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J0UBNEY8  OF  THE  PERSIAN  BOUNDARY  COMMISSION, 


1870-71-72. 


ZOOLOGY   AND   GEOLOGY 


OF 


EASTEKN   PERSIA. 


VOL.  n.  a 


EASTERN    PERSIA 

AN    ACCOUNT    OF    THE 

JOURNEYS  OF  THE  PERSIAN  BOUNDARY  COMMISSION 

1870  -  71  -  72 


VOL.    II 


THE 


ZOOLOGY     AND     GEOLOGY 


BY 


W.  T.   BLANFOKD,   A.K.S.M.,   F.R.S. 


WiTH   NUMEROUS  COLOURED   ILLUST. 


Published  by  the  Authority  of  the  GNyvemment  of  India 


MACMILLAN    AND    CO. 

.    1876 

[^0  rigkUrmnMd'] 


OXFORD  : 

BT   1.   PICKABD  HALL  AND  J.    H.    8TAC7T, 

PBDrTEBS  TO  TH£  UNIVBBSITT. 


CONTENTS. 


ZOOLOGY. 

PAGE 

Intboduction 1 

Mammalia 18 

AvES 98 

Reftilia 305 

Amphibia 432 


GEOLOGY, 


Part  I. — Qenebal  Sketch    . 


439 


Pabt  II. — Descbiption  of  Rocks  seen  on  Joubney 


471 


List  op  Halting-places  and  Distances  between  Gwadab 

AND  Shibaz 507 


Index 


509 


'■• 


LIST  OP  PLATES  TO  VOL.  II. 


Piatt  T0fmctpQte 

I.      EbINAOEUS  MACBAOANTHUa ^8 

II.    VuLPES  PsBSioua 40 

III.      MeLIS  OAITBSOENS 4<^ 


rV.      Fig.  I. — SOIUBUS  FOLVUS  1 

„    a. — Mtozus  piotus  J 


50 


} 


y.    Fig.  I. — Gebbillus  nanus 

,,    a. — Mus  Bactbianxjs  \ 5^ 

„    3. — Mkbtthbonotub 

VI.      Fig.  X. — ^NSBOKIA  HUTTOHI       1  ^ 

„    2. — ^Laoomts  bufbbokns  J 

vn.    Fig.  I. — Gebbillus  Pebsious  1  , 

„    a. — Dipus  LoFTUBi  J 

vni.    Lefus  obaspedotis .80 

IX.    Pious  Sancti  Johannis 134 

X.    Fig.  I. — Saxicola  ghbtsoptoia  \ 

0 


} 


„    a. — Daulias  Hafizi 

XI.    Sazioola  albonioba 154 

XII.    Stlyia  bubesoeks 178 

Xm.    Fig.  I. — Cbatebofus  Huttoni  1  - 

„      a. — SOOTOOEBCA  IKQUIETA    J 

XIV.    Neotabinia  (Abaohkeohthba)  BBEVIB08TBI8  .                        .  aao 

aa6 


XV.    Fig.  I. — Ebtthaous  Htboanub  1 

„      a. — SiTTA*   BUPICOLA  J 


XVI.      Fig.  I.— PaBUB  PHiBONOTUS 

„    a. — p.  (Cyanistbs)  Pebsious 


} 


330 


XVII.    Ebtthbospiza  obsoleta a5a 

XVin.    Gabbulus  Htboakus 266 

XIX.    Fig.  I. — Stbllio  nuptus  1 

„    a. — 8.  M10BOLBPI8      J ^^ 


Misprinted  Sitla  on  the  plate. 


•     v 


VUl 


LIST  OF  PLATES  TO   VOL.  lU 


Ptat* 

XX. 

XXI. 

xxn. 


Fig.  I. — Stsllio  Cauoasioub  1 

a. — S.  LIBATU8  J 


t( 


CXNTBOTBACHELUS  ASMUSSI 


.    338 


t> 


tt 


t( 


xxm. 


Fig.  I. — HlMIDACTTLUB  8F. 

a. — Gtmnooagttlus  brevifbb 

3. — G.  HITEBOOEB0U8 

4. — BUKOPDS  TUBEB0ULATU8 

Fig.  I. — PbIBTUBUB  BUPK8TBIS 

a. — CSBAMODAOTTLUB  DOBLS 
3. — Aqamuba  OBUBALIS 
4. — A.  Pebsioa 


*t 
it 
it 


XXIV. 
XXV. 


Laoebta  pbinobps 


} 


XXVI. 


XXVII. 


xxvrn. 


Fig.  I. — Laoebta  BBAiaxn 
,,    a. — Ophiops  meizolbpis 
,,    3. — Ebemiab  fasoiata 

Fig.  i.^Ebemias  Pebsioa 

a. — ACANTHOOAOTTLUB  MIOBOPHOLIS 
3. — A.  CAim)BIB 

Fig.  I. — Ablefhabub  Bbakdti^ 
a. — A.  bivittatus 

3. — EUPBEPES  SEPTEMTiEKIATUB 

4.— Ztonofsib  BBEYIFES 
5. — ^Ttphlofs  Pebsious 

Fig.  I. — Ctolofhis  Pebbioub 

„      a. — DlPSAB  BHIKOFOMA 
3. — BUPO  0LIVA0EU8 


»l 


tt 


}• 


»l 


} 


344 


352 
366 

376 


.  384 


•  .  • 


398 


424 


Map  xllubtbatiyb  of  Zoolooioal  Lines 


^  Named  A  hXephopniM  pufiUut  on  the  plate. 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PEESIA. 


INTRODUCTION. 

The  materials  from  which  the  following  partial  sketch  of  the 
vei-tebratc  fauna  of  Persia  has  been  mainly,  derived  are  two 
collections, — the  first  made  by  Major  St.  John,  with  the'  assistance 
of  a  native  collector  sent  from  the  Indian  Museum  in  Calcutta,  in 
the  years  1869-70-71  ;  the  second  that  formed  by  myself  with  similar 
aid,  whilst  accompanying  Major  St.  John  in  187^^  in  his  journey 
from  Gwddar  in  Baluchistdn  to  Shirdz,  Isfahan,  and  Tehrfin.  To 
this  collection  also  Major  St.  John  contributed  largely.  The  whole 
of  the  fii'st  collection,  comprising  more  than  five  hundred  specimens 
of  birds  and  mammals,  has  been  liberally  entrusted  to  me  by  the 
Trustees  of  the  Indian  Museum  for  comparison  and  description. 
The  reptiles  collected  by  Major  St.  John  have  already  been  examined 
and  described  by  Dr.  Anderson,  Curator  of  the  Indian  Museum^, 
but  I  have  had  the  advantage  of  comparing  the  types  described  by 
him,  which  have  been  sent  to  me  for  the  purpose. 

The  specimens  of  fish  and  invertebrata  being  comparatively  few  in 
number,  the  present  notes  are  chiefly  confined  to  the  four  vertebrate 
classes  of  mammals,  birds,  reptiles,  and  amphibia.  The  xmited  col- 
lections contain : — 

Species.  Si>ecimen8. 

Mammalia      ....        3a  .^ 170 

Aves  948  ......     1236 

Keptilia 6a  597" 

Amphibia       ....  5  48' 

Total    .     .       347  2051 

Of  the  specimens  obtained,  by  far  the  largest  number  were  collected 
in  Southern  Persia  and  Baluchistan,  the  fauna  of  which  was  pre- 
viously very  little  known,  Northern  Persia  having  hitherto  received 

*  P.  Z.  S.  1872,  pp.  371-404.  *  Major  St.  John's  ooUectionfl  not  included. 

VOL.   II.  B 


y" 


2  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

far  more  attention  from  European  naturalists.  The  bulk  of  my  own 
collection  was  obtained  between  Gw^ar  and  Shirdz,  although  I 
procured  many  additions  of  interest  during  my  journey  from  Shirdz 
to  -Tehran^  and  in  the  Eiburz  mountains  north  of  the  capital. 
Major  St.  John's  collection  comprises  a  large  number  of  specimens 
from  the  oak  forest  south  and  west  of  Shir^^  which  I  had  not  an 
opportunity  of  visiting.  The  majority  of  his  bird  skins  are  from  the 
neighbourhood  of  Shir&z  and  the  country  between  Shir^  and  Bushire, 
but  there  are  also  several  most  interesting  specimens  from  the  hill 
ranges  between  Shir&z  and  Isfahan,  from  Tehran  and  the  Eiburz 
mountains,  and  from  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Caspian  near  Resht. 

The  determination  of  the  species  collected  has  proved  a  long 
though  an  interesting  task,  and  to  the  list  formed  I  have  added  the 
names  of  all  other  species  collected  or  observed  by  previous  travellers 
in  different  parts  of  Persia,  so  as  to  give  as  complete  an  account  as 
practicable  of  the  whole  Persian  vertebrate  fauna,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  class  of  fishes.  All  species  not  included  in  the 
collections  made  by  Major  St.  John  or  myself  are  distinguished  in 
the  following  lists  by  an  asterisk  before  the  name. 

That  the  present  is  an  extremely  imperfect  list  of  the  mammals, 
birds,  reptiles^  and  amphibians  of  Persia  is  certain.  Enormous 
tracts  of  the  country  have  never  been  explored  by  any  zoologist. 
We  are  very  imperfectly  acquainted  with  the  fauna  of  the  plains 
extending  from  the  Tigris  to  the  base  of  the  Zagros  mountains, 
and  we  know  still  less  of  the  animals  inhabiting  these  mountains, 
the  western  slopes  of  which  are  covered  with  forests,  and  would 
doubtless  furnish  large  additions  to  the  list.  North-eastern  Persia 
too  is  zoologically  almost  a  terra  incognita,  whilst  the  dense  forests 
in  Ghil&n  and  Mazandardn,  along  the  southern  shore  of  the 
Caspian  Sea^  despite  all  the  researches  of  Russian  naturalists,  have 
been  so  imperfectly  explored  that,  even  amongst  the  few  species 
obtained  by  Major  St.  John  and  myself,  there  are  several  of  which 
the  existence  in  the  country  was  previously  unknown.  It  is  scarcely 
probable,  too,  that  a  single  journey  through  Baluchistin  should  have 
nearly  exhausted  the  &una  of  that  province.  Still,  as  the  present 
is  the  first  attempt  which  has  been  made  to  give  anything  like  a 
complete  list  of  the  animals  inhabiting  the  Persian  territories,  it 
is  to  be  hoped  that,  however  imperfect,  it  may  be  of  some  service 
in  affording  an  idea  of  the  zoology  of  Persia. 


INTRODUCTION,  3 

The  territorial  limits  of  the  region  to  which  the  following 
pages  refer  are  those  of  the  present  kingdom  of  Persia.  All 
animals  known  to  inhabit  Mesopotamia  are  included^  because  it  is 
scarcely  possible  that  any  should  be  found  on  the  Tigris  and 
Euphrates  which  do  not  exist  in  the  Persian  portion  of  the  plains 
east  of  those  rivers ;  and  similarly  the  wading  and  swimming  birds 
of  the  Caspian  are  all  comprised  in  the  lists,  because  all  of  them 
are  believed  to  be  met  with  at  times  on  the  Persian  coast.  Several 
species,  too,  obtained  by  Menetries  and  others  at  Lenkordn,  are 
mentioned,  because  the  locality  named  is  only  about  ten  miles 
distant  from  the  Persian  frontier,  and  is  situated  within  the  forest 
region  of  Ghil&n  and  Mazandardn,  so  that  it  is  extremely  improbable 
that  species  found  in  the  neighbourhood  should  not  also  occur 
within  the  Persian  territory.  I  have  also  added  the  sea-birds  noticed 
at  Gw^dar  and  elsewhere  on  the  Baluchistan  coast,  although  the 
localities  are  beyond  the  Persian  boundary. 

Before  proceeding  to  a  general  sketch  of  the  Persian  fauna,  it  may 
be  useful  to  point  out  succinctly  what  was  known  of  it  previously  to 
the  explorations  of  Major  St.  John  and  myself,  and  to  enumerate 
the  naturalists  and  travellers  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  a  large 
portion  of  our  information. 

The  first  naturalist  who  explored  a  portion  of  the  Persian  fauna  was 
S.  G.  Gmelin,  frequently  called  the  younger  Gmelin,  to  distinguish  him 
from  J.  G.  Gmelin,  the  well-known  compiler  of  the  thirteenth  edition  of 
the  Linnaean  Syaiema  Naiurce,  S.  G.  Gmelin,  who  was  one  of  a  series 
of  explorers  employed  by  the  Russian  Government,  travelled  over  a 
considerable  portion  of  Ghilan  and  Mazandaran  in  1770-71-72;  he 
lived  for  some  months  at  Enzeli,  near  Resht,  and  made  collections 
of  animals  and  plants;  some  of  which  were  described  by  himself 
in  the  *  Reise  durch  Russland,'  vols.  iii.  and  iv.  published  in  1774  and 
1784,  others  by  Pallas.  His  collections,  however,  must  have  com- 
prised but  a  small  portion  of  the  animals  inhabiting  those  countries, 
and  several  of  the  species  described  by  him  as  new  belonged  to  forms 
well  known  previously.  Pallas  has  corrected  the  names  thus  given 
in  the  introduction  to  the  fourth  volume  of  the  *  Reise,'  published 
after  Gmelin's  death  in  captivity;  for  the  unfortunate  explorer  was 
made  prisoner  by'  a  chief  of  the  Caucasus,  on  a  journey  from  Baku 
to  Derbena,  and  died  before  he  could  be  liberated. 

Had  Gmelin  lived,  he  might  probably  have  given  to  the  world 

B  2 


4  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

a  fuller  account  of  the  fauna  inhabiting  the  shores  of  the  Caspian ; 
the  notes  given  in  his  diary  are  not  only  imperfect,  but  they  are 
stated  by  Pallas  to  be  occasionally  incorrect,  the'  locality  of  one  or 
two  animals  being  doubtful.  I  believe,  however,  that  the  greater 
portion  of  Gmelin's  statements  are  trustworthy. 

Pallas  himself,  in  his  journeys  through  the  Asiatic  possessions 
of  Russia,  only  visited  the  northern  extremity  of  the  Caspian ;  and 
Giildenstadt  appears  to  have  confined  his  explorations  to  the  Caucasus. 
Several  notes  on  Persian  animals,  founded  on  specimens  obtained  by 
Gmelin  and  others,  are,  however,  to  be  found  in  Pallas's  great 
work  the  '  Zoographia  Rosso-Asiatica,^  first  published  as  a  whole 
in  1 831,  though  printed  at  the  beginning  of  the  century.  A  few 
copies  of  the  first  volume  were  issued  in  181 1. 

The  next  explorer  who  visited  Persia  and  made  zoological  collections 
appears  to  have  been  Mons.  G.  A.  Olivier,  a  member  of  the  French 
Institute,  who  made  a  journey,  by  order  of  his  Government,  in 
1796,  from  Bagdad  to  Isfah&n  and  Tehr&n.  His  only  important 
acquisitions  were  a  few  species  of  reptiles,  some  of  which  were 
figured  in  his  *  Voyage  dans  TEmpire  Othoman,  Pfigypte  et  la 
Perse,'  published  in  1807. 

The  two  travellers  next  to  be  mentioned  were  both  employed  by 
the  Russian  Government,  and  the  collections  of  both  were  made  in 
the  Caucasian  provinces  and  on  the  shores  of  the  Caspian.  The  first 
of  these  was  E.  Men^tries,  who  collected  largely  in  difierent  parts 
of  the  Caucasus  in  the  years  1829  and  1830,  and  who  penetrated 
as  far  as  the  Talish  mountains  in  Persian  territory  south  of  Lenkoran, 
where  he  appears  to  have  made  considerable  ooUections.  Full  lists 
of  the  animals  obtained,  with  descriptions  of  several  new  species, 
were  given  in  the  *  Catalogue  Raisonne  des  Objets  de  Zoologie 
recueillis  dans  un  voyage  au  Caucause  et  jusqu'aux  frontieres 
actuelles  de  la  Perse,'  published  at  St.  Petersburg,  in  1832. 

Another  equally  energetic  naturalist  was  E.  Eichwald,  Professor 
of  Natural  History  at  Kiizan,  who  in  the  years  1825—26  examined 
a  large  portion  of  the  country  bordering  the  Caspian.  In  the 
course  of  his  voyages  he  touched  at  two  or  three  places  on  the 
Persian  coast,  but  at  Enzeli  he  was  prevented  from  landing  by  the 
Persian  governor.  An  account  of  bis  travels  was  given  in  the  *  Reise 
auf  dem  Caspischen  Meere  und  in  dem  Caucasus '  (published  1834-37), 
whilst  the  geological  and  zoological  results  of  his  explorations  were 


IN  TROD  UCTION.  6 

given  to  the  world  in  various  works  and  papers  in  periodicals.  By  far 
the  most  important  of  his  publications  is  the  *  Fauna  Caspio-Caucasia,' 
published  at  St.  Petersburg  in  1841.  This  work  contains  the  most 
complete  account  hitherto  published  of  the  animals  inhabiting  the 
shores  of  the  Caspian  Sea,  and  to  it,  as  well  as  to  the  work  of 
Men^tries  already  quoted,  numerous  references  will  be  found  in  the 
following  pages,  more  especially  in  the  part  devoted  to  the  Reptilia, 
many  species  of  which  are  fully  described  and  figured  in  Eichwald's 
work. 

Aucher-Eloy,  a  French  botanical  collector,  travelled,  in  1835,  from 
Bagdad  by  Hamadan  to  Is&han,  thence  to  Tehrin,  and  returned 
to  Constantinople  via  Tabriz.  In  1837-38  he  again  made  a  long 
journey  through  Persia,  in  the  course  of  which  he  visited  Shirdz, 
Bushire^  and  Bandar  Abbds^  and  made  a  voyage  to  Maskat  in  Arabia. 
He  penetrated  into  several  places  to  which  very  few  other  Europeans 
have  gone,  such  as  the  Bakhtiyari  mountains  and  the  ranges  behind 
Maskat.  He  died  at  Isfahan  in  1838.  A  collection,  chiefly  of 
reptiles,  made  by  him,  was  purchased  by  the  museum  at  Paris,  and  all 
the  specimens  are  labelled  Persia,  and  quoted  as  from  that  country 
in  C.  Dum^ril's  *  Catalogue  Methodique  de  la  Collection  des  Reptiles,' 
Mus^e  d'Hist.  Nat.  Paris,  1851,  but,  although  the  most  of  the 
species  are  undoubtedly  Persian,  some,  such  as  Pseudopus  Pallasiij 
Lacerta  Taurica^  and  Chamceleo  vulgaris  have  never  yet  been  found 
so  far  to  the  eastward;  and  as  the  specimens  have  in  no  case  exact 
localities,  I  think  it  best  not  to  include  these  species  in  the  Persian 
fauna,  although  they  may  have  been  brought  from  Mesopotamia. 

Belanger  traversed  Persia  in  1825  on  his  way  to  India.  The 
collections  made  by  him,  however,  were  mostly  lost,  and  the  only 
Persian  specimen  which  reached  Europe  was  a  skin  of  the  Sul- 
taniah  Spermophilus^  which  was  described  by  Geoffry  St.  Hilaire  in 
Belanger's  'Voyage  aus  Indes  Orientales,'  published  in  1834. 

Mr.  W.  K.  Loftus,  who  was  attached  as  Geologist  to  the  Com- 
mission, which,  in  1849-52,  surveyed  the  frontiers  between  Turkey  and 
Persia,  brought  back  a  small  collection  of  zoological  specimens  which 
were  made  over  to  the  British  Museum.  No  complete  list  of  the 
vertebrata  has  ever  been  published,  and  I  am  indebted  to  the  kind- 
ness of  Mr.  Sharpe  and  Mr.  Gerrard  for  calling  my  attention  to 
the  specimens,  a  few  of  which  are  mentioned  in  Dr.  Gray's  Catalogues. 

A  few  reptiles  and  fishes  were  brought  from  Khorassan  by  Count 


6  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

Keyserling,  attached  to  the  mission  under  Mons.  N.  de  Khanikoff  in 
1858-59.  Some  of  the  more  interesting  of  the  reptiles  have  been 
described  by  Strauch,  and  the  fishes  by  Count  Keyserling  himself. 
Some  reptiles  were  also  brought  from  Persia  and  deposited  in  the 
Vienna  Museum  by  Dr.  T.  Kokschy,  a  botanical  collector,  like  Aucher- 
Eloy.  There  are  also  small  collections  in  the  British  Museum, 
made  by  Colonel  Chesney,  in  Mesopotamia^  during  the  progress  of 
the  Euphrates  and  Tigris  Survey,  and  by  the  Hon.  C.  Murray, 
near  Tehrdn,  and  there  is  a  collection  of  bird  skins  obtained  by 
purchase  in  the  same  Museum,  which,  although  labelled  North 
Africa,  Mr.  Sharpe  thinks,  and  I  agree  with  him,  are  Persian.  I 
am  indebted  to  Mr.  Sharpe  for  calling  my  attention  to  both  the 
last  named  collections. 

By  far  the  most  important  contribution  to  a  knowledge  of  the 
fauna  inhabiting  North-western  Persia  hitherto  made  is  by  Professor 
De  Filippi,  of  Turin,  who,  in  1862,  accompanied  an  Italian  embassy 
to  Persia.  The  route  taken  was  from  the  Black  Sea  at  Poti,  via 
Tiflis,  to  Tabriz,  thence  by  K&svin  to  Tehrdn,  the  embassy  returning 
by  Resht,  the  Caspian  Sea,  and  Russia.  Professor  De  Filippi 
made  extensive  collections  and  notes,  both  geological  and  zoological, 
and  these  were  supplemented  by  the  specimens  procured  by  one  of 
his  companions,  the  Marquis  Giacomo  Doria,  who  extended  his 
journey  to  Southern  Persia  and  brought  back  a  considerable 
number  of  interesting  specimens,  chiefly  insects,  reptiles,  and 
fishes.  A  full  account  of  De  Filippi's  journey  and  observations  is 
given  in  his  *Note  di  un  Viaggio  in  Persia,'  published  at  Milan 
in  1865,  in  which,  pp.  342-360,  a  complete  list  is  given  of  all  the 
vertebrata  observed,  consisting  of  thirty  mammals,  one  hundred  and 
sixty-seven  birds,  thirty-nine  reptiles,  three  amphibia,  and  twenty- 
two  fishes.  Several  of  these,  however,  were  only  noticed  in  the 
Transcaucasian  provinces  beyond  the  Persian  frontier.  At  page 
363  a  list  of  the  land  and  freshwater  moUusca  procured  from  Persia* 
and  determined  by  Professor  Issel,  is  given.  Many  of  the  vertebrata 
mentioned  by  De  Filippi  appear  to  have  been  merely  noticed 
by  him,  as  no  specimens  exist  in  the  Turin  Museum,  which  I  visited 
for  the  purpose  of  examining  his  collections. 

Mr.  Allan  Hume  made  a  large  collection  chiefly  of  sea  birds  on 
the  coast  of  Baluchistdn  in  February  1873,  and  published  a  full 
account  of  all    species  obtained   there    and  in  Sind,  in   an   Indian 


8  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

sea,  separated  from  each  other,  from  the  lower  country  to  the  east, 
north  and  west,  and  from  the  coast  to  the  south,  by  ranges  of 
mountains,  varying  much  in  height  and  breadth,  but  often  of  con- 
siderable elevation.  Of  the  raised  plains  forming  the  principal 
part  of  Persia  I  shall  often  have  occasion  to  speak,  collectively,  as 
the  Persian  plateau  or  highlands.  This  tract  consists  of  plains 
and  ranges  of  hills  for  the  most  part  destitute  of  vegetation, 
agriculture  being  only  possible  where  water  can  be  obtained  from 
springs  or  the  small  streams  which  descend  from  the  higher  ranges 
to  lose  themselves  in  the  various  deserts  of  the  interior.  Along 
the  southern  coast  of  the  Caspian  Sea  is  a  damp  region  covered 
with  dense  forest,  and  the  western  slopes  of  the  Zagros  mountains, 
as  already  mentioned,  are  also  wooded,  though  less  thickly  than  the 
northern  slopes  of  the  Elburz.  The  Zagros  belt  of  woodland  extends 
south  to  the  neighbourhood  of  Shirdz,  where,  from  the  prevalence  of 
a  species  of  oak,  the  tract  is  often  spoken  of  as  the  oak  forest. 
This  tract  is  crossed  on  the  road  from  Shirdz  to  Bushire,  but  it  does 
not  extend  much  farther  to  the  south-east.  There  are,  however,  in 
the  broken  country  extending  along  the  shores  of  the  Persian 
Gulf  and  Indian  Ocean,  and  forming  part  of  Fars,  Laristin,  and 
Baluchistdn,  a  few  plains  and  valleys  which  support  a  rather  thin 
forest,  the  trees  being  different  from  those  of  the  Zagros  and  Shirfiz 
forests,  and  consisting  chiefly  of  tropical  forms,  among  which 
tamarisk  and  mimosa  {Acacia  Arahica  ?)  are  conspicuous.  These  com- 
paratively fertile  tracts  are,  however,  seldom  met  with,  the  greater 
part  of  the  country  being  as  barren  as  the  Persian  highlands. 

Owing  chiefly  to  the  physical  features  thus  briefly  alhided  to,  there  is 
a  great  difference  in  the  fauna  of  different  parts  of  Persia,  and  the  whole 
country  may  be  divided  into  the  following  zoological  sub-divisions : — 

I.  The  Persian  province  proper.  This  consists  of  the  plateau  or 
highlands,  and  includes  the  greater  portion  of  the  country,  com- 
prising all  the  elevated  plains  in  the  interior  of  the  country  with 
the  hills  separating  them  from  each  other,  and  the  inner  slopes 
of  the  surrounding  ranges. 

II.  The  Caspian  provinces,  Ghildn  and  Mazand<irdn,  These  comprise 
the  country  along  the  southern  shore  of  the  Caspian,  from  Lenkordn 
to  AstrabM,  and  from  the  sea  coast  to  the  limit  of  the  forest  on 
the  slopes  of  the  Elburz  mountains,  at  an  elevation  of  about  6000 
to  7000  feet.  s 


4 
i 


*f 


.■A  :' 


IN  TROD  UCTION.  9 

III.  The  wooded  slopes  of  the  Zagros,  including  the  oak  forest  near 
Shirdz,  the  only  portion  from  which  I  have  seen  any  collections  of 
importance. 

IV.  Persian  Mesopotamia,  being  ike  eastern  portion  of  the  Tigris  plain. 
The  whole  plain,  watered  by  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates  is,  I  think, 
usually  spoken  of  as  Mesopotamia,  although  the  name,  of  course^ 
originally  applied  only  to  the  tract  between  the  two  rivers.  From 
want  of  information,  very  little  can  be  said  of  the  fauna  of  this 
region,  and  perhaps  it  should  be  combined  with  the  last. 

V.  The  lowlands  on  the  shores  of  the  Persian  Gulf  and  Baluchistan, 
up  to  an  elevation  of  about  3CX50  feet  above  the  sea. 

Besides  the  above,  the  province  of  Adarbaij&n,  in  North-western 
Persia^  the  &una  of  which  is  similar  to  that  of  the  Russian 
province  of  Transcaucasia,  and  includes  several  European  forms 
not  found  farther  to  the  south-east,  might  perhaps  be  distin- 
guished. It  forms  a  link  between  the  Persian  region  and  that  of 
South-eastern  Europe.  There  are  a  few  species  only  found  locally 
on  the  higher  hills  of  Persia,  e.g.  Spermophilus  concolor,  Lagomys 
mfescens,  Arvicola  mystacinuSy  Ovis  Gmelini,  amongst  mammals ;  Monti^^ 
fringilla  alpicola^  Metoponia  pusilla,  Erytlirospiza  sanguinea.  Passer 
montanus,  and  Tetraogallus  Caspius,  amongst  birds;  and  further  ex- 
ploration may  increase  the  number  so  much  as  to  involve  the  necessity 
of  zoologically  separating  the  tracts  exceeding  about  8000  feet  above 
the  sea  from  the  remainder  of  the  Persian  highlands.  But  with 
the  small  amount  of  information  available,  I  think  it  best  to  unite 
both  Adarbaijdn  and  the  mountains  with  the  province  formed  by  the 
Persian  plateau. 

On  the  accompanying  map  an  attempt  has  been  made  to  give 
some  idea  of  the  limits  of  the  different  zoological  provinces  just 
named.  It  must,  however,  be  remembered  that  not  only  is  the  in- 
formation available  very  imperfect,  but  that  the  demarcation  of 
exact  boimdaries  for  zoological  subdivisions  is  always  extremely 
difficult  and  usually  impracticable,  because  the  faunae  pass  into  each 
other  along  their  margins  and  the  limit  of  one  characteristic  form  is 
not  necessarily  that  of  others.  Thus  of  the  species  of  birds  character- 
istic of  the  Baluchistdn  region,  some,  as  Certhilauda  desertorum,  appear 
never  to  be  seen  except  on  the  plains  close  to  the  sea  level,  whilst 
others,  as  Pratincola  caprata,  are  met  with,  not  on  the  barren  plains 
near  the  sea,  but  at  an  elevation  of  from   icx)o  to    3000    feet   in 


10  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

the  better  wooded  valleys ;  others  again,  as  Pycnonotus  leucotis,  are 
found  both  near  the  sea  and  at  all  levels  up  to  5000  or  6000 
feet,  where  they  mix  with  Paleearctic  forms,  which  do  not  appear 
below  the  plateau.  Yet  all  these  species  are  equally  typical  of  the 
particular  province  along  the  sea  coast,  none  of  them  extending 
any  distance  northward  on  the  plateau. 

In  order  to  show  the  distinctions  of  the  zoological  provinces 
enumerated,  it  will  be  necessary  to  enter  into  a  few  details^  and 
to  mention  some  of  the  species  characteristic  of  each.  The  species 
peculiar  to  Persia  are  few  in  number,  but  there  are  several  which 
from  their  abundance  give  a  distinct  character  to  the  fauna. 

I.  Persian  plateau  or  highlawh.  This  occupies  by  far  the  greater 
portion  of  the  country,  and  the  animals  inhabiting  it  form  the  typical 
Persian  fauna,  the  other  provinces  being  for  the  most  part  portions 
of  neighbouring  regions.  The  majority  of  the  species  inhabiting  the 
Persian  highlands  are  Palsearctic  forms,  and  the  whole  country  may 
perhaps  be  included  in  the  great  Palsearctic  region;  but  still  there 
is  a  great  prevalence  of  the  peculiar  types  characteristic  of  the  barren 
tracts  of  Northern  Africa  and  Central  Asia,  many  of  which  have 
rather  African  than  PalsBarctic  affinities,  and  which  are  generally 
spoken  of  as  desert  forms.  Such  are,  amongst  mammals,  species  of 
Gerhillm  and  Gazella ;  amongst  birds,  forms  of  Saxicola^  Amniomanes, 
Pierocles  and  Caccabis^  and  especially  Oyps  fulvus,  Buteo  ferox^ 
Saxicola  deserti,  Sylvia  nana,  Bucanetea  gitkagineus^  Amtfioperdix 
Bottkami,  etc. ;  whilst  desert  types  of  reptiles  are  well  illustrated 
by  species  of  Agama,  Trapelns,  Phrynocephalm,  Uromaatix  (jOentrotrach^^ 
lus),  Ereniias,  ifesalina,  Eryx,  Zamenis,  PsammopAis,  Cerastes,  and  EcAis. 

As  might  be  anticipated,  many  of  the  Persian  species  are  forms 
characteristic  of  the  fauna  of  Central  Asia,  the  following  being  a 
few  of  the  most  important  : — 

Mammalia. 

Erinaceus  macracanthus. 
Fells  uncia. 
F.  chaus. 


Spermophilua    oonoolor  (only  known 
from  parts  of  Korthern  Persia). 

Ayes. 

Ruticilla  eiytbronota. 
Daulias  HaBzi. 
Cinclus  Cashmirensis. 


Cricetus  pheus. 
Alactaga  Indica. 
Eqaus  onager. 
Ovis  cycloceros. 


Metoponia  pusilla. 
Erythrospiza  obeoleta. 


INTRODUCTION. 


11 


Refthja. 


PhrynocephaluB,  three  specief . 
Eremias  Penica. 


Taphrometopon  lineolatum. 


Some  of  the  above,  e.g.  Erinaceus  macracanlAus,  Ovis  cycloceros, 
and  Eremias  Persica  are  not  found  in  Central  Asia,  but  they  are 
represented  by  closely  allied  forms. 

The  following  are  some  of  those  species  which  are  most  charac- 
teristic of  the  Persian  fauna.  Species  peculiar  to  Persia  are  marked 
with  an  asterisk. 


Mammalia. 


Felis  pardufl. 

F.  cbaus. 

Canis  lupus. 

Hyaena  striata. 

TJrsus  Syriacus. 
*Eriiiaceus  macracantbus. 
•Vulpes  Persicus. 
*Mele8  canescens. 


AVES. 


Gyps  f  ulvus. 
Gypaetus  barbatus. 
Neophron  percnoptenis. 
Buteo  ferox. 
Scops  gia. 
Athene  glaux. 
Merops  apiaster. 
Coradas  garrula. 
Cypselus  apas. 
Caprimulgus  Europeus. 
Picus  Syriacus. 
Lanius  minor. 
Muscicapa  grisola. 
Saxicola  isabellina. 
S.  picata. 

Montioola  sazatilis. 
Daulias  Hafizi. 
Hypolais  rama. 
Aedon  familiaris. 
Parus  major. 
Hirundo  rustica. 
Chelidon  urbica. 
Oriolus  galbula. 
Motaoilla  alba. 


Mus  Bactrianus. 

Crioetus  phsBus. 
•Gerbillus  Persicus. 

Equus  onager. 

Sus  scrofa. 

Ovis  cyoloceros. 

Capra  segagnis. 
*Gazella  subgutturosa. 


M.  peisonata,  var. 
Galerita  cristata. 
Otooorys  penicillata. 
Calendrella  brachydactyla. 
Melanocorypba  calandra. 
M.  bimaculata. 
Carduelis  elegans. 
Bucanetes  githagineus.' 
Passer  Indicus. 
Petronia  brachydactyla. 
Emberiza  Huttoni. 
Euspiza  melanocephala. 
Connis  corax. 
C.  comix. 
Pica  rustica. 
Sturnus  vulgaris. 
Columba  livia 
Turtur  auritus. 
Pterocles  arenarius. 
Ammoperdix  Bonhami. 
Caccabis  saxatilis. 
Houbara  Macqueenii. 
Cursorius  gallicuB. 


12 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 


Reptilia. 


Testudo  ibera. 

Aguna  agilis. 

Trapelufl  ruderatas. 
*Plirynocephalufl  Olivieri. 
*P.  maculatuB. 

Opbiops  el^ans. 
^Eremias  Persica. 


Meealina  pardalis. 
Enmeces  auratos. 
Eryxjaculus. 
Zamenis  diadema. 
Z.  ventriroaculatuB. 
Z.  Ravergieri. 
Tropidonotus  hydros. 


Bana  esculenta. 


Amphibia. 

I  Bufo  viridis. 

I  have  omitted  the  wading  and  swimming  birds,  as  a  rule,  because 
they  are  rarely  characteristic,  and,  on  the  barren  Persian  plateau, 
they  are  not  often  seen. 

The  following  forms  are  also  peculiar  or  unusually  abundant,  but, 
so  far  as  is  known,  they  are  not  generally  distributed  throughout  the 
highlands : — 

Mammalia. 


•TrifiPnops  Persicus  (only  known  from 

Shir4z). 
•Vesperos    Shiraziensia    (only    known 

from  Sbiriz). 
•V.  mirza  (only  known   from  North- 

wostem  Persia). 


*Spermopbilu8  concolor  (parts  of  North- 
em  Persia). 

Gerbillus  erytbrurus   (neigbbonrhood 
of  Shirdz). 

Lagomys  rofescens  (mountains  north  of 
lafab^). 


AVES. 


Saxicola  doserti  (Southern  Persia). 
Acrocepbalus    stentoreus    (Southern 

Persia). 
Cotyle   (Ptyonoprogne)  ropestris 

(higher  ranges  only). 


♦Sitta  rupicola  (hill  ranges  of  Northern 

Persia). 
Emberiza   miliaria   (only  common   in 

the  north). 
Pyrrbocorax  graculus  (local). 


Reptilia. 


♦Stellio  nuptus  (Southern  and  Central 
Persia). 

*S.  microlepis  (higher  ranges  of  South- 
em  Persia). 

♦S.  Caucasicus  (ranges  of  North-western 
Persia). 

♦Phrynocephalus   Persicus  (Northern 


Persia,  and  high  plains  farther  south). 
*Agamura  Persica  (Southern  Persia). 
*Lacerta  princeps  (east  of  Shir&z). 
*£remias  lasciata  (South-east  Persia). 
^Zygnopsis  brevipes  (South-east  Persia). 
•Typhlops. Persicus  (South-east  Persia). 
^Dipsas  rhinopoma  (South-east  Persia). 


On  the  whole,  the  fauna  of  the  Persian  plateau  may  be  briefly 
described   as  Pafearctic  with   a  great  prevalence  of  desert   forms, 


INTRODUCTION,  13 

or,    perhaps    more    correctly,    as   being    of  the    desert    type    with 
Palaearctic  species  in  the  more  fertile  regions^. 

II.  The  Caspian  provinces,  Ghildn  and  Mazandardn.  It  has  already 
been  mentioned  that  these  districts,  lying  along  the  south  coast  of 
the  Caspian  Sea,  possess  a  humid  climate,  and  are  covered  by  dense 
forest.  Their  fauna  is  on  the  whole  decidedly  Palaearctic,  most  of 
the  animals  found  being  identical  with  those  of  South-eastern  Europe. 
But  although  the  zoology  is  very  little  known,  there  are  some 
peculiar  species  indigenous,  and  the  number  may  be  much  increased 
by  further  search,  whilst  a  rather  singular  character  is  given  to  the 
fauna  by  the  presence  of  certain  Eastern  forms,  unknown  in  other 
parts  of  Persia,  such  as  the  tiger,  a  remarkable  deer  of  the  Indo- 
Malayan  group  allied  to  Cervus  axis,  and  a  pit  viper  {Halys).  The 
following  are  characteristic  animals : — 


Mammalia. 


Talpa  Europsea. 
*Sorex  pusillus. 
•S.  Gmelini. 

Felis  tigris 

Canifl  aureus. 

Mu8  sylvaticuB. 


^Arvicola  mystacinus. 
^Arvicola  socialis. 

Cervus  maral. 
*C.  Caspius. 

Capreolus  caprea. 


^  It  is  still  a  moot  point  amongst  naturalists  whether  they  shall  recognise  a  desert 
zoological  province  or  not.  The  truth  is  that  the  characteristic  desert  forms,  as  6azella, 
GerbilluSt  Dipus;  Oypa  {ftdvtts  and  its  allies),  BtUeo  (ferox  and  some  other  species), 
certain  larks  and  stonechats,  Btwandea,  PterocleSt  Amtnoperdix,  Houbara,  and  some 
other  bustards,  Cursoritu  and  Struthio;  Agama,  EremiaSt  Acanthodadylvu,  Echis, 
PsammophiSf  etc.,  rarely  occupy  any  country  exclusively.  They  prevail  throughout  the 
great  dry  belt  which  occupies  all  Northern  Africa,  South-eastern  and  Central  Asia ;  but 
everywhere  in  the  Northern  portion  of  the  belt,  and  throughout  Central  Asia,  a  mixture 
of  Palsarctic  forms  is  to  be  found  occupying  every  fertile  oasis,  whilst  in  Central  and 
Southern  Africa  Ethiopian  species  are  intermingled  with  the  desert  types,  and  in  India, 
Indo-African  and  Indo-Malay  forms.  Thus  it  appears  as  if  there  were  no  true  desert 
province,  though  there  is,  I  believe,  a  true  desert  fauna ;  and  this  fauna  occupies  the 
border  land  between  the  PaUearctic  region  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  Indian  and  Ethiopian 
regions  on  the  other.  I  think  also  that  the  relations  of  the  principal  desert  types  are 
with  species  restricted  amongst  existing  forms  to  the  African  fiiuna.  Thus  in  the  genus 
GuzeUa,  one  of  the  best  marked  and  most  typical  of  desert  haunting  mammalian  genera, 
the  great  bulk  of  the  species  (of  which  a  monograph  by  Sir  Victor  Brooke  has  lately  been 
given  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  p.  535)*  are  found  in  Nortiiem  Africa  and  South-eastern  Asia,  whilst 
slightly  aberrant  forms  of  the  Q.  guUurosa  type  extend  throughout  Central  Asia ;  and 
another  aberrant  group,  that  of  G,  dama,  0,  Sofmmeringi,  0.  Oranti,  and  O.  mohr, 
inhabits  Eastern,  North-eastern,  and  Western  Africa,  the  most  aberrant  of  all  being 
0,  eueltore,  the  springbok  of  South  Africa.  So  with  existing  wild  forms  of  Equus, 
represented  by  the  zebras  of  AMca.    So  with  PterocleSf  Enmas,  etc. 


14 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA 


Avis. 


PiooB  SyriaouB. 
GednuB  canus. 
Turdus  musicuB. 
T.  iliacus. 

•ErytluhcuB  Hyrcanus. 
SjMa  coDBpicillata. 
Acredula  iephronota. 
Sitta  ctesia. 


AnthuB  BichardL 
Fringilla  coelebs. 
CoooothrausteB  vulgaris. 
Passer  domesticus. 
*6arruluB  Hyrcanus. 
Phasianus  Colchicus. 
Franoolinus  vulgariB. 
Porphyrio  veterum. 


Bkptilia. 


EmyB  orbicularis. 
Lacerta  muralis. 
•Anguis  orientalis. 


Rana  temporaria. 
fiyla  arborea. 
Bufo  vulgaris. 


Typhlops  vermicularis. 
Tropidonotus  natrix. 
Halys  Pallasii. 


Amphibia. 


^Triton  Karelinii. 
•T.  longipes. 


As  before,  animals  marked  with  an  asterisk  have  not  hitherto  been 
met  with  out  of  Persia. 

III.  The  wooded  slopes  of  the  Zagros,  including  the  oak  forest 
near  Shirdz.  The  fauna  of  this  tract  is  even  less  known  than  that 
of  the  Caspian  forests ;  indeed^  almost  all  our  knowledge  of  it  is 
derived  from  Major  St.  John's  collections  near  Shiraz.  It  appears 
much  to  resemble  that  last  described^  and  perhaps  further  research 
may  show  that  the  two  should  be  united ;  but,  at  present,  our  only 
knowledge  of  the  two  faunae  being  derived  from  localities  separated 
by  eight  degrees  of  latitude,  it  appears  best  to  class  them  apart. 
So  far  as  known^  the  Zagros  mountains^  like  the  northern  slopes  of  the 
Elburz,  have  a  Palsearctic  fauna  with  a  few  peculiar  species.  The 
following  are  the  most  characteristic  animals: — 


Felis  leo. 


Mammalia. 

I         *Sciurus  fulvus. 


AVES. 


*Picus  Sancti  Jobannis. 

GrecinuB  viridis. 

TurduB  musicuB. 
*Paru8  pbaeonotus. 
^Cyanistes  Persicus. 


Acredula  sp. 
Troglodytes  parvulus. 
Fringilla  ccelebs. 
Garrulus  atricapillus. 
Columba  casiotis. 


INTRODUCTION. 


15 


IV.  Persian  Mesopotamia,  This  apparently  much  resembles  Syria 
in  its  fauna,  and  belongs  to  the  same  subdivision  of  the  Palsearetic 
region,  but  so  little  is  known  accurately  of  the  animals  that  I  can 
scarcely  furnish  a  list  of  characteristic  forms.  Amongst  mammals, 
Felis  leo,  *Herpestes  Persictis,  Gerbillu9  taniurus^  *Dipu9  LofHusi^  Sus 
scrofay  Gazella  dorcas,  and  two  kinds  of  deer,  one  of  which  is  Cervus 
dama^  are  found ;  amongst  the  birds^  there  is  no  form  known  worthy 
of  notice,  whilst  amongst  the  reptilia  are  Clemmy%  Caspia,  *Trionyx 
EupAraticus,  Uromastyx  microlepis,  Trapelus  ruderatus^  0phiop9  meizotepU^ 
*A6lepianispimllu9y  CyclopAis  modesius,  Rana  eaculenta^  and  Uyla  arbor  ea, 

y.  BalucAUtdn  and  the  shores  of  the  Persian  Gulf,  The  animals  of 
this  region  differ  widely  from  those  of  the  rest  of  Persia.  Throughout 
all  other  parts  of  the  country  Palsearctic  forms  prevail,  but  in  the 
hot  regions,  on  the  shores  of  the  Indian  Ocean  and  Persian  Gulf^  the 
animals  which  are  common  to  the  Persian  highlands  are  for  the  most 
part  desert  types,  whilst  the  characteristic  Palsearctic  species  almost 
entirely  disappear,  their  place  being  taken  by  Indian  or  Indo- African 
forms.  Many  of  the  birds  ascend  a  short  distance  on  the  southern 
portion  of  the  highlands  in  summer,  and  may  be  found  about  Shir^z, 
Karradn,  etc.,  but  the  majority  do  not  appear  to  range  further  north. 
The  following  are  some  of  the  principal  species  found : — 

Mammalia. 


Cynonicterus  amplexicaudatuB. 

Pipistrellus  leucotis. 

Felis  pardas. 

Sdarus  palmarum. 

Miu  Bactrianns. 

Nesokia  Huttoni. 

Bataetar  teeea. 
Buteo  ferox. 
Athene  Brama. 
Merops  viridis. 
Caprimulgus  ^gyptius. 
C.  Mahrattensis. 
Picus  Sindianus. 
LaniuB  lahtora. 
L.  vittatus. 
L.  isabellinus. 
Pratincola  caprata. 
Saxicola  monacha. 
Sylvia  carruca. 
Phylloscopns  tristts. 
Crateropas  Huttoni. 


AVBS. 


GerbUlus  Indicus. 

G.  HurrianiB. 
*G.  naqus. 
*Lepu8  craspedotis. 

Gazella  Bennetti. 


Drymoeca  gracilis. 
Ck>tyle  obfloleta. 
Pycnonotus  lencotiB. 
•Nectarinia  brevirostris. 
Gerthilauda  desertorum. 
Pyrrhulauda  melaDauchen. 
Gymnoris  flayicollis. 
Emberiza  striolata. 
CorvuB  umbrinus. 
Acridotberes  tristis. 
Turtur  riaoriuB. 
T.  Cambayensis. 
Pterocles  Senegallus. 
FrancoUnufl  vulgariB. 
Ortygomis  Ponticeriana. 


16  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA 


Reftilia. 


Calotes  versicolor. 

Agama  agilis. 
*Stellio  liratus. 
*CentrotraebeluB  loricatus. 

HemidactyluB,  two  or  three 
Bpecies. 
*BuDopu8  tuberculatuB. 
*Ceramodactylu8  DorisB. 


*Agamura  cniralis. 

Yaranus  draciena. 

AcanthodactyluB  Cantoris. 
•A.  micropboliB. 
*Spbaleroeophis  miorolepis 

PsammopbiB  Leithii. 

Echis  carinata. 


Amphibia. 
Rana  cyanophljctis.  |         *Bufo  olivaceus. 

A  glance  at  the  above  list  will  show  that  the  jnajority  of  the 
Indian  forms  are  those  which  inhabit  the  dry  parts  of  India,  and 
have  desert  affinities,  e.g.  Gerbillus  Indicus,  G.  Hurriana,  Gazella 
Bennettiy  Caprimulgu8  MahraUensis,  Laniiia  lahtora^  Gymnori^  fiavicollisy 
Ortygornn  Ponticeriaiia,  etc.,  but  mingled  with  them  are  four  species, 
Cynonicterus  a^nplexicaudalus,  Biitaalur  teesa^  Praiificola  cajjraf-a,  and 
Calotes  versicolor,  which  range  east  of  India  into  the  Malay  countries. 
The  first  is  probably  a  species  frequenting  the  sea  shore,  but  the 
other  three  appear  to  be  Malay  forms  which  have  extended  their 
range  farther  west  than  any  others.  Pratincola  caprata  is  represented 
by  a  closely  allied  species  of  the  same  genus,  P,  setniiorquata  Heugl., 
in  Abyssinia ;  Butastur  teesa  is  similarly  represented  by  the  North- 
east African  B.  rvfpennis ;  but  I  know  of  no  African  ally  of  Calotes 
versicolor, 

A  few  forms  are  African,  and  they  are  either  unknown  in  India, 
or  else  do  not  extend  farther  east  than  Sind  and  the  neighbouring 
districts  east  of  the  Indus.     Such  are : — 


Certbilauda  desertorum. 
Pyrrbulauda  melanaucben. 
Corvixs  umbrinus. 


Caprimulgus  .^^yptius. 
Lanius  isabellinus. 
Saxicola  monacba. 
Cotyle  obsoleta. 

And  amongst  reptiles  the  genus  Acanthodactylus,  All  of  these 
are  desert  types. 

Just  as  the  fauna  of  the  Persian  plateau  has  been  briefly  charac- 
terised as  of  the  desert  type  with  a  large  admixture  of  Palsearctic 
forms,  that  of  Baluchistan  and  the  shores  of  the  Persian  Gulf  may 
be  described  as  being  desert  with  a  small  admixture  of  Indian 
species. 

In  concluding  these  introductory  remarks,  it  only  remains  for  me  to 


INTRODUCTION.  17 

add  that  I  am  indebted  to  Major  St.  John  for  far  more  assistance  in 
the  preparation  of  the  present  work  than  appears  from  the  occasional 
mention  of  information  received  from  him.  He  has  made  notes  of  the 
fauna  of  Persia^  especially  of  the  birds,  for  several  years,  and  has 
most  liberally  allowed  me. to  make  use  of  all  the  information  thus 
acquired.  I  am  also  indebted  to  him  for  most  of  the  Persian  names 
given  for  the  animals. 

My  thanks  are  also  due  to  Dr.  Giinther,  Mr.  Dresser^  Lord  Walden, 
Professor  Newton,  Dr.  Sclater,  Messrs.  Dobson,  Sharpe,  Harting, 
Howard  Saunders,  Tristram,  Gumey,  and  Alston,  for  aid  of  every 
kind  in  determining  my  collections,  and  abroad  to  Professor  Peters, 
and  Dr.  Cabanis,  of  Berlin ;  Count  Salvadori,  of  Turin,  and  Marquis 
O.  Doria,  of  Genoa.  To  all  these  gentlemen  I  am  indebted  for 
assistance  in  the  identification  of  the  more  difficult  species,  loan  of 
specimens,  and  access  to  their  collections. 


NOTB. — Spedes  marked  in  the  following  pages  with  an  asterisk  thus,  *  BMndopKw 
femtm  eqwnwmy  are  not  represented  in  the  collections  made  by  Major  St.  John  and  myself; 
of  the  specimens  obtained  by  us,  lists,  with  the  exact  localities  and  their  elevation  above 
tiie  sea,  are  given  under  each  species  immediately  after  the  synonomy,  and,  with  birds, 
the  date  on  which  each  was  shot  is  added,  if  known.  Names  of  species  with  De  F.  after 
them  are  included  in  De  Filippi*s  list,  the  names  used  by  him  being,  as  a  rule,  only 
quoted  when  they  differ  from  my  own.  The  notes  signed  O.  St.  J.  are  by  Major  St. 
John.  When  a  note  of  interrogation  is  prefixed,  the  occurrence  of  the  species  is  con- 
sidered doubtful. 


VOL.  II. 


MAMMALIA. 


The  mammalia  fauna  of  Persia  is  not  very  rich.  The  following 
pages  contain  an  enumeration  of  only  eighty-nine  species. 

The  Qti^rumana,  Proboscidea,  Hyracoidea^  and  Edentata  are  not 
represented  within  our  area,  although  species  belonging  to  all  of 
them  are  found  in  neighbouring  countries. 


CHEIROPTERA. 

For  all  the  identifications  of  the  few  bats  obtained  by  Major  St. 
John  and  myself,  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  G.  E.  Dobson,  who  has 
examined  all,  and  described  the  new  species  from  both  collections. 
He  has  called  my  attention  to  the  generally  pale  and  sandy  coloura- 
tion of  the  Persian  bats,  as  well  as  of  those  inhabiting  North-western 
India,  and  I  shall  frequently  have  occasion  to  point  out  that  the 
same  observation  may  be  applied  to  several  Persian  mammals  and 
birds. 

Family  PTEROPIDiE. 
1.  Cynonyoteris  amplezicaudatay  (Geoff.) 

Dobson,  Jour.  As.  Soc.  Bengal,  xli,  1872,  pt.  ii,  p.  154,  xlii,  1873,  p.  202;  Proc. 
A.  S.  B.  1873,  p.  no. 

I  found  this  species  abundant  in  caves  excavated  in  rock  salt  at  a 


MAMMALIA.  19 

spot  called  Namakdun,  on  the  south  coast  of  the  island  of  Kishm, 
in  the  Persian  Gulf. 

The  occurrence  of  this  Malay  form  so  far  to  the  west  is  rather 
surprising^,  although  similar  examples  are  to  be  found  amongst  birds 
and  reptiles.  But  Mr.  Dobson  points  out,  Proc.  A.  S.  B.  1873,  p. 
200,  note,  that  he  believes  Cynonycteri^  to  be  a  cave  haunting  species, 
living  sometimes  on  moUusca  left  exposed  by  the  tide  on  the  sea 
coast,  and  it  may  thus  range,  as  do  other  marine  animals,  along  the 
sea  shore,  independently  of  the  general  distribution  of  the  terrestrial 
fauna. 

The  circumstance  of  this  bat  living  on  mollusca  explains  the 
occurrence  of  a  species  belonging  to  the  Pleropida  in  so  dreary  a 
desert  as  the  island  of  Kishm,  where  a  fruit-eating  bat  could  scarcely 
exist. 

Family  RHINOLOPHIDiE. 
2.  *Bhinolophiis  ferrum-eqninum  P  (Schreber.) 

Vesperiilio  hippocrepis,  PaU.  Zoogr.  Bob,  As.  i,  p.  135. 

According  to  Pallas,  1.  c,  this  bat  was  obtained  by  S.  G.  Gmelin  in 
the  Elburz,  and  Murray  includes  the  species  in  his  list  of  mammals 
inhabiting  Mesopotamia  (Geogr.  Dist.  Mam.  p.  375).  He  quotes  the 
list  from  Schmarda,  who,  however  (Geog.  Verbr.  Th.  p.  408)  only 
gives  EAinolopi,  spec,  indet.  This  species  has  a  wide  range  through- 
out the  Palaearctic  regions,  extending  from  England  to  Nipal  (Dobson 
in  Proc.  As.  Soc.  Beng.  Dec.  187a). 


8.  Trissnops  Persiciis,  Dobson. 

J.  A.  S.  B.  xl,  1871,  pt.  ii,  p.  4^5,  and  zli,  187a,  pi.  ii,  p.  136. 

The  types  of  this  species  were  obtained  at  Shirdz  by  Major  St.  John, 
at  an  elevation  of  4750  feet  above  the  sea.  When  at  Shirdz  I  shot 
all  the  bats  I  could,  but  I  did  not  succeed  in  obtaining  additional 
specimens. 

[All  the  specimens  of  this  new  bat  were  shot  the  same  evening, 
in  May,  just  outside  the  walls  of  Shirdz.  I  have  not  seen  it  else- 
where.— O.  St.  J.] 

C2 


20  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 


Family  VESPERTILIONIDiE. 

4.  Vespertilio  murinusy  Schreb. 

This  wajs  included  in  the  collection  made  by  Major  St.  John  in 
Shir&s,  in  1870.     (Dobson,  J.  A.  S.  B.  xl,  pt.  ii,  p.  461.) 

6.  Vespertilio  desertommy  Dobson,  ep.  noy. 

1-9.  Jdlk,  Baliichist&n        3000 

^ ,  fmco-fulmtra^  auriluB  magnis,  ad  apic^  rotundatis,  margine  exteriore 
juxta  apicem  emarginatd,  inde  ad  basin  tragi  recta,  conchd  punctis  glandu^ 
laribus  conjertim  inatructu  ;  trago  longo,  angusto,  acuto,  margine  interiore 
conveximculdy  exteriore  concavd ;  digitis  tertio  quartoqm  fere  aqtialibM, 
vertebrd  ultima  cauda  membranam  excedente  ;  alis  a  basi  digitorum  pedum 
orientibus.  Long,  corporis  cum  capite  2.1,  caud^  1.65,  auris  0.65,  tragi 
0.35,  radii  1.65,  tibia  o.S,  poll.  Angl. 

Hah.  ad  Jdlk,  Baluchistan. 

Ears  large  with  rounded  tips ;  outer  side 

deeply  emarginate    beneath    the  tip,   then 

forming  a  straight  line  without  interruption 

to  its  termination  in  front  of  the  base  of  the 

tragus  ;  the  conch  is  covered  with  glandular 

dots,  as  in  F.picta.     Tragus  long  (the  tip 

reaching  almost  as  far  as  the  deepest  part 

Head  of  VesperlUio  detertorum,  of  the  emargination    on   the  outer  side  of 

nat.  size.  the  ear),  narrow  and  acutely  pointed,  inner 

margin  slightly  convex,  outer  correspondingly  concave. 

The  third  and  fourth  fingers  are  almost  equal  in  length,  the  fourth 
usually  sUghtly  the  longest.  Last  vertebra  of  tail  half  free.  Wings 
from  the  base  of  the  toes. 

Fur  moderately  long  and  dense ;  hairs  dark  at  the  base  for  a  short 
distance,  then  pale  straw  colour,  tips  light  brown ;  ears  pale  brownish - 
yellow ;  membranes  light-brown. 

The  fiir  extends  thickly  upon  the  face  as  far  as  a  point  corresponding 
to  the  upper  canine  ;  the  interfemoral  is  covered  as  far  as  a  line  drawn 
at  right  angles  to  the  distal  extremity  of  the  third  caudal  vertebra, 
a  few  straggling  hairs  only  extending  beyond  this ;  the  tibise  are  thinly 


MAMMALIA.  21 

clothed,  the  ankles  and  backs  of  the  feet  are  naked,  but  some  hairs 
reappear  on  the  backs  of  the  toes. 

Upper  incisors,  on  each  side,  parallel  to  each  other  and  not 
separated  at  their  extremities,  equal  in  length,  and  separated  by  a 
narrow  interval  from  the  canine;  second  upper  pre-molar  minute, 
much  smaller  than  the  first,  and  placed  in  a  line  slightly  internal 
to  it  and  the  third  pre-molar. 

Length,  head  and  body,  a.i  inches;  tail,  1.65;  head,  0.75;  ear, 
0.65 ;  breadth  of  ear,  04 ;  length  of  tragus,  0.35  ;  greatest  breadth, 
o.i;  length  of  forearm  1.65;  thumb,  0,35;  second  finger,  %A\  third 
finger,  2.2  ;  fourth  finger,  2.2 ;  tibia,  0.8  ;  calcaneum,  0,55  ;  foot  and 
claws,  0.4. 

The  above  description  is  by  Mr.  Dobson.  I  can  add  nothing  as 
to  the  habits  of  this  bat,  several  specimens  of  which  were  brought 
to  me  at  J41k.     I  met  with  it  at  no  other  locality. 


€•  ^Vesperus  serotiniis,  (Schreb.). — De  F, 

VespertUio  Turcomantu,  Even.,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  343. 

The  serotine  is  recorded  by  M^n^tries  from  the  T&lish  mountains 
near  Lankor&n.  De  Filippi  obtained  F.  Turcomanus  at  Sarch&m 
and  Zinj&n  on  the  road  from  Tabriz  to  Kazvin,  and  a  specimen 
is  preserved  in  the  Turin  Museum.  Mr.  Dobson  informs  me  that 
he  has  ascertained  without  doubt  that  F.  Turcatnanus  is  identical 
with  the  serotine.  He  also  doubts  if  the  two  species  next  named 
should  be  kept  distinct  from  F.  serotinus. 


7.  V.  Shirasdensis,  Dobson. 

J.  A.  S.  B.  z1,  1 87 1,  pt.  ii,  p.  459. 

1-5.  Shiris  ..  ..  45^^ 

It  is  just  possible  that  this  may  be  the  same  as  the  next,  but  it 
is  impossible  to  identify  it  with  De  Filippi's  description ;  the  measure- 
ments do  not  coincide  well,  and  the  muzzle  in  F.  SAiraziensis  is  not 
elongate,  as  it  is  said  to  be  in  F.  mirza. 

I  found  this  bat  abundant  close  to  Shir&z.  I  shot  several  in  the 
evening  just  outside  the  city. 


22  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

8.  *V.  Mipza,  De  F. 

VespertUio  (Veapenu)  mirza,  De  F.  Arch,  per  la  Zool.  Geneva,  ii,  p.  380 ; 

Yiag.  in  Persia,  p.  343. 
1  VespertUio  aeroHnue,  M^n.  Cat.  Bais.  p.  1 7,  note. 

This  bat  is  said  to  be  allied  to  the  serotine  of  Europe,  but  to 
have  a  longer  snout,  the  length  from  the  angle  of  the  ear  to  the 
point  of  the  nose  being  greater  than  the  height  of  the  ear,  whereas 
in  the  serotine  it  is  nearly  the  same.  Its  colour  is  thus  described  : 
'  Supra  cqfeinO'^risescens,  vellere  lango^  nitore  sericeo,  subtus  griaeo^ 
fulvua;  alii  et  auriculis  aterrimis^*  (1.  c.) 

The  colouration  of  bats  has  been  shown  by  Dobson  to  be  very 
variable  and  of  small  importance  in  the  determination  of  species.  As 
to  the  value  of  the  difference  in  the  form  of  the  head^  everything 
depends  upon  whether  De  Filippi  compared  either  fresh  specimens 
or  the  skulls  of  the  two  species,  or  whether  he  drew  up  his  description 
solely  from  the  dried  skin  which  exists  as  the  type  in  the  Turin 
Museum.  This  I  have  examined.  The  nose  certainly  appears  con- 
siderably longer  than  in  the  serotine,  but  without  extracting  the 
skull  I  cannot  say  whether  there  is  any  real  distinction  or  whether 
the  apparent  difference  is  merely  due  to  the  mode  of  mounting. 

The  following  measurements  are  given  by  De  Klippi,  but  it  is  again 
unfortunately  not  stated  whether  they  are  taken  from  the  fresh  animal 
or  the  dried  skin.  In  the  latter  case  none  are  of  any  use,  except 
perhaps  the  first. 

From  the  elbow  to  the  point  of  the  extended  wing 

From  one  elbow  to  the  other,  with  the  wings  extended     . . 

From  the  anus  to  the  muzzle 

From  the  angle  of  the  ear  to  the  point  of  the  nose 

Height  of  the  ear        

F,  mirza  was  obtained  by  De  Filippi  at  Zinjdn  and  Kazvin^ 
northwest  of  Tehrfin. 

9.  Vesperugo  (Pipistrelltis)  marginatus,  (Rtipp.)— De  F. 

Brought  from  Southern  Persia  by  Doria,  and  procured  at  Shirfiz 
by  Major  St.  John. 

10.  V.  (P.)  Coroniandelicus,  (F.  Cuv.) 

This  species  also  was  obtained  at  Shiraz  by  Major  St.  John  (Dobson, 
J.  A.  S.  B.  xl,  1 87 1,  pt.  ii,  p.  461). 


Metre. 

Inches. 

0.135 

or 

5.35 

0.076 

>i 

3 

0.085 

ft 

3-35 

0.0a  I 

ft 

0.83 

0.015 

ft 

0.6 

MAMMALIA.  23 

11.  V.  (P.)  leuootis,  Dobson. 

J.  A.  S.  B.  xli,  pt.  ii,  p.  a  a  a. 

I.      Bampiir,  BaliichisUn  ..  ..  ..  1800 

a,  3.  Kann&n,  S.  E.  Persia  5000 

4.       Niriz,  eaRt  of  Shirdz  ..  ..  ..  ..  5000 

5-8.  Southern  Persia,  (labels  illegible). 

All  the  small  bats  obtained  by  me  in  Southern  Persia  appear  to 
belong  to  this  species,  which  is  distinguished  by  its  minute  outer 
incisors  in  the  upper  jaw,  and  by  the  lower  incisors  being  simple,  not 
trilobate. 

The  following  were  the  dimensions,  taken  immediately  afler  death, 
of  a  pair  shot  at  Karmto : — 

Male.        Female. 

In.  In. 

Length  from  nose  to  tip  of  tail         3.3       ..       3 

Extent  from  end  to  end  of  wings       ..  ..  ..  ..  9  8.7 

Length  of  tail  from  anus        ..  ..  ..  ..  1.5  ..  1.45 

Length  of  radius         ..         ..         ..  1.36  ..  i.aa 

Length  of  tibia  ..  ..  ..  0.47  ..  0.48 

12.  *Fleootus  auritus,  L. 

This  is  said  by  Peters  (Monatsber.  Ak.  Wiss.  Berl.  1866,  p.  t8)  to 
have  been  collected  in  Persia  by  the  Prussian  Envoy,  Von  Minutoli. 
No  precise  locality  is  given. 

Vesperugo  noctula  and  the  pipistrelle  ( V.  pipistrellm)  are  said  by 
Eichwald  to  be  found  in  the  Caucasus  and  Transcaucasian  provinces  of 
Russia,  and  they  probably  inhabit  North-western  Persia.  Barbodtellua 
communis  also,  which  ranges  from  Europe  to  the  Himalayas,  may 
occur  within  Persian  limits. 

Brief  descriptions  are  given  by  M^n^tries  (Cat.  Rais.  p.  17,  note) 
of  three  species  of  bats  obtained  by  him,  two  in  the  Tdlish  mountains, 
the  third  in  caravanserais  on  the  shores  of  the  Caspian,  but  he  only 
identifies  one  {F,  serotinus) y  and  that  doubtfully. 


24  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 


INSECTIVORA. 


Family  TALPIDiE. 


18.  '^'Talpa  EuropflBay  L. 

According  to  Menetries,  the  European  mole  is  found  at  Lankor&n. 
Eichwald  records  its  occurrence  in  the  Caucasus,  and  it  extends  through 
Central  Asia  to  Siberia,  but  it  has  not  been  observed  on  the  Persian 
highlands. 

[I  have  never  seen  indications  of  moles'  burrows  anywhere  in  Persia. 
— O.  St.  J.] 

Family  SORICIDiE. 
14.  *Crooidura  ftunigata,  De  F. 

Screx  (Crocidura)  fumigatua,  De  F.  Arch,  per  la  ZooL  Genova^  ii,  p.  379; 
Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  343. 

The  following  is  De  Filippi's  description  of  this  species  : — 
'  S.  caud^  elongatay  crassa,  inter  j)ilos  proaimhentei  selis  longisaimis 
verticillatim  disposilis.     In  regione  mento-jugulari^  utroque  latere^  ver- 
rucis  jnliferis  quatuor.     Supra  fusco-plumbeuSy  »ubtus  cinereus,* 

'Allied  to  S.  araneus^,  but  distinguished  by  its  colour,  by  the 
first  false  molar  being  proportionally  more  developed,  and  by  its 
much  longer  tail,  as  appears  from  the  following  comparison: — 

Metre.    Eng.  In. 
S,  aranetu.    Length  of  body     ••         ..         ..         ..         ..         .071    or    a.8 

,,  Length  of  tail        ..         ..  ..  ..  ..         .034     „     1.35 

^./umi^a<t(«.  Length  of  body     ..  ..         ..         ..         ..         .06a     „     3.45 

„  Length  of  tail        042     „     1.65 


'  Another  character,  only  to  be  detected  in  specimens  preserved  in 

spirit,  consists  in  the  presence  in  this  species  along  the  lower  jaw, 

on  each    side  of  the  mento-gular  region,  of  four  small  prominences, 

each  bearing  a  long  hair. 

*The    description  given  by  Pallas  (Zoographia   Rosso- Asiatica)  of 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that,  according  to  the  British  Association  rules  of  nomen- 
tm,t,l^^  shrew  commonly  known  as  Sorex  vulgaru  is  the  real  S.  aranew,  being  thus 
nam        ixx   the  12  th  edition  of  Linnaeus.    The  correct  name  for  Sarex  (Crocidu/ra)  arantua 
•«cfe  »p^«ani  to  be  5.  ruifu^,  Zimmennan. 


MAMMALIA,  25 

S,  Guldenstadiii  might  also  agree  with  the  present  species,  which, 
however,  has  the  ears  eo  distinctly  developed,  that  the  phrase 
"  auriculi  via  e  vellere  emergentea  "  cannot  be  applied  to  it.  Moreover, 
if  S.  Guldenstadtii  so  nearly  resembles  S.  leucodon,  as  to  form  with  this 
latter  one  species  (Giebel,  Die  Saugethiere,  p.  902)  then  the  diflferences 
from  S,  fumigaius  would  be  greater.' 

I  examined  the  types  of  this  species  in  the  Turin  Museum.  There 
are  two  preserved  in  spirit,  one  from  Tiflis,  the  other  from  Tehrdn. 
They  appear  to  be  quite  distinct  from  C,  aranea  (auct.  nee  L.),  the  tail 
being  not  only  longer  but  differently  coloured.  In  G,  aranea  it  is 
yellowish  ;  in  C,  fumigata  the  same  colour  as  the  back.  They  are 
also,  I  think,  distinct  from  C,  Guldenstadtii, 

15.  *Sorex  pusilliis,  S.  G.  Qm. 

S.  G.  Gm.  Beise  durch  Busaland,  iii.  p.  499.  PL  LVII,  f.  i,  (1774).— Fitz. 
Sitz.  Akad.  Wien,  Ivii,  p.  505  {cum  syn.) 

This  species  was  found  by  S.  G.  Gmelin^  in  the  Steppes  of  Darband 
(Derbend),  and  also  in  Mazandar&n^  apparently  at  Mashad-i-Sar.  It 
has  not  been  recognized  again^  and  the  name  is  omitted  in  most 
recent  zoological  works.  It  is  near  8.  minuttiSy  L.  {S,pygnueus^,  Pall.), 
but  considerably  larger.    Gmelin  gives  the  following  measurements : — 

In.  Lin. 

Tip  of  nose  to  root  of  tail  ...         ..         3*7 

TaU I.I 


Total 4.8 

The  inches  are  probably  French,  so  the  English  measure  would  be 
rather  more.  The  ears  are  said  to  be  4^  lines  long,  the  length  being 
equal  to  the  breadth,  and  several  other  dimensions  are  given,  the  value 
of  which  depends  entirely  upon  whether  they  were  taken  on  a  fresh 
specimen  or  not. 

The  colour  is  said  to  be  dark  grey  above,  ashy  below,  the  tail  with 
white  hairs  on  both  sides,  the  whiskers  (*Barthaare')  passing  from  white 
into  dark  grey.  The  dentition  is  said  to  be^  — M.  |-— |^ ;  C  f — f ; 
I.  f =32. 

'  The  name  8,  minutut,  L.  must  stand  for  this  spedes.  Pallas  states  that  he  examined 
Laxman's  specimen,  upon  which  Linnseus's  name  was  founded,  and  ascertained  that  it 
belonged  to  his  R  pygmcBus, 

"  These  are  not  the  correct  names  for  the  teeth,  as  Brandt  has  shown,  but  the  number 


26  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

I  am  quite  unable  to  identify  this  with  any  known  species^  and 
can  only  hope  that  specimens  may  be  procured  from  Darband  or 
Mazandardn  which  may  show  whether  it  be  a  distinct  species  or  not. 

This  species  is  also  given  by  Schmarda,  with  doubt,  as  inhabit- 
ing Mesopotamia. 

10.  *PS.  Gmelini,  Pall. 

Pallas,  Zoogr.  Boss.  As.  i,  p.  134.  PL  X,  f.  3.— Fitzing.  Site.  Wien  Akad.  Ivii, 
p.  503. 

This  is  another  species  which  requires  identification.  Pallas  refers, 
with  a  query,  to  Gmelin's  description  of  8,  pusillus,  but  his  specimen 
must  have  belonged  to  a  different  form,  at  least  the  colour  as 
described  appears  very  distinct.  I  do  not  attach  much  importance 
to  the  asserted  absence  of  ears  in  8.  Gmelini. 

The  following  is  Pallas's  description.  I  translate  all  except  the 
characters : — 

*  8orex  inauritu8^  rufescens^  cauda  concolore^  tereti,  setosa.^ 

^  Gmelin  the  younger  sent  me  a  specimen  captured  in  Hyrcania, 
which  I  have  figured^  and  which  is  undoubtedly  distinct  from  all 
preceding  species. 

*  Desc.  In  size  and  proportions  it  approaches  8.  pygmaus^  but  it 
is  larger.  Snout  less  elongate  than  is  that  of  8,  araneus.  No 
prominent  ears.  Colour  greyish  subferruginous,  yellowish  below. 
Tail  ferruginous  yellowish,  round,  covered  with  little  bristles  (obsita 
setulis).     Feet  simple.' 

This  may  be  8.  minutus,  li,,  as  has  been  suggested  by  Blasius. 
So  far  as  I  am  aware  no  specimens  are  known  to  exist  in  any 
collection.  Fitzinger  considers  it  allied  to  8.  vulgaris  {8.  araneus^ 
L.),  but  he  appears  to  be  guided  to  a  great  extent  by  Pallas's 
figure.  He  also  makes  the  mistake  of  giving  the  locality  whence 
the  type  specimen  was  procured  by  Gmelin  as  the  Crimea  instead 
of  Mazandarfin. 

Crocidura  aranea  (Schreb.  nee  L.)  and  C,  Guldenstadtii^  (Pall.)  (?  C. 
leucodoiij  Herm.)  are  said  by  Eichwald  to  be  found  in  the  Caucasus, 
and  8./odiens^  Pall.,  (8.  carinatus,  Penn,  apud  Eichwald),  in  the  Trans- 
caucasian  provinces.  Pallas  says  that  his  8.  Guldenstadtii  is  com- 
mon in  Georgia. 

proves  the  species  to  be  a  true  Sorex,  Conf.  Brandt,  Bui.  Soc.  Moso.  zli,  pp.  7^5- 
Brandt  was  clearly  mistaken  in  referring  this  species  to  CVocidura  leucodon,  or  O.  aranta. 
Conf.  Wagner  in  Saugethiere,  v,  p.  561. 


MAMMALIA,  27 

Family  ERINACEIDiE. 
17.  Erinaceiis  macracanthiis,  sp.  nov.  PI.  I. 

Jujuk,  Persian,  at  Karm&n,  Khdr-pusht,  (Thomback),  at  Shir&z. 

I.      Dizak,  BaMchistdn 4000 

2-4.  Miihiin,  near  Karanin  . .  . .  6000 

4'7*  Kannitn  ••         5^^^ 

E.  affinis  E.  auriti^  Pall.,  aculeis  lon^ioribus,  ad  tergum  posticum 
sesquipollicaribus,  nigris^  basin  versus  albido  hiannulatis ;  carpore  sullus 
pilis  longiusculis  albidis,  ad  latera  parlim  atque  postice  omnino  fuscisy 
induto,  pedibus  fusds. 

Hob.  in  Persid. 

The  spines  in  larg^  specimens  are  fully  1.5  inches  long,  where  they 
attain  their  greatest  dimensions  on  the  hinder  part  of  the  back.  They 
are  surrounded  by  from  20  to  24  narrow  longitudinal  furrows,  the 
ridges  between  which  are  more  or  less  distinctly  transversely  sulcate, 
and  bear  tubercles  at  rather  irregular  intervals.  Of  the  specimens 
obtained^  three  from  Karm^  are  white  throughout,  being  apparently 
either  aged  animals  or  albinoes ;  of  the  others  the  three  which  are 
adult  or  nearly  so  have  the  points  of  the  spines  black,  the  basal 
portion  brown  or  brownish  black,  with  two  white  rings,  each  about  J 
inch  long.  In  a  young  specimen  the  points  of  the  spines  are  whitish, 
then  a  black  ring  followed  by  a  white  one,  and  succeeded  near  the 
base  by  a  short  brown  space.  Probably  the  white  tips  wear  off  in  time, 
and  the  spines  become  black  at  the  end. 

The  spines  commence  on  the  forehead  just  between  the  anterior 
edges  of  the  ears^  in  two  belts^  one  on  each  side,  a  space  free  from 
spines  running  along  the  middle  of  the  head  to  the  nape  ^.  The  ears 
are  thinly  covered  outside,  and  still  more  sparsely  on  their  inner 
surface,  with  short  white  hair.  The  face,  in  adult  specimens  with  dark 
spines,  is  covered  with  black  and  white  hairs  mixed^  the  moustachial 
hairs  are  black,  and  the  longest  from  i^  to  2  inches  long.  Sides  of  the 
neck  and  lower  parts  generally  with  rather  soft  hair  of  considerable 
length,  white  on  the  chin,  neck,  and  breast,  mixed  with  black  towards 
the  sides  of  the  breast  and  on  the  abdomen,  and  brownish  black 
around  the  thighs  and  lower  abdomen ;  tail,  legs,  and  feet  covered  with 
short  blackish  brown  hair. 

^  Thb  character  is  often  difficult  to  detect  in  stuffed  specimens. 


1^5      »-7        1-7        ^^ 


28  ZOOLOGY  OF  PEBSIA. 

The  following  are  the  dimensions  taken  from  &esh  specimens  of  four 
api^rently  adult  animals.,  in  inches  : — 

cf        (J         ?         ? 

Length  of  head  ..  ..  ..  1.7  1^7  1.9  a.i 

Wliole  length   from  nose  to  insertion   of   tail,  I 

measured  below  f  "**  ^'^  '"^  ^'* 

Tail 0.75  i.)5  1.15  i.a 

Length  of  ear  measured  inside,  from  orifice  to  tip  1.7  1.9  a  3 
Length   of  ear  measured  outride,  or  from  the  1 

crown  of  the  head  between  the  ears  to  the  tip  J 

Width  of  ear  when  laid  flat  ..  i  1.35  1.25  1.55 

Fore  fix>t  to  the  end  of  nails         ..  i.i  1. 18  1.25  1^5 

Hind  f(X>t,  incluiliug  tarsus,  to  end  of  nails         . .  1.5  1.6  I.55  I.5 

From  the  skeleton  of  an  adult  I  take  the  following  dimensions : — 

Length  of  skull          ..                     ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  a.a 

Brcai  1th  to  outside  of  zygomatic  arches  ..  ..         ••  ..  •.  I*i7 

Length  of  humerus    ..  ..  ..  ..  I.75 

Length  of  radius       . .                     . .  . .  . .          . .  . .  . .  4j03 

Length  of  femur                    ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  I.65 

Length  of  tibia  ..  ..          ..  ••  ••  1.8 

It  appears  to  me  that  the  present  si>ecies  differs  from  E,  auriiui. 
Pall.,  oven  more  than  E.  hj/jwuiehuy  Brandt,  E.  megalotW^^  Bljth^  and 
E.  j)ecf oralis,  Hcugl.,  do,  since  they  are  said  only  to  differ  in  colour,  and 
in  the  ornament^ition  of  the  spines,  whilst  in  E.  taacracanfins  the  spines 
are  much  longer  than  in  E.  auriius.  But  as  I  can  find  no  thorough 
description  of  E,  auriius^  and  the  only  specimen  in  the  British  Museum 
is  immature,  and  appears  to  differ  in  the  character  of  its  spines  from 
the  description  of  the  typical  E.  auritus,  I  have  sent  a  specimen  of  the 
Persian  hedgehog  and  its  skull  to  Dr.  Peters  of  Berlin,  who  has  most 
kindly  compared  it  with  the  skins  in  the  Berlin  Museum,  and  finds  that 
besides  the  differences  I  had  pointed  out,  viz.  that  in  jE".  macracanthusihQ 
spines  are  longer,  and  have  the  whole  tip  black,  whereas  in  E.  aurUu9 
the  tips  are  whitish,  there  are  several  other  distinctions  between  the 
two  forms.  In  the  Persian  hedgehog  the  under  parts  are  only  partly 
white,  the  lateral  and  posterior  portions  being  dusky,  or  black,  whilst 
in  E.  auriius  the  lower  parts  are  white  throughout.  E.  macracanthua 
has  also  narrower  ears,  and  a  longer  pointed  snout.    In  the  skull  also, 

*  This  species  is  omitted  in  Fitzinger's  *  Naturliche  Familie  der  Igel,'  in  the  Situngs- 
berichte  Kais.  Akad.  Wissenschaften,  Wien,  vol.  Ivi,  p.  844.  It  was  described  in  the 
Jour.  As.  Soc.  Bengal  for  1845,  ^ol*  ^^»  P*  353>  ^^^  vol.  xv,  p.  170,  and  is  considered  by 
Stloiczka,  J.  A.  S.  B.  1872,  voL  xli,  pt.  a,  p.  225,  dintinct  from  E.  aurituB. 


MAMMALIA,  29 

Professor  Peters  informs  me^  there  is  much  difference,  the  lachrymal 
foramen  is  less  open^  and  the  second  lower  premolar  (the  fifth  in  the 
row)  decidedly  longer. 

I  can  give  bat  little  information  as  to  the  habits  of  this  hedgehog. 
The  specimens  brought  to  me  were  said  to  have  been  obtained  in 
gardens  near  towns,  and  I  found  remains  of  coleoptera  and  caterpillars 
in  their  stomachs. 

E»  auritu^  is  included  in  Sehmarda's  list  of  the  Mesopotamian 
mammals,  but  the  assertion  of  its  existence  in  Mesopotamia  requires 
confirmation ;  it  occurs  both  east  and  west  of  the  Caspian,  but  has 
not  been  observed  in  Persia.  Blyth's  E,  megalotis  is  from  Kandah&r, 
and  may  be  found  in  North-eastern  Persia.  The  long-eared  type  of 
hedgehog  does  not  extend  into  India,  though  forms  of  it  have  been 
found  in  Arabia  and  North-eastern  Africa.  E,  EurojkBus  is  said  by 
M^n^tries  and  Eichwald  to  inhabit  the  Caucasus,  and  the  former 
observed  it  at  Bdku. 

[The  hedgehog  of  Persia,  though  very  common  in  some  places,  is 
by  no  means  universally  distributed.  From  six  to  seven  thousand  feet 
above  the  sea  seems  to  be  its  favourite  elevation.  I  first  saw  it  at  Ab&deh, 
half  way  between  Shir&z  and  Isfah&n,  and  afterwards  at  Eklid,  a 
cluster  of  villages  embosomed  in  gardens  and  walnut  groves  a  day's 
march  south  of  Ab&deh.  Here  it  is  very  plentiful^  as  it  is  at  M&hun 
near  Earm&n. — O.  St.  J.] 


CARNIVORA. 

Family  FELID^. 
18.  *Feli8  leo,  L. 

Leo  PersictUt  Swains. 
Shir,  Persian. 

The  lion  at  the  present  day  is  found  in  Mesopotamia,  on  the  west 
flanks  of  the  Zagros  mountains  east  of  the  Tigris  valley^  and  in  the 
wooded  ranges  south  and  south-east  of  Shirfiz.  It  nowhere  exists  on 
the  table  land  of  Persia,  nor  is  it  found  in  Baluchistan.  The  Persian 
lion  is  said  to  be  a  short  maned  variety,  like  that  of  North-eastern 
Africa. 

According  to  Pitzinger,  Sitz.  K.  Acad.  Wiss.  Wien,  Iviii,  1868,  p.  440, 
I/eo  Perricui  is  fonnd  in  Persia,  Afghfinist&n^  and  Turkest&n,  whilst 


30  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

L,  Guzeratensis,  said  to  be  a  much  larger  animal,  with  a  different 
mane,  extends  through  Southern  Persia  to  Mesopotamia  and  Arabia. 
Now  parts  of  Southern  Persia  and  Mesopotamia  are  the  only  tracts  in 
Persia  in  which  lions  are  found,  and  none  are  known  to  exist  in 
either  Afghdnistdn  or  Turkestdn.  In  the  same  way  the  tiger  is  said 
by  the  same  writer  to  extend  through  Tibet  and  Kdbul  to  Southern 
Persia.  It  is  certainly  found  in  neither  of  the  two  last  countries,  and 
in  Tibet  probably  only  to  the  eastward.  I  call  attention  to  these  mistakes 
to  show  the  extreme  caution  with  which  the  statements  of  localities 
current  in  many  European  works  must  be  received.  It  is  only  of  late 
years  that  the  study  of  exact  geographical  distribution  has  become 
prevalent;  many  localities  given  by  older  writers  are  erroneous,  and 
museum  labels,  when  not  authenticated  by  trustworthy  collectors, 
should  be  quoted  with  caution. 

[Lions,  which  are  very  numerous  in  the  reedy  swamps  bordering 
the  Tigris  and  Euphrates,  are  found  also  in  the  plains  of  Susiana,  the 
modern  Khuzistdn,  and  extend  into  the  mountain  country  south  of 
Shirdz  as  far  east  as  longitude  53^.  I  have  no  accurate  information 
of  its  northern  limits,  but  Captain  Pierson,  who  spent  many  years  in 
the  country  between  Tehrdn  and  B&ghd&d,  tells  me  that  he  never 
heard  of  lions  in  the  oak  forest  west  of  Karm&nsh&h.  It  is  the  acorns 
of  this  same  oak  (Quercus  cegilopifolia,  according  to  Aucher-Eloy), 
which  feed  the  wild  pigs  whose  presence  tempts  the  lion  into  the 
mountains  of  F&rs.  The  south-western  slopes  of  the  great  mountain 
barrier  which  shuts  off  the  plateau  of  Irdn  from  the  coast  are  clad,  as 
far  as  the  meridian  of  Shirdz,  from  the  altitude  of  four  to  eight  thousand 
feet,  with  considerable  forests  of  this  tree.  In  appearance  it  is  not 
unlike  our  English  oak,  but  never  reaches  the  same  size.  The  foliage 
is  deciduous,  and  the  leaf  dark  green  like  that  of  the  ilex,  which  it  re- 
sembles in  shape.  The  acorns  are  very  large,  and  in  times  of  scarcity  are 
ground  by  the  inhabitants  and  mixed  with  flour  to  make  a  bread  which 
is  proverbially  unpalatable.  Further  east  and  north  the  oak  is  replaced 
by  scanty  jungle  of  the  wild  pistachio,  and  here  the  lion  does  not 
venture.  In  the  lower  valleys  the  king  of  beasts  is  occasionally  seen 
about  the  beds  of  rivers,  where  reeds  and  thick  groves  of  wild  myrtle 
afford  him  convenient  shelter. 

The  little  valley  of  Dashtiarjan,  thirty-five  miles  west  of  Shirdz,  is 
notorious  for  the  number  of  lions  found  in  its  vicinity.  Part  of  the 
valley  is  occupied  by  a  fresh- water  lake,  on  the  edges  of  which  are  exten- 


MAMMALIA.  31 

give  beds  of  reeds ;  the  surrounding  hills,  which  rise  some  four  thousand 
feet  above  the  valley,  itself  six  thousand  five  hundred  feet  above  the 
sea,  are  covered  with  oak  forest,  or  with  pretty  thick  brushwood  of 
hawthorn^  wild  pear,  and  other  bushes,  and  contain  very  extensive 
vineyards.  Dashtiarjan  is  thus  a  perfect  paradise  for  swine,  and  they 
increase  and  multiply  accordingly,  so  that  the  lions  have  plenty  to  eat, 
vaiying  the  monotony  of  constant  pork  with  an  occasional  ibex,  or 
with  a  calf  from  the  herds  which  graze  in  the  valley.  Every  year 
some  four  or  five  adult  lions  are  killed  in  Dashtiarjan  or  the  neigh- 
bourhood, and  a  few  cubs  brought  in  to  Shirdz  for  sale. 

In  the  early  part  of  my  sojourn  in  Persia,  having  much  time  on 
my  bands,  and  being  fresh  from  tiger  shooting  in  the  north-west  of 
India,  I  made  many  attempts  to  add  a  lion's  skin  to  my  trophies,  but 
without  success.  Many  a  weary  tramp  have  I  had  over  the  hills 
following  the  tracks  of  lions  which  had  killed  cattle  in  the  plain ; 
and  more  than  one  night  have  I  spent  rolled  up  in  a  blanket 
behind  a  heap  of  stones,  with  a  white  calf  tied  in  front  of  me,  in 
the  hope  of  a  shot.  All  was  in  vain.  I  never  caught  a  glimpse  of 
a  lion  in  Persia  till  I  had  been  in  the  country  more  than  three  years, 
when  the  &ct  of  their  existence  was  impressed  upon  me  in  a  manner 
more  unexpected  than  pleasant. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1867,  my  camp  was  at  the  caravanserai  of 
Liian  Kotal,  half  way  up  the  Kotal  Hrizan  pass,  which  crosses  the 
highest  range  between  Shirdz  and  Bushire,  about  fifty  miles  from  the 
former  city.  Having  business  in  Shir&z,  I  sent  out  a  horse  half  way, 
rode  in,  and  was  returning  a  couple  of  days  later,  when  I  met  the 
Kossid  carrjdng  the  monthly  packet  of  letters  from  Bushire.  Looking 
through  these  lost  me  an  hour,  and  it  was  not  till  sunset  that  I  entered 
the  oak  forest  south  of  Dashtiarjan  with  five  miles  of  steep  mountain 
road  before  me. '  Contrary  to  my  usual  habit,  I  carried  no  gun,  being 
unarmed,  with  the  exception  of  a  Colt's  revolver  of  the  smallest  size. 
I  was  mounted,  I  may  say,  on  a  bay  Arab  fifteen  hands  high.  I  had 
crossed  a  tiny  rivulet,  said  to  be  a  favourite  drinking  place  of  lions, 
and  where  indeed  I  had  often  seen  their  foot-prints,  and  had  just 
begun  the  ascent  of  the  hill  by  a  path  covered  with  loose  boulders, 
when  a  tawny  shape  moved  noiselessly  out  of  the  trees  some  thirty 
yards  in  front.  Whether  my  horse  stopped  or  I  pulled  him  up,  I  do 
not  know,  but  there  we  stood;  the  lioness,  for  it  was  evidently  a  lady, 
gazing  at  us,  motionless  but  for  a  gentle  waving  of  the  tail,  and  the 


32  ZOO  LOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

horse  and  I  looking  straight  at  her.  I  mentally  execrated  my  folly  at 
not  having  brought  a  gun,  for  a  fairer  shot  it  was  impossible  to  imagine. 
After  the  lapse  of  a  few  seconds,  thinking  it  time  to  end  the  interview, 
I  cracked  my  hunting-whip,  and  gave  a  loud  shout,  to  intimate  to  her 
ladyship  that  she  had  better  clear  out,  never  dreaming  for  a  moment 
that  lion  or  tiger  would  have  the  courage  to  attack  a  man  on  horseback. 
To  my  astonishment,  instead  of  sneaking  back  into  the  forest  as  I 
expected,  she  deliberately  charged  us  down  hill,  and  sprang  at  the 
horse's  throat.  Whether  from  miscalculation  of  the  distance  through 
the  unevenness  of  the  ground,  or  from  my  jerking  the  horse's  head  up 
with  the  curb,  I  cannot  say,  but  she  missed  her  spring  and  came  down 
under  my  right  stirrup.  With  a  goodsized  pistol  I  could  have  broken 
her  spine  as  she  stood  bewildered  for  a  moment,  but  to  fire  a  bullet 
hardly  bigger  than  a  pea,  with  only  a  few  grains  of  powder  behind  it, 
into  the  loose  skin  of  a  lioness,  would  have  been  folly  j  so  I  stuck  in 
the  spurs,  with  the  intentioxi  of  making  tracks  as  fast  as  the  nature  of 
the  ground  would  allow.  But  the  poor  horse  was  paralysed  with  fear ; 
not  an  inch  would  he  budge,  till  the  lioness,  recovering  from  her 
surprise,  made  a  swift  half  circle  and  attacked  us  from  behind ;  not 
leaping  on  the  horse's  back  with  all  four  legs,  as  is  so  often  represented 
in  pictures  of  Persian  sporting,  but  rearing  on  her  hind  legs,  and 
embracing  the  horse's  stern  with  her  forepaws,  while  trying  to  lay 
hold  of  his  flesh  with  her  teeth.  As  may  be  supposed,  I  lost  no  time 
in  jumping  ofl*,  with  no  more  damage  than  a  tear  in  my  strong  cord 
breeches,  and  a  sUght  scratch  in  the  thigh.  Directly  the  horse  felt 
himself  relieved  of  my  weight,  he  reared  and  plung^  violently, 
sending  me  head  over  heels  among  the  stones  in  one  direction,  and  the 
lioness  in  the  other.  Expecting  the  brute  to  be  on  me  at  once,  I  pulled 
out  my  miserable  little  pistol,  and  picking  myself  up  as  soon  as  possible, 
looked  about  me.  There  stood  the  lioness,  not  five  yards  ofi*,  sublimely 
indifferent  to  me  and  my  proceedings,  waving  her  tail,  and  gazing 
intently  at  the  horse,  which  had  trotted  twenty  yards  down  the  road. 
She  made  a  few  swift  steps  after  him,  when  I  fired  a  couple  of  shots 
over  her  head,  hoping  to  drive  her  off.  The  only  effect  was  to  start 
the  horse  off  again,  when  the  lioness  again  charged  him  from  behind, 
and  clinging  to  his  quarters  both  disappeared  among  the  trees. 

