khybur hills (Khoond Khybur): the high road from Dukka to Jullalabad defiles westerly through the hills, and at the narrow part of the pass, a thanah of Momunds is stationed for the protection of travellers; on debouching from the defile, the road leads out on the Geerdee country, passes on to Huzurnow and Bursawul, and opens out on the valleys of Buttee Kote and Chardeh. The plain of Buttee Kote is little else than a stony desert, that of Chardeh is more fertile, on the north of which flows the Cabul river; Márkoh, or serpent hill, limits its eastern boundary; on its west are the Ali Baghan hills, and south lies the Buttee Kote desert; its length may be estimated at nine miles, and mean width at three and a half.

Dukka.

Buttee Kote.

To describe the plain of Jullalabad, I will quote from Lieutenant Wood's report on this part of the country, submitted to Government

in 1833.

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