So  fisir  I  had  had  no  time  to  feel  much  fear,  but,  as  soon  as  the 
source  of  danger  was  no  longer  visible,  my  nerves  began  to  get 
somewhat  shaky.     Perhaps  I  ought  to  be  ashamed  to  say  that  I 


MAMMALIA.  33 

did  Dot  lose  much  time  in  ensconcing  myself  in  the  branches  of  a 
convenient  oak  tree,  some  twenty  feet  from  the  ground.  A  few 
minutes  at  that  secure  altitude  sufficed  to  restore  my  nerve  some- 
what, and  I  reflected  that  there  were  the  regulation  three  courses 
open  to  me,  to  stay  where  I  was,  to  go  forward,  or  to  go  back. 
The  first  involved  spending  a  March  night  on  the  top  of  a  tree, 
the  bottom  of  which  was  7000  feet  above  the  sea,  and  I  hate  cold. 
The  second  presented  the  not  over  agreeable  prospect  of  a  five  mile 
walk  over  a  villainous  road  through  the  forest,  with  the  chance  of 
meeting  more  lions  without  a  horse  to  take  ofi*  their  attention ; 
moreover  my  bolsters  and  saddle-bags  contained  valuables,  and 
even  if  the  steed  was  killed  I  might  recover  these  by  prompt 
action.  I  therefore  made  up  my  mind  to  follow  the  horse  and  his 
enemy,  and  as  the  shades  of  night  were  fast  gathering  round  me, 
lost  no  time  about  it.  Half  a  mile  down  the  road  I  found  my 
unfortunate  steed  bleeding  fast  from  a  wound  in  his  quarter,  and 
still  in  snch  a  state  of  terror  that  he  declined  to  let  me  approach 
him. 

There  was  nothing  to  be  done  but  to  drive  him  out  of  the  forest 
into  the  plain,  which  was  not  many  hundred  yards  off,  and  to  walk 
on  to  the  nearest  village  for  assistance.  This  was  the  little  walled 
hamlet  of  Kaleh  Mushir,  a  mile  or  so  off,  which  I  reached  without 
mishap  save  an  alarm  from  a  herd  of  pigs  which  charged  past  me 
towards  the  lake  as  if  a  lion  was  after  them. 

A  single  £Eunily  tenanted  Kaleh  Mushir  during  the  winter.  From 
them  I  got  a  little  acorn  bread  and  dates.  No  bribe  would  induce 
the  man  to  come  out  with  me  that  night  with  torches  to  find  the 
horse ;  bat  I  found  him  the  next  morning  at  daybreak,  after  a  night 
made  sleepless  by  the  most  vigorous  fleas  I  have  ever  met.  The 
poor  brute  was  grazing  quietly  in  the  plain,  and  allowed  himself 
to  be  caught  without  difficulty.  Although  his  quarters  and  flanks 
were  scored  in  every  direction  with  claw  marks,  only  one  wound 
had  penetrated  the  flesh,  and  this  to  a  depth  of  two  inches,  making 
as  clean  an  incision  as  if  cut  with  a  razor.  This  I  sewed  up,  and  in 
a  week  the  horse  was  as  well  as  ever,  though  he  bore  the  scars  of  his 
adventure  for  the  rest  of  his  life.  It  is  perhaps  worthy  of  remark 
that  the  distance  apart  of  the  scratches  made  by  the  two  outer  claws 
of  each  stroke  with  the  paws  was  between  fourteen  and  fifteen  inches. 

The  Mutis'  or  mountebanks    of   Persia  are    often   accompanied 

VOL.  II.  T> 


34  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

by  a  captive  lion^  trained  to  eat  a  joint  of  mutton  off  the  chest  of  a 
boy,  who  throws  himself  down  on  his  back.  It  is  not  a  pleasant 
exhibition,  the  child  being  generally  much  alarmed.  I  once  asked 
a  Shirdz  luti  which  took  the  most  thrashing  to  learn  his  part, 
the  lion  or  the  boy ;  but  a  grin  was  the  only  answer  he  vouchsafed.— 
O.  St.  J.] 

19.  *Pelis  tigrifl,  L.— De  F. 

Babr,  Persian  \ 

The  tiger  is  only  found  in  Persia  in  the  Caspian  provinces, 
Mazandaran,  and  Ghildn,  lying  to  the  north  of  the  Elburz  moun- 
tains, and  corresponding  in  part  to  the  ancient  Hyrcania^.  These 
provinces,  imlike  the  plateau  of  Persia,  are  covered  with  dense  forest, 
and  in  them  the  tiger  ranges  up  to  an  elevation  of  at  least  50CX) 
or  6000  feet.  To  the  westward  it  extends  as  far  as  the  Caucasus 
and  Mount  Ararat,  being  found  not  far  from  Tiflis. 

[Tigers  are  very  numerous  in  the  Caspian  provinces  of  Persia,  and 
in  the  Caucasus  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the  Araxes.  The  dense 
vegetation,  European  in  its  forms,  but  tropical  in  luxuriance,  which 
covers  the  low  land  near  the  coast,  and  the  hills  to  a  height  of  six 
thousand  feet,  affords  a  shelter  as  perfect  as  the  jungle  of  the  Tarai, 
or  the  swamps  of  the  Sunderbunds.  Whether  the  tiger  extends  through 
the  hills  east  of  the  Caspian  into  Central  Asia,  where  he  is  known  to 
exist,  is  a  matter  of  uncertainty.  Ferrier  in  his  *  Caravan  journeys  * 
speaks  of  tigers  ia  the  jungles  of  the  Hari  Rud  north-west  of  Herat, 
but  he  does  not  mention  having  seen  skins. 

Cubs  are  often  captured  in  Mazandar&n  and  brought  to  Tehr&i. 
I  have  seen  specimens  in  the  B&gh-i-Washi  quite  equal  in  size  to 
Bengal  tigers. — O.  St.  J.] 

20.  *Felis  pardus,  L.— De  F. 

PalanQt  Persian. 

The  leopard  occurs,  to  the  best  of  my  belief,  thoughout  Persia  and 
Baluchist&n.  In  the  latter  country  I  saw  its  tracks  on  several 
occasions. 

*  S.  G.  Gmelin,  Beiae,  ill,  p.  485,  gives  'Palang*  as  the  Persian  name.  This  really 
means  a  leopard,  but  may  sometimes  be  used  loosely  for  a  tiger.  In  India,  coriously 
enough^  Shtr  means  a  tiger,  and  Babr-»her,  a  lion. 

'  Allusions  to  the  tigers  of  Hyrcania  are  common  amongst  the  Boman  writers,  e.g. 
Virg.  ^n.  iv,  367,  Eel.  v.  39 ;  Viigil  also  mentions  *  Oaucasiw  tigres,'  Georg.  ii,  151. 


MAMMALIA,  35 

[Leopards  are  found  everywhere  in  the  mountains  of  Persia.  In 
the  markets  of  Isfsdi&n  skins  are  always  obtainable. — O.  St.  J.] 

21.  *F.  tmoiay  Schreber. 

I  have  seen  ounce  skins  in  London  said  to  have  been  brought  from 
Persia. 

[An  ounce's  skin  was  brought  to  me  at  Shir^^  said  to  have  been 
obtained  in  the  neighbouring  hills. — O.  St.  J.] 

22.  *F.  oatus,  L. 

Major  St.  John  informs  me  that  he  has  shot  the  common  wild  cat 
of  Europe  near  Shir&z.  Eichwald  states  that  it  occurs  around  the 
shores  of  the  Caspian. 

[I  feel  nearly  sure  that  the  European  wild  cat  is  found  in  Persia.  In 
1864,  I  shot  an  immense  male  in  the  pass  near  Kamdraj,  between 
Shir^  and  Bushire,  which,  from  the  size  of  the  skull  and  shortness  of 
the  tail,  as  well  as  the  markings  of  the  skin,  I  supposed  to  be  Feli% 
catu9.  It  was  unfortunately  lost  off  the  mule  to  which  I  tied  it,  so 
that  I  did  not  preserve  the  skin.  Some  years  afterwards  the  darvish, 
who  inhabits  a  little  im&mz&deh  or  shrine  at  the  Tang-i-Allah-hu- 
akb&r  at  Shir&z,  told  me  that  a  wild  cat,  which  lived  in  the  moimtain 
above  him,  was  in  the  habit  of  paying  its  addresses  to  the  female  cats 
kept  by  my  religious  friend.  One  evening  I  saw  the  amorous  visitor,  and 
he  appeared  to  me  to  look  like  F,  catus,  though  of  course  he  may  have 
been  a  domestic  cat  gone  wild.  The  darvish  begged  me  not  to  shoot 
him,  lest  I  should  bring  bad  luck  on  the  imfimz&deh. — O.  St.  J.] 

23.  ♦P.  jubataS  Schreb.— De  F. 

Ouepctrda  guttata  (Henn.),  Gray,  Cat.  Cam.  Mam.  p.  39. 
Tiiz-palang,  Persian. 

The  hunting  leopard  is  certainly  found  in  Persia,  but  I  am  unable 
to  give  any  particulars  as  to  its  distribution.  According  to  Eichwald  it 
does  not  extend  into  the  countries  west  of  the  Caspian,  though  found 
to  the  eastward.     De  Filippi  says  that  it  is  found  in  Mazandardn. 

[I  have  only  seen  the  hunting  leopard  in  captivity  at  Tehrdn.  It 
was  said  to  have  been  brought  from  the  Caspian  forests.  It  is  not 
used  at  present  for  sporting  purposes  in  Persia. — O.  St.  J.] 

^  The  name  FelU  jvhata  of  Soherber  was  published  in  1778,  Saugth.  iii,  PL  CY ;  F. 
gyUtata  of  Hermann  in  1804,  Obeery.  ZooL  i,  p.  38. 

D  2, 


36  ZOOLOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

24.  F.  ohaiis,  Oaldenstadt.— De  F. 

Chaus  ccUolynx,  Gray,  Cat.  Cam.,  etc.  Mam.  Brit.  Mob.  p.  36. 
Ourbori'Kuhi  (HOl-cat),  Penian. 

I.  KhUht,  north-east  of  Bushire  ..  ..         1800 

The  specimen  obtained  by  Major  St.  John  is  of  a  yellowish  brown 
eoloar,  the  hair  on  the  back  being  black  near  the  end  with  whitish 
tips  j  ears  red  with  black  tips ;  tail  with  a  black  tip  and  one  or  two 
imperfect  rings,  and  there  are  the  usual  black  marks  inside  the  forearm 
and  thigh,  but  they  are  not  extensive ;  lower  parts  pale  rufous ;  chin 
white,  hair  about  the  soles  of  the  feet  black,  and  the  central  portion 
of  the  tarsus  below  is  blackish. 

A  precisely  similar  specimen  was  obtained  in  Mesopotamia  by 
Loftus.  The  length  of  each,  when  fresh,  must  have  been  at  least 
three  feet,  of  which  the  tail  forms  about  a  fourth. 

Felis  charts  is  common  in  Western  Persia  and  on  the  Caspian,  and 
I  believe  that  it  is  found  throughout  the  country. 

\Feli8  chaus  is  very  common  in  Southern  Persia.  I  have  shot  it  at 
Sh&ptir  (30CX5  feet),  in  a  ravine  of  the  hills  near  Borasjun  (5CXD),  and  on 
the  K&r&agatch,  more  than  6000  feet  above  the  sea,  showing  that  this 
cat  is  not  particular  about  climate.  In  the  last  mentioned  place  I  found 
three  kittens,  so  young  as  to  be  unable  to  drink  milk.  I  reared  them 
with  some  diflBculty,  till  about  three  months  old,  by  which  time  they 
became  very  tame  and  playful,  climbing  up  on  to  my  knees  when  at 
breakfast,  and  behaving  very  much  like  ordinary  domestic  kittens. 
Unfortunately  one  was  killed  by  a  greyhound  and  another  by  a 
scorpion,  within  a  few  days,  on  which  the  survivor  became  morose  and 
refused  to  be  comforted,  even  by  the  society  of  a  kitten  of  his  own 
age,  which  I  procured  as  a  companion  to  him.  When  I  left  Persia,  in 
1867,  he  was  a  year  old,  and  very  large  and  powerfiil.  Two  English 
bull  terriers  I  had,  who  made  short  work  of  the  largest  domestic  cat, 
could  do  nothing  with  my  wild  cat.  In  their  almost  daily  battles  the 
dogs  always  got  the  worst  of  it.  I  may  add  that  I  have  examined  the 
living  specimens  of  Felis  chauSy  and  F,  Caskmirianus  in  the  gardens  of 
the  Zoological  Society,  and  have  no  doubt  that  the  cat  found  in  South 
Persia  belongs  to  the  former  species.  I  am  not  aware  how  fer  it  may 
extend  northwards ;  I  myself  have  not  seen  it  north  of  Shir&z.— 
O.  St.  J.] 


MAMMALIA.  37 

25.  *F.  oaraoal,  Schreber. 

8ijfah^6$h  (Black-eftn),  Persian. 

This  small  lynx  is  certainly  found  in  Mesopotamia  and  the  neigh- 
bouring districts  of  Persia,  and  a  specimen  from  Dizful,  brought  home 
by  LoftuSj  is  in  the  British  Museum,  but  I  cannot  say  whether  it  is 
met  with  on  the  Persian  highlands. 

F.  lynx  is  found  in  the  Caucasus^  according  to  Pallas,  Eichwald^  and 
M^^tries  (who  calls  the  species  F,  cervariay  Temm),  and  it  may 
possibly  extend  into  GhO&n  and  Mazandar^n. 

Family  CANIDiE. 

26.  Caxiis  aureusy  L,— De  F. 

I.  Bampiir,  BaldchisUn i8oo 

The  jackal  is  common  in  parts  of  Persia,  but  comparatively  rare  on 
the  plateau,  except  in  the  neighbourhood  of  large  cities,  where  it 
inhabits  the  enclosed  gardens,  orchards,  etc.  It  is  met  with  throughout 
the  Caspian  provinces  and  extends  to  the  Caucasus,  and  I  frequently 
saw  it  in  Baluchist&n. 

27.  ♦  Canifl  lupus,  L. — De  F. 

Chirg,  Persian. 

De  Filippi  says  that  he  met  with  wolves  near  Kazvin  and  that 
they  are  common  in  the  Elburz  mountains,  and  Men^tries  mentions 
their  occurrence  in  the  Khanate  of  Tdlish.  I  did  not  observe  any 
in  Persia,  but  I  learn  from  Major  St.  John  that  they  are  common 
on  the  more  elevated  plateaux,  such  as  that  crossed  on  the  road 
between  Shirfiz  and  Isfahan,  about  Asup&s,  Dehbid,  etc.,  and  that 
near  Soh,  north  of  Isfahan.  On  these  plains  wolves  remain 
throughout  the  year,  not  leaving  in  winter.  They  are  less  common 
at  lower  elevations,  but  Major  St.  John  has  seen  one  at  K&zrun, 
north-east  of  Bushire,  only  2800  feet  above  the  sea.  Near  the  shores 
of  the  Persian  Gulf  they  do  not  occur.  Persian  wolves  are  of  large 
size. 

In  this,  as  in  several  other  cases,  I  identify  the  Persian  animal 
with  the  European  because  I  have  no  means  of  comparison,  and  I 
know  of  no  difference.  But  it  is  quite  possible  that  the  Persian 
wolf  may  differ  from  the  European,  as  does  Canis  hniger^  Hodgson 
(C.  chanco.  Gray),  the  *  Chdngu '  of  Tibet. 


38  ZOOLOG  T  OF  PERSIA . 

28.  C.  sp. 

Sag-gdrg  (Dog-wolf),  Persian. 

I.  Abadeb,  north  of  Shiriz  . .         ..  . .  6000 

The  only  specimen  of  this  animal,  which  was  obtained  with  much 
trouble  by  Major  St.  John,  is  a  skin,  in  bad  condition  and  without 
the  skull.  I  am  quite  unable  to  identify  it.  It  is  smaller  than  any 
wolf,  but  very  large  for  a  jackal^  the  feet  being  considerably  more 
powerful  than  in  the  large  Abyssinian  jackal,  Canis  variegatus.  The 
fur  is  very  similar  to  that  of  the  common  wolf,  the  hairs  on  the 
back  being  coarse  and  rather  long,  the  tips  whitish  mixed  with  black, 
tmderfur  rather  woolly  with  a  pale  lilac  tinge.  The  lower  parts 
have  been  whitish.  There  are  no  black  marks,  so  far  as  can  be 
ascertained,  on  the  feet  or  head^  the  hair  on  the  muzzle  and  ears 
seems  to  have  been  rather  pale  ferrugfinous.  All  hair  is  gone  from 
the  tail,  so  it  is  impossible  to  say  what  colour  it  may  have  been. 
The  length  of  the  skin  from  the  nose  to  the  insertion  of  the  tail  is 
about  three  feet. 

I  have  very  little  doubt  but  that  this  is  some  tmdescribed  form. 
The  Persians  say  it  is  a  hybrid  between  a  wolf  and  a  shepherd's  dog. 
The  cry  is  very  different  from  that  of  the  wolf. 

20.  *  P  Vulpes  vulgaris,  Gray. 

According  to  Menetries  the  common  fox  is  found  near  Lankordn, 
at  least  he  marks  it  as  occurring  there  in  his  table  of  Geographical 
distribution,  though  he  does  not  mention  the  locality,  at  p.  19,  where 
he  says  that  this  fox  is  common  in  the  Caucasus.  It  is  possible  some 
other  race  may  have  been  confounded  with  F.  vulgaris^  but  it  was  not 
apparently  V,  melanotus  {=:Karagan),  which  is  separately  mentioned 
by  Menetries.  Pallas  also  gives  the  Caucasus  as  a  locality,  Zoogr.  Ros. 
As.  i,  p.  47. 

80.  *  P  Vulpes  Karagan,  (Erx.) 

Cants  melanotus,  Pall.,  M4n.  Cat.  Rais.  p.  19. 

F.  nulanotus,  (PaU.),  De  F.  Viag.in  Persia,  p.  343. 

There  is  a  specimen  thus  labelled  in  the  Turin  Museum  brought 
back  by  De  Filippi  from  Persia.  The  exact  locality  is  not  noted. 
In  his  book  De  Filippi  merely  remarks  of  it,  '  Common  even  in 
the  steppes.  Its  for  is  an  important  article  of  commerce.'  It  is 
possible  that  De  Filippi's  specimen,  although  labelled  *  Persia,'  may 
bave  been  procured  from  Georgia;  in  which  case  there  is,  so  far  as  I 


MAMMALIA.  39 

know,  no  evidence  of  the  occurrence  of  the  species  within  Persian 
limits.  Both  Eichwald  and  Menetries  notice  its  existence  in  the 
Caucasian  provinces. 

8L  *  Vulpes  FersiotiSy  sp.  nov.  PL  II  *. 

HMdh^  Persian. 

I.  MountaiDs  near  Shinb;     ..         ..  about  6000. 

1.  Is&bibi  . .  . .         . .         about*  5000. 

V.  pallidu9y  rufescenti'isabellinus,  ftonte  ferruginedf  auribua  extus 
pallide  rufis^  apices  versus  nigris^  marginibus  isabellinis^pilis  dorsalibus  jmin 
lidiSf  canescentibiis,  jplerumque  nigro  terminatis,  postice  magis  rufis^  vellere 
jmrpurascenti-^nereOy  lanoso,  longo  ;  lateribus  venireque jpallide  isabellinisy 
vellere  cinerascente  vel  albido  j  caudd  rufescente  vel  isabellind^  subtus palli- 
diare,  apice  albo  vel  nigro  nulla  ;  pedibus  extus  rufs,  nonnullis  pilis  nigris 
sparsis  immixtis.  Long,  corporis  cum  capite  {ad  corium  siccatum)  circum  24, 
Cauda  14,  auris  ^.^,  pedis  posterioris  cum  tarso  5,  capitis  {ossis)  5.15. 

Hab,  in  Persid,  circum  SAirdz,  Isfahan^  etc. 

This  form  appears  most  nearly  allied  to  V.  leucopus,  Blyth 
(J.A.  S.  B.  1854,  p.  729,  and  Jerdon,  Mammals  of  India,  p.  151), 
with  which  it  agrees  in  size  and  general  colouration,  except  that 
there  is  no  admixture  of  black  in  the  lower  parts,  and  the  underfur 
is  dark  greyish  purple  instead  of  pale  cinereous.  In  neither  of  the 
specimens  obtained  is  there  a  trace  of  a  white  tip  to  the  tail.  An- 
other allied  form  is  F.  Oriffithii^  Blyth,  from  Afghanistan,  but  that  is 
considerably  larger  and  rather  diflPerent  in  colour. 

In  neither  specimen  of  F,  Persicus  is  the  fur  on  the  back  in 
good  order,  only  a  few  of  the  long  hairs  remain,  and  it  is  consequently 
difficult  to  say  what  the  general  colour  of  this  part  may  be  in  the 
full  winter  dress ;  but  it  is  clear  that  the  species  is  very  pale,  and 
perhaps  of  nearly  the  same  colour  as  F.  leucopus. 

The  forehead  is  bright  rufous,  the  nose  paler,  and  there  is  a 
blackish  mark  nmning  from  the  front  of  each  eye  to  the  upper  lip. 
The  long  moustachial  hairs  are  black,  the  hindmost  being  about 
three  inches  long.  The  ears  outside  are  pale  rufous  at  the  base, 
black  towards  the  tips,  the  extreme  margins  and  the  hairs  near  the 
margins  on  the  inside  being  pale  isabelline.  On  the  back  of  the 
neck  and  shoulders  the  long  hairs  are  whitish  (hoary),  many  of  them 
with  black  tips,  on  the  back  there  is  a  mixture  of  black  and  rufous 

'  In  the  plate  the  ears  are  too  short. 


40  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

tips,  but  all  the  hairs  show  whitish  rings.  The  underfiir  throughout 
the  upper  part  of  the  body  is  purplish  grey,  long  and  woolly.  The 
flanks  and  under  parts  are  pale  isabelline,  the  underfur  varying  from 
lilac  grey  to  white.  The  tail  is  rufous  above  in  one  specimen, 
whitish  in  the  other,  the  hairs  with  black  ends  in  ea^h  case,  it  is 
very  pale  below  in  both,  and  has  neither  white  nor  black  tip.  The 
legs  are  rufous  outside  with  some  black  hairs  mixed  on  the  fix)nt  of 
the  fore  legs,  the  feet  being  the  same  colour  as  the  legs,  not  white, 
as  they  are  said  by  Jerdon  to  be  in  F.  leucqpus. 

Length  of  head  and  body  about  two  feet  (this  measurement  is 
a  mere  approximation,  being  taken  on  stuffed  skins),  tail  about 
14  in.,  ear  from  orifice  3 1  in.  (probably  4  in.  at  least  in  fresh 
specimens).  Tarsus  and  hind  foot  5  in.  The  skull  of  an  adult,  but 
not  old  specimen,  measures  5.15  in.  in  extreme  length,  2.85  across 
the  zygomatic  arches,  1.3  from  the  point  of  the  postorbital  process 
of  the  frontal  bone  on  one  side  to  that  on  the  other.  Mandible 
3.8  long,  measured  from  the  angle  to  the  anterior  alveolar  margin. 
This  skull  is  smaller  than  that  of  F.  vulgaris^  and  has  much  smaller 
anterior  palatal  foramina. 

Fulpes  favescens,  CJray,  A.  and  M.  N.  H.  1843,  vol.  xi,  p.  118,  and 
.Cat.  Cam.  etc.  Mam.  B.  M.  p.  203,  was  described  as  from  Persia, 
and  may  perhaps  be  found  in  some  part  of  the  country.  The  type 
in  the  British  Museum  was  purchased  from  Mr.  Warwick  as  long 
ago  as  1 842 ;  and  as  the  species  has  not  been  found  by  any  trust- 
worthy observer  ^vithin  our  area,  whilst  Dr.  Gray  in  his  latest 
publication  assigns  as  the  habitat  the  Panjdb  Salt  Range  ^,  I  think 
it  unwise  to  include  the  species  in  the  Persian  fauna  without  further 
information. 

At  the  same  time  I  should  add  that  a  good  sized  fox,  which  I 
saw  on  two  or  three  occasions  in  Baliichist&n,  so  far  as  my  memory 
serves,  was  much  like  F,  Jlavescens^  but  I  think  on  the  whole  it 
is  more  probable  that  it  was  F,  leucopuSy  Blyth. 

82.  *  P  Vulpes  corsao,  (L.) — ^De  F. 

This  is  said  by  De  Filippi  to  be  found  everywhere.  I  could, 
however,  find  no  specimen  in  the  Turin  Museum,  and  the  few  foxes 
I  saw  in  Persia  were  certainly  not  F.  corsac,      I  think  it  possible 

*  In  this  case  it  should  be  the  same  as  Blyth's  F.  pusiUus,  formerly  referred  by  that 
naturalist  to  V.  flavcscent,  but  subsequently  considered  distinct. 


MAMMALIA,  41 

that  De  Filippi  was  mistaken  in  his  identification.  Schmarda 
includes  it  in  his  list  of  Mesopotamian  species  ;  but  here  also  further 
information  is,  I  think^  desirable.  In  fact  we  know  very  little  of  the 
Persian  foxes. 

38.  *  Vnlpes  flunelioua  P  (Rupp.) 

Canit famdieuM,  Riipp.  Atlas,  PLY. 

A  live  specimen  of  a  young  fox-like  animal  from  Bushire  has  lately 
(June^  1874)  been  presented  to  the  Zoological  Society  of  London.  I 
was  at  first  disposed  to  believe  it  undescribed,  but  after  again  exam- 
ining it  with  Dr.  Sclater,  and  comparing  it  ^^^th  the  figure  and 
description  of  Buppell's  Cania  famellcus,  I  think  it  may  perhaps  be 
referred  to  that  species.  It  agrees  fairly  in  colour,  though  it  wants  the 
dorsal  chesnut  stripe  described  by  Riippell,  and  it  has  a  distinct  black 
mark  in  front  of  the  eye,  which  is  not  shown  in  Riippell's  figure  or 
mentioned  in  his  description.  Riippell's  animal  was  from  Dongola. 
Dr.  Sclater  tells  me  that  he  believes  the  Bushire  fox  probably  the 
same  as  one  formerly  living  in  the  Zoological  Gardens,  brought  from 
the  neighbourhood  of  Mount  Sinai.  It  is  by  no  means  improbable 
that  the  Asiatic  form  is  different  from  that  inhabiting  North  Africa, 
but  they  are  clearly  closely  allied,  and  require  further  comparison. 

Major  St.  John  informs  me  that  he  is  well  acquainted  with  this 
small  J  pale-coloured,  long^eared  fox,  and  that  it  is  only  found,  so  far  as 
he  is  aware,  in  the  low  ground  near  the  Persian  Gulf.  He  has  never 
seen  it  on  the  Persian  plateau.  I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  Sclater  for  the 
following  note  about  this  animal,  written  by  Mr.  Oswald,  the  gentleman 
who  brought  it  to  England : — *  It  was  captured  a  short  distance  from 
the  town  of  Bushire,  where  these  foxes  are  very  numerous.  The  ground 
is  rocky  close  to  the  sea  shore,  and  the  animals  retreat  into  rocky 
cavities.  They  are,  of  course,  predatory,  and  commit  depredations  in 
the  hen-roosts  of  neighbouring  villages.  The  foxes  are  easily  captured 
with  the  aid  of  dogs,  and  Europeans  resident  in  Bushire  frequently 
amuse  themselves  hunting  these  animals,  which  often  take  to  the  sea, 
seeking  safety  from  the  dogs.' 

It  appears  to  me  highly  probable  that  this  may  be  Schmarda's 
Vulpes  corsac  of  Mesopotamia.  It  is  a  very  different  animal  from  the 
true  corsac  of  Pallas. 


42  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

Family  HYiENIDiE. 

34.  *  HyeBna  striata^  Zimm. — De  F. 

Common  in  Baluchist&n  and  on  the  Persian  plateau,  and  it  extends 
throughout  the  whole  country  to  the  Caucasus.  Major  St.  John  tells 
me  he  has  seen  them  near  Shirfiz  and  K&zrun,  and  that  during  the 
intensely  cold  winter  of  1 865-66,  when  all  the  country  was  covered 
with  snow  for  three  months^  a  sergeant  of  engineers  shot  a  hyaena  at 
the  door  of  the  post  house  at  Dehbid,  7500  feet  above  the  sea. 
Hysenas  are  also  foimd,  according  to  Schmarda,  in  Mesopotamia. 

Family  VIVERRIDiE. 
36.  *  Herpestes  Fersicus,  Gray. 

P.  Z.  S.  1864,  p.  554. — Cat.  Garn.  Mam.  p.  151. 

Viverra  mungo,  Gm.  partim,  Sjst.  Nat.  i,  p.  84. — Pall.  Zoogr.  Ros.  As,  i,  p.  75. 

Mush'i-Khoarma  (Date-rat),  Persian. 

The  species  thus  named  is  the  small  ichneumon  of  Mesopotamia, 
one  of  the  types  having  been  obtained  by  Loftus  in  the  date  groves 
of  Mohamr^h^  near  the  mouth  of  the  Euphrates.  The  other  locality 
quoted  by  Dr.  Gray,  Bhugistan,  is  perhaps  a  mistake  for  Khiizist&n, 
a  district  of  Persia  bordering  the  lower  course  of  the  Tigris  and 
Euphrates,  and  in  which  Mohamrdh  (Mohammerah)  lies. 

H,  Persicus  is  in  general  appearance  a  miniature  of  the  common 
large  H,  piseus  of  India :  it  is  gray,  with  a  fulvous  tint,  the  hairs 
grizzled^  parts  of  each  hair  being  whitish.  The  length  of  stuffed 
specimens  is  a  little  under  2  feet,  the  tail  measuring  10^  inches,  skull 

245. 
I  did  not  myself  notice  any  ichneumon  in  Persia,  but  Major  St. 

John  informs  me  that  he  has  met  with  one  near  Shir&z,  which  is 
probably  the  same  as  H.  Persicus.  S.  G.  Gmelin,  in  his  Beise  durch 
Bussland,  iv,  p.  211,  gave  an  elaborate  description  of  one  brought 
from  Baghdad.  This  description  was  copied  by  Gmelin,  Schreber, 
and  other  naturalists,  who  confounded  the  species  with  Fiverra  ich^ 
neumon,  var.  )8  of  Linnaeus,  F.  mungo,  Gm.,  which  is,  I  believe,  the 
oldest  name  for  H.  griseiM^  Geoff. 

I  have  an  indistinct  recollection  of  having  seen  a  mungoose,  prob- 
ably H.  griseus,  in  Baluchistdn,  but  I  have  no  note  of  its  occur- 
rence. 


MAMMALIA.  43 

It  is  highly  probable  that  some  species  of  civet  or  genet  inhabits 
the  wooded  hills  of  Sonth-westem  Persia^  but  I  can  find  no  record  of 
such  having  been  observed  by  any  one.  The  form  most  likely  to  be 
met  with  is  Genetta  vulgaris^  or  some  allied  species. 

[I  have  obtained  an  ichneumon  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Shir^,  and 
in  the  phdn  of  Persepolis,  but  have  not  seen  it  elsewhere.  It  seems  to 
me  smaller  than  the  Indian  ichneumon. — O.  St.  J.] 


Family  MUSTELTDyE. 

86.  *  Lutra  vulgaris,  (Erxl.) 

Sag-i-dh  (Water-dog),  Persian. 

The  common  otter  inhabits  Ghildn  and  Mazandar&n,  and  a 
species,  probably  the  same,  is  found  on  the  Persian  plateau,  in  the 
few  rivers  which  are  perennial.  I  have  seen  a  skin  from  near  Isfahan. 
This  animal  is  also  found  in  Mesopotamia,  according  to  Schmarda. 

[De  Bode  states  that  otters  are  so  common  in  Khuzist&n  that 
their  skins  form  an  important  article  of  commerce.  I  have  seen 
tracks  of  otters  on  the  Banddmir,  near  Shir&z,  and  on  the  streams 
in  the  Elburz. — O.  St.  J.] 

87.  *  Mustela  Sarmatioa  (P),  Pall.— Dc  F. 

Major  St.  John  informs  me  that  he  once  saw  a  species  of  weasel  in 
Southern  Persia,  but  that  he  was  unable  to  capture  it,  or  determine 
the  species.  It  may  perhaps  have  been  M.  Sarmatica,  Pall.,  which  is 
recorded  by  De  Filippi  from  Erivan,  is  found  both  in  Transcaucasia 
and  Afghfinist£n,  and  has  a  wide  range  throughout  Central  Asia. 
In  the  Caucasus  Mustela  x^ihjaria^  L.,  M.  foina^  L.,  and  Maries 
alieium,  Ray  {Mustela  martes^  L.),  are  said  by  Eichwald  to  be 
found,  but  chiefly  on  the  northern  and  western  slopes,  so  it  is 
doubtful  whether  they  extend  into  Persia.  The  first  two  are  also 
quoted  from  the  same  locality  by  Menctries,  whilst  M,  erminea^  L., 
although  not  known  in  the  Caucasus,  has  a  wide  range  throughout 
Central  and  Northern  Asia,  and  may  possibly  be  found  in  parts  of 
Persia.  Both  M.  erminea  and  M.  vulgaris  are  said  to  occur  in  Persia 
by  GmeUn,  Syst.  Nat.  i,  pp.  98,  99. 


44  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

[Once  only  have  I  seen  a  weasel  in  Persia.  This  was  near  Sh£hpur. 
The  animal  was  very  h'ght  tawny,  almost  yellow  in  colour,  and  I 
should  think  half  as  big  again  as  a  polecat. 

I  am  told  that  martens'  {Maries  abietum  ?)  skins  are  commonly  sold 
at  Isfahan,  said  to  come  from  the  westward.  But  whether  this  means 
Asia  Minor,  or  the  forests  of  the  Zagros,  I  cannot  say. — O.  St.  J.] 


88.  Meles  oanescens,  sp.  nov.  PI.  ILL 

Our-Kan  (Grave-digger),  Persian. 

1.  Ab^eh,  between  Shir^  and  Isfahin  ..  7000 

2.  I8&h4n  ..  .•  ..  ..  ..  5000 

M.  affinU  M.  taxo,  sed  minor,  dorso  canescenti'^riseOy  Adud  fmco, 
dentibtis  jDOsticis  anguHioribus, 

One  of  the  two  specimens  procured,  both  of  which  were  obtained 
by  Major  St.  John,  is  a  very  good  stuffed  skin,  in  excellent  order,  and 
containing  a  perfect  skull,  which  I  have  extracted;  the  other  is  a 
skin  in  bad  condition,  and  without  the  skull;  still,  coming  as  it  does 
from  a  different  locality,  it  is  useful  as  showing  that  the  peculiar 
colouration  is  constant. 

The  general  colour  of  the  upper  parts  is  pale  grey  or  hoary,  the 
hairs  being  almost  white,  except  near  their  tips,  where  all  on  the  back, 
and  some  on  the  sides,  are  black,  the  tips  themselves  being  white. 
The  middle  of  the  face,  from  between  the  ears  to  the  nose,  the  cheeks 
and  flanks,  are  almost  white ;  the  usual  broad  bands  along  each  side 
of  the  face,  including  the  eyes  and  ears,  and  terminating  a  little 
behind  the  ears,  blackish  brown,  as  are  also  the  chin,  throat,  breast, 
middle  of  belly,  and  limbs,  the  breast  and  abdomen  being  rather 
paler  brown  than  the  other  parts.  The  anterior  edge  of  the  ears  is 
white. 

This  species  is  at  once  distinguished  from  Meles  torus  by  its  very 
much  paler  colour  and  smaller  size ;  but  as  so  many  of  the  Persian 
animals  are  paler  in  colour  than  their  European  allies,  I  should  not 
have  proposed  a  new  name  for  the  Persian  badger,  had  not  the  skull, 
when  compared  with  a  series  of  skulls  of  M.  taxus,  presented  the 
following  differences.  The  nasal  portion  is  shorter  in  M.  canescens^ 
the  skull  between  the  orbits  is  proportionally  somewhat  broader, 
the  bony  palate  is  more  concave  between  the  hinder  molars   and 


MAMMALIA. 


45 


behind  them,  whilst  a  low  ridge  runs  forward  for  some  distance  along 

each  side  of  the  pabite,  from  the  anterior  termination  of  the  pterygoid 

process.      This  appears  wanting  in  the  European  badger.      In  the 

Persian  skolly  too^  the  zygomatic  arches  are  vertically  narrower,  whilst 


Skull  of  Mele»  canescens,  two-thirds  natur&l  size. 

the  two  posterior  molars  in  both  jaws,  but  especially  in  the  upper, 
are  xiarrower  in  proportion  to  their  length.  In  four  adult  skulls  of 
Jtf.  taxu^  I  found  the  proportion  of  the  breadth  of  the  upper  molar  to 
its  length  to  vary  between  0.48  in.  to  0.58  (i  :  i.a)  and  0.49  in.  to 
0.55  in.  (i  :  I.I 2),  whilst  in  the  skull  of  M.  canescefis  the  same  tooth 


46  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

measures  0.43  in.  broad^  and  0.58  longc  (i  :  1.35).  The  dimensions  of 
the  skull  of  M,  canescens  (that  of  a  fully  adult  but  not  aged  female) 
are:  extreme  length  (from  the  centre  of  thei  occipital  crest  to  the 
alveolar  margin  of  the  praemaxilla),  5.1  in. ;  breadth  across  hinder 
portion  of  zygomatic  arches,  2.9  in. ;  breadth  of  brain-case^  where 
narrowest,  behind  the  postorbital  processes  of  the  frontal  bone,. 
1  in. ;  length  of  lower  jaw,  from  the  angle  to  the  anterior  alveolar 
margin,  3.1  in. 

The  length  of  the  stuffed  skin,  from  the  nose  to  the  insertion  of 
the  tail,  is  iij  ft.  9  in. ;  the  tail  is  slightly  imperfect.  The  sole  of  the 
fore  foot  measures  2\  in.  (claws  not  included) ;  the  hind  foot,  from  the 
tarsal  (ankle)  joint  to  the  end  of  the  toes,  measures  3.9  in. 

^The  European  badger  is  said  to  be  common  in  the  Caucasus  and 
may  perhaps  inhabit  Northern  Persia;  indeed  it  is  said  by  Pallas 
and  Gmelin  to  be  found  there,  but  I  do  not  include  it,  as  they 
may  very  possibly  have  mistaken  M,  canescens  for  it.  Schmarda  gives 
a  species  of  Ratelus  {Mellivora)  from  Mesopotamia.  It  is  possible  that 
this  may  be  Meles  canescens^  the  colouration  of  the  back  being  some- 
what like  that  of  Mellivora  Indica. 

[The  Persian  badger  is  pretty  common  on  the  plateau.  It  seems  to 
be  generally  found  in  walled  gardens,  and  has  the  reputation,  as  its 
Persian  name  denotes,  of  digging  up  and  devouring  corpses  \  I  have 
not  seen  the  badger  further  south  than  Dehbid,  a  hundred  miles  north 
of  Shirdz.— O.  St.  J.] 

Family  URSIDiE. 
39.  *  P  Ursus  arotos,  L. — De  P. 

Eichwald  and  M6n6tries  call  the  bear  of  the  Caucasus  and  Trans- 
caucasian  provinces  U.  arclos,  and  De  Rlippi  applies  the  same  name  to 
the  bear  of  the  Elburz.  Major  St.  John,  however,  who  has  seen 
several  Elburz  bears,  assures  me  that,  although  they  are  darker  than 
the  true  Ursus  Syriacus  which  is  found  in  Southern  Persia,  they  are 
much  paler  in  colour  than  the  common  bear  of  Europe. 

Until  specimens  can  be  compared  it  must  be  left  a  doubtful  question 
whether  the  bear  of  Northern  Persia  be  a  dark  variety  of  U.  Syriacus^  or 
a  pale  form  of  U.  arctos.     Some  naturalists  consider  these  two  merely 

^  The  same  accnsation  is  made  against  MtUiwra  Indica  in  Northern  India,  and  the 
animal  is  usuallj  known  in  English  as  the  Grave-digger.     W.  T.  B. 


MAMMALIA.  47 

as  Tarieties,  others  state  that  there  are  well  marked  structural  distine- 
tions.  U.  S^riacus  appears  to  me  a  slighter,  more  lightly  built  animal 
than  U.  arctoSj  but  I  have  only  seen  specimens  in  captivity.  ^liddendorf^ 
St.  Peters.  Verb.  Min.  Ges.  1850-51,  p.  74,  distinguished  his  U. 
arctoi  var.  merid'wnalU  on  skulls  from  the  Caucasus. 

40.  *  nr808  Syriacus,  Hemp,  and  £hr. 

JEAirt,  Pendao. 

This  is,  as  Major  St.  John  assures  me,  the  bear  of  South-western 
Persia.  It  is  not  the  bear  of  Baluchistin,  but  is  said  to  be  found 
between  Bampur  and  Bam.  It  is  found  pretty  commonly  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Shir^  and  in  the  hills  bordering  on  Mesopotamia. 

[This  bear  is  found  throughout  the  mountains  of  Western  and 
Northern  Persia,  possibly  extending  to  Khorasskn.  In  many  places 
watchers  are  set  at  night  to  keep  the  bears  from  the  ripening  grapes. 
At  Im£mz&deh  Ismail,  some  fifty  miles  north  of  Shir^,  I  once  saw  an 
old  male  bear  which  had  been  shot  the  night  before  in  a  vineyard, 
and  whose  stomach  contained  an  almost  incredible  quantity  of  unripe 
grapes.  He  was  so  old  as  to  be  quite  toothless,  and  the  middle  of  his 
back  was  quite  bald  from  the  neck  to  the  rump,  though  not  at  all 
mangy,  and  though  the  hair  was  thick  enough  elsewhere. — O.  St.  J.] 

4L  *  U.  sp.  (?  1  Mdursua  Jahiatua). 
Mamh,  Baldch. 

I  have  been  assured  by  many  natives  that  a  black  bear  is  found  in 
Baluchist&n,  and  one  man  recognised  a  bearskin  holster  cover  as  being 
made  of  fur  similar  to  that  of  the  animal  found  in  the  country.  My 
enquiries  never  produced  any  of  the  skin,  though  once  a  bottle  of 
grease,  said  to  have  been  obtained  from  a  bear,  was  brought  to  me. 
I  was  rather  surprised  to  hear  of  any  bear  in  so  utterly  desert  a 
region ;  for  these  animals  are,  as  a  rule,  more  or  less  frugivorous,  and 
but  little  fruit  can  be  found  in  Baluchistdn. 

The  Indian  bear,  Unus  labiatus,  Desm.,  is  the  only  black  bear  known 
to  exist  in  the  countries  bordering  on  Baluchistdn,  and  this  animal  has 
not,  so  &r  as  I  know,  been  met  with  west  of  the  Indus,  whilst  it  is 
one  of  the  most  thoroughly  insectivorous  and  frugivorous  of  all  bears, 
its  food  being  principally  the  combs  of  termites  (white  ants)  and 
various  wild  fruits.  If  it  be  this  bear  which  inhabits  Baluchistan,  it 
probably  lives  on  roots. 


48  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

Family  PHOCID^. 

42.  *  Phooa  vitulina,  L. 

P.  canina.  Pall.  Zoogr.  Bob.  Ab.  i,  p.  114. 
P.  Caspicaf  Nils.  Wiegm.  Arch.  1841,  p.  313. 
CaUocephalus  Ccupicua,  Gray,  Cat.  Seals,  B.  M.  1866,  p.  a  a. 

8ag-mahi  (Dog-fish),  Persian. 

As  is  well  known,  the  common  seal  of  Northern  Europe  is  found  in 
large  numbers  throughout  the  Caspian.  The  animal  there  met  with 
is  separated  from  P.  vitulhia  by  a  few  naturalists,  but  the  greater 
number^  including,  I  believe,  all  who  have  had  the  best  means  of 
judging,  consider  it  identical. 

CETACEA. 

Whales  and  porpoises  abound  on  the  Makr&n  coast,  and  porpoises 
are  equally  common  in  the  Persian  Gulf,  but  whales  are  much  more 
rare.  Still  some  occur,  for  I  found  the  vertebra  of  one  on  the  island 
of  Kishm.  Formerly  whales  were  possibly  more  numerous  than 
they  now  are,  for  in  the  *  Voyage  of  Nearchus  *,'  it  is  stated  that  the 
fish-eating  inhabitants  of  the  Makrdn  coast^  in  the  days  of  Alexander 
the  Great,  used  bones  of  whales  to  build  their  houses.  Thanks  to  the 
researches  of  Mr.  Blyth,  we  know  pretty  well  what  the  great  whale  of 
the  Makran  coast  is,  but  as  regards  the  porpoises  {Delphinidai)  I  can 
only  suggest  that  several  of  the  Indian  species  probably  occur.  (Conf. 
Blyth's  Catalogue  of  the  Mammals  in  the  Museum  of  the  Asiatic 
Society,  Jerdon's  Mammals  of  India,  Owen,  Tr,  Z.  S.  vi,  p.  17,  etc.). 

43.  Balflenoptera  Indica,  Blyth. 

J.  A.  S.  B.  xxviii,  1859,  P-  4^8  ;  xiix,  p.  451. 

Physalus  Indicus,  Qr&j,  Cat.  Seals  and  Whales,  B.  M.  1866,  p.  163. 

This,  one  of  the  largest,  if  not  the  largest,  of  existing  whales,  is, 
according  to  Blyth,  the  only  species  commonly  found  throughout  the 
seas  of  India,  Persia,  and  Arabia.  It  attains  conmionly  to  a  length  of 
from  80  to  90  feet. 

I  have  repeatedly  heard  from  the  officers  of  the  Makrfin  coast 
telegraph  of  their  having  seen  whales  off  the  coast.  In  a  recent 
instance  a  dead  whale  was  found  entangled  in  the  submarine  telegraph 
cable,  and  for  years  a  large  whale  haunted  the  harbour  of  Maskat  in 
Arabia. 

»  Quoted  by  Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  B.  1859,  xxviii,  p.  481. 


MAMMALIA.  49 

RODENTIA. 

^    "  Family  SCIURID-^. 

44.  Sduros  fulTus,  sp.  nov.  PI.  IV,  fig.  i. 

I.  Oak  forest,  near  ShiriLz  ..  ..         4000 

S.  affinis  S.  Syriaco  sed  valde  pallidior^  dorso  griseo-rufeicentey  antice 
nuigia  rufoy  gasirao  isabellino,Jronte  rufdy  geni%  i^abellinis,  cauddmedid 
supeme  fermginedy  ad  latera  aubtuaqv^  fulvd^  multo  breviore  quam 
corpare,  auriculis  havd  penicillatis. 

Hob.  in  querceiu  haudjprocul  ab  urbe  Shirdz, 

Similar  to  8.  S^riacus  in  size  and  proportions,  but  very  much  paler  in 
colour  everywhere.  The  back  is  fulvous  grey  or  rufescent  grey,  be- 
coming more  rufous  on  the  shoulders  and  flanks ;  these  colours  pass 
gradually  into  the  isabelline  tinge  of  the  lower  parts.  Forehead 
brighter  rufous,  sides  of  the  head,  including  the  supercilia,  the  same 
colour  as  the  lower  parts.  Tail  bright  ferruginous  along  the  central 
line  above,  dull  rufescent  at  the  sides  and  below. 

The  fur  is  neither  harsh  nor  very  soft ;  the  hairs  on  the  posterior 
portion  of  the  back  are  chiefly  whitish,  mixed  with  some  rufous 
and  a  few  black  hairs^  the  underfur  is  dark  slaty.  There  are  a 
few  black  piles  intermixed  on  the  shoulders,  back  of  neck,  and  upper 
part  of  the  head^  and  on  the  sides  of  the  tail  a  few  dark  brown 
hairs  are  mixed  with  the  prevailing  isabelline  tint.  The  ears  are 
not  tufted,  but  covered  with  short  hair  of  the  same  pale  rufous  colour 
as  the  nape.     Whiskers  black. 

As  I  have  only  a  stufied  specimen^  I  can  give  but  approximate 
proportions.  From  nose  to  rump  measures  9  in.^  tail  to  the  end  of 
the  hairs  yi  in.  Forefoot  (from  the  carpal  joint  to  the  end  of  the 
claws)  I J  in.,  hind  foot  similarly  measured  and  including  the  tarsus 
2.1  in. ;  longest  whisker  about  li  in. ;  hair  on  the  back  about  half  an 
inch  long. 

Besides  its  much  paler  colour,  this  form  differs  from  S.  Syriaetis  in 
having  the  sides  of  the  head  paler  than  the  forehead,  and  in  the  more 
gradual  passage  from  the  colour  of  the  back  into  that  of  the  lower 
parts. 

S.Jhdvus  is  only  known  to  inhabit  the  oak  forest  near  Shirdz. 

[A  pale  coloured  squirrel  is  found  in  the  oak  forest  west  of  Shir^^ 

VOL.   II,  E 


50  ZOOLOG Y  OF  PERSIA . 

but  nowhere  else  in  Persia  that  I  know  of,  though  there  must  be  one 
in  the  Caspian  provinces.  The  southern  squirrel  is  by  no  means 
common.  I  only  saw  it  twice,  and  had  one  live  specimen  brought 
to  me. — O.  St.  J.] 

45.  *  P  S.  Persicusy  Erxl. 

Erxl.  Syst.  Nat.  Mam.  p.  417. — S.  G.  Guielin,  Beise  d.  Ruasl.  iii,  p.  379, 
PI.  XUII. 

This  was  described  from  Ghildn  by  the  younger  Gmelin,  who  asserts 
that  it  is  common.  Pallas,  however,  (Zoogr.  Ross.  As.  i,  p.  187,  (doubts 
the  existence  of  any  such  species,  and  points  out  not  only  that  no 
specimen  of  this  squirrel  existed  amongst  the  specimens  sent  by  S.  G. 
Gmelin,  but  also  that  he  had  found  the  latter  writer  untrustworthy  in 
other  particulars. 

The  following  is  a  translation  of  Gmelin's  description:  *The 
squirrels  in  this  country  (Ghildn)  appear  dark  ashy  grey  above,  the 
region  around  the  eyes  is  black,  the  ears  rounded,  expanded,  naked 
inside,  and  covered  externally  with  blackish  hair.  The  nostrils  are 
round,  the  chin,  breast,  and  belly  yellow,  the  lateral  portions  of  the 
same  white.  The  tail  is  blackish  grey,  and  marked  below  along  the 
centre  with  a  white  stripe.  The  hairs  which  cover  the  feet  to  the 
base  of  the  claws  are  above  of  the  same  colour  as  the  upper  part  of  the 
body^  and  below  like  the  lower  parts.  The  hands  and  soles  of  the  feet 
are  dark  red.  Otherwise  this  Asiatic  squirrel  has  the  same  statore 
and  habits  as  the  European.' 

S,  vulgaris^  L.  is  said  by  Eichwald  to  abound  throughout  the  Cau- 
casus. It  is  called  S,  vulgaris  cinereus  by  Fitzinger,  Sitzb.  Akad. 
Wien,  LV,  Ab.  i,  p.  475.  S,  ano?nuluSy  Giildenstadt,  Schreb.  Saugth. 
p.  78i,pl.  215  c  (=/S.  Caucasicus^  Pall.),  is  described  from  the  Caucasus 
and  Georgia,  but  I  cannot  say  if  it  be  found  in  Persia.  It  may  possibly 
be  the  same  as  S,  Pemcus. 

46.  S.  palmarum,  L. 

I.  Pishin,  Baliichistin    ..  ..  ..  ..  ..         500 

Only  one  example  was  seen.  The  species  chiefly  inhabits  the 
drier  parts  of  India,  keeping  much  to  cultivated  tracts  and  trees  near 
villages ;  it  does  not  extend  to  the  east  of  the  Bay  of  Bengal,  nor  is  it 
found  in  the  larger  forests. 


2  l^iQXJS  PlCTIif; 


MAMMALIA,  61 

[Sciurt^  palmanim,  which  we  saw  in  Baluchistdn^  does  not  extend 
into  the  low  country  about  Bushire. — O.  St.  J.] 

47.  "*  Spermophilus  ooncolor,  Qeoff. — Da  F. 

SpermophUus  concolor^  Geof.,  Belanger,  Voy.  Ind.  Or.  p.  151,  PL  VIII. 
S.  {Colchotis)  conoolor,  Brandt,  Bull.  Acad.  Sc.  St.  Pet.  ii,  1844,  p.  379. 
Arctomys  fulvut,  Licht.,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  pp.  195,  344. 

Miuh'i'SuUdniah,  Persian. 

This  marmot  was  first  collected  by  Belanger  on  his  road  to  India 
and  described  by  Geoffroy  St.  Hilaire.  De  Filippi  unites  it  to 
Arctomys  /ulvtis,  Licht.  {SpermopAilzis,  sp.  auct,  Colohotis^  sp.  Brandt), 
and  certainly  the  two  species,  of  which  I  saw  specimens  side  by  side  in 
the  Turin  Museum,  are  very  closely  allied  to  each  other,  the  Persian 
skin  being  rather  greyer;  but  without  better  means  of  comparison 
I  am  unable  to  determine  whether  these  forms  are  merely  varieties  or 
whether  they  are  distinct.  By  most  naturalists  they  are  kept 
separate. 

S.  concolor  occurs  in  parts  of  North-western  Persia,  and  especially  at 
Sult&niah,  north-west  of  Kazvin.  An  animal  bearing  the  same  Persian 
name,  and  probably  identical,  was  noticed  by  Dr.  Bellew  at  the  Kafir- 
Kaleh  hills,  thirty  miles  south  of  Meshed,  but  I  have  not  been  able  to 
examine  specimens. 

S.  musicuSi  M^n.  inhabits  the  higher  portions  of  the  Caucasus  and 
should  be  looked  for  in  the  Elburz. 


Family  CASTORIDiE. 

48.  *  P  Castor  fiber,  L. 

The  beaver,  according  to  Eichwald,  is  common  in  the  Araxes,  and 
Schmarda  includes  it  in  his  Mesopotamian  list.  I  insert  it  in  the 
Persian  fauna  with  some  doubts. 

49.  MyoxTifl  pictufl,  sp.  nov.  PI.  IV,  fig.  2. 

I,  2.  Kohnid,  northof  I8fab4n    ..  ..  ..         7^^^ 

M.  dorso  pallide  rufescenti-murinoy  ga9trao  albido,  marline  ru/d 
colorem  doraalem  a  ventrali  utrinque  secemente^  et  ad  femora^  humeros^ 
lateraque  colli  infra  aurea  in  macular  ferrugineaa  dilatatd ;  facie 
antice  a  fronte  pallida,  grisescenie,  utrinque  /ascid  nigrd  a  nari  ad 

K  7, 


62  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

extremitatem  anteriorem  auris  ductdy  regionem  ocularem  ampleciente^ 
marginatdy  mystacibus  superioribus  nigrisy  ijiferioribus  albia ;  auribus  rotun- 
daiis,  parum  pilosis, /ere  nudis ;  caudd  corporem  longitudine  subaquante, 
ubique  hirtdj  pilis  longis  induld,  supra  grised,  subtvs  albescente;  pedibus 
parvis,  supra  albis,  subtus  pallidis. 

Affinis  M.  dryadi,  a  quo  differt  colore,  caudd  prtesertim  pallidiore^ 
maculisque  ad  latera  colli  rufis,  auribus  majoribus,  pedibus  brevioribus. 
Ilab.  ad  Kohrud  in  Media,  (Persid  hodiemd  septentrional l). 
As  I  had  only  descriptions  of  Myoxus  dryas  ^,  Schreber,  to  refer  to, 
and  these  did  not  give  sufficient  details  for  certainty,  I  could  not  feel 
sure  whether  the  dormouse,  of  which  I  obtained  two  specimens  in 
Persia,  was  identical  with  Schreber's  species  or  not.     The  colouration 
especially  appeared  rather  brighter.     For  the  determination  of  this 
question  I  am  indebted  to  the  kindness  of  Professor  Peters  of  Berlin, 
who  has  taken  the  trouble   to  compare  one  of  my  specimens    with 
authentic  skins  of  M.  dry  as.    He  says  that  the  Persian  species  appears 
to  diflPer  from  Jf.  dryas  in  colour,  in  the  tail  being  whiter,  in  its  having 
red  hair  beneath  the  ear,  in  the  ear  itself  being   somewhat  larger 
and  more  hairy,  and  especially  in  the  feet  being  smaller,  the  sole  of 
the  hind  foot  measuring  %^  mm.  (nearly  an  inch)  in  M.  dryas,  and  only 
19  to  20  in  the  new  form.     The  teeth.  Professor  Peters  adds,   are 
nearly   the  same,  the  first  lower  molar  appearing  to  be  longer,  and 
not  rounded  in  the  Persian  animal ;  but  as  the  comparison  was  only 
made  with  one  skull  of  M.  dryas,  this  diflPerence  may  be  individual. 

The  fur  on  the  back  and  upper  portion  of  the  head  is  rather  light 
brown  with  a  rufous  tinge,  the  under  parts  pure  white,  sharply  sepa- 
rated from  the  dark  colour  of  the  back ;  along  the  flanks,  at  the  line 
of  junction,  is  a  more  rufous  band  passing  into  the  brown  above,  and 
expanding  into  bright  rufous  patches  on  the  thighs,  shoulders,  and 
sides  of  the  neck  below  the  ear.  Nose  pale;  a  black  band  runs 
along  each  side  of  the  face  from  the  side  of  the  nose  to  the  ear,  and 
includes  the  eye ;  whiskers  black  above,  white  below.  Ears  rounded, 
nearly  naked,  with  scattered  short  pale  hairs  inside  and  out.  Feet 
white  above,  pale  coloured  and  naked  below.  Tail  very  bushy 
throughout,  not  more  so  at  the  end,  grey  above,  with  a  few  black  hairs 
mixed,  greyish  white  below. 

*  Schreb.  Saugih.  iv,  p.  831,  PI.  CCXXV,  B:  M,  nitidula.  Pall.  Zoogr.  Rob.  Ae.  i,  p. 
179,  exd,  tyn. 


MAMMALIA. 


53 


The  following  dimensions  were  taken  on  freshly  killed  animals  : — 


Length  from  nose  to  base  of  tail 
Tail  from  base  to  end  of  hairs 
Length  of  fore  foot   . . 
Length  of  hind  foot 
Height  of  ear  from  orifice    . . 
Breadth  of  ear  laid  flat 
Longest  whisker 


6  9 

3.8  35 

(imperfect)  3.5 

0.5  0.4 

0.8  0.78 

0.63  0.6 

0.6  0.6 

1.7  1.6 


The  two  specimens  were  brought  to  me  at  Kolirud,  where  they  were 
said  to  have  been  obtained  on  trees. 

Two  or  three  unnamed  species  of  Myoxiis  are  included  in  Schmarda's 
list  of  Mesopotami^n  animals.  M.  glU  is  said  by  Pallas  to  be  common 
in  Georgia. 


Family  MURID-^. 

50.  Mus  rattus,  L. 

1-3.  Beshi,  Ghfl4n^  near  the  Caspian  Sea. 

According  to  Eichwald^  the  black  rat  is  found  in  the  Caucasus  and 
in  Georgia.  Major  St.  John  obtained  specimens  at  Resht,  but  it  is 
unknown  on  the  Persian  plateau. 

51.  M.  decumanus,  Pall. 

1-4.  Gw&dar«  Baliichist^. 

The  original  home  of  the  brown  rat,  which  is  said  to  have  made  its 
way  into  Europe  through  Eastern  Russia  about  1 725-1 730,  and  to 
have  come  from  the  Caspian,  appears  as  great  a  mystery  as  the  man 
with  the  iron  mask.  Most  writers  assert  positively  that  it  came  from 
Persia,  some  give  Persia  and  the  East  Indies  as  its  original  home.  The 
East  Indies  comprise  rather  an  indefinite  region,  extending,  I  believe, 
from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  to  Kamschatka,  but  Blyth  and  Jerdon 
have  shown  that  in  Hindustan  Mus  decumanus  is  chiefly  confined  to  the 
larger  towns  (and  this  is  my  own  experience  also),  and  Major  St.  John 
informs  me  that,  during  many  years'  residence  in  Persia,  he  never  saw 
a  rat,  except  in  the  ports  on  the  Persian  Gulf.  I  obtained  specimens 
at  Gw&dar,  where,  they  had  doubtless  been,  as  usual,  introduced  by 
ships,  but  I  saw  none  elsewhere,  although  I  collected  rodents  wher- 
ever I  could,  and  always  offered  rewards  for  small  mammals,  numbers 
of  which  were  brought  to  me.     De  Filippi,  too  (Viag.  in  Pers.  pp.  196, 


MAMMALIA. 


55 


Colour  above  rufous  washed  with  blackish,  below  white,  the  two 
colours  not  passing  into  each  other,  but  sharply  divided.  The  hairs 
on  the  upper  part  of  the  body  are  blackish,  slaty  at  the  base,  bright 
ferruginous  towards  the  points,  the  extreme  tips  being  black  ;  on  the 
sides  the  black  tips  are  wanting.  Upper  whiskers  black,  lower  and 
anterior  white.  Ears  rather  large,  rounded,  almost  naked  inside  and 
out ;  tail  the  same  length  as  the  head  and  body^  or  rather  longer, 
nearly  naked,  with  very  scattered  short  bristly  hairs,  black  and  white 
mixed  above,  white  below.  Feet  white  above,  beneath  quite  naked  and 
dusky,  the  latter  colour  being  characteristic. 

There  are  but  six  mammae,  one  pair  being  pectoral,  and  situated  just 
behind  the  axils,  and  two  pairs  inguinal. 

The  following  dimensions  in  inches  were  taken  from  fresh  speci- 
mens : — 

Length  of  head  and  hody  . . 

Length  of  tail  •• 

Height  of  ear  finom  orifice  to  tip     . . 

Breadth  of  ear  hiid  flat  ..         .. 

Length  of  fore  foot  ..  ..         ., 

Length  of  hind  foot 

Longest  whisker       . .  . .         . .  . .  . .  . . 

The  following  are   the  measurements  of  two 
skulls,    male   and    female,  in  decimals    of    an 


<$ 

9 

4 

3.8 

4-3 

3.8 

0.7 

0.55 

0.5 

0.45 

0.4 

0-4 

0.9 

0.83 

1-45 

1-35 

inch : — 


Extreme  length  fix>m  upper  margin  of 
foramen  magnum  to  end  of  nasal 
bones 

Breadth  across  hinder  part  of  zygo-  ) 
matio  arches  > 

Breadth   across  frontal  bones  where -1 
narrowest    behind  postorbital  pro-  V 
cesses  J 

Length  of  nasal  bones 

Length  of  molar  teeth  in  upper  jaw 

Breadth  of  palate  between  molar  teeth 

Length  of  lower  jaw  from  condyle  to  1 
anterior  alveolar  margin  J 


i 

I.I  1.04 

0.55  0-5 

0.18  0.17 


0.43 
0.14 

0.1  a 
0.55 


0.4 
o  X3 

0.53 


The  zygomatic  arch  is  very  narrow  and  ^ 
Skull  of  Mus  enythro-      much  more  so  than  in  M.  Bactrianus. 

u9,  na  .  size.  j  ^^j^  obtained  specimens  of  this  moue® 

Kohrud,  where  it  is  said  to  be  found  in  fields. 


^t» 


66  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

53.  M.  BaotrianuBy  Blyth,  PL  Y,  fig.  2. 

M,  Baetrianua,  Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  B.  xv,  1846,  p.  140,  and  xxii,  p.  347. 

M,  gerbUUnus,  Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  B.  xxii,  p.  410,  Cat.  Main.  Mub.  As.  Soo. 

p.  119. 
M.  Theobaldi,  Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  B.  xxii,  p.  583. 
M,  tylvtUicui,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  344,  nee  L. 

M^sh,  Persian. 

I.  Pfshin,  Baldchist^ 500 

a-5.  NearPishin — 

^13.  Kalag&n,  Baliichist&n  ..  ..  ..  3500 

14-18.  Bampiir,  BaliichisULn  ..  ..  1700 

19-24.  Maahish,  south-west  of  Karm4n  ..  5000 

35.  Shir&z  ..  ••  .'         ..  47^^ 

This  species  was  first  described  by  Mr.  Blyth,  from  specimens 
brought  by  Captain  Hutton  from  K&ndah&r,  where  it  is  said  to  be  the 
common  house  mouse,  as  it  is  in  Baluchistan  and  Southern  Persia.  The 
name  first  given  by  Mr.  Blyth,  Mas  Bactrianus^  is  objectionable,  as  this 
animal  has  never  been  obtained  from  Bactria  proper,  the  modem 
Balkh. 

Although  my  specimens  are  rather  larger  than  Mr.  Blyth's  types, 
and  their  colour  is  rather  darker,  they  agree  well  with  typical 
examples  from  Kindahdr,  presented  by  Captain  Hutton  to  the  British 
Museum,  and  the  skulls  are  precisely  similar.  Mr.  Blyth  subsequently 
described  two  other  mice,  one  from  Pind  Dddun  Khdn  in  the  Panjib, 
as  M.  fferbillinus,  said  to  be  sandy-brown,  the  other,  of  the  same  colour, 
from  Kashmir,  which  he  named  M.  Theohaldi :  both  of  these  he  ulti- 
mately united  to  M.  Bactrianus.  The  descriptions  given  of  these  mice 
show  that  both  size  and  colour  are  slightly  variable,  and  I  have  some 
small  specimens,  palpably  adult,  which  difier  very  little  in  size  from 
the  dimensions  given  by  Mr.  Blyth.  It  appears  probable  that  the 
present  species  is  the  house  mouse  of  the  extreme  north-west  of  India, 
Kfishmir,  Afghanistan,  Baluchistan,  and  Southern  Persia. 

The  Persian  house  mouse  is  about  equal  in  size  to  M,  mnsculus,  with 
largish  ears,  and  the  tail  about  the  same  length  as  the  body,  varying 
from  a  little  shorter  to  a  little  longer.  The  colour  is  brown  above, 
usually  with  a  sandy  tinge,  sometimes  rufescent,  especially  on  the 
sides ;  lower  parts  white,  not  abruptly  separated  from  the  colour  of  the 
back ;  soles  of  feet  whitish.  The  tail  is  thinly  clad  throughout  with 
short  light  brown  hair,  soft  not  bristly.     The  ears  are  naked  inside, 


I  9 

3<J 

39 

i 

3-5 

3.eJ 

325 

3.5 

3-1 

3.6 

3.45 

3-3 

I 

1.05 

0.9 

0.56 

0.53 

0.53. 

0.65 

0.44 

0.46 

0-45 

03 

0.3  a 

0.33 

0.4 

0.65 

0.75 

0.72 

0.75 

MAMMALIA,  57 

jpt  near  the  margin,  where  they  are  rather  thinly  covered,  as  they 
on  the  outside,  with  short  hair.  The  basal  portion  of  the  hair  on 
ihe  hack  is  dark  ashy,  a  few  black  hairs  bcin^j^  mixed  with  the  brown 
ones  on  the  back.  There  are  two  pairs  of  inguinal,  and  three  pairs  of 
pectoral  mammce;  of  the  latter^  two  are  in  a  line  just  behind  tbe  axils, 
the  third  in  front  of  and  inside  the  shoulders. 

The  following^  measurements  were  taken  on  fresh  specimens :  1,  cap- 
tured at  PIshin ;  2,  at  Kalag&n ;  3,  at  Dizak,  all  in  Baluchistan ; 
4,  at  Mashish,  south-west  of  Karm&n  : — 


Length  from  nose  to  root  of  tail 

Length  of  tail 

Length  of  head 

Height  of  ear  from  orifice 

Breadth  of  ear  laid  flat 

Length  of  fore  foot  and  cIaws 
Length  of  hind  foot  and  claws 

There  is  some  variation  in  the  size  and  shajx>  of  the  ears^  some 
specimens  having  them  shorter  and  rounder  than  others. 

The  following  are  the  dimensions  of  two  skulls,  both  of  males : 
I,  from  Kalagfin  ;  a,  from  Bampur  : — 

Length  from  upper  margin  of  foramen  magnum  to  end  of  1 

nasal  bones  J 

Breadth  across  binder  part  of  zygomatic  arches 
Breadth   across  frontal  l>onc8  where  narrowest  behind  1 

post-orbital  processes  i 

Length  of  nasal  bones 

Length  of  lower  mandible  from  the  condyle  to  the  an-  1 
tenor  alveolar  margin  J 

The  zygomatic  arch  is  strong  and  well  developed.  These  skulls 
agree  well  with  one  in  the  British  Museum,  taken  from  a  K&ndahdr 
specimen. 

De  Pilippi  identified  the  Persian  house  mouse  with  J/,  sylvaiicus^  and 

he  states  that  the  same  species  was  brought  from  Shirdz  by  the  Marquis 

^oria.    But  a  specimen  from  Shirdz,  which  I  obtained,  is  certainly  the 

present  species,  which,  although  similar  in  colour,  is  a  larger  mouse 

*han  M.  syltmliciiSy  with  a  much  longer  tail.     Unfortunately,  I  have 

^o   specimens  from  Northern  Persia,  and  the  house  mouse  there  may 

*>o  Jf.  sylvalicus,  but  it  is  quite  as  probable  that  it  is  the  present  form. 


In. 

In. 

0.9a 

0.8 

0.49 

0.42 

0.14 

0.14 

0.3 

0.37 

0.5 

0.41 

58 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 


64.  *Miifl  sylvaticiiSy  Ll — De  F. 

I  have  already  mentioned  that,  according  to  De  Filippi^  this  is  the 
house  mouse  of  Northern  Persia,  but  I  think  it  would  be  well  to  compare 
specimens  with  the  last  species.  Even,  however,  if  Jf.  Bactriantis  prove 
to  be  found  in  houses  throughout  Persia,  M.  sylvaticua  must  also  be 
included  in  the  fauna,  as  it  was  found  by  M^netries  common  on  the 
parts  of  the  Talish  mountains  not  covered  by  trees,  and  it  is  said  by 
Eichwald  to  be  abundant  in  Georgia. 

Eichwald  includes  Mus  musculuSy  L.,  and  M^n^tries,  M,  minutus, 
Pall.  (Jf.  messorius,  Shaw),  in  the  fauna  of  the  Transcaucasian  provinces. 
The  latter  probably  may  extend  into  Persia,  but  De  Filippi  particularly 
noticed  the  absence  of  M,  mtiaculus  in  the  north-western  part  of  the 
country,  where  he  says  it  is  replaced  by  M.  sylvaticua. 

66.  CricetUB  phsBUSy  Pall. — De  F. 


I,  a.    Mashish,  south-west  of  Karmdn     . . 

3-7.    Shir&z  

8-18.  KobHid,  north  of  Isfah&n     . . 


6800 
4700 
7000 


This  hamster  appears  to  be  common  throughout  the  Persian  highlands, 
chiefly,  I  think,  about  gardens  and  cultivation.  It  is  found  in  towns 
and  villages,  coming  into  houses. 

The  following  are  the  dimensions,  in  inches,  of  five  fresh  specimens 
taken  at  Kohrud : — 


Length  of  head  and  body 
Length  of  tail  from  anus 
Length  of  bead     . . 
Length  of  fore  foot 
Length  of  hind  foot 
Height  of  ear  from  orifice 
Breadth  of  ear  laid  flat   .. 
Longest  whisker    . . 


6 

9 

9 

9 

6 

4 

3-75 

4.1 

4> 

4-9 

1.25 

0.9 

1.2 

i.a 

0.9 

I. a 

1. 15 

I-I5 

1.2  2 

0.4 

0.45 

0.48 

0.4a 

0.4  a 

0.7 

0.62 

0.68 

0.68 

0.6a 

0.76 

0.75 

0.7 

0.77 

075 

0.6 

0.52 

0.57 

0.6 

0.56 

1.4 

1.3 

1.25 

1.4 

1-5 

The  male,  of  which  the  dimensions  are  given  in  the  last  column, 
instead  of  being  of  the  usual  cinereous  colour,  had  a  decidedly  rufous 
tinge,  and  this,  added  to  the  larger  size,  made  me  suspect  that  it  might 
belong  to  De  Filippi's  C  isabellinus.  That,  however,  is  still  larger,  and 
paler  in  colour. 


MAMMALIA.  69 

66.  *C.  isabelliniui,  De  F. 

De  Filippi,  Viiig.  in  PenU,  p.  344. 

The  following  is  a  translation  of  the  origfinal  description  in  Italian : 
*  Closely  resembling  the  preceding  {C.  phreus)  in  the  general  distri- 
bution of  the  colours,  in  the  quality  of  the  fur,  and  the  proportions  of 
the  body  and  of  the  tail,  but  of  much  larger  size,  and  sensibly  different 
colouration.  From  the  point  of  the  nose  to  the  root  of  the  tail  0.15 
metre^  (in  C.phaua  0.095*  ^^  ^^^  °^^^^  0  J^^g^t  of  the  tail  0.028', 
Greyish  isabelline  above,  rather  paler  on  the  sides,  lower  half  of  the 
body  pure  white,  the  two  colours  sharply  distinct,  especially  at  the 
sides  of  the  body.     Captured  at  Tehrdn  by  the  Marquis  Doria.' 

I  could  not  find  a  specimen  of  this  species  at  Turin  or  Genoa. 

67.  *C.  nigrioansy  Brandt. — De  F. 

This  Caucasian  species  was  found  by  De  Filippi  at  Sultdniah,  north- 
west of  SLazvin. 

Fitzinger  (Sitzingsb.  K.  Akad.  Wiss.  Wien,  1867,  vol.  Iv,  Abth.  i, 
p.  504)  gives  Mesopotamia  and  Persia  amongst  the  localities  for  Spalax 
typhluB^  but  I  cannot  find  any  trustworthy  authority  for  the  locality. 
In  Schmarda's  Mesopotamian  list  an  unnamed  species  of  Sij)Aneus  is 
included;  this  may  perhaps  also  be  8j>al<ix  typhlus,  Eichwald,  how- 
ever, declares  that  this  species  has  not  been  observed  south  of  the 
Caucasus. 

8,  Pallasiiy  Nordman^  is  also  said  to  be  found  in  the  Caucasus  by 
some  writers,  but  not  by  Eichwald. 

Myosjpalaxfiiscocapilh^^  Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  B.  xv,  p.  141,  described  from 
Quetta^  in  Southern  Afgh&nistdn,  may  probably  be  found  in  parts  of 
Eastern  Persia. 

68.  Nesokia  Huttoni,  Blyth,  PI.  VI,  fig.  i. 

J.  A.  S.  B.  xv,  p.  139,  (1846),  and  xxxii,  p.  332. 

N.  Hardwickei,  Jerdon,  Mammals  of  India,  p.  190,  partim,  nee  Gray. 

1-9.  Kalag^,  Baliichist&n  ..  ..         ..         3500 

My  specimens  agree  very  fairly  with  Mr.  Blyth's  description,  but 
they  are  rather  larger.  They  are  not,  however,  the  same  as  Gray's 
Nesoiia  Hardwickei ^  which  is  a  larger  animal  with  a  much  shorter  tail, 
and  with  which  I  believe  that  N.  Griffithiiy  Horsfield,  is  identical.  The 
type  of  the  latter  is  in  the  India  House  Museum  and  inaccessible. 

*  Veiy  neariy  6  inches.  •  3.75  in.  '  i.i  in. 


■>0  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

The  colour  of  the  specimens  obtained  by  me  varies  from  ferruginous 
brown  to  sandy  brown  above.  The  lower  parts 
are  isabelline,  but  frequently  appear  dark  in 
consequence  of  thfi  fur  being  thin  and  worn ;  the 
basal  portion  is  dark  slaty  grey  both  above  and 
below  the  animal.  Hairs  on  the  back  soft  and 
of  moderate  length,  a  very  few  black  hairs  being 
scattered  amongst  the  brown  ones.  Tail  naked 
and  ears  almost  naked,  the  latter  having  only 
a  few  extremely  short  hairs  thinly  scattered,  and 
the  feet  being  covered  above  very  sparsely  with 
short  whitish  hairs. 

The  mammee  are  only  six  in  number,  one  pair 
■^tw/tr-r-^^  being  pectoral,  two  pairs  inguinal.   The  crown  of 

(tmntuJlMWw^        '^^  ^^  molar  in  each  jaw  consists  of  three  sub- 
L»lUL/(  VtlMSii'        equal  transverse  ridges,  the  sficond  and  third  of 
two  each.     These  ridges  are  parallel,  close  to- 
gether, and  all  separate  except  in  the  last  molar 
J ,  Molnr  teeth  of  the  up-        »,,  i-i.i.  ••31. 

perj«w,  eotsged  Oaie     '^^  ^^  "PP«r  J"'''  ^°  ^^'"<>'»   ^^^7   "*  JO>°«a  to- 
'*'»™»-  gether  inside,  and  in  the  first  molar  of  the  lower 

jaw,  in  which  the  first  and  second  ridges  are   united  outside.     The 
incisors  are  very  broad,  and  are  not  grooved. ' 

The  following  measurements  were  taken   on  fresh   specimens,  all 
adults : — 


L.  SkuU  of  Xeiokia  ilat- 


Length  of  he«d  and  body,  from  ni 
Len^h  of  heitd  alone  ., 
Lengtli  of  tail  ■  ■ 


6.7S 


Tot<a 

Lengtfa  from  shoulder  to  mmp 

Height  of  ear  from  orifice 

Breadth  of  ear  l&id  flat 

Length  of  loDgeet  whiaker 

Length  of  fare  foot  (pHlmn  and  naile) 

Length  of  hind  foot  (pUnta  and  null) 


«.6s 

1.85 
4-75 


0.85 


The  distance  from  the  ear  to  the  eye  (average  of  3  specimens)  is 
0,81,  from  the  eye  to  the  end  of  the  snout,  0.72 ;  diameter  of  the  eye 
0.33  ;  length  of  the  middle  toe  of  the  fore  foot,  0.45 ;  of  the  hind  foot, 
0.5  in.  The  skull  of  an  adult  female  measures  1.65  inches  in  length 
from  ^6  foramen  magnum  to  the  end  of  the  nasals,  and  1 .08  in  breadth 


1.  NESOKIA  HUTTONl. 

2  LAGOMYS  RUFESCEHS. 


MAMMALIA.  61 

across  the  widest  part  of  the  zygomatic  arches.     The  uppet  molars  are 
0.35  inches  in  length. 

This  animal  is  said  to  burrow  in  sandy  ground  and  to  be  found 
both  in  cultivated  and  uncultivated  tracts.  The  country  in  which 
I  obtained  specimens  consists  chiefly  of  barren  hills. 

59.  * Arvioola  amphibius  P   L.  — DeF. 

Arvicola  amphibiuSt  L.  var.  Persica,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  pp.  196,  344. 

I  once  or  twice  saw  a  small  animal  resembling  the  common  water 
rat  of  Europe  on  the  banks  of  streams  in  the  Elburz,  but  I  could  not 
obtain  a  specimen.  De  Filippi  was  more  fortunate ;  he  procured  two 
skins  at  least,  one  of  an  adult,  the  other  of  a  yoimg  animal,  now 
in  the  museum  at  Turin.  He  says  that  the  osteologieal  characters 
are  identical  with  those  of  the  European  Arvicola  amphibius,  but 
that  the  colour  differs,  passing  into  fulvous  on  the  flanks,  and  into 
white  on  the  under  parts.  It  appeared  to  me,  on  comparing  the 
skins  at  Turin  with  European  specimens,  that  the  former  belonged 
to  a  distinct  race,  the  fur  being  shorter,  much  less  close  and  less 
woolly.  On  the  back  it  is  slaty  black  at  the  base,  isabelline  near 
the  end,  with  black  tips.  Below  the  colour  is  paler  than  in  Euro- 
pean specimens,  the  whitish  under  parts  differing  more  in  colour 
from  the  brown  back,  and  the  line  of  division  between  the  two 
colours  being  much  more  sharply  defined.  The  size  appears  to  be 
the  same. 

De  Filippi  met  with  this  water  vole  at  Sultdniah  and  other 
places.  He  says  it  is  found  along  irrigation  channels,  entering 
gardens  and  even  houses. 

60.  *Arvioola  mystacinusy  De  F. 

Viag.  in  Persia,  pp.  255,  344. 

?  Mu8  micrunis,  S.  G.  Gmelin,  Reiae  d.  Rtissl,  iii.  p.  500,  PI.  LVII,  1, 

f  Arvicola  socialia,  Mdn.  Gat.  Rais.  p.  23  (an  Pall.  f). 

This  is  described  in  the  following  terms  by  De  Filippi : — 
'A.  arvali  affiuiSy  8ed  auriculU  et  mystaciUlon^ianbus,  cauda  Ireviore^ 
facile  di^iinguendus.^ 

'  Allied  to  A,  arvalis^  from  which,  however,  it  is  distinguished  by 
much  larger  ears,  which  project  more  above  the  fur,  by  it«  whiskers  of 
white  and  black  hairs  mixed,  the  former,  which  are  by  far  the  longer, 
when  laid  along  the  side  of  the  head,  reaching  to  the  outer  edge  of 


62  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

the  ear,  and  by  its  much  shorter  tail,  which  measures  only  a  sixth 
of  the  whole  body. 

'  Colour  above  mouse  grey,  paler  below.* 

There  are  four  specimens  of  this  little  vole  in  the  Turin  Museum, 
all  of  the  same  size  and  apparently  adult,  three  being  in  spirit  and 
one  stuffed.  My  notes  on  the  colouration  and  dimensions  differ 
slightly  from  those  of  De  Filippi.  The  colour  above  is  rufous  brown, 
the  hair  as  usual  being  blackish  slaty  at  the  base,  and  about  y^^  of  an 
inch  long  in  the  middle  of  the  back,  lower  parts  white.  The  fur  is 
soft.  The  following  are  the  dimensions  taken  from  a  specimen  in 
spirit : — 

In. 
Total  length  including  tail    ..  ..  ..  ..  ..         ..         3.5 

Tail  from  anus  ..  ..         ••  ..  ..  ..  ..         0.75 

Fore  foot  (palma)       ..         ..         ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..         0.37 

Hind  foot  (planta)     ..  ..  ..         ..         ..  ..  ..         0.58 

De  Filippi  found  this  small  rodent  abundant  in  the  valley  of  the 
L&r,  north-east  of  Tehr&n  in  the  Elburz  mountains,  where  he  says  the 
ground  in  places  is  full  of  its  holes. 

At  XJjun,  a  camping  ground,  about  8ocx5  feet  above  the  sea,  between 
Dehgirdu  and  Kushkizard,  on  the  summer  road  from  Shiraz  to  Isfah&n, 
I  saw  a  small  mouse  or  vole  in  large  numbers,  the  ground  in  one 
place  being  covered  with  its  holes,  but  I  failed  to  obtain  specimens. 
It  may  perhaps  have  been  the  present  species. 

61.  *A*  socialise  (Pall.) 

Mvs  socialiit  Pall.,  Schreb.  Saugth.  iv,  p.  682. 
Myodes  tocialuf,  PalL  Zoogr.  Rob.  Ab.  i,  p.  176. 

Pallas's  description  is  very  brief.  Schreber's  is  better.  He  says 
A.  sodalis  is  distinguished  from  A*  arvalis,  Pall,  by  its  colour  (pale 
yellowish  above,  the  ends  of  the  longer  hairs  partly  brown,  still 
paler  on  the  sides ;  lower  parts,  feet,  and  tail  white),  its  white  ears 
(?  misprint  for  tail)  and  feet,  which  have  no  scales,  its  shorter  tail  and 
thicker  head.  Length  of  head  and  body,  3  inches  5  lines,  tail  9^ 
lines,  or  with  the  hair  at  the  end  lof. 

Mu8  micrurua  of  the  younger  Gmelin  is  united  to  Pallas's  species  by 
Schreber,  J.  F.  Gmelin,  and  others.  According  to  S.  G.  Gmelin's 
description  it  is  from  ashy  to  dark  grey  with  some  yellowish  mixed 
above,  greyish  white  below,  the  hairs  black  at  the  base.  Length  of 
head  and  body^  3  inches  3  lines,  tail  6  lines. 


MAMMALIA.  63 

Arvieola  socialis  is  said  by  Pallas  to  be  found  in  sandy  countries 
round  the  Caspian  Sea  as  far  as  Persia.  Men^tries  gives  it  as  common 
in  the  T&lish  mountains^  living  under  stones. 

For  want  of  specimens  I  cannot  clear  up  the  account  of  these  voles, 
but  I  suspect  that  De  Filippi's  A,  mysiacinmy  Men^tries'  A.  socialis, 
and  S.  G.  Gmelin's  Mus  micrurus  are  the  same  animal,  a  small  vole 
inhabiting  the  Elburz  at  considerable  elevations,  and  that  Pallas's  Mus 
or  Myodes  socialis  is  another  similar  vole^  but  distinguished  by  its 
white  tail,  found  on  the  shores  of  the  Caspian.  By  J.  F.  Gmelin, 
Syst.  Nat.  i,  p.  134^  A.  arvalis,  Pall,  is  also  said  to  inhabit  Persia, 
but  Gmelin  is  about  as  untrustworthy  an  authority,  especially  on 
localities^  as  could  easily  be  quoted. 

Unless  the  animal  seen  at  Ujun  belonged  to  this  genus,  no  Arvieola 
has  as  yet  been  observed  in  Central  or  Southern  Persia. 

62.  Gterbillus '  Indious,  (Hardwicke.) 

Diput  Indieus,  Hard.  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  viii,  p.  379,  PI.  VU. 
OerbilluB  IndicMf  Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  6.  1863,  xxxii,  p.  327. — Jerdon,  Mammals 
of  India,  p.  184.— F.  Cuv.  Tr.  Z.  S.  u,  p.  143,  PL  XXV,  fig.  15-19,  skull. 
Q.  Hardwickei,  Gray,  Cat.  Mam.  6.  M.  p.  132. 
Merianes  Indicut^  Wagner,  Schreb.  Saugth.  iii,  p.  472. 

1-8.  Pishiu,  Baluchist&n  . .  . .         . .         700 

I  can  see  no  essential  difference  between  the  specimens  procured  at 
Pishin  and  some  Indian  skins  in   the   British   Museum.     Jerdon, 

^  Concerning  the  genus  OerbilluSt  and  its  allies,  resecting  which  much  confusion 
exists  in  the  works  of  both  German  and  English  writers,  compare  Brandt,  Bemerkungen 
iiber  die  Gattungen  Oerhillus,  Merionet,  Khombomyt  imd  Piammomyt,  Bull.  Acad.  Sd. 
St.  Pet.  ii,  1844,  p.  76.  He  there  states  that  the  crowns  of  the  molar  teeth  in  Gerhillui, 
Besmarest  {^Merionea,  Bliger  and  Wagner,  nee  F.  Cuvier)  are  composed  of  distinct 
transverse  ridges,  the  first  molar  having  3,  the  second  2,  the  third  i  ;  that  the  incisors 
are  grooved  down  the  middle,  and  there  is  no  tubercle  on  the  outside  of  the  lower  jaw 
below  the  condyle. 

Merianest  Illiger  (•»  Rhombomys  partim,  Wagner),  has  the  crowns  of  the  molars 
composed  of  transverse  ridges,  those  of  each  tooth  being  joined  by  a  longitudinal  process 
in  the  middle,  the  incisors  are  grooved  down  the  centre,  and  there  is  a  weU  marked 
tubercle  below  the  condyle  of  the  lower  jaw. 

Rhombomys,  Wagner,  apud  Brandt,  differs  from  Merionea  and  Gerhillut  in  having  the 
posterior  molar  tooth  of  the  upper  jaw  composed  of  two  transverse  ridges  instead  of  one. 
In  the  species  selected  as  the  type,  Meriones  opimus,  Licht.  (>»  If.  tamaricinua,  Evers.  nee 
I^all.  B  Rkombomyt  pallidas,  Wagner),  the  upper  indson,  besides  the  groove  down  the 
centre,  have  a  second  imperfect  gfroove  or  depression  down  the  inner  margin. 


64  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

iMywerer,  gires  the  length  of  the  hind  foot  as  2  inches,  which 
is  much  more  than  in  the  animals  obtained  by  me.  G.  Cuvieri^  Water- 
bouse,  (V,  2L  S.  1838,  p.  56,)  the  Southern  Indian  form,  has  a  longer 
tarsus,  bot  Bljrtii  doabts  if  it  be  really  dibiinct. 

The  general  colour  of  the  upper  parts  is  bright  rufous  brown  or 
fawn  colour,  many  of  the  hairs  being  tipped  with  black.  Forehead 
the  same  colour  as  the  back.  Immediately  round  the  eye  is  dark 
brown,  the  area  of  this  colour  being  prolonged  in  front  and  behind ; 
above  is  a  distinct  white  supercilium,  and  below  there  is  also  a  white 
band,  much  more  marked  in  some  specimens  than  in  others:  the 
hinder  parts  of  the  cheeks  are  rufous,  becoming  paler  in  front.  The 
ears  are  very  thickly  covered  outside  with  short,  brown  hair,  within 
they  are  nearly  naked.  The  whiskers  are  black  above,  white  below. 
The  tail  is  longitudinally  banded,  being  pale  along  both  sides,  brown 
above,  and  with  a  narrow  brown  band  below ;  the  whole  becomes  dark 
brown  or  black,  and  the  hairs  longer,  near  the  tip.  Feet  white  above, 
naked  and  flesh-coloured  below. 

The  fur  is  soft  and  fine ;  the  underfur  on  the  back  is  leaden  grey. 
There  are  four  pairs  of  manmise,  two  pectoral,  and  two  inguinal. 

In  Paamnwmy*  the  upper  incison  are  not  grooved  in  the  centre. 

On  thi4  I  must  remark  that  the  skull  of  Gerbillut  Africanus,  figured  by  Bitmdt,  is  that 
of  a  young  animal ;  that  in  some  species  of  jerboa  rats,  e.  g.  G.  Indicutt  I  find  that  the 
transverse  ridges  of  the  molars  are  at  first  distinct,  but  subsequently,  when  more  worn, 
they  are  united  in  the  middle  of  the  tooth  ;  finally,  in  very  old  animals  they  disappear 
altogether.  Consequently,  the  form  of  the  ridges  of  the  molar  teeth  is  not  a  good  generic 
character. 

Secondly,  in  QerbiUut  Indieui,  which  Brandt,  from  the  figure  of  the  skull  given  by  F. 
Cuvier,  ZooL  Trans,  ii,  PI.  XXV,  f.  15-19,  refers  to  Bhombomya,  the  presence  of  a  small 
additional  ridge  or  talon  on  the  posterior  upper  molar  can  only  be  detected  in  the  young. 
The  two  ridges  soon  coalesce,  the  surfiace  becoming  trilobate,  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  that, 
if  very  young  specimens  be  procured,  a  similar  rudimentary  posterior  ridge  will  be  found  in 
several  other  species.  In  fiM^  a  series  might  be  formed  showing  its  gradual  increased 
development.     It  is  a  good  specific  distinction,  but  scarcely  of  generic  importance. 

Lastly,  Id  the  only  African  forms  of  Oerhilli  of  which  I  can  find  skulls  in  the  British 
Museum,  viz.  O.  melanuiriu  and  G.  marUantu  (neither  of  which,  however,  is  included 
by  Brandt  in  his  restricted  genus  GerbUltu),  there  is  a  tubercle  in  front  of  the  condyle  of 
the  lower  jaw.  Its  absence,  however,  in  the  specimen  of  0.  Africanus  figured  by 
Brandt,  can  scarcely  be  due  to  immaturity,  at  least  I  find  it  weU  developed  in  a  young 
G.  erythurus. 

1  prefer  therefore,  for  the  present,  to  refer  all  the  Persian  forms  to  GerhilluB,  This 
name  was  proposed  ii^i8o4  ^y  Desmarest  in  the  Tableau  M^thodique,  vol.  xxiv  of  the 
Dictionnaire  d'Histoire  Katurelle,  and  has  therefore  priority  over  Meriones  proposed  by 
Uliger  in  181 1.  The  latter  name  is  preserved  by  mi^Bt  German  naturalists,  partly,  I 
believe,  because  it  is  considered  classical. 


66  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

differs  in  no  important  particular  from  that  of  G,  Indicus;  its  dimensions 
agree  with  those  of  G.  taniurus. 

Length  of  skin  8  inches,  tail  (vertebrae  preserved)  6.5,  hairs  at 
end  0.5,  ear  from  orifice  0.9,  breadth  of  ear  laid  flat  0.7  (both  these 
measurements  would  be  more  in  a  fresh  specimen),  hind  foot  from  tarsal 
joint  to  end  of  claws  1.65.  Skull  1.75  inches  long  to  end  of  nasal 
bones,  nasal  bones  0.73  long. 

It  is  possible  that  this  may  be  only  a  variety  of  G.  Indicus, 

64.  G.  PersiouSy  sp.  nov.  PI.  VII,  fig.  i. 

I,  a.  Near  Karroan,  Southern  Peniia       ..  5000 

3,  4.  Kobnid,  north  of  Isfahan  ..  ..  7000 

G.  affinU  G.  Indico,  9upra  ferrugineus,  infra  albus;  caudd  corporem  Ion-- 
giiudine  excedentey  superne  rufescenti-brunned,  apicem  reruvs  nigra,  subiuB 
albiddy  ad  latera  hand  pallide  striatd ;  auribus  elongalis,  sed  minor ibus 
quant  in  G.  Indico,  parum  pilosis ;  planfis  latioribuSy  sub f us  sordide  viri- 
descentibus  ;  mystacibus  longioribus  conferiioribusque  ;  dente  molario  supe^ 
riare  postico  in  adultis  simplici  roiundato. 

Hah.  in  Persid. 

This  species  is  very  similar  in  appearance  to  G,  Indicus.  My  speci- 
mens are  rather  darker  in  colour  than  individuals  of  the  latter  from 
Pishin,  but  there  is  even  greater  difference  in  some  specimens  of 
G,  Indicus  from  India.  The  essential  external  differences  are  that  there 
is  no  dark  line  along  the  lower  surface  of  the  tail  in  G.  PersicuSy  that 
the  feet  are  broader,  and  with  the  soles  somewhat  differently  coloured, 
being  of  a  dusky  greenish  tinge  below,  and  that  the  whiskers  are  longer 
and  more  numerous.  The  present  species  has  soft  fur ;  the  upper  parts 
are  rufous,  the  hairs  being  slaty  grey  near  the  base,  and  tipped  with 
black,  lower  parts  white,  the  two  colours  divided  by  a  distinct  line  on 
the  flanks.  There  is  a  whitish  superciliary  mark,  and  the  whiskers  are 
black  behind  and  whit«  in  front.  The  tail  is  rufous  brown  (the  hairs 
rufous  with  black  tips)  above,  white  below,  ears  very  thinly  clad  with 
hair ;  mammse  eight,  as  in  G.  Indicus.  The  soles  of  the  feet  are 
naked. 

The  skull  differs  from  that  of  G.  Indicus,  in  having  the  nasal  portion 
narrower,  in  the  zygomatic  arch  being  curved  upwards  near  its  posterior 
extremity,  and  in  the  very  different  form  of  the  back  of  the  skull  when 
viewed  from  behind.  It  is  much  higher  in  proportion  to  its  breadth  in 
0.  IndicuSy  in  which  the  distance  from  the  top  of  the/oramen  magnum  to 


MAMMALIA. 


67 


the  upper  surface  of  the  skull  at  the 
highest  part  of  the  occipital  crest  ex- 
ceeds the  height  of  the  foramen  mag- 
num  itself,  whilst  in  0,  Persictis  the 
first  named  measurement  is  less  than 
the  height  of  the/oramen.  The  hind- 
most molar  too  in  the  upper  jaw  ap- 
pears to  want  the  posterior  rudimentary 
transverse  ridge  or  talon  seen  in  G. 
Indicus,  traces  of  which  are  easily  seen 
in  the  shape  of  the  tooth,  even  when 
it  is  much  worn  down.  If  found  in 
young  specimens  of  6.  Persicus^  it 
must  be  much  less  developed  than  in 
G.  Indicus, 

The  length  of  a  skull  taken  from 
an  adult  female  from  Kohrud  is  1.75 
inch,  the  breadth  across  the  hinder  part 
of  the  zygomatic  arches  0.9,  that  of  the 
frontal  bones  behind  the  postorbital 
processes  0.2,  length  of  the  nasal 
bones  0.7  a,  and  length  of  the  lower 
mandible  from  the  condyle  to  the  inner 
base  of  the  rodent  tusks  0.9. 

The  following  are  the  measurements 
taken  on  two  fresh  specimens  obtained 
at  Kohrud  :— 


i»  3,  3 


Length  from  nose  to  root  of  tail 
Length  of  tail  (vertebne) 
Length  of  hairs  at  end 


• « 


Skull    of    GerbiUue  Perncus, 
nat.  size. 

Molar  teeth  of  upper  jaw,  magnified 
three  diams. 

6.25      6 

I  I 


X  o tax  •%         ••         •• 

Length  firom  shoulder  to  rump 

Length  of  head 

Height  of  ear  from  orifice 

Breadth  of  ear  laid  flat     \«. 

Length  of  fore  foot,  including  nails 

Length  of  hind  foot,  including  nails 

Longest  whisker 

Diameter  of  the  eye  0.3a  in. 


13-75     M-3 


4 

1.75 
0.85 

0.65 

0.6 

1.55 
^•4 


4 
1.85 

0.95 

0.7 

0.5 

1.55 
3.85 


F   2, 


68  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

I  did  not  myself  see  this  animal,  living,  at  Kohrud ;  the  specimens 
killed  near  Karman  were  found  towards  dusk  amongst  small  bushes  in 
barren  stony  ground.  Like  G,  Indicus,  it  is  nocturnal  or  crepuscular  in 
its  habits,  and  very  much  shyer  than  G,  Hurriante  and  G.  erythrumn. 
Major  St.  John  informs  me  that  he  has  seen  it  at  Kohrud,  about  the 
stone  walls  dividing  the  orchards  and  gardens,  and  also  at  Ab&deh, 
between  ShidLz  and  Isfah&n. 

In  the  British  Museum  is  a  specimen  brought  from  Persia  (no  exact 
locality  has  been  preserved)  by  Mr.  Loftus,  which,  though  near  the 
present  form,  shows  some  differences.  The  fur  is  remarkably  soft,  the 
ears  rather  small^  and  the  feet  decidedly  shorter.  The  stuffed  specimen 
measures,  head  and  body  about  5^  inches,  tail  the  same,  ear  from 
orifice  0.55^  hind  foot  and  tarsus  1.2. 

66.  G.  HurriansBy  Jerdon. 

Mammals  of  India,  p.  186. 

Q,  erythrourus,  Jerdon,  ibid,  nee  Gray. 

1-7.     Dasht,  Baliichistdn, 
8-10.  Bahii  Kal4t,  BaliichisUn. 

This  form  agrees  well  with  Jerdon's  description  of  the  *  desert 
jerboa-rat '  of  Harri&na^  Kachh^  and  Sind,  and  with  specimens  of  the 
same  in  the  British  Museum.  Jerdon  considered  it  to  be  the  G.  erythru-- 
rus  of  Gray,  but  that  is  clearly  a  distinct'species,  with  much  larger  ears, 
and  a  black  tip  to  its  tail.  In  case  of  the  present  species  proving  distinct, 
Jerdon  proposed  to  call  it  G.  HurriaTUB,  which  name  it  must  bear. 

Jerdon's  description  of  the  colouration  is  excellent.  Above,  the  fur 
is  sandy  brown,  the  hairs  being  shorty  dark  slaty  at  the  extreme  base, 
isabelline  near  the  point,  with  short  dusky  tips.  A  few  longer  black 
hairs  are  mixed  with  the  others  on  the  hinder  part  of  the  back  and 
thighs.  Lower  parts  whitish,  this  colour  passing  gradually  on  the 
flanks  into  the  brown  of  the  back.  Tail  the  same  colour  as  the  back, 
scarcely  paler  below,  a  line  of  dusky  brown  hair  along  the  upper  surface 
of  the  terminal  portion,  becoming  longer  near  the  tip.  Ears  very 
small,  round,  thinly  covered  with  short  hair  outside  (more  thickly  near 
the  anterior  edge),  and  near  the  hinder  margin  within.  Whiskers 
black  above  and  white  below,  of  moderate  length.  Feet  pale  coloured, 
the  hind  feet  thinly  covered  with  whitish  hair  below,  except  on  the 
posterior  half  of  the  tarsus ;  soles  of  fore  feet  naked.  The  head  is 
shorter  and  more  rounded  than  in  0.  Indicus;  mammse  eight,  as  usual 
in  the  genus,  two  pairs  pectoral,  two  inguinal. 


Dimensions  of  fresh  Bpecimene,  both  males,  taken  at  Dasht  :- 


Lengtli  from  nose  to  buB  of  tail  .. 
liength  of  tftil  to  anH  of  rertebne 
Length  of  hura  at  end  of  taH 


Total 


Lez^h  from  shou] 

Length  of  head 

Height  of  tax  from  orifice 

Breadth  of  ur  laid  flkt'     .. 

Length  of  fore  foot,  inclading  nails 

Length  of  hind  foe 

JjODgeet  whisker 


The  upper  surface  of  the  ekull  is  lon^tudinally 
very  convex,  and  the  nose  short.  The  hind  upper 
molar  has  no  vestige  of  a  second  ridge,  even  in 
immature  specimens.  Even  in  a  yoong  skull,  the 
transverse  ridges  forming  the  crowns  of  the  molar 
teeth  are  united  in  the  middle,  so  this  species 
would  be  referred  to  Merionet,  Illiger  apud  Brandt, 
or  RhonAomi/i  of  Wagner  (see  note  to  p.  63). 

The  following  are  measurements  of  the  skull  in 
inches : — 

a         9 

Length  to  end  of  nual  booea t.J         1^1 

Breadth  across  hinder  part  of  ^gomatio  arches  0.9        0.83 
Breadth  of  frontal  booes  behind  poatorbital  1 
proceaset                                         ..           J 

Length  of  nanl  bones 0.54      0.53 

Length  of  lower  jaw  from  condyle  to  inner  1  „ 

base  of  rodent  tasks            ..         ..           J  °''' 

™      .    .  .         n    .  .              •       ,            ,  11     >             ■•  '■  Skull  of  Gtr- 

The  habits  of  this  species  have  been  well  de-  hillw  Hurriana, 

scribed  by  Jerdon.     It  is   diurnal  in  its  habits,  Moiwteethotnp- 

being  seen  outside  its  holes   at  all  hours  of  the  |>et  jaw,  enlarged 

day   in    the   cold  season.     It    lives    in  burrows,  "*   '"°°' 
usually  at  the  roots  of  bushes,  and  is  found  in  enormous  numbers  in 

the  semi-desert  plains  of  North-western  India.     It  appeared  common 

in  the  sandy  plains  of  Baluchistan,  near  the  sea,  but  leas  abundant 
than  in  Sind  and  Eiichh. 

>  This  meaaarement  is  taken  from  specimene  in  spirit,  and  would  be   rather  mora 
on  truth  individuals. 


ZOOLOGY  OF  I'ERSIA. 


d6.  0-.  erTtbntms,  Qnij. 

Gtaj,  Ann.  H^.  Nat.  Hist.  1843,  ser.  i,  toI.  x,  p.  166,  (nee  Jardon). 
I-f.  Sbirii,  Sontheni  Penia         4700 

I  did  not  procure  tluB  form  myself.  The  specimena  were  obtained 
by^  Major  St.  John,  and  all  Bent  to  roe  from  Calcutta,  unfortanately, 
are  skina,  so  that  I  can  only  give  approximate  meaeurementB.  The 
skolb,  however,  are  with  the  skins. 

I  have  compared  this  form  with  the  types  in  the  British  Museum, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  of  their  identity.  The  origfinal  Bpecimens  are  two 
in  nnmber,  marked  '  Sullebad,'  one  ib  also  marked  Kila-i-Ghilzee '. 
There  are  oIbo  Bkina  of  the  same  species,  ap- 
parently, from  K&ndahir,  presented  by  Captaio 
Hutton,  which  agree  admirably  with  those  from 
Shiriz,  the  skulls  as  well  as  tlie  skins  being  pre- 
cisely similar.  It  ia  evidently  an  AfghUDistiiD 
species  extending  into  Persia. 

From  G.  Hurriana,  which  Jerdon  thought 
might  probably  be  the  same,  the  present  form  is 
distinguished  by  its  much  larger  ears,  and  by  the 
hind  feet,  and  especially  the  toes,  being  more 
thickly  covered  with  hair  beneath.  The  tnr  too 
is  longer,  and  the  colour  browner  on  the  back,  the 
tail  is  more  rufous,  anil  the  tip  blacker.  The 
skull  is  larger  and  broader,  the  nasal  portion 
more  elongate  and  less  concave  above,  and  the 
hind  upper  molar  has  a  distinct  talon,  or  rudi- 
mentary second  transverse  ridge,  in  young  speci- 
1.  SkiiUof(?(rMUM  ™PBS,  traces  of  which  may  be  detected  in  the 
form   of  the    worn    tooth.     The  crowns    of  the 


the  centre,  even  in  young  animala. 

The  general  colour  above  ia  rather  rufous  brown,  the  hairs  being 

slaty  at  the  base,  a  few  long  black  haira  are  scattered  amidst  the  others, 

and  are  more  numerous  on  the  rump  and  thighs.     Lower  parts  white, 


■  Near  Kandkliir.    I  cannot  find  anj  plK«  tuuned  Sullebad  0 
nkUn :  can  i(  be  ft  mitnwUng  for  Ja1id»bi<l  t 


the  ni*p  of  iJ^iir 


MA  21  MALI  A.  71 

passing  gradually  into  the  colour  of  the  back.  Tail  very  rufous  brown, 
black  hairs  being  scattered  through  the  upper  surface,  none  below ; 
towards  the  end  a  band  of  black  hairs  commences  on  the  upper  surface^ 
and  covers  the  whole  tip,  where  the  hairs  are  lotiger  than  elsewhere. 
Ears  covered  with  hair  outside,  and  near  the  margin  inside.  Soles  of 
hind  feet  and  toes  pretty  thickly  covered  with  hair,  except  on  the 
hinder  half  of  the  tarsus. 

In  the  8kins  before  me  the  head  and  body  measure  about  six  inches, 
tail  the  same,  ear  about  0.65  high^  04  inch  broad.  In  a  fresh  specimen 
these  dimensions^  especially  that  of  the  ear,  would  iu  all  probability 
be  more;  the  ear  would  probably  mesisure  about  three  quarters  of 
an  inch.     It  is,  however,  clearly  much  smaller  than  in  G.  Indicus, 

The  following  are  the  dimensions  of  two  skulls,  both  marked  as 
those  of  males  :-^- 

In.  In. 

Length  to  end  of  nasal  bones                    ..                      ..          ..          1.63  1.63 

Breadth  at  hinder  portion  of  zygomatic  arches              ..          ..         0.9  0.92 

Breadth  of  frontal  bones  behind  postorbital  processes  ..                     0.3  0.31 

Length  of  nasal  bones                    . .                      . .                                 0.65  0.65 

Length  of  lower  jaw  from  condyle  to  inner  base  of  rodent  tusks       0.85  0.87 

Both  in  this  and  the  preceding  species  I  am  indebted  to  the  kindness 
of  Dr.  Giinther,  who  has  had  the  skulls  extracted  from  the  types  in 
the  British  Museum,  to  enable  me  to  compare  them. 

Major  St.  John  informs  me  that  this  species  is  abundant  at  Shir&z, 
and  in  the  plain  of  Persepolis,  not  extending  to  the  watershed  of  the 
Persian  Gulf,  nor  found  at  a  much  greater  elevation  than  5000  feet 
above  the  sea.  Its  habits  appear  similar  to  those  of  G,  Ihirrian^y  well 
described  by  Jerdon.  It  is  not  very  shy,  being  found  close  to  habita- 
tions, and  it  is  often  seen  sitting  near  the  entrance  of  its  burrow, 
whilst  men  pass  at  a  few  yards'  distance,  It  is  diurnal,  being  usually 
seen  out  during  the  day.  It  lives  in  burrows,  usually  in  banks,  or 
at  the  roots  of  tamarisk  and  other  trees,  and  is  found  both  in 
uncultivated  semi-desert,  and  in  cultivation. 

67.  *P  G.  tamaricinus  (Pall.)— De  F. 

Merion^  tamaricinm,  (Pall.),  De  F.  Viag.  in  Perwa,  p.  344. 

De  Filippi  states  that  this  species  is  found  throughout  Western  Persia, 
and  that  it  was  also  taken  at  Shirdz  by  Marquis  Doria.  The  identification 


72  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

of  the  Shir&z  specimens  I  doubt ;  they  were  more  probably,  I  think^ 
G.  erythrurus,  but  it  is  far  from  improbable  that  G.  tamaricinus  is 
found  in  Adarbaij&n.  I  omitted  to  notice  if  there  were  any  specimens 
in  Turin. 

G.  tamaricinus  is  evidently  a  very  distinct  species  from  G,  eryikmrus. 
It  has  the  tail  shorter  than  the  body,  and  marked  with  dark  rings, 
and  is  described  as  greyish  lutescent.  It  is  much  to  be  desired, 
however,  that  specimens  from  North-western  Persia  should  be  com- 
pared^ De  Filippi's  identifications  being  sometimes  incorrect. 

Another  species,  G,  meridianuSy  Pall.,  is  found  on  the  shores  of  the 
Caspian,  and  may  be  Persian. 

68.  G.  nanus,  sp.  nov.  PI.  V,  fig.  i. 

I,  a.    Saman,  Dasbt,  Baluchist&n. 

G.j)arvus,  longicaudatus  ;  caudd  corporis  longitudinem  duplam  (squante  ; 
supra  cervinus,  infra  albus ;  penis  siiperciliisque  alhidis ;  caudd  supeme 
brunnedy  subius  albescente,  apice  vix  fuscescente,  jsilis  parum  elongatis ; 
axmbiis  mediocribus,  fere  nudis ;  wyslacibtis  {vibrissis)  plerumque  albis, 
superis  ad  basin  fuscis.  Long,  capitis  cum  corpore  a. 6,  cauda  cum  pilis 
ajpicalibus  5,  auris  0.45,  jplanta  0.9,  poll. 

Hah,  in  Gedrosid, 

The  fur  is  soft  and  long,  rufous  brown  or  fawn  colour  above,  white 
below,  the  colours  being  less  sharply  distinguished  than  in  G,  Indicus : 
the  hairs  of  the  upper  parts  have  no  black  tips,  and  the  basal  two  thirds 
are  slaty  grey.  There  is  a  broad  white  supercilium,  in  front  joining  the 
white  area  of  the  sides  of  the  face,  so  that  the  brown  of  the  nose  is 
reduced  to  a  rather  narrow  band.  Ears  almost  naked,  a  few  short 
whitish  hairs  near  the  edge  only.  Whiskers  nearly  all  white,  a  few  of 
the  upper  hairs  brown  near  the  base.  Feet  white  above,  naked  beneath. 
Tail  light  brown  above,  whitish  beneath,  towards  the  end  a  band  of 
darker  brown  hairs  runs  along  the  upper  portion,  those  at  the  end 
lengthened,  but  there  is  a  less  marked  tufb  than  usual,  and  there  are 
no  black  hairs  at  the  end. 

When  I  first  obtained  the  two  specimens  of  this  species,  I  thought 
they  were  the  young  of  G.  Indicus^  and  I  omitted  to  take  their  mea- 
surements. The  following  dimensions  are  those  of  a  male  specimen 
preserved  in  spirit.  An  examination  of  the  epiphyses  of  the  limb 
bones,  and  oj  the  skull  of  the  other  specimen,  shows  it  to  be  fully 
adult,  and  the  two  agree  in  proportions. 


MAMMALIA. 


Length  of  headknd  bod; ).6 

Length  of  tail  to  end  of  vertsbne               .  •                                -  -         •  •         4-5 
Length  of  htixe  at  end  o[  tail         .,  0.55 

ToUl  7.65 

Height  of  ear  from  orifice    ••  ..  ■■         ■■         >•         ••  045 

BnwdUi  of  ear  laid  flat        0.3 

Length  of  fore  fbot  (pKlma).  including  niul*  ■■  ■•  --  0.3a 

Length  of  hind  foot  (planbt),  inclading  nnib         ..         ..  ..         . .  0,9 

Longest  whisker  ..  ••         ■•         •■         •■         ■■  i-5 

The  ekuU  of  a  female  measures  1.05  in  leng;th 
to  the  end  of  the  nasal  bones,  0.55  in  breadth 
across  the  posterior  portion  of  the  zygomatic 
arches,  length  of  nasal  bones  0.4,  breadth  of 
frontals  where  narrowest  0.19,  length  of  lower 
mandible  from  the  condyle  to  the  inner  base 
of  the  rodent  tusks  0.52.  The  general  form  of 
the  skull  approaches  most  nearly  to  that  of  G. 
Per*icm,  the  nasal  portion  being  longer  and 
straighter  than  in  0.  Hurriana  and  Q.  eri/~ 
ihrurui. 

Only  the  two  specimens  obtained  were  ob- 
served.  They  were  captured,  together  with 
many  of  G.  Burriants,  in  consequence  of  a 
Uige  area  of  ground  being  flooded,  and  these 
jerboa  rats  being  driven  from  their  holes,  by 
a  sudden  storm  of  rain. 

This  species  is  near  G.  longicaudalvt,  Wagner,  '.  ».  3-  SkuU  of  Qainllia 
bat  evidently  much  smaller,  and  with  a  still  ^  si^I?"tee^  of*upper 
longer  tail;  an  immature  specimen  of  Wagner's  jaw,  magnified  uiree 

species  measuring:  the  body  round   the  curve 
3"  1'",  the  tail,  with  the  hair  at  the  end,  4"  6'".    Wagner's  species 
moreover  is  founded  on  Meriones  gerbillui,  Lichtenstein  (nee  Huppell), 
which   was   said  to   have  a   body  four   inches  long,  and  a  tail  6", 
tarsus  8"'. 

A  still  more  closely  allied  form  is  a  little  species,  which  is  ex- 
tremely common  on  the  Abyssinian  coast,  and  which, in  my  '  Geology  and 
Zoology  of  Abyssinia,'  I,  perhaps  incorrectly,  identified  with  Dipua 
geTHUui,  Oliv.  One  of  the  skins  collected  by  me  is  in  the  British 
'  Museam ;  the  body  appears  about  the  same  size  as  that  of  G.  nanus. 


74  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

and  the  tail  vertebrse  measure  4.5  inch.     It  is  of  a  bright  fawn  colour 
above,  white  below. 


Family  DIPODIDiE. 
69.  DipuBmaorotarsuB?  Wagner. 

AbhandL  Bayerisck.  Acad.  Wiss.  iii,  p.  2x4,  PI.  IV,  f.  a. 

I.  Near  K4m  (Ktim),  between  iRfahtfn  and  Tehr^       ..  3000  ? 

A  single  female  specimen,  scarcely  full  grown,  of  a  true  jerboa^ 
obtained  by  my  collector  at  the  above  locality,  agrees  in  most  of  its 
characters  with  Wagner's  description  of  the  above  species,  of  which 
the  type  came  from  Sinai.  The  tarsus  is  rather  longer  in  the  Persian 
specimen,  and  there  are  the  following  differences  in  colouration,  as 
compared  with  Wagner's  figure  and  description.  The  long  hair  beneath 
the  hind  feet  is  black,  and  there  is  a  dusky  patch  at  the  outside  and 
hinder  part  of  the  thigh,  just  at  the  lower  end  of  the  fleshy  portion, 
whilst  the  white  band  appears  to  be  larger,  and  to  cross  the  upper  part 
of  the  thigh.  The  whiskers  too  are  much  longer,  but  this  may  be 
due  to  the  longest,  as  frequently  happens  in  skins,  having  been  lost 
in  Wagner's  specimen.  If  the  above  differences  are  constant,  the 
Persian  form  is  distinct,  but  as  the  distinctions  are  small,  I  do  not 
like  to  propose  a  name  for  it  on  the  strength  of  a  single  specimen, 
without  comparison  with  Wagner's  type.  The  tail  in  the  latter 
was  imperfect.  The  following  is  a  description  of  the  specimen  from 
Kum : — 

Colour  above  pale  rufous  brown,  below  white.  Pur  soft,  rather  long, 
that  on  the  back  ashy  grey  at  the  base,  fawn  coloured  near  the  end, 
with  very  short  black  tips.  Whiskers  black,  very  long  ;  the  longest  ex- 
tending nearly  to  the  root  of  the  tail,  and  white-tipped.  Head  above 
of  the  same  colour  as  the  back,  whitish  at  the  sides,  with  some  black 
hairs  below  the  eye.  Ears  moderate,  rounded,  very  thinly  clad  with 
short  hair  outside  and  in,  except  outside  near  the  anterior  margin, 
where  the  clothing  is  much  thicker,  and  there  is  a  fringe  of  longer  hairs 
along  the  edge.  Tail  light  brown  above,  whitish  below,  except  for  about 
two  inches  at  the  end,  where  the  hair  is  longer  and  black  ;  the  extreme 
tip,  2  inch  long,  being  white.  Fore  legs  white,  the  claws  long  and 
white.    A  broad  whitish  band  across  the  upper  part  of  the  thigh 


MAMMALIA,  75 

outside,  below  this  the  colour  is  fawn,  passing  into  brownish  ashy 
outside  and  behind  just  where  the  muscular  portion  terminates.  Tarsus 
and  feet  clothed  with  hair  throughout,  white  above  and  at  the  sides, 
brown  below  the  tarsus,  the  hair  at  the  sides  of  the  feet  and  below  is 
about  half  an  inch  long,  that  at  the  sides  and  towards  the  ends  of  the 
toes  beneath  is  white,  that  below  the  soles  black.  Claws  homy. 
Incisors  white,  the  upper  ones  grooved ;  molars  three  on  each  side  of 
each  jaw,  those  on  the  upper  jaw  all  biplicate,  both  inside  and  out,  the 
second  molar  in  the  lower  jaw  triplicate  outside,  biplicate  within,  the 
first  and  third  biplicate  within  and  without.  The  length  of  the  skull 
from  the  upper  edge  of  the  foramen  magnum  to  the  end  of  the  nasal 
bones  is  1.27  inch,  from  the  lower  edge  of  \3iq  foramen  magnum  to  the 
front  of  the  upper  incisors  i.i,  breadth  across  hinder  part  of  zygomatic 
arches  0.85,  ditto  of  frontal  bones  where  narrowest,  just  behind  the 
postorbital  processes,  0.5,  length  of  lower  jaw  from  condyle  to  inner 
base  of  incisors  0.72^.  As  before  remarked,  the  specimen  is  not  adult, 
the  hinder  molars  not  being  frdly  grown. 

The  following  dimensions  are  taken  from  the  specimen  preserved  in 
spirit : — 

In. 
Length  from  nose  to  root  of  tail      . .  . .         . .         . .         . .  . .         3.9 

Length  of  tail  ..  ••  ..  ..  ..  ••  ..         6.6 

Length  of  hairs  at  end  of  tail  ..         . .         . .  ..  . .         0.75 

Total  11.25 

Height  of  ear  from  orifice     ..          ..          ..  ..  ..  0.65 

Breadth  of  ear  laid  flat          ..          ..  ..  ..          ..          ..  0.5 

Length  of  tanrus  and  hind  foot  to  end  of  claw8  . .  . .  3.65 

Length  of  fore  foot  to  end  of  claws            . .  . .  . .          . .  0.6 

Longest  whisker        ..          ..          ..  ..  ..          ..          ..  3.4 

This  species  is  allied  to  the  African  D.  Airtipesj  Licht.,  but  distin- 
guished by  its  shorter  and  more  rounded  ears,  and  much  longer  tarsus. 

70.  *  Dipus  Loftosi,  sp.  nov.  PI.  VII,  fig.  2. 

D.  supra  fuscO'isabellinus;  j)ilis  mollissimis,  basin  versus  pallide  griseis, 
ad  urqpygium  duniaxat  nigro  terminatis;  subius  alius;  femore  extusfascid 
laid  albd  transversd  signato^  joostice  hand  fusco;  mysiacxbus  brunneis; 
aurU)us  rotundatis,  mediocribuSj  inlus  extusque  jnlis  sjaarsim  indutis;  caudd 
supra  brunnedf  subtus  pallidd,  apicem  versus  nigrd,  albo-lerminatd. 

Lang,  corporis  cum  capite  5-6,  vertebrarum  cauda  6,  pilorum  ultra 


76  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

apicem  0.75,  auris  0.75,  tarsi  cum  jpede  posteriore  2 y  poll,  Atiffl,  {dimeU" 
sioiiibus  ad  corium  siccaium  menm). 

Hah,  ad  Mohamrah  in  Mesopotamia  (Loftus). 

Two  specimens  in  the  British  Museum,  forming  part  of  the  collection 
brought  by  Mr.  Loftus  from  Persia,  belong  evidently  to  a  very  different 
species  from  that  obtained  in  Northern  Persia.  Although  larger, 
they  have  much  shorter  tarsi,  the  ears  are  longer  even  in  the  dried 
skins,  and  there  is  no  black  hair  beneath  the  hind  feet.  The  following 
is  a  description : — 

Colour  pale  sandy  brown  above,  white  below,  the  two  colours  not 
passing  into  each  other.  The  fur  is  very  soft,  the  hairs  on  the  back 
are  light  lilac  grey  at  the  base,  and  have  no  black  tips,  except  on  the 
rump ;  even  there  the  dark  tips  are  very  short.  There  is  the  usual 
white  patch  on  the  outside  of  the  thigh ;  it  extends  completely  across. 
The  lower  part  of  the  thigh  outside  and  behind  is  brown  ;  there  is  no 
dusky  or  blackish  patch  posteriorly.  The  sides  of  the  nose  and  space 
around  the  eyes  are  whitish ;  the  whiskers  are  brown,  and  appear  much 
shorter  than  in  most  species  of  the  genus,  but  this  may  of  course  be 
due  to  the  longer  hairs  having  been  lost.  The  ears  are  of  moderate 
size,  rounded,  and  thinly  covered  with  hair  inside  and  out;  on  the 
edges,  and  especially  the  anterior  edge,  the  hair  is  rather  longer.  Legs 
and  feet  nearly  white,  the  long  hair  below  the  hind  feet  whitish.  The 
tail  is  brown  above,  paler  beneath.  Near  the  end  of  the  tail  the  hair 
is  longer  and  black  above,  there  is  very  little  or  no  black  hair  below, 
the  extreme  tip,  |  inch  long,  being  white,  the  black  portion  is  about 
i^  inches  long.  The  stuffed  specimens  measure :  length  of  head  and 
body  five  to  six  inches,  tail  (vertebrse  preserved)  6,  hairs  at  end  0.75, 
total  length  about  twelve  inches;  ears  0.75  long  (in  fresh  specimens 
probably  0.9  to  one  inch),  tarsus  and  hind  foot  2  inches.  The  mid 
toe  on  the  hind  foot  exceeds  the  outer  by  barely  half  the  length  of  the 
claws. 

The  skull  is  smaller  than  that  of  the  North  Persian  form,  but  belongs 
to  the  same  type  (subgenus  Scirtopoda,  section  Haltomys,  of  Brandt, 
Bull.  Acad.  Sc.  St.  Pet.  xiv,  1856,  p.  215),  having  the  upper  incisors 
grooved,  the  molars  three  on  each  side  of  each  jaw,  those  in  the  upper 
jaw  biplicate  both  inside  and  out,  the  posterior  molar  less  distinctly 
so  on  the  inner  side,  the  second  molar  in  the  lower  jaw  triplicate 
outside,  biplicate  within,  the  others  biplicate  on  both  sides.  The  skull 
(which  has  been  extracted  for  me  by  Mr.  Gerrard)  is  somewhat  broken 


1  CERBILLUS    PEKblCUS 
2.  DIPUS  LOFTUSI. 


MAMMALIA.  77 

behind  ;  it  measures  1.05  inches  from  the  lower  margin  oi  the  foramen 
magwum  to  the  front  of  the  upper  rodent  tusks^  and  0.42  across  the 
frontal  bones  where  narrowest,  just  behind  the  postorbital  processes. 
The  length  of  the  nasal  bones  along  the  median  suture  is  0.37. 

71*  Alaotaga  Indica,  Gray. 

A,Jndica,  Gray,  Add.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  ser.  i,  vol.  x,  (1842),  p.  263. 
A.'Bactriana,  Blyth,  Cat.  Mam.  Mus.  As.  Soc.  p.  no. 

I .  Katni,  Saij&n,  between  Kann&n  and  Shirdz  . .         5000 

This  species  has  been  confounded  with  A.  aco7ition^  Fall.  It  is 
distinguished  by  its  smaller  body,  longer  tail,  longer  ears,  and  different 
colour. 

The  only  specimen  obtained  agrees  well  with  the  types  in  the  British 
Museum.     It  was  found  drowned  in  a  Kan^t  or  irrigation  channel. 

Hitherto,  this  jerboa  was  only  known  from  Afghanistan.  As  it  is 
not  an  Indian  animal,  but  inhabits  a  different  zoological  province,  Blyth 
changed  the  name  given  by  Gray  to  Bactriana,  Unfortunately  this 
name  appears  scarcely  less  objectionable  than  Gray's,  for  hitherto  the 
species  has  not  been  found  in  Bactria  proper,  comprising  the  modem 
B&lkh  and  the  adjoining  regions  north  of  the  Hindu  Kush.  Rather 
than  propose  a  new  name,  I  retain  Dr.  Gray's,  though  I  quite  agree 
with  Mr.  Blyth  in  considering  it  inapplicable. 

Colour  above  fawn,  the  hairs  with  black  tips,  and  ashy  grey  at  the 
base,  lower  parts  white.  Upper  part  of  thighs  white  outside,  a  black 
spot  behind  and  inside  the  thigh  just  below  the  white,  remainder  of 
the  outside  and  lower  part  of  the  inside  of  the  thighs  brown  ;  a  white 
line  running  down  the  front,  and  extending  over  the  upper  portion  of 
the  tarsi  and  feet,  proximal  portion  of  tarsus  brown  at  the  sides.  Lower 
part  of  tarsus  naked,  some  dark  hair  on  the  soles  just  behind  the  three 
middle  toes,  which  are  covered  with  white  hair  above  and  below,  and 
terminate  below  the  claws  in  compressed  pads,  ending  in  a  vertical 
ridge,  which  is  transversely  divided  by  deep  grooves,  two  in  number  on 
the  second  and  fourth  toes,  three  on  the  third.  The  ends  of  the  first 
and  fifth  toes  are  0.8  inch  distant  from  the  end  of  the  middle  toe, 
which  is  longest,  the  second  and  fourth  toes  are  0.15  shorter.  Tail 
brown,  with  a  white  and  black  tip.  Ears  thinly  clad  with  short  brown 
hair  outside  and  on  the  terminal  half  inside ;  near  the  anterior  margin 
outside  the  hair  is  thicker.      Head  brown  above,  whitish  above  and 


78  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

below  the  eyes,  with  some  black  hairs  around  the  eyelids.  Whiskers 
black,  the  tips  of  the  longest  white  or  pale.  The  following  dimensions 
were  taken  on  the  animal,  a  male,  when  fresh : — 

In. 
Length  from  nose  to  root  of  tail       . .  . .  . .  . .         . .  . .         3.6 

Length  from  tail  to  end  of  vertebrae  . .  . .         . .  7 

Length  of  hairs  at  end  of  tail  ..  ..  ..  ..         0.6 

xoLai  ..  >•  ••  ••  ■•  ••  .■  ••        II  .3 

Height  of  ear  measured  from  orifice  ..  ..  ..  ..  1.6 

Height  of  ear  measared  outside  from  top  of  head  between  the  ears  1.7 

Breadth  of  ear           . .          . .          . .  . .  . .          . .  . .  . .  0.9 

Length  of  fore  limb  ..         ..         ..  .«  i*45 

Length  of  fore  foot  (palma)  . .  . .  . .  0.45 

Length  of  hind  limb . .         ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  4.15 

Length  of  hind  foot  (planta)  ..  ..          ..  ..  ..  3.2 

Diameter  of  eye         ..          ..          ..  ..  ..          ..  ..  0.53 

The  incisors  are  white,  and  not  grooved. 

[With  the  exception  of  the  jerboa  with  long  ears  we  found  drowned 
at  Elatrfi,  I  have  never  seen  one  on  the  plateau,  though  another  species 
is  common  about  the  coast  of  the  Persian  Gulf. — O.  St.  J.] 

72.  A.  deonmanaP  (Licht.)— De  F. 

Mu»  Jaculus,  Pall.  Nov.  Spec.  Glir.  p.  375,  PI.  XX,  nee  Linn. 
IHpui  jaculus,  Gmel.  Syst.  Nat.  i,  p.  157,  partim. — PalL  Zoogr.  Boss.  As.  i, 
p.  181.— Brandt,  Bull.  Ac.  So.  St.  Pet.  ii.  p.  aao.— De  F.  'Vlag.  m  Persia, 

P-  343. 

i.t  Near  Bushire. 

Brandt,  1.  c,  considers  Scirtetes  (=  Alactaga)  decumanus^  Licht., 
vexillarius,  Evers.,  and  spiculumy  Licht.,  varieties  of  Dipus  jaculus  of 
Pallas^  despite  their  variation  in  size,  length  of  ears,  and  extent  of  black 
tuft  at  the  end  of  the  tail.  These  are,  however,  well  marked  varieties, 
and  the  only  specimen  obtained  in  Persia,  which  was  procured  by  a 
collector  who  accompanied  Major  St.  John  in  1871,  agrees  best  with 
A.  vexillaria. 

The  name  Alactaga  [Scirtetes  or  Dipus)  jacula  cannot  be  employed  for 
this  species,  since  it  is  derived  from  Mus  jaculvA^  Linn,  apud  Pallas. 
But  M.  jaculus  of  Linnseus  is  described  as  having  the  hind  feet 
tridactylous,  and  as  being  found  in  Egypt,  and  is  manifestly  Bipus 
.MgyptiuSy  Hasselq.,  to  which  the  name  D,  jaculus^  L.  should  be  applied  ^. 

^  This,  I  find,  has  been  noticed  by  Milne  Edwards,  in  his  *  Recherches  sur  les  Mam- 


MAMMALIA.  79 

It  is  possible  that  Linnseus  may  have  included  the  Central  Asiatic 
form,  for  amongst  the  localities  he  gives  Calmukia  (probably  Tartary), 
but  the  description  shows  clearly  to  which  animal  he  refers. 

The  name  next  in  priority  to  Pallas's  according  to  Wagner,  Cuniculus 
saliens^  S.  6.  Gmel.,  was  never  given.  In  the  Reise  dnrch  Russland,  i, 
p.  26,  a  description  is  cited  from  J.  G.  Gmelin,  commencing  Cunicidus 
pumilis  saliena. 

The  name  next  in  order,  on  the  same  authority,  is  Mus  saliens, 
Haym,  Thes.  Brit,  ii,  p.  149.  The  only  work  I  can  find  in  the 
British  Museum^  corresponding  with  this  description,  is  the  *  Thesaurus 
Britannicus'  of  Haym,  the  second  edition  of  which  was  published 
1 763-65,  before  the  date  of  the  twelfth  edition  of  the  *  Sy stema  Naturae.' 

The  next  name  is  Bipus  Alagtaga  of  Ollivier,  which  cannot  be  used, 
because  the  specific  name  has  been  rendered  generic ;  and  then  comes 
Lichtenstein's  name  decuf/ianus,  given  in  the  Abhandl.  Berl.  Akad.  1 8^28, 
p.  154.  If  Scirtetes  decumanuSy  Licht.,  and  the  other  forms  distinguished 
by  Lichtenstein  and  Eversman  be  kept  distinct,  the  original  species  of 
Pallas^  so  far  as  I  can  see,  is  without  a  name. 

The  specimen  obtained  is  sandy  brown  above,  light  rufous  fawn  on 
the  sides,  white  below^  the  colours  passing  somewhat  into  each  other, 
except  on  the  sides  of  the  abdomen  and  thighs,  where  they  are  distinct. 
The  fur  is  very  soft,  on  the  upper  part  it  is  slaty  at  the  base,  fawn 
coloured  near  the  ends,  black  at  the  tip.  There  is  the  usual  white  patch 
at  the  side  of  the  thigh,  but  the  outside  of  the  thighs  as  far  as  the 
tarsal  joint  is  light  rufous  brown,  tarsi  and  hind  feet  white  above, 
brownish  at  the  sides,  naked  in  the  middle  below.  There  are  some 
rather  longer  white  hairs  at  the  sides  of  the  toes  and  beneath  them, 
and  dark  hair  on  the  lateral  portions  of  the  sole  just  behind  the  toes. 
Ears  naked  inside,  and  nearly  so  outside,  except  near  the  anterior 
margin,  where  they  are  covered  with  short  brown  hair.  Sides  of  the 
head  below  the  eye,  a  small  space  above  the  eye,  and  another  at  the 
base  of  the  ear,  whitish ;  a  few  black  hairs  round  the  eye.  Whiskers 
black,  the  extremities  of  the  longer  ones  white.  Tail  brown,  with  the 
usual  black  and  white  tip.  The  measurements  are  taken  from  a  stuffed 
skin:  length  about  seven  inches,  tail  (vertebrae  not  preserved)  about 
the  same,  ears  1.7  long,  0.7  broad,  tarsus  and  hind  foot  2.6,  longest 
whisker  3.5. 

This  species  inhabits  the  plains  near  Bushire,  I  believe;  but  as  the 
skin  is  not  labelled,  there  may  be  some  mistake  as  to  its  locality. 


80 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 


Major  St.  John,  however,  feels  sure  that  it  was  procured  there.  I 
saw  a  specimen,  apparently  of  the  same  species,  at  Genoa,  labelled 
Tehran.  De  Filippi  states  that  D.jaculus  is  common  everjrwhere  in  the 
steppes,  and  he  notices  that  the  newly- born  young  have  the  hind  leg^ 
no  longer  than  the  fore. 


Family  HYSTRICID^. 
73.  Hystrix  cristata,  (L.) 

I.  J&Ik,  Baliichistibi   ..  ..  ••  ••  3000 

The  only  specimen  obtained  appears  to  be  undistinguishable  from 
the  European  species ;  the  skull  is  larger  and  the  nasal  bones  longer 
than  in  H,  leucura.  The  total  length  of  the  skull  is  5.7  in.  (whilst 
that  of  an  old  and  very  large  specimen  of  H.  leucura  is  only  5.25, 
Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  B.  xx,  p.  170),  breadth  across  zygomatic  arches  3.25, 
length  of  suture  between  nasal  bones  2.75. 

The  following  were  the  dimensions  taken  upon  the  fresh  carcase  : — 

Ft.      In 
Length  from  nose  to  anus 

Length  of  tail    .. 

Length  of  spines  at  end  of  tall 

Total   .. 

Height  at  shoulder 
Height  of  ear  from  orifice 
Breadth  of  ear    . . 
Length  of  fore  foot 
Length  of  hind  foot 

Although  H,  leucura,  Sykes,  is  quoted  from  Persia  by  several  writers, 
I  greatly  doubt  if  it  be  foimd  on  the  plateau ;  it  may  very  possibly 
inhabit  lower  Baluchist&n  however,  and  Blyth  gives  Afgh&nistfin  as  its 
habitat.  It  so  closely  resembles  H,  cristata  that  the  two  may  be  easily 
mistaken  for  each  other,  indeed  it  is  a  question  as  to  whether  they  are 
really  distinct.  The  common  porcupine  is  found  throughout  Persia, 
and  especially  in  the  Caspian  provinces. 


2 

5 

0 

3 

0 

5 

3 

I 

0 

II 

0 

1.75 

0 

I.I 

0 

2-5 

0 

35 

Family  LEPORID-^. 
74,  Lepus  craspedotLBy  sp.  nov.  PI.  YIII. 

I.  Pishin,  Baldchist^ 500 

L.  supra  fuscus,  ex  nigro   cum  isabellino  vermiculatim  mixto^  jnlis 
mollisnmis  basin  versus  jpallide  cinereis,  juxta  apicem  niffris,  isabellino- 


-I 


MAMMALIA.  81 

ierminaiu;  sublus  alius  ;  nucha ^  collo  poHeriore^  pectoreque  fnsco-rufes- 
eentibus  J  auribus  ftuufiiis^  exfus  brunueisy  jjosfice  aplcem  versus  nigris^ 
iniusfere  nudis,  marghie  posleriore  isabeflina,  anteriore  pilis  longioribus 
albidis  itidutd^  apicem  versus  nigra ;  caudd  supra  nigrd^  ad  latera  sub- 
iusque  alid.  Long,  {femina  adult  a  nuper  occisre)  corporis  cum  capite 
15,  Cauda  3,5,  auris  6  poll.  Artgl. 

Habiiat  in  Balichistdn, 

Colour  brown  above,  white  below ;  the  fur  of  the  back  is  very  pale 
French  grey  at  the  base,  then  black,  and  the  tip  is  pale  brown,  almost 
iflabelliiie.  The  black  rings  are  wanting  on  the  nape,  hind  neck,  and 
breast,  which,  like  the  fore  legs  and  hinder  part  of  the  tarsi,  are  pale 
rufous  brown.  Ears  externally  mouse  brown,  blackish  brown  on  the 
posterior  portion  near  the  tip,  the  ant^jrior  edges  white  with  rather 
longer  hairs,  except  near  the  tip,  where  the  hair  is  short  and  black,  the 
posterior  margins  inside  pale  isabelline,  the  pale  edge  becoming  broader 
near  the  tip.  Tail  black  above,  white  on  the  sides  and  below.  Whiskers 
black  near  their  base,  white,  except  in  the  short^ir  ones,  throughout  the 
greater  part  of  their  length ;  a  pale  line  from  the  nose  including  the 
eye  continued  back  nearly  to  the  ear. 

This  species  is  near  to  L,  Mediterraneus  in  appearance,  but  it  is  less  ru- 
fous and  has  much  larger  ears.  It  is  still  closer  to  some  specimens  brought 
by  Canon  Tristram  from  Palestine,  distinguished  by  Dr.  Gray,  upon  the 
characters  of  the  skull  alone,  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  1 867,  ser.  3,  vol. 
XX,  p.  aa2,  as  Eulagos  Judea  \  This  form  is  rather  larger,  the  tarsus  in 
a  full  grown  specimen  measuring  5.1  in.,  it  is  much  more  rufous,  and  the 
dorsal  fur  is  creamy  white  at  the  base,  instead  of  being  pale  cinereous. 

The  following  are  the  dimensions  of  L,  craspedotisy  taken  from  the 
fresh  specimen,  a  female  : — 

Id. 
Length  of  head  and  body         ..         ..  15 

Length  of  tail    ..         ..         ..  ..  ••  3-5 

Length  of  hairs  at  end  of  tail  . .  ..         ••         ••         ••         ■*         i 

Total  '9-5 

Length  of  ear  measored  outside  from  top  of  head  •  •         •  •  6 

Breadth  of  ear  laid  flat            ..  .•  3*25 

Tubus  and  hind  foot ••  ••                    **  4'2^ 

Carpus  and  fore  foot     ..                               ..  ••         ••         ••  2.5 


*  It  is  a  question  whether  a  name  given  with  so  imperfect  a  description  should  be 
accepted.  The  fur  of  E,  JudetB  is  rather  rufous  brown  above,  creamy  white  at  the  base, 
dark  brown  near  the  end,  with  isabeUine  tips,  white  below.  The  ears  are  precisely  the 
Mine  aa  in  L.  crtupecloHi. 

VOL.   II.  O 


82  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

In  the  dried  specimen  the  ears  measure  nearly  five  inches  from  the 
orifice* 

This  was  the  only  hare  I  shot.  I  was  singolarly  unfortunate  with 
the  genus  in  Persia. 

76.  *LepuB  CafipiuB  P  H.  and  £. — De  F. 

L.  timidus,  L.,  M^d.  Cat  Raib.  p.  23. — PalL  Zoogr.  B08.  As.  i,  p.  149. — De 

F.  Viag.  in  Peraia,  p.  343  (neo  Linn.). 
Khar-gfuk  (A«'s-6an),  Persian. 

Unfortunately  I  did  not  obtain  a  single  specimen  of  hare  on  the 
Persian  highlands,  and  I  have  consequently  been  unable  to  ascertain 
what  species  are  found  there.  L,  Europceus^  Pall.  (Z.  timidtis  ^  auct. 
nee  L.)  is  given  by  Pallas  and  De  Filippi  as  inhabiting  Northern 
Persia;  but  the  latter  says  it  is  a  smaller  and  paler  variety  than  the 
common  European  hare,  and  its  identity  is  very  doubtful.  Men^tries 
also  states  that  it  is  found  in  Lankoran. 

L.  Caspicus,  Hemp,  and  Ehr.  Symb.  Phys.  fol.  y.  is  said  to  be  the 
Z.  limidus,  Pall,  from  Astrakan. 

A  specimen  labelled  L.  Caspius,  from  the  Caucasus,  in  the  British 
Museum,  resembles  L,  limidus  in  general  structure  and  appearance. 
It  has  comparatively  rather  small  ears  and  long  limbs.  The  fur  above 
is  creamy  white  at  the  base,  black  for  some  distance  near  the  end^ 
tips  pale  brown  ;  nape,  breast^  and  fore  legs  pale  rufous  with  a  pinkish 
tinge.  Ears  outside  in  front  brown,  behind  pure  white  except  for  an 
inch  near  the  tip,  where  they  are  black,  inside  nearly  naked  except  on 
the  hinder  part  near  the  margin,  where  they  are  well  clad  with  brown 
hair,  outside  this  is  a  narrow  whitish  edge  along  the  margin.  Length 
of  tarsus  5.5  inches,  ear  4.  This  may  be  the  species  found  in  North- 
western Persia, 

The  peculiar  colouration  of  the  ears  agrees  with  Hemprich  and 
Ehrenberg's  description  of  those  parts  in  L.  Syriacus;  nothing  is  said 
of  the  ears  being  white  behind  in  L,  Caspicus, 

[Abbott  (Journal  Geographical  Society,  vol.  xxv)  speaks  of  a  very 
small  hare  he  found  south-east  of  Shirfiz  and  in  parts  of  Western 
Persia.  Can  he  mean  the  long-eared  Alactagay  which  inhabits  the 
places  he  mentions  ? 

Hares  are  generally  difiused  throughout  Persia,  but  very  irregularly. 
The   cultivated    country   about   Tehrfin  and   Isfahfin    would  swarm 

>  The  true  L,  timidua  of  linnnus  is  L.  vaMlnliB,  PalL 


MAMMALIA.  83 

with  them,  were  tbey  not  kept  down  by  eoarsing  at  all  seasons.  About 
Shir^,  apparently  a  more  favourable  locality,  the  crops  being  more 
varied,  and  therefore  cover  more  constant,  there  are  none,  though  they 
are  not  rare  in  the  hilly  desert  country  to  the  north,  and  they  sWarm 
in  the  jungly  bed  of  the  K&r&-agatch  river,  twenty  miles  west  of  the 
town.  Possibly  the  hare  of  the  south,  which  seems  to  avoid  culti- 
vation, may  be  distinct  from  that  of  the  north,  whose  habits  are  more 
like  those  of  our  own. — O.  St.  J.] 

76.  Lagomys  rufesoens.  Gray,  PL  VI,  fig.  2. 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  1843,  ser.  i,  vol.  z,  p.  266, 

1-20.  Kohrtid,  north  of  Is&h&n         . .         8000-9000 

This  agrees  well  with  the  typical  specimen  in  the  British  Museum 
from  Afgh&nist&n. 

The  general  colour  of  the  back  is  light  rufous  brown,  the  rufous  tinge 
being  much  more  marked  in  some  specimens  than  in  others.  Bound 
the  back  of  the  neck,  extending  from  the  nape  to  the  shoulders,  is  a ' 
broad  whitish  demicollar,  behind  this  is  a  rufous  band  of  about  the 
same  breadth,  sometimes  ending  behind  in  a  distinct  sharp  margin* 
where  it  meets  the  brown  of  the  back,  but  more  often  passing  grad- 
ually into  the  latter  colour,  and  terminating  at  each  side  in  a  well 
marked  rufous  patch  in  front  of  the  shoulder.  Upper  surface  of  the 
head  rufous,  lower  part  of  the  cheeks  the  same  but  paler,  before  the  eye 
and  between  the  eye  and  the  ear  pale  brown,  lower  parts  pale  isabel- 
line.     Underfur  blackish. 

The  fur  is  soft,  but  rather  short.  The  feet  are  thickly  covered 
with  hair  beneath,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  pad  near  the  end  of 
each  toe.  The  ears  are  round  and  are  rather  thinly  clad  outside,  and 
for  some  distance  from  the  margin  inside,  with  short  light  brown  hair. 
The  whiskers  are  black. 

The  following  are  the  dimensions,  in  inches,  of  four  fresh  specimens 
taken  at  Kohrud : — 

Length  from  nose  to  rump 
Length  from  shoulder  to  ramp 
Length  of  head . .  .  •  • .  •  • 

Height  of  ear  from  orifice 
Breadth  of  ear  laid  flat  . « 

Length  of  fore  foot  and  claws 
Length  of  hind  foot  and  claws  ..         •• 

Longest  whisker  *• 

O  2 


6 

<$ 

9 

9 

7.5 

7 

6.5 

6.5 

5.25 

4-75 

4.5 

4.25 

2 

19 

1. 8a 

i.8a 

0.78 

0.8 

0.72 

0.8 

0-78 

0.77 

0.7 

0.78 

0.95 

0.78 

0.8 

0.83 

1.33 

1.16 

1.3 

i.as 

2.35 

a.a 

1.87 

a.i 

84  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

The  skull  of  an  adult  male  is  1.9  inches  long  and  0.92  broad  across 
the  zygomatic  arches,  the  corresponding  measurements  in  the  skull  of 
a  female  are  1.75  and  0.88.  The  intestines  of  an  adult  female 
measured  80  inches^  being  much  more  than  they  are  even  in  L,  Hoyly 
(J.  A.  S.  B.  xli,  pt.  a,  p.  36). 

This  Lagomys  abounds  on  the  higher  parts  of  the  mountains  near 
Kohrud,  at  elevations  exceeding  8000  feet,  living  amongst  stones  and 
in  holes  beneath  them.  At  the  time  of  my  visit  to  the  place  in  18725, 
I  was  told  that  they  were  less  numerous  than  usual,  numbers  having 
perished  in  the  great  cold  of  the  preceding  winter.  I  have  never 
heard  of  any  Lagomys  elsewhere  in  Persia. 

SIRENIA. 

I  cannot  learn  with  any  certainty  that  the  dugong,  Halicore  dugong^ 
Exl.  (v.  cetacea^  Illiger)  has  been  met  with  on  the  Persian  coast.  It  is 
said  to  occur  there  by  Murray  (Geog.  Dist.  Mam.  p.  202),  but  I  do 
not  know  on  what  authority,  and  consequently  I  do  not  include  its 
name  in  the  list.  It  has  not,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  been  observed  on 
the  west  coast  of  India  farther  north  than  Canara,  and  I  cannot  find 
it  recorded  from  any  part  of  Arabia  east  of  Aden.  The  dugong  of  the 
Bed  Sea  was  classed  as  distinct  by  Riippell,  but  most  naturalists  appear 
to  doubt  its  separation,  and  the  Indian  species  is  said  to  inhabit  the 
east  coast  of  Africa. 

UNGULATA. 

Family  EQUID^. 
77.  ''^Equus  hemionus,  Pall. 

E.  onager.  Pall. 
Gur-hhar,  Persian. 

In  using  the  name  Equus  hemionm  for  the  Persian  wild  ass,  I  adopt 
the  view,  held  by  several  of  the  naturalists  who  have  written  on  wild 
asses  ^,  that  there  is  but  one  species  throughout  Asia,  divided  into 
several  diiSterent  races,  which,  however,  show  so  much  individual  varia- 

*  For  a  oomplete  summaiy  of  the  &ct8  known  respecting  the  different  races  of  wild 
assee,  see  George,  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  1869,  xii,  pp.  1-48. 


MAMMALIA.  85 

tion,  that  it  is  not  possible  to  distinguish  them  one  from  another. 
Thus  the  two  races  stated  to  differ  most  widely  from  each  other  are 
the  Kyang  of  Tibet  {R  equioides,  Hodgs.),  believed  to  be  identical 
with  the  Chigetai  of  Tartary  {E.  hemionus,  Pall.),  and  the  Gur-khar  of 
North-western  India  {E,  Indicus,  Sclat.),  yet  the  figure  of  an  animal, 
proved  to  be  a  Tibetan  Kyang,  was  mistaken  by  Blyth,  who  probably 
knew  both  animals  as  well  as  anyone,  for  a  Gur-khar  (J.  A.  S.  B.  1859, 
xxviii,  p.  239,  xxix^  p.  136). 

There  are  said  to  be  at  least  four  different  races^  three  of  which  have 
received  names,  found  in  different  parts  of  Persia,  even  if  the  Kyang 
form,  the  true  E,  hemionus  of  Pallas,  be  not  met  with  in  North-eastern 
Khorass&n.     These  races  are  : — 

1.  The  wild  ass  of  BaluchistAn,  which  I  have  every  reason  to  believe 
is  identical  with  that  of  Kachh,  and  of  the  deserts  of  the  Indus  valley 
{E.  IndicuSy  Sclater). 

2.  The  wild  ass  of  the  province  of  Fdrs,  described  and  figured  by 
Ker  Porter,  (Travels  in  Georgia,  Persia,  etc.,  p.  459,  PL  XIj.  It  is 
said  to  want  both  the  don^l  and  humeral  stripes. 

3.  The  animal  found  in  Northern  Persia,  in  the  deserts  near  Tehr&n. 
This  is  the  type  of  the  Onager  of  Pallas  {Equus  onager,  auct.),  the  original 
specimens  described  by  the  great  Russian  naturalist  having  been 
procured  from  near  Kazvin. 

4.  The  wild  ass  of  Mesopotamia  {E,  Aemippus,  Geoffroy  St.  Hilaire) . 
Wild  asses  are  locally  distributed  in  Baluchistan,  and  I  only  heard 

of  their  being  abundant  near  Bampur.  None  are  said  to  be  found  in 
the  deserts  north  of  Jdlk  and  E^lag&n,  though  Ferrier  speaks  of  them 
as  common  farther  north  in  Sistin.  In  Persia  they  appear  similarly 
to  be  common  in  some  places,  generally  on  the  borders  of  desert  plains, 
rare  or  unknown  elsewhere ;  but  they  occur  scattered  over  all  the  more 
level  parts  of  the  country,  except  in  the  North-western  and  Caspian 
provinces.  I  saw  none  during  my  journey,  though  I  often  came  across 
their  tracks. 

[It  is  impossible  to  say,  with  any  degree  of  certainty,  whether  there 
are  one  or  two  wild  asses  in  the  Persian  highlands ;  or,  if  there  are 
two,  whether  they  have  distinct  habitats.  Persians  say  there  are 
three,  which  they  distinguish  as  Gur-kkar,  the  wild  ass,  Gur-asp,  the 
wild  horse,  and  Gur-idtir,  the  wild  mule,  the  last  being  presumably  a 
hybrid  between  the  two  first.  All  of  twenty  or  more  specimens  that 
I  have  seen  from  Western  Persia  were  undoubtedly  E.  onager y  and  it 


86  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

would  look  therefore  as  if  the  distinctions  made  by  Persians  were 
dependent  on  size  alone ;  but  I  have  never  seen  skins  from  Khorass&n, 
and  it  may  be  that  E.  hemionus  extends  from  Tibet  into  North-eastern 
Persia. 

The  Persian  wild  ass  is  not,  I  believe,  found  west  of  the  main  road 
from  Tehrdn  to  Shir&z,  except  possibly  in  that  arm  of  the  salt  desert 
which  extends  north  of  Kom  (Kum  or  Koomj  towards  Saveh.  It  is 
most  plentiful  in  the  vicinity  of  the  patches  of  salt  desert,  *  Kafah ' 
or  '^  Kavity  which  are  so  marked  a  characteristic  of  Eastern  Persia. 
In  the  summer  a  herd  occasionally  wanders  into  the  loftier  desert 
valleys.  I  have  several  times  seen  them  whilst  travelling  post  along 
the  plain  that  stretches  from  Khdn-i-Khora,  a  short  distance  north 
of  Dehbid,  in  F4rs,  to  the  Kulah  Kdzi  or  Urchin  Hills,  near  Isfahfin, 
a  distance  of  nearly  150  miles,  at  an  elevation  of  5500  to  7000  feet 
above  the  sea.  Persians  say  that  they  cannot  be  caught  by  a  single 
horseman  when  approached  in  the  open ;  but  if  the  sportsman  can 
manage  to  conceal  himself  and  his  horse  in  the  vicinity  of  a  spring, 
and  wait  till  the  wild  asses  have  quenched  their  thirst,  they  can 
readily  be  come  up  with  when  full  of  water,  by  a  short  spurt  on 
a  fest  horse.  At  other  times  they  are  caught  by  relays  of  horsemen 
and  greyhounds.  The  flesh  is  said  in  books  on  Persia  to  be  prized 
above  all  other  venison  ;  but  Persians  have  told  me  that  it  should  only 
be  eaten  under  absolute  necessity,  being  equally  disagreeable  to  the 
conscience  of  a  good  Mussulman,  and  to  the  palate  of  a  gourmand. — 
O.  St.  J.J 

Family  SUIDiE. 
78.  *Sus  Borofla,  L. — De  F. 

Sm  aper,  L.,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  344. 
Cfurdz  or  Kuk,  Persian. 

By  all  accounts,  the  wild  hog  of  Persia  and  Mesopotamia  is  the 
same  as  that  of  Europe.  I  had  no  opportunity,  however,  of  examining 
specimens. 

The  wild  hog  of  Baluchist&n  may  perhaps  be  S.  cristalvs,  Wagner, 
(4S.  IndicuSf  Gray,  nee  Pall.),  the  common  wild  hog  of  India,  but  I  saw 
no  specimens.     It  is  probably  identical  with  the  wild  hog  of  Sind. 

[The  wild  hog  abounds  in  suitable  localities  throughout  Persia.  In 
the  oak  forests  of  F&rs,  and  the  reedy  swamps  of  Khuzistan,  it  furnishes 
food  for  the  Uon,  and  in  the  Caspian  provinces  for  the  tiger.     Shooting 


MAMMALIA,  87 

pigs  from  horseback  is  a  favourite  diversion  with  Persians,  and  though 

the  city  people  let  the  game  lie  where  it  falls,  the  Hyfits  are  by  bo 
means  so  particular,  and  do  not  always  permit  the  precepts  of  the 
Kor&n  to  prevent  their  indulgence  in  a  rasher.  Young  pigs  are  often 
kept  in  the  stables  of  great  men^  under  the  idea  that  their  presence  will 
divert  glances  of  the  evil  eye. — O.  St.  J.] 

Family  BOVID^. 

79.  Ovis  oyolooeros,  Hutton. 

Guek,  male,  mUht  female,  Persian. 
Oad,  male,  garand,  female,  Baldchist&iL 

1  ^.  J^Qk,  Baliichisti^n  ..         ..  ..         ^Ooo 

a  9.  Dizak,  Baluchist&n         4000 

3  young.  Sbir&z,  Southern  Persia     . .  . .         5000 

The  last  specimen  is  too  young  for  the  species  to  be  determined 
with  any  certainty,  and  I  have  seen  no  adult  examples  from  Southern 
Persia  west  of  Baluchist&n,  so  the  sheep  occurring  near  Shir&z  may 
possibly  diflTer  from  0.  cycloceros^  which  inhabits  the  salt  range  of  the 
Panj&b,  Afgh&nistan,  and  the  hills  of  Sind.  0.  cycloceras  is  found  in  the 
warmest  regions  inhabited  by  any  wild  sheep.  We  heard  of  its  occur- 
rence, and  saw  its  tracks,  close  to  the  sea  level  on  some  low  hills  three 
marches  west  of  Gw&dar  in  Baluchistan,  a  country  with  an  excessive 
summer  temperature,  and  it  is  found  on  hills  of  no  great  height  in 
Sind,  where  the  climate  is  still  hotter.  It  is  usually  met  with  in 
small  herds,  which  keep  to  the  slopes  of  hills  and  small  valleys  between 
the  ranges. 

The  specimen  obtained  at  J&lk  measured  about  4  feet  from  nose  to 
rump  along  the  curves  of  the  head  and  back,  and  2  ft.  8  in.  high 
at  the  shoulder.  Each  horn  measured  14  inches  roimd  the  curve.  The 
horns  are  rather  more  closely  wound,  that  is,  the  diameter  of  the  curve 
described  by  them  is  less  than  in  Panj&b  heads  with  which  I  have 
compared  them,  and  the  anterior  ridges  of  the  horns  are  more  prominent, 
but  these  differences  are  not  great.  The  horns  closely  resemble  those 
of  0.  Vignei  from  Lad&k. 

80.  O.  Gmelini,  Blyth.— De  F. 

Dai  orierUaliiehe  Sehctf,  S.  G.  Gmelin,  Beise,  iii,  p.  4^6,  PL  LV. 
^ffoeerot  muiimont  Pall.  Zoogr.  Rob.  As.  i,  p.  230,  partim,  neo  Scbreb. 


88  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

Das  Persiche  MoufioUt  Wagner,  Schreb.  Saugth.  ▼,  PL  LI,  p.  1385. 

Ovis  Gmelini,  Blyth,  P.  Z.  S.  1840,  pp.  69,  78 ;  Ann.  aad  Mag.  Nat.  Hist. 

ser.  i,  vol.  vii,  p.  350,  PL  V.  f.  8.— Frazer,  ZooL  Typ.  PL  XXI. 
0.  orientalis,  GmeL  apud  Keys,  und  Bias.  Wirbelth.  Eur.  pp.  y,  29.  (1840). 

— Wagner,  Saugth.  iv,  p.  507. — Gray,  Cat.  Mam.  B.  M.  Ung.  Furcip.  p. 

173. — Blasius,  Saugth.  DeutschL  p.  473,  f.  149. 
?  0.  ancUolica,  Val.  Rev.  Mag.  ZooL  1856,  p.  346 ;  Goinptes  Rend.  1856,  xliii, 

p.  65. 

I  (5.  Elburz  mountains,  north  of  Tehr^  I30cx> 

This  species  is  found  in  the  Elburz,  and  also  in  the  mountains  of 
Armenia.  The  specimen  obtained  in  the  foiiner  locality  by  Major 
St.  John  is  the  head  of  a  fine  ram,  and  agrees  excellently  wath  one 
in  the  British  Museum,  sent  from  Erzeroum  by  Messrs.  Dickson  and 
Ross. 

No  such  name  as  0.  orientalis  was  given  to  this  sheep  by  S.  G. 
Gmelin ;  he  simply  called  it  in  German  the  oriental  sheep^  and  appa- 
rently considered  it  the  same  as  the  Argali  of  J.  G.  Gmelin  (0.  ammotiy  L.) 
The  name  0,  oriefUalis  appears  to  have  been  first  g^ven  as  from  Gmelin 
by  Keyserling  and  Blasius  in  the  *  Wirbelthiere  Europa's.'  The  date  on 
the  title  page  of  that  work  is  1 840,  and  in  the  same  year,  Mr.  Blyth 
published  the  name  0.  Gmelini,  which  should,  I  think,  be  retained  for 
the  species,  since  Keyserling  and  Blasius's  title  is  erroneously  quoted 
as  Gmelin's. 

[I  was  always  under  the  impression  that  the  only  wild  sheep  of  Persia 
was  0,  c^cloceros,  till  Mr.  Blanford  compared  a  head  which  I  got  on 
the  Elburz,  close  to  Tehran,  with  a  specimen  we  obtained  in  Balu- 
chistdn.  It  now  appears  that  the  sheep  of  Northern  Persia  is 
0,  Gmelini,  Where  the  two  species  meet  it  is  impossible  to  say,  as  our 
only  two  specimens  are  from  places  1500  miles  apart.  I  believe 
myself  that  it  will  be  found  that  0.  Gmelini  is  confined  to  the  Elburz, 
and  that  0.  cycloceroa  extends  from  Baluchistdn  to  Mesopotamia.  The 
wild  sheep  of  the  south  is  found,  so  far  as  I  have  observed,  at  much 
lower  elevations  than  that  of  the  north.  In  F&rs  I  have  noticed  that 
0.  cycloceroB  is  generally  found  in  the  lower  hills,  whilst  the  ibex 
rarely  leaves  the  higher  summits,  and  about  Isfahdn  it  is  not  uncom- 
mon to  find  wild  sheep  grazing  in  the  plain  near  the  hills,  whereas 
in  the  Elburz  they  seem  as  fond  of  lofty  elevations  as  Capra  cegagnis. 
The  specimen  before  mentioned  I  shot  at  about  12000  feet.  One 
species  or  the  other  is  very  plentiful  everywhere. — O.  St.  J.] 


MAMMALIA.  89 

81.  Capra  eegagruB,  Pall. — De  F.  ^ 

AfUilope  gazeUaf  Gmel.  Syst.  Nat.  i,  p.  190. 

I  Hircus  gazeUa,  Gray,  Cat.  Rum.  Mam.  1872,  p.  53,  nee  Capra  gazeUa,  L. 

Pdiang,  the  male,  £oz,  the  female,  generally  B<»-Pd%ang,  Persian. 

I  yoimg  i.  Hills  between  Magas  and  Aptar,  £.  of  Bampdr       4000 
a  it  (horns).  Near  Sbir&z. 
3.  4  6t  (horns).  Isfahdn. 

So  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain  by  comparing  the  horns,  I 
believe  that  the  ibex,  or  wild  goat  of  all  Persia,  is  identical  with  that 
of  Asia  Minor  on  the  one  hand,  and  of  Sind  on  the  other.  It  inhabits 
a  great  range  of  climate,  for  I  have  seen  it  not  1000  feet  above  the 
sea,  close  to  the  coast,  in  Baluchist&n,  and  it  is  found  on  the  peaks  of 
the  Elburz,  ten  degrees  farther  north,  at  a  great  elevation.  It  would 
be  very  desirable  to  compare  perfect  specimens  from  all  the  localities. 

It  is  just  a  question  whether  this  is  not  Capra  bezoarlica,  L.,  Syst. 

Nat.  p.  96,  but  that  is  described  '  comibm  iereiibus  arcuaiis  totis  annu^ 

talis,  gula   barbata^  and  appears   founded   on    a  confusion  between 

Capra  agagrus  and  Gazelle  subgutturosa.     The  animal,  however,  was 

admirably  described   by  Pallas,  Schreber,    and   others   of  the  older 

writers,  and  it  is  the  *  Caucasan '  of  Pennant.     A  very  full  account  of 

its  habits  is  given  by  Kotschy,  Verb.  Zool.  Bot.  Ver.  Wien.  iv,  1854, 
p.  201. 

I  believe  that  it  is  well  known  that  the  true  bezoar  *,  a  calcareous 
concretion,  to  which  extraordinary  virtues  were  formerly  attributed  as 
an  antidote  to  poison,  is  obtained  from  the  stomach  of  this  animal.  The 
governor  of  Karm&n  gave  specimens  to  Major  St.  John  and  myself  when 
we  were  at  that  city,  and  assured  us  that  they  were  only  to  be  obtained 
from  the  ibex  inhabiting  the  hills  between  Karmdn  and  Shiraz.  They 
still  bear  a  high  value  in  Persia,  being  employed  not  merely  as  an 
antidote  to  poison,  but  as  a  universal  remedy  for  all  diseases.  They 
are  also  worn,  enclosed  in  cases  of  filagree  gold,  by  women.  The 
specimen  I  possess  is  0.75  in.  long,  and  0.65  broad,  egg  shaped,  of  a 
dark  olive  colour,  with  a  highly  polished  surface.  The  size,  shape,  and 
colour  of  these  concretions  are,  however,  variable. 

Capra  Caucasica^  Giild.,  and  the  chamois,  Rupicapra  tragus,  are  said  to 
be  found  in  the  Caucasus,  but  neither  of  them  has  hitherto  been 
observed  in  the  Persian  mountains. 

*  The  word  *  bezoar '  is  Pendan,  the  true  name  being  P4-zahr,  a  corruption  of  F4-zahr, 
'  useful  (for)  poison.'  Several  authozB  suppose  it  to  be  derived  from  P4sang,  but  this  is 
an  error. — (O.  St.  J.) 


90  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

[The  ibex  is  found  on  hills  of  all  elevations,  but  always  near  the  top. 
I  have  seen  it  on  the  summit  of  the  Shamir&n  mountain,  near  Tehrdn, 
13000  feet  above  the  sea ;  and  on  the  hills  near  Bushire^not  more  than 
1500.  In  spite  of  the  constant  persecution  to  which  it  is  subjected,  it 
exists  in  vast  numbers.  On  the  Kuh-i-barf,  a  not  very  lofty  or  extensive 
hill,  constantly  shot  over,  near  Shirdz,  I  once  counted  over  a  hundred 
in  a  herd,  which  had  been  driven  together  by  two  days'  consecutive 
fusillade  from  half-a-dozen  shik&ris. 

The  Persians  have  a  curious  habit  of  naming  the  ibex  and  the  wild 
sheep,  which  has  led  many  travellers  to  record  that  there  are  two 
species  of  the  former.  The  male  of  the  wild  goat  they  call '  Pa-sang/ 
the  rock-footed,  and  the  female  *  Boz,'  the  latter  term  being  also 
applied  to  both  sexes  of  the  common  domestic  goat.  Similarly,  the 
wild  ram  is  called  *  Guch,*  and  the  wild  ewe  *  Mish,'  as  is  also  the 
female  of  the  domestic  sheep.  But  when  speaking  of  either  animal 
generally,  they  talk  of  *  Boz-p&sang,'  *  Guch-mish,'  much  as  our  ances- 
tors, in  ballad  poetry  at  least,  spoke  of  hart  and  hind.  Hence  more 
than  one  traveller,  probably  a  better  linguist  than  a  sportsman  or 
naturalist,  has  recorded  the  occurrence  of  a  wild  goat  and  wild  ibex  as 
separate  species. 

The  ibex  is  marvellously  shy  and  wary.  In  my  earlier  residence  in 
Persia  I  spent  many  a  weary  day  after  them,  but  never  managed  to 
bag  a  buck.  Even  native  sportsmen,  though  admirable  shots,  and 
thoroughly  familiar  with  every  rock  and  cranny  of  the  hills,  rarely  get 
one  by  fair  stalking,  most  of  those  killed  being  obtained  by  building 
a  wall  of  loose  stones  near  water,  and  shooting  the  goats  when  drink- 
ing. The  males  drink  in  the  morning  and  evening  only,  but  the 
females,  in  the  hot  weather  at  least,  drink  also  at  mid-day.  While 
putting  up  the  telegraph  about  sixty  miles  north  of  Shiriz  in  July, 
1864,  I  came  suddenly  upon  a  herd  of  twenty  or  more,  does  and  kids, 
drinking  by  the  road  side,  a  couple  of  hundred  yards  from  the  foot 
of  the  hills.  Except  when  alarmed,  bucks  and  does  seem  to  keep 
apart.  Out  of  the  rutting  season  the  flesh  is  very  good,  incomparably 
the  best  venison  in  Persia;  dark  coloured,  and  more  like  beef  than 
mutton  in  flavour. 

The  markhor,  C.  megacerosy  is  said  by  Dr.  Bellew  to  occur  in  Persian 
Khorass&n,  but  he  does  not  seem  to  have  seen  a  head.  He  may  have 
been  conftised  by  the  double  appellation  of  the  ibex,  mentioned 
above. — O,  St.  J.] 


MAMMALIA.  91 

82.  Gk»ella  subgutturosa,  Guldenst. — De  F. 

Ahu^  S.  6.  Gmel.  Reise  d.  Basal,  iii,  p.  496,  PI.  LVI. 
Ahu^  Persian. 

I  <;,  a  9.  Near  Is&hin  ..  ..         5000 

I  gave  some  details  as  to  the  distribution  of  this  and  the  other  species 
of  gazelle  found  in  I^ersia  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society 
fori873,  pp.  313-319. 

G,  mbgutturosa  is  the  gazelle  of  the  Persian  highlands,  and  found  in 
almost  all  valleys  and  plains  from  about  3000  to  about  *]qoo  feet  above 
the  sea,  ranging  higher  in  winter  and  lower  in  summer,  but  keeping 
generally  within  the  limits  mentioned.  It  is  unknown  in  the  plains 
of  Mesopotamia,  and  in  the  lower  ground  along  the  Persian  Gulf  and 
the  Arabian  Sea.  To  the  north  it  extends  to  the  Caucasus,  but  not 
beyond,  being  found  on  the  shores  of  the  Caspian  near  B&ku.  It 
extends  into  the  countries  east  of  the  Caspian,  and  is  said  to  be  found 
as  far  as  Bokhara  ;  it  is  probably  the  gazelle  of  Meshed  and  Herat,  and 
is  common  in  parts  of  Afgh&nist&n;  specimens  from  Kdndah&r 
exist  in  the  Museum  at  Calcutta^  so  that  its  range  extends  almost 
to  the  frontiers  of  India.  In  the  central  deserts  of  Persia  it  may  be 
more  or  less  replaced  by  G.fuscifrons. 

[This  is  the  common  gazelle  of  Persia,  and  is  found  everywhere  away 
from  the  forests  of  the  Caspian  and  the  shores  of  the  Gulf;  in  which 
last  locality  it  is  replaced  by  another  species^  probably  G.  Bennetti. 
Like  the  wild  ass,  it  especially  affects  the  neighbourhood  of  the  salt 
deserts.  It  appears  to  retire  generally  to  the  valleys  at  the  base  of 
hills  to  breed,  and  is  most  commonly  seen  in  small  parties  of  three  to 
half-a-dozen.  I  do  not  remember  ever  having  seen  twenty  together. 
The  fleetest  greyhounds  cannot  come  up  with  the  gazelle  when  it  gets 
a  fair  start,  but  when  suddenly  roused  from  a  hollow,  or  when  the 
ground  is  heavy  after  rain,  good  dogs  will  often  pull  down  males. 
The  does  are  more  difficult  to  catch. — O.  St.  J.] 

83.  G.  Bennetti,  Sykes. 

A*$t^  Baluch. 

I  ^.  Bamptir,  Bifluchistin  . .         . .  . .  . .  1 700 

In  the  paper  already  mentioned,  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  p.  315,  I  have 
entered  at  some  length  into  the  range  of  this  animal.  It  extends 
from  India  throughout  the  low  country  of  Baluchist&n  near  the  coast. 


92  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

and  it  is  probably  the  species  which  is  found,  as  I  am  assured  bjr 
Major  St.  John,  near  Bushire,  so  that  its  i*ange  would  extend  to 
the  head  of  the  Persian  Gulf.  All  the  gazelles  seen  by  me  in  Balu- 
chistdn/  below  3000  feet^  appear  to  belong  to  this  species,  easily 
recognized  by  its  colour^  even  at  a  distance,  as  distinct  from  O. 
subguiturosa.  The  specimen  obtained  at  Bampur  agrees  in  colour  and 
dimensions  with  Indian  specimens,  and  the  horns  only  differ  in  being 
a  little  more  curved  backwards,  and  slightly  more  Ip-ate  when  viewed 
from  the  front.     The  difference  is  very  trifling. 

84.  *?Qt.  dorcas,  L. 

This,  teste  Schmarda,  is  the  gazelle  of  Mesopotamia.  It  is  probable 
that  either  this  species,  0,  Arabxca^  or  an  allied  race,  is  found  there. 
On  the  known  distribution  of  G,  dorcas  and  other  species  of  gazelle, 
see  Sir  V.  Brooke,  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  p.  535. 

86.  Q.  fuscifronB,  W.  Bl. 

P.  Z.  S.  1873,  p.  317  (with  woodcuts  of  head). 

I  9*  J^lk,  on  southern  edge  of  Sistdn  desert  . .  3000 

The  following  description  is  copied  from  that  given  in  the  Pro- 
ceedings of  the  Zoological  Society.  The  female  procured  at  J41k  is 
the  only  specimen  which  1  have  been  able  to  examine.  The  animal 
belongs  to  the  same  section  as  G.  dorcas  and  G,  Bennettiy  and  not  to 
that  of  G.  subgutturosa^  in  which  the  females  are  hornless. 

Forehead  black,  mixed  with  brown,  the  black  being  purest  at 
the  base  of  the  horns  and  in  two  points  descending  about  ij  inch 
from  each  horn  towards  the  nose.  A  black  patch  about  %  inches 
long  on  the  top  of  the  nose  ( ?  separated  from  the  forehead-patch 
and)  not  extending  to  the  nostrils^.  A  mixed  brown  and  black 
line  from  the  anterior  angle  of  the  eye  to  the  side  of  the  upper 
lip.  All  round  the  eye  (with  the  exception  of  the  anterior  angle) 
and  a  broad  band  from  above  the  eye  to  the  muzzle,  including  the 
nostrils,  isabelline.  A  few  long  black  hairs  above  the  eye.  Remainder 
of  the  face  fawn-coloured.  Ears  isabelline-fawn  exteriorly,  dirty- 
whitish  within,  the  upper  half  with  a  dark  brown  edge  outside. 

The  general  colour  of  the  back  is  ochraceous,  rather  yellower  than 

^  In  the  only  specimen  obtained,  the  hair  on  the  &ce  between  the  forehead  and  nose 
is  much  worn  off;  and  perhaps  in  other  specimens  the  dark  forehead  and  nose-patches 
maj  be  united  or  nearly  so. 


MAMMALIA.  93 

in  the  allied  species.  The  tips  of  the  hair  are  of  this  colour,  which 
may  be  specified  as  yellowish  fawn,  the  whole  basal  portion  being 
pale  fewn-colonr  without  any  yellow.  The  centre  of  the  back  appeara 
scarcely  darker  than  the  sides;  the  posterior  edge  of  the  doreal 
colour  on  the  rump  is  a  little  darker,  but  not  much ;  and  the  margin 
of  the  &wn-colour  is  well  defined  everywhere  against  the  white  of  the 
under  parts.  Tail  and  knee-bmshes  black ;  hair  at  the  backs  of  the 
feet  from  the  fetlock  (metacarpal  and  metatarsal)  joints  to  the  hoof, 
and  between  the  division  of  the  toes  in  front,  dark  brown. 

The  hair  is  both  thicker  and  longer  in  the  specimen  before  me 
than  in  skins  of  G.  BenneUi  and  G,  mbffuituroga.  Thie  may  partly  be 
due  to  the  date  (March  15)  when  the  specimen  deBcribed  was  shot, 
but  not  entirely,  I  think. 


Head  of  Gai^a  fnteifront  $'. 
The  horns  near  the  base  are  nearly  parallel,  and  they  only  di- 
verge very  slightly  throughout,  curving  a  little  inwards  towards  the 
tips.  They  gently  bend  backwards  near  the  base,  and  then  forwards, 
the  anterior  curve  being  steady,  not  sudden.  Except  at  the  extreme 
tip,  they  are  dtstioctly  though  very  bluntly  ringed  throughout.  It 
may  (airly  he  assumed  that  the  curve  in  the  male  is  similar,  but  more 
pronounced. 

I  For  the  nw  of  this  woodont  I  am  indebted  to  tbe  Zoologioal  SotAetj. 


Ft. 

In. 

o 

7 

I 

o 

I 

9 

o 

6 

o 

2 

4 

O 

o 

5.6 

o 

a.5 

2 

o 

I 

II 

I 

4.5 

o 

6.5 

o 

3.5 

I 

II 

o 

925 

o 

325 

o 

7.25 

94  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

The  following  dimensions  were  taken  on  the   body  before  skin- 
ning : — 

Length  from  nose  to  between  ears 

Length  between  ears  to  top  of  shoulder  (wither)   . . 

Length  from  top  of  shoulder  to  insertion  of  tail     . . 

Length  of  tail  . . 

Length  of  hairs  at  end  of  tail 

Total  length  firom  tip  of  nose  to  end  of  tail 

Length  of  ear  measured  firom  the  orifice 

Breadth  of  ear  laid  flat  . .  •  • 

Length  of  body  from  front  of  shoulder  to  rump 

Height  at  shoulder     ..         ..         ..         •• 

Length  of  fore  leg 

Length  from  knee  to  fetlock  (metacarpal  joint) 
Length  from  fetlock  to  end  of  toe    . . 
liOngth  of  hind  1^     . .  . .  . . 

Length  from  hock  to  fetlock  (metatarsal  joint) 

Length  from  fetlock  to  toe     . . 

Length  of  horn  from  base  to  point,  measured  in  a  straight  line   . . 

This  gazelle  is  distinguished  from  0.  Bennetti  first  by  colour.  The 
face  in  the  Indian  gazelle  is  nearly  uniform  rufescent  fawn-colour,  the 
parts  which  are  black  or  blackish  in  ff.  fuacifrons  being  only  a  little 
darker  than  the  rest  in  0.  Bennetti ;  the  back  also  in  the  latter  is  more 
rufescent  and  less  yellow,  and  the  fur  is  less  dense.  Secondly,  by  the 
greater  length  and  more  strongly  marked  annulation  of  the  horns  in 
the  female,  and  by  their  well-marked  curvation  forward  near  the 
extremities.  The  horns  in  the  female  of  Q.  Bennetti  are  smaller  than 
those  of  the  male  to  a  much  more  marked  extent  than  in  6.  dorcaa ; 
the  new  species  in  this  respect  agrees  probably  with  the  African,  and 
not  with  the  Indian  type. 

From  G.  dorcasy  G,  Arabica^  and  all  allied  forms  the  present  species 
is  also  distinguished  by  the  curvature  of  the  horns  and  the  colouration, 
especially  of  the  &ce,  none  having  such  strong  dark  patches  on  the 
forehead  and  nose. 

Of  the  range  of  this  gazelle  nothing  is  positively  known  beyond  its 
occurrence  in  the  desert  north  of  Baluchist&n.  It  probably  has  a  wide 
range  in  Eastern  Persia  and  may  very  possibly  be  the  gazelle  of  Sist&n 
mentioned  imder  the  name  of  deer  by  Conolly,  J.  A.  S.  B.  ix,  723. 
It  is  not  improbable  also  that  it  extends  through  part  of  Sind  and 
the  desert  country  east  of  the  Indus  to  R&jput&na,  for  Dr.  Jerdon-  in 


MAMMALIA.  95 

his  Mammals  of  India,  p.  281,  mentions  having  seen  ^one  or  two 
heads  of  gazelles  considered  distinct  from  the  chikara  (G.  BenneUi) 
called  the  desert  antelope,  smaller  and  with  the  horns  more  bent 
forwards.' 


Family  CERVID^. 

86.  *  CervuB  maral,  Ogilby. 

Sclater.  Tr.  Z.  S.  vii,  p.  336.  PL  XXIX. 
Moral,  Persian. 

This,  the  only  true  elaphine  deer  found  in  Persia,  is  peculiar  to  the 
Caspian  provinces.  Dr.  Sclater  considers  that  the  Circassian  stag  and 
one  found  in  the  Crimea  are  the  same  as  the  Persian  Mardl, 

[The  Mardl  is  very  numerous  in  the  forests  of  the  Caspian 
provinces,  but  does  not  occur  elsewhere.  It  is  often  brought  alive  to 
Tehr&n,  and,  before  the  famine,  the  Shah's  zoological  gardens  con- 
tained seven  or  eight  specimens,  which  died  of  starvation  or  were 
killed  and  eaten  by  the  keepers. — O.  St.  J.] 

87.  *  C.  dama,  L. 

When  I  was  in  Basrah,  in  1871,  Mr.  Robertson,  the  consul,  told 
me  that  he  had  shot  two  kinds  of  deer  in  the  country  on  the  Kdrun 
river,  in  Persian  Mesopotamia,  one  of  which  he  said  was  spotted.  On 
the  discovery  of  C  Caspius,  I  was  strongly  inclined  to  suspect  that 
this  must  be  the  spotted  deer  of  Mesopotamia,  but  a  specimen  of  the 
latter  has  since  been  obtained  by  Mr.  Robertson,  and  despatched  to 
Dr.  Sclater,  who  considers  it  a  form  of  C.  dama.  I  understand  that 
Sir  V.  Brooke  coincides  in  this  opinion.  Dr.  Sclater  tells  me  that  the 
skin  and  horns  sent  differ  somewhat  from  those  of  European  fallow 
deer,  although  not  suflSciently  to  entitle  them  to  specific  distinction. 

Of  the  range  of  the  fallow  deer  in  Persia  nothing  more  is  known. 
It  IB  certainly  not  found  on  the  plateau,  but  it  may  exist  in  the  Zagros 
ranges.  Ghnelin,  in  the  *  Systeina  Naturae,'  asserts  that  it  has  been 
found  in  Northern  Persia,  but  this  requires  confirmation ;  it  is  not 
improbable  that  C.  Caanius  has  been  mistaken  for  C.  dama. 


96  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

88.  *  C.  Caspius,  Brooke. 

C  Ccupicua,  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  42. 

This  is  an  axine  deer^  allied  to  the  spotted  deer  of  India.  At  first  a 
pair  of  horns  only  was  received  from  Major  Jones,  H.  M.'s  consul  at 
Tabriz,  but  additional  spoils  have  since  arrived,  and  the  habitat  has 
been  ascertained  to  be  the  Tdlish  mountains  near  the  south-west  corner 
of  the  Caspian. 

89.  *  Capreolus  oaprsBa,  Gray. 

The  roe  is  found,  according  to  Pallas^  S.  G.  Gmelin,  M^n^tries,  and 
Eichwald  in  Ghil&n  and  Mazandar&n,  Northern  Persia.  It  is  common 
in  the  Caucasus,  and  is  probably  the  second  species  of  deer  noticed  by 
Mr.  Robertson  in  Mesopotamia.  He  observed  that  this  was  a  small 
reddish  deer  and  unspotted ;  so,  if  not  the  roe^  it  is  probably  an  un- 
described  form. 

The  red  deer,  CervM  elapAus,  is  said  to  be  found  in  the  Caucasian 
and  Transcaucasian  provinces^  and  the  elk,  Alces  machlis^  inhabits 
the  forests  of  the  Caucasus^  but  neither  is  known  to  exist  in  Persian 
territory. 

[I  once  saw  a  small  deer,  dark  red  in  colour,  in  the  garden  where 
the  Shah  keeps  his  zoological  collections,  but  it  was  very  wild,  and  I 
could  not  get  near  enough  to  identify  it  precisely.  It  was  in  all 
probability  a  roedeer,  and  must  have  come  from  the  shores  of  the 
Caspian. — O.  St.  J.] 

Domestio  ruminants. 

The  common  cattle  of  the  Persian  highlands  appeared  to  me  to  be 
Boa  taurua  ;  in  Southern  Persia  ^,  however,  there  is,  I  think,  an  admix- 
ture of  the  humped  species  {Boa  Indicua),  and  the  latter  are  the  cattle 
of  Baluchist&n  ;  according  to  Menetries,  there  is  a  humped  race  also 
in  Ghildn.  The  buffalo,  Pers.  gao-miah  (ox-ewe),  is  rare.  I  saw  a  few 
in  Baluchist&n ;  they  abound  in   Mesopotamia,  and  are  common  in 

^  Major  St.  John  informB  me  that  most  of  the  cattle  belonging  to  the  Ilyte  of  Southern 
Penia  are  without  humps.  Formerly  there  were,  according  to  the  older  writers,  no 
humped  cattle  in  Southern  Persia,  but  some  twenty  years  ago  numbers  of  cattle,  from 
KarmiCn  to  Shiriz,  having  died  of  disease,  humped  cattle  were  imported  from  Slstin  to 
xeplaoethem. 


MAMMALIA.  97 

Ghil&n  and  Mazandar&n^  but  I  never  heard  of  any  on  the  high* 
lands.  Some  are  kept  in  Fdrs  by  an  Arab  Ily&t  tribe^  hence  known 
as  Ar&b-gaomishi^  who  are,  by  their  own  account,  comparatively 
recent  immigrants  from  Mesopotamia. 

The  common  sheep  of  Persia  is  the  fat-tailed  race  {Ovia  steatojoygus^ 
Pall.).  In  Baluchist&n  and  along  the  coast  of  the  Persian  Gulf  a  long 
tailed  breed  is  kept,  much  resembling  some  Indian  sheep.  Goats  are 
kept  in  large  numbers  everywhere. 

[Camelm  dromedarinB^  L.  is  the  usual  beast  of  burden  in  Eastern 
Persia,  as  the  mule  is  in  the  west.  Those  from  Khorass4n  are  the 
stoutest  and  strongest,  carrying  a  load  of  600  pounds  with  ease,  at  the 
rate  of  twenty  miles  a  day. 

Camelus  Baci/rianuSy  L«  the  two-humped  camel,  is  rare  in  Persia,  A 
specimen  may  occasionally  be  seen  during  winter  in  the  bazaars  of 
Tehr&n  among  stringy  of  the 'common  camel  in  caravans  from  E^hor? 
ass&n.  It  is  said  to  be  commonly  used  on  the  east  coast  of  the 
Caspian. — O.  St.  J.] 


VOL,  a. 


AVES. 


The  birds  of  Persia  are  much  better  known  than  the  mammals. 
This  is  the  ease  in  most  countries  with  the  fauna  of  which  we  are 
imperfectly  acquainted;  birds  being  more  numerous,  more  con- 
spicuous, and  more  easily  collected  than  mammalia.  Still  the  number 
of  species,  384,  known  to  inhabit  Persia  is  not  large,  and  it  is  probable 
that  further  research  will  greatly  increase  the  list.  Large  additions 
may  be  especially  expected  amongst  the  birds  of  prey,  the  smaller 
passerines  inhabiting  the  forest  regions,  the  waders,  and  Anseret. 

At  the  present  stage  of  enquiry  into  the  aflSnities  of  birds  to  each 
other,  no  satisfactory  classification  has  been  proposed.  It  may  perhaps 
never  be  possible  to  divide  the  class  Aves  into  orders  (or  suborders) 
as  well  marked  as  those  which  have  been  adopted  for  existing  Mam* 
malia  and  Reptilia,  but  the  study  of  the  internal  structure  of  birds 
has  certainly  shown  that  some  of  the  old  divisions,  and  especially 
those  of  the  wading  and  swimming  birds,  are  not  natural,  and  require 
modification. 

Several  difierent  systems  have  been  proposed,  founded  upon  osteo* 
logical,  intestinal,  and  myological  characters,  but  all  with  which  I  am 
acquainted  depend  too  much  upon  one  or  two  selected  characters  to  be 
adopted.  Still  there  are  some  points  in  which  all  agree.  The  separa- 
tion of  the  gulls  and  terns  from  the  AmereSy  and  their  removal  to  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  plovers,  appears  supported  by  a  mass  of  evidence 
which  cannot  be  disputed,  and  there  are  equally  strong  grounds  for 
the  separation  of  the  Herodiones  from  the  true  Gralla.  The  orders 
Py^opodes  and  Steganojpodes  also  appear  fairly  natural  and  well 
defined.    Whether  the  bastards,  cranes,  and  rails,  with  some  other 


A  VES.  99 

families,  should  be  placed  in  a  separate  order,  AUctarides,  or  united 
partly  with  the  Oralla  (Limicola),  and  partly  with  the  Oallina,  is  quite 
uncertain,  and  it  appears  preferable  for  the  present  to  leave  them  in 
their  old  position  amongst  the  Schizognathous  waders.  The  position  of 
the  Procellarida  appears  equally  undetermined,  and  therefore  in  the 
present  work  they  are  left  with  the  Gavia^  although  they  appear  to  be 
quite  as  nearly  affined  to  the  true  Anseres. 

The  dimensions  given  are  in  many  cases  taken  from  the  freshly 
killed  birds :  the  tail  is  always  measured  from  the  insertion  of  the 
central  tail  feathers  to  the  end  of  the  longest  rectrices ;  the  bill, 
when  given  as  '  from  front,'  is  measured  from  the  commencement  of 
the  feathers ;  '  culmen '  is  from  the  rise  of  the  anterior  portion  of 
the  skull  to  the  tip  of  the  bill. 


Order   ACCIPITRES. 

Family  VULTURIDiE, 
1.  *  Vultur  monaohuB,  L. 

?  F.  percnoptenu.  Pall.  Zoogr.  Ros.  Aa.  i,  p.  375. 

I  saw  several  vultures  belonging,  I  believe,  to  this  species  in  the 
Elburz,  north  of  Tehrdn. 

VuUur  percnopteruSy  Pall.  Zoogr.  Bos.  As.  i,  p.  375,  from  Northern 
Persia,  may  be  the  young  of  this  species,  but  the  description  does  not 
agree  well.    It  is  evidently  one  of  the  large  vultures,  and  not  Neophron^ 

[I  ODce  saw  a  large  black  vulture,  probably  monachus^  feeding  on 
a  dead  mule  in  company  with  several  griflPon  vultures,  on  the  road 
from  Bushire  to  Shir&z,  about  twenty  miles  from  the  former  town.  I 
have  never  remarked  one  since. — O.  St.  J.] 

a.  *  Gyps  falvns,  (Gm.) — De  F. 

VuUur  PerHeiu,  Pall.  Zoogr.  R08.  As.  i,  p.  377' 
LM4chor  (Carrion-eater),  Persian. 

This  is,  I  believe,  the  common  vulture  of  Persia,  which  is  the  original 
locality  given  by  Gmelin  for  the  species ;  but  owing  to  the  constant 
habit  in  which  the  Persians  indulge  of  firing  at  large  birds,  all  the 
vultures  and  eagles  are  very  wary,  and  it  is  most  difficult  to  get  near 

H  2 


100  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

enough  to  see  what  they  are.  Mr.  Hume  (Scrap  Book,  vol.  i,  p.  19, 
and  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  148)  distinguishes  the  Indian  race  as  G. 
fulve8cen8.  Southern  Persian  and  Baluchistan  birds  are  doubtless  similar 
to  those  of  India,  but  it  is  not  yet  clear  how  far  the  latter  are  separable 
from  the  typical  G.fulvus^  of  Northern  Persia^  and  it  is  quite  possible 
that  if  the  European  form  be  distinguishable  from  the  Asiatic,  the 
former  will  require  a  new  name^  not  the  latter. 

Vultures  appeared  to  me  much  less  common  in  Persia  than  they  are 
in  India ;  a  circumstance  doubtless  due  to  the  thinness  of  the  popula- 
tion in  the  former  country,  and  the  paucity  of  cattle  and  other 
domestic  animals,  on  the  carcases  of  which  these  birds  subsist. 
"Wherever  a  dead  camel  or  mule  was  seen  throughout  my  journey, 
there  was,  however,  no  want  of  vultures  to  devour  the  body, 

I  am  much  puzzled  with  Pallas's  Vultur  Persicus  ;  it  is  said  to  differ 
from  F,  percnopterus  (Pall,  nee  Linn.)  in  the  bill  and  feet,  the 
first  being  nearly  cylindrical  with  a  blunt  tip,  whilst  the  legs  are 
nude  beyond  the  middle  of  the  thigh,  the  toes  shorter,  thick,  the  outer 
not  joined  to  the  middle  by  a  loose  fold,  but  more  narrowly  by  the 
whole  base  (the  Latin  is  rather  obscure),  and  with  the  claw  much 
smaller  than  that  of  the  other  toes.  Now  in  (?.  fulvtu  the  bill  is 
much  more  rounded  and  the  tibia  less  clothed  with  feathers  than  in 
V,  monachus,  which  I  am  inclined  to  look  upon  as  VdWaiS^s  jierenojpierus^ 
but  the  outer  claw  is  especially  small  in  V.  monachus, 

I  think  it  possible  that  G,  Bengaleiisis  may  be  found  in  Southern 
Persia  or  Baldchistdn,  but  I  did  not  myself  notice  any  of  the  smaller 
vultures,  and  Mr.  Hume  (Stray  Feathers,  i,  pp.  46,  148)  remarks  the 
absence  of  both  G,  Bengalensis  and  C  Indicus  in  Sind. 

[This,  the  common  vulture  of  Persia,  is  rarely  seen  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  large  towns.  It  breeds  in  great  numbers  in  the  lotly 
limestone  cliffs  bordering  the  passes  of  Mayin  and  Sangbur,  north  of 
Shir&z,  migrating  in  winter  to  the  hills  nearer  the  coast,  the  difficult 
defiles  of  which  cause  innumerable  casualties  among  beasts  of  burden, 
and  thus  provide  an  ample  supply  of  food  for  carrion  eating  birds. 
A  good  instance  of  the  rapidity  with  which  vultures  find  a  carcase 
came  under  my  observation  in  187 1.  I  had  shot  a  large  wild  ram 
{Ovis  Gfnelini)  on  the  top  of  the  Shamr&n  mountain,  a  spur  of  the 
Elburz,  near  Tehr&n,  which  attains  an  altitude  of  about  13000  feet. 
After  gralloching  the  game  and  dragging  him  to  the  path,  I  went  off 
to  the  rest  of  my  party,  first  looking  round  and  above  me  to  see  if  any 


AVES.  101 

vultures  were  about.  In  less  than  half  an  hour  I  returned,  to  find  a 
dozen  or  more  griffon  vultures  in  possession  of  my  game,  of  which  not 
a  particle  of  flesh  was  left  but  on  the  neck  and  head,  which,  with  the 
exception  of  the  eyes,  were  uninjured.  The  skin,  except  where  I  had 
ripped  the  belly  up,  was  unbroken. — O.  St.  J.] 

3.  *  19'eophron  percnoptemSy  (L.) — De  F. 

VuUur  mdeaffris.  Pall.  Zoogr.  Ros.  Aa.  i,  p.  377. 

Found  throughout  Persia,  increasing  in  abundance  to  the  south. 
In  Northern  Persia  generally  it  is  not  very  common,  and  it  is  some- 
what locally  distributed ;  thus  De  Filippi  speaks  of  it  as  common  in 
the  Caucasus  and  Ghildn,  rare  south  of  the  Elburz  mountains.  M^n6- 
tries  noticed  it  at  B&ku  on  the  Caspian,  but  not  further  to  the 
north. 

[Widely  spread,  but  nowhere  numerous.  Birds  in  the  dark  phase 
of  plumage  are  far  less  common  in  proportion  to  the  whit€  than  I 
have^  noticed  elsewhere.  When  I  first  went  to  Persia  from  India,  in 
January  1864,  I  remarked  that  I  did  not  see  a  young  bird  till  I  had 
been  constantly  travelling  for  six  months,  though  I  never  made  a 
march  without  seeing  mature  birds.  From  this  and  the  frequency  of 
Neophrons  about  Bushire  in  the  late  spring  and  early  summer,  I 
fancy  that  many  cross  the  Gulf  to  the  Arabian  coast  to  breed. — 
O.  St.  J.] 

Family  FALCONIDiE. 

4.  ^Gypaetus  barbatusy  (L.) 

The  Lammergeyer  is  found  throughout  the  hilly  and  mountainous 
parts  of  Persia.  I  did  not  see  it  in  Baluchistan  near  the  coast,  nor 
below  the  elevation  of  about  4000  feet  above  the  sea. 

[It  is  almost  impossible  to  cross  any  mountain  range  in  Persia 
without  seeing  a  pair  of  these  splendid  birds.  Like  all  the  Baptores  in 
Persia,  they  are  excessively  wary,  and  I  never  succeeded  in  getting  a 
specimen.  As  far  as  I  can  judge  I  think  the  Persian  bird  is  as  large 
as  the  Himalayan. — O.  St.  J.J 

5.  *Palco  peregrinuB,  Tunstall. — De  F. 

Bhairi,  Persian. 

I  was  not  so  fortunate  as  to  obtain  a  single  specimen  of  any  of  the 


102  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

larger  falcons^  nor  did  I  often  see  any.  Many  kinds  are  kept 
by  the  king  of  Persia  for  hawking,  but  there  were  none  in  Tehran 
when  I  Was  in  the  capital.  I  am  therefore  able  to  add  but  Httle  to 
Major  St.  John's  notes,  beyond  suggesting  what  some  of  the  Persian 
felcons  may  be,  and  mentioning  those  species  of  which  specimens  have 
been  obtained  by  others. 

The  peregrine  was  seen  in  Persia  by  De  Pilippi,  and  there  is  a 
specimen  in  the  British  Museum,  brought  by  Loflus  from  Southern 
Persia. 

[Persian  falconers  set  little  value  on  the  pcregpine.  A  good  many 
are,  however,  caught  in  the  mountains  near  the  coast  and  sold  at 
Bushire  and  Bandar  Abb&s  to  dealers  from  Arabia. — O.  St.  J.] 

6.  *  P  Falco  barbarusy  L. 

Salvin,  Ibis,  1859,  p.  184,  PI.  VI. — Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  vol.  i,  p.  19. 
FdUo  communitt  Schleg.  apud  De  F.  partim. 

A  specimen  at  Turin,  brought  by  De  Pilippi  from  Persia,  and 
probably  one  of  those  which  he  mentions  having  killed  at  Tabriz  and 
Zinj&n,  appears  to  me  to  belong  to  the  above  species;  at  least  it 
very  closely  resembles  a  bird  which  I  shot  in  Abyssinia  in  1868^ 
(Geol.  and  Zool.  Abyss,  p.  a88),  and  which  Mr.  Gumey  carefully 
compared  in  my  presence  with  a  typical  specimen  from  North  Africa. 
The  Persian  bird  is  younger,  but  otherwise  the  two  specimens  are 
closely  similar,  and  both  are  remarkable  for  the  size  of  their  feet. 

The  following  is  a  brief  description  of  the  Persian  specimen. 
Upper  parts  dark  brown,  with  rufous  margins  to  the  feathers.  A 
demicollar,  somewhat  broken,  of  pale  rufous  on  the  nape ;  cheek  stripe 
broad,  as  in  F. peregrinus^  throat  rufescent  white;  breast  and  abdomen 
ferruginous  with  brown  central  stripes  to  the  feathers,  about  J  in. 
broad  on  the  breast,  narrower  on  the  abdomen.  Lower  tail  coverts 
isabelline  with  arrow  head  marks,  tail  with  imperfect  pale  rufous  bars 
not  extending  across  the  webs  and  about  half  an  inch  apart.  Wing 
ia.75  inches,  tail  5.8,  tarsus  a,  hind  toe  to  base  of  claw  2,  outer  toe 
1.4,  inner  toe  1.2,  hind  toe  0.9. 

Large  as  these  measurements  appear,  they  quite  coincide  with  those 
of  a  female  from  Barbary  in  the  Norwich  Museum.    I  at  first  thought 

*  Thit  specimen  has,  however,  sinoe  been  referred  by  Mr.  Sh^rpe  to  the  South  Afiioui 
F.  mtfior.  Cat.  Birds  Brit.  Mus.  i,  p.  383. 


A  VES.  103 

the  Turin  skin  a  specimen  of  F.  peregrinator^  Sand,  (or  of  the  bird 
usually  so  called  by  naturalists),  but  that  appears  larger  and  darker  in 
all  plumages,  and  the  tarsi  appear  always  yellow,  whilst  those  of  the 
Persian  bird  had  apparently  been  homy  or  lead  grey,  as  I  believe 
they  are  in  the  young  of  F.  barbarus.  It  is  not  impossible  that  two 
falcons  are  confounded  under  this  name. 

7.  *  P  P.  i)eregrinator,  Sund. 

ShdMn^  Persian. 

I  am  informed  by  Major  St.  John  that  the  ShdUn  of  Persian 
falconers  is  a  bird  with  a  dark  head^  almost  black,  and  a  deep  ferru- 
ginous breast,  and  that  it  resembles  closely  in  general  appearance  the 
SkdMn  of  India,  F.  peregrinator.  Both  this  species,  and  its  near  ally 
JP.  alricepSy  are  forest  birds  ;  the  former  is  only  known  to  exist  in  the 
Indian  peninsula,  the  latter  in  the  Himalayas.  No  similarly  coloured 
falcon  has  hitherto,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  been  recorded  from  Western 
Asia ;  of  course,  it  may  have  been  overlooked,  but  I  think  that  the 
occurrence  of  any  bird  closely  resembling  F.  peregrinator  in  Asia 
Minor  needs  confirmation.  It  is  by  no  means  improbable  that  the 
Persian  Sh&hin  is  an  undescribed  species. 

[Persian  &lconers  distinguish  three  varieties  of  Shdhin^  the 
St4mboliy  KarabdgAi,  and  Fdr^i,  the  first  from  Western  Asia 
Minor,  the  second  from  Circassia,  Georgia,  and  Armenia,  the  third 
from  Southern  Persia.  The  first  has  the  darkest  plumage,  the  last 
the  lightest.  This  information  I  obtained  from  Timur  Mirza,  grand 
falconer  and  cousin  of  the  Shah,  and  one  of  the  keenest  sportsmen 
in  Persia.  The  mews  under  his  charge  contained  specimens  of  all 
three  varieties,  the  Stdmholi  being  the  most  prized. 

The  ShdMn  is,  however,  not  so  much  used  in  Persia  as  formerly ; 
indeed  I  have  never  seen  it  out  of  the  royal  mews,  except  when  brought 
to  Bushire  for  sale  to  the  Arabs  of  the  opposite  coast.  The  falcon 
described  by  Marco  Polo  as  found  in  the  mountains  of  Pariz,  near 
Karmin,  can  be  no  other  than  the  ShdMn.  The  old  traveller  says, 
*  In  the  mountains  of  Karmdn  are  found  the  best  falcons  in  the 
world.  They  are  inferior  in  size  to  the  peregrine,  red  on  the  breast, 
under  the  neck,  and  between  the  thighs;  their  flight  is  so  swift 
that  no  bird  can  escape  them.'  Yale's  Marco  Polo,  i,  p.  86.  On 
the  authority  of  Mr.  Keith  Abbott,  Colonel  Yule,  in  a  note  to  his 


104  .  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

admirable  edition  of  'Marco  Polo's  Travels/  considers  the  falcon 
meant  to  be  that  now  known  to  Persians  as  the  Tarldn.  But 
this  is  the  designation  of  the  female  goshawk,  a  bird  to  which 
the  foregoing  description  does  not  in  the  least  apply,  whereas  it 
does  adnurably  to  the  Shdhin. — O.  St.  J.] 

8.  *  P.  Babylonicus,  Gumey. 

I  think  it  probable  that  this  is  one  of  the  falcons  called  ShdMn  by 
the  Persians,  although  the  name  is  evidently  applied  to  other  species 
also.  Jerdon  (Hume's  Scrap  Book,  i,  p.  84,  and  Ibis,  1871,  p.  240) 
shows  that  F.  Babylonicus  is  the  Shdhin  of  the  Panjdb.  As  this 
bird  has  been  recorded  from  both  Mesopotamia  and  India  its  occur- 
rence in  Southern  Persia  may  be  considered  certain. 

[A  large  falcon,  probably  this  or  F.  lanariuSj  is  not  uncommon  in 
Central  Persia,  aflfecting  the  neighbourhood  of  cultivated  places 
surrounded  by  desert,  and  generally  to  be  seen  perching  on  walls. 
One  that  I  shot  in  a  garden  near  Abddeh  belonged,  as  far  as  I 
could  judge  by  the  dimensions  and  description  in  Jerdon,  to  this 
species.     I  was  unfortunately  unable  to  preserve  it. — O.  St.  J.] 

0.  *  P  P.  lanariuBy  L. — De  F. 

De  Filippi  states  (Viag.  in  Pers.  p.  345)  that  he  recognized  the 
lanner  and  peregrine  amongst  the  birds  employed  for  hawking. 

10.  *  P.  saoer,  Gm. 

Schlegel,  Mus.  du  Pays  Bas,  Falcones,  p.  1 1. 
Charg  or  Charkh,  Persian. 

This  bird  is  largely  used  in  hawking  in  Persia,  but,  so  far  as  I 
could  learn,  the  goshawk  is  much  preferred  by  Persians  to  all  falcons. 

Near  Pishin  in  Baluchistan  I  one  day  wounded  a  falcon,  but  did 
not  bag  it.  I  took  it  at  the  time  for  a  Charg^  but  I  am  not  at  all 
sure  that  it  was  not  a  Laggar  {F,jugger), 

F.milvipeSy  Hodgs.  apud  Jerdon  (Ibis,  1 871,  p.  240= F.Hertdersoniy 
Hume),  may  probably  be  found  in  North-eastern  Persia.  Mr.  Sharpe^ 
in  the  British  Museum  Catalogue,  identifies  this  bird  with  F.  sacer. 

[This  is  the  favourite  falcon  with  Persian  sportsmen,  who  use  it  in 
the  pursuit  of  houbara  {Honiara  Macqu^enii)  and  of  gazelles.  Sir 
John  Malcolm,  in  his  inimitable  '  Sketches  in  Persia,*  gives  an  account 


AVES.  *         *  105 

of  a  sort  of  leather  breeches  being  fitted  on  the  Chargh  by  his  falconer, 
the  object  being  to  prevent  the  bird  from  being  torn  asunder  whilst 
seizing  a  hare  with  one  claw,  and  stopping  its  course  by  grasping 
bushes  with  the  other.  I  cannot  say  that  I  ever  saw  this  done, 
nor  had  any  of  the  many  Persian  falconers  I  enquired  of  ever 
seen  or  heard  of  such  a  practice. — O.  St.  J.] 

U.  P.  subbuteOy  L. — De  F. 

I  i.  Pass  near  Aniln,  Mazandaran,  Elburz  mountains      ..      9500     .. 
August  14. 

De  Filippi  obtained  a  hobby  at  Marend  (Adarbaijfin),  and  I  shot 
one  on  the  Elburz  mountains,  north  of  Tehrdn,  in  August.  This 
bird  was  also  noticed  by  Menetries  near  Lankordn,  on  the  Caspian, 
just  beyond  the  Persian  frontier. 

12.  *F.  SBsalon,  Tunst. 

Om.  Brit.  p.  I,  (1 771). 

F.  reguluSf  Pall.,Reise,  ii,  p.  707,  (1773). — Sharpe,  Cat.  Birds  Brit.  Mus.  i, 
p.  406. 

Persia  is  one  of  the  localities  given  for  the  merlin  in  Mr.  G.  R. 
Gray's  'Handlist,'  but  Mr.  Sharpe  informs  me  that  there  is  no 
specimen  from  that  country  in  the  British  Museum.  There  can 
be  no  question  but  that  this  bird,  which  is  occasionally  shot  in 
India,  must  inhabit  Persia. 

13.  TinnunculiiB  alaudariusy  (Gm.) 


I  S,  B&hii  Eilat,  Baldchistin 

•  • 

^■"" 

.      Feb.  2. 

2  i.  Near  Diz4k,  Baldcbistiin 

• . 

4000 

Marcb  21. 

3  S*  Shir^z         . .         . . 

. . 

5000     . 

June. 

4  S'  Oak  forest,  near  Sbir^    .. 

* . 

7000     . 

June. 

Extremely  common  throughout  Persia  and  Baluchistdn,  doubtless 
leaving  the  latter  country  and  Southern  Persia  below  the  plateau 
in  the  summer,  and  breeding  on  the  Persian  highlands. 

[Very  common  all  over  Persia,  particularly  in  the  south,  whence 
it  migrates  to  Arabia  in  the  winter.  On  the  plain  of  Kam&raj, 
between  K&zrun  and  Bush  ire,  I  have  counted  over  twenty  kestrels 
in  the  air  at  the  same  time,  and  I  once  saw  no  less  than  thirteen 
sitting  on  the  telegraph  wire  between  two  posts.  It  is  curious 
that  directly  the  wires  were  put  up  kestrels,  bee-eaters,  and  swallows 
took  to  perching  on  them,  just  as  they  do  in  India. — O.  St.  J.] 


106  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

14.  T.  cenchris,  (Cuv.) 

I  ^.  Mashish,  south-west  of  Karm&n  6800  May  21. 

3»  3*  4>  5  6'  Oak  forest,  near  Shir^  . .      7000     . .     June. 

All  the  specimens  obtained  agree  with  the  European  and  African 
species  and  differ  from  Indian  and  Chinese  specimens  (jP.  Pekinemis^ 
Swinh.)  in  their  paler  colour  and  in  having  most  of  the  wing  coverts 
rufous,  but  in  two  specimens  there  is  a  complete  absence  of  spotting 
on  the  ventral  surface,  showing  that  this  character  disappears  with 
age. 

[The  lesser  kestrel  is  extremely  abundant  in  Southern  Persia,  less 
so  in  the  north.  The  limestone  cliffs  about  the  Persepolis  plain 
are  favourite  haunts  of  this  bird,  several  pairs  breeding  regularly 
among  the  ruins  of  the  palace  itself.  Early  in  March,  1872,  I  saw 
a  large  number  of  these  little  falcons  collected  in  the  palm  groves 
of  the  village  of  Ahr&m  at  the  foot  of  the  hills  near  Bushire.  They 
were  probably  returning  from  their  winter  quarters  in  Arabia  to 
their  nesting  places  in  the  north. — O.  St.  J.] 

15.  *  T.  vespertinuB,  (L.) 

P,  rinfipes,  Bechst.  apud  M^n.  Cat.  Baiu.  p.  27. 

I  can  find  no  record  of  the  occurrence  of  this  bird  on  the  Persian 
plateau,  but  as  it  was  found  by  M^netries  on  the  T&lish  mountains 
south  of  Lankor&n,  it  must  be  included  in  the  Persian  faima.  It 
probably  is  occasionally  found  in  other  parts  of  Persia. 

16.  *  Astur  palumbarius,  (L.) — De  F. 

Tarldn,  Persian. 

Although  the  goshawk  must  be  far  from  rare  in  parts  of  Persia, 
I  did  not  obtain  a  single  specimen,  nor  did  I  ever  see  the  bird  in 
the  wild  state.  Yet  it  must  be  common  in  the  more  wooded  parts 
of  the  country,  for  large  numbers  are  kept  for  hawking  by  the 
more  wealthy  Persians,  it  being  greatly  preferred  by  them  to  the 
falcons. 

[The  goshawk  is  more  frequently  kept  for  sporting  purposes  in 
Persia  than  any  of  the  true  falcons,  and  fetches  a  higher  price. 
Fifty  tomans  (£20)  are  occasionally  given  for  a  well-trained  female. 
Many  birds  are  caught  in  the  wooded  hills  of  the  south  and  west, 


A  VES.  107 

but  the  majority  are  brought  from  the  forests  of  the  Caspian. 
Specimens  of  the  white  variety,  mentioned  by  Pallas*  as  occurring 
in  Siberia,  occasionally  find  their  way  from  Astrakhan  to  the  Shah's 
mews  at  Tehr&n.  Persian  falconers  do  not  suppose  this  white  bird 
to  be  anything  more  than  an  accidental  variety.  A  man  whom  I 
met  in  a  steamer  on  the  Caspian  in  charge  of  some  hawks  assured 
me  that  he  had  seen  a  white  bird  taken  out  of  the  nest  with  two 
of  the  ordinary  colour.  The  Tarldn  is  generally  flown  at  the 
common  redlegged  partridge,  Caccabis  c/iuiory  and  in  the  south 
at  francolin. — O.  St.  J.] 


17.  A.  {Mieronistu)  badius,  (Gm.) — Do  F. 


I  i,  Bahii  KaUt,  BaMchisUn    . . 

•  ■              ^^™             • 

Feb.  3. 

2  <J.  Ghistigin,  Baliichistltii 

3000 

March  i. 

5  S-  Oak  forest,  near  Shiniz 

7000 

June. 

Not  rare  in  Southern  Persia  and  Baliichistdn,  but  I  have  no  proof 
of  its  existence  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  country,  for  I  consider 
the  migratory  form  observed  by  Major  St.  John  at  Tehr&n  to  be 
probably  A.  brevivea, 

Finsch  and  Hartlaub  (Vog,  Ost-Afr.  p.  84,  note)  suggest  that 
the  Persian  bird  called  badiu9  by  De  Pilippi  is  A,  brevipes,  and 
Messrs.  Sharpe  and  Dresser  in  the  '  Birds  of  Europe '  endorse  this 
opinion,  which,  however,  is  incorrect.  The  only  locality  mentioned 
by  De  Filippi  is  Bandar  Abbds,  on  the  authority  of  Doria  (Viag.  in 
Persia,  p.  345).  I  have  examined  Doria's  specimen,  which  is  in 
the  Museo  Civico  of  Genoa,  and  is  labelled  from  Kusch  Kuh  in  the 
Germesir  (?  Laristdn).     It  is  unquestionably  A,  badius^. 

Specimens  from  Southern  Persia  agree  with  Indian  birds  in  their 
dimensions,  and  appear  larger  than  the  North-east  African  A, 
stpAenuruSy  Riipp.  The  bird  shot  at  Ghistig&n  measured  in  the 
flesh,  length  13.3  in.,  wing  7.25. 

'  Zoogr.  Ros.  Ai.  i,  p.  368. 

*  On  examining  the  specimens  of  A,  hrevipes  in  Mr.  Dresser's  collection,  and  in  that  of 
the  British  Museum,  I  find  that  the  species  differs  from  A,  hadius  not  only  in  its  larger 
size,  but  also  in  the  characters  of  its  primaries,  thus :  in  i4.  badiits  the  fourth  primaxy 
is  the  longest,  the  first  four  primaries  are  emarginate  on  the  innide  near  the  tip,  and  the 
third,  fourth,  and  fifth  on  the  outside.  In  A.  brevipes  the  third  quill  is  the  longest,  the 
first  three  are  emarginate  inside,  and  only  the  third  and  fourth  on  the  outside. 


108  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

18.  A.  (MicronUus),  sp. 

?  A$tur  eenchroidest  Severteov,  Turk.  Jev.  p.  113. 

I  9.  Near  Baxnpiir,  BaliichisUn        ..        1800       ..       April  8. 

I  do  not  like  to  give  a  name  to  a  single  specimen^  which  may 
prove  only  an  individual  variety  of  A.  badius,  hut  the  differences  in 
size  are  such  that  I  cannot  identify  it  with  that  species  at  present. 
The  following  is  a  description  of  the  specimen,  which  I  shot  in  the 
wooded  plain  west  of  Bampur. 

Above  hair  brown  with  an  ashy  tinge^  tail  paler  and  more  ashy, 
central  rectrices  unhanded,  except  one  broad  black  band  close  to  the 
end,  laterals,  except  the  outer  pair,  with  five  black  bands,  the  last 
near  the  tip  and  broadest,  outer  pair  with  about  seven  or  eight 
fainter  and  narrower  imperfect  bands.  Chin  and  upper  throat 
whitish  w4th  a  distinct  central  stripe,  lower  parts  pale  ferruginous 
with  white  cross  bands,  broader  and  farther  apart  than  they  usually 
are  in  A.  badius^  there  being  on  the  breast  only  about  four  white 
and  four  ferruginous  bands  to  an  inch ;  the  white  bands  are  about 
the  same  breadth  as  the  ferruginous  ones,  and  the  colour  of  the 
latter  is  deeper  and  brownish  at  their  edges.  Lower  abdomen 
white.  The  quills  are  banded  almost  to  the  tips.  Iris  deep  yellow> 
cere  pale  straw  colour,  bill  black  above  and  towards  the  tip,  bluish 
grey  at  base  below,  legs  yellow,  claws  black.  Dimensions  taken 
before  skinning:  length  15.5  in.,  wing  8.85,  tail  7,  tarsus  2.3, 
hind  toe  without  claw  1.4,  bill  from  end  of  cere  to  tip  measured 
round  the  curve  0.6,  from  gape  to  tip  0.85.  length  of  cere  0.35, 
wings  short  of  the  end  of  the  tail  3.75. 

The  fourth  and  fifth  quills  are  equal  and  longest,  the  first  is  a.6  in. 
shorter,  second  1.25,  third  0.3.  The  ends  of  the  first  four  quills 
inside,  and  of  the  third,  fourth,  and  fifth  outside,  are  emarginate, 
as  in  A,  badius. 

It  is  evident  that  this  is  not  A.  brevijpes.  It  is,  however,  very 
large  for  A,  lading^  the  extreme  measurements  given  by  Hume  (Scrap 
Book,  i,  p.  118)  being,  in  the  female,  wing  8.3,  tarsus  2.  Mr.  J.  H. 
Gurney  has  kindly  compared  my  specimen  with  the  series  of  A,  badius 
at  Norwich,  and  informs  me  that  the  tarsus  is  longer  than  that  of 
the  largest  specimen  there  preserved  by  2^  lines,  and  the  hind  toe 
by  2  lines;  but  one  of  the  specimens  measured  by  Hume  has  the 
hind  toe  of  the  same  length  as  that  from  Bampur.     Mr.  Gurney 


A  VES.  109 

too  has   skins  from  Madras  and  Siam  with  the  wing  as  long  as  in 
the  Baluchist&n  bird. 

The  colouration  in  A,  badius  varies  much,  and  I  have  seen  speci- 
mens differing  very  little  from  that  above  described. 

19.  *  A.  (Micronisus)  brevipes '  P     Severtzov. 

I  think  it  very  improbable  that  the  migratory  hawk  mentioned  by 
Major  St.  John  in  the  following  note  can  have  been  A,  badius^  which 
is  not  a  migratory  bird,  and  no  specimen  of  which  has  been  procured 
in  Northern  Persia.  On  the  other  hand,  A,  brevipes  is  believed  to 
be  migratory,  and  is  found  in  South-eastern  Europe  and  Asia  Minor 
in  summer.  Nothing  is  more  probable  than  that  it  should  traverse 
Persia  in  its  migration  to  its  winter  quarters,  which  may  very 
possibly  be  in  Arabia. 

[A  sparrowhawk,  which  I  identified  with  Micronisua  badius,  is  a 
bird  of  passage  in  Persia.  It  passes  over  Tehran  in  considerable 
numbers  in  April  and  October.  In  captivity  I  have  only  seen  it 
in  the  Shah's  mews. — O.  St.  J.] 

20.  Aodpiter  nisus,  (L.) — De  F. 

Bd$hd,  Persian. 

I  <{f  3  9.  Oak  forest,  near  Sbirdz         ..  7000     ..     June. 

Common  throughout  Persia,  but  probably  not  found  in  the  low- 
lands of  Southern  Persia  in  summer. 

[The  sparrowhawk  is  found  everywhere  in  Persia  in  the  closely-planted 
fruit  gardens  about  towns  and  villages.  Sparrow  catching  with  the 
'  Bdshd '  is  one  of  the  favourite  summer  pastimes  in  Persia,  when  the 
weather  is  too  hot  for  more  arduous  sports.  The  quarry  is  flushed 
from  one  of  the  kan&ts,  or  openings  of  the  subterranean  irrigation 
channels,  which  abound  round  towns  and  villages,  and  the  hawk,  thrown 
from  the  hand,  rarely  fails  to  seize  her  prey  before  it  can  dash  down 
the  next  kandt,for  which  it  always  makes  the  instant  it  perceives  itself 
pursued.  Occasionally  the  hawk  follows  the  sparrow  down  the  well, 
from  which  there  is  usually  much  diflSculty  in  extricating  it ;  valuable 
birds  are  sometimes  lost  in  this  way.  A  good  sparrowhawk  will  kill 
fifteen  to  twenty  sparrows  in  the  course  of  an  hour's  walk.  Its  docility 
ifl  wonderful :  a  week  after  capture  the  bird  is  taken  out,  with  a  string 
fifteen  or  twenty  yards  long  tied  to  one  leg,  and  is  flown  at  sparrows. 

'  On  the  stractund  differences  between  this  bird  and  A,  hadius,  see  note  to  p.  107. 


1 1 0  zoo  LOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

A  few  days'  practice  renders  the  string  unnecessary,  and  the  hawk 
comes  readily  to  the  lure.  The  female  is  occasionally  used  for  catching^ 
quail. — O.  St.  J.] 

21.  *  Circus  Sdruginosusy  (L.) — De  F. 

I  do  not  recollect  observing  the  marsh  harrier  in  Persia,  though  it 
must,  I  think,  occur  in  the  highlands,  even  in  summer. 

[The  marsh  harrier  is  common  id  the  reedy  marshes  in  which  many 
Persian  streams  terminate.  I  believe  it  migrates  from  the  lower  to 
the  higher  valleys  in  summer. — O.  St.  J.] 

22.  C.  maorurus,  (S.  G.  Qm.) 

Aceipiter  maerourut,  S.  G.  Gmel.  N.  Comm.  Petrop.  xv,  p.  439,  PL  Vm 

and  IX. 
C  SwaiMonit  South  African  Quart.  Jour,  i,  384, 1830 ;  S.  Af.  Zool.  PI.  XLHI, 

XLIV. 
C.palliduSf  Sykes,  P.  Z.  S.  1832,  p.  80. 

I  (J,  2  $.  Gw&dar,  Baliichistdn  coast         ..  December. 

I  only  saw  harriers  in  Baluchist&n.  I  noticed  none  on  the  Persian 
plateau  in  summer. 

I  have  only  evidence  of  the  occurrence  of  C.  macmrua  and  C.  cinerarius^ 
but  there  can  be  no  question  that  C.  cyaneua^  which  extends  into 
India  in  winter,  also  visits  Persia. 

[The  pale  chested  harrier  is  very  common  in  Southern  Persia  at 
particular  times  of  the  year.  It  appears  about  the  plains  on  the  coast 
in  March,  beating  up  and  down  the  green  cornfields.  As  these  are  cut 
it  gradually  works  its  way  northwards,  but  I  have  never  seen  it  late  in 
the  summer.  I  have  never  obtained  the  harrier  that  visits  the  plains 
about  Tehrdn  in  winter ;  but  I  think  that  it  is  darker  grey  than  that 
of  the  south  ;  if  so  it  may  be  C,  cyaneus. — O.  St.  J.] 

23.  *  C.  oinerariusy  (Montague.) 

C.  PygargvSf  (L.)  Sharpe,  Cat.  Birds  Brit.  Mus.  p.  64,  nee  Linn. 

[I  shot  a  Montague's  harrier  at  Shdpur  about  the  end  of  April, 
1864.— O.  St.  J.] 

24.  *  ?  Aquila  ohrysaetus^  (L.) 

Mr.  Hume  (Stray  Feathers,  vol.  i,  pp.49,  157)  mentions  having  seen 


AVES.  Ill 

a  bird^  which  he  says  could  be  no  other  than  this  species,  on  the  Makr&n 
coast.  Probably  the  golden  eagle  is  found  in  many  parts  of  Persia, 
and  it  is  by  no  means  impossible  that  the  great  Berkut  of  Mongolia 
may  also  be  met  with  (conf.  Ibis,  1866,  p.  240). 

26.  *A.heliaosSSay. 

A»  imTperiaUit  (Bechst),  auctorum. 

A.  mofftmk,  (S.  G.  Gmel.),  Dreflser,  Birds  of  Europe. 

I  saw  very  few  eagles  in  Persia,  and  when  seen  they  were  usually 
too  distant  for  the  species  to  be  ascertained.  On  one  occasion  I  found 
a  splendid  imperial  eagle  dead,  having  probably  been  shot,  in  the 
middle  of  the  road  near  Kh&n-i-Surkh,  between  Karm&n  and  Shidlz. 
The  spot  was  on  a  high  pass  more  than  8000  feet  above  the  sea.  The 
bird  measured  32  in.  in  length  from  the  tip  of  bill  to  end  of  tail,  6  ft. 
in  expanse,  wing  24,5  in.,  tail  14,  claw  of  middle  toe  round  curve,  1.65. 
These  dimensions  equal  those  of  the  largest  Indian  imperial  eagles. 

Aquila  Nipalensis,  Hodgs.  {A.  bifasciala,  Gray)  is  probably  also  Per- 
sian, and  we  may  expect  at  least  one  of  the  A,  rapax  group  to  inhabit 
the  southern  parts  of  the  country. 

26.  *A.  olanga,  (Pall.) 

A  spotted  eagle  has  been  procured  in  Persia  by  Major  St.  John,  but 
I  did  not  meet  with  it  myself.  M^netries  shot  one  on  the  T&lish 
mountains.  There  are  two  specimens  in  the  British  Museum  brought 
from  B&ghd&d  by  Mr.  Loftus,  and  Mr.  Sbarpe,  to  whom  I  am  indebted 
for  calling  my  attention  to  them,  informs  me  that  they  belong  to 
A.  clanga,  so  it  is  highly  probable  that  the  other  specimens  mentioned 
are  of  the  same  species.  At  the  same  time,  the  latter  may  have  belonged 
to  A.  Aastata^  Less.,  which  is  probably  Persian.  A.  maculata^  6m. 
{A.  noma,  auct.)  is  not  known  to  extend  so  far  to  the  eastward. 

[A  young  eagle,  closely  corresponding  in  colouration  and  dimensions 
to  the  description  and  figure  of  navia  in  Yarrell's  '  British  Birds,'  was 
brought  to  me  in  Shir&z.  I  kept  it  for  some  days,  when  it  escaped. — 
O.  St.  J.] 

^  As  there  appears  some  doubt  whether  S.  G.  Gmelin's  Falco  mogilnik  really  applies 
to  this  bird  or  to  A.  nipcUensia  v.  bifcuciatat  it  seems  desirable  to  get  rid  of  the  name, 
which,  like  seyeral  others  given  by  the  same  author,  is  objectionable. 


112  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

27.  *  Aquila  pennatay  (Gm.) 

[A  small  eagle,  probably  this  species,  is  not  uncommon  about  the 
palm  groves  and  gardens  of  Southern  Persia;  one  carried  oflF  a  roller 
that  I  had  shot  on  the  wing,  almost  before  the  bird  fell  to  the  ground. 
The  eagle  must  have  perched  on  a  palm  tree  over  head. — O.  St.  J.] 

28.  A.  flAsciata,  Vieil. 

Faleo  Bonelliit  Temm. 

I  ^.  Bampiir,  Baldchist^n         ..  i8oo     ..     April  6. 

The  only  specimen  obtained.  It  was  shot  sitting  on  a  tree  on  the 
banks  of  a  stream.     I  believe  I  saw  the  same  eagle  on  other  occasions. 

Circaetus  gcUlicus  must  exist  in  Persia^  but  I  cannot  find  its  occurrence 
recorded. 

29.  Haliaetus  albiciUa,  (L.) 

I  i.  Gw^ar,  Baliichist^  coast    . .  December  26. 

There  were  two  or  three  pairs  of  this  sea  eagle  at  Gw&dar,  and  one 
bird  was  secured  by  my  collector  by  careful  stalking.  They  were  very 
wary,  and  although  I  expended  much  time  in  trying  to  circumvent 
them,  I  never  bagged  a  bird. 

The  European  white  tailed  sea  eagle  has  been  found  by  Mr.  Hume 
in  several  parts  of  North-western  India,  so  its  occurrence  on  the  Persian 
coast  was  to  be  expected. 

H,  albicilla  is  also  found  on  the  Caspian. 

30.  *  H.  leucoryphus  P     ( Pall.) 

The  bird  mentioned  in  the  following  note  is  certainly  not  H.  albicilla, 
which  has  a  pure  white  tail.  H,  kucoryphus^  Pallas,  which  occurs  both 
on  the  Caspian  and  in  India,  and  is,  in  all  probability,  found  in  Persia, 
has  most  of  the  basal  portion  of  the  tail  beyond  the  coverts  white, 
with  a  broad  dark  terminal  band.  This  is  in  all  probability  the  bird 
noticed  by  Major  St.  John. 

[A  large  sea  eagle  is  common  about  Bushire,  where  I  have  often  seen 
it  sitting  on  the  stakes  set  up  in  shallow  water  by  fishermen.  I  have 
also  frequently  noticed  it  in  summer  about  the  K&zrun  and  Dashtiarjan 
lakes.  It  is  recognisable  by  the  broad  dark  band  in  the  middle  of  the 
white  tail. — O.  St.  J.] 


AYES.  113 

31.  Butastur  teesa,  (Frank!.) 

I  ^.  Gw^ar,  Balt&chistiln    ..  ..  ..         ..      Jan.  15. 

a  ^.  North-west  of  Banipdr,  Baluchistan  . .  1600      ..     April  10. 

Not  rare  in  Baluchist&n,  but  keeping,  as  a  rule,  to  the  more  wooded 
tracts.  Of  course  it  is  not  found  in  the  Persian  highlands,  and  I  cannot 
say  how  far  it  ranges  to  the  westward,  but  possibly  to  the  head  of 
the  Persian  Gulf.  Its  appearance  so  far  west  is  singular,  for  its  range 
extends  to  Burmah. 

32.  Buteo  feroxy  (Gm.) 

I  <}.  Pishfn,  BaliichisUln  500  February  11. 

>     1  9*  ShirtLE        . .  . .  . .       4750     . .  (?) 

Perhaps  the  commonest  of  Persian  Raptores, 

I  have  seen  no  skins  of  any  other  buzzard  from  Persia,  but  I  think 
-B.  vulgaris  probably  occurs,  and  also  B.  desertorum^  Daud.,  or  at  least 
the  smaller  Indian  buzzard,  usually  known,  by  that  name  {B.  ruf  venter , 
Jerdon). 

[A  large  buzzard,  which  I  have  always  considered  to  be  vulgaris, 
but  which  may  be  ferox,  is  very  common  in  Persia,  both  in  the  desert 
plains  and  the  more  fertile  valleys  of  the  south.  A  dozen  or  more  are 
generally  seen  in  the  course  of  a  day's  march  in  winter  through  any 
part  of  Ffirs.— O.  St.  J.] 

33.  *  P  B.  hemilasius,  Temm.  and  Scbl. 

B,  AsicUieut,  Blytb,  Ibis,  1866,  p.  244. 

I  can  only  suggest  that  this  may  be  the  bird  noticed  by  Major 
St.  John.  The  size  given  is  rather  large,  but  I  know  of  no  other  large 
buzzard  with  the  tarsi  half  feathered.  B,  hemilasius  has  been  found 
occasionally  in  the  Himalayas,  and  is,  according  to  Mr.  Sw4nhoe, 
Ibis,  1873,  P-  3^4>  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^  Northern  China,  and  as  it  is  evidently 
an  Eastern  Palsearctic  form,  there  is  nothing  surprising  in  its  occurrence 
on  the  Persian  highlands. 

[In  December  1866, 1  shot,  near  Persepolis,  an  eagle  or  eagle  buzzard 
nearly  answering  to  Jerdon 's  description  of  A.  /ieffHj)lilqpiis,  but  with 
tarsi  feathered  only  half  way  down.  The  length  was  26J  in., 
wing  21  in. — O.  St.  J.] 

VOL.    II.  I 


114  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 


34.  Milvus  migrans  \  (Bodd.) — De  F. 

M.  cUer,  (Gm.),  De  F.  Viag.  in  Pers.  p.  345. 

1,  2  9.  Khairabdd,  south-west  of  Karmin  5700     ..     May  29. 

Of  a  third  specimen  obtained  in  the  same  neighbourhood  the  label 
has  been  lost. 

The  common  black  kite  of  Europe  was  the  only  species  obtained  in 
Persia.  It  was  not  very  common.  I  nowhere  observed  it  so  abundant 
as  M^n^tries  found  it  in  the  T&lish  mountains,  where  he  says  there 
was  a  pair,  at  least,  about  every  village. 

Kites  were  singularly  scarce  in  Baluchist&n,  and  I  only  saw  them  at 
one  or  two  places,  the  principal  being  B&hu  Kaldt,  where,  however,  I 
had  no  success  in  shooting,  as,  although  I  wounded  one  bird,  I  bagged 
none.  This  was  unfortunate,  because  it  leaves  the  species  uncertain^ 
and  I  can  only  say  that  I  think  it  was  M,  govinda^  which  Hume  found 
abundant  in  Sind. 

[Kites  are  not  so  common  in  Persia  as  in  most  parts  of  the  East. 
About  Shir&z  a  few  seem  to  breed,  but  leave  for  the  warmer  plains  in 
the  winter.  — O.  St.  J.] 

Family   PANDIONID^. 

35.  Fandion  haliaetus,  (L).  * 

I  (},  a  9.  Gwadar,  Baliichistdn  coast  . .         December. 

3  9.  Gw&dar,  Baluchist&n  coast  . .  . .         January  33. 

The  osprey  is  common  on  the  Baluchist&n  coast,  but,  of  course, 
seldom  seen  in  the  interior  of  Persia,  where  there  are  so  few  rivers. 
I  saw  it  in  the  Elburz  mountains,  and  it  is  common  about  the 
Caspian. 

*  S.  G.  Gmelin's  name,  Korschuny  is  given  by  Sharpe.Brit.  Mus.  Cat  p.  323,  for  this  bird. 
I  decline  to  adopt  so  utterly  barbarous  a  title,  which  I  do  not  consider  a  Latin  name  at  all. 
If  adopted,  the  orthography  should  be  Latinized  at  least ;  as  it  stands  it  is  simply  a 
German  rendering  of  a  Russian  word.  Moreover,  Pallas,  Zoogr.  Ros.  As.  p.  356,  miUces 
it  synonymous  with  his  Accipiter  regalis,  and  I  am  by  no  means  inclined  to  believe,  with 
Mr.  Sharpe,  that  this  is  if.  migrans.  It  is  described  *  cauda  forcipata,  corpore  ferrugtn&- 
ieenU,*  which  surely  applies  to  M.  ictinua  {regalis) ;  whilst  Pallas's  Accipiter  mtfims, 
described  as  *  eauda  subforcipata,  corpore  fuscetcenU'  must,  I  think,  be  Jf.  migran$.  It 
appears  highly  probable  moreover  that  Gmelin's  figure  represents  (Hrctti  €ertiginonu  I 


AVJSS,  115 

Family  STBIGIDiE, 

36.  Bubo  Sibirioufiy  Eversman. 

Addenda  ad  Cel.  Pall.  Faun.  Rob.  As. — Susemihrs  Vogel  Earopa*s,  PL  XUV. 

£,  cinereiUt  Gray,  Genera  of  Birds,  PJ.  XIII. 

B.  mcucimus,  irar.  Jerdon,  Birds  of  India,  vol.  ii.  Appendix,  p.  870. 

B.  Hemachalanci,  Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  315. 

I  9.  Near  Shir&ss         . .  . .  6000 

This  race,  which  is  closely  allied  to  3.  i^iiavtis  ^,  Forst.  (3.  maximus, 
auct.),  but  distinguished  by  its  much  paler  colour,  and  by  the  smaller 
extent  of  the  black  stripes  on  the  head,  neck,  and  breast,  appears  to 
have  a  wide  range  in  Asia.  I  have  only  seen  two  specimens^  that 
from  Shir&z,  and  a  magnificent  female  in  the  British  Museum,  but 
they  agree  well.    The  Shiriz  specimen  measures  :  wing  17,  tail  9.5  in. 

[I  twice  obtained  specimens  of  this  splendid  owl.  A  winged  bird, 
shot  in  the  gardens  near  Shirdz,  was  brought  to  my  house  in  May 
1867,  and  remained  alive  for  several  days.  Two  years  afterwards, 
when  encamped  on  the  banks  of  the  K&r&-agatch  river,  twenty  miles 
west  of  Shiraz,  my  collector  shot  one  while  drinking  at  the  river  in  the 
day  time.  A  pair  of  large  horned  owls,  probably  of  this  species,  reside 
in  the  cliffs  (above  Naksh-i-Taimur),  at  the  north-west  comer  of  the 
K&zrun  lake.  When  putting  up  the  telegraph  at  this  spot,  I  used 
to  see  them  sitting  out  on  the  rocks  every  morning  and  evening  looming 
large  against  the  sky.  I  tried  hard  to  stalk  them^  but  unsuccessfully. — 
O.  St.  J.] 

37.  Soops  giu,  (Scop.) 

Strix  giu^  Scopoli,  Ann.  Hist.  Nat.  p.  19. 
S.  zorcat  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  i,  p.  289. 

Buff  Persian. 

I.  Shir4z        ..         ..  ••  ••      475^ 

The  common  Scops  abounds  in  gardens  on  the  Persian  highlands. 
There  is  scarcely  a  village  with  large  trees  in  which  the  monotonous 
note  of  this  little  owl  may  not  be  heard,  commencing  when  it  grows 
dark  in  the  evening,  and  continuing  at  intervals  throughout  the  night. 
An  especially  fiivourite  tree  is  a  thick  cypress. 

*  Dresser,  in  the  *  Birds  of  Europe,'  has  united  B.  Sibiricus  and  B.  iffnavui,  but  if  all 
Asiatic  specimens  of  the  former  are  as  pale  as  those  I  have  seen,  I  think  they  are  fcirly 
deserving  of  separation. 

I  2 


1 1 6  ZOO  LOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

The  only  specimen  collected  was  shot  by  Major  St.  John,  at 
Shirdz  in  April.  I  have  often  tried  to  shoot  these  birds,  but  as 
they  keep  to  the  thickest  trees,  never  stir  abroad  in  the  day,  and  do 
not  commence  to  call  till  it  is  just  too  late  to  see  them,  it  is  not  easy 
to  secure  specimens. 

[Though  these  little  owls  are  not  often  seen,  there  is  not  a  garden 
of  any  size  in  Persia  which  does  not  contain  a  couple,  at  least,  which 
make  night  hideous  with  their  melancholy  cry.  The  immense  cypress 
trees  in  the  gardens  of  Shirdz  swarm  with  Scops  owls.  They  leave 
the  plateau  in  winter,  returning  in  March ;  at  least,  I  shot  one,  which 
was  evidently  quite  tired,  out  of  a  tamarisk  tree,  near  Bushire,  on  the 
15th  of  that  month.  It  was  apparently  in  a  phase  of  plumage  inter- 
mediate between  the  grey  and  rufous. — O.  St.  J.] 


88.  Otus  vulgaris,  (Flem.) 

I  9.  Foot  of  the  Elbarz  inountainB,  50  miles 

south  of  the  CaspiAn,  near  Resht  . .     November. 

This  bird  was  obtained  by  Men^tries  in  the  forests  of  Lankor&n, 
and  by  Major  St.  John  near  Shirdz.  It  is  found  in  the  north-west 
Himalayas  and,  in  winter,  in  the  Panjdb. 

[I  got  two  specimens  of  this  bird  in  localities  widely  apart,  though 
not  very  dissimilar  in  character.  The  first  was  shot  in  the  willow 
jungle  which  covers  the  broad  bed  of  the  little  river  Kdrd-agatch,  in 
Firs,  about  6000  feet  above  the  sea.  My  companion,  who  killed  it, 
took  it  for  a  woodcock.  The  second  was  procured  by  my  collector  in 
a  clump  of  the  poplar  willow  on  the  banks  of  the  Shahrud,  about  fifty 
miles  from  the  Caspian.  Both  places  are  a  dozen  miles  from  anything 
like  forest. — O.  St.  J.] 


89.  *  O.  brachyotus,  (Gm.) 

I  did  not  meet  with  the  short-eared  owl,  but  it  has  been  observed 
by  Major  St.  John.  According  to  Menetries,  it  is  common  in  the 
Caucasus. 

[I  only  once  came  across  this  bird  in  Persia,  and  then  in  considerable 
numbers.  Early  in  March  1867,  I  was  in  camp  about  twenty  miles 
from  Bushire.  Riding,  about  noon,  through  a  plain  covered  with 
scanty  dwarf  vegetation,  I  put  up  first  one  and  then  several  owla, 


AVES.  117 

which  were  apparently  so  tired  that  they  hardly  took  the  trouble  to 
get  out  of  the  horse's  way.  On  returning  to  camp,  an  hour  or  so 
afterwards,  I  went  out  with  my  gim  and  secured  a  specimen,  finding 
the  flock  in  the  same  place.  There  were  twenty  at  least.  The  next 
day  not  one  was  to  be  found.  They  were  probably  resting  after  their 
flight  across  the  Gulf  from  Arabia,  having  alighted  in  the  first  dry 
place  they  found  after  reaching  the  shore.  I  am  not  sure  of  having 
seen  the  short-eared  owl  anywhere  else  in  Persia,  but  I  have  put  up  an 
owl  more  than  once  while  shooting  amongst  reeds,  which  may  have 
belonged  to  this  species. — O.  St.  J.] 


40.  Athene  glaux,  (Sav.) — De  F. 

Noctuaglaux,  Sav.  Descr.  Egypte,  p.  459,  PI.  XII,  (1809);  Oiseaux  d'Egypte, 

p.  105,  (1810). 
Strix  Persica,  Vieil.  Nouv.  Diet,  vii,  p.  26,  (18 17). 
Athene  meridionalUt  auct.  (nee  Eisso,  conf.  Salvador!,  Fauna  d'  Italia,  pt.  ii, 

Uccelli,  p.  30). 
A.  noctua,  var.  Pertica  (L.  Bp.),  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  345. 
A.  Bactrianuit  Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  B.  1847,  xvi,  p.  776. 

I,  2  d.  Nirfz,  east  of  Shir4z      ..  ..  5500      ..     June  2. 

if  4  it  5  ?•  Sbirdz         . .  . .  . .  . .         4500     . .     June. 

6  d.  Yazdikhdst,  between  Shiraz  and  Isfah&n  7000      ..      July  i. 

I  much  doubt  whether  this  bird  is  the  same  as  that  described  from 
Sw6t  in  Afghdnistdn  by  Mr.  Hume  (Scrap  Book^  part  i,  no.  2,  p.  407, 
note.)  The  latter  was  smaller  (wing  5  in.  only),  and,  from  the  description, 
greyer  above,  *  with  grejrish  white  blotches  on  the  head,  nape,  and  base 
of  the  neck.'  In  A,  glaux  there  are  elongate  white  spots  on  the  head 
and  nape,  whilst  broad  white  rather  irregular  spots  form  a  half  collar 
on  the  back  of  the  neck.  Then  in  Mr.  Hume^s  bird  the  tail  has  three 
conspicuous,  narrow,  transverse,  greyish  white  bands  visible,  and  a 
fourth  nearly  hidden  by  the  upper  tail  coverts.  In  A,  glaux  there  are 
four  rather  broad,  imperfect,  rufous  white  bands  on  the  tail.  There 
are  several  minor  differences  in  the  colouring  of  the  head,  and  no 
mention  is  made  of  the  conspicuous  white  or  whitish  spots  on  the 
mantle.  On  the  other  hand,  the  description  of  Mr.  Blyth's  A,  Bac* 
triana,  1.  c,  agrees  exactly  with  my  specimens  from  Persia,  and  with 
one  from  Egypt  lent  to  me  by  Mr.  Dresser  for  comparison,  although 
the  species  is  classed  as  distinct  by  Oray  in  his  '  Handlist.' 

A,  nudij)€Sy  Hodgs.,  of  which  specimens  exist  in  the  British  Museum, 


1 1 8  ZOO  LOG  7  OF  FEES  I  A . 

appears  distinct  from  A.  glaux.  In  the  former  the  toes  are  feathered 
above  to  the  base  of  the  claws.  I  do  not  think  Hodgson's  species  has 
ever  been  described. 

A.  glavx  is  common  on  the  Persian  highlands,  keeping  mostly  to 
rocks,  especially  masses  of  rock  isolated  in  a  plain,  or  to  the  rained 
buildings  of  unbaked  brick,  which  are  so  common  throughout  Persia. 
It  lives  in  holes  during  the  day,  and  may  often  be  seen  in  the  early 
morning  and  in  the  evening  sitting  upon  rocks  or  walls.  It  is  rather 
gregarious,  five  or  six  being  often  seen  together,  and,  like  others  of  the 
genus,  is  much  more  diurnal  than  most  owls  in  its  habits. 

[These  owlets  are  found  in  such  dissimilar  situations,  that  I  can- 
not help  thinking  there  must  be  two  species  at  least.  The  great 
desert  plains  of  the  interior  abound  with  small  owls  of  this  genus^ 
which  occasionally  breed  in  holes  in  the  ground,  but  oftener  in  fissures 
in  rocks.  I  once  shot  a  pair  perched  on  a  stone  which  projected  through 
the  snow  on  the  plain  of  Dehbid,  nearly  8ooo  feet  above  the  sea.  The 
same,  or  more  probably  an  allied  species,  is  found  in  ruined  houses,  and 
other  such  congenial  resorts,  quite  down  to  the  shores  of  the  Gulf.— ^ 
O.  St.  J.] 

41.  *  A.  noctua,  (Eetz.) 

Strix  pasterina,  Gm.  apud  Mdn.  Cat.  Bais.  No.  41,  p.  28. 

Common  at  Lankordn,  according  to  Menetries.  It  is  not  probable 
that  A.  glaux  is  found  in  forests,  and  I  think  it  very  likely  that  the 
common  European  little  owl  replaces  it  in  the  Caspian  provinces. 

A. passerina^  (L.)  and  S^mia  ulula^  (L.),  both  of  which  are  recorded  by 
Eichwald  from  the  shores  of  the  Caspian,  probably  inhabit  Ghildn  and 
Mazandar&n. 

42.  A.  Brama,  (Temm). 

1  9'  Kalagin,  Baliichist^  . .         3500      . .     March  9. 

2  9>  Bampiir,  BaliichiRtdn       . .  . .  2003      . .      April  6. 

This  little  Indian  ow^l  is  not  abundant  in  Baluchistan,  and  appears 
only  to  occur  in  well  wooded  localities.  It  is  doubtless  one  of  the 
Indian  forms,  extending  along  the  coast  and  its  neighbourhood  to  the 
Persian  Gulf,  and  it  is  replaced  on  the  Persian  highlands  by  A,  glaux, 
the  habits  of  which  are  quite  di£Perent,  it  being  apparently  a  rock- 
haunting  bird. 


AVBS.  119 

Although  it  is  thus  evident  that  A.  Brama  extends  for  some  distance 
to  the  west  of  India,  my  researches  confirm  Mr.  Blyth^s  opinion 
(Ihis,  1866,  p.  257),  that  Dr.  Jerdon  was  in  error  in  supposing  that  its 
range  extends  to  *  Persia  and  other  parts  of  Asia,'  if  Persia  proper, 
i.  e.  the  high  country,  was  meant.  It  is  rather  curious  to  find  that 
Mr.  Blyth,  in  his  note,  speaks  of  the  asserted  occurrence  of  Noctua 
Indiea  (  =  J.  Brama)  at  Erzeroum  as  the  only  authority  for  noting  the 
bird  from  Persia.  It  is  not  likely  that  Mr.  Blyth  would  forget  that 
Erzeroum  is  in  Turkey,  although  it  was  at  one  time  a  popular  delu- 
sion amongpst  ornithologists  that  this  town  was  Persian. 

I  cannot  learn  that  any  true  Strix  has  been  seen  in  Persia,  though 
one  might  be  expected  to  occur.  Ketiipa  Cej/loneiisisy  too,  which  has 
been  found  in  Palestine  and  India,  should  be  looked  for.  The  snowy 
owl,  Nyctea  Scandiaca^  L.,  w^as  recorded  from  Astrakhan  by  Pennant, 
and  it  has  lately  been  obtained  by  Mr.  Hume  from  the  frontiers  of  the 
Panjdb.  If  the  bird  obtained  at  the  last  named  locality  be  correctly 
identified,  this  species  probably  inhabits  Northern  Persia  also. 


Order    INSESSORES. 

Sub-Order  COCCYGES. 

Family   CUCULIDiE. 
43.  Cuoulus  oanorus,  L. — De  F. 

I  ^.  Mashfsh,  south-west  of  Karmdn,  Southern  Persia   7500  ..  May  21 

2,  3  d,  4  young  9.  Near  Sliiriz       . .          . .          . .          5000  . .  May. 

5  young  ^.  Shir&z                 ..          ..          ..                     475^  *•  June. 

6  young.  Near  Sarvistin,  east  of  Shiraz    ..          ..          6000  ..  June  5. 

7  young  i,  ShirAz                 . .                      . .          . .          4500  . .  July. 

The  common  cuckoo  abounds  in  parts  of  Persia,  and  must  breed 
early.  I  saw  a  cuckoo,  and  heard  the  well-known  note  repeatedly 
amongst  the  Baluchistdn  hills,  in  a  region  almost  devoid  of  trees,  in 
the  months  of  February  and  March,  at  an  elevation  of  from  2000 
to  4000  feet  above  the  sea.  The  first  cuckoo  was  heard  near  the 
Nihing  river  on  the  i8th  of  February.  I  scarcely  think  it  probable, 
however,  that  these  birds  were  breeding  so  early,  or  that  they  selected 


120  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

a  place  so  singularly  devoid  of  bird  life  in  general  as  were  the  hills  on 
the  Nihing  river.  I  am  rather  inclined  to  suspect  that  all  seen  in 
Baluchistan  migrated  about  March  to  the  Persian  highlands,  for 
after  first  meeting  with  them,  I  observed  few  or  none  until  after 
passing  Karmdn  in  the  beginning  of  May.  Thence  to  Shir&z  they 
were  common,  and  many  doubtless  breed  on  the  wooded  hill  sides  and 
valleys  of  Fdrs,  for  I  procured  one  young  bird  in  June,  and  Major 
St.  John,  at  Shiriz,  obtained  several  in  May,  Jone^  and  July. 
Throughout  the  comparatively  bare  Persian  table  land  from  Shir&s 
to  Tehrdn  I  occasionally  saw  cuckoos  in  and  about  gardens^  but  in 
the  valleys  of  the  Elburz  mountains,  north  of  Tehran,  they  abounded 
to  an  extent  I  have  never  seen  elsewhere.  One  or  two  birds  appeared 
to  haunt  each  one  of  the  rows  of  poplars  which  are  planted  every- 
where in  the  bottoms  of  the  valleys,  where  there  is  sufficient  soil  for 
cultivation. 

[As  may  be  supposed,  the  cuckoo  is  common  all  over  Persia,  the 
southern  parts  of  which  it  probably  does  not  leave  during  the  winter. 
I  heard  one  calling  in  the  lower  hills,  near  the  sea,  on  the  25th  of 
January,  and  shot  a  bird  in  the  brown  plumage  at  Kohrud,  7500 
feet  above  the  sea,  and  500  miles  from  it,  in  the  first  week  in 
April.— O.  St.  J.] 

44.  Coccystes  glandarius,  (L.) 

I.  Sarvistfin,  coist  of  Shiruz,  Southern  Persia       ..         5000     ..      June  7. 

I  only  saw  the  great  spotted  cuckoo  on  one  occasion  ;  three  or  four 
were  together  in  some  large  willow  trees  on  the  banks  of  a  kan&t 
(irrigation  channel)  just  outside  the  village  of  Sarvistdn.  They  were 
rather  wary,  but  Major  St.  John  was  fortunate  enough  to  secure  one 
specimen. 

[Sometimes  this  cuckoo  is  extremely  abundant  in  favourable 
places  throughout  Southern  Persia ;  in  other  years  again,  I  have  not 
noticed  one.  During  the  two  summers  that  I  had  a  collector,  I 
was  unable  to  procure  a  single  specimen,  though  I  tried  hard  in 
places  where  I  had  seen  many  in  former  years.  The  thick  willow 
and  *  sinjit '  jungles  in  the  beds  of  streams  api>ear  to  be  its  favourite 
resorts.  In  the  summer  of  1864  there  were  dozens  breeding  about 
the  Kilrd-agatch  river,  twenty  miles  west  of  Shiraz.  Here,  when 
superintending  the  erection  of  the  telegraph,  I  had  a  good  opportunity 


AVES, 


121 


of  observing  their  habits.  I  first  saw,  them  early  in  May.  They 
probably  do  not  pair,  as  several  males  were  often  seen  pursuing  a 
single  female;  and,  from  the  continual  quarrelling  which  went  on 
between  them  and  the  swarms  of  magpies^  which  breed  in  the  same 
locality,  I  fancy  that  the  latter  were  resenting  the  intrusion  of  the 
cuckoos'  eggs  in  their  nests.  The  magpie  is^  perhaps,  the  natural 
stepmother  of  the  young  spotted  cuckoos,  the  eggs  of  the  two  birds 
being  similar.  The  pext  and  the  following  year,  though  I  was  fre- 
quently in  the  same  spot,  I  saw  no  cuckoos,  but  in  1867  I  remarked 
them  again  about  the  K6r&-agatch,  and  also  in  the  jungly  bed  of  the 
Polvar,  further  north  ;  after  which  I  saw  none  till  with  Mr.  Blanford, 
when  I  shot  one  out  of  a  few  willow  trees  near  Sarvistan. — O.  St.  J.] 

Family  ALCEDINID^. 


5000  . 

Feb.  9. 

1800 

Jan. 

3750  • 

Jan. 

^■"^       • 

Dec.  16. 

45.  Halcyon  Smymensis,  (L.) — De  F. 

1,29.  PfBhln,  Baliichist&n 

3  9.  Khisht,  50  miles  north-eaat  of  Bushire 

4  9.  K&znin,  between  Khisht  and  Shiriz 

5  9.  Basrah  (BuHSorah) 

De  Filippi  only  obtained  this  bird  from  Shiraz,  and  it  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  found  hitherto  in  Northern  Persia.  In  Southern 
Persia  and  Baluchistan  it  appears  to  be  found  not  unfrequently, 
wherever  there  are  trees  in  any  number. 

[This  kingfisher  is  not  uncommon  in  Southern  Persia,  ascending 
to  considerable  altitudes.  I  have  seen  it  in  winter  in  the  valley 
of  Dashtiarjan,  6500  feet  above  the  sea.  It  is  numerous  in  the 
swampy  palm  groves  of  the  lower  valleys,  but  does  not  appear  to  be 
so  fond  of  gardens  as  in  India.  I  have  not  noticed  it  north  of  Shirdz 
in  Persia,  but  it  occurs  in  Mesopotamia. — O.  St.  J.] 

46.  Alcedo  ispida,  L. — Dc  F. 

I,  2  ^.  Pfshfn,  Baluchistan, 

3  ^,  4  9.  Kalagdn,  Baluchistan 

5  9.  Shir&z 

6,  7  young.  Near  Shir&z 

8.  Isfah&n  . .         .  • 

9  ^,  10  9  (both  youog).  Isfahdn 

Mr.  Hume  (Stray  Feathers,   i,  pp.  44 


500  .. 

Feb.  II. 

3500  .. 

March  18 

4500  . 

0) 

6000 

(?) 

5000  . 

0) 

5000  . 

July  10. 

168)  has  already  pointed 


122  ZOOLOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

out  that  the  Sind  kingfisher  is  A.  ispida,  and  not  A.  Bengalensii^ 
although  the  latter  is  found  at  Maskat,  in  Arabia,  near  the  entrance 
to  the  Persian  Gulf,  a  circumstance  which  was  mentioned  to  me  by 
Major  St.  John,  and  has  also  been  noticed  by  Mr.  Hume.  Every 
specimen  obtained  in  Balucbist&n  and  Persia  appears  to  me  clearly 
to  belong  to  the  European  species*. 

[^Alcedo  ispida  is  the  commonest  kingfisher  in  Persia,  and  is  found 
everywhere,  in  suitable  localities,  from  the  Caspian  Sea  to  the  Persian 
Oulf.  I  thought  at  one  time  that  those  found  in  the  south  were 
referable  to  A.  Bevgalenais^  and  I  still  believe  that  those  so  numerous 
under  the  cHfis  about  Maskat  are  of  that  species. — O,  St.  J.] 

47.  Ceryle  rudis,  (L). 

i»  2  ^,  3  9.  Near  Shir&z  ..  ..  ..         6ooo     ..     August. 

4  d.  Khisht,  50  miles  north-east  of  Bushire  . .  1800     . .     Jan. 

5  i.  Basrah  (Bussorah)        ..  . .         . .  —  Dec.  19. 

Rare  in  Persia.  The  only  place  where  I  saw  it  common  was  at 
Basrah^  on  the  Shat-el-Arab  (Euphrates'  estuary),  which  is  outside 
Persian  territory.  Though  found  near  the  Black  Sea,  this  bird  has 
not,  so  far  as  I  know,  been  observed  on  the  Caspian. 

[Ceryle  rudis  is  the  rarest  kingfisher  in  Persia,  though  seen  oc- 
casionally on  the  rivers  of  both  South  and  North.  In  Central  Persia 
I  have  only  remarked  it  on  the  canals  about  Isfah&n. — O.  St.  J.] 


Family  MEROPIDiE. 
48.  Merops  apiaster,  L. — De  F. 

IS  Near  Karmdn,  South-eastern  Persia  . .  ..  5800  May  17. 

2  9.  Near  Niriz,  east  of  Shiraz                  . .  . .  5000  . .  June  5. 

3f  4f  S»  6  ,j,  7,  8  9.  Shirdz . .  4750  . .  June. 

9,  10  $.  Isfah&n        ..  ..  5000  ..  Sept. 

The  common  European  bee-eater  is  a  summer  migrant  in  Persia, 
and  during  the  warm  months  it  abounds  throughout  the  highlands. 
I  met  with  it  first  in  Baluchistdn,  on  the  9th  of  April ;  but  there,  as 
in  Sind,  it  is,  I  suspect,  only  a  bird  of  passage,  and  its  breeding 

*  Dr.  J.  Anderson,  in  the  Ibis,  1871,  p.  37a,  on  Major  St.  John's  authority,  quoted 
the  oocurrence  of  A.  Bengalenais  at  Shiriz.  A  comparison  of  Bpedmens,  however,  ahows 
that  the  name  was  applied  by  mistake  to  the  young  of  A»  ispida. 


A  VES,  123 

quarters  are  farther  north,  but  large  numbers  undoubtedly  remain 
during  the  summer,  and  breed  on  the  Persian  highlands.  The 
same  remark  applies  to  the  next  bird,  and  to  Coracias  garrula, 
none  of  these  species  being  found  in  India  in  the  winter,  although 
they  traverse  Baluchist&n,  Sind,  and  occasionally  North-western 
India  in  the  spring  and  autumn^,  so  that  it  is  probable  that  all  of 
them  pass  the  colder  months  of  the  year  in  Arabia  or  Africa,  and 
their  line  of  migration  crosses  at  right  angles  that  of  such  species 
as  Empiza  welanocephala  and  Coturnix  communis^  which,  as  will  here- 
after be  shown,  resort  to  India  in  the  winter,  and  breed  in  the  Persian 
highlands. 

[I  have  more  than  once,  when  in  camp  between  Shirdz  and  the 
sea,  seen  large  flocks  of  bee-eaters  making  their  way  northwards 
about  the  end  of  March.  They  are  common  throughout  the  summer 
at  all  elevations  between  2500  and  6000  feet,  breeding  generally 
in  the  irrigation  shafts  or  kandts,  in  company  with  sparrows, 
pigeons,  and  rollers. — O.  St.  J.] 

49.  M,  iBgyptiuSy  Forsk.— -De  F. 

Forskal.  Descr.  An.  p.  i. 

M,  PeniciiSt  Pall.  Reise,  App.  p.  708. — Zoogr.  Ros.  As.  1,  p.  440. — De  F. 

Viag.  in  Pen.  p.  346. 
M,  tuperciluMus,  Finsch,  Jour.  f.  Om.  1867,  p.  239. — ^Tr.  Z.  S.  vii,  p.  223. — 

W.  Blanf.  Geol.  Zool.  Abyssinia,  p.  321  :  nee  Linn. 

I,  2  ^.  West  of  Bampiir,  Baluchistan  . .  1600  ..  April  8. 

3  ^.  Big^n,  Narmashir,  south-east  of  Bampiir  2500  . .  April  x8. 

4  ,;  (immature).  Shir&z  ..  ..  47oo  ..  June. 

5  dt  6,  7  9  (immature).  Shirdz  ..  ..  4700  ..  Summer. 

I  believe  that  both  Dr.  Finsch  and  I  were  in  error  in  considering 
this  bird  identical  with  M,  mperciUoms^  L.,  for  on  comparison  with 
specimens  from  Madagascar,  whence  Linnaeus's  type  was  derived,  there 
appears  to  be  a  well  marked  difference.  The  adult  bird  from  Mada- 
gascar has  a  much  more  ferruginous  brown  tinge  on  the  head  and 
upper  back,  and  scarcely  any  blue  on  the  supercilia,  sides  of  throat 
below  the  dark  eye  streak,  rump,  upper  and  lower  tail  coverts,  and 
abdomen.     The   long  central   tail   feathers,  too,  in  M.  sujperciliostia 

^  I  do  not  know  if  these  birds  ever  breed  in  India ;  perhaps  a  few  may  do  so,  but 
doubtless  the  majority  pass  on  to  higher  latitudes. 


124  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

are  much  more  gradually  attenuate,  and  considerably  longer  than  in 
M.  jE(ji/ptlu9,     The  following  are  measurements : — 

Length  of  tail  Central 

to  end  of  central  rectrices  beyond 

rectrices.  next  pair. 

Persia  (2  adults  measured). .  . .  5.6  to  5.7  . .  2.0  to  ^.07 

Egypt  (5  adults  measured) . .         ..         4.85  to  5.27         ..         1. 5  to  2.1 

Madagascar  (x  adult  measured)     ..  6.3  ..  a.8 

Immature  specimens  of  the  two  forms  appear  undistinguishable,  but 
young  examples  of  the  very  distinct  M.  PAilipj)inuSy  L.,  can  only  be 
recognised  by  their  blue  tail. 

I  found  Meroj)8  JEt/^ptius  in  great  abundance  in  the  country 
north-west  of  Bampur  in  Baluchistdn,  and  in  Narmashir,  the  Persian 
district  traversed  on  the  road  from  Bampur  to  Bam,  in  the  second  and 
third  week  of  April  1872.  The  birds  were  evidently  migrating,  and 
all  which  I  shot  were  in  sui)erb  plumage.  Hume  remarks  (Stray 
Feathers,  i,  p.  167)  that  large  numbers  are  seen  in  Sind  at  particular 
seasons,  probably  in  the  same  manner,  when  migrating,  and  the  bird 
has  been  observed  as  far  east  as  Aligarh  (Ibis,  1872,  p.  203).  On  the 
Persian  highlands  I  seldom  saw  this  species,  M>  apiaster  being  very 
much  more  abundant ;  but  a  few  miles  from  Tehran,  on  the  22nd  of 
August,  I  came  upon  a  large  scattered  flock  of  M,  jEgyptiu9f  chiefly 
consisting  of  young  birds.  The  place  was  a  somewhat  barren  plain, 
with  a  few  scattered  shrubs  and  herbaceous  plants,  and  the  birds 
settled  on  the  ground,  occasionally  flying  up  to  pursue  insects.  They 
may  have  been  migrating,  or  preparing  to  migrate.  De  Filippi  ob- 
tained specimens  at  Midna  and  Nikbeg,  between  Kazvin  and  Tabriz, 
and  Menetries  saw  it  on  the  banks  of  the  Kur,  in  the  Transcaucasian 
provinces  of  Russia,  a  little  north  of  the  Persian  frontier. 

[This  is  much  rarer  than  the  last  species.  It  arrives  from  Arabia 
somewhat  later  in  the  season,  and  many  appear  to  remain  and  breed 
about  the  coast,  which  M.  apm^ter  does  not. — O.  St.  J.] 

60.  M.  viridis,  L.— De  F. 

I,  2  9.  Gwudar,  Baliichistiin  coast  ..        '  . .         ..           —  . .  Dec 

3  9.  Gwodar,  Baliichistdn  co.ast      ..          ..                       —  ..  Jan.  17. 

4  9.  Dasht  river,  near  Gwatar  Bay,  Baliichistdn           —  . .  Jan.  a6. 

5  <;.  Bampiir,  Baluchistan  ..          ..          *.          ..  2000  ..  April  5. 

6  9.  Khisht,  50  miles  north-east  of  Bushire          ..  1800  ..  Jan. 

7  9.  Bushire —  ..  Jan. 

This  Indian  species  is  of  course  non-migratory,  and  is  only  found  in 


AVES.  125 

the  lowlands  of  Southern  Persia  and  Baluchistan.  All  the  specimens 
have  a  distinctly  blue  chin  and  throat,  and  in  this  respect  agree  with 
the  Indian  race  (if.  iorquatu^y  Hodg^.),  whilst  the  upper  plumage 
resembles  that  of  the  African  Jf.  viridminm^^  there  being  in  no  case 
the  ferruginous  tint  on  the  head  seen  in  many  Indian  specimens.  As 
a  rule,  Indian  birds  have  a  decidedly  longer  bill  than  those  from 
Egypt,  and  in  this  respect  all  Persian  and  Baluchistan  specimens 
agree  with  Egyptian. 

\Mer0p9  viridis  is  common  on  the  coast,  and  in  the  neighbouring 
valleys  up  to  aooo  feet.     It  extends  to  Basrah. — O.  St.  J.] 


Family  CORACIADiE. 
51.  Coraoias  garrula,  L. — De  F. 

1  ^.  North-west  of  Bampur,  BaldcLiatdn  ..  1000  ..  April  13. 

2  young  ^.  Shir&z  ..  ..  ..  ..  4750  ..  June. 

3  young  ^.  Shiriz  ..  ..  ..  ..  5000  ..         — 

4  4$.  K4znin,  west  of  Sbir&K        ..  ..  2750  ..  May. 

5  young  i,  6  9.  Ekifd,  between  Shirdz  and  Isfa1i4n  6700  ..         — 

6  young  (J.  lafahun  ..  ..  ..  5000  ..  July  10. 

The  European  roller  is  a  migratory  bird  in  Persia,  arriving  in  the 
spring  and  breeding  on  the  highlands.  In  Baluchistdn,  which 
country  it  traverses  in  the  same  manner  as  Merops  ajpia^ter  and  M, 
Mgyptiu%  do,  I  first  saw  it  on  the  plains  near  Bampiir,  in  the  second 
week  in  April.  I  doubt  if  it  remains  there  to  breed.  Most  probably  both 
this  roller  and  the  two  bee-eaters  cross  the  hot  regions  near  the  shores 
of  the  Indian  Ocean  and  the  Persian  Gulf,  and  betake  themselves  to 
the  highlands  of  Central  Asia,  Persia,  AfghfinistAn,  Turkestdn,  etc.  So 
far  as  I  know,  none  remain  in  Southern  Persia  in  the  winter,  all  cross 
over  into  Arabia.  Whether  they  remain  there  or  continue  their 
journey  to  Africa  we  shall  probably  learn  when  some  adventurous  orni- 
thologist explores  the  oases  of  Central  Arabia,  the  hills  and  valleys  of 
Om&n,  and  the  palm  groves  of  the  coast  north  of  Maskat.  I  did  not 
notice  any  rollers  at  Basrah  in  December,  but  the  chilly  climate  of 
Mesopotamia  at  that  season  is  ill  suited  for  a  purely  insectivorous 
bird,  and  it  is  far  more  probable  that  this  species  would  be  met  with 
in  the  extensive   date  palm  groves  which   line   many  parts  of  the 


1 26  ZOO  LOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

Arabian  coast  in  the  Gulf  of  Om&n  and  the  Persian  Gulf,  just  as  C. 
Indica  inhabits  those  on  the  Persian  shores  of  the  same  seas. 

I  believe  that  C.  garrula  in  Persia  usually  nidificates  in  holes  in 
banks,  and  sometimes  perhaps  in  the  mud  walls  which  enclose  all  the 
houses  and  gardens  of  Persian  cities.  Many  observers,  e.g.  Tristram 
in  Palestine,  Finsch,  Lilford,  and  Lindermayer  in  Greece  and  Turkey, 
have  noted  instances  of  nests  made  by  this  bird  in  banks  and  walls. 
Near  Shirdz,  at  the  beginning  of  June,  I  saw  a  pair  engaged  about  a 
hole  in  a  bank,  in  which  they  appeared  to  have  a  nest.  The  hole 
was  deep  and  I  could  not  wait  to  excavate  sufficiently  to  ascertain  if  it 
contained  eggs  or  young.  Outside  the  Armenian  quarter  of  Julfa,  at 
Isfah&n,  there  are  miles  of  high  walls  made  of  earth  which  enclose  aban- 
doned gardens,  and  upon  these  walls  in  July  young  rollers  abounded, 
whilst  I  did  not  notice  any  on  the  trees  in  the  city.  In  many  places 
these  birds  were  by  no  means  wary  ;  but  when  they  were  migrating  in 
Baluchistdn,  I  saw  many  and  pursued  several  before  I  could  secure  a 
specimen. 

[The  common  roller  seems  to  leave  Persia  altogether  in  the  winter, 
reappearing  in  Bushire,  on  its  way  north,  about  the  end  of  March  or 
beginning  of  April.  It  is  found  in  the  summer  all  over  Persia,  at  all 
habitable  altitudes,  generally  breeding  in  ruined  mud  walls,  or 
kandts. — O.  St.  J.] 

62.  C.  Indica,  L.— De  F. 

I  $.  Pfshfn,  Baluchistin  .. 

1  $.  Ghi8tig4n,  Bampasht,  B&liichistdn . . 

3  $.  Khisht,  50  miles  north-east  of  Bushire 

The  Indian  roller  inhabits  somewhat  sparingly  the  countries  of 
Southern  Persia  and  Baluchist&n  which  are  below  the  level  of  about 
3000  feet  above  the  sea,  its  range  in  these  countries  being  nearly  the 
same  as  that  of  the  date  palm.  De  Filippi,  on  the  authority  of  the 
Marchese  Doria,  gives  as  its  habitat,  in  Persia,  '  beyond  Isfahan  in  the 
region  of  the  palms;'  but  no  palms  are  met  with  so  far  north  as 
Is&h6n,  except  on  the  edge  of  the  salt  desert  north  of  Yezd,  and  I 
think  that  beyond  (i.  e.  south  of)  Shirdz  would  more  accurately 
represent  the  range  of  the  bird.  It  extends  west  as  far  as  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Bushire.  Whether  it  is  found  at  the  extreme  north  end 
of  the  Persian  Gulf,  or  on  the  south-west  coast  of  the  Gulf  in  Arabia, 
I  cannot  say. 


500    . 

Feb.  7. 

3000    . 

March  i. 

1800    . 

Jail. 

AVES.  127 

On  the  few  occasions  on  which  I  saw  this  roller  in  Baluchist&n,  it 
was  on  date  palms.  It  is  of  course  non-migratory,  the  region  which  it 
inhabits  being  sufficiently  warm  to  furnish  a  supply  of  insect  food  at 
all  seasons. 

[Non-migratory  and  found  only  in  the  palm  groves  on  the  coasts 
and  in  the  neighbouring  valleys.  About  Ddliki  and  Khisht  both 
species  of  roller  are  abundant  in  spring  and  summer^  the  European 
bird  spending  its  winter  in  Arabia,  while  C.  ludica  remains  at  home. 
In  these  places  I  have  shot  a  great  many  specimens  in  the  hope  of 
finding  a  hybrid,  but  without  success. —  O.  St.  J.] 


Family  CAPRIMULGIDiE. 
58.  Caprimulgus  Europeeusy  L. 

1,2^.  Near  Bam,  South-eastern  Persia           . .  3000  ..  April  20. 

3  9.  Saijin,  Bouth-west  of  Karman        ..          ..  5700  ..  May  29. 

4  9.  Oak  forest  near  Shir&z        . .                     . .  6000  . .  June. 

5  d.  Near  Shir4z  . .          . .                      . .          . .  7500  . .  — 

6  i.  Karij  valley,  N.of  Tehr&n,  Elburz  mountains  70CO  . .  Aug.  10. 
7.  9.  Karij  valley ..          ..          ..  7000  ..  Aug.  15. 

?  8.  young  9.  Karij  valley ..  ..  ..  7000     . .     Aug.  10. 

The  specimens  vary  much  in  colour.  Those  from  Northern  Persia 
agree  well  with  European  birds,  the  others  are  rather  paler,  and 
the  three  skins  from  Bam  and  Sarj&n  are  greyer  than  the  rest. 
One  skin  of  a  male  from  Bam  differs  so  much  from  typical  birds  that 
for  some  time  I  thought  it  distinct ;  the  prevailing  colour  above  and 
below  is  dusky  grey,  but  the  specimen  does  not  differ  in  its  markings 
or  dimensions  from  others. 

A  young  bird  from  the  Elburz  is  very  pale  coloured,  but  more 
rufous  than  the  other  specimens ;  there  is  a  similar  skin  from  Syria  in 
the  British  Museum. 

C.  Europaus  appears  to  extend  throughout  the  Persian  highlands,  at 
all  events  in  summer.  I  did  not  meet  with  it  in  Baluchist&n^  and  it 
probably  winters  in  Arabia. 

[I  once  obtained  a  specimen  of  the  common  nightjar  in  the  forest 
west  of  Shir&z,  at  an  altitude  of  7000  feet,  but  it  is  commoner  about 
gardens  and  irrigated  land,  though  nowhere  very  plentiful.— 
O.  St.  J-] 


128  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

64.  C.  iEgyptius,  Licht. 

Vera.  Doubl.  p.  69.— Shelley.  Birds  of  Egypt,  p.  175,  PL  VIII. 
C.isahellinuSt  Tern.  PL  Ck)L  379. 

1  ?.  Bampiir,  BaluchiBt&n     ..         ..         2000        ..         Aprils. 

This  is,  I  believe,  the  first  recorded  occurrence  of  this  species  in 
Asia.  The  specimen  does  not  differ  from  African  skins.  It  measures 
wing  8.25,  tail  5,  tarsus  0.95. 

55.  C.  Mahrattensis,  Sykes. 

P.  Z.  S.  1832,  p.  83. — Gould,  Birds  of  Asia,  pt.  ii. — Jerdon,  B.  I.  i,  p.  197. 
C.  UntPtnit  Hume,  Ibis,  18 71,  p.  406. 

I  9.  Bihii  Kal4t,  BaliicbisUn     . .     Near  sea  level      . .  Feb.  3. 

The  original  type  of  this  species,  like  the  remainder  of  Col.  Sykes's 
collection,  is  at  present  inaccessible,  but  my  specimen  agrees  well  with 
Gould's  figure  in  the  Birds  of  Asia  and  with  specimens  in  the  British 
Museum.  It  is,  I  think,  clearly  the  same  as  Hume's  C.  Unwini^  the 
only  difference  being  that  the  lower  tail  coverts  in  my  specimen,  a 
female,  are  not  barred,  but  uniform  buff,  as  in  the  male. 

The  Baluchistdn  bird  further  agrees  well  with  Jerdon's  description 
of  his  specimen  from  Caragola,  except  that  he  places  this  bird  in  a 
group  with  the  tarsus  bare.  I  cannot  help  suspecting  that  in  his 
specimen  the  nudity  of  the  tarsus  was  accidental;  certainly  in  the 
specimens  assigned  to  C.  Mahrattensis^  which  I  have  examined  in 
England,  the  tarsus  is  half-feathered.  I  think  it  may  have  been  this 
supposed  want  of  feathers  on  the  tarsus  in  C.  Mahrattensis  which 
caused  Mr.  Hume  to  redescribe  what  I  suspect  is  the  same  species 
as  C,  Unwini. 

The  dimensions  in  the  flesh  of  the  specimen  obtained  were,  length 
9.5,  expanse  21.75,  wing  7.1,  tail  4.5,  tarsus  0.9,  bill  from  gape 
1.3,  wings  extending  to  within  a  quarter  of  an  inch  of  the  end  of 
the  tail.  It  was  shot  in  a  barren  stony  ravine  on  the  side  of  a 
small  hill,  all  the  country  around  being  very  barren  and  desert* 

66.  C.  sp. 

I  9  (?).  Near  Sliir4z  . .  . .         6000 

I  am  unable  to  identify  this  with  any  known  form,  but  I  do  not 
like  to  give  a  new  name  to  a  single  female  specimen  in  so  diflBcnlt 
a  genus  as  Caprimul^ns.     The  following  is  a  description  of  the  skin :— 


A  YES,  129 

Oeneral  colouration  near  that  of  C.  Mgyptim^  but  rather  paler  and 
more  rufous^  the  markings  on  the  upper  parts  rather  indistinct.  Head 
above  and  back  light  greyish  rufescent  with  very  few  black  marks ; 
some  pale  rufescent  white  patches  on  the  wing  coverts ;  quills  brown 
with  large  rufous  blotches  forming  imperfect  transverse  bands  on 
both  webs^  not  mottled  on  the  first  primaries  except  near  the  tip, 
but  becoming  more  broken  up  on  the  last  primaries ;  secondaries 
more  or  less  mottled  throughout^  as  are  the  tips  of  the  primaries. 
Tail  feathers  pale  rufous,  the  central  rectrices  washed  with  silvery 
grey,  all  irregularly  spotted  with  brown,  and  with  narrow  flexuous 
and  irregular  brown  transverse  bands.  Lower  parts  isabelline^ 
throat  and  breast  with  narrow  transverse  brown  bars  and  a  white 
spot  in  the  middle  of  the  throat.  Tarsi  feathered  in  front  about 
half  way  down.     Wing  6.8,  tail  4.5,  tarsus  0.65. 

This  species  differs  from  C,  jEgyptius  and  C.  Mahrattemis  in  colour 
and  markings,  but  approaches  the  latter  in  size.  It  agrees  fSairly 
in  general  character  with  C.  inamatus,  Heugl.  from  the  Abyssinian 
coast  of  the  Bed  Sea;  but  it  differs  in  size^  being  considerably 
larger,  in  being  more  fulvous,  in  having  much  broader  and  larger 
rufous  bands  on  the  internal  webs  of  the  primaries^  and  in  being 
I)aler  beneath.  Still  it  may  prove  to  be  only  a  variety  of  the 
Abyssinian  species,  which  appears  to  vary  much  in  colouration, 
some  specimens  being  very  much  darker  than  others. 

[This  little  nightjar  was  shot  in  the  willow  jungle  in  the  bed  of 
the  Kfiri-agatch  river. — O.  St,  J.] 

Family  CYPSELIDJE. 
67.  Cypselus  apus,  (L.)— De  F. 

1  6.  Rigdn,  Narmashir,  South-eastern  Persia  2500     ..      April  18. 

2  ^.  Shir&z  ..  ..  ..         4750  June. 

3  $.  Shirdz         ..         ..  ..  .,  ..         475©     ..         — 

Locally  abundant  on  the  Persian  highlands  in  summer.  I  did  not  ob- 
serve it  in  Baluchistdn  before  April  the  2nd,  when  I  noticed  a  few  near 
Bampur,  but  Hume  saw  it  on  the  coast  in  February.  The  birds  which 
breed  on  the  highlands  of  Persia  must  go  to  Arabia  and  North-east 
Africa  in  the  winter. 

[Theconmion  swift  breeds  in  immense  numbers  in  particular  localities. 
About  the  city  of  Shir&z  it  is  especially  abundant.    Every  fine  evening, 

VOL.   II.  K 


1 30  ZOO  LOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

from  the  middle  of  April  till  the  end  of  October,  tne  air  above  the 
town  is  filled  with  swifts^  crossing  and  recrossing  in  everj  direction, 
chasing  the  insects  which^  towards  sunset,  rise  from  the  tanks  of  water 
which  occupy  the  middle  of  every  courtyard.  Nowhere  else  have  I 
seen  birds  in  such  numbers. — O.  St.  J.] 

68.  Cypselus  melba,  (L.) 

I  (},  a  9.  Near  Shirtfz  6ooo 

I  did  not  myself  meet  with  the  Alpine  swifb  in  Persia :  the  two 
specimens  obtained  having  both  been  collected  by  Major  St.  John. 

[Not  very  common.  I  have  noticed  it  more  frequently  about  the 
plain  of  Persepolis  than  elsewhere. — O.  St.  J.] 

69.  Cypselus  afliniSy  Gray. 

1, 1  i,  Paip4,  150  miles  east  of  Shiriz  . .         7000    ..     May  30. 

3  $.  M4yiii,  north  of  Shiriiz    . .         . .  5500    . .     Jane  14. 

The  common  Indian  swift  was  only  observed  on  a  very  few  occasions 
in  Southern  Persia ;  it  was  not  seen  by  me  either  in  Baluchist&n  or  in 
Northern  Persia.  Hume^  however,  met  vrith  it  on  the  Baluohistfin 
coast. 

Family  UPUPIDiE. 

60.  TJpupa  epopsy  L. — De  F. 

I  $.  Kalag&n,  Baliichistdn  

a  S'  J^,  Baliichist&n 

3  ^.  Shir&z  ..         ..  ..  ..  .. 

Not  very  common. 

SUBOKDEK     PICI. 

Family  PICID-fi. 

61.  Pious  SyriaouSy  Hemp,  and  Ehr.— De  F. 

Symbol.  Phys.  Aves,  fol.  r  (i8a8). — Sharpe  and  Dresser,  Birds  of  Europe,  pt.  ix. 
P.  Felicia,  Malh.  Monagr.  Pic.  i,  p.  1^7. 

P.  Hon,  De  Filippi,  Archir.  p.  1.  Zool.  Genova,  ii.  p.  585  ;  Yiaggio  in  "Fenhk, 
p.3So.— Salvadori,  Atti  Acad.  Tor.  1868,  iii,  p.  287. 

X  young  $.  Shix4z  5000        ..       — 

>«  3  ^1  4f  5f  6  9*  Oak  foreit,  near  Shir&z       ••  4000-7000  . .     June. 


3000    . 

March  11. 

3000    . 

March  17. 

4750  . 

June. 

AVES,  131 

7  (}.  Isfah&n  ..  ..  ..  5000      ..     July  10. 

8  ^y  9,  10  young  ^,11  young  $.  Kohnid,  north 

of  Is&h&n  ..  ..         ..  7^^^^^  July  18-9  a. 

I  a  young  $.  J4jinid  valley,  Elburz  mountains  7000  ..  August  7. 

1 3  young  i.  Karij  valley,  Elburz  mountains  7000  . .  August  16. 

14-17  $.  Near  Resht,  Ghllan —  ..  November. 

Sharpe  and  Dresser^  in  the  '  Birds  of  Europe/  have  shown  that 
P.  FelicuB  is  the  adult,  and  P.  khati  the  young,  of  P.  Syriucus,  and  I 
have  since  examined  the  types  of  the  two  latter  species,  at  Berlin  and 
Tarin  respectively,  and  confirmed  this  view.  The  identity  of  P.  kAan 
and  P.  S^riacus  had  been  previously  shown  by  Salvadori. 

There  is  but  little  to  be  added  to  the  description  of  this  bird  in  the 
*  Birds  of  Europe/  Skins  of  adults  from  Persia  usually  have  the  inter- 
Bcapulary  region  more  or  less  brown,  instead  of  glossy  blacky  and  the 
amount  of  white  on  the  outer  tail  feathers  varies  greatly.  Usually 
there  are  on  the  outermost  pair  two  imperfect  bars,  with,  not  unfre- 
quently,  an  additional  white  spot  above  on  the  outer  web^  but  the 
extent  of  the  bars  across  the  feathers  varies,  and  in  some  specimens 
the  white  is  almost  confined  to  the  spots  on  the  outer  web,  sometimes 
united  along  the  margin  of  the  feathers.  The  quantity  of  white  on 
the  next  pair  is  usually  less;  in  some  specimens  it  covers  only  the 
extreme  tip,  and  forms  a  narrow  fringe  about  half  an  inch  long  to  the 
outer  edge.  As  a  rule,  specimens  from  Southern  Persia  have  less  white 
on  the  rectrices ;  one  fine  male  from  Shir&z  has  none  on  the  penultimate 
pair,  and  only  two  minute  spots  on  the  exterior  web  of  the  outer  pair. 

This  woodpecker,  the  representative  of  P.  major  in  Western  Asia, 
appears  to  be  found  throughout  the  highlands  of  Persia.  I  did  not 
notice  it  to  the  east  of  Karmdn,  but  between  Karm&n  and  Shir&z  I 
saw  woodpeckers  more  than  once^  and  I  have  little  doubt  but  that 
they  belonged  to  the  present  species.  From  Shir&z  to  Tehr&n  it 
was  noticed  almost  wherever  trees  existed,  mostly,  of  course,  in  gardens 
and  orchards,  outside  of  which  trees  are  very  rarely  seen  in  this  part 
of  Persia.  It  was  very  common  in  the  valleys  of  the  Elburz  north 
of  Tehr&n,  and  Major  St.  John  obtained  it  in  the  forests  near  the 
Caspian. 

[This  is  the  common  woodpecker  of  Persia,  and  found  in  all  large 
gardens  from  Shirfiz  to  Tehran. — O.  St.  J.] 


K  7, 


132  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

62.  P.  Sindianus,  Oould. 

P.  8cindeanu8,  Gould ;  Horaf.  and  Moore,  Cat.  Mug.  £.  I.  C.  ii,  p.  671.— 
Jerdon,  Birds  of  India,  i,  p.  373. — Hume,  Ibb,  1870,  p.  529. — Jerdon,  Ibl8« 
187a,  p.  7. — Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  170;  Lahore  to  Yaikand,  PL  II. 

1,  li.  Bdhii  Kal4t,  Baliichist^  . .  —  Feb.  I,  a. 

3  $.  Aptar,  east  of  Bamptir,  Baliiohistin         ..         3000     . .     March  ax. 

4  9.  West  of  Bampiir [800     ..     April  8. 

In  the  original  description  of  this  species,  it  was  said  to  resemble 
P.  tnediiis,  L.,  and  this  was  quoted  by  Jerdon  (who  had  not  at  the  time 
seen  the  species)  in  the  '  Birds  of  India.'  He  then  placed  it  amongst 
the  Pici  with  plumage  banded  above,  a  classification  corrected  subse- 
quently (Ibis,  187a,  p.  7).  Mr.  Hume  has  correctly  identified  and 
figured  the  species.  The  specimens  in  the  British  Museum  were 
received  from  the  collection  of  the  East  India  Company,  and  were 
probably  some  of  the  types  collected  by  Dr.  Gould.  I  have  compared 
my  specimens  with  them. 

This  species  is  really  allied  to  P.  major  and  P.  Syriacus  rather  than 
to  P.  medius,  but  it  is  distinguished  from  them  by  having  the  whole 
crown  of  the  head  red  in  the  male.  The  female  is  very  much  like  the 
same  sex  in  P.  Syriacus,  but  distinguished  by  having  much  more  white 
on  the  outer  tail  feathers,  by  the  white  spots  on  the  quills  being  smaller, 
and  the  dimensions  altogether  less. 

The  following  is  a  description  of  P.  Sindianus  : — 

Male :  forehead,  lores,  and  sides  of  head  and  neck,  including  the 
supercilia  and  ear  coverts,  white^  more  or  less  stained^  on  the  forehead 
especially,  with  buff;  a  narrow  black  line  above  the  supercilia ;  crown 
mixed  red  and  black,  the  feathers  being  crimson  at  the  end,  followed 
by  a  narrow  black  bar^  and  dusky  at  the  base ;  a  black  band  runs  from 
the  lower  mandible  down  each  side  of  the  throaty  and  joins  the  back 
above  the  shoulder ;  from  this  band  a  rather  short  stripe  projects  on  to 
the  side  of  the  breast.  Back  and  rump  glossy  black,  often  with  a  brown- 
ish tinge,  scapularies  and  the  adjacent  wing  coverts  white,  remainder  of 
wing  coverts  black,  usually  with  a  few  white  spots,  quills  brownish 
black  with  white  spots  on  both  webs,  forming  white  wing  bars,  of 
which  there  are  four  on  the  primaries  and  three  on  the  secondaries 
beyond  the  ends  of  the  coverts,  including  one  band  just  along  the 
terminations  of  the  greater  coverts.  Tail  black,  the  two  outer  pairs 
of  rectrices  tipped  with  white,  and  banded  near  the  end ;  there  being 
generally  one  white  band  right  across  the  feather,  and  a  second  higher 


A  VES,  133 

up  and  more  or  less  imperfect ;  the  last  band  on  the  penultimate  pair  of 
rectrices  is  only  represented  by  a  white  spot  on  the  outer  web.  Usually 
there  is  a  little  white  about  the  end  of  the  third  pair  of  feathers  from 
the  outside.  Lower  parts  white,  with  a  few  faint  dusky  longitudinal 
streaks  on  the  abdomen  and  flanks^  middle  of  abdomen  and  lower  tail 
coverts  crimson.  Iris  dull  crimson ;  bill  blackish  above,  bluish  grey 
below;  legs  dusky  olive.  Dimensions  in  the  flesh:  length  8.5  to 
8.75  in.,  expanse  15.3  to  15.5,  wing  4.9  to  5,  tail  3,  culmen  1.35, 
tarsus  0.9^  length  of  foot  1.8,  closed  wing  short  of  end  of  tail  i  to  14. 

Females  have  the  crown  black  like  the  back,  and  no  crescentic  black 
band  on  the  sides  of  the  breast.  They  are  also  rather  smaller; 
wing  4.6,  tail  3.75. 

I  found  this  bird  on  tamarisk  trees  in  the  few  places  in  Baluchistan 
in  which  tree  jungle  was  met  with,  up  to  an  elevation  of  about '3000 
feet  above  the  sea. 


68.  P.  Sanoti  Johannis,  W.  Blanford,  PI.  IX. 

Ibis,  1873,  p.  aa6. 

If  3  (^  (^)«  3  ?•  O^^  forest,  near  Shir&z    ..    4000.7000     . .     June. 

P.  affinis  p.  medio,  sed  pileo  minus  rosea,  pectore  albo,  hand  fulvo ; 
abdomine  medio  fiavo,  crisso  subcaudalibusque  solis  coccineis;  pectoris 
lateribus  abdomineque  striis  nigris  angustioribus  signatis ;  rectricibus 
extimis  fascid  unicd  alba  mcdiocri  transversd,  nee  duahus  latis  iwtatis, 
penultimis  extus  albo  maculatis,  Jiaud /asciatis,  reliquis  omnino  nigris; 
remigibus  e  contrario  maculis  albis  majoribus  signatis.  Long,  oUb  4-75* 
Cauda  a.75,  tarsi  0.8,  culminis  i.i,  poll. 

Hab,  in  quercetis  prope  urbem  Shirdz  in  Persia  meridionali. 
Crown  of  the  head  scarlet,  less  crimson  than  in  P.  mediuSj 
forehead^  lores,  and  sides  of  the  head  white,  with  a  slight  isabelline 
tinge,  which  is  more  pronounced  on  the  forehead  ;  ear  coverts  greyish 
with  a  greyish  white  band  passing  from  behind  them  to  the  sides  of 
the  breast.  In  front  of  this  grey  region  is  a  sooty  black  band,  rather 
irregular  in  form,  terminating  in  an  imperfect  pectoral  gorget.  Nape 
and  hind  neck  brownish  black,  back  brown,  rump  and  upper  tail 
coverts  brownish  black.  Tail  dull  black,  without  any  white  on  the 
six  central  feathers,  the  penultimate  pair  with  two  white  spots  on  the 
outer,  and  one  on  the  inner  web,  the  latter  corresponding  with  one  of 
the  former,  but  not  united  with  it  as  in  P.  medius :  perhaps  in  fresh 


184 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 


monlt  these  feathers  may  have  a  white  tip,  of  which,  however,  no  trace 
remains  in  the  specimens  collected.  The  outermost  rectrioes  have  a 
white  tip,  a  rather  irregular  white  bar  about  half  an  inch  from  the 
end^  much  narrower  than  the  black  band  beyond  it,  and  one  or  two 
more  white  spots  on  one  or  both  webs  nearer  their  base.  Scapulars 
white ;  wing  coverts  brownish  black,  some  of  those  next  the  scapulars 
edged  and  tipped  with  white ;  quills  brownish  black,  with  white  spots 
on  both  margins,  those  on  the  outer  primaries  being  about  as  long  as 
the  intervening  black  spaces ;  altogether  these  spots  form  six  bands 
on  the  primaries  and  four  on  the  secondaries^  the  band  at  the  base 
being  partly  concealed  by  the  coverts.  These  bands  are  conspicuously 
broader  than  in  P.  medins.  Breast  dull  white,  with  imperfect  black 
gorget ;  sides  of  the  breast  and  flanks,  which  are  greyishj  and  the 
abdomen  with  narrow  long  dark  streaks ;  middle  of  abdomen  yellow  ; 
lower  abdomen,  vent,  and  under  tail  coverts  scarlet. 

It  is  probable  that  specimens  in  fresher  plumage  would  have  the 
upper  parts  darker,  and  the  back  blackish  brown,  as  in  P.  medins. 
The  three  specimens  examined,  though  in  good  condition,  have  the 
plumage  much  worn. 

This  is  a  close  ally  of  P.  medius,  chiefly  distinguished  by  smaller 
size,  by  the  breast  being  white,  not  yellow,  and  the  red  of  the  abdomen 
confined  to  the  posterior  portion,  by  the  stripes  on  the  lower  sur&ce 
being  less  marked,  and  by  there  being  much  less  white  on  the  outer 
tail  feathers^  and  more  on  the  quills.  The  following  are  the  dimen- 
sions of  the  three  specimens^  and  of  a  male  of  P.  medius  from  Asia 
Minor  for  comparison :  — 


P.  Sancti  JohannU,  ?  male  . . 
P.  Sancti  JohannU^  ?  male  . . 
P.  Sancti  Johannis,  female  .. 
P.  mediitSt  male 


Wing.  Tail.  Taraos.  Calmen. 

4.73        a.6  0.83  I.I 

4.65        a.65  —  1.13 

4.7          386  0.8  I 

4.9          3-»  0.9  I.  a 


[This  new  woodpecker,  which  Mr.  Blanford  has  been  good  enough 
to  name  after  me,  is  found  in  the  wooded  hills  of  South-western  Persia, 
at  altitudes  of  from  4000  to  8000  feet.  It  is  particularly  numerous  in 
the  oak  forests.  I  am  not  quite  sure  whether  the  woodpecker  found 
in  the  jungly  beds  of  the  Banddmir  and  other  streams  is  P.  Syriacus^ 
but  P.  Sancti  JohannU  certainly  does  not  extend  into  Central  Persia, 
though  it  will  probably  be  obtained  in  the  forests  which  clothe  the 
outer  slopes  of  the  Zagros  hills  as  &r  as  the  Karmansh&h  and  B^hdfid 


A  YES,  135 

road,  if  not  further  north.     It  was  one  of  the  first  hirds  I  obtained  in 
Persia,  and  I  always  thought  it  would  prove  a  novelty. — O.  St.  J.] 


64.  Geciniis  viridiSy  (L.) 

P»ciw.  JETareZtnt,   Brandt,  Bull.  Acad.  Sci.  St.  Pet.  ix,  p.  I3,  184a. — Malherbd, 
Mod.  Pic.  il,  p.  126. 

I  9.  Oak  forefit,  near  Shirdz       ..         ..  7000     ..     June. 

As  P.  Kareliniy  according  to  Malherbe,  has  been  identified  by  Brandt 
himself  with  0.  viridisy  we  must  refer  it  to  that  species.  The  descrip- 
tion gives  one  the  idea  of  a  distinct  race,  the  lores  being  said  to  be 
whitish,  with  a  white  band  under  the  eye.  This  region  is  only  spotted 
white  in  the  young  of  G,  viridis.  The  type  of  P.  Karelini  was  from 
near  Astrab&d. 

The  single  female  specimen  in  our  collection  was  shot  in  June, 
by  the  collector  who  accompanied  Major  St.  John,  in  the  oak 
forest  near  Shirfiz.  In  all  its  proportions,  in  the  distribution  of  the 
colours,  and  in  the  markings  on  the  quills  and  tail  feathers,  it  precisely 
resembles  G.  viridis^  but  all  its  colours  are  paler  and  greyer,  there 
being  scarcely  any  green  on  the  back,  and  none  on  the  lower  parts, 
except  a  slight  tinge  on  the  lower  abdomen.  The  back  is  brownish 
grey,  more  or  less  washed  with  green,  the  rump  pale  lemon  yellow, 
the  tail  feathers  greyish  brown  with  whitish  bars,  the  quills  dusky 
brown,  ear  coverts,  sides  of  the  neck  and  underparts  to  the  abdomen 
dirty  white.  The  specimen  is  scarcely  mature,  for  it  has  cross  bands 
on  the  abdomen,  and  is  probably  a  bird  of  the  preceding  year;  the 
plumage  is  worn,  and  the  fresh  feathers  would  doubtless  be  much 
greener.  I  was  much  disposed  to  consider  this  bird  distinct  from 
G,  viridu,  of  which  I  have  never  seen  a  specimen  with  the  same 
colouration,  but  it  appears  on  the  whole  most  probable  that  the  skin 
is  that  of  a  nesting  female  in  very  old  abraded  plumage,  and  perhaps 
rather  dull-coloured  and  pale,  as  so  many  Persian  birds  are.  Its 
discovery  in  Southern  Persia  extends  the  range  of  the  species  con- 
siderably. 

[In  1864  I  shot  a  young  green  woodpecker  in  the  oak  forest,  the 
only  one  I  have  ever  seen  in  Southern  Persia.  I  considered  it  to  be 
G.  viridis.  In  1869  my  collector  procured  an  adult  specimen  in  the 
same  place.  It  is  probably  a  rare  straggler  from  the  forests  of  the 
Zagrog  hills.— O.  St.  J.] 


1 36  ZOO  LOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 


66.  *  G.  oaniis,  (Qm.) 

Pound  by  M^n^tries  near  Lankor&n. 

Picu9  fttinoTy  L.  and  Picoid^s  trid<ictylus,  (L.)  are  found  in  the  Caacaausj 
and  are  said  by  Eiehwald  to  extend^  with  Gecinus  cantis  and  0,  viridu^ 
into  Persia,  but  I  do  not  like  to  include  them  in  the  fauna  without 
ftirther  evidence,  though  their  existence  in  Ghil&n  and  Mazandartn  is 
highly  probable.  Dryocopus  martius^  (L.)  is  found  in  several  parts  of 
Central  and  Northern  Asia,  and  its  probable  existence  on  the  Kelat 
frontier  of  Sind  has  latdy  been  indicated  by  Hume  (Stray  Feathers, 
i,  p.  171).     No  specimen  has,  however,  been  obtained. 

In  the  lists  of  the  older  zoological  writers  is  included  a  species 
of  woodpecker  called  Picus  luteus  Persicus  by  Brisson,  Picu8  Perncus 
by  Gmelin^  the  Persian  woodpecker  by  Latham,  etc.  All  these  names 
are  founded  on  a  description  and  figure  by  Aldrovandi  (Omithologia^ 
p.  850)  of  a  bird  called  by  him  Picus  luteiis  ct/anopoa  Persicus^  and  this 
description  and  figure  again  were  not  taken  from  a  specimen,  but 
from  a  drawing  which  Aldrovandi  saw  at  Venice  of  a  woodpecker  with 
a  ferruginous  bill  and  bluish  feet,  said  to  have  been  made  from  a  Persian 
bird.  It  is  simply  absurd  to  attempt  to  identify  a  species  concocted 
out  of  such  ridiculous  data. 

Tuna  torquilla,  L.,  must,  in  all  probability,  exist  in  the  Caspian  and 
Zagros  forests,  but  it  has  not  hitherto,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  been 
recorded  from  within  our  limits. 


Suborder  PASSERES. 

Family  LANIIDiE. 
66,  Lanius  lahtora  (Sykes). 

?Z.  Aucheri,  Puch.  Mus.  Par.  apud  Bp.  Rev.  et  Mag.  Zool.  1853,  v,  p.  294. 

1  i.  GwAdar,  Baliichist&n  coast  . .  —  . .  December. 

2  d'  Dasbt  River,  near  Gwatar  Bay,  Baliichist&n      —  ..  Jan.  35. 

3  9.  B^ii  Kalat,  Baluchistdn  . .  . .  —  . .  Feb.  3. 

4  d.  Mand,  Balucbist&n  ..         ..  ..         500  ..  Feb.  la. 

5  $.  Bam,  South-eastern  Persia  . .         . .        3600  . .  April  24. 

Although  this  bird  was  common  in  Baluchistdn  in  the  winter,  and 
I  met  with  it  at  Bam  close  to  the  Persian  highlands,  I  never  obtained 
it  on  the  plateau,  nor  is  there  a  single  example  among  Major  St.  John's 


AV£S.  137 

collections.  Sharpe  and  Dresser  in  the  *  Birds  of  Europe '  say  that  De 
Filippi  obtained  it  in  Persia,  but  the  only  grey  shrike  mentioned  in 
the  list  of  birds  obtained  by  that  ornithologist  (Viaggio  in  Persia,  p. 
346)  is  Z.  minor y  the  species  obtained  by  both  Major  St.  John  and 
myself.  It  is  probable  that  the  specimen  referred  to  by  Messrs. 
Sharpe  and  Dresser  is  one  procured  by  the  Marquis  Giacomo  Doria 
at  Bandar  Abb&s,  and  now  in  the  Museo  Civico  at  Genoa.  This  I 
have  examined,  and  it  appears  to  me  to  belong  unquestionably  to 
L.  lahtora, 

A  specimen  of  L.  excubitor  is  said  to  exist  in  the  Indian  Museum  of 
London,  brought  by  Captain  Jones  from  Mesopotamia  (Moore  and 
Horsf.  Catalogue,  i,  p.  i6a).  Unfortunately  the  specimens  in  this 
Museum  are  at  present  inaccessible,  but  if  the  identification  is  correct, 
it  is  probable  that  the  great  grey  shrike  of  Europe  must  be  added  to 
the  Persian  fauna. 

The  type  of  L.  Aticheri^  Puch.  was  brought  by  Aucher-Eloy  from 
Persia  in  1840  ;  the  exact  locality  is  not  stated,  nor  is  it  clear  from  the 
brief  description  whether  the  bird  belongs  to  L,  lahiora  or  L,  excubitor ^ 
though  the  former  is  most  probable.  The  only  constant  character,  as 
pointed  out  to  me  by  Mr.  Dresser,  by  which  these  two  species  can  be 
distinguished,  is  the  greater  length  and  thickness  of  the  tarsus  in  the 
former. 

67.  L.  minor,  Gm. — De  F. 

ii  a#  3.  4  *»  5  9»  6  youngs,  7,  8, 9  young  9.    Shir4z      4750      . ,     June. 
7,  10  young.    Near  Kazviu,  North  Persia. .  4000      ..      August. 

1  found  this  bird  abundant  between  Tehrdn  and  Kazvin  at  the  end 
of  August,  but  I  did  not  notice  it  anywhere  else  during  my  journey, 
whilst  all  Major  St.  John's  specimens  are  from  Shirdz.  It  evidently 
breeds  in  the  latter  locality  and  doubtless  in  Northern  Persia  also,  but 
I  do  not  think  it  is  generally  distributed  in  Persia  in  the  summer,  and 
it  probably  leaves  the  country  altogether  in  the  winter  months.  Like 
many  shrikes  and  other  insectivorous  birds,  it  has  a  habit  of  perching 
on  telegraph  wires,  and  I  ought  to  have  seen  it  frequently  had  it 
been  at  all  common  in  the  country  between  Shirdz  and  Tehrdn  in 
June  and  July. 

68.  *  L.  ooUurio,  L.— De  F. 

I  did  not  myself  meet  with  this  shrike,  nor  is  there  a  specimen  in 


1 38  ZOO  LOO  7  OF  PERSIA. 

Major  St.  John  s  collection.  De  Filippi  says  of  it  and  of  the  two 
other  shrikes  mentioned  by  him, '  Met  with  everywhere,  but  more  com- 
mon in  the  Caucasian  regions.'  There  are  three  specimenB  collected 
by  De  Filippi  in  the  Turin  Museum,  one  of  which  is  firom  Ohil&i,  the 
others  are  only  labelled  Persia.  M^n^tries  found  it  common  at  Lian- 
kor&n  on  the  Caspian.  It  occurs  probably  only  in  North-eastern 
Persia. 

69.  L.  aurioulatUBy  Mtill — De  F. 

L.  rufiu,  Bris.  PI.  Enl.  f.  a.— De  Filippi.  Viag.  in  PoraA.  p.  46. 

L.  rutibut  Latb.  Ind.  Omith.  i,  p.  70. 

L,  $enator,  L.  apud  Gray,  Handlist,  i,  p.  393,  nee  L. 

I  ^.  Niriz,  east  of  Shiriz  ..                                 ..  7000  ..  June  i. 

a  <$.  Niriz,  east  of  Shir&z  . .         . .                     , .  6000  . .  June  a. 

3,4   (nestlings).  Near  Nirfz,  east  of  Shirdz       ..  5000  ..  Jane  5. 

5  Sf  6>  7>  8  young  6.  Shir4z          4750  ..  June. 

9  ^,  10,  II  young  $.  Shir&z          4750  ..  July. 

13^.  Shirdz  4750  •  •  Augosi. 

All  the  specimens  obtained  were  killed  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Shir&z,  where  this  bird  evidently  breeds  in  April  or  early  in  May ; 
the  young  birds  shot  early  in  June  could  not  have  left  the  nest  many 
days^  for  they  retain  the  barred  plumage  represented  in  Sharpe  and 
Dresser's  figure  in  the  *  Birds  of  Europe.'  They  are,  however,  greyer 
and  less  fulvous  than  the  breed  from  Holland  there  represented,  and 
the  bars  have  already  been  worn  off  the  abdomen  and  are  &int  on  the 
breast.  In  two  young  birds,  shot  also  in  June  at  Shir&z,  the  trans- 
verse markings  have  disappeared  entirely  from  the  lower  parts,  and 
the  head  above  is  beginning  to  assume  a  rufous  tinge ;  in  two  others, 
killed  in  July,  all  the  bars  had  disappeared  from  the  back,  but  one  is 
still  faintly,  the  other  distinctly  banded  on  the  head. 

The  occurrence  of  this  bird  in  Southern  Persia  considerably  extends 
its  known  range ;  Sharpe  and  Dresser,  when  they  wrote  the  description 
of  the  species  in  the  *  Birds  of  Europe,'  did  not  know  of  its  occurrence 
east  of  the  provinces  around  the  Black  Sea.  It  was  found  in  Northern 
Persia  by  De  Filippi,  and  its  absence  in  Central  Persia  is  doubtless  due 
to  the  paucity  of  cover. 

70.  L.  vittatus^  Yalenc. 

Valenc.,  Diet.  So.  Nat.  i8a6,  xl,  p.  337. — Walden,  Ibis,  1867,  p.  220. 
Ccilurio  Hardidckii^  Vig.  P.  Z.  S.  1831,  p.  4a. 
Lanim  Hardwickii,  Jerdon,  Birds  of  India,  i,  p.  405. 


5000 

March  ao. 

4000 

March  a6. 

4000 

March  30. 

4000 

March  31. 

aooo 

April  5. 

1600 

April  10. 

3500 

April  14. 

AV£S.  139 

I,  a  6'  Near  Kalag4n,  North  Baluchistdn 
3  <$,  4  9.  Sib,  near  Dizak,  North  Baluchistin 
5,  6  s.  Ispidan,  east  of  Bampiir,  Baliichistin 

7  9.  Near  Aptar,  east  of  Bampdr,  BaluchiBt&n 

8  ^.  Bampiir,  Baliichist&n 

9  9.  West  of  BampiSr,  Baldchist&n     .. 

10  $.  100  miles  west-north-west  of  Bampiir  . . 

I  never  saw  this  bird,  the  common  bay-backed  shrike  of  India^  in 
the  country  traversed  between  the  coast  of  Baliichistdn  and  J&lk  on 
the  edge  of  the  Sist&n  desert^  and  consequently  when,  on  turning 
westward,  I  found  it  abundantly  in  the  valleys  between  Dizak  and 
Bampur,  and  in  the  wooded  plain  near  the  last-named  town,  I  thought 
it  must  be  a  distinct  species^  for  several  places  on  the  road  from 
Ow&dar  to  J&lk  are  as  liberally  supplied  with  trees  and  bushes  as  the 
Bampur  country,  and  consequently,  to  all  appearance,  equally  well 
suited  for  this  bird.  After  carefully  comparing  my  specimens,  how- 
ever, with  Indian  skins^  I  can  see  no  difference^  although  the  measure- 
ments do  not  precisely  agree  with  Jerdon's,  the  wing  and  tarsus  being 
longer,  and  the  tail  rather  shorter.  The  measurements  of  i  and  2 
were  from  fresh  specimens,  3  and  4  from  skins. 


I 

2 

3 

4 

i.  Near 

^.  Near 

9. 

9.  W.  of 

Kalagdn. 

Aptar. 

Sib. 

BampiSr. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

In. 

Length     .«          ..          .•          •> 

7.8 

7.75 

— 

— 

Expanse  .. 

II 

10.3 

— 

— 

Wing        

3<5 

3.5 

3-35 

3.5 

Tail,  from  insertion  of  central  tail  feathers      3.7 

3.6 

.^6 

3-45 

Tarsus      ..          ..          ..          .. 

0.95 

0.95 

0.9 

095 

Mid  toe  and  claw 

— 

0.7 

— 

Bill  from  forehead 

0-55 

0.51 

0.55 

0-55 

Bill  from  gape     . . 

— 

0.77 

— 

— 

W  ings,  short  of  the  end  of  the  tail 

a.4 

3.4 

— 

— 

i.  vittatus  was  especially  abundant  about  Bampur.  I  never  met 
with  it  on  the  Persian  highlands,  nor  did  I  see  it,  so  far  as  I  remember, 
in  Narmashir,  east  of  Bam.  It  is  thus,  evidently,  like  Athene  Brama 
and  Butasfur  teesa,  one  of  the  Indian  forms  which  extend  into  Balu- 
chistan, but  not  into  Persia  proper. 

71.  L.  isabellinusy  Hemp,  and  Ehr. 

H.andE.  Symbol.  Phys.  1828,  Aves,  fol.  e.— Strickland,  P.  Z.  S.  1850,  p.  217.— 
Walden,  Ibis,  1867,  p.  224,  PI.  V.  fig.  i. 


140  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

L.  arenaritUt  filyth,  J.  A.  St  B.  1846,  xt,  p.  304. — Jerdon,  Birds  of  India,  i, 
p.  407 ;  Ibis,  1871,  p.  115. — ^Walden,  Ibis,  1867,  p.  223. — ^Henderaon  and  Hume, 
Lahore  to  Yarkund,  p.  183,  PI.  III. — Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  174. 

I  ^,  3  9.  100  miles  W.N. W.  of  Bampiir,  Baldcbist4n   2500  . .  April  14. 

3  9.  Rlg&n,  Narmashfr                             ..  ..  3500  ..  April  18. 

4  S-  Near  Bam,  South-eastern  Persia  .  •  3500  . .  April  24. 

5  i,  Kb4n-i-siirkh,  south-west  of  Karm&n  . .  8500  . .  May  a  a. 

6  i.  Near  Pari>4,  150  miles  east  of  Shirdz  . .  '  6000  ••  May  30. 

7  $.  K&zniu,  5omiles  west  of  Shir4z  ..  ..  2500  ••  May. 
8,  9,  10,  II  ^,  13  9  (all  young).  Shiraz  ..  ..  4750  ..  June. 
13  (}f  14  young  ^.  Shirtiz               ••          ••  ••  475^  ••  July. 

15  young.  Near  Asup4s,  north  of  Shiriz  ..         7000     . .     June  a5. 

I  am  quite  of  Mr.  Hume's  opinion  (1.  c.)  as  to  the  identity  of  Z.  Isabel^ 
linusj  H.  and  E.  and  L.  arenariuSy  Blyth,  and  I  have  suspected  that  they 
were  the  same  ever  since  I  compared  the  specimens  of  the  former 
which  I  collected  in  Abyssinia^  but  I  have  not  had  until  lately  an 
opportunity  of  examining  a  sufficient  series  of  skins' to  enable  me  to 
judge  of  the  value  to  be  attributed  to  the  distinctions  between  the 
two  forms.  By  the  kindness  of  Lord  Walden  and  Mr.  Dresser  I  have 
had  for  comparison  a  very  good  series  of  these  shrikes,  viz.  four  skins 
from  the  Panjfib  and  six  from  Central  Asia  (Turkest&n),  and  after  com- 
paring these  with  the  specimens  obtained  from  Persia  and  those  procured 
by  me  fiDrmerly  on  the  Abyssinian  coasts  of  the  Red  Sea,  and  now  in 
the  British  Museum,  I  am  fully  convinced  that  L,  arenarius  is  only 
the  female  or  young  of  L.  isabellinus  in  winter  dress. 

This  quite  agp-ees  with  the  opinion  arrived  at  by  Mr.  HumCj  who 
in  'Stray  Feathers'  has  shown  that  the  differences,  chiefly  the 
presence  or  absence  of  a  small  white  alar  bar,  on  account  of  which 
various  ornithologists  have  separated  these  two  supposed  species, 
depend  upon  age  and  sex.  I  cannot  quite  agree,  however,  with  Mr. 
Hume's  opinion,  that  only  the  perfectly  adult  male  exhibits  the  white 
wing-spot,  for,  amongst  the  specimens  collected  by  myself,  one  barely 
adult  female,  No.  3,  has  it  very  well  developed,  although  the  eye-streak 
is  hair  brown,  and  there  are  other  traces  of  immaturity  about  the 
plumage ;  and  on  the  other  hand,  one  male  in  full  plumage,  No.  5, 
has  not  a  trace  of  white  on  the  quills  beyond  the  ends  of  the  coverts. 
As  a  general  rule,  I  believe  that  the  presence  of  a  well-marked  white 
band  at  the  base  of  the  primaries  is  characteristic  of  full-grown  malesj 
but  every  gradation  may  be  found,  from  the  well-marked  band  to  total 
want  of  white  near  the  bases  of  the  primary  quills.  The  latter,  how- 
ever, amongst  the  series  before  me,  is  only  seen  in  young  birds ;  in  all 


AVES,  141 

adult  birds,  males  or  females,  there  is  a  trace  of  a  white  band  below  the 
greater  wing  coverts. 

The  white  band  is  not,  however,  the  only  difference  which  at  first 
appears  to  distinguish  L,  isabellinus  from  L,  arenarius.  Adult  speci- 
mens of  the  former  have  the  upper  part  of  the  head  and  back  of  the 
neck  bright  rufous,  and  all  the  lower  parts  pure  white.  In  the  latter, 
as  usually  found  in  India,  the  whole  upper  parts  as  far  as  the  rump 
are  uniform  earthy  brown,  and  the  lower  parts  are  a  pale  brownish 
rufous.  The  latter  character  is,  I  think,  chiefly  seasonal,  and  is 
perhaps  more  developed  in  birds  of  the  year.  Birds  from  India  are 
certainly  very  brown  beneath^  but  I  have  but  few  other  winter  speci- 
mens for  comparison,  and  one  of  these^  a  female  in  the  British  Mu- 
seum, shot  by  myself  in  January  at  Annesley  Bay  on  the  Abyssinian 
shores  of  the  Red  Sea,  is  exactly  the  counterpart  of  a  Panjdb  specimen, 
killed  in  December,  in  Lord  Walden's  collection,  both  birds  being 
earthy  rufous  on  the  under  parts.  An  adult  male,  shot  by  Major  St. 
John  at  Shir&z  in  July^  has  a  decidedly  rufous  tii^e  beneath,  and  is 
not  nearly  so  white  as  birds  shot  in  the  spring.  There  is  certainly  one 
specimen  from  Central  Asia  in  Lord  Walden's  collection,  shot  on  the  5th 
of  March,  with  the  under  parts  isabelline ;  but  this,  if  correctly  marked 
as  a  male,  is  probably  a  bird  of  the  year^  for  the  lores  are  white  ;  and 
although  it  differs  much  in  plumage  from  the  ordinary  breeding  dress 
of  L.  isabellinuSy  it  also  differs  considerably  from  the  winter  plumage 
of  i/.  arenarius^  the  colour  of  the  lower  parts  being  intermediate. 

The  uniformly  brown  back  and  head  are  not  always  peculiar  to  the 
winter  season,  for  both  male  and  female  specimens  from  Central  Asia, 
shot  in  March  and  April,  in  Lord  Walden's  and  Mr.  Dresser's  collec- 
tions, exhibit  this  character  just  as  much  as  those  killed  in  winter  in 
the  Panjdb  and  Sind ;  but  others  from  Turkest&n  have  rufous  heads^ 
and  differ  in  no  way  from  Persian  birds,  and  in  this  character,  as  in 
the  brownish  under-parts  and  the  wing-spot,  there  is  a  perfect  gradua- 
tion between  the  two  extremes.  Moreover  the  different  characters  are 
irregularly  combined ;  thus  the  most  strongly-marked  wing-spot  I 
have  seen,  one  extending  nearly  half  an  inch  below  the  wing  coverts, 
is  in  a  male  specimen  beloi^ing  to  Mr.  Dresser,  shot  on  the  i6th  of 
April  in  Turkestdn,  yet  this  bird  has  the  whole  upper  parts  as  far 
down  as  the  rump  not  only  uniformly  coloured,  but  greyer  and  less 
rufous  than  in  any  other  skin  I  have  examined. 

There  is  considerable  variation  in  the  brightness  of  the  rufous  head, 


142  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

and  some  specimens  have  the  back  much  greyer  than  others.  Females 
appear  to  be  less  rufous  and  more  uniformly  coloured  than  males,  and 
probably  the  bright  rufous  head  is  only  assumed  in  breeding  plumage. 
All  adult  males  shot  in  the  spring,  i.  e.  the  breeding  season,  have  the 
eye-streak  quite  black,  and  a  narrow  white  superciliary  stripe  dx)ye 
it^  whereas  in  all  females  the  lores  are  white,  and  the  streak,  even 
behind  the  eye^  brownish.  The  figure  in  the  Ibis  (L  c.)  is  darker  and 
more  rufous  on  the  back  than  are  any  of  mine.  (Hume  makes  a 
similar  remark.) 

Young  birds  are  dull  rufous  brown  above,  the  tail  being  slightly,  and 
the  upper  tail  coverts  considerably,  brighter  than  the  remainder  of  the 
upper  plumage^  which  is  uniform  when  the  bars  characteristic  of  the 
nestling  stage  have  disappeared.  There  are  of  course  broad  fulvous 
edgings  to  the  secondaries  and  vring  coverts.  The  lower  plumage  is 
rufous  white  with  dusky  crescentic  marks.  There  is  in  some  cases  a 
pale  margin  to  the  tips  of  the  rectrices  with  a  well-marked  dusky  line 
inside  it,  and  it  may  be  the  remains  of  this  which  formed  the  obscure 
dark  transverse  band  mentioned  by  Strickland  as  occurring  in  a 
Kordofan  specimen  ^. 

The  examination  of  the  large  series  of  skins  of  i/.  isabellinus  confirms 
the  importance  of  the  character  pointed  out  by  Lord  Walden  as  dis- 
tinguishing this  species  jfrom  Z.  cridtatua,  L.  (of  which  L.  pAanicuruSy 
Pall,  appears  to  be  a  synonym).  In  the  former  the  rectrices  are  broader 
and  less  gpraduated,  the  difference  in  length  between  the  outer  and 
central  tail  feathers  not  exceeding  half  an  inch.  In  L.  crMiatus  the 
tail  feathers  are  much  narrower,  and  the  central  exceed  the  outer  pair 
by  from  three-quarters  of  an  inch  to  an  inch.  The  extent  and 
intensity  of  the  rufous  colouration  both  above  and  below,  and  the 
breadth  of  white  on  the  supercilia,  vary  in  both  species. 

It  is,  I  think,  pretty  clear  that  the  rufous-tailed  shrikes  furnish  one 
of  the  numerous  instances  amongst  migratory  birds  in  which  races 
ranging  far  to  the  east  and  west  meet  in  India;  but  it  is  worthy  of 
note  that  the  line  of  division  between  the  ranges  of  the  two  forms  in 
the  Indian  peninsula  is  farther  to  the  west  in  this  case  than  in  many 
others. 

^  The  Btatement  in  the  Ibis,  1867,  p.  324,  referred  to  by  Mr.  Hume,  thikt  in  JLw 
arenarius  *  the  centre  pair  of  rectrices,  at  about  one-third  of  their  length  from  the  end, 
display  a  well-marked  irregular  light-coloured  transverse  band,*  is.  Lord  Walden  infonnB 
me,  rendered  obscure  by  a  misprint ;  it  should  read  *  display  well-marked  irregular  light- 
coloured  bands.' 


AVES.  143 

I  did  not  see  this  bird  in  Baluchist&n  in  the  winter,  which  is  curious, 
because  it  abounds  in  Sind  at  that  season.  The  first  time  that  I  met 
with  it  was  north-west  of  Bampur,  and  thence  it  was  seen  frequently  to 
beyond  Shir&z,  but  I  did  not  observe  it  in  Northern  Persia^  and  it  is  not 
recorded  in  De  Filippi's  list.  It  certainly  breeds  on  the  Southern  Persian 
highlands,  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  the  pair  which  I  shot  on  the 
J4th  of  April  had  a  nest  close  by,  although  I  could  not  succeed  in 
discovering  it.  The  altitudes  at  which  some  birds  were  killed  show 
that  L.  ualellinus  ranges  to  a  considerable  elevation.  Its  habits  present 
no  peculiarity  ;  it  is  found  in  thinly-wooded  districts,  and,  like  its  rela- 
tives, sits  conspicuously  on  the  tops  of  bushes  and  on  prominent  twigSj 
whence  it  pounces  down  on  insects. 


Family  MUSCICAPID^. 


72.  Mnsoicapa  grisola,  L. — De  F. 

I  $.  Near  Bfgin,  NannAahIr,  Soath-eaetern  Persia 

«,  3«J,4  9.  5(0.  Shirdz         

6,  7<;.  lB&h4n 

8,  9  ^.  Kohrddy  north  of  lafahim 
10  ^.  Karij  valley,  Elburz  monntaing 


3000 

..     April  16. 

4750 

..     July. 

5000 

..     July  10. 

7000 

. .     July  aa. 

6500 

Aug.  10. 

A  conmion  bird  throughout  the  Persian  highlands,  extremely 
abundant  in  places^  and  generally  found  wherever  there  is  much 
vegetation. 

78.  M.  atricapillay  L. — De  F. 

M,  hkcttma,  Tern,  and  De  F. 

I  ^>  3>  3  9  (ftll  immature).  Karij  valley, 
Elburz  xnountainB        6500-7000     ..     Aug.  9,  10. 

This  flycatcher  abounded  in  the  valleys  of  the  Elburz,  but  I  never 
saw  it  in  Southern  Persia. 

74.  *  M.  oollaris,  Bechst.— De  F. 

M.  AlbicollU,  Tern,  and  De  F. 

De  FUippi  obtained  this  species  in  gardens  at  Tabriz.  I  did  not 
observe  it. 


144  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

76.  Eiythrostema  parva,  (BechBt.) — De  F. 

I  ^.  Dixak,  BaliichisUn  4000     ..     March  2a. 

1  6,  Sh4piir,  between  Shir&z  and  Bushire     ..         3500     ..     Janoaiy. 

This  appears  to  be  by  no  means  a  common  bird  in  Southern  Persia 
and  Baluehist&n,  though,  according  to  De  Filippi,  Doria  found  it 
abundant  in  spring  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Tehr&n.  The  specimen 
shot  in  January  is  in  full  plumage,  with  the  whole  breast  red,  flanks 
and  under  tail  coverts  pale  rufous,  thus  confirming  what  I  have 
noticed  in  the  Central  Provinces  of  India,  that  in  this  species  the  old 
males  retain  the  red  on  their  breasts  in  winter.  The  bird  shot  in 
March  is  young  and  only  beginning  to  acquire  the  red  throat  and 
breast. 


Family  TURDIDiE. 


76.  Fratinoola  oaprata,  (L.) 

1  9.  Dizak,  Baliichistdn 

2  <}.  Sibb,  near  Dizak  .. 

3  <$,  4  9.  Bampiir,  BaliiduBt&n 
5  6.  Bam  ..  ..  • 
6,  7  i.  Near  Bam 


4000 

March  a  a. 

4000 

..     March  37. 

30OO 

..     April  7. 

3500 

..     April  a  a. 

35<» 

April  34. 

I  was  much  surprised  at  meeting  vrith  this  chat  in  Baluchistfin, 
for,  as  is  well  known,  its  range  extends  east  and  south-east  of  India 
into  the  Malay  countries,  and  even  to  the  Philippines,  while  it  is  a 
rare  exception  for  an  Indian  form  to  extend  both  east  and  west  of 
India  proper.  P.  caprata  was  not  observed  near  the  coast  in  Makr&n, 
but  the  bird  is  far  from  rare  about  Dizak,  Bampur^  and  Bam,  keeping, 
of  course,  to  those  portions  of  the  country  in  which  trees  and  bushes 
are  common,  and  being  often  seen  in  the  gardens  and  orchards 
around  towns  and  villages.  It  does  not  appear  to  ascend  to  the 
Persian  highlands.     I  did  not  meet  with  it  after  leaving  Bam. 

I  can  see  no  constant  difierence  between  the  skins  obtained  in 
Baluchist&n,  and  others  from  India,  the  Malay  countries  and  the 
Philippines.  In  the  males  collected  by  me  there  appears  to  be 
rather  more  white  on  the  abdomen  than  in  some  Indian  skins,  but 
ether  Indian  specimens  precisely  resemble  mine.  Hume  (Stray- 
Feathers,  i,  p.  182)  points  out  that   Sind  birds  run  a  trifle  larger 


•• 


AVES.  145 

than  those  found  in  Upper  India,  and  Baluchist&n  specimens  rather 
exceed  those  from  Sind  in  dimensions,  thus  tending  still  further  to 
unite  P,  caprata  with  the  larger  race  P,  bicolor,  Sjkes,  of  the  South 
Indian  and  Ceylonese  hill  regions.  The  following  measurements 
illustrate  these  differences: — 

6  6  6  9  6  6 

Bam.      Bam.    Bampdr.    Bizak.,^^^,     Upper  India 

*^  (Hume).       (Hume). 

Lei^gtt        5-5  5-75  —  —  5-7  4-83  to  5.3 

ExpADse       ..          ..         ..9.  9.5  —  —  8.5  7.88108.5 

Wing            ..          ..          ..  2.92  3.1  2.9  2.9  2.8  3.4    to  2.75 

Tail  ..          ..          ..          ..  2.1  2.2  2.  2.07  —                 — 

Tarsus          ..         ..          ..  0.87  0.9  0.86  0.85  —                — 

Bill,  from  gape        ..          ..  0.7  0.7  —  —  —                — 

Bill,  from  forehead . .          ..  0.48  0.47  0.43  0.5  a  —                 — 

Wings,  short  of  end  of  tail . .  i.  1.2  —  —  —                 — 

I  do  not  give  Hume's  measurements  of  the  tail,  because  he  measures 
from  the  vent  instead  of  from  the  insertion  of  the  middle  tail  feathers, 
as  is  usual  amongst  ornithologists.  Jerdon's  measurements  (Birds 
of  India^  ii,  p.  123)  are — length  5  in.,  wing  a.75,  tail  a.a,  bill 
at  front  .37,  tarsus  .87. 

77.  P.  rubicola,  (L.)— De  F. 

I  (young).  Asup&s,  between  Shir&z  and  Isfah&n      . .       7000    . .     June  26. 

I  saw  stone-chats  occasionally  in  Baluchist^  in  the  winter,  but 
they  were  scarce,  and  I  found  them  yet  scarcer  on  the  Persian 
highlands  in  spring  and  summer.  The  greater  number  probably  go 
farther  north  to  breed,  and  the  only  place  where  I  found  them 
common  was  in  the  great  marsh  near  Asup&s  on  the  high  plateau 
north  of  Shir&z.  Here  they  had  evidently  bred,  for  I  saw  young 
birds,  one  of  which  I  shot. 

* 

78.  *  P.  Hemprichi,  (Ehr.)— De  F. 

This  chat  also  was  obtained  by  De  Pilippi,  but  escaped  my  notice. 
He  met  with  it  at  Marend,  north-west,  and  Udi&h,  south-west  of 
Tabriz,  and  mentions  that  he  saw  specimens  at  St.  Petersburg,  col- 
lected in  the  Kirghiz  Steppes.  In  India  it  is  represented  by  P.  leucura^ 
Blyth. 

Two  Persian  skins  obtained  by  De  Filippi  are  in  the  Turin  Museum. 
In  both  the  greater  portion  of  the  outer  tail  feathers  is  white,  but  the 
length  of  the  black  tip  differs  in  the  two  specimens. 

VOL.  II.  L 


146 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 


According  to  Radde  (Reis.  im  Sud.  O.  Sib.  ii,  p.  247)  P. 
HempricAi  is  also  found  in  Dauria  and  Amurland,  but  he  states 
that  his  specimens  pass  into  P.  ru6icola,  and  from  the  account  given 
it  appears  a  little  doubtful  whether  the  birds  really  belong  to  P. 
Sempricki,  as  some  of  them  are  said  to  have  the  base  of  the  tail 
feathers  black.  An  examination  of  the  fine  series  of  types  collected 
by  Hemprich  and  Ehrenberg  in  Arabia,  Abyssinia,  India,  and  Egypt, 
and  preserved  in  the  Berlin  Museum,  shows,  however,  that  the 
amount  of  white  at  the  base  of  the  tail  feathers  is  very  variable, 
and  there  appears  almost  a  complete  gradation  from  birds  with  the 
greater  portion  of  the  rectrices  white  into  those  with  black  rectrices 
as  in  P.  rubicola. 

On  the  whole,  I  am  much  disposed  to  doubt  whether  this  form 
is  more  than  a  variety  of  P.  rubicola. 

79.  *  P.  rubetra,  (L.)— De  F. 

Parua  variegatua,  S.  G.  Gmel.  Reise,  iii,  p.  105,  PI.  XX,  f.  3. 

I  did  not  notice  the  whin-chat.  De  Filippi  obtained  it  in  the 
valley  of  the  li&r,  north-east  of  Tehr&n,  in  the  Elburz  mountains.  It 
has  been  found  in  the  Panj&b  (Hume,  Ibis,  1869,  p.  355). 

80.  Saxioola  (Bnanthe%  (L.) — De  F. 


I  young.  150  miles  east  of  Sbir4z 

7500     .. 

May  30. 

a  young  9.  Shir&z 

4750     •• 

June. 

3rf,  4$.  Shiriz 

4750     .. 

Summer. 

5  9i  6,  7  young  9.  Shiriz 

4750     .. 

September. 

8  ^.  Suir4z         ..          ..          ..          ...         .. 

4750     .. 

November. 

9  ^.  Elburz  mountains,  north  of  Tehr&n 

9000     .. 

August  II. 

109.  Elburz  mountains,  north  of  Tehran     . . 

8000     .. 

August  14. 

1 1  ($.  Elburz  mountains,  north  of  Tehrdn 

8500     .. 

August  14. 

The  genus  Saxicola  is  well  represented  in  Persia,  and  no  less  than 
twelve  species  are  represented  in  Major  St.  John's  and  my  collections. 
From  such  cursory  observations  as  ours  it  is  difficult  to  speak  posi- 
tively as  to  the  distribution  of  the  different  kinds^  although  many 
appear  restricted  to  well-defined  limits.  Generally  speaking,  the 
commonest  form  is  8.  isabellina,  S.  deserti  is  perhaps  more  abundant  in 
the  south,  and  in  the  Elburz  it  is  entirely  replaced  by  8,  cenanthe.  So 
far  as  my  observations  extended,  I  should  say  that  the  genus  is  far 

^  For  the  synonymy  of  this  and  other  species  of  Saadcola^  see  a  paper  by  Mr.  Dresser 
and  myself,  P.  Z.  8.  1874,  pp.  213-341. 


AVES.  147 

more  abundant  in  Southern  than  in  Northern  Persia,  many  species 
breeding  in  the  former  and  not  extending  their  range  to  the  north. 

The  wheatear  is  said  by  De  Filippi  to  be  the  most  generally 
distributed  of  the  whole  class  (of  birds  ?)  in  all  the  steppes  of  Persia. 
This  may  be  correct  in  the  North-western  portion  of  the  country,  but 
it  does  not  accord  with  my  experience  in  Central  and  Southern  Persia. 
I  only  met  with  the  species  near  Shiraz  and  again  in  the  mountains 
north  of  Tehran,  and  I  doubt  if,  as  a  general  rule,  it  breeds  in  the  plains 
of  Persia. 

Since  the  Indian  specimens  attributed  to  this  species  by  Blyth 
and  Jerdon^  have  been  shown  by  Hume  (Ibis,  1869,  p.  357,  and 
1870,  pp.  143,  288)  to  have  belonged  probably  to  S,  isabellina^  Persia 
must  be  the  Eastern  limit  of  this  species.  The  circumstances  that  I 
never  observed  it  in  South-eastern  Persia  or  Baluchistan,  and  that 
Hume  did  not  meet  with  it  in  Sind,  are  in  favour  of  its  range  being 
restricted. 

81.  S.  isabellina,  ROpp. 

Rtipp,  Atlas,  p.  5  a,  PI.  XXXIV,  fig.  2. 

8.  saltator,  M^n.  Cat.  Raia.  p.  30. 

S.  osnanthe^  Jerdon,  Birds  of  India,  ii,  p.  13a,  nee  Linn. 

I,  2  9.  Gw&dar,  Baluchist&n  .. 

3  9.  F4hr4j,  east  of  Bampiir,  Baliichistan 

4  9.  Near  Bam,  South-eastern  Persia 

5  St^  9,  7  young  9.  Shiriz     . . 
8<$.  NearShir&z  


— 

December 

2000    .. 

April  I. 

3500   •• 

April  20. 

4750   .. 

June. 

— 

September. 

On  the  whole  this  is  probably  the  commonest  Persian  chat,  but  it 
becomes  rarer  towards  the  north.  In  Southern  Persia  and  Balu- 
chistan it  was  found  nearly  everywhere,  though  rarely  very  abundant 
in  any  locality,  and  it  breeds  apparently  throughout  the  southern 
portion  of  the  Persian  plateau.  It  is  equally  at  home  in  thQ  midst 
of  the  desert  and  on  the  mud  walls  around  gardens  and  fields  in 
the  suburbs  of  towns,  and  may  when  seen  be  distinguished  at  a 
glance  from  its  various  allies,  the  females  of  which  it  closely 
resembles  in  plumage,  by  its  superior  size.  In  this  bird  not  only 
are  the  sexes  alike,  but  there  is  very  little  diflPerence  between  the 
summer  and  winter  plumage ;  the  colouration  is  a  little  purer  in  the 
spring,  but  the  change  is  very  trifling. 

^  Also  by  Beavan,  Ibis,  1867,  p.  450.    The  length  of  the  tarsus  shows  that  his  birds 
thus  named  belonged  to  8.  Uabdlina. 

L  2 


AVES.  149 

Riipp.,  S.  atrogularis,  Blyth,  and  S,  monlatia,  Gould,  and  has  shown  the 
supposed  differences  to  be  due  to  seasonal  changes.  Dr.  Stoliczka 
(J.  A.  S.  B.  1872,  xli,  p.  239)  has  expressed  himself  to  the  same 
effect.  After  examining  numerous  specimens  of  this  bird  from  the 
Abyssinian  coast  of  the  B/cd  Sea,  Palestine,  Syria,  Persia,  and  India, 
I  entirely  coincide  in  Mr.  Hume's  opinion.  In  the  autumn  and 
winter  plumage  the  black  feathers  of  the  throat  in  the  male  have 
white  tips,  sometimes  in  young  birds  to  such  an  extent  as  almost 
to  conceal  the  black,  the  axillaries  are  white,  and  the  edge  of  the 
wing  beneath  mixed  white  and  black  as  in  5.  cenanfhe.  The  amount  of 
white  varies  in  different  specimens,  being  probably  less  in  old  birds. 
As  the  spring  comes  on  the  white  edges  of  the  throat  feathers  wear 
off,  the  under  wing  coverts  become  entirely  black,  and  the  axillaries 
are  all  black  at  the  base,  the  tips  only  remaining  white.  Both  back 
and  lower  breast  also  become  paler  and  more  sandy,  and  the  rump, 
tail  coverts,  abdomen,  and  in  some  specimens  even  the  lower  breast, 
which  are  buff  in  winter  plumage,  become  white. 

I  am  rathei:  surprised  to  find  that  Messrs.  Tristram  (Ibis,  1859, 
p.  300,  (and  Taylor,)  ib.  1867,  p.  60)  state  that  the  sexes  in  S.  deaerti 
are  alike.  Until  lately  I  was  not  aware  that  any  doubt  existed  on 
this  subject.  I  have  collected  females  without  the  black  breast  in 
Abyssinia,  Persia,  and  India,  and  the  same  has  been  done  by 
numerous  other  Indian  collectors,  Hume,  Brooks,  Beavan,  etc., 
specimens  obtained  by  whom  are  in  several  English  collections. 
Still,  as  I  have  never  paid  especial  attention  to  this  matter,  I  am 
not  in  a  position  to  assert  that  none  of  the  black-breasted  birds 
are  females.  I  can  scarcely  suppose  that  Messrs.  Tristram  and 
Taylor  are  both  mistaken,  and  it  is  very  probable  that  other  observers, 
like  myself,  being  under  the  impression  that  all  the  black-throated 
birds  are  necessarily  males,  have  omitted  to  dissect  them.  Perhaps 
old  females  have  a  black  throat.  But  it  is  quite  certain  that 
numerous  females  without  a  black  throat  also  occur,  although  they 
are  less  numerous  than  the  black-throated  birds;  and  I  may  add, 
that  young  males  can  only  be  distinguished  by  turning  up  the  throat 
feathers,  which  will  be  found  to  be  black  at  the  base. 

In  all  ages  and  sexes  S,  deserti  may  be  distinguished  by  the  length 
of  the  black  tips  to  the  lateral  tail  feathers.  In  plumage  the  female 
closely  resembles  S,  isaiellina^  and  the  male  approaches  S,  melanoleuca, 
but  in  both  sexes,  and  at  all  ages,  from  the  nestling,  so  soon  as  the 


•  •, 


150  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

tail  feathers  are  suflSciently  grown,  the  black  tips  to  the  outer  rectrices 
are  upwards  of  an  inch  in  length. 

88.  S.  melanoleuoa,  (Quid.)— De  F. 

8.  xanihomdcena^  H.  and  E.  Symb.  Phys.  Aves,  fol.  aa. 
S.  eurymtUenat  H.  and  E.  id.  fol.  bb. 

(T)  8.  atapazina.  Tern,  apud  De  Filippi,  Viag.  in  Pere.  p.  347. 
8.  Uendersoni,  Hume,  Ibis,  1871,  p.  480. 

I  ^.  Shirdz     ..  ..  ..  ..  5^^^     *■      June. 

Evidently  a  rare  bird  in  Persia,  though  it  must  traverse  the  country 
occasionally,  since  it  breeds  as  far  to  the  east  as  Yarkand. 

84.  S.  erythreBBy  H.  and  E. 

Hemp,  and  Ehr.  Symb.  Phys.  Aves,  fol.  cc. 

8.  libanoticat  H.  and  E.  apud  Tristr.  Ibis,  1867,  pp.  91,  94,  nee  H.  and  K 

S.  Fimchi,  v.  Heugl.  Om.  N.  O.  Afr.  p.  350. 

1  ($.  Elhi(n-i-Biirkh,  south-west  of  Karmdn  8000  ..  May  22. 

2  ($.  Shiriz  ..  ..  ..  5000  June  13. 

3  6-  Shiraz            . .          . .          . .          . .  5000  . .  June. 

4  <J.  Shirdz             . .          . .          . .          . .  —  , .        — - 

S,  erythrcBa  doubtless  breeds  in  Persia,  but  it  appears  rare,  and  has 
hitherto  only  been  obtained  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  high- 
lands. It  has  not  been  observed  in  the  countries  farther  to  the 
eastward. 

86.  S.  stapasdna,  (L.),  nee  auct. — De  F. 

8,  albieoUis,  Vieil.,  Nouv.  Diet,  xxi,  p.  424. 
8.  auriia,  Tern.,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Pere.  p.  347. 
.    8.  amphUeuca,  "EL.  and  E.  Symb.  Phys.  fol.  bb. 

I,  2  young  ($.  Near  Shir&z  ..  5000     . .     September. 

3  <}•  Shir&z  . .  . .  5000     . .  — 

The  black-eared  chat,  which  Mr.  Dresser  and  I  have  shown  to  be 
€he  true  S.  atapaziiia  of  Linnseus,  has  been  obtained  in  North- 
western Persia  by  De  Filippi,  and  near  Shiraz  by  Major  St.  John. 
It  is  not  known  to  range  farther  to  the  east. 

86.  S.  monaoha,  Rupp. 

1  ($.  R48  Mal&n,  Bali&chist&n  coast  ..  ..  ..         Nov.  27. 

2  i,  Gwidar,  Baliichistdn  coast        Jan.  2. 


AVES.  151 

3  9.  Dasht  river,  near  Gw&d&r  Jan.  25. 

4  i,  Sam4n,  Daaht,  Baluchistin       ..  Jan.  37. 

5  9.  B4hu  Kalat,  Baliichistan  Feb.  i. 

This  fine  chat  appears  to  be  very  rare  in  collections.  Of  all  the 
Saxicola^  none  are  more  thoroughly  desert  birds;  I  only  met  with 
it  in  the  dreariest  of  plains  and  hills,  and  its  favourite  resort  appeared 
to  be  the  sandhills  on  the  Makr&n  coast.  I  may  have  seen  it  in 
Persia  and  mistaken  it  for  8,  leucomela,  but  I  do  not  think  I  did, 
and  I  certainly  never  shot  it.  Similarly  Mr.  Tristram  met  with  it 
in  salt  deserts  near  the  Dead  Sea,  Captain  Shelley  in  Egypt,  Mr. 
Wyatt  near  Sinai,  and  Mr.  Hume  on  the  frontiers  of  Sind,  always 
in  the  most  barren  and  desolate  portions  of  the  country.  It  is  well 
figured  in  Shelley's  *  Birds  of  Egypt,'  PI.  II,  and  in  Sharpe  and 
Dresser's  '  Birds  of  Europe.' 

The  range  of  S.  monacha  may  be  considered  as  fairly  determined. 
It  extends  from  North-eastern  Africa  (Nubia  and  Egypt)  to  the  frontier 
of  Sind,  but  does  not  appear  to  migrate  much  farther  north  than 
30°  N. 

87.  S.  ohrysopygia,  (De  F.),  PI.  X,  fig.  i. 

DromoUea  chrysopygia,  De  F.  Archiv.    per  la   Zool.  Geneva,  ii,   p.  381 ; 

Viag.  Persia,  p.  347. 

8,  Kingi,  Hume,  Ibis,  1871,  p.  29;   Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  187. — Stoliczka, 
J.  A.  S.  B.  187a,  xli,  p.  339. 

I  9- 6w4dar,  Baluchist&n            ..          ..  —  ..      December, 

a  9.  lUyin,  soath-south-east  of  Karmdn  9000  ..      May  i. 

3  9*  Oak  forest,  near  Shir&z                  . .  (?)  June. 

^                       4  young  ($.  Kohnid,  north  of  Isfahan  8000  July  aa. 

I  obtained  four  specimens  and  Major  St.  John  one  of  this  peculiar 
and  interesting  form,  but  the  label  of  one  of  my  specimens  has  been 
lost,  and  I  can  only  say  that  it  was  shot  somewhere  in  Southern 
Persia.  This  species  appears  to  have  the  sexes  alike,  and,  so  far 
as  is  hitherto  known,  to  have  no  seasonal  change  of  colour.  It 
has  been  admirably  described  by  Mr.  Hume  (as  S.  Kivgi),  and  his 
account  of  the  habits  (Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  188)  agrees  with  my 
own  observations.  It  haunts  rocks  and  probably  breeds  amongst 
them,  my  specimens  2  and  4  having  been  shot  in  stony  ravines, 
whilst  De  Filippi^s  types  were  procured  *in  the  highest  and  most 
stony  parts  of  the  hills  which  encircle  Demavend.'  It  is  thus  shown 
to  occur  throughout  Persia  (in  summer  at  all  events),  in  Baluchistdn, 


1 62  ZOO  LOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

Sind,  Kachh,  and  North-western  India,  but  it  has  not  been  met  with 
west  of  Persia,  nor  east  of  the  desert  region  of  North-western  India  \ 

This  species  has  hitherto  been  unknown  in  Europe,  and  Mr. 
Tristram  (Ibis,  1867,  p.  93)  suggested  that  De  Filippi's  type  was  a 
female  of  S.  jihlhthamna  {  —  8.  mcesta^  Licht.  vera,  nee  auct.),  a  view 
which  was  accepted,  though  >vith  doubt,  by  Sharpe  and  Dresser  in 
their  '  Birds  of  Europe/  My  discovery  of  this  bird  in  Persia  clearly 
shows  what  De  Filippi's  species  is,  although  his  type  has  been  lost. 

88.  S.  leuoomela,  (Pall.) — De  F. 

Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  185. — De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  347. 
S.  lu{ftn*f  Licht,  Verz.  Doubl.  p.  33. 

I  i.  Near  Ruyfn,  south-south-east  of  Karmnn  9000  . .  May  a. 

a  ($.  Shiraz  ..  ..  ..  5000  ..  June  13. 

3  9.  Shir4z  ..  ..  ..  5000  ..  August. 

4  ($.  Shiraz  ..  ..  ..  5000  ..  — 

This  bird  was  not  often  seen,  but  still  it  was  occasionally  observed 
on  the  southern  portion  of  the  Persian  highlands.  De  Filippi  states 
that  he  prociu"ed  it  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Tehran.  There  are 
two  skins  from  his  collection  at  Turin,  but  they  have  no  exact 
locality  assigned. 

In  distinguishing  this  bird  from  its  near  ally  8.  morio^  the  buff 
under  tail  coverts  are  not  so  good  a  character  (although  they  are 
always  less  rufous  in  the  latter)  as  the  under  surface  of  the  wing. 
In  8,  leucomela  the  quills  have  a  white  inner  margin,  which  is  want- 
ing in  8.  morio. 

89.  S.  morio,  H.  and  E. 

8.  leticomela,  Gould,  Birds  of  Asia,  pt.  zvii. — JerdoUi  Birds  of  India,  ii.  p. 

131,  nee  Pallas. 
8.  capistratat  Hume,  Ibis,  1868,  p.  233  ;  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  184,  nee  Gould. 

I  i.  Shir&z  . .         . .  . .         5000    . .     June. 

The  single  specimen  collected  was  obtained  by  Major  St.  John, 
and  is  important  as  showing  that  this  bird  must  breed  in  Southern 
Persia.  I  may  have  seen  it,  but  if  so  I  mistook  it  for  tlie  preceding 
species. 

'  Unless  a  specimen  which  I  once  obtained  near  N^gpiir,  but  subsequently  lost, 
belonged  to  this  species,  which,  from  my  recollection  of  the  skin,  I  think  possible. 


AVES, 


153 


00.  S.  albonigra,  Hume,  PI.  XI. 

Stray  Feathers,  i,  pp.  2,  185. 

I  ^.  Gw&dar,  Baluchistan 
3  9>  3  young  i.  Karm&n 


5800 


December. 
May  10. 


I  had  already  noted  this  form  as  distinct  from  8,  picafn  when  I 
received  the  first  number  of  Mr.  Hume's  ornithological  publication 
in  which  it  is  described.  It  unmistakably  differs  from  S.  picata, 
not  only  in  its  larger  dimensions,  but  also  in  the  circumstance  that 
the  female  and  young  are  similar  in  colouration  to  the  adult  male^ 
whilst  the  female  and  young  S.j)icata  are  dusky,  not  black.  I  did 
not  distinguish  the  two  species  in  the  field,  but,  I  think,  had 
8.  albonigra  been  common^  I  should  have  obtained  more  specimens, 
because  my  principal  object  was  to  ascertain,  so  far  as  I  could,  the 
range  of  the  different  species,  and  in  consequence  I  occasionally  took 
specimens  of  all,  a  skin  being  a  far  more  trustworthy  record  than  a 
mere  note  of  a  bird's  occurrence. 

On  May  the  loth,  close  to  Karm&n,  I  found  a  female  and  two  young 
birds  of  this  chat  in  a  small  cave  under  a  limestone  hill.  The  young 
ones  were  nestlings,  scarcely  able  to  fly,  but  precisely  similar  in 
colouration  to  the  adults. 

Mr.  Hume  suggests  that  this  bird  may  be  a  stage  of  8,  inonacha^ 
but  in  this  I  cannot  agree.  The  female  of  8,  monacha  appears  to  be 
always  brown,  and  in  all  specimens  which  I  have  seen  there  are 
only  broad  black  tips  to  the  central  pair  of  rectrices,  and  much 
narrower  ones  to  the  two  outer  pairs,  the  intermediate  tail  feathers 
being  white  throughout.  8,  monacha  also  has  a  much  longer  bill 
and  a  longer  tail. 

Mr.  Hume  found  this  bird  at  the  foot  of  the  stony  barren  hills 
on  the  Sind  frontier  and  along  the  Makr&n  coast.  So  far  as  it  is 
possible  to  judge,  it  appears  to  have  a  somewhat  restricted  range, 
but  it  may  be  found  hereafter  farther  to  the  West.  It  is  noteworthy, 
however,  that  it  was  not  obtained  at  Shiriz  by  Major  St.  John. 


91.  S.  pioata,  Blyth. 

Jerdon,  Birds  of  India,  ii,  p.  131. — ^Hume,  Ibia,  1868,  p.  133 ;  Stray  Feathers,  i, 
pp.  3,  184. 

I  9.  Dasht  river,  Baluohist4n  ..  —       ..     Jan.  a6. 

3  9.  B&hd  Kal&t,  Baliiohistin      . .         ..  —      ..     Feb.  i. 


151  /^Oi 

3  <J.  (Jliistigan,  I' 

4  <J.  AHkiin,  l»aTi  • 

5  <J.  Xe.ir  Kahi 

6  y«)unjjr  <J.    Sii! 

7  (J.  Nirlz,  o:i-t 

8  <J.  ?  Elburz  ! 

Mr.  Hume  (I.e.)  thin) 
at  raid  (Hume,  iiec  Goul- 
of  this  species.     Tlie 
the  latter  possessing*  a 
and  S,  hnico(r2)/iala^  nn\. 
is  not   known  with 
lor  doubting"  IMr.   II 
of  the  two  forms,  s» 
lias  hitherto  onlv  I- 

ft' 

to   Eastern   Europr 
countries  many  sjn  • 
Hemprich  and  Eli 
men  of  S,  picafa  ! 
Persia,  where  S.  . 
mono,    and    onlv 
Secondly,  if  S.  ; 
no  similar  phas«' 
auct).      Lastly,  :. 
S.   inor'io^  we  ai 
resembles  the  i. 
j)recisely  like  \. 
Htm  fa  (iS*.  hiorv* 
was  not  made 
habits,  as  thr 
although  belo 
whilst   admit  t 
think  it  best 

I  shot  a  n. 
was  breeding 
probably  oft 

6'.  pleat  a  \ 
It  breeds  th' 
help  thinkin- 
IMajor  St.  Jo 


A  YES.  155 

^ruary.     The  bird  is,  however,  correctly  named  on  the 
(tther  evidence  for  the  existence  of  the  bird  in 
I  Persia.     I  did  not  myself  observe  it  north  of  Shir4z,  and 
\  appear  hitherto  to  have  been  found  in  Central  Asia. 

wiiich  may  be  looked  for  in  the  Persian  area  are 

,  Hemp,  and  Ehr.,  from  Arabia,  lately  discovered  in  Tur- 

y  Serertzov,  described  by  him  as  5.  melanogenya,  and  figured 

^tanoles    {Turk.   Jevotn.   p.   120,   PI.   VIII,   figs.   5,   6),   S. 

•a.  Strickl.,  hitherto  only  known  from  North-western  India, 

^  rare  S.  xanf/inpTi/mna,  H,  and  E. 

wUt  ntelanur(r,"Rap<p.,  from  Arabia  and  North-eastern  Africa, 

dudcd  in  tlie  hana  of  Western  India   by  Blyth  and  Jerdon 

I  authority  of  n  figure  in  some  drawings  collected  by  Sir  A. 

1   Sind.     Hume  (Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  188)  shows  that  the 

t  in    question   probably  represents    5.  chrysopygia    (5.  Kingi), 

I  that  if  C.  tuelanura  had  been  a  regular  inhabitant  of  Sind 

I  scarcely  have  escaped  the  observation  of  himself  and  his 

I   am  well  acquainted  with  the  bird,  which   1  saw  and 

{ucntly  on  the  Abyssinian  coast.     I  was  on  the  look-out  for 

I  Uiiriughout  ray  journey  in  Baluchistan,  and  I  am  certain  I  never 

it.     It  would  be  difficult  to  name  a  bird  not  possessing  brilliant 

»aif«   which   could   be  more   easily  recognised,   and  I   have   no 

pitalion   in   endorsing   Mr,   Hume's  opinion.     I  believe  the  name 

f  he  safely  erased  from  the  Indian  fauna. 


.  Hontioola  cyana,  (L.) 

Petromut/ph'te  ryoniu,  anct. 

I  j.  150  mile»eMtof  Sbir&i,  South  Perda       7000  Mny  30. 

i  J,  3  S-  OiJt  fcrest,  near  Shirii  ..         6000     ..     June. 

<.  5  J.  Near  ShirAi  6000     ..         — 

6young  J,  ahirAi  470°     .-  — 

7  joiing  9.  Lura   v«lley,    Hbora   moun- 

tnjtis,  NorthPersia 6s<>0     ■■     Aug.  9. 

S  jouug  ij.   Lura    vnllsj,  Elburz   monn- 

taina,  North  Peral* 6s«      ■     Ang.  "6- 

iifter  the  elaborate  memoir  on  this  bird  in  Sharpe  and  Dresser's 
B  of  Europe^'  there  is  but  little  to  he  added  to  the  natural  history 
peoieB.     Of  all  the  above  specimens  only  No.  1  is  in  adult 
mage>  all  the  others  have  pale  margins  to  the  feathers.     T^i 


1 5  6  ZOO  LOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

wings  in  the  male  specimens  measure  4.7  to  4.8  in.,  in  the  female, 
No.  3,  4.5  ;  eulmen  0.9  to  0.98. 

There  can  be  but  little  doubt  that  this  species  breeds  throughout 
the  hilly  parts  of  Persia.  I  did  not  notice  any  in  Baluchist&n  in 
winter,  but  Hume  saw  it  on  the  Makr&n  coast. 

93.  M.  saxatilis,  (L.) — De  F. 

P.  C€utan€ocolli$,  Less.  Rev.  Zool.  1840,  p.  166. — Stoliczka,  J.  A.  S.  B.  1868, 
xxxvii,  pt.  ii,  p.  34,  note. 

I  6.  Kuh-i-haz4r,  south-south-east  of  Kann4n  9000  . .  April  30. 

^i  3  i'  ^^^  forest,  near  Shir4z     . .  . .         6000  . .  June. 

5  ($.  Eklld  pass,  north  of  Shir&z    . .  —  . .         .— 

5  young.    Near  Kohnid,  north  of  Isfahan  9000  . .  July  17. 

6  young  <;.   Elburz  mountains,    north  of 

Tehrdn  ..  ..  8000  Aug.  14. 

Common  in  the  mountainous  parts  of  Persia,  in  which  it  must  breed 
about  May  or  June,  for  the  young  bird  shot  on  the  1 7th  of  July  is  a 
fiilly  grown  specimen.  This  bird  I  shot  on  a  telegraph  wire,  a 
common  perch  for  kestrils,  shrikes,  chats,  swallows,  and  other  insecti- 
vorous birds,  as  well  as  for  doves  and  sparrows.  Both  this  and  the 
other  young  specimen,  obtained  a  month  later,  are  in  nearly  the  plum- 
age represented  in  the  right-hand  figure  of  the  second  plate  in  Sharpe 
and  Dresser's  *  Birds  of  Europe.' 

94.  Turdus  mnsicusy  L. 

1  s.  Khisht,  north-east  of  Bushire,  South 

Persia    ..  ..  ..  ..  1800     ..     January. 

2  S-  Oak  forest,  near  Shir&z  . .         . .         4000     . .     January. 

3  young  i.  An4n,  north  slope  of  Elburz 

mountains,  north  of  Tehran     ..  ..         6500     ..     Aug.  I  a. 

4  9.  Resht,  near  the  Caspian  Sea   ..  ..  —       ..      October. 

5  9.  Shores  of  the  Caspian  Sea       ..  ..  —       ..      November. 

The  occurrence  of  the  European  song-thrush  so  far  to  the  south-east 
as  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Persian  Gulf,  adds  considerably  to  the 
known  range  of  the  species.  It  had  previously  been  obtained  from 
Northern  Arabia,  Palestine,  and  Armenia,  as  well  as  from  several  parts 
of  Northern  Asia,  but  it  was  not  noticed  by  De  Filippi  in  Persia,  nor 
did  I  myself  see  it  except  in  Mazandaran  and  Ghilan,  on  the  Caspian 
side  of  the  Elburz  mountains.  It  is  probably  only  a  winter  visitant 
to  Southern  Persia,  though  it  evidently  breeds  in  the  north.     Major 


AV/'JS.  157 

St.  John's  specimens  from  the  former  were  procured  in  midwinter, 
whilst  I  saw  none  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Shir^,  when  I  passed 
through  in  May  and  June. 

05.  *T.  visciyoms,  L. 

T.  ffodsoni,  Lafr.,  Jerdon,  Birds  of  India,  i,  p.  531. 

I  did  not  meet  with  the  missel-thrush  myself,  but  it  has  been  shot 
by  Major  St.  John  in  Southern  Persia  near  Kdzrun.  Menetries  found 
it  common  on  the  summit  of  the  T&Iish  mountains  in  June. 

[I  find  in  my  note  book  that  I  shot  a  missel-thrush  in  the  oak  forest 
above  K&zrun  {4200  feet)  on  the  29th  of  December,  1 866.  The  length 
was  nearly  12  inches,  the  wing  6^.  It  is  not  uncommon  in  Southern 
Persia  in  winter. — O.  St.  J.] 

96.  *  Turdus  iliaous,  L. 

Found  in  the  forests  of  Lankor&n  on  the  Caspian  by  Menetries. 

97.  T.  morula,  L. — De  F. 

I  ($ .  OUlTclZ >.  •*  «•  *•  >• 

2  young  $.  Shir&z 

3  (}>  4  young  i.  Near  Shir^ 

5  young  9.  Mayin  Kotal,  north  of  Shiraz 

6  9.  Kohrud,  north  of  Is&hdn 
7.  An&n,  Elburz  mountains,  north  of  Tehr&n    6500 

The  range  of  the  blackbird  in  Persia  appears  to  be  the  same  as  that 
of  the  song-thrush,  but  whereas  it  is  probable  that  the  latter  leaves 
Southern  Persia  for  more  northern  regions  in  summer,  the  former 
remains  and  breeds  in  the  better  wooded  valleys  around  Shirdz,  for  I 
saw  old  and  young  together  in  June  at  M&yin  Kotal.  I  also  met 
with  this  bird  occasionally  in  gardens.  In  Mazandar&n  and  Ghflan 
it  is  common. 

Whilst  the  male  bird  does  not  differ  from  European  specimens,  the 
female  and  young  birds  are  decidedly  less  rufous,  there  being  no  ferru- 
ginous tint  on  the  breast  of  the  female,  whilst  the  young  is  dark 
earthy  brown  above,  the  feathers  of  the  head,  upper  back,  and  smaller 
coverts  with  pale  central  stripes,  tail  nearly  black,  lower  parts  dirty 
white  with  irregular  brown  transverse  spots,  formed  by  the  terminal 


5000  .. 

— 

4750  ■• 

June. 

6000  .. 

— 

5500  .. 

June  24. 

7000 

July  19. 

6500  .. 

Aug.  I  a. 

1 58  ZOO  LOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

portion  of  each  feather.   The  measurements  slightly  exceed  the  average 
in  European  birds.     I  append  those  of  two  specimens : — 

Wing.      Tail.    Tarsus.  Colmen. 
Male,  Shir&z         ..  ..  ..  ..  5.1         4.5  1.3  I 

Female,  M&jin     ..  ..  ..  ..  5  4.4  1.35  i 

98.  T.  torquatus,  L. 

I  <$  young.    Lam  valley,  Elburz  mountains, 

north  of  Tehr4n         . .  . .  . .  . .  7000  Aug.  10. 

The  occurrence  of  this  bird  in  Persia  appears  to  have  been  already 
noticed  by  Pallas  (Zoogr.  Ros.  As.  i,  p.  451).  Both  Pallas  and  M&^- 
tries  obtained  it  in  the  Caucasus.  My  only  specimen  was  shot  by  a 
collector  at  a  considerable  height  on  the  Elburz.  It  is  probable  that 
the  bird  breeds  in  those  mountains. 

The  only  example  obtained  is  in  a  phase  of  plumage  intermediate 
between  that  of  the  yo\mg  on  leaving  the  nest,  as  figured  in  Sharpe 
and  Dresser's  '  Birds  of  Europe,'  and  that  of  the  adult  male  in  winter 
plumage.  The  head  and  hind  neck  are  brown,  back  blackish  brown 
with  narrow  paler  edgings,  broader  and  more  rufous  above  than  below  ; 
tail  nearly  black,  quills  and  larger  coverts  dark  brown,  with  whitish 
edges ;  throat  dirty  white,  with  numerous  dark  brown  spots  towards 
the  edges ;  pectoral  gorget  well  developed,  pale  greyish  pink ;  rest  of 
under  parts  blackish  brown,  with  whitish  margins  to  the  feathers: 
wing  5.4  in.,  tail  4.2,  tarsus  1.3,  culmen  0.85. 

99.  T.  atrigularis,  Tern. 

Planestictts    atrogvlaris,   Jerdon,    Birds    of   India,   i,   p.    529. — Stolicska^ 

J.  A.  S.  B.  1868,  xzvii,  pt.  ii,  p.  35. 
Oichloides  atrogularis,  Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.   179. — ^Tytler,  Ibis,  1869 

p.  1 24. 

i>  3>  3>  4t  5  <$i  ^»  7  ?•  Gwadar,  Baliichlst&n 

coast    ..         ••         ..  ..         ..  —  ..  December. 

8  6.  Gw&dar,  Baliicbistdn  coast  . .  . .  —  . .  Jan.  13. 

9  9.  Gw&dar,  Baliichistin            ..          ..  —  ..  Jan.  15. 
10  $.  Hand,  Baluchist&n  ..                     ..  800  ..  Feb.  13. 

The  winter  plumage  of  this  bird  has  been  well  described  by  Tytler 
and  StoHczka  (1.  c.) ;  Jerdon's  description  is  that  of  a  young  bird. 

I  found  the  black-throated  thrush  common  in  Baluchist&n  in  winter. 
It  was  especially  so  in  the  miserable  apologies  for  gardens  at  Gwfidar, 
one  of  the  most  desolate  of  inhabited  spots  on  the  earth's  surface,  where 


A  VES.  159 

I  can  only  explain  the  occurrence  of  this  bird  by  the  circumstance  of 
its  being  unable  to  migrate  ftirther  south  on  account  of  the  sea ;  and 
as  confirming  this  view,  I  may  mention  that  I  saw  several  of  these 
birds  on  some  very  cold  days  in  January,  when,  as  we  afterwards 
learnt,  all  the  higher  plains  in  Persia  were  covered  with  snow.  The 
birds  were  very  tame,  searching  for  food  around  the  houses  on  the 
open  sand-downs.  Elsewhere  I  only  saw  this  bird  in  fairly  wooded 
localities,  such  as  the  plains  of  Pishm  and  Mand.  I,  however,  did  not 
see  it  in  the  much  more  fertile  and  better  wooded  plains  of  Bampur 
and  Narmashir,  and  I  think  it  probable  that  before  I  reached  those 
places,  in  the  commencement  of  April,  these  birds  had  migrated  north- 
wards. Nor  did  either  Major  St.  John  or  I  ever  meet  with  T.atrigularia 
on  the  Persian  plateau,  although  this  species  is  found  in  Europe,  as 
well  as  in  Northern  Asia,  the  Himalayas,  and  North-western  India. 

It  is  probable  \Ai2A,Turdmfuscatus^  Pall.,  and  T.^ilaris^  L.,  also  occur 
in  Persia  in  winter,  as  they  have  been  recorded  from  the  countries 
both  east  and  west,  but  as  yet  neither  of  them  appears  to  have  been 
observed  within  our  area. 

100.  *  P  Oreocinola  varia,  (Pall.) 

Major  St.  John  is  satisfied  that  he  has  seen  this  bird  at  Tehr&n. 

101.  Eiythaous  rubeoula,  (Lath.) 

I  9.  Shir4z,  South  Persia  . .  . .         4700     . .     July. 

The  robin  is  not  found  in  the  barren  regions  of  Persia,  and  the  form 
which  abounds  on  the  Caspian  appears  to  be  distinguishable  from  the 
common  European  species,  but  a  single  skin,  obtained  by  Major 
St.  John's  collector  at  Shirdz,  precisely  agrees  with  European  speci- 
mens. This  locality  is  probably  the  south-eastern  limit  of  this  bird's 
range,  which  will,  in  all  likelihood,  be  found  to  extend  throughout 
the  wooded  hills  which  divide  the  Persian  plateau  from  the  lowlands 
of  Mesopotamia.  If  M.  Verreaux  has  correctly  identified  a  specimen 
obtained  by  Mr.  Hume,  the  Japanese  species  Er^thacus  akahige  is 
found  in  the  North-western  Himalayas  (Ibis,  1871,  p.  31). 

I  think  there  can  be  little  doubt  but  that  the  robins  obtained  by 
De  Filippi  in  Northern  Persia  belonged  to  the  next  race. 

[The  specimen  in  the  collection  was  obtained  by  my  collector,  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Shir^,  during  my  absence  in  the  north.   I  have 


160  ZOO  LOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

occasionally  observed  a  bird  in  thickets  abont  river  beds  in  the  south, 
bearing  a  strong  resemblance  to  the  common  redbreast,  but  from  its 
shy,  unfamiliar  habits,  I  always  put  it  down  as  Erythrosterna  parva. 
However,  as  it  is  certainly  not  the  redbreast  which  we  found  so 
common  about  Resht  on  the  Caspian,  I  can  only  suppose  that  the 
collector's  story  is  correct,  and  that  he  did  get  the  specimen  near 
Shirdz.— O.  St.  J.] 

102.  Erythaciis  Hyrcanns,  W.  Blanf.  PI.  XV,  fig.  i. — Do  P. 

Ibis.  1874,  p.  79. 

E,  ruhectda,  De  Filippi,  Viag.  in  Pera.  p.  347. 

f  Sylvia  rubeculat  Mdn.  Cat.  Rais.  p.  35. 

i>  ^t  3>  4  <$>  5  ?•  Resht,  Ghil&n October. 

E.  qffinis  E,  rubeculse  sed  pectore  rufo  saturatiore,  snpracaudalibus 
Jhrruffineis,/ron^e  rufd  latiore  et  roatro  longiore  distinguendus. 

Hab,  in  provincid  Persicd  hodiernd  Ghilan  dicta  {afitice  Hyrcania 
parte)  ad  litus  meridionale  maris  Qispii, 

Colour  above  umber  brown,  more  or  less  tinged  with  olivaceous; 
upper  tail  coverts  dull  ferruginous;  tail  feathers  rufous  brown,  the 
outer  webs  towards  the  base  having  a  strong  rusty  tinge ;  quills  and 
wing  coverts  hair  brown,  the  margins  rather  paJer  and  more  rufous ; 
forehead  with  the  anterior  portion  of  the  region  above  the  eyes,  sides 
of  neck  below  the  ear  coverts,  throat  and  breast  rich  ferruginous  red, 
deeper  than  in  E.  rubecula ;  lower  breast  and  abdomen  white ;  under 
tail  coverts  isabelline,  sides  of  abdomen  and  thigh  coverts  pale 
rufescent  olive. 

The  following  are  the  dimensions  of  a  pair  of  skins  of  E.  Hyrcanns 
from  Resht,  of  the  specimen  from  Shiraz,  and  of  two  European  skins 
of  E.  rubecula  from  Mr.  Dresser's  collection : — 


Wing. 

Tail. 

Tarsus. 

Culmen. 

BiUfirom 
nostriL 

Male,  Resht  (E,  ffyrcanw)      ..      2.9 

2-45 

105 

0.65 

0.34 

Female,  Besht  {E,  Eyrcamu)  ..      3.8 

2.2 

i.oa 

0.65 

0.32 

Female,  Shir&z  {E,  rvhecuia)    ..      1.85 

2.2 

.98 

0.6 

0.3 

Male,  Piedmont  {E,  mbecula)  . .      a. 83 

2.2 

I 

0.55 

0.28 

CrimeA  {E.  rvbecula)     ..         ..      a.92 

a-45 

I.I 

0.56 

0.3 

The  most  characteristic  distinction  of  the  North  Persian  species, 
judging  by  the  specimens  before  me,  is  the  deep  ferruginous  tint  of 
the  upper  tail  coverts,  and  of  the  outer  webs  of  the  rectrices  towards 
their  base.     The  rufous  of  the  breast  too  is  much  deeper,  and  the  bill 


A7ES.  161 

rather  longer  than  in  the  European  form.  E.  Ilyrcanm  cannot  be 
considered  as  more  than  a  local  race  of  E,  rubecula,  and  it  is  with  great 
hesitation  that  I  venture  to  separate  it.  It  abounds  in  the  forest 
district  near  the  Caspian,  where  alone  I  observed  it.  All  the  speci- 
mens procured  were  collected  by  Major  St.  John. 

De  Filippi  obtained  specimens  of  ErytAacus  from  Kend  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Tehrfin  \  as  well  as  from  Ghil&n.  They  probably 
belonged  to  the  present  species  which  may  straggle  across  the  Elburz 
into  the  gardens  near  the  Persian  capital.  I  never  saw  robins  at 
any  elevation  in  the  Elburz  mountains,  nor  did  I  meet  with  them 
near  Tehr&n. 

M^n^tries  states  that  Sylvia  rubecula  is  not  common  at  Lankor&n. 
Probably  the  species  is  the  same  as  at  Besht. 

[This  redbreast  was  found  plentifully  about  Resht,  on  the  shores  of 
the  Caspian.  My  Bengali  collector,  never  having  seen  such  a  bird 
before,  shot  and  skinned  half-a-dozen  or  more,  for  which  I,  in  my 
superior  wisdom,  rebuked  him  as  waste  of  time,  having  no  doubt  but 
that  it  was  the  common  English  redbreast.  It  is  thus  by  a  mere 
chance  that  it  is  not  represented  in  the  collection  by  a  single  spe- 
cimen.— O.  St.  J.] 

103.  CoBS3rpha  (Irania)  gutturalis,  Gu^r. — De  F. 

Gu^rin,  Rev.  Zool.  1843,  p.  162.— Ferr.  et  Gall.  Voy.  en  Abysdnie,  Atlas,  PL 
v.— Finsch,  Tr.  Z.  S.  vii,  p.  243.— Sharpe  and  Dreaser,  Birds  of  Europe, 
pt.  xiv. 
Saancdla  aXbigidaris,  Pelz.  Sitzungsb.  Akad.  Wise.  Wien,  xlviii,  p.  150. 
BestomU  aXbigvlarU,  Tristram,  Ibis,  1867,  p.  89,  PI.  I. 
Irania  Finoti,  De  F.  Archiv.  per  Zool.  Genora,  ii,  p.  381 ;   Viag.  in  Persia, 
p.  347.— Salvadori,  Atti  R.  Acad.  Sci.  Tor.  1868,  vol.  iii,  p.  283. 
X  young  e  ?.  Near  Nirlz,  east  of  Shir4z  7000      ..     June  i. 

2  tf ,  3, 4  9.  Shiriz ..         5000     ••     J^*^®- 

6tf.  Shiriz 5000      ..     July. 

7  <J,  8  young  <J.  Shiriz  5000     ..     August. 

9  <J,  10  9.  Shiriz 5«x>     ..     September. 

II  $.  Lura  valley,  Elburz  mountains,  north 

ofTehrin 6500     ..     Augusts. 

12,  13  ^.    Lura  valley,   Elburz   mountains, 

north  of  Tehr4n  . .  6500     ..     August  16. 

^  In  this  case  however,  as  in  many  others,  he  appears  only  to  have  noted  the  occurrence 
of  the  birds,  and  not  to  have  preserved  skins,  since  there  are  no  specimens  at  Turin. 

VOL.  II.  M 


162  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

This  handsome  chat  is  probably  found  in  summer  throughout  the 
hills  of  South-western,  Western,  and  Northern  Persia,  wherever  there 
is  a  Bufficiency  of  cover,  I  first  saw  it,  I  believe,  at  Kh4n-i-surkh, 
about  seventy  miles  south-west  of  Karm&n.  As  it  is  essentially  a 
bush  bird,  it  is  not  to  be  looked  for  on  the  desert  plains  and  barren 
hills  of  Central  Persia.  On  account  of  its  skulking  habits,  it  may 
easily  pass  unnoticed,  and  it  may  possibly  be  much  more  common  than 
it  appeared  to  be ;  indeed,  it  must  be  far  from  rare  around  Shir&z,  to 
judge  by  the  fine  series  collected  there  by  Major  St.  John. 

Persia  is  the  most  eastern  locality  in  which  this  chat  has  hitherto 
been  found ;  its  range  extending  thence  to  North-eastern  Africa.  It  is 
probably  migratory,  and  some  of  the  birds  found  in  Persia  in  summer 
may  go  to  the  shores  of  the  Red  Sea  in  winter,  taking,  like  some  other 
species,  a  line  of  migration  from  north-east  to  south-west. 

As  regards  the  habits  of  CossypAa  gutturalisy  I  have  but  little  to  add 
to  what  has  been  stated  by  Messrs.  Sharpe  and  Dresser  in  the  '  Birds 
of  Europe.'  It  is  essentially  a  bush  bird,  so  far  as  my  observations 
extend,  silent  and  shy.  I  saw  two  or  three  individuals  at  different 
times  in  some  bushy  ground  on  the  banks  of  the  Lura  or  Karij  river 
in  the  Elburz  mountains,  and  I  had  occasion  to  notice  their  habit  of 
escaping,  when  pursued  or  watched,  into  a  bush,  and  sitting  im- 
movable amongst  the  branches.  Messrs.  Tristram  and  Kriiper  have 
described  this  species  as  much  more  active  and  lively  than  it  appeared 
to  me  to  be,  but  the  difference  is  naturally  due  to  their  observations 
having  been  made  in  the  breeding  season. 

There  is  a  remarkable  similarity  between  the  colouration  of  Coasypka 
gutturalis  and  that  of  several  Himalayan  bush  birds,  especially  lanthia 
rufitata^  L  AyperytAra,  and  Larvivora  superciliaris;  but  these  species 
have  shorter,  more  rounded  wings,  and  longer  tarsi  than  CossypAa. 
There  is  also  a  similar  distribution  of  colour  in  Calliope^  in  Nitidula, 
and  in  some  species  of  Siphia  and  CyomU.  "What  may  be  the  exact 
explanation  of  this  striking  similarity  it  is  difficult  to  say,  but  it 
must,  I  think,  indicates  affinity.  In  external  structure  this  bird 
approaches  as  nearly  to  Saxicola  as  to  any  of  the  Buticillina,  but  its 
habits  agree  with  those  of  the  latter  group,  and  so  does  its  colouration. 
Count  Salvador!  has  pointed  out  that  it  has  a  much  more  pointed 
wing  than  any  of  the  true  CossypAa,  and  he  considers  that  the  genus 
Trania  of  De  Filippi,  founded  for  this  species,  should  be  kept  distinct 
from  Cosaypha.     The  difference  is    certainly  as  great  as  in   many 


AVES.  163 

universally  admitted  genera^  and  this  bird  is,  I  think,  fairly  entitled 
to  Bubgeneric  rank  at  least. 

The  two  young  specimens  of  this  species  figured  in  Sharpe  and 
Dresser's  *  Birds  of  Europe/  are  Nos.  i  and  8  of  the  preceding  list. 
The  sex  of  the  Niriz  specimen  was  marked  as  female  on  the  ticket. 
I  was  marching  rapidly  at  the  time,  and  I  am  under  the  impression 
that  I  did  not  ascertain  the  sex  myself,  so  the  determination  is  doubt- 
ful ;  but  the  collector  who  was  with  me  made  but  few  mistakes,  and 
I  think  it  not  improbable  that  this  bird  was  an  old  female  taking  on 
the  male  plumage.     Still  the  appearance  is  that  of  a  young  male. 

The  type  of  Irania  Finoti,  De  F.,  now  in  the  Museum  of  Turin,  is  a 
young  bird,  with  pale  spots  at  the  ends  of  the  wing  coverts,  and  may 
be  of  either  sex. 

104.  Butioilla  phcDnioura,  (L.)— De  F. 

(?)  X  9'  Shir&z  . .         . .         . .  5000     . .     December. 

Amongst  the  collections  made  by  Major  St.  John  in  Shirdz  is  a 
female  redstart,  which  I  think  probably  belongs  to  this  species.  It  is 
more  pale-coloured  than  females  of  B.  rufveniris,  and  it  has  decidedly 
shorter  tarsi  and  bill,  whilst  it  exactly  agrees,  in  these  particulars, 
with  European  specimens  of  the  common  redstart.  But  as  I  have  no 
male  birds  of  this  species  from  Southern  Persia,  I  am  in  some  doubt 
as  to  whether  this  may  not  be  a  hen  bird  of  R.  erytAroprocta,  Gould, 
the  female  of  which  does  not  appear  to  be  distinguishable  from  that  of 
JR.  phcenicura.  As,  however,  no  specimens  of  R.  eryihroprocta  have 
been  procured  hitherto  in  Persia,  whilst  De  Filippi  found  R.  pAosnicura 
breeding  in  the  gardens  of  Kazvin,  north-west  of  Tehran,  and  Men^- 
tries  met  with  it  abundantly  at  Lankor&n  on  the  Caspian,  I  think  it 
more  probable  that  the  Shirfiz  skin  belonged  to  the  latter  species. 

Blyth  (Ibis,  1867,  p.  15)  and  Jerdon  (Birds  of  India,  vol.  ii.  app. 
p.  876)  consider  it  probable  that  the  reports  of  this  bird's  occurrence 
in  India  are  founded  in  error,  so  we  have  no  authenticated  instance  of 
its  being  found  east  of  Shirdz. 

105.  B.  raflventrifl,  (Yieil). 

Le  Traquei  d  cut  roux,  Levail,  Ois.  d^Afrique,  PI.  188,  fig.  3. 
OSnanthe  ruJivetUrU,  Vieil.  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  zxi,  p.  431. 
Muiidlla  atrata,  Jard.  and  Sel.  lU.  Orn.  PI.  86,  fig.  3. 

M  7, 


164  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

R.  NipalensU,  v.  cUrata,  Hodgs.  Graj's  Zool.  Misc.  (1844),  p.  83.— Horefield 

and  Moore,  Cat.  Mub.  E.  I.  Co.  i,  p.  302. 
H.  Indica,  Blyth,  Cat.  Birds  Mus.  A.  S.  p.  168. 
-K.  phcenicuroides,  Moore,  P.  Z.  S.  1854,  p.  35,  PI.  LVIT. 

I  <J,  3  9.  Plshln,  Baliichistdn       . .         . .  600     ..      Feb.  8. 

3  <$.  Ghistigiii,  Bampusht,  Baluclii8t4n  3000     ..      Feb.  28. 

4  <$.  J&lk,  Baliichistan 3000     ..     March  17. 

5  9.  West  of  Bam,  south-eastern  Persia  6000     . .     April  27. 

Hume,  in  'Stray  Feathers/  vol.  i,  p.  189,  has  expressed  an  opinion 
that  B.  pkomicuroidea  of  Moore  ifi  merely  the  autumn  plumage  of 
jB.  rufiventrisj  Vieil,  and  that  B.  erythroprocta^  Gould,  belongs  to  the 
same  species.  So  &r  as  Ruticilla  pAanicuroides^  is  concerned,  I  am 
inclined  to  agree.  I  can  see  no  diflference  between  undoubted  male 
specimens  of  JR.  rufivmtris  from  Eastern  India,  and  others  from  Sind 
and  Persia,  agreeing  well  with  the  description  of  R,  pAcenicuroides;  but 
females  from  the  latter  country  have  the  lower  parts  much  paler,  and 
the  lower  abdomen  and  under  tail  coverts  less  rufous  than  those  I  have 
seen  from  the  former.  This  difference,  however,  may  be  seasonal,  all 
the  skins  of  hens  of  R.  rufiveiiiria  from  India,  to  which  I  have  access, 
being  those  of  birds  shot  in  winter,  whilst  my  two  specimens  from 
Baluchist&n  and  Persia  were  killed  in  Febniary  and  April,  and  that 
shot  in  the  latter  month  has  the  throat  and  breast  decidedly  paler 
than  the  February  bird.  The  males  vary  much  in  plumage,  as  men- 
tioned by  Hume ;  there  being,  first,  the  plumage  described  by  Jerdon, 
with  the  crown  of  the  head  grey,  and  the  remainder  of  the  upper  parts 
to  the  rump  black ;  the  feathers  having  more  or  less  grey  (or  rather 
brown)  edges ;  then  the  birds  with  a  black  mantle  and  forehead,  the 
grey  of  the  crown  being  sometimes  confined  to  the  anterior  portion, 
just  behind  the  black  frontal  band ;  and,  lastly,  the  pAcenicuroides  stage 
with  the  whole  mantle  and  crown  grey,  the  forehead  remaining  black. 
So  far  as  birds  from  Baluchistfin  are  concerned,  this  last  would  appear 
to  be  the  colouration  of  birds  in  spring,  but  Hume  (1.  c.)  calls  it  the 
autumn  plumage.  At  all  events,  the  blackest  specimen  I  possess  was 
shot  at  Kar&chi  in  December,  and  one  with  the  whole  upper  parts 
to  the  rump  grey  was  killed  at  J41k  on  March  the  17th,  whilst  the 
specimen  shot  on  February  the  28th  is  in  intermediate  plumage.  All 
have  the  sides  of  the  head;  throat,  and  breast  black,  lower  breast, 
abdomen,  under  wing  coverts  and  axillaries,  deep  ferruginous  red. 

^  The  type  of  this  species,  as  of  many  others,  is  at  present  unfortunately  inaooesaible 
lor  oomparison,  together  with  the  rest  of  the  ooUection  formerly  at  the  India  House. 


A7ES.  165 

I  cannot^  however,  coincide  in  the  union  of  R,  ert/throprocta^  Gould, 
with  R.  rufiventris.  A  pair  of  Mr.  Gould's  types  in  the  British 
Museum,  labelled  bom  Erzeroum,  have  a  rather  shorter  bill  and  tarsua 
than  R.  rufiventris,  agreeing  in  this  respect  with  R,  phcsnicura ;  and, 
in  the  male  of  R.  erythroproctay  the  black  descends  much  fS^ther  on 
the  breast  than  in  R.  rufiventrisj  the  whole  of  the  under  wing  coverts 
and  axillaries  being  black  in  the  former,  whilst  in  the  latter  they  are 
rufous,  except  the  under  coverts  close  to  the  edge  of  the  wing.  The 
distribution  of  the  black  colour  is  correctly  stated  by  Mr.  Gould  in 
his  original  description  of  R,  erythroprocta  (P.  Z.  S,  1855,  p.  78), 
and  in  the  '  Birds  of  Asia.' 

I  was  at  first  disposed  to  consider  R.  seminifa,  Hemp,  and  Ehr. 
(Symb.  Phys.  Aves,  fol.  bb.  and  Tristram,  Ibis,  1867,  pp.  87,  88), 
identical  with  R.  rufiventris;  but  after  examining  Messrs.  Hemprich 
and  Ehrenberg's  typed  in  the  Berlin  Museum,  and  a  pair  brought  by 
Mr.  Tristram  from  Mount  Lebanon,  and  now  in  the  British  Museimi, 
I  am  rather  disposed  to  consider  the  Palestine  bird  a  constantly 
smaller  race.  In  colouration  it  precisely  coincides  with  R.  rufivetUris^ 
and  like  that  form  is  distinguished  from  R.  erythroprocta  by  its  cinna- 
mon coloured  axillaries.  I  give  the  comparative  measurements  of 
three  males  and  a  female  of  R.  semirufa  in  the  Berlin  Museum,  and 
two  males  and  two  females  of  22.  rvfiventrU  collected  by  myself. 

R.  ncmimfa. 

Wing.    Tail.    Tanras.    Culmen. 

I  <j.  Egypt  3.06  a.3  0.91  0.53 

a  ^.  Lebanon        ..  ..  3.1  a. 25  0.9  0.57 

3  <$.  Syria  ..         ..         ..  ..  3.9  2.32  0.9  0.55 

49.  Syria 3-o<^  ^-^S  0.92  0.55 

R,  rufixenJLrU, 

I  <$.  Ear4chl,  Sind 3.26  a.5  0.95  0.6 

3  <$.  Ghistig&n,  BaluchiBtdn  ..  3.37  a.52  0.95  0.67 

3  9.  Near  Bam,  South-east  Persia  ..  3.16  2.4  0.92  0.55 

4  9.  Pishin,  Baliichist&n 3>i  ^-4  0.95  0.61 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  difference  is  very  small.  Jerdon  gives  con- 
siderably larger  measurements  for  R.  rufiventris  :  wing  3^,  tail  2xV*  ^^^ 
it  is  by  no  means  improbable  that  the  measurement  of  a  large  series 
from  India  would  show  that  the  specimens  of  R.  semirufa  are  within 
the  limits  of  variation  of  R.  mfivenfria;  in  which  case  the  two  should 
be  united. 


1 66  ZOO  LOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

One  of  the  specimens  which  I  refer  to  R.  ruJlvenM^,  the  male  bird 
from  Pishm  in  Baluchist^,  shot  on  February  the  8th,  presents  the  pecu- 
liarity of  a  narrow  white  frontal  band  above  the  usual  black  forehead, 
thus  resembling  R.  phcmicuray  except  that  the  white  band  is  usually 
much  broader  in  that  species.  In  other  respects  this  specimen  agrees 
with  R,  rufiventris,  being  a  larger  bird,  with  longer  bill  and  tarsi  than 
R.  pAcsnicura,  and  having  more  black  on  the  breast.  I  am  disposed 
to  look  upon  the  white  upper  forehead  as  a  mere  individual  variation ; 
but  the  late  Mr.  Blyth  informed  me  that  he  had  seen  similar  specimens 
in  India,  and  they  may  belong  to  a  peculiar  and  undescribed  race,  or 
possibly  be  hybrids  between  R.  nifventris  and  R,  phoenicura. 

From  the  localities  above  quoted,  as  those  at  which  specimens  were 
collected,  it  will  be  seen  that  none  were  obtained  on  the  Persian 
plateau,  and  hitherto  there  is  no  evidence,  so  far  as  I  am  aware^  of 
the  occurrence  of  R,  rujivenfria  in  Persia  proper.  It  may  traverse  the 
country  in  spring  and  autumn  and  breed  farther  north,  but  neither 
De  Filippi,  Major  St.  John,  nor  I  observed  it,  and  its  absence  renders 
the  isolation  and  distinctness  of  7?.  semirufa  more  probable. 


106.  B.  titys,  (Scop). 

De  Fil.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  376. 

R.  Cairii,  T>eg\.  Diet.  Univ.  d'Hiiit.  Nat.  1848,  xi,  p.  259. 

I  9*  Kliisht,  north-east  of  Bushire  ..  1800  January. 

The  only  specimen  obtained  is  in  the  plumage  described  as  R.  Cairii^ 
and  now  shown  to  be  that  of  the  old  female  of  R.  titys. 

I  append  a  brief  description  of  the  skin :  head  and  back  greyish 
brown,  the  feathers  of  the  former  ash  grey,  of  the  latter  black,  except 
on  the  edges.  Wings  umber  brown,  smaller  coverts  blackish.  Upper 
tail  coverts  and  outer  rectrices  bright  ferruginous,  central  rectrices 
dark  brown,  and  external  web  of  outermost  tail  feathers  also  brown^ 
but  paler.  Sides  of  head  and  neck,  throat,  and  breast  black,  with 
brownish  edges  to  the  feathers;  these  edges  become  broader  further 
back  and  cause  the  black  of  the  breast  to  pass  gradually  into  pale 
earthy  brown  on  the  abdomen.  "Wing  lining  mixed  black  and  pale 
brown.     Wing  3.25  in.,  tail  2.25,  tarsus  0.92,  bill  from  forehead  048. 

R,  titys  had  not  previously,  so  far  as  I  know,  been  noticed  south  of 
the  Elburz  mountains.     It  was  observed  by  Menetries  in  the  moun- 


A  VES.  167 


tains  of  Tfilish,  near  Lankor&n,  and  by  De  Filippi  on  Demavend^  near 
Tehr&n,  as  recorded  on  p.  276  of  his  *  Viaggio  in  Persia/  although  the 
species  is  omitted  in  the  list  of  Persian  birds  at  pp.  345-352. 


107.  B.  erythronota,  (Eyersman). 

Sylvia  erythronoia,  Eyenra.  Addend.  Pallas,  Zoogr.  Fasc.  ii. 
(?)  R,  rufogularia,  Moore,  P.  Z.  S.  1854,   P-  ^7.  PI-  LIV.— Horaf.  and 
Moore,  Cat.  Birds  Mua.  E.  I.  Co.  i,  p.  306. 


I  9.  Slhiriz,  Soath  Persia 

5000 

..     September. 

3  9.  Shir&z             

5000 

November. 

3^.  Shir&z             

5000 

December. 

4,  5,  6  ^.  Khisht,  north-east  of  Boshire.. 

1800 

Janoaiy. 

I  have  identified  this  species  with  specimens  thus  named  in  several 
European  collections.  I  cannot  find  a  copy  of  Eversman's  paper  in 
London ! 

The  series  above  specified  was  collected  by  Major  St.  John  in  the 
winter  of  1870-71.  I  never  saw  this  fine  redstart,  which  appears 
to  be  only  a  winter  visitant  in  Southern  Persia,  and  probably  breeds 
fiir  to  the  north. 

I  think  it  highly  probable  that  this  redstart  is  the  R.  rufogularis  of 
Moore.  The  original  specimens  described  in  the  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  are 
no  longer  accessible;  they  form  part  of  the  East  India  Company's 
Museum ;  and  the  skins  before  me,  although  agreeing  very  fairly,  do 
not  exactly  coincide  with  either  the  description  or  figure  of  R. 
rufogularis^  so  that  although  I  believe  this  name  to  be  a  synonym  of 
R.  erythronoiay  I  cannot  be  quite  certain.  In  the  description  of 
R.  rufogularisy  that  species  is  said  to  have  the  scapulars  white,  but  I 
cannot  help  thinking  it  possible  that  this  may  be  a  slip  or  a  misprint, 
for  in  the  plate  nothing  of  the  kind  is  shown.  In  this  figure,  how- 
ever, the  deep  rufous  colouration  of  the  breast  is  shown  to  terminate 
abruptly  and  not  to  pass  gradually  into  the  pale  isabelline  colour  of 
the  abdomen,  as  it  does  in  both  the  Persian  skins,  and  in  two  from 
TurkestAn  in  Lord  Walden's  collection.  But  this  again  is  very 
possibly  a  mistake  of  the  draughtsman,  due  to  the  state  of  the 
specimen.  It  may  even  be  an  individual  peculiarity,  or  seasonal,  for 
all  the  skins  to  which  I  have  access  have  been  collected  in  winter. 
In  a  Persian  specimen,  shot  in  January,  the  rufous  of  the  breast  is 


168  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

much  brighter,  and  there  is  a  much  sharper  line  of  demarcation 
between  it  and  the  whitish  abdomen  than  is  the  case  in  birds  collected 
in  the  autmnn,  so  that,  on  the  whole,  I  attach  very  little  importance 
to  this  apparent  difference.  The  female  in  Moore's  figure  differs  in 
no  respect  fix)m  the  Shir£z  birds.  Moore's  measurements  are  rather 
leas  than  those  of  the  Persian  skins. 

R,  rufogularis  has  lately  been  rediscovered  by  Col.  Delme  Badcliffe 
and  Mr.  Hmne  near  Peshawur,  where  the  bird  is  a  regular  winter 
visitant.  (Ibis,  1870,  p.  530.)  Now  as  the  species  found  in  Southern 
Persia  agrees  perfectly  with  specimens  in  Lord  Walden's  and  Mr. 
Dresser's  collections  from  Turkest&n,  and  the  bird  occurs  in  both 
localities  in  winter^  it  is  hardly  probable  that  the  race  which  visits 
the  Peshawur  valley  at  the  same  season^  and  which  is  evidently  very 
closely  allied,  should  be  different. 

I  add  a  description  of  the  Shir&z  specimens. 

Male :  head  and  nape  pale  ash  grey,  with  a  few  black  feathers  above 
the  nostrils  and  base  of  the  bill,  scarcely  amounting  to  a  distinct 
frontal  band ;  back,  throat,  and  breast  deep  ferruginous,  rump  a  little 
paler,  lateral  rectrices  the  same,  with  a  little  brown  near  the  ends  of 
the  external  webs  of  the  outer  two  pairs;  central  pair  of  rectrices 
dark  brown  throughout,  except  on  the  margin  of  the  outer  web, 
which  is  rufous ;  extreme  chin,  sides  of  the  chin  and  neck,  lores  and 
ear  coverts  black.  Quills  hair  brown  with  pale  edges,  coverts  blackish 
brown,  with  a  broad  transverse  white  band  formed  by  the  median 
coverts  and  the  greater  coverts  of  the  secondaries  nearest  the  body. 
Abdomen,  under  tail  coverts,  and  inner  margins  of  the  quills,  pale 
isabelline;  axillaries  white  at  the  ends^  black  towards  the  base,  inner 
wing  coverts  mixed  black  and  white.  In' specimens  shot  in  September 
and  December  all  the  colours  are  less  pure,  the  feathers  of  the  crown 
have  brown  margins,  and  the  red  of  the  back  and  breast  is  much  con- 
cealed by  the  brown  margins  of  the  feathers  above  and  by  isabelline 
edgings  below.  The  black  of  the  sides  of  the  head  and  neck  also  is 
brownish. 

Female:  rather  pale  earthy  brown  above,  rump  and  outer  tail 
feathers  ferruginous,  the  latter  brownish  at  the  ends,  central  rectrices 
dark  brown,  quills  hair  brown  with  pale  edges,  which  are  broadest 
and  whitest  on  the  last  secondaries  and  the  median  coverts^  forming 
an  indistinct  whitish  bar  on  the  wing.  Sides  of  head  and  lower 
parts  pale  greyish  brown^  much  paler  than  the  back,  and  becoming 


AVES.  169 

whitish  on  the  abdomen  and  lower  tail  coverts,  the  latter  having  a 
veiy  slight  rufous  tinge.    Measurements  : — 

Wing.  Tail.  Tarsus.  Culmen. 

tf  ••         ••         ••         ••         ••                    3*45         ^'7  ®'9          0.62 

^  ••                   ••                    ••                    3*4^        ^'TS  ^'9          ^'^ 

9 3.35        a.65  0.85        0.62 

9 3.36        a.8  0.92        0.62 

In  some  specimens  all  the  outer  rcctrices  are  brownish  at  the  tips, 
the  shafts  being  the  darkest  part,  but  this  is  not  always  the  case. 

R.  erythrogaatra^  (Giild.)  occurs  both  in  the  Caucasus  to  the  north- 
west of  Persia^  and  to  the  east  in  the  Himalayas  as  far  as  Sikkim.  It 
probably  may  be  found  in  Persia^  in  the  Northern  parts  at  least. 

108.  Cyaneoula  Sueoioa,  (L.) 

Motacilla  Suecica,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  edit,  zii ;  i,  p.  336. — BIyth,  Ibis,  1867, 

p.  17. 
M.   ccrrulccula,  Poll.Zoogr.   Kos.  As.  i,  p.  480. — Gray,  Handlist,  i,  p.  233. 

1  S'  B&hii  KaUt,  Baliichistdn     . .         . .  —      . .      Feb.  3. 

2  $,  Near  Kalag&n,  Baluchistan  . .  . .  4000     . .      March  19. 

3  (f.  Bampiir,  Baluchistan  ..  ..  2000  April  7. 

All  the  specimens  obtained  had  the  rufous  spot  in  the  centre  of  the 
breast,  like  those  from  India  and  Sweden.  I  obtained  no  examples  in 
Persia  proper,  and  De  Filippi  records  the  occurrence  of  the  white  spotted 
species  only.  It  is  possible  that  both  kinds  occur,  as  they  do,  according 
to  Tristram,  in  Palestine  (Ibis,  1867,  p.  86). 

109.  P  *  C.  Worn,  Brehm.— Do  F. 

C  Suecica,  L.  var.  (C7.  leucoqfana,  Br.),  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  347. 

De  Filippi  says  that  he  obtained  this  species  in  the  valley  of  the  Lfir, 
north-east  of  Tehrdn  in  the  Elburz  mountains.  It  is  highly  probable 
that  bluethroats  breed  in  these  mountains ;  at  the  same  time  Dresser, 
in  the  '  Birds  of  Europe,'  points  out  the  probability  of  an  inmiature 
specimen  of  C,  Suecica  having  been  mistaken  for  C,  Wolfi.  I  could  find 
no  skin  preserved  by  De  Filippi  in  Turin. 

110.  Daulias  Haflai,  (1  »Scvertzov),  PI.  X,  fig.  a.—Dc  F. 

Ibis,  1874,  p.  80. 

Sylvia  lusciniot  M^n.  Cat.  Rais.  p.  33. 

Lwcida  luacinia,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  347. 


1 7  0  ZOO  LOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

(?)  Liucinia  Hafizij  Severtzov,  Turkestanskie  Jevotnie,  p.  i  ao. 

I  ($.  Near  Niriz,  east  of  Shir&z,  South  Persia   5000  . .     Jane  4. 
2»  3  <Jf  4  9- Sliir4z..          ..          ..          ..         4750  June  I. 

5  (f,  6  9.  Shir&z  ..  ..         ..         4750  ..     June. 

7  ^.  Shiniz  4750  ..         (?) 

8  (joung).  Is&h&n  ..  ..  ..         5000  July  10. 

D.  ai  peraffine  D.  luscinisl  v.  Luscinia  ver&,  caudd  semipollice 
longiore  atque  magia  rotundatd  diatinguenda,  Notaum  vero  plerumque 
minus  rufum  et  gastraum  jaallidius  qnam  in  specie  Europad^  aed  aped- 
mina  qiusdam  ex  Persia  allata^  cum  Eurqpma  colore  congruunt.  Long,  al, 
maris  3.4-3.5, /emina  3.25,  cauda  ^  2.9-3.05,   ?  2.87. 

The  Persian  nightingale  is  certainly  very  closely  allied  to  the  common 
European  bird ;  but  the  plumage  is  rather  less  rufous  above  and  paler 
below,  especially  on  the  throat  and  breast,  which  have,  as  a  rule,  a 
grey  tinge  in  the  European  nightingale  Generally  also  the  under  tail 
coverts  in  the  latter  are  isabelline,  in  the  former  white.  Some  Persian 
specimens,  however,  agree  fairly  in  colour  with  their  Western  repre- 
sentatives, but  the  tail  in  the  former  appears  always  to  be  about  half 
an  inch  longer  and  more  rounded  than  in  the  latter.  Of  six  male 
specimens  obtained  from  different  parts  of  Southern  and  Central 
Persia  with  perfect  tails,  none  has  the  central  rectrices,  measured  from 
the  insertion  to  the  tip,  less  than  2.9  inches,  and  nearly  all  are  fully 
three  inches  long,  whilst  I  can  find  no  European  specimen  with  the 
same  feathers  exceeding  2.5  inches  in  length.  In  the  latter  the  tail  is 
nearly  square,  whilst  in  the  Persian  bird  the  central  rectrices  are  about 
a  quarter  of  an  inch  to  half  an  inch  longer  than  the  outer  ones. 

The  difference  in  the  Persian  nightingale  would  scarcely  have 
attracted  my  notice,  but  for  the  distinction  in  the  song,  which  is 
certainly  shorter  and  less  varied  than  that  of  the  European  bird. 
Major  St.  John  called  my  attention  to  this  some  years  since,  and  I 
find  that  Mr.  Blyth  also  has  noticed  the  larger  size  and  inferior  song 
of  caged  Persian  birds  brought  to  Calcutta  (Ibis,  1867,  p.  18). 

This  nightingale  is  of  course  the  true  *  bulbul '  of  the  East,  and  is 
as  &mous  in  Persian  tales  and  poetry  as  is  its  representative  through- 
out Europe.  It  abounds  throughout  the  Persian  highlands,  keeping 
much  to  the .  avenues  of  Lombardy  poplars  and  other  trees  which 
abound  in  the  gardens  around  all  towns  and  villages.  At  Karm&n 
it  was  said  by  the  people  to  be  comparatively  scarce,  and  we  were 
begged  not  to  shoot  any;  but  around  Shirdz,  Isfah&n,  and  Tehr&n 


AVES,  171 

nightingales  abound,  and  I  rarely  entered  a  well  wooded  garden 
without  hearing  their  notes.  I  never  heard  or  saw  any  further  east 
than  Earm^. 

It  is  by  no  means  improbable  that  the  specimen  in  the  Lueknow 
Museum,  which  Dr.  Jerdon,  according  to  Mr.  Hume  (Ibis,  1869,  p. 
35^),  recognized  as  Philoinela  major  may  belong  to  the  present  species ; 
but  the  existence  of  a  skin  in  Lueknow,  even  if  the  bird  was  skinned 
at  the  museum,  proves  nothing  as  to  its  origin,  since  it  may  have  very 
possibly  belonged  to  a  caged  specimen,  like  the  Persian  birds  imported 
into  Calcutta  and  mentioned  by  Mr.  Blyth. 

It  is,  however,  certain  that  this  race  extends  far  into  Central  Asia 
north-east  of  Persia,  for  Mr.  Meves  of  Stockholm,  whom  I  met  at 
Berlin,  showed  me  a  specimen  obtained  by  Severtzov  on  the  banks  of 
the  Syr  Daria  or  Jaxartes  river,  in  Turkestan.  The  measurement  of 
this  skin  was :  wing  3.45,  tail  3.2,  tarsus  i.j,  culmen  0.68,  the  outer 
tail  feathers  0.55  short  of  the  central  ones.  It  is  this  skin  which 
enables  me  to  identify  this  form  with  that  described  by  Severtzov. 
The  work  of  this  author  is  entirely  in  Russian  ^,  and  the  number  of 
well-known  species  described  as  new  is  so  large  that  I  doubt  whether 
any  of  his  names  can  be  adopted  without  specimens  to  authenticate  them. 
But  the  name  of  Hafiz,  the  great  poet  of  Shirfiz,  seems  singularly 
appropriate  for  the  Persian  nightingale ;  so  I  have  retained  it. 

I  should  add  that  Mr.  Meves  told  me  he  believed  this  bird  to  be 
the  true  Museicapa  aedon  of  Pallas. 

A  still  larger  form  than  B,  Hafizi  has  recently  been  described  from 
Turkestin  by  Dr.  Cabanis,  under  the  name  of  Luscinia  Golzii  (Jour. 
f.  Omith.  1873,  p.  79).  I  saw  the  type  of  this  bird  in  Berlin.  It 
measures:  wing  3.8,  tail  ^.^2^  tarsus  1.15,  and  culmen  0.7a  in. 

The  thrush  nightingale,  D.  pAilomela,  has  also  been  received  by  Dr. 
Cabanis  from  TurkestAn,  (Jour.  f.  Omith.  1.  c),  and  it  is  recorded, 
though  with  doubt,  by  Menetries  as  having  been  killed  in  October 
in  the  Caucasus.  It  may  very  probably  be  found  in  Northern  Persia. 
It  is  possible  too  that  some  of  the  many  Ruiicillina  or  Lusciniitus, 

^  It  IB  certainly  a  matter  worthy  of  the  consideration  of  naturalists  whether  descrip- 
tions in  languages  not  usually  understood,  such  as  Russian,  Czech,  etc.,  should  be  recog- 
nised. A  priori  it  appears  that  unless  zoologists  and  botanists  insist  on  Latin  descriptions 
they  are  bound  to  accept  them  in  any  modem  language,  just  as  much  as  if  they  were  in 
German,  French,  or  English,  but  the  practice  of  describing  in  little  known  tongues  is 
very  inconvenient. 


172  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

characteristic  of  Central  Asia^  may  occur  within  the  limits  of  the 
Persian  kingdom.  Forms  which  may  not  improbably  exist  in  North- 
eastern Persia  are  Calliope  Kamschatkenna^  (Gm.)  and  CAimarrAomis 
leucocepAala  (Vig.). 

lU.  Sylvia  Jerdoni,  Blyth. 

(?)  8.  crauiroUru,  RUpp.  Zool.  Atlas,  p.  49,  PI.  XXXIII,  (1826). 
8,  crphea,  var.  Hdena^  Hemp,  and  £hr.  Symb.  Phys.  Aves,  foL  cc. 
8,  Jerdoni,  Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  B.  1847,  xvi,  p.  439. 
'  ArtafMu  cucuUatus, 'SichoUon,  P.  Z.  8.  1857,  p.  195,  PI.  XLII. 

8,  orpfiea,  Jerdon,  Birds  of  India,  ii,  p.  308,  nee  Tern. 

If  ^  ($»  3  9.  Near  Nirlz,  east  of  Shir4z, 

South  Persia  ••         ..         ..  ..         7000  June  i. 

4  young   e.     Ab&deh,     between    Is&ban 

and  Shir&z  ..         ..         ..         ..         ..         6000    ..     July. 

The  Eastern  race  of  the  Orphean  warbler  appears  always  to  have 
a  bill  longer  by  about  two -tenths  of  an  inch  than  the  European 
bird^  and  to  be  a  little  larger^  although  the  differences  in  measure- 
ment are  small.  It  is  true  that  there  is  some  variation  in 
dimensions^  especially  in  the  Levant,  where  the  two  races  appear  to 
meet.  Mr.  Tristram  (Ibis,  1867,  p.  86)  mentions  shooting  a  pair 
in  Palestine^  the  male  of  which  belonged  to  the  long-billed  and  the 
female  to  the  short-billed  type ;  and  there  is,  I  think,  usually  a 
slight  sexual  difference  in  the  length  of  the  bill,  which  is  rather 
longer  in  the  male.  But,  throughout  Asia,  east  of  Asia  Minor,  the 
long-billed  form  appears  to  be  constant;  no  other,  so  far  as  I  am 
aware,  is  ever  met  with  in  India^  and  all  the  specimens  which  I 
obtained  in  Persia  are  of  the  same  type.  It  also  prevails  in  North- 
eastern Africa,  Arabia,  and  Asia  Minor,  although  intermediate 
varieties  are  also  found  in  these  countries. 

Admitting  the  claim  of  the  Eastern  race  to  a  distinct  specific 
title,  I  am  somewhat  in  doubt  as  to  the  name  to  which  it  is  entitled. 
If  it  be,  as  I  am  inclined  to  believe  it  is,  the  S.  craasirostris  of 
Riippell,  his  name  will  have  priority.  I  have  examined  Riippell's 
type  in  the  Frankfort  Museum,  and  compared  it  with  Indian 
specimens,  and  it  agrees  perfectly  with  females  of  S.  Jerdoni  in 
colouration  and  dimensions,  but  the  bill  is  decidedly  stouter  and 
higher.  There  is  at  Frankfort  but  a  single  skin,  which  was  pro^ 
cured  by  Riippell  in  Sennaar,  and  until  more  specimens  are  obtained 
from  that  country,  we  must,  I  think,  suspend  our  judgment  as  to 


AVES.  173 

whether  the  stouter  bill  is^  as  I  suspect,  an  individual  peculiarity, 
or  whether  it  be  characteristic  of  a  distinct  race.  I  may  mention 
that  the  figure  in  Biippell's  'Atlas'  conveys  an  incorrect  idea  of  the 
bird,  being  much  too  grey. 

I  have  also  examined  Hemprich  and  Ehrenberg's  types  in  the  Ber- 
lin Museum^  and  they  are  certainly  identical  with  the  Eastern  race. 
I  especially  mention  this,  because  Professor  Newton,  in  the  new 
edition  of  Yarrell's  *  History  of  British  Birds,'  appears  to  have  been 
misled  by  Hemprich  and  Ehrenberg's  very  imperfect  description 
into  supposing  the  Sylvia  orpAea,  var.  Helena,  of  those  naturalists 
distinct  from  S.  Jerdoni,  Blyth.  It  is  not  usual  to  consider  a  name 
applied  in  the  same  manner  as  Helena  a  specific  name^  and  there- 
fore that  given  by  Blyth  must  be  adopted. 

The  following  measurements  show  the  difierence  in  the  two  races : — 

Sylvia  orphea.  Tern. 

Wing.       TaiL    Tarsus.     Culmen. 
I  ^.  Spain  3X>5        a.65        0.95        0.55 

3  9.  Spain  3.95         2.5  0.9  0.5 

3<}.  Tangien 3.1  a.55        0.91        0.49 

8,  Jerdoni,  Blyth. 

I  ^.Smyrna        3.2  2.68        0.9  (?) 

a  ^.  Syria  (type  of  8.  wrphea,  \ 

var.  ITf^ma,  H.  and  £.  in  >. .         ..         3.1  3.6  0.93        0.7 

Berlin  Museum)  ) 

3  ^.  Arabia    (type    of   the  \ 

same     in    Berlin      Mu- (..  3.18        3.67         1  0.74 

seimi)  ) 

4  ^.  Arabia     (type    of  the  \ 

same    in     Berlin      Mu-  >  ••  . .         3.15  3.75  1.03  0.75 
seimi)                                    ) 

5  i,  Niriz,  South  Persia            . .                     3.3  3.63  0.95  0.63 

6  9.  Nirfz,  South  Persia            ..  ..         3.15  3.64  0.93  0.63 

7  ^.  Karichi,  Sind         3.15  3.76  0.97  0.67 

8  ^.  Kok4nd,Turkest4n. .                                 3.3  3.7  0.95  0.67 
9.  Sennaar  (type  of  8.  eras-  \ 

firoftm,  RUpp.  in  Frank- V  . .         ..         3.15        3.65        0.9  0.85 

fort  Museum)  1 


I  only  met  with  S.  Jerdoni  in  Southern  Persia  and  at  a  considerable 
elevation.  It  evidently  breeds  there.  Neither  De  Filippi  nor  M^n£- 
tries  record  its  occurrence  in  Northern  Persia  or  the  adjoining 
countries. 


1 74  ZOO  LOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

112.  S.  nisoria,  Bechst. 

I,  2  9' Shir&z  ..  5000     ..     Summer. 

I  did  not  myself  meet  with  this  species.  The  two  specimens 
collected  by  Major  St.  John  are  paler  and  more  rufous  than  usual, 
and  the  bars  of  the  under  surface  are  faint  in  one  skin,  having 
entirely  disappeared  from  the  throat  and  middle  of  the  abdomen, 
and  they  are  altogether  wanting  in  the  other.  I  have  seen  similar 
specimens  from  Southern  Europe. 

Shir&z  appears  to  be  the  most  eastern  locality  from  which  this 
bird  has  hitherto  been  recorded. 

113.  *  S.  saUoaria,  (L.)— De  F. 

Motacitta  horlentis,  Gmel. 

Curruca  horientis,  (Penn.),  apud  De  Filippi,  Viag.  in  Pera.  p.  348. 

Recorded  by  De  Filippi  as  found  by  him  in  a  garden  at  Tabriz, 
but  no  specimen  is  preserved  in  his  collection  at  Turin.  I  did  not 
meet  with  this  species. 

114.  *  S.  atricapilla,  (L.)— De  F. 

The  blackcap  does  not  appear  to  be  common  in  Persia,  and  I  did  not 
myself  meet  with  it,  though  Major  St.  John  has  twice  obtained  it. 
It  was  noticed  by  Men^tries  in  the  forest  at  Lankoran  on  the  Cas- 
pian, and  by  De  Filippi  at  Delidifin,  just  north  of  the  Persian 
frontier,  between  Tiflis  and  Tabriz.  Menetries  also  met  with  it  in 
the  Caucasus. 

[I  shot  a  blackcap  in  the  oak  forest  near  Shir&z  in  1864,  and 
picked  up  a  dead  one  in  1872  in  the  mission  garden  at  Tehr&n. — 
O.  St.  J.] 

116.  a  rufe,  (Bodd.)— De  F. 

Sylvia  cinerea,  Latham. 

Curruca  cinerea,  var.  Peraica,  De  Filippi,  Viag.  in  Persia,  pp.  162,  348. 

8.  qffinis,  Salvadori,  Atti  B.  Acad.  Sci.  Tor.  1868,  iii,  p.  291,  neo  Bljth. 

I  s.  Near  Nirfz,  east  of  Sbir&z    . .  7000  . .  June  3. 

a  ^.  Near  Shir&z  ..         ..  ..  5000  ..  September. 

3.  Behz&r,  near  Shir&z t  — 

4  ^.  Lura  valley,  Elburz  mountains  6500  ..  Aug.  8. 


AVES.  175 

De  Filippi,  who  obflenred  the  Persian  whitethroat  at  Tabriz,  where 
he  found  it  breeding  in  gardens  about  the  latter  end  of  June,  points 
out  that  it  is  rather  smaller  and  less  fulvous  in  colour  than  its 
European  representative.  He  also  considers  the  song  of  the  Persian 
variety  more  melodious  and  silvery  {argentino). 

Specimens  of  S.  rufa  obtained  in  India  by  Mr.  Hume  (Ibis,  1871, 
p.  32)  are  said  to  differ  slightly  from  English  specimens,  but  the 
distinctions  have  not  been  pointed  out. 

The  Persian  specimens  collects  by  me  are  distinguishable  by  no 
constant  character  from  European  birds,  and  they  are  precisely  similar 
to  two  skins  collected  by  De  Pilippi  and  preserved  in  the  Turin 
Musemn.  They  are  paler  below  than  European  skins  usually  are, 
and  rather  more  fulvous^  with  narrower  edges  to  the  secondaries 
and  wing  coverts;  but  some  Western  examples  are  precisely  like 
Persian  skins  in  this  respect^  and  I  can  detect  no  constant  difference 
in  dimensions^  although  individuals  vary.  Salvadori  (1.  c.)  identifies 
De  Pilippi's  specimens  with  8.  affinis^  Blyth,  but  this  is,  I  believe, 
another  bird,  allied  not  to  8.  rvfa,  but  to  8.  curruca,  q.  v. 

The  whitethroat  evidently  breeds  in  Persia.  It  is  more  common  in 
sunmier  in  the  Northern  part  of  the  country  than  in  the  South. 
M&i^ries  noticed  its  occurrence  at  Lankor&n,  and  I  found  it  far 
from  scarce  in  the  Elburz  mountains. 

116.  S.  onrruoa,  (L.) 

CufTuca  garrula,  Briaa,  etc. 

S.  afinis,  Blytb,  apud  Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  197,  partim. 

I.  R48  MaUn,  Maki^n  ccMwt,  Baliichistin  —  . .  Nov.  27. 
2  ^»  3  9.  Dasht  river,  west  of    Gw^Ular 

Baluchist&n     ..          ..          ..          ..  —  ..  Jan.  16. 

4.  Bahu  Kalat,  Baliichist&n                    ..  —  ..  Feb.  3. 

5  ^.  J&lk,  Baluchistdn      ..                      ..  3000  ..  March  17. 

I  have  only  specimens  of  this  bird  from  Baluchist&n,  collected  in 
the  winter  months.  At  that  time  it  abounded  wherever  bushes  or 
trees  were  sufficiently  thick  to  afford  a  suitable  locality.  It  is  equally 
common  in  many  parts  of  India,  avoiding  thick  forest  jungles,  and^ 
of  course,  open  plains.  In  Persia  I  did  not  observe  it^  and  it  has 
escaped  the  notice  of  Major  St.  John  and  De  Filippi,  but  Men^tries 
met  with  it  at  Lankor&n  on  the  Caspian  in  May  or  June. 

My  specimens    precisely   resemble  those   from    Europe    both    in 


176  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

colouration  and  dimensions.  I  did  not  meet  with  tlie  little  race 
called  S.  minulu  by  Mr.  Hmne  (Stray  Feathers,  1.  c),  and  the  only 
specimen  of  a  larger  race  is  so  distinct  that  I  have  placed  it  under  a 
different  name. 


U7.  S.  afELni8p(Blyth.) 

Curruea  <nfinu,  Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  B.  xiv,  564,  note. 

(?)  Sylvia  affinit,  Jerdon  \  Birds  of  India,  ii,  p.  209,  partim. 

I  ^.  Khin-i-Burkh,   sontli-west  of  Karman, 

Soath  Pezaia..  ..  ..  8500    ..     May  22. 

I  obtained  a  single  specimen  of  a  Salvia,  differing  from  S.  curruea 
both  in  size  and  colour.  The  wing  is  three-tenths  of  an  inch  longer, 
the  bill  considerably  larger,  and  the  upper  plumage  decidedly  greyer 
and  less  brown.  The  lower  parts  have  a  very  slight  greyish  tinge, 
different  from  the  slight  pink  hue  assumed  by  the  lesser  white- 
ihroat  in  spring,  but  the  contrast  is  very  trifling.  There  is  also 
more  white  on  the  outer  tail  feathers.  The  following  is  a  descrip- 
tion. 

Head  above  dusky  ash  passing  gradually  into  ashy  with  a  brownish 
tinge  on  the  back,  ear  coverts  dusky,  wings  and  tail  hair  brown,  the 
outermost  tail  feathers  nearly  all  white,  as  is  also  the  tip  and  a  line 
running  up  the  inner  web  along  the  shaft  of  the  second  on  each  side. 
Lower  parts  white  with  a  very  slight  creamy  tinge.  Bill  black,  pale 
at  the  base  below.  Legs  blackish  (in  the  dried  specimen),  probably 
dark  plumbeous  in  living  birds,  as  in  S,  curruea.  Wing  Ji.8  in., 
tail  12.1 8,  tarsus  0.8,  culmen  0.6,  first  primary  1.5  and  second  0.2 
shorter  than  the  third,  which  is  the  longest,  the  fourth  nearly  equal, 
fifth  a  little  shorter,  sixth  nearly  the  same  as  the  second. 

This  specimen  agrees  pretty  well  with  the  description  of  Blyth's 
Curruea  affinia  (1.  c),  which  is  said  to  have  the  wing  2|  in.  long, 
and  the  tarsus  \^  to  |,  with  the  general  tone  of  colour  darker  than 
in  C,  garrula  {S,  curruea),  Blyth  says  nothing  of  the  colour  of  the 
tarsi,  so  it  may  fairly  be  inferred  that  they  do  not  differ  from  those 
of  the  lesser  whitethroat. 


^  Jerdon  describes  the  legs  and  bill  as  brown,  and  I  am  disposed  to  suspect  tliat  the 
species  found  by  him  in  Southern  India  was  not  Mr.  BIyth*s  8.  qfinis. 


AV£S,  177 


118.  S.  nibesoens,  W.  Blanf.  PL  XII. 

Ibis,  1874,  p.  77. 

(?)  Curruca  einerea,  Jerdon,  Mad.  Jour.  Lit.  and  Sd.  x,  p.  268,  nee  Lath. 

(?)  Sylvia  affinis,  Jerdon,  Birds  of  India,  vol.  ii,  p.  209,  partim. 

i»  «  <J.  3  young  9.  Shir&a  . .  5000     . .     June  1 2. 

4  young  s,  I8&h4n  5000     . .     July  10. 

S.  inter  S.  currucam  el  S.  melanocephalam  y^r^  media,  ab  ilM  capiie 
nigrescente^  dorao  aaturatiore,  tarsisque  valde  pallidioriln^^  ab  hoc 
coloribua  omnino  dilulioribus,  pectore  rubescenii-alho  iaiul  cinereo 
distinguenda, 

Male  in  June :  head  above  with  lores  and  sides  of  head  including 
the  feathers  just  beneath  the  eye  dull  black,  becoming  greyer  on  the 
nape,  ear  coverts  dark  ashy,  mantle  dark  ashy  with   a  very  slight 
brownish   tinge,  quills   brown,   tail   blackish   brown,  the   outermost 
pair  of  tail  feathers  with  the  outer  web  and  the  terminal  portion  of 
each  feather  white,  next  two  pairs  less  broadly  tipped  with  white, 
the  amount   diminishing   towards   the    middle,   and    in    a    newly- 
moulted  specimen  there  is  even  a  narrow  white  tip  on  the  fourth 
feather  from  the  outside.     Lower  parts  white  with  a  well  marked 
pink    tinge,   especially   on    the    breast,    the   white    throat    sharply 
defined  at  the  edge,  and  not  passing  into  the  dusky  cheeks.     Bill 
dusky  above,  pale  beneath,  legs  brown.     Wing  2.38  to  2.45,  tail  2.15 
to  2.3,  tarsus  0.75  to  0.8,  culmen  0.5  to  0.53.     First  quill  scarcely 
longer   than  the  greater  coverts,  and   1.3  inches   shorter  than   the 
third,  which  is  the  longest;  second  0.1  shorter  than  the  third,  and 
equal  to  the  sixth. 

A  specimen,  of  which  the  label  has  been  lost,  obtained  by  Major 
St.  John,  probably  in  Southern  Persia,  is  apparently,  in  autumnal 
plumage,  having  newly  moulted.  In  this  the  colour  is  nearer  to 
S.  curruca^  but  still  the  anterior  portion  of  the  head  is  darker,  the 
back,  and  especially  the  rump,  greyer,  and  the  tarsi  much  paler. 

Young  birds  are  brown  above,  the  tail  blackish,  the  white  on  the 
outer  tail  feather  impure,  the  secondary  quills  with  light  brown  edges, 
and  the  lower  parts  white  with  a  tinge  of  buff. 

This  species  is  intermediate  between  S,  curruca  and  S,  melanocephala. 
It  is  distinguished  from  the  former  by  its  much  darker  back  and 
blacker  head,  and  by  its  tarsi  and  feet  being  brown  instead  of  dark 

VOL.   II.  N 


1 78  ZOOLOG  Y  OF  PERSIA. 

plumbeous  grey,  a  difference  easily  recognised  even  in  dried  s|>eci- 
mens.  From  S.  melanocephala  it  is  distinguished  by  being  altogether 
paler  both  above  and  below,  and  by  wanting  the  ashy  or  ashy  brown 
tinge  seen  on  the  breast  of  the  latter,  the  cap  also  is  far  less  defined, 
the  bird  appears  generally  rather  larger. 

It  is  possible  that  this  may  be  the  bird  obtained  by  Jerdon  in 
Southern  India^  and  described  by  him  in  his  Catalogue  (Madras 
Journal,  1.  c.)  as  S,  clnerea.  This  species,  in  his  *  Birds  of  India,'  he 
assigned  to  Blyth's  S,  affinis ;  but  as  he  in  his  first  description  espe- 
cially mentioned  that  the  bill  and  legs  were  brown,  it  may  have  been 
the  present  species. 

I  only  obtained  this  bird  in  gardens  in  the  Southern  and  Central 
Persian  highlands,  where  it  evidently  breeds,  for  I  found  young 
birds  both  at  Shiraz  and  Isfahan.  I  noted  nothing  in  its  habits 
different  from  those  of  its  allies. 


119.  S.  nanc^  (Hemp,  and  Ehr.) — Do  F. 

Curruca  nana.  Hemp,  et  Ehr.  Symb.  Phys.  Aves,  fol.  cc.  (i829>. 

Salicaria  Aralennis,  Eversman,   Bull.  Soc.  Nat.  Mosc.  xxiii,  pt.  ii,  p.  565, 

PI.  VTII.f.  I  (1850);  Jour.  f.  Omith.  1853.  p.  286. 
Si/lvia  dclicatulay  Hartlaub,  Ibis,  1859,  p.  340,  PI.  X,  fig.  i. — Blytb,  Ibis,  1867, 

p.  19. — Hume,  Ibis,  1869,  p.  355,  and  1871,  p.  33;  Stray  Feathert,  vol.  i,  p. 

199. — Salvador!,  Atti  R.  Acad.  Sci.  Torino,  1868,  vol.  iii,  p.  190. 
S.  Dorta,  De  FUippi,  Viaggio  in  Persia,  p.  348. — ^Tristram,  Ibis,  1 867,  p.  84. 
S.  nana,  v.  Heugl.  Oniith.  N.O.  Afr.  vol.  i,  p.  306. — Finsch  und  Hartl.  Vogel 

Oat.  Air.  p.  244. 

I  (},  2  $.  Dasht  river,  Baluchistan  —  ..  Jan.  a6. 

3  <J.  B4hu  Kaldt,  Baluchistan  . .  —  . .  Feb.  J. 

4  6.  Pishfn,  Baliichist&n 600  . .  Feb.  10. 

5  6.  Tazdikh&st,  south  of  Is&h&n  . .  7000  ..  July  i. 

From  examination  of  the  type  of  S,  Boria,  De  Filippi,  which  is 
preserved  in  the  Museo  Civico  at  Genoa,  I  have  ascertained  that  the 
identification  of  this  species  by  Salvadori,  Finsch,  Hartlaub,  and 
Gray  (Handlist,  i,  p.  212)  with  S.  delicalula  of  Hartlaub  is 
correct,  and  a  similar  examination  of  the  type  of  S,  nana  in  the 
Berlin  Museum,  has  confirmed  the  previous  identification  of  8. 
delicatula  with  that  species  by  v.  Heuglin.  My  only  doubt  about 
Salicaria  Aralensis  being  the  same,  is  due  to  the  feet  being  described 
as  light  bluish  {hell  bldulich)^  and  from  its  habitat  being  said  to  be 
reeds  on  the  shores  of  the  sea  of  Aral  and  the  Sir  Darya  (Jaxartee). 


tJYI-VlA    WJBESCENS 


AVES,  179 

Specimens  in  the  British  Museum  received  from  Russia  under  the 
name  of  8.  Aralensis  are  certainly  8.  nana^  and  so  are  skins  in  the 
Berlin  Museum. 

8.  nana  was  found  by  the  Marquis  Doria  to  be  common  among^  low 
bushes  in  the  salt  desert  near  Yezd.  I  only  once  saw  it  in  Southern 
Persia.  This  was  on  an  open  plain  with  low  scattered  bushes^  near 
Yazdikh£st;  and  I  obtained  it  on  two  occasions  in  Baluchist&n  in 
rather  thick  tamarisk  bush :  the  usual  haunt  throughout  its  extensive 
range,  from  Eastern  Africa  to  North-western  India^  appears  to  be  semi- 
desert  plains  with  scattered  bushes.  Such  was  the  original  locality 
whence  v.  Heuglin  obtained  the  types  of  8,  delicatula^  ^  in  dense  salt-plant 
copses,'  on  the  shores  of  the  Bed  Sea,  and  the  bird  has  been  found  in 
similar  localities  in  several  parts  of  North-western  India^  as  near 
Delhi  (Ibis,  1867,  p.  J19),  Western  BAjput4na  (ib.  1869,  p.  355), 
and  Sind  (Stray  Feathers^  i,  p.  199).  It  hunts  for  insects  about 
the  bushes^  and  is  sometimes  seen  on  the  ground  at  their  roots. 
De  Filippi,  quoting  Doria,  says  it  always  remains  on  the  g^und 
and  raises  its  tail.  Its  general  habits  are  somewhat  Drymosea-like, 
as  originally  pointed  out  by  v.  Heuglin^  and  its  flight  very  weak, 
much  like  that  of  the  willow-wren.  I  did  not  notice  its  voice,  which, 
however,  has  been  observed  by  v.  Heuglin  and  Hume  to  be  feeble, 
resembling  that  of  a  Drymceca, 

My  notes  on  the  colouration  of  the  soft  parts  and  the  measure- 
ments agree  very  well  also  with  the  details  given  by  v.  Heuglin  and 
Hume.  The  iris  is  golden  yellow,  bill  dusky  on  the  culmen,  pale, 
almost  flesh-coloured  below,  legs  dull  yellow.  The  following  dimen- 
sions were  taken  on  freshly  shot  birds  : — 


<r 

9 

6 

Dasht. 

Dasht. 

Yasdikhist. 

Length 

..     4.75 

4-75 

4-75 

Expanse 

..      7-35 

7 

7.«5 

Wing 

i.i 

a.35 

>4 

Tan 

2 

1.91 

1.8 

Tarsas 

..     0.8 

0.75 

0.85 

Bill,  from  front 

•     0.34 

0.35 

0-37 

Bill,  from  gape 

Owf6 

0.49 

0.5 

Closed  wings  short 

of  end  of  tail  hy 

I 

I.I 

1 

120.  *  Sylvia  conapicillata,  Mann. 

S,  icterape^  Mdn.  Cat.  Rais.  p.  34. 

Found  in  the  mountains  of  T&lish  on  the  Persian  frontier  according 

N  2, 


180  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

to  Mdn^tries,  and  probably  to  be  met  with  in  the  Caspian  provinces 
of  Persia. 

S,  subalpina,  Bon.  {S.  mystacea.  Men.),  was  obtained  by  Menfitries 
on  the  banks  of  the  Kur  or  Araxes  river  near  Salian,  west  of  the 
Caspian,  and  may  also  very  probably  occur  in  parts  of  Northern 
Persia. 


121.  FhyllosoopuB  ^  troohiluB,  (L.) — De  F. 

I  9.  West  of  Bam,  south-eaatem  PeraiA   . .      5500    . .     April  28. 

The  willow  wren  must  be  scarce  in  Persia,  for  this  was  the  only 
specimen  obtained.  Probably  a  few  winter  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  country,  but  breed  beyond  our  limits  to  the  north.  P.  trochilus 
is  recorded  by  Menetries  fix)m  the  Caucasus  and  Lankordn,  and  by 
De  Filippi  from  the  Ldr  valley  near  Tehrfi.n ;  but  I  am  not  aware  that 
it  has  been  found  farther  to  the  east.  The  occurrence  of  this  bird  in 
India  was  asserted  by  Gould  apparently  upon  insuflBcient  authority, 
and  although  included  by  Jerdon  in  his  *  Birds  of  India,'  it  is  placed 
amongst  the  doubtful  species  in  his  appendix,  and  its  existence  in  the 
country  has  never,  so  far  as  I  know,  been  confirmed  by  any  Indian 
ornithologist. 

122.  F.  tristis,  Blyth. 

Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  B.  xii,  p.  96. 

PhyUopneuste  tristit,  Gould,  Birds  of  Asia,  pt.  xvii. 

I  ^.  Dasht  river,  west  of  Gw4dar,  near 

Baliichist&n     .... 
2,  3  S'  Kalag4n,  Baliichistdn 
4  i,  Dizak,  Baluclii8t4n  .. 
5,  6  S,  Bampiir,  Baluchist&n 

This  bird  is  common  throughout  Baluchist&n,  but  I  did  not  meet 

*  By  many,  perhaps  by  most  modem  ornithologists,  the  willow-wren  and  its  allies  are 
referred  to  a  genus  Phyllopneutte  of  Meyer.  Professor  Newton,  in  the  new  edition  of 
Yarreirs  British  Birds,  vol.  i,  p.  44a,  note,  points  out  that  no  such  genus  ever  existed. 
In  Meyer's  '  Vogel  Liv-  und  Esthlands,*  published  in  181 5,  the  species  of  the  genus  Sylvia 
were  divided  into  five  groups,  or,  as  they  were  termed  by  Meyer,  families,  to  which 
were  applied  respectively  the  names  of  Curruca,  CalamodyUB^  Vermivora,  PhyUopneuitce, 
and  Troglodyt€B,  but  these  names  were  in  nowise  employed  as  those  of  genera  or  8ub« 
genera.  It  follows  that  Calamodyta,  Meyer,  is  equally  incorrectly  used  instead  of 
Aerocepkdlu$,  Naumann. 


•^^              • 

Jan.  a 6. 

3500   • 

March  13. 

4000 

March  23. 

aooo 

April  9. 

AV£S.  181 

with  it  in  Persia,  perhaps  because  all  the  Phylloscopi  migrate  to  the 
north  before  the  season  at  which  I  reached  the  Persian  highlands. 
I  am  inclined^  however,  to  think  that  this  bird  may  very  probably  not 
range  farther  west  than  Baluchist&n,  and  be  replaced  in  Persia  by  the 
closely  allied  European  chiSchaff,  P.  collybita,  Vieil.  The  two  species 
are  in  some  plumages  very  difficult  to  distinguish,  but  as  a  rule  P.  r«/iw 
is  much  greener  above  and  more  yellow  beneath,  the  supercilia  especi- 
ally being  as  a  rule  yellow  in  P.  collybitay  buff  or  rufous  in  P.  triatisy 
at  all  seasons.  The  shape  of  the  wing  is  the  same,  and  I  cannot  agree 
with  Mr.  Brooks  (Ibis,  1870,  p.  289)  that  the  wings  of  P.  rufua  (i.e. 
P.  collybita) are  much  shorter^;  but,  so  far  as  I  am  able  to  judge  from 
the  specimens  before  me,  the  two  species  can  always  be  distinguished, 
even  in  dried  specimens  (if  they  have  not  been  -bleached  by  exposure), 
by  the  much  darker,  blackish  tarsi  of  P.  tristisy  contrasting  strongly 
with  the  brown  tarsi  of  P,  collybita^ 


123.  P.  coUybita',  (VieUlot). 

P.  rufus,  auct.  nee  MoiaeiUa  ru/a,  Bodd.  nee  if.  rufa,  Gmel. 
P.  brevtrostrii,  Strickland. 

I  ^.  Shiriz  ..  ..  ..        5000     ..     December. 

?  a.  lUs  Masandim,  Arabian  coast,  at  the 

entrance  to  the  Persian  Gulf  . .       —      . .     Deo.  9. 

There  can,  I  think,  be  no  question  that  the  first  specimen,  that 
from  Shirdz^  is  identical  with  the  European  species.  The  skin  from 
R&s  Masandim  is  less  easy  to  determine,  but  it  is  greener  above  than 
most  specimens  of  P.  tristis,  and  the  tarsi  are  browner  than  in  that 
species. 

If  Mr.  Tristram  (Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  187  r,  Ser.  4,  viii, 
p.  Ji8)  is  right  in  considering  P.  brevirostria  as  distinguished  from  the 
European  chiffchaff  by  the  rounder  wings,  the  second  primary  in  the 
former  being  shorter  than  the  seventh,  whereas  in  the  latter  the  two 
are  equal,  the  specimens  from  Persia  and  Arabia  must  be  assigned  to 
P.  brevirosim.     The  difference,  however,  is  so  small,  and  the  character 

"  The  bird  mentioned,  1.  0.,  under  the  name  of  P,  hrevirostris  is  evidently  from  the 
context  P.  trUtis. 

*  For  the  reasons  for  employing  this  name  instead  of  P.  rufus,  see  Prof.  A.  Newton, 
in  the  fourth  edition  of  Yarreirs  History  of  British  Birds,  vol.  i,  p.  441. 


182 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 


assigned  one  so  liable  to  variation,  that  I  almost  doubt  if  the  dis- 
tinction can  be  maintained  \ 


124.  P.  Brehmi,  (Horn.) 

Phyllopneuste  Brehmi,  v.  Homeyer»  Erinnerungschrift,  a.  d.  Samml.  Deutsch. 
Orniih.  1870,  p.  48. 

X  9.  Kalftg4n,  Baliichistlln  ..  3500     ..      March  xo. 

a  S,  Near  Dizak,  Baliichiatilkn     ..  ..         4000     . .     March  35. 

3.  ShinU,  South  Persia    ..  ..         5000     ..     December. 

This  is  little  more  than  a  small  race  of  P.  trislis,  with  which  it 
agrees  better  in  colouration  than  it  does  with  P.  coll^bita.  It  was 
described  from  Portugal,  and  evidently  extends  to  the  confines  of 
India,  where  it  should  be  looked  for,  as  it  may  easily  be  mistaken  for 
P.  Iristis.  The  wing,  however,  in  P.  trMlis  measures  2.35  to  a.45 
inches,  in  P.  Brehmi  2.1  to  2.2.  The  following  are  the  measurements 
of  the  Persian  and  Baluchistan  specimens^  and  of  one  from  Turkey  in 
Mr.  Dresser's  collection  : — 


i.  Dizak  . . 
9.  Kalag&n 
?.  Shirdz  .. 
9.  Turkey 


Wing. 

TaU. 

Tarsus. 

Cuhnen, 

3.15 

1.65 

0.72 

048 

2.17 

1.75 

0.71 

0.5 

3.12 

1.67 

0.73 

047 

2.0S 

1.68 

0.75 

— 

126.  F.  negleotus,  Hume. 

Ibis,  1870,  p.  143  ;  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  195. 

I  ^.  Pfshin,  Baldchist&n  . . 
?  a.  Shir&as,  South  Persia 


600 
5000 


Feb.  10. 
December. 


I  am  in  doubt  about  the  second  specimen,  which  is  a  young  bird 
apparently,  with  the  toil  feathers  only  half  grown.  The  Pishin 
specimen  agrees  excellently  with  Hume's  description  of  his  Sind 
birds  in  *  Stray  Feathers ; '  but  without  this  description  it  would  have 
been  impossible  to  have  identified  it,  for  in  his  brief  notes  on  the 
species,  given  in  the  Ibis  for  1870,1.0.,  where  the  bird  was  first 
named,  as  well  as  in  Mr.  Brooks's  short  notice  (Ibis,  1869,  p.  236)  of 
what  Mr.  Hume  considers  the  same  species,  the  dimensions  of  the 
new  Phylloscopus  were  said  to  *  closely  resemble '  or  *  exactly  resemble' 
those  of  P.  tristis,  which  is  a  much  larger  bird  than  the  form  described 


*  Mr.  Dresser  tells  me  that  he  has  compared  the  type  of  P.  hrevirottria  with  birds  from 
Western  Europe,  and  that  he  finds  no  difference  between  them. 


A  YES.  183 

from  Sind,  with  a  wing  fully  half-an-inch  longer  ;  and  I  cannot  help 
suspecting  that  Mr.  Brooks's  specimen  at  least  may  prove  to  be  some- 
thing distinct.  I  doubt  much  whether  the  Phylloscoptis  described 
from  the  Sutlej  valley  in  the  Western  Himalayas  by  Dr.  Stoliczka, 
J.  A.  S.  B.  p.  46^  can  be  the  same.  It  is  larger  and  the  colouration 
more  rufous. 

As  Mr.  Hume's  work,  '  Stray  Feathers/  from  being  published  in 
India,  may  not  be  generally  accessible,  I  add  a  description  of  my  Fishin 
specimen.  The  colouration  of  the  soft  parts  and  the  measurements 
were  noted  before  skinning. 

Upper  parts  earthy  brown,  rump  and  the  edges  of  the  wing  and 
tail  feathers  rather  paler,  and  the  quills  and  rectrices  themselves  rather 
darker  brown ;  a  very  narrow  whitish  superciliary  line  from  the  nostril 
above  the  eye  ;  lower  parts  albescent  with  a  brownish  or  fulvous  tinge, 
wing  lining,  axillaries,  and  edge  of  wing  the  same,  flanks  pale  earthy 
brown.  According  to  Hume  some  specimens  are  rather  more  oliv- 
aceous or  rufous  than  this.  Iris  brown,  bill  blackish,  paler  towards 
the  base  of  the  lower  mandible,  legs  blackish  dusky,  soles  pale,  claws 
black  ;  length  4.25  inches,  expanse  6.^^  wing  2,  tail  1.55,  closed  wing 
short  of  the  tail  0.75,  tarsus  O.74,  culmen  0.44,  bill  from  gape  0.4,  mid 
toe  and  claw  0.48.  The  central  tail  feathers  exceed  the  outermost  by 
0.1,  the  first  quill  is  0.75  inches  short  of  the  second,  the  second  about 
equal  to  the  eighth  and  0.2  short  of  the  third,  which  is  barely  shorter 
than  the  fourth.  The  contents  of  the  stomach  consisted  of  small 
insects,  and  I  shot  the  bird  on  an  acacia,  on  which  it  was  hunting 
amongst  the  branches. 

This  species  is  near  my  P.  pallidipes  from  the  Eastern  Himalayas, 
(J.  A.  S.  B.  1872,  xli,  pt.  2,  p.  162),  but  it  is  much  greyer  and  less 
olivaceous,  has  a  less  developed  superciliary  streak,  and  dark  instead 
of  light  tarsi.  The  dimensions,  however,  do  not  much  difler,  as 
judging  from  the  first  notice  of  P.  neglectus  I  supposed  them  to  do, 

126.  ^  F.  sibilatrix,  (Bechst). 

Sylvia  nbUatriXf  BecHst,  M^n.  Cat.  Eais.  p.  35. 

Found  by  Men^trics  at  Lankor&n. 

127.  Hypolais  languida,  (H.  and  E.) 

Carruca  languida.  Hemp,  et  £hr.  Sym.  Phys.  Aves,  fol.  bb. 

HippoUtit  Upckeri,  TriBtram,  P.  Z.  S.  1864,  p.  438.— Ibis,  1867,  pp.  81,  8a. 


4200 

March  a8. 

3000     .. 

April  15. 

3500      .. 

April  18. 

3000     .. 

April  19. 

4000     .. 

April  33. 

5500      • 

May  31. 

5000     .. 

June  3. 

5000     .. 

June  5. 

184  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

HypolaU  languida,  W.  Blanf.  Geol.  and  Zool.  Abyss,  p.  379. — Heugl.  Ornith. 
N.  O.  Afr.  i,  p.  296. — Dresser,  Birds  of  Europe,  pt.  xxviil 

I  6.  Magas,  between  Dizak  and  Bampiir, 
Baliichist&n  . . 

a  ($.  Near  Bfg4n,  Narmashlr,  south- 
eastern Persia 

3  i,  Narmasbir 

4  i.  Naimashir        . .  •  • 

5  $.  West  of  Bam,  south-eastern  Persia  . . 

6  9.  Parpi,  1 30  miles  east  of  8hir4z 

7  i.  Near  Niriz,  east  of  Shirdz 

8  <;,  9  $.  Near  Niriz,  east  of  Shiriz 

This  species  appears  to  be  very  rare  in  European  collections.  I  ob- 
tained a  single  specimen  on  the  Abyssinian  coast  land  in  1868,  and 
compared  it  with  the  original  type  in  the  Berlin  Museum.  I  have 
compared  the  birds  obtained  in  Persia  with  the  same  type,  with  the 
Abyssinian  specimen,  and  also  with  Mr.  Tristram's  types  oiH.  Upcheri^ 
which  he  kindly  sent  to  me  for  the  purpose  ^,  and  I  have  no  hesitation 
in  referring  all  to  the  same  species,  a  well  marked  form  intermediate 
(as  Mr.  Tristram  pointed  out  when  describing  H.  Upcheri)  between 
H,  ecelica  {pallida)  and  H,  olivelorum,  both  in  size  and  in  the  character 
of  the  first  primary. 

There  is  but  little  variation  in  size  in  the  different  specimens ; 
females  are  rather  smaller  than  males,  but  the  difference  is  very 
trifling.  The  length  of  the  first  primary  varies ;  in  some  birds  it  is 
decidedly  shorter  than  the  wing  coverts,  as  short  even  as  in  A.  olivet^ 
arum,  in  others  it  is  rather  longer  than  the  coverts,  varying  in  length 
from  about  one-third  to  half-an-inch,  but  it  is  always  shorter  and 
more  pointed  than  in  H.  pallida.  The  third  or  fourth  quill  is  the 
longest,  the  second  nearly  the  same  as  the  sixth.  The  colour  is  nearly 
the  same  in  all  the  specimens  I  have  seen ;  dull  earthy  brown  above^ 
white  with  a  sUght  grey  or  fulvous  tinge  below,  the  lores  pale,  and  a 
very  short  whitish  superciliary  stripe.  In  freshly  moulted  specimens 
all  the  outer  rectrices  have  narrow  white  tips,  broadest  on  the  outer- 
most pair,  of  which  the  margin  of  the  outer  web  is  also  whitish.  The 
iris  is  umber  brown ;  the  bill  dusky  above,  yellow  along  the  com- 
missure, and  yellowish  or  flesh-coloured  below ;  legs  brown,  feet  some- 
times  with   an  olivaceous  tinge,  claws  horny.      The  following  are 

*  I  may  mention  that  a  specimen  in  the  British  Museum  marked  ff.  Upcheri^  and 
collected  by  Mr.  Tristram,  belongs,  in  my  opinion,  to  H,  pallida,  v.  eksiea. 


6  Magas. 

9Parp4. 

In. 

In. 

6.25 

6.3 

313 

3.05 

9 

9 

3.45 

a.4S 

0.88 

0.93 

0.76 

0.8 

1. 1 

1-4 

0.25 

— 

Tarsus. 

Culmen. 

0.92 

I 

0.85 

0.76 

0.93 

0.76 

AVJES.  185 

ineasurements  of  a  male  (No.  i)  and  female  (No.   6)  taken  before 
skinning : — 

Length 
Wing 
Expanse  . . 

Xnli  •  •  •  •  •  • 

Tarsus 

Bill  from  gape     . . 

Wings  short  of  end  of  tail 

Central  tail  feathers  exceeding  outer  by 

The  bill  along  the  culmen  measures  0.72  to  0.77,  the  wing  2.95  to 
3.15  in  the  different  specimens  from  Persia.  With  the  above  the 
following  measurements  of  the  type  of  JT,  languida  in  the  Berlin 
Museum,  jind  of  Mr.  Tristram's  type  specimens  of  H.  UpcAeriy  may  be 

compared: — 

Wing.      Tail. 

1  (type  of  II.  languida),  Synsk     ..  ..  ..         a. 95         a. 4 3 

2  (type  of  JEf.  Upchen)  S-  Hasbeiya,  Palestine    . .         2.9'  2.35 

3  (type  of  iT.  2^cftm)  9.  Foot  of  Mount  Hermon         2.8  2.33 

Of  the  female  obtained  at  Farp&  on  May  the  3i8t  I  took  the  nest  and 
three  well  incubated  eggs.  The  nest  was  in  a  small  bush  in  a  plain 
on  which  shrubs  and  low  bushes  were  rather  thickly  sprinkled  over 
the  ground.  At  the  foot  of  the  same  bush  was  a  nest  of  Saxicola 
deserti.  The  Eypolah  nest  consists  of  a  very  neat  cup  of  grass  mixed 
with  spider  webs  and  the  down  of  some  plant.  The  eggs  are  pinkish 
white,  with  small  scattered  spots  and  irregular  streaks  of  chocolate 
brown,  and  measure  0.76  by  0.53. 

This  bird  is  far  firom  rare  in  Southern  Persia  and  the  higher  parts 
of  Baluchistdn,  being  found  indifferently  in  gardens,  in  wooded  ravines, 
and  in  bushes  on  comparatively  open  plains.  It  is  less  abundant  than 
H.  ranuiy  except  in  the  more  open  and  semi-desert  country,  in  which 
the  latter  was  never  observed. 

128.  H.  opaca,  Cab. 

Licht.  apud  Cab.  Mus.  Hein.  i,  p.  36. 

Hippolaia  pallida,  Z.  Gerbe,  Rev.  et  Mag.  de  Zool.  Ser.  2,  iv,  p.   1 74,  neo 
Hemp,  et  Ehr. — Degland  et  Gerbe,  Omith.  Europ.  i,  p.  506. 

I  ^.  Shir4z . .  . .  . .  . .  5000     . .     December. 

*  I  have  only  noted  the  length  of  the  bill  at  front,  but  the  bill  was  compared  carefully 
with  that  of  Persian  spedmens,  and  found  exactly  similar. 


186  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

This  is  very  closely  allied  to  the  last,  but  may  be  readily  dis* 
tingaished  by  its  much  larger  and  longer  first  or  bastard  primary. 
In  the  specimen  before  me  this  feather  projects  between  0.6  and  0.7 
inches  beyond  the  small  feathers  at  the  bend  of  the  wing,  and  its  ex- 
tremity is  only  1.4a  inches  short  of  the  second  or  first  long  primary, 
whilst  the  difierence  in  length  between  these  two  in  H.  languida  is 
1.55  to  1.7a.  The  colouration  of  the  bird  which  I  refer  to  H,  opaca 
is  a  little  more  fulvous  above,  on  the  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts 
especially,  than  is  that  of  H.  languida,  and  the  abdomen  and  lower 
tail  coverts  have  a  more  distinctly  brownish  tinge  in  the  former,  but 
these  differences  may  be  due  to  the  specimen  having  been  shot  in 
winter.  It  is  precisely  similar  both  in  structure  and  colour  to  skins 
from  Spain  (the  original  locality  of  H.  pallida,  Gerbe)  in  Mr.  Dresser's 
collection. 

Prom  H,  pallida  {H.  and  E,)  the  bird  in  question  is  solely  distin- 
guished by  its  larger  size,  but  the  difference  is  considerable,  as  will 
be  seen  by  comparing  the  dimensions.  It  is  true  that  jET.  pallida^ 
as  I  shall  presently  show,  is  variable  in  this  respect. 

I  have  only  one  reason  for  doubt  in  assigning  the  specimen  obtained 
at  Shirdz  to  H,  opaca,  Cab.  Gerbe  described  his  species  as  having 
short  under  tail  coverts  only  three-fifths  of  the  length  of  the  rectrices, 
and  as  having  the  second  primary  shorter  than  the  sixth  and  scarcely 
equal  to  the  seventh,  whereas  in  my  specimen  the  second  primary 
exceeds  the  sixth,  and  the  under  tail  coverts  are  more  than  half  the 
length  of  the  tail.  But  I  find  that  specimens  of  H,  opaca  from  Spain 
in  Mr.  Dresser's  collection,  agreeing  well  in  other  respects  with 
Gerbe^s  description,  have  under  tail  coverts  of  the  same  length  as 
the  Shir^  bird,  and  the  proportion  of  the  quills  varies  too  much  in 
allied  forms  for  the  exact  relative  lengths  of  the  second  and  sixth 
primaries  to  be  a  character  of  specific  value. 

From  the  only  specimen  of  this  species  obtained  in  Persia  having 
been  shot  in  winter,  at  an  elevation  of  50CX)  feet,  it  is  probable  that 
this  is  a  more  northern  form  than  H.  languida  and  H.  rama.  The 
dimensions  of  the  specimen  are,  wing  3  inches,  tail  2.45,  tarsus,  0.95, 
first  primary  1.42  short  of  the  second,  and  the  latter  0.15  short  of  the 
third,  which  is  a  little  longer  than  the  fourth. 


AVES. 


187 


129.  H.  rama^  (Sykes  ^). 

Sylvia  ratna^  Sykee,  P.  Z.  S.  183a,  p.  89. 

PhyUopneutU  rama,  Jerdon,  Birds  of  India,  ii,  p.  189. — Blyth,  Ibis,  1867, 

p.  34. — Hume,  Ibis,  1867,  p.  471. 
Jduna  caligateLt  6.  R.  Gray,  Handlist,  i,  p.  209,  partim. 

180.  H.  pallida,  (H.  and  E.)— De  F. 

CkuTuea  pallida.  Hemp,  et  Ehr.  Symb.  Phys.  Aves,  fol.  bb  (i8a8). 
Saliearia  elaica,  Lindermayer,  Isis,  1843,  p.  34a. 
Fieedula  elaica,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  348. 
Hypolaia  daicot  Tristram,  Ibis,  1867,  pp.  74,  81. 
Acroeephaius  paJXidut,  v.  Heugl.  Omith.  N.  O.  Afir.  p.  294. 
Hypclaii  eUtiea,  Fiosch,  Tr.  Z.  S.  vii,  pp.  a3a,  315,  partim. 
Chloropeta  eUnea,  Gray,  Handlist,  i,  p.  314. 
Hypolais  paUida,  Dresser,  Birds  of  Europe,  pt.  zxxi. 

The  following  list  of  specimens  includes  both  races  and  the  inter- 
mediate varieties.     The  latter  predominate. 

I*  ^t  3  ^>  4  9'  Disak,  Baliichistdn  4000  . .  March  aa,  34. 

5f  6*  7>  8  S'  Bampur,  Baliichistdn  2000  ..  April  3-7. 

9, 10,  II,  la  ^.  North-west  of  BampCir. .  1600  ..  April  lo-ii. 

13  9.  Rigin,   Narmashir,   south-eastern 

Persia  ..         ..  3500     ..      April  18. 

14  ^.  West  of  Bam,  south-eastern  Persia        5500     ..     April  a8. 

15  ^.  B&yin,  east-south-east  of  Kann£n, 

south-eastern  Persia                   ..  7^^^^  ••  May  I. 
16,  17,  18  ^,  19,  ao  9.  Sarj&n,  south-west 

of  Karmin            ..          ..          ..  5700  ..  May  35-28. 

a  I,  22  3,  Nirizy  east  of  Shirdz,  southern 

Persia                   . .                     . .  5300  . .  June  2. 

23,  24  St  25  9.  Salt  lake,  near  Shirdz  . .  4500  . .  June. 

26,  27  ^.  Shir&z  ..          ..         ..         ..  4700  ..  June  5. 

28,  29  6,  30  9.  Shir^                . .  4700  . .  June. 

31  ^,  32  9.  SbirlLz            4700  ..  August. 

33  9.  Shir^         4700  ••  December. 

34.  35.  36,  37  i'  Irfahin            ..          . .  5000  . .  July  10. 
38  3.  Lura  valley,    Elburz    mountuns, 

north  Persia        ..          ..          ..  6500  ..  August  9. 


'  There  appears  to  be  much  doubt  as  to  whether  the  larger  or  smaller  Indian  species  is 
the  true  Sylvia  rama  of  Sykes.  The  type  in  the  Indian  Museum  is  not  available  for  com- 
parison at  present,  but  if,  as  some  ornithologists  think,  and  as  is  by  no  means  improbable, 
Sykes's  type  prove  to  belong  to  the  smaller  race,  {Sylvia  caligcUa,  Licht.  v.  Jerdonia 
agricoltmit,  Hume,)  the  larger  form,  which  is  undoubtedly  the  PhyUopnemU  rama  of 
Jerdon,  wiU  be  without  a  specific  title.  It  is  this  larger  form  alone  which  is  found  in 
Persia. 


188  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

I  was  at  first  disposed  to  unite  the  above  two  forms  and  to  add  to 
them  Mr.  Hume's  Jerdonia  affricolensis,  and  I  published  this  opinion 
in  the  Ibis  for  1874,  page  78  ;  but  there  appear  to  be  as  good  grounds 
for  keeping  all  three  distinct  as  there  are  in  the  cases  of  Sylvia  Jerdoni 
and  S.  orpAea,  Aedon  galactodea  and  A,  familiaris^  etc.  Still  HypolaU 
rama  and  H.  pallida  pass  into  each  other  so  completely  in  Persia 
that  I  cannot  possibly  say  to  which  the  majority  of  the  large  series 
collected  should  be  referred.  As  a  rule  the  birds  from  Baluchistfin 
and  Southern  Persia  agree  rather  with  the  Indian  H.  rama^  those 
from  Eastern  and  North-eastern  Persia  with  the  European  H.  pallida, 
but  there  are  many  exceptions.  I  should  point  out  in  the  first  place 
that  the  European  and  North-east  African  bird  {H,  pallida)  is  rather 
larger,  with  a  longer  and  decidedly  broader  bill,  the  wing  measuring 
usually  about  2.5  inches  (2.4  to  2,6^  in  thirteen  specimens  measured), 
culmen  about  0.7,  whilst  in  the  Indian  H.  rama  the  wing  measures 
about  2.4  inches  (2.34  to  2.45  in  seven  specimens),  culmen  about  0.62^ 
that  H,  pallida  is  somewhat  greyer  in  colour,  and  that  it  has  a  -darker 
tarsus  (in  dried  specimens  at  all  events)  and  a  more  pointed  wing,  the 
primaries  projecting  farther  beyond  the  end  of  the  secondaries. 
The  difierence  in  colour  I  suspect  to  be  seasonal,  European  birds 
having  been  chiefly  collected  in  the  spring  and  summer,  Indian  speci- 
mens mostly  in  winter ;  the  difiference  in  the  colour  of  the  tarsus  in 
dried  specimens  is  possibly  due  to  the  stronger  light  to  which  Indian 
skins  have  been  exposed  when  being  dried ;  and  the  dimensions 
certainly  vary  in  both  to  a  considerable  extent,  as  will  be  seen  from 
the  measurements  to  be  given  presently.  But  H,  pallidti  has  always 
a  broader  bill  than  H.  rama,  and  there  is  a  decided  difierence  in  the 
eggs  of  the  two  forms. 

The  nest  and  eggs  of  Hypolais  pallida  {H.  elmca)  are  well  known. 
Mr.  Tristram  describes  the  nest  as  a  '  neat  compact  structure,  of  a 
deep  cup  shape,  its  depth  equalling  its  diameter,  formed  of  fine  grass 
and  strips  of  bark,  and  tightly  lined  with  thistle-down  and  vegetable 
cotton.'  The  eggs  are  '  four  or  five  in  number,  of  salmon-tinted 
white  ground,  with  purplish  spots  and  streaks'  (Ibis  1867,  p.  82). 
On  the  other  hand,  Mr.  Hume  (Ibis,  1867,  p.  471),  described  a  nest  of 
Hypolai^  {PAyllopneuste)  rama  as  *  nearly  egg-shaped,  with  a  circular 
entrance  near  the  top.  It  was  loosely  woven  with  coarse  and  fine 
grass,  and  a  little  of  the  "  sun"  ^  {Crotalaria  juncea\  and  very  neatly 

'  A  fibre  much  resembling  bemp,  and  used  for  similar  purposes. 


A  YES,  189 

felted  on  the  whole  interior  surface  of  the  lower  two  thirds  with  a 
compact  coating  of  the  down  of  flowering  grasses,  and  little  bits  of 
spider's  web.  It  was  already  five  inches  in  its  longest  and  three 
inches  and  a  half  in  its  shortest  diameter.  It  contained  three  &esh 
eggs,  which  were  white,  very  thickly  speckled  with  brownish  pink,  in 
places  confluent  and  having  a  decided  tendency  to  form  a  zone  near 
the  large  end.' 

In  Persia  I  took  but  one  nest,  which  agreed  on  the  whole  with  Mr. 
Tristram's  description ;  it  was,  however,  loosely,  not  compactly  woven, 
of  coarse  grass  and  vegetable  fibres,  with  fragments  of  cloth  and 
string,  and  lined  with  hair  and  a  few  feathers.  The  whole  was  cup- 
shaped,  open  at  the  top,  and  situated  about  three  feet  from  the  ground 
in  the  fork  of  a  small  pomegranate  tree,  standing  in  a  garden  close  to 
a  village.  ♦  This  nest  contained  five  eggs,  well  incubated,  pinkish  white 
in  colour,  irregularly  spotted  and  streaked  with  chocolate  brown,  more 
thickly  towards  the  larger  end,  but  without  any  tendency  to  confluence 
in  the  spots,  or  to  the  formation  of  a  zone,  and  measuring  0.67  by  0.51. 
I  observed  the  bird  on  the  nest  for  some  time  before  shooting  it. 
This  bird  and  others  shot  at  the  same  spot,  a  village  named  Tarab^ 
in  the  district  of  Sarjan,  between  Karmfin  and  Shiraz,  agreed  in  dimen- 
sions with  H,  rama,  whilst  the  bills  of  some  of  the  birds  resembled 
those  of  the  European  H,  pallida,  and  others  were  undistinguishable 
from  those  of  the  Indian  form.  The  particular  specimen  to  which  the 
nest  belonged  was  intermediate  in  this  respect.  I  took  its  dimensions 
before  skinning,  and  they  were — length  5.4  inches,  expanse  7.5,  wing 
2.42,  tail  2.05,  tarsus  0.78,  bill  from  forehead  0.47,  from  the  gape  0.62, 
wings  from  the  end  of  the  tail  1.3. 

If  the  nest  described  by  Mr.  Hume  be  really  the  usual  form  of  that 
produced  by  H.  rama,  not  only  does  that  differ  altogether  in  its 
nidification  from  H.  pallida,  but  from  all  other  species  of  Ifypolais, 
I  think  we  should  have  more  evidence  before  we  can  conclude  that  the 
Indian  bird,  which  is  absolutely  undistinguishable  from  some  of  my 
Baluchist&n  specimens,  makes  normally  an  egg-shaped  nest  with  the 
entrance  near  the  top  (that  is,  I  suppose,  at  the  side,  as  in  Drt/mceca) . 
Mr.  Dresser  has  carefully  compared  the  eggs  obtained  by  me  in 
Southern  Persia  with  a  series  of  H.  pallida,  and  finds  that  the  former 
are  smaller  and  differently  mai'ked.  The  bird  which  laid  them, 
although  much  closer  in  all  its  characters  to  H.  rama  than  to  H. 
pallida,  had  the  bill  slightly  intermediate  in  form. 


1 90  ZOO  LOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

On  the  whole  it  appears  to  me  best  to  keep  these  European  and 
Indian  forms  distinct^  and  to  consider  the  intermediate  forms  from 
Persia  as  hybrids.  The  union  of  H.  pallida  (or  rather  of  H.  eUeica)  with 
jK  rama  was  first  proposed,  I  think,  by  Mr.  Blyth  (Ibis,  1867,  p.  24),  and 
again  suggested  by  Dr.  Finsch  (Tr.  Z,  S.  vii,  p.  315).  Mr.  Tristram, 
on  the  other  hand  (Ibis,  1870,  p.  494),  pointed  out  their  distinctness. 

The  type  specimens  of  Curruca  pallida,  Hemp,  and  Ehr.,  in  the 
Berlin  Museum,  are  from  Egypt  and  Nubia,  and  whilst  some  agree 
perfectly  with  the  European  form  or  H,  elaica,  others  are  somewhat 
intermediate  in  size  between  it  and  H.  rama. 

After  examining  the  type  specimen  of  Lichtenstein's  Sylvia  caltgata^ 
also  in  the  Berlin  Museum,  I  came  to  the  same  conclusion  as  Mr. 
G.  R.  Gray  in  his  '  Handlist  of  Birds/  and  Mr.  Tristram  (Ibis,  1870, 
p.  493),  that  that  species  is  identical  with  Sylvia  rama,  a  view  first 
suggested,  I  think,  by  Mr.  Blyth  (Ibis,  1867,  p.  24).  There  is  but  a 
single  specimen,  and  this  difiers  from  Hypolaia  rama  in  the  form  of  the 
bill,  which  rather  resembles  that  of  a  Phylloscopus ;  but  after  carefully 
examining  the  bird,  I  am  satisfied  that  this  must  be  due  either  to 
alteration  of  the  form  by  lateral  compression,  or  else  that  it  is  an  in- 
dividual peculiarity,  the  skin  in  every  other  respect  agreeing  with 
Hypolais  rama.  Mr.  Dresser,  however,  who  also  examined  the  type  of 
S.  caligata,  whilst  coming  to  the  same  conclusion  as  myself  with  respect 
to  the  bill,  considered  the  specimen  identical  with  the  smaller  Indian 
form,  called  Jerdonia  agricoleiisis  by  Mr.  Hume  (Ibis,  1870,  p.  i8a). 
On  hearing  the  conclusion  to  which  I  had  come,  Mr.  Dresser  obtained 
the  loan  of  the  skin  from  the  Berlin  Museum,  and  recompared  it  care- 
fully with  a  large  series  of  Indian  specimens,  with  the  result  of  con- 
vincing himself  that  he  was  correct.  I  can  only  bow  to  his  decision. 
I  attached  but  little  value  to  the  distinctions  between  the  larger  and 
smaller  Indian  forms  when  I  compared  the  specimen  at  Berlin,  and 
may  not  have  made  a  sufficiently  careful  comparison.  I  should  add 
that  I  have  seen  other  forms  sent  from  various  museums  and  labelled 
Sylvia  caligata,  one  of  them,  a  Central  Asian  skin,  being  an  unmis- 
takable specimen  of  AcrocepAalus  affricolus,  Jerdon. 

As  I  have  already  stated,  I  was  at  one  time  disposed  to  unite  to  H.  rama 
the  small  form  called  Jerdonia  agricoletisis^  by  Mr.  Hume  {H.  caligata). 

^  The  following  appears  to  be  the^sjnonymy  of  this  species : — 

MotaciUa  scdicaria.  Pall.  Zoogr.  Roe.  As.  i,  p.  49a,  neo  Linn.  (181 1). 

Sylvia  califfoia,  Lichi^Byenman's  Beise  von  Orenburg  nach  Bachara,p.  128,(1893). 


AVES.  191 

So  &r  as  an  examination  of  skins  can  show,  there  appears  a  complete  pas- 
sage from  it  mio n.rama.  But  it  is  said  to  differ  in  habits^  voice,  etc., 
besides  being  constantly  smaller;  and  although  I  cannot  admit  that  there 
are  any  grounds  for  generic  distinction,  I  do  not  think  it  probable  that 
Mr.  Brooks  and  Mr.  Hume  can  have  been  mistaken  on  a  subject  which 
they  have  so  carefnly  studied  as  the  constancy  of  the  distinctions 
between  the  larger  and  smaller  forms  of  the  Indian  Hypolaia.  I  may 
add  that  if  naturalists  insist  on  separating  these  birds  from  Ht/polaUy 
the  genus  Iduna  was  proposed  by  Keyserling  and  Blasius  for  this  very 
species  Sylvia  ealigata.  I  cannot  myself  see  that  the  length  of  the 
bastard  primaiy,  the  only  distinction  known,  is  of  generic  importance, 
but  others  may  think  differently.  It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that 
H.  ealigaia  has  a  considerable  range  outside  of  India^  the  type  having 
been  collected  by  Eversman  between  Orenburg  and  Bokhara,  whilst 
Herr  Moves,  of  Stockholm^  showed  me  several  specimens  collected  by 
him  in  the  Ural  mountains.  Ilerr  Moves  did  not  meet  with  the  larger 
H.  rama  in  the  Ural^  nor  has  it^  so  far  as  I  know^  been  found  in  Central 
Asia. 

The  following  series  of  measurements  will  serve  to  show  how  com- 
plete is  the  gradation  between  Hypohis  pallida,  II,  rama  and  //.  cali-- 
gala : — 

I.  European,  Syrian,  and  African  Bpecimens  (JT.  pallida  v.  eUsicay, 

Wing.    Tail.  Tarsus.  Culnien. 

1  9.  Smyrna  (Mus.  Dreswr)         . .         . .         . .  3.65       a.oa      0.87      0.7 

2  ^.  Smyrna  (MuB.  Dresser)         ..  ..  ..  3.6         2.1         0.85      0.7 


IdwML  caUgaia,  Keyserling  und  Blasius,  Wirbelth.  Eur.  pp.  Iviii,  190,  (1841). — 
Gray,  Handlist,  i,  p.  209,  partim. 

Sylvia  tcita,  Eversman,  Jour.  f.  Omith.  1853,  p.  286. 

Jerdonia  agricoUntis,  Hume,  Ibis,  1870,  p.  182. 
Eversman  himself  has  stated  (Jour.  f.  Omith.  1853,  p.  285)  that  the  type  of  8.  fcita  is 
the  same  as  that  named  8.  caligata  by  Lichtenstein.  1  may  add  that  Herr  Moves  con- 
firmed the  reference  in  Gray's  *  Handlist*  otMotaciUa  salicaria  of  Pallas  to  Sylvia  caligata ; 
at  least  he  assured  me  that  thu  form  known  to  Russian  naturalists  as  salicaria  is  identical. 
Pallas's  name,  however,  cannot  stand  for  the  species,  as  it  is  not  the  Motacilla  salicaiHa  of 
Linnsus  {Sylvia  hortenm^  auct.) 

*  Measurements  much  exceeding  those  here  given  are  quoted  by  Finsch,  Tr.  Z.  S.  vii, 
p.  232,  as  those  of  specimens  of  II,  eUeica,  from  the  Abyssinian  coast.  In  one  skin 
the  wihg  measured  no  less  than  3.03  inches  (2  inches  10  lines,  the  inches  and  lines 
being  the  old  French  ones,  which  are  larger  than  the  corresponding  English  measures  of 
length).  1  examined  the  original  specimens  at  the  time,  and  I  am  disposed  to  think 
that  some  of  the  birds  belonged  to  ZT.  langttida. 


192 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 


Wing.    Tail.  Tarsus.  Culmen. 


3.  Egypt  (Mus.  Dresser)  . . 

•  •                  •  • 

2.6 

2.03 

0.85 

0.7a 

4  ^.  Attica  (Mus.  Dresser) 

•  •                   •  • 

3-54 

1.97 

0.88 

0.72 

5  i.  Palestine  (Mus.  Dresser) 

•  ■                    •  • 

2.46 

1.92 

0.85 

0.7 

6.  Syria  (Mus.  Dresser)     .. 

•  •                   •  • 

2.5 

1.95 

0.83 

0.68 

7.  Syria  (Mus.  Dresser)     .. 

•  •                   •  • 

2.45 

1.99 

— 

0.7 

8.  Nubia  (Berlin  Mus.  type  of  C.  pallida,  H 

.  and  E.)  .. 

a -47 

1.82 

0.82 

— 

9.  Nubia  (Berlin  Mus.                       ditto 

a.55 

2.06 

0.87 

— 

10.^  Nubia  (Berlin  Mus.                     ditto 

'*       . 

34 

1.9 

0.85 

— 

1 1.  Egypt  (Berlin  Mus.                      ditto 

2.6 

2.02 

0.88 

— 

I  a.  Upper  Egypt  (Berlin  Mus.            ditto 

«.43 

2.03 

"0.83 

— 

2.  Persian  Specimens. 

I  d.  Shirt^ 

a.76 

2.1 

0.87 

0.67 

3^.  RhiduB 

a.7 

2.1 

0.85 

0.68 

3  6'  Bampdr,  Baliichist^ 

a.7 

2.07 

— 

0.68 

4  6.  Bamptir                       . . 

2.67 

2.11 

0.88 

0.7 

5  9.  Rig&n,  Narmashir,  south-eastern  Persia 

2.6 

2 

0.8a 

a62 

6  3.  Lura  valley,  Elburz  mountains,  north  Persia 

2.5 

1.97 

0.84 

0.61 

7  6.  Bampiir 

2.48 

2,03 

0.85 

0.65 

8  9.  Dizak.  Baluchistan 

2.48 

2.18 

0.77 

0.6  a 

9  i.  Isfalu&n 

^•45 

^2.1 

0.86 

0.65 

10^.  Shirtte 

2.41 

2.14 

0.82 

0.6 

11^.  Saij4n,  south-west  of  Karmin 

3-43 

2.08 

0.8 

0.62 

12  9.'  Sarj&n,  south-west  of  Karmin 

343 

2.08 

0.78 

0.6a 

13  d.  Near  Bam,  south-eastern  Persia 

2.43 

2.08 

0.85 

0.64 

I4  S.  Bampiir 

2.42 

a.o8 

0.83 

0.64 

15  6.  Dizak 

a-4 

2.08 

0.81 

0.6 

169.  Sarjin 

2.33 

2 

0.8 

0.65 

3.  Indian 

Specimens. 

a.  Hypolaia  ramcu 

245 

2.1 

0.83 

0.68 

2  9.  Etawah  (Mus.  Dresser) 

•  •                   •  • 

2-43 

2.2 

0.84 

0.62 

3  6.  Kar&chI,  Sind  (W.  T.  B.)      . . 

•  •                   •  • 

2.4 

1.92 

0.81 

0.62 

4  3,  Cawnpore,  North-west  Provinces  (Mus. 

Dresser)  . . 

2.34 

1.96 

0.88 

0.64 

5  6'  lioc  ?  (Mus.  Dresser)  . . 

•  •          •  • 

2.35 

a.o8 

0.83 

0.6  a 

6  tf.  Berar  (W.  T.  B.)        

.  •          •  • 

2.38 

2.05 

0.83 

0.62 

7  9.  Godivari  valley,  near  EQore  (W.  T.  B.) 

•  *          •  • 

2.36 

2 

0.85 

0.57 

b.  If.  caltffota  {Jerdonia  agricolensU), 

8  <}."  Etawah  (Mus.  Dresser)        ..         .^ 

•  ■          •  • 

24 

1.87 

0.84 

0-55 

9  9.  Berar  (W.  T.  B.)        

.  •          •  • 

2.35 

1.9 

0.8 

0.54 

10.  Chanda,  Central  Provinces  (W.  T.  B.) 

.  •          *  > 

2.33 

1.95 

0.8 

0.5 

II.  Bilispiir,  Central  Provinces  (W.  T.  B.) 

•  *          •  • 

2.32 

1.83 

0.8 

0-53 

^  Probably  a  young  specimen,  it  bears  a  MS.  name  of  Ehrenberg's. 
*  This  is  the  specimen  of  which  the  nest  and  eggs  were  taken. 

'  This  is  a  typical  specimen  from  the  original  locality,  sent  to  Mr.  Dresser  by  Mr. 
Brooks. 


AVES.  193 

Wing.    Tail.  Tarsus.  Culraen. 
In  the  type  of%Zviaca2t^ato,Licbt.,  the  measurements  are     2.42       1.97      0.82       — 

To  the  above  list  it  should  be  added  that,  generally  speaking,  the 
shorter  bills  are  narrower  in  proportion  at  the  base  than  the  larger 
onesy  and  there  is  precisely  the  same  variation  in  this  respect  as  in  the 
other  dimensions. 

It  may  be  noticed  that  some  of  the  largest  of  the  Persian  speci- 
mens are  from  Bampur  in  Baluchistan^  and  that  these  agree  precisely 
in  every  respect  with  European  examples  of  H,  pallidm,  whilst  the 
birds  from  Isfah&n  agree  equally  well,  both  in  dimensions  and  structure, 
with  H.  rama  from  India,  so  that  there  is  not  anything  like  a  complete 
passage  from  the  larger  to  the  smaller  form  in  going  from  east  to 
west. 

From  various  notes  taken  from  freshly-shot  specimens  I  find  the 
total  length  varies  from  5.3  to  5.75  inches,  expanse  7.5  to  8.25,  bill 
from  the  gape  0.61  to  0.65,  or  perhaps  rather  more,  and  the  distance  by 
which  the  closed  wings  are  short  of  the  end  of  the  tail  i  to  1.3  in. 
The  first  or  bastard  primary  usually  projects  0.6  in.  beyond  the  small 
feathers  of  the  wing  lining ;  sometimes  it  is  only  0.5,  and  I  have  one 
specimen  from  Shiraz  in  which  it  measures  no  less  than  0.75;  the 
second  (or  first  long)  primary  is  from  0.2  to  0.35  (usually  about  0.25) 
shorter  than  the  third,  which  in  most  cases  slightly  exceeds  the  fourth, 
but  there  are  exceptions ;  the  second  is  usually  about  equal  to  the 
sixth,  in  extreme  cases  it  may  be  as  long  as  the  fifth  or  as  short  as  the 
seventh.  The  iris  is  umber  brown,  bill  dark  homy  above,  flesh- 
coloured  below,  legs  brown,  the  feet  with  an  olive  tinge. 

Either  Hypolais  pallida  or  H.  rama  abounds  throughout  Persia, 
being  especially  common  in  gardens,  in  which,  in  the  spring,  its  mo- 
notonous call  may  be  constantly  heard.  It  is  far  more  of  a  garden 
bird  than  H.  languida.  At  Bampur  in  Baluchistdn  I  met  with  it 
in  thick  bushes  on  the  banks  of  a  stream.  It  breeds  in  Southern 
Persia  in  May. 

Acrocephalus  dumetorum,  Bljrth,  (Salicaria  TnagniroHrU^  Liljeborg), 
which,  from  its  habits,  I  suspect  of  being  a  Sypolaisy  has  been  found 
both  in  India  and  Eastern  Europe,  Mr.  Dresser  having  obtained  speci- 
mens of  it  from  the  Volga.  It  probably  occurs  in  Persia.  JK  olwt^ 
torum  has  not  hitherto  been  met  with  so  far  to  the  eastward. 


VOL.  II. 


194  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 


131.  AcrocephaLus  ^  stentoreus,  (Hemp,  and  Ehr.) 

Curruca  Hentorea,  H.  et  E.  Symb.  Phys.  Aves,  fol.  bb. 

Afp'obates  hrunnescenB^  Jerdon,  Madras  Jour.  Lit.  and  Sci.  x,  p.  269. 

Aerocephalus  brunnescent,  Jerdon,  Birds  of  India,  ii,  p.  154. 

A.  stentoreus,  Allen,  Ibis,  1864,  p.  97,  PI.  I.— Shelley,  Birds  of  Egypt, 

p.  95- 

1  ^.  Bampiir,  Baluchistan  . . 

2  S'  Shiraz  lake,  south  Persia 


2000    .. 

April  7. 

4700     .. 

June  8. 

4750  .. 

July  6. 

4750   •• 

July. 

4750  .. 

September. 

7000    .. 

June  26. 

3  S'  Shiraz    . . 

4*  5  ^;  6  9.  Shir^    .. 

7  S»  Shirdz    . .  . .  • . 

8  S-  ABup^,  between  Shir^  and  Is&h^n 

An  examination  of  Hemprich  and  Ehrenberg's  types  has  confirmed 
what  I  had  previously  ascertained  from  other  data,  viz.  that  their 
Curruca  stentoria  is  identical  with  the  well  known  Indian  AcrocepAalus 
brunnescens,  Jerdon.  In  the  figure  of  A.  steuiorem,  published  in  the 
Ibis,  1.  c,  the  breast  is  shown  to  be  striated  ;  but  this  character  is  not 
constant,  for  it  is  not  seen  in  the  types  in  the  Berlin  Museum,  nor  in 
a  specimen  in  Mr.  Howard  Saunders's  collection.  On  the  other  hand, 
there  is  in  the  same  collection  a  skin  from  Turkestdn  in  which  these 
striaB  are  well  marked,  and,  to  complete  the  evidence,  Mr.  Saunders 
showed  me  examples  of  A,  arundinaceus  from  Spain  similarly  striated, 
and  expressed  his  conviction  that  these  marks  are  occasionally  de- 
veloped in  the  breeding  plumage  in  both  species. 

The  loud  harsh  note,  from  which  A,  stentoreus  derives  its  name,  is 
familiar  to  most  Indian  ornithologists,  and  I  repeatedly  heard  it  in 
Persia. 

The  Egyptian,  Persian,  and  Indian  birds,  which  I  refer  to  the 
present  species,  dififer  from  the  European -4.  arundinaceusy  (L.)  in  having 
a  shorter  and  much  more  rounded  wing,  the  second  (first  long)  primary 
being  always  shorter  than  the  third  and  fourth,  and  generally  than 
the  fifth,  whilst  the  longest  primaries  project  much  less  beyond  the 
secondaries  than  in  A.  arundinaceiiSy  in  which  the  second  primary 
nearly  or  quite  equals  the  third  in  length,  and  is  always  longer  than 
the  fourth.  The  two  birds  otherwise  do  not  differ  in  structure  or 
dimensions,  and  there  is  no  constant  distinction  in  colour.     A.  arundi- 

'  For  the  reason  for  using  this  generic  name  instead  of  Calamodyta,  see  Newton's 
edition  of  Tarreirs  British  Birds,  i,  p.  368.  See  also  the  note  under  PhyUoscopus 
trochUus  in  this  volume,  p.  180. 


AVES.  195 

naceus  is  usually  more  fulvous  on  the  underparts^  and  especially  on 
the  lower  wing  coverts,  but  this  is  not  always  the  case. 

I  had  so  few  opportunities  of  collecting  marsh  and  reed  birds  in 
Baluchist&n  and  Persia  that  I  obtained  only  a  small  number,  and 
even  of  the  commonest  species  I  was  able  to  note  but  few  localities. 
AcTOcephalus  atetUoreus  was  rather  scarce  at  Bampur  in  Baluchistan 
early  in  April  in  reeds  by  a  stream,  but  it  abounded  in  June  near  the 
lake  of  Shir&z,  and  in  the  great  marsh  of  Asupas,  north  of  Shirfiz.  It 
breeds  evidently  in  both  these  localities,  but  probably  leaves  the 
Persian  highlands  in  winter.  Its  loud  monotonous  note  was  fre- 
quently heard  near  Shir&z. 

I  cannot  say  whether  this  bird  extends  into  Northern  Persia ; 
probably  it  does,  for  De  Pilippi  mentions  (Viag.  in  Pers.  p.  i6a)  a 
bird  closely  resembling  A»  arundinaceus^  which  he  noticed  in  a  garden 
at  Tabriz,  but  which  he  considers  different  from  the  large  European 
reed  warbler  because  of  its  louder  voice,  more  yellow  colour  below, 
and  also  because  of  the  dry  locality  in  which  he  saw  it.  The  first 
character  certainly  appears  to  indicate  A,  stentoreua,  which  is  some- 
times seen  in  gardens  and  similar  plflces,  but  which  is  not  more  fulvous 
beneath  than  its  European  representative.  Still  it  is  not  easy  to  con^ 
ceive  what  other  bird  could  have  so  closel v  resembled  A.  arundinaceua. 

The  dimensions  of  the  specimens  of  A.  atentoreus  collected  by  me  in 
Persia  were — Males,  wing  3.2  to  3.4;  tail  a.75  to  3.2 ;  tarsus  1.05  to 
I.I 7;  culmen  0.9  to  1.05.  The  only  female  specimen  I  have  is  evi- 
dently a  young  bird.  The  above  measurements  agree  with  those  of 
Indian  specimens.  There  is  a  skin  from  Egypt  in  Mr.  Howard 
Saunders's  collection  with  the  wing  only  3.1  in.  long,  but  other  Egyp- 
tian birds  are  larger.  On  the  other  hand,  the  wing  of  a  Turkestin 
specimen  in  the  same  collection  measures  no  less  than  3.7  ii^- 

In  my  notes  on  the  soft  parts  I  find  the  iris  marked  as  pale  umber 
brown,  legs  pale  olive  or  homy,  soles  of  the  feet  greenish  white,  claws 
homy,  bill  dusky  above,  flesh-coloured  near  the  base  below,  deep  yellow 
inside. 

132.  ''^  P  A.  arundinaoeus,  (L.) 

Sylvia  turdoides,  Meyer,  M^n.  Cat.  Rais.  p.  3a. 

This  is  said  to  have  been  obtained  by  M^n^tries  in  the  mountains 
of  T&lish^  and  in  reeds  near  Lankoran  on  the  Caspian,  and  is  probably 

o  2 


196  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

found  in  Ghilfin  and  Mazandardn.  A  specimen  from  Astrakhan  on 
the  Volga,  in  Mr.  Dresser's  collection,  belongs  to  the  European  form 
of  large  reed  warbler,  and  I  think  there  is  every  probability  that 
M^netries'  species  was  rightly  identified,  and  that  the  present  bird  re- 
places A,  stentoreus  in  Northern  Persia  and  around  the  Caspian.  Still 
it  is  possible  that  the  Lankoran  species  may  be  A,  stentoreiM, 

183.  A.  streperuB,  (Vieill.)— De  F. 

Motacilla  artmcHnaeea,  Groel.  S.  N.  i,  p.  99a,  nee  L. 
Sylvia  streperat  YieilL  Nouv.  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.  xi,  p.  183. 
CcUamoherpe  aruncUnacea,  G.  R.  Gray,  Handlist,  i,  p.  208. 

I  J.  Near  Bampiir,  BaliichiBtiiii    ..          ..  1700            Aprils. 

2»  3i  4  ^f  5  $•  Bampdr        ..  aooo  ..     April  7. 

6  ^.  Shir4z    ..                     ..  4750  ..     June. 

7  ^,  8  9*  Shir^z                   . .          . .          . .  4750  . .     August. 

9  ^,  10,  IT  9.  Asup^,  between  Shir^  and 

Isiabdn  ..  ..  7000     ..     June  a6. 

129.  Kohriid,  n(»th  of  Isfah&n  . .         8000     . .     July  18. 

The  specimens  from  the  Persian  highlands,  Asup&s  and  Kohrud, 
agree  perfectly  with  European  skins  in  the  proportions  of  the  quills, 
but  those  from  Shirdz  and  Baluchistiln  have  the  second  (or  first  long) 
primary  shorter  in  proportion  to  the  third  and  fourth  than  in  the 
typical  A.  streperus.  In  the  latter  the  second  quill  is  nearly  or  quite 
equal  to  the  fourth,  in  the  skins  from  Baluchist&n  and  Shir&z  it  is 
decidedly  shorter,  and  in  one  specimen  from  Bampur  the  second  quill 
is  shorter  than  the  fifth.  'As,  however,  the  difiference  does  not  appear 
constant,  and  there  is  variation  in  the  extent  to  which  the  wing  is 
rounded,  I  see  no  reason  for  separating  the  skins  from  Southern  and 
South-eastern  Persia  from  A,  streperus. 

This  reed  warbler  was  found  in  the  same  localities  as  A.  stentoreus^ 
and  appeared  to  be  very  common.  I  found  it  abundantly  at  Bampur, 
but  I  never  met  with  it  farther  east  in  Baluchistdn,  and  it  does  not 
as  yet  appear  to  have  been  observed  in  India.  It  may  possibly  occur 
in  Sind,  but  Mr.  Hume  did  not  obtain  it  in  that  country. 

Specimens  shot  at  Bampur  in  the  winter  months  are  generally 
much  more  rufous,  both  above  and  below,  than  those  killed  on  the 
Persian  highlands  in  summer.  This  difference,  I  have  no  doubt,  is 
due  to  the  season  of  the  year,  the  birds  when  newly  moulted  in  winter 
being  a  much  redder  brown  than  in  spring.  Two  specimens  from  the 
highlands,  however,  one  shot  at  Shir&z  in  June,  the  other  at  Kohrud 


A  VES.  197 

in  July,  are  equally  rafoas^  perhaps  because  of  their  being  young  birds 
of  the  year.  This  bird  doubtless  breeds  on  the  Persian  highlands,  and 
I  thought  I  took  the  nest  at  Asup^,  as  described  under  Bradyjptetes 
Ceitii^  but  apparently  I  was  mistaken. 

I  add  some  notes  on  the  colouration  of  the  soft  parts  and  measure- 
ments taken  before  skinning.  Iris  brown,  bill  dusky  above,  flesh-- 
coloured  below,  orange  within^  legs  olivaceous  horny  in  winter  and  in 
young  birds,  but  I  find  those  in  the  birds  shot  at  Asup&s  in  June  noted 
as  pale  brown^  with  the  feet  yellowish,  soles  always  pale  and  yellow, 
deep  yellow  in  the  Asupas  birds,  claws  homy.  Measurements^  except 
those  of  I  and  2,  taken  before  skinning : — 

1  ^j        39,       3  ^,        4,         $  i» 

Bampiir.  Ban^iir.  Asupds.  ABup^B.  Kohnid. 
Length  ..  ..  —  —  54  5.5  5.6 

Expanse       . .         . .         . .  —  —  7*^5  7-5  7 

Wing  a.7  2.55  a.5  a.47  245 

Tail 2.12  2.05  1.95  2.05  1.95 

Tarsus  ..  ..         ..  0.95  0.9  0.9  0.9  0.91 

Bill  from  front         0.53  0.51  0.5  047  045 

Bill  from  gape         ..  ..  —  —  0.7  0.7  — 

Closed  wings  short  of  end  of  tail  ..  —  —  i  1.2  1.2 


ld4«  A.  palustriB,  (Bechst.) 

i^.Shiriz  4750     ••     December. 

This  specimen  is  readily  distinguished  from  the  last  by  its  much 
more  olivaceous  colouration  and  pale  tarsi,  agreeing  in  both  with  the 
European  species.  In  colour  it  is  very  near  -4.  ( ?  ffypolaii)  dnmeU 
orum  (Blyth),  but  that  bird  is  more  olivaceous  and  has  a  much 
more  rounded  wing,  the  second  primary  being  shorter  than  the  three 
next  and  sometimes  than  the  sixth,  whilst  in  J.  pahUris  it  equals  or 
exceeds  the  fourth.  In  the  only  specimen  obtained  the  second  primary 
is  wanting  in  one  wing,  and  the  third,  fourth,  fifth  and  sixth,  are 
partly  cut  away  in  the  other,  but  by  comparing  the  length  of  the 
second  primary  with  the  remaining  feathers,  it  is  evident  that  it 
agrees  in  length  with  that  of  A.  palustris.  The  dimensions  of  the 
only  specimen  obtained  are— wing  2.7  inches,  tail  2,05,  tarsus  0.9, 

culmen  0.5. 

Of  A.  palustris  but  a  single  specimen  was  obtained  by  Mr.  Tristram 
in  Palestine  (Ibis,  1867,  p.  77),  and  I  find  no  other  record  of  the  oc- 
currence  of  this  bird  in  Asia.     From  the  fact  that  only  one  specimen 


198  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

was  obtained  in  Persia,  and  that  in  winter^  I  think  it  probable  that 
only  stragglers  reach  the  country.  Neither  M€n&ries  nor  De  Filippi 
noticed  it. 

On  Mr.  BIyth's  authority  (Ibis,  1870,  p.  1 67)  I  supposed  A.  offri^ 
coins  Jerdon,  of  India,  to  be  identical  with  this  species,  and  quoted  it 
as  A.  palustris  in  a  list  of  birds  from  the  Wardha  valley  (J.  A.  S.  B. 
187 1,  xl^  pt.  2,  p.  273.)  I  had  until  lately  no  means  of  comparing 
the  two  forms.  They  are  quite  distinct ;  A.  agricolus  being  very 
much  smaller  and  much  more  rufous,  its  colouration  being  in 
general  even  more  ochraceous  than  that  of  A.  strepeniSy  which  is  ft 
more  rufous  bird  than  A.palustrU.  The  wing  of  A,  agricolus  is  shorter 
and  more  rounded  than  that  of  either  of  the  European  species^  the 
second  primary  being  rather  shorter  than  the  sixths  and  the  longest 
primaries  projecting  only  about  0.4  in.  beyond  the  secondaries.  The 
following  are  dimensions  of  two  specimens  of  A.  agricolus  measured 
before  skinning : — 

Length  .. 

Wing         

XaU>  ••  ••  •* 

Tubus 
Bill  at  front 

136.  CalancLodus  melanopogon,  (Tern.) 


I. 

2. 

5 

h-n 

i.2 

a. a 

2.05 

2.15 

0.8 

0.85 

0-45 

0-47 

I  9.  Shir4f. 

»• 

4750     • 

.     June<r 

1  ^,  3  9.  Shir4z 

•  • 

4750     • 

.     Summer. 

4,   5  young.  ABupis,  north  of  Shirdz 

•  • 

7000 

June  a6. 

Birds  from  Persia  appear  to  differ  in  no  respect  from  those  of 
Burope. 

Major  St.  John  found  this  bird  in  gardens.  I  met  with  it  amongst 
high  reeds  in  a  marsh.  It  evidently  breeds  on  the  Persian  highlands 
in  the  spring,  but  I  only  observed  it  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
country,  perhaps  because  I  had  not  opportunities  for  collecting  in 
suitable  localities  farther  north.  It  has  been  met  with  in  Sind  and 
the  North-west  provinces  of  India  (Ibis,  1870,  p.  301,  and  'Stray 
Feathers,'  i,  p.  199). 

Of  the  birds  shot  at  Asupds  I  have  the  following  notes.  Iris  brown ; 
bill  blackish  above,  brown  at  the  base  below,  orange  within;  legs 
horn  colour,  soles  of  feet  yellowish.     Dimensions : — length  5.25  in.. 


AVE8,  199 

expanse  7,  wing  2.3,  tail  a,  tarsus  0.85,  bill  from  the  forehead  0.46, 
from  the  gape  0.65,  closed  wings  i.a  short  of  the  end  of  the  tail. 

Young  birds  are  very  like  the  adults,  but  have  broad  rufous  edges 
to  the  back  feathers,  and  are  generally  more  rufous^  both  above  and 
below. 


136.  *  C.  schsenobsBnus,  (L.) 

Sylvia  phragmitis,  Bechfit.,  M^.  Cat.  Rais.  p.  33. 

Menetries  shot  this  warbler  at  Lankoran  on  the  Caspian,  where  he 
met  with  it  in  rice  fields  and  amongst  reeds.  The  specimens  he  says 
had  a  rather  longer  beak  and  shorter  tail  than  those  from  Southern 
France. 

137.  Fotamodus  lusoinioides,  (Savi). 

I  i.  Kohnid,  north  of  Isfahan  ..  7000     ..     July  18. 

The  only  specimen  of  this  bird  which  I  obtained  differs  so  much 
from  most  European  specimens  that  I  was  for  some  time  much  disposed 
to  consider  it  distinct.  It  is  rather  larger,  the  chin  and  throat  are 
pure  white,  not  fulvous,  as  they  usually  are  in  European  birds,  the 
colour  beneath  is  paler  and  less  rufous,  and  that  of  the  upper  parts 
darker  and  browner.  The  under  wing  coverts  and  axillaries  more- 
over are  decidedly  paler  and  less  rufous.  The  shape  of  the  wing,  too,  as 
was  pointed  out  to  me  by  Professor  Newton,  to  whom  I  am  indebted 
for  the  identification  of  the  species,  is  less  convex  at  the  edge,  owing 
to  the  primaries  being  straighter.  But  I  find  that  there  is  more  or 
less  variation  amongst  European  birds  in  every  one  of  these  characters. 
Gerbe  points  out  that  the  throat  is  whiter  in  the  female,  and  my  only 
specimen  belongs  to  that  sex.  Under  these  circmnstances  I  do  not 
think  it  advisable  to  propose  a  new  name,  but  merely  to  point  out 
that  there  does  appear  to  be  a  difference  in  colouration  from  the  or- 
dinary European  bird,  and  if  constant,  this  may  entitle  the  Persian  race 
to  be  distinguished. 

Another  species  has  lately  been  described  from  Eastern  Tibet  by 
M.  Jules  Verreaux,  under  the  name  of  L,  brevipennis  (Nouv.  Archiv. 
du  Mus.  vii,  p.  67,  and  viii,  p.  65).  It  resembles  the  Persian  bird 
in  its  white  throat,  but  is  altogether  smaller,  with  shorter  wings 
and  beak. 


200  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

The  legs  of  the  Kohrud  specimen,  which  was  shot  and  brought  in 
by  a  collector,  were  very  pale  brown,  the  bill  dusky  ad^gye^  whitish 
below.  I  did  not  see  the  specimen  in  time  to  note  the  colour  of  the 
iris.  The  dimensions  measured  before  skinning  were :— 'length  6  in., 
expanse  7.5,  wing  a.65,  tail  2.2,  tarsus  0.8,  bill  from  the  front  0.5, 
wings  1.25  short  of  the  end  of  the  tail. 


138.  Bradyptetes  Cettii,  (Marm.) 

Sylvia  CeUiit  Manuora,  Mem.  Acad.Torino,  1820,  xxv,  p.  354. — Men.  Cat. 

Rais,  p.  33. 
Sylvia  Mcricea,  Natt.  Temm.  Man.  d'Omith.  i,  p.  197. 
t  Cettia  {Potamodus)  orientalit,  Trist.  Ibis,  1867,  p.  79. 
?  C  cettiaideSy  Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  194. 

I  i.  Lura  valley,  Elburz  mountains,  north 

of  Tehr4n                            . .  7000  . .  August  7. 

a  9.  Lura  valley                                        . .  6500  . .  August  8. 

3.  An4n,  Mazandarin,  north  of  Tehr&n    . .  6500  ..  August  11. 

As  I  have  not  specimens  for  comparison  I  cannot  positively  say- 
that  Sind  birds  do  not  differ  sufficiently  from  those  of  Europe  to 
require  specific  distinction,  but  I  doubt  if  their  distinctness  has  been 
proved ;  and  Mr.  Hume  only  suggests  the  name  of  cettioid^s  in  case 
*  any  one  chooses  to  separate  it ; '  it  is,  he  says,  *  though  somewhat 
paler  on  the  upper  surface  and  slightly  larger,  in  other  respects  abso- 
lutely identical  with  Cetti's  warbler.'  He  gives  the  following  di- 
mensions—wing 2.5  to  2.8,  iviWfrom  vent  2.4  to  3,  bill  at  front  0.4  to 
0.5,  tarsus  0.8  to  nearly  0.9.  From  the  dimensions  given  below  it 
will  be  seen  that  some  European  specimens  nearly  equal  Mr.  Hume's 
largest  birds,  and  that  the  species  is  very  variable  in  size,  whilst 
amongst  the  difierent  skins  which  I  have  examined  I  find  much 
difierence  in  colour,  as  is  usual  in  rufous  birds. 

Mr.  Tristram  has  very  kindly  lent  me  his  type  of  C.  orientalis,  and 
it  undoubtedly  difiiers  from  all  European  specimens  with  which  I  have 
compared  it  in  the  characters  pointed  out  by  him.  Still  the  differences 
are  so  small  that  I  almost  doubt  whether  they  are  more  than  indi- 
vidual peculiarities.  Only  the  examination  of  a  series  could  decide 
this. 

The  following  measurements  of  two  of  my  Persian  birds,  of  a  selec- 
tion of  specimens  from  various  localities  in  Mr.  Dresser's  Qollection, 


A  VES,  201 

and  of  Mr.  Tristram's  type  of  C,  orientalis,   show   how  muqh   this 
species  varies  in  size : — 


• 

Bill  from  Bill  from 

Wing. 

TaU. 

Tarsus. 

forehead. 

gape. 

i.  Lura  valley,  Persia 

2.3 

2.25 

0.85 

0.45 

057 

9.  Lura  valley . 

2-35 

2.22 

0.85 

0.49 

0.6 

(J.  Greece 

2.58 

a.67 

0.93 

0.53 

0.65 

-.  Algiers 

2.46 

2.4 

0.77 

0.5 

0.62 

i.  Smyrna 

2.2 

a.15 

0.83 

0.46 

0.56 

$.  Aran juez,  Spain 

2.18 

1.1 1 

0.8 

0-43 

0.61 

6.  Palestine,  type  of  (7.  orientalis 

345 

2.15 

0.9 

0.5 

0.68 

In  colouration  two  of  the  birds  killed  by  me  in  the  El))urz  mountains 
are  of  a  decidedly  darker  brown  than  the  third,  an  old  specimen  in 
worn  plumage,  with  the  whole  tail  bright  ferruginous  instead  of  nearly 
hair  brown.  I  believe  the  diflTerence  to  be  solely  due  to  the  fact  of 
the  more  rufous  skin  being  that  of  an  old  bird  in  faded  plumage^ 
whilst  the  two  darker  specimens  are  young  birds  which  have  just 
moulted. 

I  only  shot  Cetti's  warbler  in  the  Elburz  mountains,  north  of 
Tehrdn  ;  it  abounded  in  bushes  on  the  sides  of  the  valleys,  and  I  shot 
one  in  thick  jungle  on  the  hill  side  far  from  water.  This  bird  was 
found  by  Men^tries  on  the  Tdlish  moimtains,  south  of  Lankordn,  in 
the  hedges  around  gardens,  and  it  probably  occurs  in  summer  at  all 
suitable  places  on  the  Persian  highlands,  for  I  obtained  the  nest  and 
eggs  in  the  great  marsh  at  Asupds,  north  of  Shir&z,  as  I  have  already 
mentioned  when  writing  of  Acrocepialus  strepeni^.  The  circumstances 
attending  this  capture  were  remarkable^  and  are  worthy  of  record,  as 
showing  how,  with  every  precaution,  one  may  be  deceived  as  to  the  real 
proprietor  of  a  nest.  Asupds  is  a  village  about  7000  feet  above  the 
sea,  on  the  edge  of  one  of  the  broad  flat  valleys  so  common  in  the 
highlands  of  Persia.  Near  the  village  many  springs  emerge  from  the 
ground,  and  the  whole  valley  for  miles  is  marshy,  and  in  many  places 
covered  with  high  reeds.  Whilst  collecting  birds  in  this  marsh,  my 
attention  was  called,  by  one  of  the  men  with  me,  to  a  nest  placed 
near  the  ground  in  the  centre  of  a  tuft  of  high  grass ;  the  nest  was 
cup-shaped,  deep,  rather  roughly  constructed  of  dried  grass,  and  lined 
with  a  little  down  of  plants,  and  it  contained  two  uniformly-coloured 
dull  brick  red  eggs  (almost  Indian  red),  measuring  0.75  in.  by  0.57. 
The  eggs  were  nearly  fresh,  incubation  having  just  commenced.  I 
had  shot  several  different  marsh  birds  before  finding  the  nest,  and 
I  asked  the  Persian  who  had  pointed  it  out  to  me  if  he  knew  to  which 


202  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

of  these  it  belonged^  whereupon  he  immediately  selected  an  Aeroce^ 
jphalus^  which  I  have  since  identified  with  A,  slreperus,  adding  several 
remarks  about  the  nidification  of  the  other  birds  I  had  killed  {Acroce- 
phaltL9  stentoreu^^  Calamodus  melanopogon^  etc.),  which  appeared  to  me 
to  show  that  he  had  really  some  knowledge  on  the  subject.  However^ 
leaving  the  nest  and  eggs^  I  sat  down  at  a  short  distance  to  watch  for 
the  parent  bird,  but  inefiectually ;  and  after  spending  at  least  half  an 
hour  in  the  vain  expectation  of  its  return,  I  carefully  noted  the  spot, 
and  went  on  &rther  into  the  marsh.  On  my  return  I  approached  the 
nest  with  due  precaution,  and,  as  I  came  near,  a  small  bird  flew  out 
from  the  tufb  of  grass,  and  settled  on  a  reed  close  by ;  I  fired,  the  bird 
fell,  and  on  picking  it  up  I  found  it  to  be  precisely  as  the  Persian  had 
told  me,  Acrocephalus  streperus,  I  looked  upon  the  identification  of 
the  nest  as  complete,  although  I  was  of  course  rather  surprised  to 
find  a  reed  warbler  laying  dark  red  eggs.  Professor  Newton,  Mr. 
Horace  Saunders,  and  Mr.  Dresser,  however,  all  of  whom  have  a  wide 
knowledge  of  the  eggs  of  warblers,  assure  me  that  those  taken  by  me 
unmistakably  belong  to  Cetti's  warbler;  whilst  the  bird  (a  female, 
as  I  determined  by  dissection)  which  I  supposed  I  had  ascertained  to 
be  their  progenitor,  is  equally  certainly  Acrocejthalus  sireperus,  which, 
I  should  add,  abounded  in  the  marsh ;  so  I  can  only  suppose  that  I 
was  mistaken,  and  that  the  real  owner  of  the  nest  skulked  off,  leaving 
the  unfortunate  reed  warbler  to  pay  the  penalty  of  her  life. 

Bradyptetes  Cettii  has  been  found  by  Mr.  Hume  (1.  c.)  to  be  common 
in  Sind  in  the  winter.     It  has  not  been  detected  farther  east. 


180.  *  Aooentor  ooUaris,  (Scop.) — De  F. 

Accentor  Alpintu,  (Gm.),  De  F.  Viag.  in  Pere.  pp.  276,  348. 

Neither  Major  St.  John  nor  I  procured  specimens  of  this  bird.  It 
was  noticed  by  De  Filippi  on  the  sides  of  Mount  Demavend,  north- 
east of  Tehrin,  at  a  considerable  elevation.  No  specimen,  however, 
appears  to  have  been  preserved,  for  there  is  none  in  the  Turin 
Museimi. 

140.  A.  rubidus,  Tern,  and  Schl.,  var. 

I.  Kiimeshah,  south  of  Isfali&n        ..         ..         60O0     ..     April. 

The  only  specimen  which  was  procured  by  Major  St.  John  is  inter- 


A  YES.  203 

mediate  in  character  between  A.  modularis,  the  common  hedge-sparrow, 
and  the  Japanese  A.  rubidus^  as  was  pointed  out  by  Mr.  Dresser  in  the 
*  Birds  of  Europe.'  It,  howerer,  approaches  more  nearly  to  A.  rubidus. 
Very  possibly  it  may  prove  a  separate  species ;  but  as  I  have  only  one 
specimen^  and  no  skin  of  A.  rubidus  for  comparison,  I  cannot  feel 
certain. 

The  colouration  of  the  crown  and  nape  is  uniform  brownish  grey, 
back  chestnut  brown,  the  feathers  with  darker  centres,  but  much  less 
dark  and  distinct  than  in  A.  modularis.  The  ear  coverts  are  rather 
light  brown,  and  they  with  the  cheek  feathers  have  pale  shafts. 
"Wing  coverts  the  same  as  the  back,  greater  and  median  coverts  with 
small  whitish  spots  at  the  end  forming  a  double  bar  on  the  wing ; 
quills  hair  brown,  with  broad  chestnut  margins.  Tail  uniform  hair 
brown.  Throat  and  breast  pale  slaty  grey,  rather  paler  than  it 
usually  is  in  A.  modularise  whitish  near  the  chin,  and  passing  gradually 
into  the  white  of  the  abdomen.  Flanks  pale  slaty  with  a  few 
chestnut  streaks,  paler  and  less  numerous  than  in  A,  modularis. 
Under  tail  coverts  brown  with  broad  whitish  margins:  wing  2.7, 
tail  2.2,  tarsus  0.9^  culmen  0.63. 

As  will  be  seen  from  the  description,  this  bird  differs  from  A. 
rubiduSy  as  described  and  figured  in  the  'Fauna  Japonica,'  by  the 
presence  of  chestnut  dashes  ofi  the  flanks.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is 
decidedly  paler  in  colour  than  A*  modularise  and  wants  the  dark 
centres  to  the  feathers  of  the  crown  and  nape. 


Family  CRATEROPODIDiE. 

141.  Crateropus  {Cha^orhea)   Huttoni,   (BIyth),   PI.  XIII,  fig.   i.— 
DeF. 

Matacoeerctti  HiOUmi,  Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  B.  1847,  ^>  P-  47^. 
ChaJtarrhxa  caxtdata,  Dum.,  Jerdon,  Birds  of  India,  ii,  p.  67,  partim. 
a  ffuttoni,  Blyth,  Ibis,  1867.  p.  6. 

Crateropus  Salvadarii,  De  Filippi,  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  346.— Salvadori,  Atti  B- 
Acad.  Scu  Tor.  1868,  iii,  p.  389. 

I  9.  Gw4dar,  Baliichist&n  coast       ..         .*  —  Jan.  15. 

J  /.  B4hu  Ealit,  Baliichist&n         . .         ..  —       ..      Feb.  3. 

3  ^.  Dizak,  Baliichist4n        4000     ••     Maroh24. 


204  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

4  9.  Ispidin,  near  Aptar,  east  of  Bampiir, 

Baliichistin                 ..          ..          ..  4000  ..  March  31. 

5  9.  Bampiir,  BaJuchistan 2000  ..  Aprils. 

6  ^.  Near  Bam,  south-eastern  Persia          ..  3500  ..  April  24. 

7  <J,  8  9.  Kiznin,  west  of  Shirdz      ..          ..  2800  . .  January. 

This  bird  was  first  described  by  Mr.  Blyth  from  specimens  collected  in 
K&ndah&r^  by  Captain  Hutton.  It  was  distinguished  from  Mal<icocercu9 
caudalus,  Dum.,  by  its  larger  size  and  the  generally  paler  line  of  its 
upper  parts.  By  Dr.  Jerdon,  in  his  *  Birds  of  India/  it  was  united 
with  Ckatorhea  caudaia.  But  in  Mr.  Blyth's  commentary  on  Dr. 
Jerdon's  work,  in  the  Ibis,  1.  c,  he  called  attention  to  the  larger  size 
of  the  E&ndahdr  bird. 

The  Marquis  Doria  collected  specimens  of  a  Crateropidine  bird 
beyond  Shiriz  ^  '  in  the  region  of  palm  trees/  and  to  these  Prof.  De 
Filippi,  in  his  work  on  Persia,  applied  the  name  of  Crateropus  Salvadorii, 
after  the  distinguished  Italian  ornithologist.  I  have  examined  the 
type  of  this  species,  which  is  in  the  Museo  Civico  at  Genoa,  and  there 
can  be  no  question  of  its  identity  with  the  birds  procured  by  Major 
St.  John  near  Shirdz,  and  by  myself  further  to  the  eastward  in 
Baluchist&n,  and  a  specimen  of  C.  Huttoni  from  Edndahir,  in  the 
British  Museum,  is  the  same  in  all  respects. 

C  Iluttoni  differs  from  the  Indian  C,  caudata^  Dum.,  not  only  in  the 
larger  size  and  conspicuously  larger  bill  and  legs,  but  also  in  its 
colouration.  It  is  a  decidedly  greyer  bird,  with  narrower  and  rather 
paler  striation  on  the  head  and  back.  The  throat  is  generally  pale 
greyish  brown  instead  of  white,  and  the  rest  of  the  lower  parts  are 
greyer  and  less  fulvous.  Specimens  from  Makr&n  are  somewhat 
intermediate  in  character,  the  throat  being  whiter  and  the  dimensions 
a  little  smaller  than  in  the  typical  C.  Huttoni^  and  this  is  especially 
the  case  in  the  specimen  which  I  obtained  at  Gwddar. 

Another  very  closely  allied  form  is  Crater ojms  chalybaus,  Bp.  from 
Palestine,  which  only  differs  from  C,  Huttoni  in  its  much  larger  size 
(wing  4.3,  tail  5.4,  tarsus  1.35,  culmen  i.i),  and  in  having  more 
markings  on  the  breast.  The  description  of  its  habits,  as  given  by 
Mr.  Tristram,  (Ibis,  1859,  p.  30,)  might  be  applied,  word  for  word,  to 
C.  Huttoni^  C.  catidata^  the  Burmese  C.  gulari^^  or  any  of  the  Indian 
Malacocercu 

^  This  is  the  locality  assigned  by  De  Filippi,  bat  the  type  of  the  species  at  Genoa  is 
labelled  '  Arxnadi,  Earni&n  ; '  and,  so  far  as  I  know,  this  appears  to  have  been  the  only 
specimen  brought  back,  for  there  is  none  at  Turin.  The  Marquis  G.  Doria  has  written 
to  me  that  he  obtained  the  bird  on  his  journey  firom  Kannin  to  Bandar  Abblte. 


AV£S, 


205 


To  facilitate  comparison  I  add  a  description  of  the  present  species. 
Upper  parts  generally  pale  greyish  brown,  the  feathers  of  the  crown, 
hind  neck,  and  mantle  with  dark  brown  central  stripes^  darkest  on  the 
crown^  where  the  feathers  are,  in  fact,  dark  brown  with  pale  edges, 
and  becoming  larger  and  fainter  on  the  back  ;  rump  unstriped.  Central 
tail  feathers  the  same  colour  as  the  back.  Quills  and  outer  tail  feathers 
very  little  darker,  all  with  rather  darker  shafts,  and  all  the  tail  feathers 
with  rather  close  subobsolete  transverse  banding.  There  is  usually 
more  or  less  of  a  fulvous  tinge  on  the  ear  coverts.  Lower  parts  pale 
isabelline  to  very  pale  earthy  brown ;  throat  sometimes,  but  not 
usually  paler,  breast  and  flanks  with  faint  narrow  dark  longitudinal 
streaks.  Iris  chestnut,  bill  horn  colour,  dusky  towards  the  point, 
pale  and  yellowish  near  the  base  below,  legs  very  pale  brown. 

Measurements  (those  of  Nos.  2,  3,  and  4  taken  before  skinning) : — 


Crateropiu 

Craieropus  Huttmii. 

eaudaitu. 

I  9. 

2  6. 

3^. 

4  9. 

7^- 

Karachi. 

Gwidar. 

B4hii  Kal&t. 

Dizak. 

Ispidun. 

KAzr&n. 

Length  .. 

9 

— 

925 

10.5 

10 

— 

Expanse 

— 

— 

9-75 

"•5 

10 

— 

Wing     .. 

3 

3-3 

3-^5 

3.5 

3.4 

3-4 

Tail 

4-5 

4.7 

4.35 

4-95 

5 

4.6 

Tanua    .. 

1. 15 

1.23 

1. 18 

i.^S 

115 

I. as 

Culmen  . . 

0.83 

0.96 

0.93 

1.02 

0.88 

0.94 

Bill  from  gape 

— 

— 

I.I 

I 

— 

— 

Closed  wings,  short 

of  end  of  tail 

•  • 

— 

— 

3 

3.9 

4 

— 

Oater  tail  feathers, 

short  of  central 

^ 

^_ 

_ 

2.5 

2.25 

___ 

The  Edndah&r  specimen  in  the  British  Museum  slightly  exceeds 
all  the  Persian  specimens  in  length  of  tail,  its  dimensions  are, — 
wing  3.5,  tail  5.4,  tarsus  1.2,  culmen  0.9. 

C,  Huttoni  has  been  foimd  in  Southern  and  South-eastern  Persia, 
Baluchist&n^  and  Afghdnist&n,  but  only  at  elevations  below  4000  feet. 
It  was  never  seen  on  the  Persian  highlands,  nor  has  it  been  observed 
anywhere  in  Persia  north  of  Shirdz.  It  is  a  most  interesting  link 
between  the  African  and  Indian  Crateropi  of  the  subgenus  Chatorhea  ^ 
(Conf.  Ibis,  1867,  p.  6.) 

^  Hie  type  of  the  genus  Crateropus,  of  Swainson,  is  the  black-headed  C.  Reinwardti, 
Sw.  of  Western  Africa.  Species  like  the  African  C.  fulvtu  and  C.  rvhiginotus,  with 
the  Asiatic  C.  ehalyh€tu$,  C.  Huttoni,  C.  caudatus,  C.  Earlii,  and  C,  gularis,  together  form 
%  well-marked  section  of  the  genus  about  equivalent  to  Malacocircua,  which  is  only  a  sub- 
genus of  CraUropuB, 


206  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

The  habits  of  this  group  have  been  described  so  often  that  it  \b 
unnecessary  to  particularize  them.  C,  Huttoni^  like  C,  caudatus,  lives 
in  small  flocks  amongst  bushes^  feeding  chiefly  on  insects.  These  birds 
are  rather  noisy^  though  much  less  so  than  the  Abyssinian  C.  leucopy^' 
ffiuSy  Riipp. ;  or  the  Indian  Malacoeircus  Malcolmi^  Sykes.  Their  flight 
is  peculiar,  and  very  weak,  the  usual  limit  of  their  efforts  being  {rem 
one  bush  to  another  in  the  neighbourhood  ;  they  fly  with  rapid  strokes 
of  their  wings  for  a  short  distance,  and  then  sail  along  with  wings  and 
tail  extended.  The  flock  fly  one  after  the  other^  not  altogether. 
They  are  very  often  to  be  seen  on  the  ground,  and  they  move  by 
«  quick  series  of  hops,  keeping  much  about  roots  of  large  busheSj 
And  turning  over  dead  leaves  in  search  of  insects. 

142.  DrymcBca  gracilis,  (licht.*)— De  F. 

Sylvia  gracilis^  Licht.  Ver.  d.  Doubl.  p.  34. 

McUurus  gracilis,  Biipp.  Atlas,  Ayes,  p.  3,  PL  II,  b. 

Drymoica  gracilis^  Riipp.  Syst.  XJebers,  No.  117. — HeugL  Ibis,  1869,  p.  91, 

and  Ornith.  N.  O.  Afr.  p.  241. 
Prinia  l€pida,  Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  B.  xiii,  p.  376. 
Drymoica  lepida,  Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  B.  xvi,  p.  460. 
Suya  Iqpula^  Grould,  Birds  of  Asia,  pt.  vii. 
Bumesia  Upida^  Jerdon,  Birds  of  India,  No.  550,  ii,  p.  f  85. 
Bumegia  gracilis,  Blyth,  Ibis,  1867,  p.  23. — Hume,  Stray  Feathen,  L  p.  195. 
Drymoeca  gracilis,  W.  Blauf.  Obs.  Geol.  Zool.  Abyssinia,  p.  373. 


I  9.  Dasht  river,  west  of  Gwad&r,  Baluchistin 

—      .. 

Jan.  j6. 

2  9.  B4hu  KalAt,  Baliichist&n 

- 

— 

Feb.  3. 

3  ^,  4  9.  Kalagdn,  Baliichistun 

3500     •• 

March  10. 

5  9.  Kalag&n,  BaliichisUtn    .. 

3500     .. 

March  19. 

6,  7  ^.  Jilk,  Baluchist&n      . . 

3000     .. 

March  17. 

8,  9,  10  i.  Dizak,  Baluchistin 

4000 

March  23. 

11^.  Bampiir,  Balucbist&n  . . 

2000     .. 

April  4. 

13  9.  Shir&z,  south  Persia    . . 

4750     •. 

Jane. 

I  do  not  think  this  bird  should  be  removed  from  Drymcsca.  Its 
structure  is  very  similar  to  that  of  the  type  of  that  genus,  JO.  macu- 
losa (Bodd.),  and  it  has  the  characteristic  number  of  tail  feathers 
(10),  long   graduated  tail,  and    short  rounded  wings.     The  bill  is, 

^  This  specific  name  is  by  various  authors,  and  even  by  Mr.  G.  B.  Gray,  in  his  Handlist,  i, 
p.  201,  incorrectly  assigned  to  Riippell,  who,  however,  in  his  description  states  that  his 
bird  is  the  Sylvia  gracilis  of  Lichtenstein.  Both  Liohtenstein  and  Riippell  refer  to  the 
figure  in  the  Description  de  I'Egypte,  PI.  V,  fig.  4,  but  that  represents  a  bird  with  twelve 
tail  feathers. 


;   CRATtROPUa    HUTTONl. 
2.  SCOIOCf.RCa  INQUlbl'lA, 


A  VES.  207 

perhaps,    a  little   more   slender  in  proportion,  but  the  shape  is  the 
same. 

This  little  bird  has  an  extensive  range,  from  Egypt  to  Bengal.  I 
have  myself  seen  it  on  the  Abyssinian  coasts  in  Southern  Persia  and 
Baluchistan^  and  in  Sind,  always  in  sandy  semi-desert  localities  or 
salt  swamps.  Sometimes  it  is  found  in  thick  bushes,  but  more 
frequently  in  the  scattered  shrubs  and  small  bushes  scattered  about 
deserts  and  sandy  shores.  It  is  an  active  little  bird^  constantly  in 
motion  inside  the  bushes^  hunting  for  insects  amongst  the  twigs  and 
occasionally  on  the  ground  under  the  bush,  and  flying  the  shortest 
of  distances  with  the  feeblest  of  flights.  Its  nest,  which  I  saw  on 
the  Abyssinian  coast,  is  like  that  of  other  JDrymoiccBy  made  of  grass, 
oval,  and  with  an  entrance  at  the  side  near  the  top.  The  eggs  are 
described  by  v.  Heuglin  as  white  spotted  with  brownish.  Specimens 
killed  on  the  17th  of  March  at  Jdlk  were  breeding.  From  five 
specimens,  measured  in  the  flesh,  I  take  the  following  dimensions  : — 

Dasht  river.  Kalagdn.  Kalag^n.    J&lk.     J^k. 


9 

^ 

9 

<J 

<$ 

Length 

.  •  •      *  • 

5 

5 

4.9 

5 

5.1 

Expanse    . . 

•  •          . . 

54 

5.35 

5-5 

5.3 

5.35 

Wing 

. .          .  • 

1.65 

1.7 

1.68 

1.7 

1.75 

Tail 

a  .                       •   • 

a45 

a.47 

a.i8 

M5 

a.7S 

Tarsus 

•   •                       •  . 

0.67 

0.67 

0.7 

0.7 

0.69 

Bill  from  front 

.  •                       •  . 

0-37 

0-35 

0.39 

0.36 

0.37 

Bill  from  gape 

•  •                       .  . 

o.S 

— 

— 

— 

Closed  wings  short  of 

end  of 

tail 

• . 

.  .                       •  a 

ax>5 

1.95 

1.8 

1.9 

2.13 

Outer  tail  feathers  short  of  central 

pair 

•  • 

•  •                        .  . 

— 

i.a 

0.9 

I.a 

1-3 

Drymcsca  gracilis  is  common  in  Baluchist&n  and  Southern  Persia, 
ascending  to  the  southern  portion  of  the  highlands  at  Shiriz  with 
other  Indo- African  forms  like  Crateroptis  Huttoni  and  Pi/cnonotus  leucotis. 
It  was  found  in  the  Shirdz  gardens  by  the  Marquis  Doria.  It  has 
not,  so  far  as  I  know,  been  observed  farther  north  on  the  Persian 
highlands  than  the  neighbourhood  of  Shiriz. 

143.  Scotocerca  inquieta,  (Btipp.)  PL  XIII,  fig.  2. 

Sund.  Meth.  Nat.  Av.  Tent.  p.  7.— W.  Blanf,  Ibis,  1874,  p.  76. 
Malurus  inquietu$t  Riippell,  Atlas  Reise,  N.  Afr.  Aves,  p.  55,  i,  PL  36  h. 
Curruca  famvJLa^  Hemp,  et  Ehr.  Symb.  Phys.  A ves,  fol.  bb. 
Prtnta  tn^ut'eto,  Biipp.  N.  Wirbelth.  i,  p.  113. 

Drymoica  inquieta,  Biipp.  Syst.  XJebers,  p.  56. — Heagl.  Ibis,  1869,  p.  139. — 
Qmith.  N.  O.  Afr.  i,  p.  344,  No.  191. 


20S  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

I),  eremita,  Tiwtram,  Ibia,  1867,  p.  76. 

Mtlizophiliu  ttriatut,  Brooka,  Pkoc.  A«.  Soc.  Bengal,  April,  1872,  p.  66.— > 
Ibis,  187a,  p.  180. — Hame,  Stmy  Feathen,  i,  p.  JOa 

I  i.  Plshiiif  BalrichifttAn  6cx>  ••  Feb.  9. 

3  d.  3  9.  Ghiitigan,  Bampusht,  Baldchistiii  3000  ..  Feb.  j8. 
At  5f  6  ^*  7  ^  ^lAgsB,  between   DixAk  and 

Bampiir,  Baliichutan  4000  ..  Mardi  a8. 
8,   9,   10  ^.  Near  Kiriz,  eaat  of  Shiriz, 

South  Persia                 5000  . .  June  5. 

II,  12  ^.  Shirix,  in  gardens                4750  ..  Summer. 

That  Mr.  Brooks's  ilelizophilus  striatua  is  the  same  as  Malurui 
in^ietus^  of  Biippell,  I  have  ascertained  by  comparing  my  specimens 
with  one  of  Mr.  Brooks's  skins  sent  to  Mr.  Dresser,  and  also  with 
the  tyx)es  of  Riippell's  species  in  the  Frankfort  Musenm.  There  is 
a  typical  example  of  Riippell's  bird,  received  from  that  mttnralist,  in 
the  British  Museum.  For  the  examination  of  D,  striaticeps  and  D, 
eremila,  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Tristram,  who  very  kindly  sent  me  his 
types  for  comparison.  I  am  by  no  means  surprised  that  1),  ixquiefa 
should  have  received  new  names,  for  the  figxire  in  Riippell's  *  Atlas  * 
is  very  poor,  but  I  immediately  identified  the  bird  with  v.  Henglin's 
descriptioii  in  the  '  Ibis.'  Probably  both  Mr.  Brooks  and  Mr.  Hume^ 
when  assigning  their  birds  to  ilelizophilusy  overlooked  the  circumstance 
that  it  has  only  ten  tail  feathers;  its  resemblance  to  Melizophilus  in  other 
points  of  structure  is  very  great,  indeed  I  somewhat  doubt  whether 
Melizophilus  be  not  really  as  closely  allied  to  Brymceca  and  Cisfieola 
as  to  Sylvia  ^,  although  it  is  usually  classed  with  the  latter. 

Mr.  Tristram's  Drymceca  eremita  precisely  agrees  with  the  ordinary 
form  of  &  inquieta,  and  it  is  possible  that  D.  slri/iliceps^,  from  Algeria 
{Malurus  Sahara^,  Loche),  may  be  the  same,  for  it  only  differs  in 
being  a  little  paler  in  colour,  and  in  the  striae  on  the  breast  being 
nearly  obsolete.  A  specimen  without  stria)  on  the  breast  is  described 
by  Mr.  Hume  from  Sind.  But  I  must  say  that  the  few  specimens  I 
have  seen  from  Algeria  agree  in  the  peculiarly  pale  colouration,  and 
if  this  character  is  constant,  they  may  be  kept  distinct. 

B.  inquieta  is  by  no  means  a  typical  Biymceca^  the  tail  being 
shorter  and   much   less  graduated   than   in   the   species  named  by 

^  The  nest  of    MditophiluB,  howeyer,  is  open  and  cup-shaped,   not  like  that  of 
Drymaca. 

*  Tristram,  Ibis,  1869,  ?•  5^- 

•  Loche,  Rev.  Zool.  1859,  P-  395»  P^-  II»  %•  a* 


AVES, 


209 


Swainson  as  the  type  of  the  genus  ^  Indeed  v.  Heuglin  notices  that 
J9.  inquieia  is  an  aberrant  form,  and  Sundevall  has  proposed  to  separate 
it  as  Scoiocerca  (Methodi  Naturalis  Avium  disponendi  Tentamen,  p.  7), 
a  name  which  appears  to  me  worthy  of  adoption. 

It  is  remarkable  that  this  species,  which  was  previously  only  known 
from  Northern  Arabia,  should  have  been  obtain^  in  the  Fanj&b,  Sind, 
and  Baliichist&n^  by  Captain  Cock,  the  discoverer  of  Mr.  Brooks's 
specimens^  Mr.  Hume  and  myself,  within  a  month  of  each  other,  in 
January  and  Februaiy,  1872.  Its  range,  as  at  present  known,  is 
from  Northern  Arabia  to  the  frontiers  of  India.  I  did  not  see  it 
in  any  part  of  Persia  north  of  Shir&z,  nor  has  it,  so  &r  as  I  know, 
been  observed  by  any  other  collector. 

8.  in^ieta  appeared  to  me  to  be  very  locally  distributed  in  Southern 
Persia  and  Baluchist&n,  though  it  was  far  from  scarce  where  it  occurred. 
I  usually  met  with  it  amongst  low  scattered  bushes  and  shrubs,  on 
plains  and  hill  sides.  Amongst  the  bushes  it  was  very  active,  himt- 
ing  amongst  the  twigs  and  frequently  flying  from  bush  to  bush 
with  the  feeble,  jerking  uncertain  flight  of  other  Drymcec€e,  or  hop- 
ping about  on  the  ground  at  the  roots  of  the  bushes.  It  was  familiar, 
trying  to  hide  in  the  bushes  when  pursued,  and  altogether  its  habits 
reminded  me  much  of  those  of  D,  gracilis^  Riipp. 

The  bill  is  reddish  brown  above,  deep  yellow  beneath,  except  at 
the  tip;  legs  light  brown,  iris  hair  brown.  The  following  are 
measurements  taken  on  specimens  in  the  flesh ;  they  agree  &irly  with 
those  given  by  v.  Heuglin,  Brooks,  and  Hume  : — 

6  Pishf n.  <$  Ghistig&n.  $  Ghistigin. 


Length 

4.6 

4.7 

4-75 

Expanse 

6 

6.25 

6.a5 

Wing 

1.83 

1.9 

a 

Tail 

1.9 

J.87 

1.96 

Tawus            

0-75 

0.8 

0.8 

Mid  toe  and  claw 

0.57 

0.57 

0.5s 

Bill  from  front 

0.43 

0.4 

0.4 

Bill  from  gape 

0.5a 

0.53 

0.5  a 

Cloaed  wings  short  of  end  of  tail 

1.35 

I. a 

1.25 

Central  rectrices  exceeding  the  outer  by    . . 

0.32 

o.a5 

0.37 

*  The  genus  Drtfmoica  {potiua  Drymoeca)  was  founded  by  Swainson  in  the  Zool.  Jour. 
1827,  iii,  p.  168,  and  the  types  named  are  Le  Capotier  and  La  queue  gazit  of  Le  YaiUant, 
Ois.  d'Afr.  t.  130,  figs.  I  and  a.  The  last-named  of  these,  StipUurtu  malachurus,  Shaw, 
is  an  Australian  bird,  and  certainly  generically  distinct  from  the  former,  Drymaxa  rmiculosa, 
(Bodd.),  fiMcroura,  Lath.,  eapensiSf  Smith,  which  must  be  taken  as  the  type  of  the  genus, 
and  which  is  a  bird  very  nearly  allied  to  such  Indian  species  as  D.  inomata,  (Sykes). 

VOL.  n.  P 


0.74 

0-4 

0.75 

o^ 

0.8 

o-4» 

o^ 

0-45 

210  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

The  following  are  the  measurements  of  the  typical  specimeiis  of 
j9.  eremita^  Tristr.  and  J9.  slriaticeps^  Tristr.  I  am  indebted  to  Mr. 
Tristram's  kindness  for  the  loan  of  these  stdns  for  comparison. 

Wing.  Tail      Tmbiu.  BUI  from  front. 

D,  eremilOt  Dead  Setk,  s        ••         •>         1.8  1.8 

D,  eremita.  Wed  Arejeh  1.87  1.87 

D.striaticept x^i  2 

Ditto  X.81  1.9 

Mr.  Home  has  described  the  eggs  from  specimens  obtained  by 
Captain  Cock  in  the  Panj&b  in  April.  They  are  white,  rather 
closely  speckled  with  reddish  pink,  especially  towards  the  larger  end. 
Specimens  of  the  eggs  and  nest  have  been  sent  by  Mr.  Brooks  to 
Mr.  Dresser.  The  nest  is  perfectly  drymoecine,  oval,  domed,  made 
of  grass,  with  an  entrance  at  the  side,  near  the  top. 

144.  Aedon  flEtmiliaris,  (M^n.)— De  F. 

Sylvia  famUiaria,  M^o.  Cat.  Bais.  p.  31,  (183a). 

A,  galaetodea,  (Tern.),  apud  De  Filippi,  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  348,  nee  Tern. 

i>  3,  i,  3,  4  9.  Bampiir,  Baliichistin 
5»  6>  7  6'  Near  Rig&n,  Narmashir 

8  9.  Near  Bam,  Soath-eastem  Persia 

9  i.  Nirfz,  east  of  Shir4z  . . 

10  ^.  Shir&z  ..         •• 

11  ^.  Isfah&n  

I  must  subscribe  to  the  opinion  of  those  who  consider  the  eastern 
Aedon  separable  from  A.  galactod^s^  Tem.  It  is  perfectly  true  that 
intermediate  forms  occur,  but  still  each  race  appears  £Edrly  constant 
over  a  large  area,  and  even  Finsch  and  Hartlaub,  Yogel  ost  AfricaSj 
p.  1246,  describe  the  two  forms  as  varieties,  although  they  do  not 
consider  them  specifically  distinct.  But  so  far  as  I  can  learn,  in- 
termediate varieties  are  an  exception,  and  probably  only  occur  in 
the  tract  of  country  in  which  the  two  races  meet,  this  tract  of 
country  having,  however,  rather  a  peculiar  direction,  for  whilst  all 
specimens  from  Northern  and  North-eastern  Afirica^,  and  from  Pa- 
lestine ^  appear  to  belong  to  the  rufous  A,  galactodes^  numerous 
examples  from  Syria,  Smyrna,  and  Greece  are  unmistakably  A. 
familiaria.  It  is  thus  clear,  as  is,  I  think,  not  unfrequently  the 
case,  that  these  birds  do  not  migrate  North  and  South,  but  from  North- 

^  Except,  according  to  v.  Henglin,  the  Somali  coast,  vhere  he  met  with  A.  famiUariMg 
•  Om.  N.  O.  Air.  p.  378. 

*  Triitnin,  Ibis,  1867,  p.  80. 


aooo    .. 

April  4, 5. 

2500    .. 

April  x8, 19. 

4000    .. 

April  35. 

5000    .. 

June  5. 

5000    •• 

June. 

5000    .. 

July  10. 

AVES.  211 

west  to  South-east,  and  perhaps  in  Greece  and  Syria  from  East 
to  West  and  vice  versd. 

M^n^ries,  in  his  orig^inal  description  of  Sylvia  familiaris^  1.  c,  clearly 
points  out  its  characters,  and  describes  the  form  to  which  all  Persian 
specimens  obtained  by  me  belong.  This  is  distinguished  from  A. 
galactodesy  first,  by  the  colour  of  the  upper  parts  to  the  rump,  which 
are  bright  rufous  in  A.  galactodes,  pale  earthy  brown  in  A.  fa- 
miliaris ;  (Men^tries  says  Jmco^cinerea,  but  this  to  me  conveys  the 
idea  of  a  rather  greyer  bird  ; )  secondly,  by  the  middle  tail  feathers  in 
A,  galaetodes  being  of  the  same  colour  as  the  rufous  rump,  whilst 
in  A.  familiaris  they  are  brown,  often  darker  than  the  back,  and 
frequently  with  a  very  strong  ting^  of  ashy.  Sometimes  the  brown 
colour  covers  both  webs  of  the  central  rectrices,  but  frequently  a  part 
of  the  outer  web  is  rufous,  and  such  specimens  may  indicate  a 
partial  passage  into  A,  gahctode^. 

Two  other  differences  may  be  pointed  out,  but  I  attach  less  im- 
portance to  them,  although  the  first  is  especially  dwelt  upon  by 
Men^tries,  l.c.,  and  Tristram,  Ibis,  1870,  p.  496.  This  is  the  greater 
breadth  of  the  black  bar  before  the  white  tip  on  the  outer  rectrices 
of  A.Jhfniliaris,  and  the  smaller  extent  of  the  white  tip  itself.  Men^ 
tries  says  that  there  is,  on  the  lateral  tail  feathers  of  A.  familiaris^ 
'vers  I'extremit^,  une  grande  tache  noire  et  transverse  (ce  qui  la 
distingue  surtout  de  la  8.  galactotes,  Temm.,  chez  qui  cette  tache 
est  ronde  et  petite).'  As  a  rule,  perhaps  the  black  band  is  broader 
and  the  white  tip  narrower  in  A.  familiaris^  but  the  character  is 
veiy  variable  in  both  forms,  and  in  some  specimens  of  A.  gahctodes 
from  Egypt  the  black  band  is  as  broad  as  in  any  Persian  A,  fa^ 
miliarisy  whilst  in  some  examples  of  the  latter,  it  is  as  faint  and 
the  white  tip  as  broad  as  in  any  average  specimen  of  A,  galactodes. 
Another  distinction  is  in  ^.  galactodes  having  rufous  edges  to  the 
quills,  whilst  in  A.  familiaris  the  margins  are  whitish ;  but  hero 
again  there  is  much  variation. 

I  am  quite  ready  to  grant  that  distinctions  founded  on  the  pre- 
valence of  more  or  less  rufous  tints  in  birds  or  mammals,  and  per- 
haps throughout  the  animal  kingdom,  are  amongst  the  least  certain 
and  trustworthy  of  characters,  as  they  frequently  depend  on  mere 
accidents  of  climate  or  exposure.  But  still  the  differences  in  the 
case  of  A,  familiaris  and  A.  galactodes  are  so  constant,  that  I  can- 
not help  thinking  it  more  convenient  to  distinguish  the  two  races 

p  2 


212  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA . 

by  diflTerent  names.  I  greatly  doubt  if  the  rufous  A,  galaeiodes  had 
been  found  in  India  as  stated  by  Mr.  Hume  on  M.  Verreaux's  authority 
(Ibis,  1 871,  p.  30)  j  the  birds  obtained  in  BAjputdna  by  Dr.  King 
(Ibis,  1869,  p.  355,  and  1871,  1.  c.)  were  evidently  similar  to  the 
Persian  specimens.  Mr.  Himie  did  not  procure  this  species  in  Sind, 
but  it  will  doubtless  be  met  with  sooner  or  later  in  that  province. 

Throughout  the  portion  of  Baluchistdn  traversed  from  Gw&dar  to 
Jdlk  and  thence  to  Bampur,  I  never  noticed  Aedon  familiaris  \  but 
when  I  arrived  at  the  last  named  place,  at  the  commencement  of 
April,  I  suddenly  met  with  this  bird  so  abundantly  that  I  was  in- 
duced to  think  that  it  was  migrating.  It  was  equally  common  in 
suitable  localities  in  Narmashir  on  the  road  between  Bampur  and 
Bam,  keeping  to  bushes  and  trees  in  the  more  fertile  portions  of 
the  country.  I  never  saw  it  elsewhere  in  similar  abundance,  but 
it  was  observed  every  here  and  there  throughout  Southern  Persia. 
To  the  North  of  Isfahan  I  do  not  recollect  seeing  this  bird,  but 
its  occurrence  is  recorded  by  De  Filippi  under  the  name  of  A. 
galuctodeSy  and  the  original  types  of  A,  familiarU  came  from  the 
banks  of  the  Eur  near  the  western  shore  of  the  Caspian,  where 
Men^tries  procured  it  in  May. 

I  think  it  highly  probable  that  the  numerous  birds  seen  at  Bampur 
and  in  Narmashir  were  really  migrating,  and  that  those  found  on 
the  Persian  highlands  in  summer  leave  the  country  in  the  winter 
months,  for  the  allied  species  A,  galactodes  is  well  known  as  a 
migrant,  visiting  Southern  Europe  and  Palestine  in  the  summer 
only.  But  as  A.  familiaris  is  only  known  as  a  rare  straggler  in 
Western  India,  and  never  occurs  in  the  South  of  the  Peninsula, 
the  bulk  of  the  summer  visitants  to  Persia  must  pass  the  winter 
around  the  shores  of  the  Persian  Gulf  or  in  Arabia. 

Family  CINCLID^. 
146.  Cinclus  aquations,  Bechst,  var.  Cashmiriensia,  Qonld. — ^De  F. 

P.  Z.  S,  1859,  p.  494. — Birds  of  Asia,  pt.  xii. — Salvin,  Ibia,  1867,  p.  117. 

— Dresser,  Birds  of  Europe,  pt.  xxv. 
CincliM  aqtuUicuSt  M6n.  Gat.  Rais.  p.  39. — Be  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  346. 
I,  2  6'  Sult&niab,  on  the  Karij  river,  30 

miles  west  of  Tehr&n  5000     . .     Noyember. 

3  ^.  Elburz  mountains,  near  Tehr&n       ..         6000    ..  — 

46,  S  young  <j,  6  young  9.  Karij  or  Lura 

Valley,  north  of  Tebn(n  ..         6500    ..     Aug.  9-14. 

6  9>  Lnra  valley 7000    ..     August  17. 


AVUS,  213 

I  was  myself  inclined  to  refer  all  these  Persian  specimens  to 
CI  melanogaster 'y  but  as  Mr.  Dresser,  with  a  far  larger  series  of 
Dippers  before  him  than  I  had  examined,  considered  them  C. 
Cashmirienm,  and  as  Mr.  Salvin  had  previously  come  to  the  same 
conclusion  with  respect  to  a  Persian  specimen  in  the  British 
Museum,  I  yield  to  such  high  authority,  and  can  only  remark  that 
these  races  are  very  dubiously  separable  indeed^  and  that  I  cannot 
recognise  the  characters  pointed  out  by  Mr.  Salvin  as  typical  of 
the  Cashmir  form.  Certainly  in  my  specimens  the  dorsal  feathers 
are  grey  with  blackish  margins,  as  in  C  aquaticus,  I  see  Mr.  Dresser 
states  that  a  specimen  from  Erzeroum  closely  resembles  C.  melanO' 
gaster^  but  approaches  C.  Cashmirietms^  and  the  Elburz  form  is  another 
link  in  the  chain.  The  essential  character  is  the  paler  brown  on  the 
head  and  neck  in  C,  Cashmirienm. 

Even  amongst  these  Persian  specimens  there  is  considerable 
variation,  and  as  a  rule  the  birds  from  higher  elevations  have  a 
much  more  uniformly  dusky  abdomen  than  those  from  lower  stations. 
The  latter^  indeed^  have  the  anterior  and  central  portion  of  the 
abdomen  reddish  brown^  whilst  the  head  and  hind  neck  are  of  a 
lighter  brown  than  in  the  first  named ;  none,  however,  having  the 
distinctly  ferruginous  abdominal  region  of  C  aquaticua.  One  speci- 
men, No.  6,  killed  at  an  elevation  of  7000  feet,  has  the  whole  of 
the  dark  abdominal  region  uniformly  smoky  brown,  there  being  no 
perceptible  pale  or  rufous  tinge  in  the  anterior  portion,  as  there 
usually  is  in  European  skins  of  the  melanogaster  race.  Another 
specimen,  a  young  male,  evidently  a  bird  of  the  year,  shot  on  the 
9th  of  August,  only  differs  in  having  a  few  white  feathers  in  the 
middle  of  the  abdomen.  The  head  and  hind  neck  have  n^rly 
attained  their  uniform  smoky  brown  colouration;  but  in  another 
young  bird,  a  female,  shot  the  next  day,  those  parts  are  still  slaty, 
with  brown  edges  to  the  feathers. 

Dippers  abound  in  the  Elburz  mountains  upon  all  the  streams. 
On  the  southern  side  of  the  range  they  are  not  found,  so  far  as  I 
am  aware,  far  outside  the  base  of  the  range,  at  about  5000  to 
6000  feet,  but  they  descend  much  lower  towards  the  Caspian,  and 
may  probably  be  found  as  far  down  as  the  streams  are  sufficiently 
rapid  to  afford  a  suitable  habitat.  I  regret  that  I  have  no  skina 
from  the  low  country  in  Ghildn  or  Mazandar&n  for  comparison  with 
those  from  the  mountains.     Dippers  were  noticed  by  De  Filippi  in 


2 1 4  ZOOLOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

the  same  localities  as  by  myself  and  by  M^n^tries  on  the  Tfilish 
mountains.  In  Southern  Persia  I  did  not  myself  meet  with  any 
species  of  CincluSy  but  one  was  seen  by  Major  St.  John  at  Daah- 
tiarjan,  near  Shir&z.  As  he  was  unable  to  procure  a  specimen  the 
species  remains  undetermined,  but  it  may  very  possibly  prove  iden- 
tical with  the  Elburz  form. 

The  skin  from  Persia  in  the  British  Museum,  labelled  C.  CasAmi* 
riefisis,  appears  to  me  to  be  identical  with  the  specimens  obtained  by 
myself  in  the  Elburz. 


146.  C.  Bp.  (1  C.  leucogaster,  Evers.) 

I  young  i.  Paas  on  road  across  Elburz 
mountains,  from  Tehr^  to  Anin, 
in  Mazandardn  . .         8500     . .     August. 

On  several  occasions  I  saw  dippers  in  the  higher  parts  of  the 
Elburz  mountains  with  apparently  the  whole  or  nearly  the  whole  of 
the  under  parts  white ;  one  which  I  shot  floated  down  a  stream  and 
was  lost  in  some  rapids  amongst  rocks.  I  only  secured  a  young  bird 
of  the  year,  of  which  the  follo\^'ing  is  a  description : — Whole  upper 
parts  slaty  grey,  feathers  of  the  head  and  back  with  brown  edges, 
broader  in  proportion  on  the  head,  and  becoming  fainter  and  less 
marked  on  the  rump ;  quills  dark  brown,  the  secondaries  and  some  of 
the  larger  coverts  with  narrow  white  tips,  whole  under  parts,  including 
the  lower  portions  of  the  flanks  and  the  under  tail  coverts,  white^ 
rather  less  pure  posteriorly,  and  somewhat  obscured  by  irregular 
dusky  fringfes  to  the  feathers:  wing  3.5,  tail  1.9,  tarsus  i.i,  culmen 
0.65. 

I  have  two  young  birds  of  C.  CasAmirienns  shot  in  the  Elburz, 
In  both  the  greater  part  of  the  abdomen  is  dusky  as  in  the  adults^ 
only  the  central  portion  being  white.  The  bill,  too,  in  both  is  con- 
siderably longer  and  thicker  than  in  the  bird  with  white  under 
parts.  I  am  inclined  to  conclude  that  the  latter  belongs  to  a 
distinct  and  probably  undescribed  race;  but  it  is  just  possible  that 
it  may  belong  to  C.  leucogaster^  in  which,  to  judge  by  a  specimen  from 
Lake  Baikal  in  Mr.  Dresser's  collection,  the  anterior  portion  of  the 
abdomen  is  very  pale  brown,  the  centre  of  the  abdomen  darker,  the 
under  and  lateral  portions,  with  the  under  tail  coverts  and  flanks, 
dusky  as  in  (7.  aquaticus,     VLj  impression  is  that  in  the  Elburz  bird, 


AVES.  216 

when  adult,  the  greater  portion,  if  not  the  whole,  of  the  abdomen  is 
white ;  but  as  I  never  had  an  adult  specimen  in  my  hand  I  may  be 
mistaken.  It  should  also  be  mentioned  that  C.  leucogastet  is  stated 
by  several  authors  to  have  the  greater  part  of  the  under  plumage 
white,  but  this  is  not  shown  in  Gould's  figure  in  the  '  Birds  of  Asia,' 
nor  is  it  the  case  in  any  Central  Asiatic  dipper  which  I  have  seen. 


Family  HIKUNDINID^. 


147.  nirundo  rustioa^  L. — De  F. 

I  9.  Kalag&n,  Baliichistin . .  . .         3500    . .     March  lO. 

a  ^.  J&Ik,  Balilchist&n        ••         ..         ..         3000  March  16. 

3  $.  North-west  of  Bampdr,  BaldchisUui  3000  April  la. 

Common  throughout  Persia  in  the  summer,  and  breeds  at  heights 
from  about  4000  feet  to  about  8000.  At  Kalagin  and  J&lk  the 
birds  appeared  to  be  arriving  in  March,  and  on  dissection  it  was 
evident  that  they  were  commencing  to  breed. 


148.  H.  mftila^  Temm. 

Temm.  Man.  d'Omith.  ed.  ii,  pt.  iii,  p.  298.— Gould,  Birds  of  Asia,  pt.  xx. 
\  H,  dauriea,  L.  nee  Gould. 

I,  a,  3  ($.  North-west  of  Bampiir,  Baliichistin       aooo    . .     April  la. 
4($.  Shir&z 4750     ..         (?) 

Whilst  I  follow  Bonaparte,  Gould,  and  others  in  using  Temminck*s 
name  for  the  western  form  of  rufous-naped  swallow,  with  faint  narrow 
strise  beneath,  I  am  by  no  means  convinced  that  the  bird  is  not,  as 
contended  by  Mr.  Swinhoe,  P.  Z.  S.  1871,  p.  346,  the  true  H.  daurica 
of  Linn£BUs.  It  is  singular,  if  Linnseus  described  the  eastern  form 
with  strong  pectoral  strisB^  that  he  made  no  mention  whatever  of  the 
latter  character  (Mantissa,  p.  5^8). 

I  only  met  with  this  swallow  in  Southern  Persia  and  part  of 
Baluchistfin.  It  was  more  common  near  Shir&z  than  elsewhere,  and 
I  never  met  with  it  farther  to  the  north. 


3 1 6  ZOO  LOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

140.  CheUdon  urbioa>  (L.)— De  F. 

I  ^.  Near  Karm&n,  south-eaetern  Persia  7000     . .     May  7. 

a  i,  "Sear  Shiriz,  southern  Persia  . .         5500     . .     May. 

3,  4  (young).  ?  Shidus  - .  . .  —      . .       — 

Not  rare  on  the  Persian  highlands^  about  towns,  and  villages, 
thongh  it  is  scarcely  so  common  as  it  is  in  manj  parts  of  Europe. 
The  Persians  encourage  the  house  martin  to  build  in  houses  by  hang- 
ing up  little  stands  for  them  to  settle  upon,  their  presence  in  a  house 
being  considered  lucky.  I  usually  found  their  nests  in  villages  at  a 
considerable  elevation,  6000  or  7000  feet,  but  the  birds  breed  in 
Shir&z  and  other  towns  below  50CX5  feet.  They  are,  of  course^  only 
summer  visitors  on  the  Persian  highlands. 

160.  Cotyle  riparia,  (L.) — De  F. 

I.  Plain  of  Persepolis    ..  ..         ..         5000    ...     May. 

Bank  martins  are  rare  in  Southern  Persia,  and  the  only  specin^en 
obtained  is  one  shot  by  Major  St.  John  on  his  road  from  Tehran  to 
Bushire.  De  Filippi,  however,  found  them  abundant  at  Mi&na  in 
Northern  Persia,  between  Tabriz  and  Kazvin. 

161.  Cotyle  {Ptyonoprogne)  rupestris,  (Scop.) — De  F. 

I  <$.  M&yin  Kotal,  north  of  Shirdz  ..         5500     . .     June  24. 

1  e,  Dehgirdii,  plateau  between  Shir&z  and 

Isfah&n  8000     . .     June  39. 

3  young  i,  4  $.  Lura  valley,  Elburz  moun- 

taiuB  . .  . .  7000     . .     Aug.  14. 

Some  of  the  specimens  obtained  appear  rather  smaller  than  Indian 
birds.  Jerdon  gives  the  wing  of  the  latter  at  5.75  inches  (Birds  of 
India,  i,  p.  166),  but  Hume  points  out  (Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  a) 
that  this  is  too  much,  the  measurement  of  the  closed  wing  in  his 
specimens  being  from  5  to  5.5  inches.  The  Persian  birds  have  the 
closed  wing  4.8  to  5.1  inches,  and  Pinsch,  Tr.  Z.  S.  vii,  p.  219^ 
gives  4.7  to  5.3  ^  as  the  length  of  the  wing  in  European  birds,  so  that 
apparently  western  birds  are  rather  smaller  than  eastern. 

I  only  met  with  C.  rupestris  on  the  Persian  highlands^  where  it  was 

«  That  ia,  lie  gives  4"  5'"  to  4"  1 1'",  old  French  measure,  which  is  equal  to  the  aboye 
in  English  inches. 


AVBS.  217 

tolerably  common^  keeping  about  crags.  I  found  it  breeding  in  a 
ruined  caravanserai  at  Debgirdu  on  June  the  29tb,  but  I  could  not 
get  at  the  nests  to  see  if  they  contained  eggs.  They  were  attached  to 
the  vaulted  roofs  of  the  cells  in  the  caravanserai. 

Men^tries  found  this  bird  breeding  on  the  mountains  of  T&lish  in 
June.  De  Filippi,  who  met  with  C  rupestria  around  Demavend  in 
the  Elburz  mountains^  gives  as  another  locality  Bandar  Abb&s  in  the 
Persian  Gulf,  on  the  authority  of  Doria.  As  no  specimens  have  been 
preserved  in  the  Museums  at  Turin  or  Genoa,  it  is  possible  that  none 
were  <;ompared,  and  in  that  case  it  is  probable  that  the  next  species 
may  have  been  mistaken  for  this  one. 

162.  C.  (Ptyanoprogne)  obsoleta,  Cab. 

CotyU  obsolekh  Cab.  Mus.  Hein.  Th.  i,  p.  50. — Sharpe,  P.  Z.S.  1870,  p.  301. — 

W.  Blanf.  Ibis,  1873,  p.  914. 
Ptyonaprogne  pallida,  Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i»  P*  i* 

I  ?•  Pasni,  Makrin  coast,  Baliiohist&n  . .         •— 

^  ^»  3  9.  Gw&dar,  Baliichistdn      . .  . .         — 
4.  Near  6w&dar                            . .  — 

5  3.  Bl(hii  KaUt,  Baluchist&n  — 

6  <$,  7  9.  Kalagdn,  Baldchist&n    . .  . .       3300 
8  ^.  Jalk,  Baluchist&n       . .          . .  3000 


Nov.  29. 
December. 
Jan.  23. 
Feb.  I. 
March  1 2, 13. 
March  17. 


I  have  ascertained  the  identity  of  this  form  with  Cabanis'  species, 
by  comparison  with  the  types  in  Berlin,  and  with  i^ecimens  from 
North-eastern  Africa  in  the  British  Museum.  I  obtained  it  in  Sind 
about  the  same  time  as  Mr.  Hume  did,  and  I  subsequently  found  it 
common  throughout  Baluchistfin.  I  never  saw  it  on  the  Persian 
highlands,  where  it  appeared  to  be  entirely  replaced  by  C,  rupestris, 
just  as  in  Western  and  Central  India  it  is  represented  by  C.  concolor, 
Sykes,  a  still  smaller  form. 

C.  obaoleta  is  fiar  from  being  eo  thorough  a  crag  martin  as  C,  rupes^ 
iris,  I  have  often  met  with  it  about  hills,  but  I  think  more  frequently 
still  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  broad  stream  beds,  usually  dry, 
which  intersect  the  desert  plains  of  Baluchistan^  but  which,  from 
containing  more  vegetation  than  the  surrounding  country,  afford  a 
larger  quantity  of  insect  food  to  swallows  and  martins.  C.  obsoleta 
was  very  common  in  December  and  January  along  the  sea  shore. 
I  did  not  see  much  of  it  in  its  breeding  haunts,  though  the  birds  at 
Elalag&n  and  Jilk  in  March  were  in  pairs,  hunting  about  particuhur 


2 1 8  ZOOLOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

spots  as  if  building  nests ;    and  the  males  which  I  dissected  had 
enlarged  testes.    They  doubtless  breed  on  rocks  like  their  allies. 

I  have  the  following  notes  on  the  colours  of  the  soft  parts,  and  the 
measurements  taken  on  birds  just  after  they  were  shot.  Iris  dark 
brown,  bill  black,  inside  of  mouth  dirty  yellow,  tarsus  dark  brown, 
soles  whitish.  The  sexes  appear  not  to  differ  in  size :  length  5.3  to 
^.^y  expanse  12  to  12.5,  wing  4.65  to  4.8,  tail  1.9  to  a.05,  tarsus  o^.. 
The  wings  extend  from  04  to  0.7  inches  beyond  the  tail ;  the  under 
tail  coverts  are  usually  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  short  of  the  end  of 
the  rectrices,  and  the  outer  tail  feathers  exceed  the  central  by  firom 
one  to  two-tenths  of  an  inch. 


Family  PYCNONOTIDiE. 
168.  Fycnonotus  leucotiB,  (Gould). — ^De  F. 

Ixos  leucotU,  Gould,  P.  Z.  S.  1836,  p.  6. 

Otocompsa  leucotii,  Jerdon,  Birds  of  India,  ii,  p.  91. — ^Hume,  Stray  Feathers, 
i,  p.  181. 

I  9.  Bdhii  Kal&t,  Baliichist&n  . .     Sea  level  . .  Feb.  2. 

a  i.  Ghisiig&n,  Bampusht,  BaltichiBt&n         3000  ..  Feb.  37. 

3  S'  Dizak,  Baliichist&n  . .  4000  . .  March  23. 

4  di  5  $•  Borasjiin,  near  Bushire,  southem 

Persia     ..                    ..         ..     Sea  level  ..  May. 

6  ($.  Khisht,  north-east  of  Bushire      ..         1800  ..  January. 

7i  8,  9,  10  ^,  II  9.  Oak  forest,  near  Shir4z    7000  ..  June, 

la,  13,  14$.  KearShir&z         ..         ..         4500  ..  July. 

I5>  16  young  ^.  Near  Shirdz   ..         ..         4500  ..       (?). 

This,  the  only  representative  in  Persia  of  the  great  tropical  family 
of  Pycnonolida,  abounds  in  Baluchistfin  and  the  southernmost  portion 
of  the  Persian  highlands,  but  it  is  not  met  with  on  the  plateau,  to  the 
best  of  my  knowledge,  £ar  north  of  Shir&z.  It,  however,  extends  fieur 
into  Mesopotamia,  and  I  have  seen  caged  specimens  at  Karachi,  said 
to  have  been  brought  from  B&ghd&d.  Birds  from  Mesopotamia  are 
highly  esteemed  in  Sind,  because  they  sing  far  more  readily  and 
finely  in  confinement  than  those  captured  in  Western  India :  whether 
this  is  due  to  greater  natural  powers  of  song  in  the  birds  themselves, 
or  to  greater  skill  in  taming  them  amongst  the  bird  catchers  of  the 
Tigris  and  Euphrates  valley,  I  cannot  say,  but  I  can  vouch  for  the 


AVES.  219 

To  the  eastward  this  ^  bulbnl '  extends  throughout  Sind^  the  Fanj&b, 
and  B&jput&na,  being  found,  according  to  Mr.  Hume,  J.  A.  S«  B. 
1870,  xxxix,  pt.  ii,  p.  117,  as  £Eur  east  in  Central  India  as  Sanger 
(long.  78°  E.),  but  it  is  chiefly  confined  to  the  great  desert  tract  of 
North-western  India,  the  climate  of  which  much  resembles  that  of 
Southern  Persia. 

There  is  no  constant  difierence,  so  &r  as  I  can  see^  between  specimens 
from  Persia  and  those  from  India;  the  former  may  run  rather  larger, 
but  I  have  no  skin  from  Southern  Persia  with  a  wing  exceeding  3.7 
inches  in  length,  which  Mr.  Hume  gives  as  the  measurement  in  a 
Sind  bird.  Females  appear  to  be  a  little  smaller  than  males,  and  the 
under  tail  coverts  in  the  former  are  rather  less  brightly  coloured  as  a 
rule.  I  have  one  male  specimen^  with  part  of  the  under  tail  coverts 
deep  orange.  Young  birds  want  the  black  of  the  head,  or  have  it 
replaced  by  dusky  brown. 

0.  leucolis  I  have  usually  met  with  more  frequently  on  bushes  than 
trees,  and  I  have  seen  it  in  places,  as  at  Niriz,  east  of  Shir&s,  on  a 
hill  side,  almost  bare  of  vegetation.  It  is  a  lively,  active  bird, 
with  a  very  sweet  pleasing  note. 


Family  ORIOLIDiE. 
164.  Oriolus  galbula,  L. — De  F. 

I  ^»  Shir&z  • .  . . 

2,  3>  4  $•  Shiraz  .  •  . .  . .  • . 

5  ^»  6  young  ^.  Eklld,  between  Shir&z  and 
IsfifJidn     . .  •• 

7($.  Eklid  

8  ^,  9  9.  EkUd  

10,  II  i,  Kohrdd,  north  of  Isfah&n 

The  common  golden  oriole  of  Europe  abounds  in  Persia  in  the 
summer,  and  breeds  throughout  the  higher  parts  of  the  country. 
The  large  gardens  and  orchards  which  surround  many  of  the  higher 
Persian  villages  at  elevations  above  6000  feet  afford  an  admirable 
habitat  for  this  bird  during  the  breeding  season,  and  its  peculiarly 
liquid  note  is  often  heard  amongst  the  plum,  apple^  and  walnut  trees. 
There  is  a  well  marked  distinction  between  the  note  of  0,  galbula  and 
that  of  the  closely  allied,  but  non-migratory,  mango-bird  of  India, 


4750 

•    • 

May. 

4750 

•  • 

— 

6700 

•  • 

July. 

7000 

•  • 

July. 

7500 

•  • 

July. 

7000 

•  • 

July  21, 

22. 

220 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 


0.  htndoo,  Sykcs ;  a  distinction  which  may  be  instantly  recognised  by 
any  one  accustomed  to  either,  though  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  explain 
it  in  words ;  I  may  say  that  the  Indian  oriole  has  a  deeper,  more  liquid, 
and  more  flute-like  note,  but  this  conveys  very  little  notion  of  the 
diflerence. 

0.  galhula  has  been  found  as  far  east  as  Sind  \  and  probably  extends, 
in  the  warmer  months,  far  to  the  north-east  into  Central  Asia.  Its 
migration,  however,  is  to  the  south-west :  none  are  found  in  India  in 
winter^  and  consequently  all  the  birds  met  with  in  Persia  and  Central 
Asia  during  the  summer  months  must  resort  in  the  cold  season  to 
Arabia  or  Africa.  This  bird  has  been  observed  in  Sind  only  in 
September,  when  migrating. 


Family  NECTARINIIDiE. 


165.  Neotarinia  (Arachneehthra)  brevirostriS;  W.  Blanf.  PL  XIY. 

Ibig,  1873.  p.  86. 
All  Slydnukf  Baldchi. 

I  ^,  a  9.  B4hu  Kal&t,  BalucbisUn 
3,  4  d.  Near  MaDd,  Baliichist&n 
5  <$.  J4lk,  Baliichifltan    . . 
6,  7  $.  Kalagan,  Baliichist&n 
8,  9  ^,  10  9.  Dizak,  Baluohi8t4n 

II  ^.  Ispidin,  east  of  Bampiir,   Balii- 

chist&n 
I  J,  13  ^,  14  9.  Bampiir,  Baluchist&n    . . 

15  ^.  Rigan,  Narmashir,  Bouth-eastem 

Persia 

16  ^.  Bam,  Soath-eastem  Persia 

N.  affinis  N.  Asiaticae  sed  mindr,  rostro  breviore,  pileo  darsoque  marU 
viridiori6u8,/emina  notao  magis  griseo.  Long,  tot-a  4.5,  ala  2.2,  cauda 
1.4,  tarsi  0.6,  rostri  a  f route  0.54,  a  riciu  0.67,  poll.  AiigL  et  dee. 
Femina  viw  minor:  long,  tota  4.25,  ake  2.1,  cauda  1.25. 

Hab.  in  JBalucAistdn,  circa  Jdli,  Dizak^  Bampury  etc. 

Male  in  breeding  plumage :  the  upper  parts^  with  the  sides  of  the 
head  and  neck,  very  dark  glossy  metallic  green,  passing  more  or  less 
into  purple;   in  freshly  moulted  specimens  almost  as  purple  as  in 


— 

•  • 

Feb.  4. 

800 

•  • 

Feb.  11-15. 

3000 

•  • 

March  17. 

4000 

•  • 

March  19. 

4000 

■  • 

March  33-35. 

4000 

•  • 

March  30. 

aooo 

•• 

April  5. 

3500 

•  • 

April  18. 

3500 

•  • 

April  33. 

^  Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  183. 


Nt;C7,\R!NlA  (  AHACHNt;CHTHRA)   HRKVIROSTRIS. 


I 


AVjES.  221 

'^.  Asialieaj  but  usually  much  greener ;  lores  black,  ear  coverts  with 
less  gloss  than  the  adjoining  parts.     Wings  and  their  larger  coverts 
liair  brown,  tail  feathers  black  with  a  taint  purplish  gloss,  and  some- 
tames^  but  not  generally,  with  narrow  pale  tips.     Chin,  middle  of 
tiiroat)  and  upper  breast  rich  metallic  purple^  with  a  shade  of  steel 
Una,  the  latter  separated  by  a  narrow  pectoral  band,  not  always  well 
marked^  of  copper  red,  from  the  still  darker  bluish  purple  of  the 
lower  breast,  abdomen,  and  under  tail  coverts.     On  each  flank  behind 
the  axil  is  the  tuft  of  yellow  and  scarlet  feathers  characteristic  of 
the  group  to  which  this  species  belongs.     Iris  brown^  bill  and  legs 
black. 

The  male  in  non-breeding  plumage  resembles  the  female,  except 
that  it  has  the  usual  purple  stripe  from  throat  to  vent,  the  rest  of 
the  underparts  being  pale  grey^  whilst  the  wings  and  tail  are  rather 
darker  than  in  females,  and  there  is  a  tinge  of  purple  gloss  on  the 
smaller  wing  coverts  and  rectrices. 

Female :  above  greyish  brown,  quills  and  wing  coverts  hair  brown 
with  pale  margins,  tail  blackish  brown,  all  the  outer  tail  feathers 
tipped  with  whitish,  the  amount  being  largest  on  the  outermost 
feathers,  on  which  it  extends  some  distance  up  the  outer  web.  Lower 
parts  greyish  white,  with  more  or  less  pale  yellow  on  the  throat 
and  breast,  little  or  none  on  the  chin  and  abdomen. 

The  following  are  the  measurements  of  five  specimens  taken  when 
fresh.     I  add  those  of  another  female  from  the  dried  skin : — 


5<J. 

6^. 

7^. 

II  <J 

10  9 

149. 

Length 

45 

4.3 

4.3 

4-5 

4.35 

— 

Expanse 

• 

6.75 

6.75 

7 

6.5 

MTing 

a.23 

2.17 

a.i6 

3.^5 

7.1 

2.05 

TaU    .. 

148 

«-35 

1-35 

1.4 

1.28 

1.15 

Tarsus 

0.63 

0.6 

0.6 

0.6 

0.6 

— 

Bill  from  front 

0.53 

0.5S 

0.52 

0-53 

0-5S 

0.55 

Bill  firom  gape 

— 

0.67 

0.67 

0.66 

0.7  a 

— 

Closed  wings  from  end 

of  tail 

•  • 

0.7 

0.7 

0.6 

0.6 

0.5 

The  description  has  been  copied  from  that  in  the  *  Ibis.'  The  species 
is  closely  allied  to  iV.  Asialica,  but  differs  in  being  rather  smaller  with 
a  considerably  shorter  bill,  and  a  green  instead  of  purple  gloss  on 
the  upper  parts^  thus  showing  a  slight  approach  to  the  Palestine 
bird  N.  oeeuy  Bp.  The  female  is  much  greyer  above  than  the  same 
sex  of  N.  Aaiaiica.     In  the   accompanying   plate  the  lower  figure 


222  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

represents  the  male  in  breeding  plumage,  the  upper  figure  the  same 
sex  in  winter,  the  central  figure  the  female. 

I  first  met  with  this  sun  bird  at  a  short  distance  from  the  Makr&i 
coast,  and  I  subsequently  found  it  in  all  the  parts  of  Baluchist&n 
traversed,  up  to  an  elevation  of  4000  feet^  wherever  there  was  a 
sufficiency  of  bushes.  Its  fisivourite  resort  appeared  to  be  thickets, 
chiefly  of  tamarisk,  in  some  of  the  stream  beds,  but  it  was  very 
common  in  gardens  at  Bampur  and  Bam,  and  appeared  to  have 
an  especial  predilection  for  rose  bushes.  Its  habits  di£fered  in  no 
respect  from  those  of  the  allied  species,  except  that  it  occurred  in  small 
patches  of  vegetation  sparingly  scattered  in  a  land  of  desert  and 
barren  rock.  When  I  first  came  accross  specimens,  towards  the  end 
of  January,  the  males  were  in  winter  plumage,  but  in  the  course  of 
the  next  month  all  rapidly  acquired  their  breeding  livery,  and  those 
shot  in  March  had  completed  their  moult. 

This  bird  is  very  probably  confined  to  Baluchistfin  and  the  low 
portions  of  F&rs  in  Southern  Persia^  perhaps  ranging  along  the 
north-east  coast  of  the  Persian  Gulf,  but  it  has  not  been  obtained  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Bushire  or  Shir&z.  It  may  extend  northward 
across  the  deserts  of  Sist£n  to  the  Helmund  and  Afgh&nist&n,  and 
it  may  possibly  inhabit  Kel&t,  but  in  Sind  it  appears  to  be  replaced  by 
N.  Asiatica,  In  December,  near  Maskat  in  Arabia,  I  saw  a  Nectarinia, 
which  I  had  at  the  time  no  means  of  shooting ;  it  was  not  in  breeding 
plumage,  and  I  cannot  form  an  idea  as  to  whether  it  was  the  present 
specieS;  N.  osea,  or  an  undescribed  form. 


Familt  TKOGLODYTIDiE. 


156.  Troglodytes  parvulus,  Koch. — De  F. 

T,  Europaut,  Mto.  Cat.  Rais.  No.  75,  p.  36.— De  F.  Viag.  in  Pere.  p.  346. 

1  9.  Shiriz,  Bouthero  Penia    ..  4750     ..     AuguBt. 

2  i.  Shores  of  Caapian,  near  Besht     . .  800     . .     November. 

The  common  European  wren  was  found  by  both  M^n^tries  and  De 
Filippi  in  the  Caspian  provinces,  where  it  appears  to  be  common. 
The  specimen  obtained  by  Major  St.  John  at  Shir&s  extends  the 
range  of  this  bird  considerably* 


A  YES.  223 


Family  CEBTHllDJa. 
167«  Tiohodroma  muraria,  (L.) 

I  9.  Magandar&n,  Karthem  Persia  (^     •  •     March. 

The  wall-creeper  has  hitherto  only  been  recorded  from  the  Caspian 
provinces.  It  was  seen  near  B&ku  by  IVf^n^tries.  As  it  extends  into 
India,  it  is  probable  that  it  may  be  found  occasionally  in  other  parts 
of  Persia  as  a  winter  visitant. 

Certhia  /amiliaris,  L.,  is  found  in  the  Transcaucasian  provinces,  and 
probably  exists  in  Northern  Persia. 

Family  SITTID^E. 
158.  Sitta  osBsia,  Wolf. 

?  8,  Europaa,  L.  apad  M^n^tries,  Cat.  Rals.  No.  iia,  p.  43,  nee  Linn. 
1.  An&n,  Mazandar&n,  Northern  Persia  6500     ..     August  la. 

I  obtained  a  single  specimen  of  the  common  nuthatch  in  the 
forests  on  the  northern  slope  of  the  Elburz  mountains. 

M€n€tries  noticed  a  nuthatch,  which  he  calls  8,  Europaay  on  the 
rocks  of  Bfiku  and  in  the  forests  of  Lankor&n.  That  seen  in  the  latter 
locality  may  very  probably  have  been  the  present  species,  which 
many  ornithologists  do  not  separate  from  S,  Europaay  but  I  cannot  help 
suggesting  that  the  birds  shot  on  the  barren  rocks  of  B&ku  belonged 
to  one  of  the  rock  haunting  species  8.  8^r%aca  or  8.  rupicola,  most 
likely  the  latter. 

160.  8.  Syriaoa,  Ehr. 

8,  Neumayeri\  Michah.,  Sharpe  and  Dresser,  Birds  of  Europe,  pt.  xiv. 
8,  tephronota,  Sharpe,  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  187a,  ser.  4,  z,  p.  450. 

I  i.  Near  Parpd,  east  of  Shirdz,  southern 

Persia                . .                     . .  6000  . .  May  30. 

3.  Nirfz,  east  of  Shirks                       ..  6000  ..  June  a. 

3.  4  ^t  5>  6  9-  Shirdz 4750  . .  June. 

7  J.  Shiraz                                  . .          . .  50CO  . .  June. 

1  I  4o  not  consider  Miohahelles'  title  a  Latin  name.    He  simply  calls  the  bird  8Uta 
Neumayer* 


224 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 


The  specimens  from  Persia  all  belong  to  the  large  pale  variety 
for  which  Mr.  Sharpe  proposed  the  name  8.  tephranota.  I  do  not  think 
that  this  form  can  be  separated  from  the  typical  8,  8yriaca,  since  both 
vary  somewhat  in  size,  and  the  pale  colour  of  the  eastern  bird  is  pro- 
bably due  to  its  greater  exposure  to  the  sun,  a  cause  which  appears 
to  have  produced  in  Persia  pale  races  of  several  birds.  Of  the 
species  next  to  be  mentioned,  8.  ruj)icola,  I  have  both  dark  and  pale 
specimens,  those  shot  in  August  in  the  Elburz  mountains  being  de- 
cidedly darker  than  specimens  from  Central  and  Southern  Persia. 
The  only  other  character  besides  size  and  general  colouration  pointed 
out  by  Mr.  Sharpe^  as  distinguishing  S.  tephronotus,  is  the  prolonga- 
tion backward  of  the  black  stripe  through  the  eye.  But  here  again 
there  appears  to  me  to  be  no  constant  difference.  Some  of  the  birds 
belonging  to  the  large  pale  form  have  apparently  a  longer  and  broader 
eye  streak,  I  think,  than  typical  specimens  of  8.  Syriaca,  but  in  others 
the  stripe  precisely  resembles  that  in  European  examples,  and  the  cha- 
racter is  one  of  which  it  is  somewhat  difficult  to  judge  in  skins.  I 
must  say,  too,  that  the  dimensions  given  by  Mr.  Sharpe  as  those  of 
8,  Neumayen  {8.  8yriaca)  for  comparison  with  the  measurements  of  his 
type  of  8.  iephronotu%  from  Kok&nd  are  taken  from,  a  very  small 
specimen,  as  will  be  seen  by  comparing  them  with  those  given  by 
Dresser  in  the  '  Birds  of  Europe\' 

The  following  measurements  were  taken  from  a  bird  shot  at  Niriz, 
just  '^fter  shooting  it : — 

In. 
Length         ..         ..         ..         ..  ..         ..         ..         1»% 

Expanse 


Wing 

TaU    .. 

Tarsus 

Bill  from  front 

Bill  from  gape 

Closed  wings  short  of  end  of  tail 


II 

3*5 

1.95 
1.06 

1.05 

1.15 
0.9 


In  four  other  males  the  wing  measures  3.45  to  3.6  in.,  tail  1.95  to 
a.05,  tarsus  I.I  to  1.15,  bill  from  the  forehead  0.95  to  1.03,     In 


'  I  may  here  endorse  a  remark  made  some  time  since  bj  M.  Hume  as  to  the  insnffi- 
dency  of  the  measurements  usually  given  by  European  ornithologists.  If,  instead  of 
Siving  the  dimensions  of  one  bird,  which  may  or  may  not  be  a  &irly  average  specimen, 
they  would  furnish  the  extreme  measurements  of  a  dozen  at  least,  males  and  females, 
and  from  different  localities,  it  would  much  facilitate  comparison. 


AVjES.  223 

the  two  femalefl  the  wings  measure  3.4  and  3.7  in.,  tails  1.85  and 
2,.oS,  tarsi  1.05  and  1.16,  culmina  i  and  1.02.  The  iris  is  dark 
umber  brown,  legs  and  daws  horn  coloured,  bill  blackish  above, 
bluish  grey  below. 

8.  Syriaca  keeps  entirely  to  rocky  parts  of  the  country,  and  I 
have  myself  only  observed  it  upon  the  hills  of  nummulitic  limestone 
which  occupy  so  large  an  area  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Shir&z.  I  am 
inclined  to  think  I  have  seen  it  on  the  cretaceous  limestone  a  little 
&rther  north,  but  I  did  not  notice  it  in  Baluchistan ;  at  least,  I  think 
that  I  once  saw  a  rock  nuthatch,  but  that  it  belonged  to  the  small 
kind  8.  rupicola.  The  present  species  is^  however,  found  &rther  to 
the  eastward  in  Kindah&r  and  to  the  north-east  in  Turkest&n 
(Kokand).  These  birds,  when  I  saw  them  in  June^  were  in  small 
flocks,  probably  jGunilies^  consisting  of  the  parent  birds  and  the  young 
of  the  year,  which  exactly  resemble  the  old  birds  in  plumage.  The 
species  is  said  to  bd  an  early  breeder  in  Asia  Minor,  where  Kriiper 
and  Seebohm  found  its  eggs  in  April,  and  it  probably  breeds  at 
least  as  early  in  the  year  near  Shir&z.  Its  presence^  wherever  it 
occurs,  is  soon  made  known  by  its  loud  voice.  It  is  certainly  one  of 
the  noisiest  of  birds^  its  call  consisting  of  a  rapid  repetition  of  one 
note.  Usually  it  keeps  to  the  rocks^  but  I  have  seen  it  on  several 
occasions  settle  on  trees,  and  even  hunt  over  the  stems  like  the 
common  nuthatch ;  indeed,  I  shot  one  specimen  at  Niriz  whilst 
thus  occupied.  Its  food  also  is  partly  vegetable,  for  I  found  plum- 
stones  in  the  stomach  of  one  bird. 

160.  8  \  rupioola^  W.  Blan£  PL  XV,  fig.  2.— De  F. 

Ibis.  1873,  P-  ^7* 

f  8,  Sfffiaea,  Ehr.  apnd  de  Illippi,  Viag.  in  Penuy  p.  346,  (nee  Ehr.) 
f  8.  Europmi,  L.  apud  M^n^tries,  Cat.  Raia.  No.  1 1  a,  p.  43,  partim,  (nee 
Linn.) 

I  ($.  Shiriz,  south  Persia   ..  ..         ..  5000  ••  December. 

a  $.  Kobnid,  north  of  Isfiih&n  ..         ..  7000  ..  July  18. 

3  ($,  4  $.  Luia  valley,  Elburz  mountains, 

north  of  Tehrin       ..  ..  6500  ..  August  9. 

5,  6  9.  Lura  valley  ..  ..         6500    ..     August  16. 

S.  Sjrriacfldy  Ehr.^  rimilis,  sed  minor,  /ascid  nigrd  oculari  jolerumque 
angttitiare  et  breviore,  et  pr€B9ertim  rosiro  pedUmsque  multo  ffracUiaribui 

*  The  generic  name  has  been  misprinted  8Ula  in  the  plate. 

VOL.  n.  q 


226  Zv    IvvT   'jF  PERSIA 

qven('2n4, 

Upp^r  i«krt5  slaty  2t*-v-.  the  inner  and  Uual  r^-rtions  of  all  the 
rectric*fi.  except  tLe  central  and  cuter  p<iirs,  blackish ;  a  narrow  black 
feitri{^  from  the  V.^aiie  of  the  bill  on  each  side  thrc*agh  the  lores  and 
aly>ve  the  ear  coverts  to  the  side  of  the  nape,  varying  sc»mewliat  in 
breadth  and  length,  l^nt  less  devvloj*ed  than  in  S.  Syrlaca  ;  chin  and 
throat  white,  the  same,  lj«t  less  pure^  on  the  breast ;  abdomen  and 
lower  tail  coverts  dull  p^e  mfous,  this  ecJour  becoming  gradoally 
darker  towards  the  vent  ;  iris  dark  brown ;  bill  blackish^  except  be- 
low, near  the  base,  where  it  is  pale  grey,  almost  white;  legs  homy 
griry,  soles  pale  and  slightly  yellowish. 

The  following  are  the  dimensions  of  the  six  specimens  obtained : 
those  of  all,  except  Xo.  i,  were  taken  on  the  fireshly  shot  birds: — 


I  f . 

2     X. 

3<J- 

45. 

59. 

6  9. 

I>en(^h 

~- 

5.75 

6 

5.75 

6.2 

6.1 

KxpaDw 

— 

9 

925 

95 

9-3 

9-5 

Wing    . . 

I 

2-9 

3t5 

3 

3.0s 

••95 

Tail 

17 

1.8 

1.8 

1.65 

1.9 

1.8 

Taraiu  . . 

0.9 

0.S8 

0.9 

0.85 

0.93 

0^ 

Foot     .. 

— 

— 

1-7 

1.75 

— 

— 

liill  frt Ai  front 

0.S2 

0-79 

0.82 

0.82 

0.85 

0JB5 

Bill  from  gape 

•  • 

— 

— 

095 

0-95 

1 

I 

CIosmkI  wingH  bhort  of  end  of  tsdl 

— 

0.7' 

0.8 

0.6 

0.7 

09 

Tliin  species  only  differs  from  S,  Syriaca  in  its  smaller  size  and  veiy 
much  more  slender  bill  and  legs.  The  eye  streak  is  narrower  and  I 
produced  backwards^  but  this  character  is  variable.  It  is  a 
nuthatch,  and,  so  far  as  I  had  means  of  obser^'ing  it,  its  habits  appear 
precisely  similar  to  those  of  5.  Syriaca.  Like  that  species  it  keeps  in 
small  flocks  which  hunt  about  the  rocks  and  stones  of  the  hill  rides, 
often  clinging  to  perpendicular  faces  of  rock  and  running  up,  down, 
and  across  them,  precisely  as  the  common  nuthatch  does  upon  trees. 
The  siHJcimcn  shot  at  Shir&z,  which  was  obtained  liy  Major  St.  John, 
was,  I  believe,  killed  on  a  tree,  and  I  saw  a  nuthatch,  which  I  have 
every  reason  to  believe  was  this  species,  on  a  large  cypress  tree  in  a 
valley  four  or  five  marches  north  of  Shirfiz ;  but  it  is  exceptional^  as  with 
S.  SyruicUy  to  sec  S,  riijncola  elsewhere  than  upon  rocks. 

This  small  nuthatch  abounded  on  the  rocky  hill  sides  of  the  vaUeys 
penetrating  the  Elburz  mountains,  north  of  Tehrin,  from  about  6000 


2-6  ZOnLOOY  OF  PERSIA. 

f^i-ih-  diafhffveHja.     /,!>»,.  M,  6,  «/^  j,  Cauda  j.9,  /owi"  Q.^,ptiU  i, 
ro*/rt  afronte  O.H,  a  ;-f>^/»  i, 

//rti.  jd  mvHtibut  Piniri;  j.ramrUnt  in  Elburz,  uaa  tnpuhtfu/i 
qiivutang. 

Upper  parts  elaly  ^kv,  the  innpr  and  baral  portiom  of  ill  tl 
rectrices,  except  tie  eentnil  and  outtr  paire,  bh.ckisli ;  a  narrow  tl« 
Btriiie  from  the  (aee  of  the  bill  on  each  side  thrnut,'h  the  lores  u 
al>ove  the  car  coverts  to  the  side  of  the  nap*,  vaiying  somewhit  i 
breailth  and  length,  hut  less  developed  than  in  S.  S^riaca ;  diin  U 
throat  white,  the  same,  hut  less  pure, on  the  breast;  abdomen  ■ 
lower  tail  coverts  dull  ])ale  rufous,  this  colour  becoming-  g 
darker  towards  the  vent  j  iris  dark  brown ;  hill  blackiBh,  ei 
low,  near  the  base,  where  it  is  pale  grey,  almost  white ;  legs  h 
(^rev,  soles  {ule  and  slightly  yellowish. 

The  followinff  are  the  dimensions  of  the  six  specimens  o 
IhoEc  of  all,  excei>t  No.  i,  were  taken  on  the  freshly  shotbiida> 


Lanicth  —         5-75        ^  f  75 

EkI«d»  —         9  9-»S        95 

Wing 3  a-9  3>S        3 

Tiiil i.r  '■*  '■>  '"S 

Tugua 0.9         0.88        0.9         0.85 

foot —         —  '7  '-75 

IIUI  fnmi  fr-mt  ■■     O.U        0.79        oJl       0.81 

BitUroui  gaiic  ..         ..       —         — ,        "^S        0.95 

CIoMeJ  vinga  sLort  of  end  of  tail    —         0.7         *8         o.ft         Itf  j 
This  species  only  differs  from  S.  Sgriaca  in  its  smaller  t 
much  more  slender  bill  and  legs.     The  eye  streak  is  nana 
produced  backwards,  hut  this  character  is  variable.    ^| 
nuthatch,  and,  so  far  as  I  had  means  of  obsen-ing-  it,  ib 
precisely  similar  to  those  of  5.  Sgrlaca.    Like  that  sreoips  il 
small  flocks  which  hunt  about  tlie  rocks  and  stonLS  of  thett 
often  clinging  to  jwrix-ndieular  feces  of  rock  and  riinning  « 
and  across  them,  precisely  as  the  common  nnthatdi  does  nj 
Tlie  stweimen  shot  at  Shiriiz,  which  was  obtained  by  Major! 
was,  I  believe,  killed  on  a  tree,  and  I  saw  a  nuthatch,  trhic 
even-  reason  to  believe  was  this  species,  on  a  large  cypreas  t 
vail  Jy  four  or  five  marches  north  of  Shiriz ;  but  it  ifie^*Pt>« 
S.  Sj/riactt,  to  see  S.  npicoh  elsewhere  than  up<»  «>«• 

This  small  nuthatch  abounded  on  the  rocky  hiD  t 
]>cnetratinff  the  Elburz  mountains,  north  of  Tehrf 


A  YES,  227 

to  8000  feet  above  the  sea.  Two  specimens,  as  mentioned  above^  were 
obtained  farther  south,  one  from  Kohrud  near  Isfah&n^  and  one  from 
Shir&z^  and  these  are  both  much  paler  in  colour  than  Elburz  speci- 
mens^ differing  from  them  precisely  as  the  pale  large  race  of  the 
Syrian  nuthatch  from  South  Persia,  E&ndah&r,  and  Turkest&n^  does 
from  the  typical  form  of  Asia  Minor.  I  think  it  highly  probable  that 
the  &itta  which  M^n^tries  obtained  on  rocks  near  Bfiku  may  have 
been  the  present  species.  I  obtained  no  specimen  of  any  nuthatch 
east  of  Shir&z,  but  I  once  saw,  upon  some  limestone  rocks  at  the  foot 
of  a  high  hill  near  Magas,  between  Dizak  and  Bampur,  some  birds 
which  I  noted  at  the  time  as  nuthatches^  but  which  were  evidently  too 
small  for  8.  Syriaca^  and  which  I  think  were  very  probably  &  rupicola. 
It  is  a  curious  circumstance  that  the  typical  S.  Syriaca  should  be 
represented  to  the  eastward  by  two  forms,  one  rather  larger,  found  in 
Southern  Persia,  A%h&nist&n^  and  Turkest&n,  the  other  much  smaller, 
and  occupying  several  parts  of  Northern  and  Central  Persia,  especially 
the  Elburz  mountains.  It  is  highly  probable  that  the  two  extreme 
forms  are  descendants  of  the  intermediate  oi^e. 


Family  PARID^. 


161.  Parus  major,  L. — De  F. 

I  i.  Nirfz,  east  of  Shiraz,  southern  Persia  5500  ..  June  2, 
2^,39.  Shir&z  lake         . .                     . .  47oo  . .  June  8. 
4»  5»  6  ^,  7,  8  young  ^,  9  young  ?.  Shiriz  4750  ..  June. 
10  i.  Oak  forest,  near  Shir&z                   . .  —  . .  June. 

II  ^.  Band&mir  valley,  north-west  of  Shir&z     5000     ..     June  2  a. 

Common  throughout  the  Persian  highlands  in  gardens,  and  espe- 
cially in  orchards.  About  Shir&z  it  appeared  to  me  very  abundant, 
and  it  was  equally  so  in  the  large  orchards  of  Kohrud,  north  of 
Isfahfin,  but  I  did  not  see  it  nearly  so  frequently  in  the  Elburz,  and 
De  Filippi  considered  it  rare  in  the  country  traversed  by  him  in 
Northern  Persia.  It  was  not  seen  in  Karmfin  or  Baluchistdn,  or 
anywhere  east  of  Shirfe. 

Some  Persian  specimens  have  the  back  rather  darker  than  European 
birds,  and  the  margins  of  all  the  quills  are  often  bluish  grey  in  the 


228  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

• 

former,  instead  of  those  of  the  secondaries  being  greenish  ;  but  other 
skins  are  precisely  like  those  from  Western  Europe. 

The  greater  tit  must  breed  in  Southern  Persia  not  later  than  April, 
for  near  Shir&z,  at  the  conmiencement  of  June,  the  young  birds  fully 
fledged  were  flying  about  with  their  parents. 


162.  P.  phfieonotuSy  W.  Blanf.  PL  XVI,  fig.  i. 

Ibia,  1873,  p,  88. 

I)  3i  3  i'  Oak  forest,  near  Shiraz  . .         7000    . .     June. 

P.  atro  affinUy  sed  major ^  capite  toto,  prater  nucAam  albam  maculasque 
lateralea  pallide  flavas  {?  interdum  albas),  nitente  nigro;  dor 90  olivascenti^ 
irunneOy  uropygium  versus  pallescente;  alls  cauddque  umbrinis^  pennarum 
marginibus  dorso  concoloribus ;  tectridbus  alarum  mcyoribus  atque  inter^ 
mediis  ad  apices  albo  punctatis ;  guM  nigrd;  pectore  sordide  albo^postice 
el  ad  latera  fulvescente ;  abdomine  hypochondriisqm  fuUns,  Long,  ala 
a. 7,  Cauda  1.85,  tarsi  0.77,  rostri  afronte  0.4. 

Hab,  ui  quercetis  hand  procul  ab  urbe  Persicd  SAirdz, 

Whole  head  and  neck  glossy  black,  except  the  white  nuchal  spot 
and  the  usual  lateral  patches  occupying  the  cheeks,  ear  coverts,  and 
sides  of  the  neck,  which  are  yellowish  white  or  pale  yellow,  perhaps 
becoming  pure  white  in  old  birds  ;  back  olive  brown,  becoming  rather 
paler  upon  the  rump ;  wings  and  tail  hair  brown,  the  feathers  with 
olive  margins,  and  the  median  and  greater  wing  coverts  tipped  with 
small  white  spots,  forming  a  double  wing-bar ;  chin  and  throat  black ; 
breast  white,  not  very  pure,  and  gradually  passing  into  the  fulvous  or 
isabelline  tint  of  the  abdomen,  which  becomes  deeper  and  brownish  on 
the  flanks;  lower  wing  coverts  white,  or  nearly  so. 

Three  specimens  of  this  new  tit  were  obtained  by  Major  St.  John  in 
the  oak  forests  west  of  Shir&z,  in  Southern  Persia,  and  it  has  not 
hitherto  been  found  elsewhere.  The  wings  measure  %.6  to  %.y  inches, 
tail  1.78  to  1.85,  tarsus  0.76  to  0.8,  culmen  0.4  to  0.4^^. 

In  size  the  present  species  is  intermediate  between  P.  ater  and  the 
large  P.  Bokharensis,  Licht.  (Evers.  Beise  von  Orenburg  nach  Bokhara, 
p.  131).  It  may  easily  be  distinguished  from  all  described  forms 
belonging  to  the  group  of  P.  ater  by  its  olive-brown  back. 


A  7E8.  229 


168.  Parus  Ingubris  P,  Natt. 

I,  a  ^.  Oak  forest,  near  Shir&z        ..       5000-7000    ..     June. 
?  3  9.  An&n,  Mazandaran,  northern 

Persia      ..         ..  6500  ..     August  13. 

The  two  specimens  from  near  Shir&z  differ  from  European  skins  of 
P.  hignbris  in  their  whiter  underparts  and  greyer  backs.  As  there 
appears  to  be  no  structural  distinction,  I  doubt  if  it  be  necessary  to 
separate  the  Persian  bird.  The  specimens  having  been  shot  in  June 
are,  of  course,  in  worn  and  somewhat  faded  plumage,  which  may 
partially  account  for  the  difference  ;  but  there  appears  to  be  a  tendency 
in  many  South  Persian  birds  to  assume  rather  paler  and  duller  tints 
than  those  of  their  western  representatives. 

The  two  Shir&z  birds  are  adult,  and  measure : — 

Wing.  Tail.  Tarsus.        Gulmen. 

I        ....         3  «-5  0-77  045 

a  2.97  a.45  0.8  0.46 

Should  it  be  found  that  the  much  greyer  colouration  of  the  back  in 
this  bird  is  constant  at  all  seasons,  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  the 
South  Persian  race  might  be  fairly  distinguished  from  that  of  Eastern 
Europe.  Specimens  of  all  tits  from  the  forests  of  Kurdistfin  and 
Lurist&n  are  much  needed  to  show  how  far  the  different  races  are 
worthy  of  separation. 

The  third  specimen  which  I  refer^  but  with  still  greater  doubt,  to 
P.  higvimSy  is  a  young  female  bird  of  the  year  which  I  shot  at  a  con- 
siderable elevation  in  the  forest,  on  the  northern  slope  of  the  Elburz 
mountains  in  Mazandar&n.  It  closely  resembles  the  European  tit  in 
colour,  except  that  it  has  a  distinctly  rufous  tinge  on  the  abdomen ; 
but  the  bill  is  smaller,  and  the  tarsi  and  tail  are  rather  shorter.  The  • 
dimensions^  as  compared  with  those  of  two  specimens  of  P.  htgnbris^ 
one  from  Greece,  the  other  from  Asia  Minor,  are :— 

Wing.  Tail.  Tarsus.  Cuimen. 

Elburz  9  (young).        ..         a.8  a.a  0.7  04a 

Greece  ^  (adult).  ..         a.8  a.45  0.8  0.5 

Smyrna  S  (young).  a.8  a. 4  0.75  0.48 

If  these  differences  be  constant,  the  Caspian  race  should  be  separated 
under  a  different  name ;  but  I  do  not  think  it  wise  to  propose  one  on 
the  strength  of  a  single  specimen; 

Parua  ater  and.  P.  palustria  were  found  by  M6n6tries  in  the 
Caucasus, ,btrfc3i&fve mot :beenifiet^th  in  Persia. 


AV£S.  231 


165.  *  P.  {Cyanisles)  oorulens,  L. — De  F. 

The  oommon  blue  tit  of  Europe  is  said  by  De  Filippi  to  have  been 
found  breeding  in  gardens  at  Kazvin,  north-west  of  Tehr&n,  and  it  is 
also  recorded  by  M^n^tries  from  Lankor&n.  There  is,  of  course^  a 
poasibiliiy  that  the  bird  may,  in  each  instance,  have  been  P.  Persieus, 
but  I  hftTe  seen  no  adult  specimens  &om  either  locality  for  com- 
parison. Two  skins  brought  by  De  Filippi  from  Kazvin,  and  now  in 
the  Turin  Museum,  belonged  to  immature  birds,  but  they  precisely 
resemble  P.  cmruletif  at  the  same  age. 


106.  Aoredula  tephronota,  (QOnther), 

OriUi  tephranotus,  Gunther,  Ibis,  1865,  p.  95,  PI.  IV. 

^f  h  Zf  4*  Besht,  near  the  Caspian  Sea  . .  —      . .     Date  ?. 

^  5*  ^»  7  (young).  Near  Shiriz   •  •  . .         6000     . .     June. 

The  four  specimens  from  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Caspian  un- 
doubtedly belong  to  this  species^  which  was  previously  only  known 
from  Turkey  and  Asia  Minor.  This  extension  of  the  range  renders 
it  possible  that  the  birds  noticed  by  M^n^tries  in  the  Caucasus  under 
the  name  of  P.  caudatus^  which  he  says  is  rather  rare  in  those  moun- 
tains, may  also  belong  to  A,  tejohronota.  As,  however,  the  true  A. 
caudaia  is  found  throughout  Southern  Russia,  an  examination  of 
Caucasian  specimens  will  be  necessary  before  deciding. 

The  three  skins  from  Southern  Persia,  which  were  obtained  in  the 
oak  forest  near  Shirfiz,  and  which,  as  well  as  the  Besht  specimens, 
were  collected  by  Major  St.  John,  belong  unfortunately  to  immature 
birds,  so  that  it  is  impossible  to  say  whether  they  should  be  assigned 
to  A.  tephronota  or  to  some  other  species.  The  sides  of  the  crown  are 
brown,  the  central  portion  mixed  brown  and  white,  the  back  is  brown 
with  white  spots,  tail  blackish  brown,  the  two  outer  pairs  of  rectrices 
with  the  outer  webs  and  tip  white,  the  quills  brown  with  pale  edges^ 
lower  parts  dusky  white. 

The  specimens  of  A,  tephronota  from  Besht  measure :  wing  2.23 
to  a.45,  tail  245  to  a.75,  tarsus  0.67  to  0.7,  culmen  0.3.  The  young 
birds  from  Shir&z  measure :  wing  2.1  to  2.35,  tail  2.7. 


232 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 


167.  *  JEgithalus  pendulinnsy  (L.) — De  F. 

Found  by  De  Filippi  at  Mi&na  in  North-western  Persia,  on  the 
road  between  Tabriz  and  Kazvin.  No  specimens  are  preserved  at 
Turin. 


Family  MOTACTTJiTDiE. 
168.  Motaoilla  alba,  L.— De  F. 

M.  DukkimtnsU,  Sykea,  P.  Z.  S.  183  a,  p.  91. 

I  ^,  a  9.  Gw&dar,  Baliichistdn 

3  ^.  Mashkid  river,  near  Isfiuidaky  BM- 

cbistin         ..         •• 

4  i,  Kalagin,  Baldcbi8t4n  . . 

5  e-  J^k,  Baldohutin 
6,  7  ^,  8,  9  9.  Biziik,  Baliichistin 
10  ^.  Hanaka,  south-east  of  Klarm&n 
119.  Mashish,  south-west  of  Karmin 
la,  13  ^,  14  9.  Shir&z 
15   9'  Lura  yaUey,    Elburz   mountainB, 

north  Persia  . .         . .         . . 


•• 


3200 

3500 
3000 

4cxx> 

8000 

6800 

4750 


December. 

March  9. 
March  10. 
March  17. 
March  24. 
Maya. 
May  ai. 
June. 


6500    . .     August  8. 


Both  this  and  the  next  species  breed  on  the  Persian  highlands. 


169.  M.  personata,  Qould,  var.  Fersiea. 


?  M.  hiffvbris,  auot.  ez  Persia^  nee  Temm. 

I  e.  Kann&n,  south-eastern  Persia 

5800 

May  8. 

9.  Near  Kann4n  . . 

5700 

May  17. 

3  S'  Sarj&n,  east  of  Shir&z 

5800 

May  aS. 

4  ^.  Niriz,  east  of  Shir&z    . . 

5000 

June  4. 

5^.  Shidkz 

4750 

June  I. 

6^.  Shir&z 

4750 

December. 

7  6  (young).  Isfah&n         

5000 

July  10. 

Although  these  birds  agree  on  the  whole  with  Indian  and  Turkestfin 
specimens,  and  with  Mr.  Gould's  figures  in  the  '  Birds  of  Asia,'  there 
is  a  slight  difference.  In  Persian  skins  there  appear  always  to  be  a 
few  white  feathers  at  the  sides  of  the  neck,  and  more  of  the  region 
below  and  behind  the  eye  is  white.  The  black  comes  down  the  back 
of  the  neck  and  also  down  the  breast  much  &rther  than  it  does  in 


M.  alia  in  breeding  plnmage.  In  the  Britiali  Kfoseum,  however, 
there  is  a  specimen  of  Jf.  perionata  from  Persia,  obtiuned  probably 
near  Tehrin,  precisely  like  Indian  birds. 

This  wagtail  appears  to  breed  on  the  Persian  plateau  in  lai^er 
numbers  than  M.  alia.  A  specimen  shot  in  December  still  retains 
the  black  chin  and  hind  neck.  A  yonng  specimen  is  all  grey,  even 
the  pectoral  band  is  only  dusky. 


170.  U.  BUlphurea,  Bechst. — De  F. 

M.  boamla,  Faaa.,  De  F.  Vutg.  b  Ferua,  p.  J48. 
I   9.  Nur  AbUeh,  befween  Shirii  and 

Ii&h&D         6000    . .      July. 

a  ;.  Kohrtd,  north  of  lafnUa      ..         ..  7000    ,.     Jalj  it. 
3  a.  Reaht,  OUUn,  near  Casplui  Sea  —      , ,     November. 

Two  of  these  specimens  have  tails  measuring  3.8  and  3.9  in.,  and 
consequently  belong  to  the  European  form  with  longer,  not  to  the 
Indian  and  Malay  race  {M.  melattope,  Vail.)  with  shorter  rectrioes. 
In  the  third  specimen  the  tail  appewe  shorter,  bnt  it  is  imperfect. 


171.  Bud^tea  flavus,  (L.) 

Pornt  Ivtnu,  B,  O.  GmeL  Bebe,  iii,  p.  104.  FL  XX. 
Mctanliiafiantata,  PaU.  Zoogr.  Bo*.  Ai.  i,  p.  501. 


234  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

A  single  specimen  in  ahnost  full  breeding  plumage :  crown  and 
nape  ashy;  lores^  feathers  beneath  the  eye  and  ear  coverts  black ;  a  rudi- 
mentary white  superciliary  stripe  firom  the  base  of  the  bill,  continued 
behind  the  eye ;  chin  and  a  line  separating  the  black  lores  firom  the 
golden  yellow  throat  white ;  back  light  olive  green  ;  lower  parts  bright 
yellow.     Wing  3.^5,  tail  2.8,  tarsus  0.95,  culmen  0.6, 

This  form  resembles  B,  cinereicapillus  at  least  as  much  as  it  does 
typical  flavu9,  I  have  seen  similar  specimens  firom  India,  but  not 
fi"om  Europe, 

Motacilla  fluveola  of  Pallas  has  an  ashy  head,  with  a  white  eye 
streak.  Partis  luteus  of  S.  G.  Omelin  included  a  grey-headed  bird 
with  a  white  eye  streak  which  he  considered  the  female,  and  a  form 
apparently  of  J?.  Rayi  which  he  described  as  the  male. 

The  variability  of  the  yellow  wagtails  is  well  known.  Finsch  and 
Hartlaub  have  given  a  good  account  of  the  principal  forms  in  the 
*  Vogel  ost  Africas,'  pp.  268-274.  They  unite  all  the  races  into  one 
species,  distinguishing  them,  however,  as  varieties.  Professor  Newton, 
on  the  other  hand,  in  the  new  edition  of  YarrelFs  *  History  of  British 
Birds'  distinguishes  four  races,  viz.  B,  fiavus^  B,  Rat/iy  B,  cinereica- 
jpillus  (/  B.  viridiSy  Gm.),  and  B.  melanocepAalus,  I  think  it  is  in  the 
present  instance  most  convenient  to  follow  Newton,  in  order  to  aid,  as 
&r  as  possible,  in  working  out  the  distribution  of  the  different  forms. 
Whether  they  are  species  or  subspecies  is  a  matter  of  secondary 
importance. 

172.  B.  Bayi  P  Bp.  var. 

I  9.  Bam,  Bouth-eastem  Persia  3500  April  a  a. 

This  is  a  specimen  which  has  not  assumed  the  breeding  plumage. 
It  differs  firom  all  the  other  skins  obtained  in  its  small  size  and  in 
having  a  broad  buff  supercilium.  The  colour  above  is  brownish  olive, 
below  pale  yellow  with  a  buff  tinge  on  the  breast ;  chin  and  throat 
buffy  white.     Wing  2.9,  tail  2.35,  tarsus  0.9,  culmen  0.68. 

Parus  Caspicus,  S.  G.  Gmelin,  Beise,  iii,  p.  104,  PI.  XX,  fig.  2,  des- 
cribed from  Ghildn,  evidently  a  Budytea,  is  by  Pallas  identified  with  his 
Motacilla  campestrU^  a  form  allied  to  B,  Rayiy  with  an  ashy  green  head. 
S.  G.  Gmelin  describes  it  as  ash  grey  with  some  yellow  mixed. 


^m 


A  VES.  235 

173.  B.  melanocephaltis,  (licht.) 

B,  Jtavua  {mdanoeepJudus),  (Licht.),  De  F.  Viag.  in  PersiA,  p.  348. 

1  9.  Khor  Ask&n,  Bampushty  Baliiohist&n  3500  . .  March  6. 

1  ^.  J&lk,  Baliichifltin        3000  ..  March  17. 

3  ^.  EUdagdn,  Baliichist&n 3500  ..  March  18. 

4  ^.  Dizak,  Baliichifltdn                 ••         ..  4000  ..  March  4 a. 

5  ^>  6  young  9.  Shir&z        4750  ..  June. 

7  i,  Asup^  between  Shirdz  and  IsfiJito  7000     ..     June  a6. 

Even  amongst  these  specimens  I  can  distinguish  two  fairly  separable 
races.  All  have  the  cap  black  without  pale  supercilia,  but  Nos.  1-4  from 
Baluchistfin  have  a  white  chin  and  cheek  stripe  separating  the  black  of 
the  lores  and  infraocular  region  from  the  yellow  throat,  and  the  wings 
measure  3.1  to  3.25,  whilst  Nos.  5  and  7  from  the  Persian  highlands 
have  no  white  on  the  chin,  and  wings  which  would  measure,  if  perfect, 
nearly  3.5  :  the  quills  are  much  worn  in  both,  and  the  back  browner 
than  in  the  Baluchist&n  specimens,  which  are  in  full  breeding  plu- 
mage. 

174.  B.  oitreolus,  (Pall.) 

MotactUa  eUreola,  Pall.  ReiBe,  iii,  p.  696. 
M.  cUrineUa,  Pall.  Zoogr.  R08.  As.  i,  p.  503. 

I  ^.  Maahkid  river,  near  Is&ndak,  Baliichistdn   3200     ..      March  9. 
a  S'  Dizak,  Baldchistdn       . .  . .         4000     . .     March  24. 

The  first  is  a  young  bird  in  winter  plumage,  the  second  is  an  adult 
in  change.     Both  are  decidedly  small. 

Wing.  Tail.        Tarsus.       Culmen.  Hind  daw. 

No.  I  . .  3.1  a.75  0.97  0.7  045 

No.  a  ..  ..         3.05  a.65  0.9a  0.6a  0.46 

These  dimensions  scarcely  exceed  those  of  the  eastern  race  B,  citreo- 
loideSf  Hodgs. 

176.  Anthus  trivialis,  (L.) 

A.  arboreus,  auct. 

Anthui  agiUs,  Sjkes,  P.  Z.  S.  183a,  p.  91. 

I  ^.  Pass  north  of  Tehr&n,  Elburz  mountains, 

north  Persia 9000    ..     August  1 7. 

The  tree  pipit  appears  to  be  a  rare  bird  in  Persia.  Its  absence 
throughout  the  country  in  general  is  of  course  explained  by  the  want 
of  trees,  but  it  might  have  been  expected  to  occur  more  commonly  in 
gardens,  and  in  the  better  wooded  parts  of  Southern  Persia,  than 


236  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

appears  to  be  the  case.  My  only  specimen  was  obtained  on  the  high 
range  of  the  Elburz  mountains,  just  north  of  Tehrfin,  and  on  a  nearly 
bare  hill  side,  where  there  were  no  trees  and  but  few  bushes. 

176.  A.  pratensifl,  (L.) — ^De  F. 

I  i,  Peraepolis,  near  Shirdz         . .         . .         4500    . .     June. 

I  did  not  myself  meet  with  the  common  meadow  pipit,  bat  a  single 
specimen  was  obtained  by  Major  St.  John.  This  Professor  Newton 
has  compared,  and  he  finds  it  only  differs  from  British  skins  in  having 
a  white  spot  on  the  third  pair  of  rectrices  counting  from  outside, 
a  character  which,  however,  is  occasionaUy  met  with  in  birds  from  the 
continent  of  Europe. 

This  pipit  appears  to  be  rare  in  Persia,  but  its  occurrence  might 
have  been  expected,  because  it  was  procured  at  Ferozpur,  in  North- 
western India,  by  Mr.  Hume  (Ibis,  1869,  p.  355,  and  1871,  p.  36). 

177.  A.  oervinusy  (Pallas). 


A.  CecUU,  Audooin. 

I  e.  Dizak,  Baldchist&n 

4000 

March  24. 

a  i.  South-east  of  Karm&ii. . 

8000     . 

.     May  a. 

This  also  appears  to  be  rather  a  scarce  bird  in  Persia. 

178.  *  A.  Bichardi,  YieU. 

A,  rupettrit,  Mto.  Oat  Raia.  p.  37,  nee  Nilss. 

Obtained  by  M^^tries  on  the  T&lish  mountains,  near  Lankorin. 
170.  A.  spinoletta^  (L.)— De  F. 

A,  aquoHcus,  Bechst.,  De  F.  Viag.  m  Pen.  p.  348. 

I  ^.  Mashkid  river,  near  Tgfandak,  Balu- 
chistan    3300  ..  March  9. 

a  ^.  E[alag4n,  northern  Baliichistdn   . .  3500  . .  Maroh  la. 

3  ^.  Near  Kalag^       4000  ..  March  19. 

4,  5  9.  Dizak,  northern  BaldchutAn  ..  4000  ..  March  33-24. 

6  e»  Ab&deh,  between  Shir&z  and  Isfiihin  6000  . .  July. 

I  found  the  water  pipit  far  from  rare  in  Baluchist&n  in  spring  in  all 
suitable  localities.  It  was  less  common  by  &r  on  the  Persian  high- 
lands in  summer.    De  Filippi  obtained  it  in  the  Elburz. 


AYES.  237 

If,  as  Mr.  Brooks  thinks,  the  specimens  of  water  pipit  found  in 
North-western  India  belong  to  a  separate  race,  distinguished  by  its 
smaller  size,  and  smaller  more  defined  spotting  on  the  breast,  Balu- 
chist&n  must  be  the  eastern  limit  of  the  true  A.  spinoletta.  All  the 
specimens  obtained  agree  in  measurements  and  colouration  with 
European  birds. 

180.  A.  oampestriSy  (L.)^De  F. 

I  ^.  Dizak,  Baliichist4ii  ..         4000  March  94. 

a.  Shir&s  ••         ..         ..  4750    ..     December. 

Not  common.    De  Filippi  obtained  it  in  the  Elburz  mountains. 

181.  A«  Bordidusy  Rtipp. 

•Bttpp.  Neu.  Wirb.  p.  103,  PL  XXXTX,  fig  i — Jerdon,  Birda  of  India,  ii, 

p.  336. — Layard,  Ibis,  187 1,  p.  aaS. — ^Tristram,  Ibis,  1869,  p.  437. 
CofydaUa  griseo^nrfeacens,  Hume,  Ibis,  1870,  p.  286. 
ArUhui  JerdofU,  flnsch,  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  vii,  p.  341. 

I,  a  9>  Shir&z        . .         4750    . .     June. 

3.  Fifty  miles  north  of  IsfiEdidn   ..         ..         5000     ..     April. 

In  my  opinion  Blyth  was  right  in  identifying  the  large  pipit 
of  Northern  India  with  Anthus  sardidus  of  Biippell;  and  Finsch^ 
Tristram,  and  Hume  are  in  error  in  separating  it.  Mr.  Tristram  does 
not  state  on  what  gprounds  he  considers  the  Indian  and  African  forms 
different,  but  Messrs.  Finsch  and  Hume  give  the  differences  at  length ; 
and  it  is  curious  that  not  one  single  point  mentioned  by  the  one  is 
repeated  by  the  other.  Dr.  Finsch  separates  the  two  forms,  because 
the  Indian  bird^  which  he  names  AiUAus  Jerdoni,  is  '  distinguished  by 
having  its  primaries  narrow,  the  secondaries  and  quill  coverts  broad, 
margined  with  ochre  fulvous  on  the  outer  web ;  the  outermost  tail 
feather  is,  except  the  black  basal  half  of  the  inner  web,  of  the  same 
colour ;  the  second  tail  feather  has  a  broad  fulvous  apical  spot  running 
on  both  websj  the-  under  surface  is  light  fulvous,  with  some  obsolete 
dark  blotches  on  the  throat.' 

Now,  in  the  Abyssinian  specimens  in  the  British  Museum,  collected 
by  myself,  the  primaries  are  narrower  than  in  a  skin  in  the  same 
collection  marked  from  the  Himalayas.  The  breadth  of  the  second- 
aries and  their  fulvous  margins  vary  with  the  season  and  wear,  but 
there  is  certainly  no  constant  difference.     In  both  forms  the  terminal 


238  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

portion  of  the  two  outer  pairs  of  tail  feathers  are  pale  fulvous  at  the 
end ;  but  the  extent  of  the  fulvous  termination,  on  the  second  feather 
especially,  varies  both  in  Indian  and  African  skins,  in  some  oases  being 
confined  to  the  tip,  in  others  extending  some  distance  up  the  feather, 
and  the  fulvous  tip  is  more  developed  in  the  skins  brought  by  myself 
from  Abyssinia  than  in  those  described  from  Mr.  Jesse's  collection  by 
Dr.  Finsch.  I  should  add  that  Dr.  Finsch  appears  to  have  had  but  two 
Abyssinian  skins  and  one  from  India  for  comparison. 

Mr.  Hume  compared  a  series  (doubtless  a  large  one)  of  Indian 
examples  with  Riippell's  description  and  figure  of  the  bird  inhabiting 
Abyssinia  (he  appears  not  to  have  seen  any  skins  of  the  latter), 
and  founded  the  distinction  essentially  on  the  presence  of  striae  on 
the  breast  of  the  former,  and  their  absence  in  the  latter.  Now 
that  the  presence  or  absence  of  these  striae  is  not  a  specific 
character  is  shown  by  Finsch  himself,  who  describes  (1.  c.)  one  Abys- 
sinian specimen  as  exhibiting^  and  the  other  as  wanting  them.  I  also 
pointed  out  (Geol.  and  Zool.  Abyss,  p.  383)  that  some  Abyssinian 
specimens  are  spotted  on  the  breast.  Mr.  Hume  also  speaks  of  the 
grey-brown  upper  and  reddish  under  surfaces  as  being  the  leading  cha- 
racteristics of  his  C,  ffrUeo-rufescens,  but  only,  if  I  understand  him 
rightly,  as  differentiating  it  from  the  South  Indian  form  C.  similis, 
Jerdon.  As  to  the  characters  of  the  latter  I  have  no  means  of  judging. 

As  a  rule  the  Indian  bird  appears  to  be  more  fulvous  than  the 
Abyssinian,  especially  on  the  lower  parts,  but  there  is  no  constant 
difference.  I  have  examined  several  birds  from  India,  four  in 
Mr.  Dresser's  collection^  and  three  in  the  British  Museum,  and  I 
have  compared  them  with  two  skins  from  Abyssinia  and  eight  from 
other  parts  of  Africa,  and  I  can  only  conclude,  with  Mr.  Jjajrard,  that 
all  the  forms  are  identical.  At  the  same  time  I  feel  some  hesitation 
in  imiting  them  with  Le  Vaillant's  Alouette  h  Dos  Rauw,  Ois.  d'Af. 
PI.  197,  Alauda  pyrrhonota^  Vieill.,  for  the  bird  represent-ed  looks 
smaller,  and  I  have  never  seen  a  specimen  of  Anthus  sordtdus  with 
ferruginous  rump  and  ear  coverts,  as  represented  in  Le  Yaillant^s 
plate. 

There  is  considerable  variation  in  size  amongst  the  Persian  speci- 
mens, which  I  refer  to  this  species.     They  measure  :— 

Wing.  Tail.  TarsuB  Cnlmen, 

I.  Shir&z 3.7  3.2a  1.05  a8 

a.  Shir&z 3.8  3.<22  i.i  0.8a 

3.  Noi'th  of  Is&h&n         ..         4.05  3.6  1.07  0.8 


AV£S,  239 

Hie  last  beings  the  largest  specimen  I  have  ever  seen^  exceeding  even 
one  from  Senaf(£  in  Abyssinia,  of  which  I  gave  the  measurements  in 
my  acconnt  of  the  birds  collected  in  that  country  (1.  c).  The  tail  is 
especially  long.  In  this  skin  there  is  a  small  whitish  spot  on  the 
antepenultimate  pair  of  rectrices ;  the  whole  tip  and  outer  margin  of 
the  penultimate  pair,  and  all  the  outer  pair  except  the  basal  portion  of 
the  inner  web,  being  fulvous  white ;  the  division  between  the  colours 
on  the  two  outer  pairs  of  rectrices  being  very  oblique.  Generally  the 
colouration  of  this  form  only  differs  from  that  of  A,  campestris  by 
being  much  more  fulvous,  the  distribution  of  colour  being  the  same. 
The  size  of  A.  sordidus  is  usually  greater^  but  specimens  of  the  two 
species  agreeing  in  dimensions  may  be  found ;  and  when  the  plumage 
of  A.  9ordidu9  is  much  worn,  it  is  at  times  scarcely  distinguishable 
from  A,  campestris  in  the  same  condition. 


Family  ALAUDIDiE. 


182.  Alauda  arvensiSy  L. — De  F. 


I  ^,  2,  3.  Boshire  ..         ..  ..  — 

4>  5  it  6.  BuBhire  . .  . .  — 

7  9.  Near  Shiriz  . .  . .  6000 

8  9.  Shir&z  4750 

9  i,  Asupia,  between  Shiriz  and  Isfiih&n  7000 

10  ^,   II   9.  Resht,  Ghil&n    ..         ..  — 


January. 

February. 

July. 

August. 

June  96. 

November. 


There  is  as  usual  much  variation  in  size^  length  of  bill,  etc.  Most 
of  the  specimens  are  rather  short  billed^  and  some  from  Bushire  and 
Resht  resemble  the  agrestis  race  of  Central  Europe.  The  following 
measurements  of  the  two  largest  and  two  smallest  specimens  illustrate 
the  amounts  of  variation : — 


Wing. 

Tail. 

Tarsus. 

Culmen. 

Hind  claw. 

I.  Besbt,  9. 

4.1 

2.55 

0.9a 

0-55 

0.53 

2.  Bufihire 

4.3 

2.6 

0.9 

0.6 

0.43 

3.  Bushire,  ^. 

4.65 

2.65 

I 

0.7 

0.65 

4.  Asup48,  i 

4.6 

a.75 

0.98 

0.8 

0.6 

The  colour  varies  slightly.  A  full  account  of  the  variations  in  the 
skylark  is  given  in  Sharpe  and  Dresser's  *  Birds  of  Europe.' 

Locally  distributed  throughout  Persia,  and,  so  far  as  I  observed, 
confined  to  high  elevations  in  the  summer.  It  is  probably  a  winter 
visitant  near  Bushire.    I  obtained  no  specimens  in  Baluchist&n. 


240  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

183.  *  A.  arborea,  L. 

Men^tries  obtained  the  woodlark  on  the  T&lish  mountains   near 
Lankor&OL. 

184.  Gfralerita  oristata,  (L.)~Be  F. 


J,  1  e,  Gw&dar,  BaldchiBt&n   . . 

— 

December. 

3  s»  Dizak,  Baldchistin 

4000 

..     March  21. 

4  <;,  5  9.  Bam,  soath-eastern  Persia  . . 

3500     - 

April  22. 

6  9.  Mashiflh,  south-west  of  Karm&n 

6800 

..     May  21. 

7,  8,  9  9.  Shir&z           

4750     . 

June. 

lo  (albino).  Shir&z 

4750 

August. 

11^.  Bushire     . .          

^■^^ 

Januaiy. 

12  9y  13  young.    Ab&deh,  between  Shir&z 

and  Isfah&n 

6500    ..     July. 

Universally  distributed  and  very  common  from  the  sea  level  up  to 
at  least  7000  feet  above  the  sea.  There  is  great  variation  as  usual 
in  size,  length  of  bill,  etc.  (see  Dresser^  Birds  of  Europe,  and  Hume, 
Stray  Feathers^  i,  p.  214).  The  length  of  the  wing  in  different 
specimens  varies  from  3.75  (Abfideh)  to  4.5  (Shiriz). 

186.  Certhilauda  desertorum,  (Stanley). — De  F. 

C.  DoHas,  Salvador!,  Atti  R.  Acad.  Sci.  Tor.  iu,  1868,  p.  292. 

I.  Gw4dar,  Baluchist4n                      ..         ..         December. 
2  ^,  3  9.  Near  Gw&dar,  Baliichistin  . .  January  23. 

4,  5  ^,  6.  Bushire  Januaiy. 

All  these  specimens  are  very  grey  with  much  spotting  on  the  breast, 
like  the  majority  of  Asiatic  skins. 

Not  rare  in  the  desert  plains  near  the  coast  of  the  Persian  Ghdf  and 
the  Indian  Ocean,  but  seen  nowhere  else. 

« 

186.  Otocorys  penioillatay  (Oould). — De  F. 

Alauda  pmiciUata,  Gould,  P.  Z.  S.  1837,  p.  126. 
?  Alauda  dlpegtri$f  M^n.  Cat.  Bais.  p.  38,  nee  L. 
0.  albigtda,  Brandt,  apud  Bp.  Consp.  G^n.  Ay.  p.  246. 
0.  larvata,  De  F.  Archiv.  p.  1,  Zool.  Gen.  ii,  p.  382  ;  Viag.  in  Persia, 
p.  348. 

h  2  ^>  39  4  V.  Hanaka,  south-east  of 

Kann4n  8000        ..     May  2. 

5  ^>  6,  7  $,  8.  Near  IsfiJiAn    ..         ..  6000        . .     September. 

9  6, 10  young  9.  North  of  Tehrin,  Elborz 

mountains         9000-10000..     Aug.  17. 


AVES,  241 

For  a  complete  sTnonymy  of  this  species  and  an  excellent  mono* 
graph  of  the  genus  Otocorys^  see  Finsch,  Abbandl.  Naturwiss  Ver. 
Bremen,  ii,  p.  349.  Salvador!  (Atti  R.  Acad.  Sci.  Tor.  lii,  1865,  p.  285) 
showed  that  0,  larvata,  De  F.,  was  merely  the  summer  plumage  of 
0.  penicillata,  as  was  indeed  suspected  by  De  Filippi  himself;  and  this 
view  is  fully  borne  out  by  the  series  collected  by  Major  St.  John  and 
myself,  which  contains  specimens  in  both  summer  and  winter  plumage. 

In  its  full  breeding  plumage  this  is  a  very  handsome  lark.  In  the 
male  the  crown  of  the  head  and  hind  neck  and  the  rump  are  rather 
dull  pink,  the  colour  passing  gradually  into  the  brown  of  the  back. 
In  the  female  there  is  no  pink ;  all  the  feathers  of  the  upper  parts  are 
light  brown  with  darker  central  streaks^  the  black  marks  on  the  head 
being  only  represented  by  the  darker  colour  of  the  feathers,  and  even  the 
ear  tufbs  are  only  dark  brown.  The  black  of  the  throat  too  is  much 
less  extensive  than  in  the  male,  and  less  intense,  that  of  the  space 
beneath  the  eyes  and  ear  coverts  indistinct^  and  the  ear  coverts  them- 
selves are  very  pale  brown,  not  white  as  in  the  male.  In  winter  the 
black  portions  are  much  concealed  and  broken  up  by  pale  edges  to  the 
feathers;  there  are  pale  ochraceous  margins  to  the  feathers  of  the  upper 
parts,  and  the  colour  of  the  legs  is  lighter  and  browner.  The  young 
bird  is  spotted,  as  in  other  larks,  and  the  wing  and  tail  feathers  have 
brown  whitish  margins  with  darker  bands  inside  the  white :  the  breast 
is  yellowish  white  with  indistinct  dusky  spots. 

The  bill  varies  in  length,  the  extreme  measurements  on  the  culmen 
are  in  my  specimens  0.65  to  0.83,  females  having  rather  shorter  bills 
than  males.   The  following  are  measurements  of  a  pair  from  Hanaka : — > 

Length.    Expanse.    Wing.    Tail.    Tarsus.  Hind  Claw.  Culmen. 
Male        ..         8  14  4.6        3.25        0.9  0.35  0.7 

Female    ..         7.25         13.25         4.45       2.95        0.9  0.32  0.65 

All  dimensions  vary  as  in  most  larks.  The  iris  is  deep  reddish 
brown,  bill  blackish  above,  bluish  grey  below,  tarsi  and  upper  surfiice 
of  toes  (in  May)  black  in  the  male,  dusky  in  the  female,  claws  the 
same,  soles  of  feet  whitish. 

I  only  met  with  the  homed  lark  at  high  elevations ;  during  the 
summer  it  never  appears  to  descend  below  the  higher  plateaux,  and  I 
generally  met  with  it  on  all  which  exceed  8000  feet  above  the  sea. 
At  this  season  the  birds  are  scattered  about  or  in  pairs.  They  either 
breed  late  or  have  two  broods,  for  a  young  one  which  I  shot  on  August 
the  1 7th  was  in  the  spotted  nestling  plumage.     Similarly  Mr.  Tristram 

VOL.  II.  B 


242  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

found  it  breeding  on  the  mountains  of  Palestine  close  to  the  snow 
line. 

I  think  it  probable  that  the  Alauda  alpestris  of  Menetries  is  the 
present  species^  because  it  was  obtained  on  the  T&lish  mountains,  which 
are  a  continuation  of  the  Elburz^  and  the  true  '  shore  lark '  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  recognised  by  any  one  else  south  of  the  Caspian. 
But  I  may  be  in  error,  and  if  so,  0,  aloestris  must  be  added  to  the 
Persian  fauna. 


4000    .. 

April  a6. 

8000    .. 

May  a. 

7000    .. 

May  12. 

7000    .. 

June  I. 

4750  •• 

NoYember. 

7000    .. 

Jane  15. 

8000   .. 

June  a8. 

187.  Calandrella  braohydactyla,  (Leisl.) — De  F. 

I  <;.  Near  Bam,  south-eastern  Persia    . . 
a  <;,  3  9.  Hanaka,  south-east  of  Karm4n 

4  9.  Sarj&n,  south-west  of  Karmin 

5  ^.  Near  Niriz,  east  of  Shiraz  . . 

6  ^.  Shir&z  • .  >  •  •  • 

7  (9)  8  9.  Asupus,  plateau,  north  of  Shir&z       7000 
9  i,  10  9.  Kushkizard,  north  of  Shir&z . . 

Mr.  Dresser,  in  his  very  complete  account  of  this  species  in  the 
'  Birds  of  Europe,'  has  shown  that  the  rufous-headed  form,  called  C 
Hermonensis  by  Mr.  Tristram  (P.  Z.  S.  1864,  p.  434),  is  only  a  variety. 
I  had  already  come  to  the  same  conclusion.  I  found  it  quite  as 
abundant  in  Persia  as  the  normal  form  of  the  short-toed  lark^  and  I 
looked  upon  the  first  rufous-headed  bird  which  I  shot  as  quite  dis- 
tinct, not  only  on  account  of  the  head  being  difierently  coloured,  but 
also  because  the  brown  patch  at  the  side  of  the  breast  was  ill  marked 
and  rufous ;  but  there  was  no  difference  that  I  could  see  in  the  measure- 
ments, and  I  subsequently  shot  many  intermediate  forms. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  generally  spread  birds  in  Persia.  It  is  found 
on  almost  all  the  plains,  and  I  found  it  common  in  the  breeding 
season  at  from  6000  to  8000  feet  above  the  sea. 


188.  a  pispoletta,  (Pall.)— De  F. 

?  Alauda  pispoletta,  De  F.  Archiv.  p.  1.  Zool.  Gen.  ii,  p.  383. 

I  9.  Mashlsh,  south-west  of  Karm&n     ..  6000  ..      May  10. 

a  young.  Sarj&n,  south-west  of  Karm&n  5700  ..     May  29. 

3  ^.  Near  Niriz,  east  of  Shir&z    ..  5000  ..     May. 

4  ^.  Shiriz . .                     . .                     . .  —  . .     June. 

5  <$.  Near  Kushkizard,  between  Shir&z  and 

Isfah4n      ..          — .  ..     June  37. 


A  VE8.  248 

This  is  easily  distinguished  from  C.  htachfiactyla  by  its  much  shorter 
secondaries.  In  the  short-toed  lark  the  secondaries  are  nearly  as  long 
as  the  primaries,  in  C,  pispolelta  they  are  at  least  three  quarters  of  an 
inch  shorter.  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Dresser  for  calling  my  attention  to 
this  (see  Birds  of  Europe^  pt.  xxi).  I  did  not  observe  the  difference  in 
the  two  forms  when  in  Persia,  and  consequently  did  not  notice  if 
there  was  any  difference  in  their  distribution.  I  only  obtained 
specimens  of  this  lark  on  the  plateau,  but  it  has  been  procured  by 
Mr.  Hume  in  North-western  India^  De  Filippi  obtained  it  only  in 
Armenia. 

Persian  specimens  measure^  wing  3.6-4.0  in.,  tail  2.4-2.6,  tarsus 
0.85,  culmen  0.5-0.62. 

I  obtained  the  nest  and  eggs  of  this  bird  on  the  20th  of  May,  close 
to  Mashish,  about  forty  miles  south-west  of  Karm&n,  and  at  an  eleva- 
tion of  6000  feet  above  the  sea.  The  locality  was  a  plain  partly 
cultivated^  and  the  nest  was  at  the  foot  of  a  small  bush,  near  a 
cornfield.  I  turned  the  hen  bird  off  the  eggs  and  shot  her.  The 
nest  consisted  of  a  few  strips  of  bark  and  grass,  without  any  regular 
linings  and  was  laid  in  a  small  hole  in  the  ground ;  the  eggs,  three  in 
number^  are  olive  grey,  closely  spotted,  especiidly  near  the  broader 
end. 

Mr.  Dresser  says  that  they  '  resemble  those  of  C.  brachydactyla^  but 
are  a  trifle  larger^  have  the  ground  colour  clearer  and  paler,  and  the 
spots  somewhat  darker  and  more  clearly  defined.'  They  measure  from 
0.82  to  0.87  inches  by  0.6. 

180.  Melanocorypha  calandray  (L.) — De  F. 


1*  ?f  3  ^*  Bushire 

•  • 

^^^             •  • 

Febraary. 

4  $.  Shiriz 

•  ■ 

4750     •• 

May. 

5  6*  Shir&z          •.          .. 

•  • 

4750     •• 

June. 

6  young.  Niiiz,  east  of  Shir&z  . . 

•  • 

5000     .. 

June  4. 

The  only  specimen  of  those  above  quoted  which  was  collected  by 
myself  was  that  from  Niriz.  Close  to  the  shore  of  Niriz  Lake,  in  a 
plain  overgrown  with  grass,  I  found  this  bird  swarming,  most  of  the 

^  I  am  inclined  to  agree  with  Mr.  Hume  (Ibis,  1870,  p.  531)  that  the  species  collected 
by  Dr.  Stoliczka  in  Rapshd  (J.  A.  S.B.  1868,  pt.  ii,  p.  64),  was  not  that  usually  identified 
with  C,  pUpoleUa,  but  it  may  very  possibly  have  been  the  same  as  is  thus  identified  by 
Herr  ▼.  Homeyer  (oonf.  Dresser,  Birds  of  Europe,  art.  C.  hraehydadyla),  which  is  pro- 
bably Alamda  Icng^^ennii,  Eyersman,  and  certainly  C<Uandrdla  leucophcea,  Severtzov. 

R  % 


24*  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

individuals  seen  beings  young  birds  with  the  pale  edgings  characteristic 
of  the  nestling  plumage.  It  is  evident  that  Jf.  calandra  breeds  in 
Persia  at  this  elevation  (about  5000  feet)  in  May. 


lOO.  M.  sp.  (1  calandra^  var.) 

I  9.  Near  Is&h&n  . .  . .         5000     . .     April. 

The  specimen  from  Isfah&n  differs  so  much  from  the  other  skins 
of  Jf.  calandra  that  I  cannot  but  suspect  it  to  be  a  distinct  race.  It 
is  darker  and  earthy  brown  instead  of  rufous,  the  dark  brown  marks 
on  the  head  and  back  being  clearer  than  in  M.  calandra^  and  the 
sides  of  the  breast  far  more  spotted.  It  is  also  very  small  and  has  a 
singularly  short  bill;  wing  4.7,  tail  a. 45,  tarsus  i.i,  culmen  0.7a. 
In  having  the  outer  tail  feathers  white,  and  white  tips  to  the 
secondaries^  it  agrees  with  M,  calandra, 

I  have  seen  a  specimen  from  Algiers,  and  one  from  Central  Asia 
resembling  this  in  colour,  but  they  have  much  longer  bills. 


101.  M,  bimaoulata,  (Mdn.) 

AlavudlA  "bviMLevXQXat  M^n^tries,  Cat.  Rais.  p.  37. 
Mdawicwyfpha,  torquatOf  Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  B.  xxi,  1847,  P*  47^* 
M.  linKiculcUaf  Sharpe,  Ann.  N.  H.  ser.  4,  viii,  p.  180. 

1  ^.  Gw4dar,  Baldchistdn         ..  ..  —      ..     Jan.  15. 

2  ^.  Kh&n-i-sdrkh  pass,  south-west  of 

Karm&n  . .         . .  . .         8500     . .     May  23. 

3  young.  Near  Asup&s,  north  of  Shir&z         7ocx>     . .     June  25. 

4  i.  Near  Kushkizard,  north  of  Shir4z         8000     . .     June  28. 

The  specimen  shot  at  Gwfidar  in  the  winter  is  much  greyer  than  the 
others.  So  far  as  can  be  judged  from  the  few  specimens  collected,  this 
bird  breeds  at  a  higher  elevation  than  M.  calandra,  for  whilst  I  found 
the  young  of  the  latter,  in  nestling  plumage,  abundant  in  a  plain 
at  5000  feet,  I  met  with  M,  bimaculata  in  similar  nestling  plumage, 
and  in  equal  numbers,  at  fix)m  7000  to  8000  feet.  For  the  differ- 
ences between  the  two  species,  see  Sharpe,  1. c.  and  in  the  'Birds  of 
Europe.* 


A  VUS.  245 


— 

Dee.  9. 

— 

Dec.  II. 

—. 

Dec.,  Jan. 

— 

Feb.  I. 

3000 

Feb.  a8. 

3500 

Maroh  5. 

4000 

March  ai. 

6000 

May  30. 

6000 

July  16. 

102.  Ammomanes  deserti,  (Licht.) 

?  Alauda  Luntana  \  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.  ii,  p.  798. 

I,  a  9'  IULb  Masandim,  Arabian  coast, 

entrance  to  Persian  Gulf 
3  ^.  Henj&m  Island,  Persian  Gulf 
4*  5  ^»  ^  7>  8  9.  Gwad&r,  Baliichistin  . . 
9  e,  10  9.  BAhd  Kal&t,  Baluchistin 
119.  Ghistigin,  Bampusht,  Baluchistan 
13  ^.  Ask4n,  Bampusht,  Baliichist&n     .. 

13  i,  Difak,  Baldchistin 

14  <}>  15  9.  Parp4,  150  miles  east  of  Shir&z, 

southern  Persia     . . 
1 6,  1 7  young  9.  Fifty  miles  north  of  Isfah&n       6000 

Extremely  abundant  in  Baluehist&n  and  on  the  coast  of  the  Persian 
Gulf,  but  it  becomes  scarce  and  local  in  the  highlands  of  Persia. 
Amongst  the  barren  hills  of  Baluchist&n  this  was  almost  the  only  bird 
which  was  abundant^  and  Hume  found  it  equally  so  in  similar  localities 
in  Sind  (Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  211).  The  two  specimens  obtained  at 
Parp&  on  the  plateau  are  more  rufous  at  the  base  of  the  tail  than 
any  others,  and  one  which  has  the  basal  portion  of  the  central  rectrices 
and  the  edges  of  the  rest  rufous  is  apparently  young,  with  pale  edges 
forming  &int  transverse  bars  on  the  scapulars  and  interscapulary 
feathers.  Some  skins  have  the  breast  much  more  distinctly  spotted 
than  others. 

The  two  specimens  obtained  north  of  Isfahan  were  shot  on  the  desert 
plain  which  slopes  upwards  from  Marchikur,  the  second  stage  on  the 
road  to  Tehrfin,  towards  Soh,  the  third  stage.  I  shot  several  specimens, 
but  as  all  were  immature  I  only  preserved  two.  They  differ  from  the 
adult  bird  in  being  generally  more  rufous,  in  having  the  basal  portion 
and  margins  of  all  the  rectrices  pale  dull  ferruginous  with  only  the 
terminal  portion  dark  brown^  the  size  of  the  dark  spot  being  smallest 
on  the  outer  pair.  The  greater  portion  of  the  quills  too,  including  all 
the  basal  part,  is  the  same  dull  pale  rufous,  and  there  are  pale  rufous 
edgings  to  the  feathers  of  the  upper  parts  and  breast.  But  I  think 
these  birds  are  the  young  of  A.  deserti,  and  not  of  a  distinct  speciesj 

*  I  fisdl  to  see  any  reason  for  employing  Gmelin*s  name  for  this  form.  It  is  objection- 
able because  the  species  does  not  occur  in  Portugal,  and  it  was  merely  given  to  the 
*  Portugal  lark '  of  Latham,  who  again  described  from  a  drawing,  so  there  is  no  suffi- 
cient evidence  of  its  having  been  applied  to  this  species. 


246  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

because  in  one  there  is  more  brown  on  the  quills  and  tail  feathers 
than  on  the  other^  and  also  because  the  young  bird  from  Parp&  shows 
more  rufous  on  the  basal  portion  of  the  tail  than  adults.  The  di- 
mensions are:  wings  3.45  and  3.7,  tails  %,i  and  2.3,  tarsi  0.87  and 
0.93^  culmina  0.5  and  0.55,  or  rather  less  than  the  full  grown  A,  deserti. 

103.  Fyrrhulauda  melanauohen,  (Cab.) 

CoraphUes  melanafichen.  Cab.  Mus.  Hein.  i,  p.  124. — Finsch,  Trans.  Z.  S. 

vii,  p.  a75,  PI.  XXVI. 
Pyrrhulauda  qfflnii,  Blyth,  Ibis,  1867,  p.  185.— Hume,  Stray  Featheri»i> 

p.  21a. 

I.  B&hii  Kal&t,  BaliichisUn         February  a. 

I  obtained  a  male  of  this  bird  near  Kar&chi^  which  I  immediately 
recognised  as  Mr.  Blyth's  P.  affiniSy  and  which  I  sent,  with  two  oy 
three  other  specimens  of  interest,  to  Mr.  Hume  for  notice  in  his  list 
of  the  Sind  Avifauna.  I  procured  a  second  at  Bdhu  Kal&t,  just 
within  the  Persian  territory,  and  close  to  the  coast.  I  have  compared 
the  latter  with  specimens  of  P.  melanauchen^  obtained  by  myself  on 
the  Abyssinian  coastland  and  compared  with  a  typical  specimen  in 
Berlin,  and  also  with  the  type  of  P.  affinis^  Blyth,  in  Mr.  Gould's 
cabinet,  and  I  announced  the  identity  of  the  two  forms  in  the  Ibis  for 
1873,  p.  223.  I  find  this  had  already  been  suggested  by  Finsch  and 
Hartlaub,  Vog.  ost  Af.  p.  469. 

Mr.  Gould  informs  me  that  he  merely  received  the  typical  specimen 
of  P.  affinis  with  the  locality  *  Madras,'  and  that  he  has  no  means  of 
determining  the  correctness  of  the  label.  I  think  it  highly  impro- 
bable that  this  species  really  extends  into  the  southern  portion  of  the 
Indian  peninsula,  since  even  in  the  greater  part  of  Sind  it  appears 
to  be  entirely  replaced  by  the  nearly  allied  P.  grisea.  For  some  years, 
whilst  occupied  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  Central  Provinces  in 
India,  I  have  carefully  looked  for  P.  affinis,  and  many  a  P.  grisea  has 
been  sacrificed  in  the  search,  but  without  success. 

P.  melananchen  appears  to  be  rare  in  Baluchist&n,  and  I  have  only 
seen  it  close  to  the  coast. 

The  male  shot  near  Kar&chi  measured  :  length  ^,^  inches,  expanse 
10.25,  wing  3.2,  tail  2.1,  tarsus  0.7,  bill  from  gape  0.45.  Iris  brown, 
bill  whitish,  legs  pale  flesh  colour. 


AVES.  247 


Family  FRINGILLIDiE. 
104«  Fringilla  osBlebs,  L. — De  F. 

I,  a  9.  Oak  forest,  near  Shiriz  —      ..     June. 

3  i.  Near  Shiriz      . .         . .  . .  5000     . .     September. 

4  ^,  5  9.  Shir&z        . .         . .  4750    . .     September. 

6  9.  Lura  valley,  north  of  Tehrin,  Elburz 

monntauuB     ..  ..         ..  ..  7000     ..     August  10. 

7  ^.  Anto,  Mazandarim      ..         ..  ..  6500     ..     August  ir. 

Precisely  similar  to  European  specimens.  The  chaffinch  is  fonnd  in 
the  oak  forest  near  Shir&z,  and  probably  inhabits  the  forest  country 
west  of  the  Zagros  range.  In  Ghil&n  and  Mazandar&oi  it  is  exceed- 
ingly abundant.  I  never  saw  it  elsewhere  in  Persia,  and  it  appears  to  be 
confined  to  the  forest  regions. 

By  a  lapsus  j)ennay  in  the  *  Birds  of  Eurox)e/  owing,  I  think,  to  his 
having  misunderstood  me,  Mr.  Dresser  makes  the  chaffinch  extend  to 
Baluchist&n,  but  it  has  not  been  found  south-east  of  Shir&z,  so  far  as 
I  know. 


106.  *  F.  montifringilla»  L. 

Pallas  (Zool.  Ros.  As.  ii,  p.  18)  speaks  of  specimens  sent  from  Persia, 
pale  in  colour  and  rather  larger  than  those  from  Northern  Russia. 


196.  F.  spiniifl,  L. 

I  9.  An4n,  Mazandar4n  ..  ..         6500     ..      August  13. 

The  siskin  has  not  been  observed  in  Persia  elsewhere  than  in  the 
forest  region  south  of  the  Caspian. 

107.  *  P.  chloris,  L. 

Coccothraustes  chlorU,  M6n.  Cat.  Rab.  p.  5a. 

The  greenfinch  was  not  obtained  by  Major  St.  John  nor  myself,  and 
De  Filippi  only  observed  it  on  the  Caucasus,  but  Men^tries  found  it  on 
the  Tdlish  mountains. 

Mr.  Gray,  in  his  *  Handlist/  gives  Persia  as  a  locality  for  F.  chlor(h 


248  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

tica,  Licht.  There  is  no  specimen  in  the  British  Museum  from 
Persian  territory,  and  Lichtenstein's  types  were  from  Bairut  (Beyrout) 
and  Syria.  I  think  the  Persian  locality  possibly  rests  upon  some  mis- 
take.    The  form  is  doubtfully  distinct. 

198.  Monti£ringilla  alpioola,  (Pall.)-— De  F. 

Pall.  Zool.  Bob.  As.  ii,  p.  20. 

M,  nivalU,  De  F.  Yiag.  in  Persiai  pp.  354,  349,  nee  Linn« 

I,  3  s.  Elburz  mountains,  Mazandar&n  . .         Febmaiy. 

This  appears  to  me  a  good  species^  distinct  from  M.  nivalis.  Pallaa^ 
who  received  it  from  the  Caucasus  and  *  the  Ceraunian^  mountains 
surrounding  the  Caspian/  states  that  it  is  distinguished  by  its  long 
bill.  This  is  precisely  the  case  in  the  birds  obtained  by  Major  Si 
John,  of  which  the  following  is  a  description  of  the  males  in  winter 
plumage: — 

Upper  parts  dull  brown^  the  head  a  little  darker  than  the  back, 
rump,  upper  tail  coverts,  which  are  very  long,  and  central  tail  feathers 
brownish  black,  remainder  of  the  tail  feathers  white,  those  near  the 
centrals  with  blackish  tips,  which  gradually  disappear  on  the  outer 
rectrices  ;  primaries  and  a  few  of  the  smaller  coverts  near  the  edge  of 
the  wing  brownish  black,  secondaries,  except  the  three  or  four  nearest 
the  body,  all  the  secondary  coverts,  and  the  greater  primary  coverts 
white,  the  latter  sometimes  with  dark  brown  tips ;  the  last  secondaries 
(tertiaries)  and  scapularies  the  same  colour  as  the  back ;  chin  and 
middle  of  throat  black,  the  feathers  with  white  margins,  remainder  of 
the  lower  parts  white  ;  bill  and  legs  black  :  wings  4.55  and  4.8,  tails 
a.75  and  2.9,  tarsi  0.85  and  0.9,  culmina  0.75. 

Not  only  is  the  bill  longer  and  larger  than  in  M.  nivalis,  but  it  is 
black,  whereas  in  the  European  snowfinch  it  is  yellow  in  winter.  In 
the  Elburz  specimens  the  black  colour  may  have  been  assumed  with 
the  commencement  of  spring;  but  this  is  improbable,  because  the  black 
of  the  throat  is  much  concealed  by  white  fringes,  which  would  doubt- 
less wear  off  in  the  nuptial  plumage.  Another  important  difference  is 
that  the  bird  of  the  Alps  has  the  head  cinereous  in  the  male,  even  in 
winter  plumage  ;  in  young  males  even  it  is  very  much  more  ashy  than 
in  the  Elburz  specimens. 

* '  Frequeng  in  alpibut  swnmis  Caucati  atque  montium  Cerauniarum  Cagpicum  lawm 
ambieHHwn^*  Pail.  1.  c.    I  am  not  quite  sure  what  mountains  arc  meant. 


4750 

•  • 

June. 

4750 

•  • 

June  I  a. 

4750 

•  • 

Summer. 

A  VES.  249 

This  snowfinch  is  a  pennanent  inhabitant  of  the  Elburz.  The 
specimens  obtained  were  shot  in  the  snow  by  a  collector  whom 
Major  St.  John  sent  into  the  mountains  in  February.  In  summer  it 
keeps  to  a  considerable  elevation.  De  Filippi  found  it  at  the  base  of 
Demavend,  and  I  saw  one  flock  near  the  crest  of  the  Elburz^  on  the 
road  from  the  Lura  valley  to  An&n,  at  an  elevation  of  between  9000 
and  lOOCXD  feet  above  the  sea.  The  birds  were  on  very  steep  rocky 
ground,  and  I  shot  one,  which  rolled  down  some  precipitous  rocks,  and 
despite  a  long  search,  and  much  climbing  on  difficult  ground,  I  was 
unable  to  find  it. 

100.  Carduelifl  elegans,  Staph. — De  F. 

I,  a  ^,  5  young  9*  Shir&z 

5,  6  young  ^.  Shir&z 

7>  ^«  9'  'O*  Shir&z   . .         • .         .  •         . . 

Locally  distributed  on  the  Persian  plateau,  where  it  is  apparently  a 
permanent  resident.  I  first  met  with  it  about  90  miles  south-west  of 
Karm&n,  and  it  was  seen  here  and  there  on  the  road  to  Shir&z^  around 
which  town  it  is  common  in  gwdens.  In  Northern  Persia  I  did  not 
meet  with  it,  but  De  Filippi  records  it  from  Tabriz  and  M^n^tries 
from  Lankor^. 

[When  in  camp  at  Nanizak,  at  the  foot  of  the  hills,  near  Bushire,  in 
February,  I  saw  immense  flocks  of  goldfinches  flying  about  the  palm 
groves  before  roosting.  They  breed  in  considerable  numbers  about 
Shir&z,  and  are  pretty  common  everywhere. — O.  St.  J.] 

200.  Linaria  cannabina,  (L.) — ^De  F. 

I  ^.  Hanaka,  south-east  of  Karm&n 
3>  3  ^»  4  9  (all  young).  Near  Shir4z 

5  young  9.  Shiriz 

6  young  9.  Shiriz 

7  ^.  Elburz  mountains,  north  of  Tehr&n  . . 

8  i,  Lura  valley,  Elburz  mountains,  north 

of  Tehrioi     . .  . .  •  •  .  • 

9  %  10,  II,  la,  13  young.  Elburz  moun- 

tains, north  of  Tehr&n 

All  adult  males  have  bright  scarlet  breasts,  like  the  birds  found  in 
parts  of  Southern  Europe,  and  some  specimens  have  rather  a  long 
bill. 


8000 

*  . 

May  1. 

— 

.  . 

July. 

4750 

>  . 

November. 

4750 

.  • 

December. 

— 

a  • 

March. 

7000 

.. 

August  8. 

8000 

.  . 

August  II. 

250 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 


Very  common  at  high  elevations  on  the  Elburz,  and  less  so  on  the 
higher  hills  in  Southern  Persia,  apparently  descending  to  lower  eleva- 
tions in  winter.  On  the  Elburz  mountains  in  August  I  found  the 
young  birds  by  themselves  in  large  flocks. 


201.  L.  brevirostria,  Gould. 

Moore,  P.  Z  S.  1855,  p.  216. — Stoliczka,  J.  A.  S.  B.  1868,  xxzvii,  pi.  a, 
p.  6a. — Hume,  in  Henderson^s  Lahore  to  Yarkand,  p.  a6o,  PL  XXVI. 

I  <;,  2  9.  MountainB  near  Abddeh    ..  ..         8000     ..     July. 

This  is  apparently  rare,  and  the  only  pair  obtained  was  secured  by 
Major  St.  John  on  the  high  plateau  between  Shir&z  and  Isfiilifin. 
The  birds  agree  well  with  the  figure  given  by  Hume  and  with  his 
descriptions.  The  dimensions  of  the  Persian  birds  agree  too  with 
Hume's,  and  not  with  those  given  by  Moore. 

Bill  from. 
Wing.         Tail.         Tarsus,      forehead. 
Male         2.95  a.37  0.64  0.35 

Female a. 85  a.a  0.63  0.35 


202.  Metoponia  pusilla,  (Pall.)— De  F. 

Serinus  punUuSf  De  F.  Viag.  in  Penda,  p.  349. 

1.  Hanaka,  south* west  of  KarmAn  . .  8000     .. 

2,  3  s.  Lura  valley,  Elburz  mountains     ..  6500     . 
4  9.  Lura  vaUey,  Elburz  mountains         ..  7000     . . 

This  finch  also  was  only  met  with  at  a  considerable  elevation.  It 
was  by  no  means  rare  in  the  Elburz  mountains,  north  of  Tehrfin,  but 
it  was  also  found  in  the  south. 


May  a. 
August  9. 
August  14. 


August  8. 
August  13. 


203.  Carpodacus  erythrinus,  (Pali) — De  F. 

I  i.  Lura  valley,  Elburz  mountains        . .  6500     . . 

a  6.  Near  An&n,  Mazandarin       . .         . .         8500    . . 

The  common  rosefinch  or  scarlet  grosbeak  was  only  noticed  in  the 
Elburz,  but  it  will  probably  be  found  in  other  parts  of  Persia.  Both 
the  specimens  obtained  are  in  breeding  plumage. 


204.  Buoanetes  githagineus,  (Licht.) 

Carpodacus  eroMirostriaf  Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  B.  xvi,  1847,  p.  476. 

I,  a  9.  Kalag4n,  Baliichistdn        ..  4000     ..  March  ao. 

3  ^.  Near  Big&n,  Narmashlr        ••         ..         3000    ..  April .17. 


Ar£S,  251 

4  S.  Netr  Bam,  south-eastern  Persia       ..         550O     •  •     April  27. 

5  ^,  6  9.  Sarj4ii,  south-west  of  Karmin  . .  5700     ..      May  29. 
7  <J,  8  9.  Shiriz 4750     . .      June. 

9  if    10,    II  young.   Kohnid,  north    of 

Isfab&n         ..  ..  ..         8000     ..     July  17. 

The  desert  bullfinch  was  met  with  here  and  there  throughoat 
Persia.  Hume  obtained  it  in  Sind  in  the  winter,  (Stray  Feathers,  i, 
p.  2 10),  but  I  did  not  observe  it  in  Baluchist&n  near  the  coast,  and  I 
only  once  shot  specimens  in  the  higher  plains  of  Persian  Baluchistfin. 
It  breeds  early,  the  pair  shot  on  May  the  29th  being  young  birds  ap- 
parently ;  they  only  differ  from  the  adult  female  in  being  of  a  more 
rufous  brown,  and  in  having  broader  pale  margins  to  the  wings  and 
tail  feathers.  Bill  in  the  male  rich  orange  or  scarlet  in  breeding 
plumage  only. 

I  have  examined  the  specimen  of  Carpodacus  crassirostris,  (Blyth) 
from  Afgh^stfin,  in  the  British  Museum.  It  is,  I  believe,  one  of  the 
types  collected  by  Hutton,  and  is,  in  my  opinion,  identical  with  B. 
githagineus.    Blyth'^s  description  applies  perfectly  to  this  species. 


205.  Buoanetes,  sp. 

I  9*  Karij  valley,  Elburz  mountains      . .         6500    . .     August  8. 

A  single  bird  obtained  in  the  Elburz  puzzles  me  greatly.  In  many 
respects  it  resembles  a  male  Bucaiietes  githagineus  in  imperfect  plumage, 
but  the  colouration  of  the  wing  coverts,  and  especially  of  the  tail,  is 
peculiar,  and  it  is  probably  a  distinct  species.  The  following  is  a 
description :  the  plumage  is  worn,  as  usual,  in  birds  shot  at  the  end  of 
summer. 

Upper  parts  brown,  the  feathers  of  the  back  rather  paler  at  the 
edges,  on  the  lower  back  and  rump  there  are  traces  of  whitish 
transverse  bands ;  upper  tail  coverts  pale  crimson,  tail  feathers  dark 
brown  with  whitish  edges ;  the  outermost  on  each  side  with  the  outer 
web  and  the  terminal  portion  of  the  inner  web  white,  a  dark  line 
running  down  the  shaft  to  the  end;  quills  brown,  the  secondaries 
with  whitish  margins  and  tips,  (there  may  perhaps  in  fresh  plumage 
be  pale  edges  to  the  primaries  also),  greater  coverts  darker  brown, 
secondary  coverts  white  towards  the  base  on  the  outer  web,  and 
with  a  very  narrow  margin  of  bright  crimson.  Lower  parts  pale 
brown,  becoming  white  on  the  abdomen  and  lower  tail  coverts,  and 


252  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

washed  with  pale  crimson  on  the  breast  and  sides  of  the  abdomen : 
bill  brown  (?  horny),  pale  near  base  beneath,  legs  light  brown ;  wing 
3.37,  tail  2.07,  tarsus  0.67,  bill  at  front  0.37. 

I  should  describe  this  as  a  new  spieces  but  for  the  ]x>s8ibilit7  of 
its  being  an  abnormal  specimen  of  B.  githagineita^  which  it  exactly 
resembles  in  dimensions  and  structure.  If  so,  it  is  probably  an  old 
female  putting  on  in  part  the  male  plumage. 


206.  Ersrthrospiza  sanguinea,  (Gould.) 

Fringilla  tanguinea,  Gould,  P.  Z.  S.  1837,  p.  127. 

Erythroq>isa  ph/micoptera,  Bp.  Mon.  Lox,  p.  27,  PI.  XXX,  XXXI. 

^t  ^  Sf  3  9*  Lura  valley,  Elborz  mountains, 

north  of  Tehrin        ..         ..  7500    ..     August  II. 

The  specimens  obtained  agree  with  Bonaparte's  figures  of  both 
sexes.  The  bill  in  the  male  is  deep  yellow,  dusky  at  the  tip  and  on 
the  upper  mandible  near  the  base,  legs  purplish  brown.  In  the  female 
the  bill  and  legs  are  brown.  There  appears  to  be  no  difference  in  the 
size  of  the  sexes.  Length  (measured  in  the  flesh)  6.75  to  7.^5, 
expanse  13,  wing  4  to  4.3,  tail  2.23  to  2.55,  tarsus  0.8  to  0.8a,  bill 
from  forehead  0.45  to  0.5,  from  gape  0.55. 

I  only  once  met  with  this  fine  rosefinch.  A  flock  was  sitting  on 
some  steep  rocks  by  the  side  of  the  road  in  a  high  valley  of  the 
Elburz^  and  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  bag  three. 


207.  E.  obfloleta,  (Licht.),  PI.  XVII.— De  F. 

Bp.  Mon.  Lox.  p.  38,  PI.  XXXII  (mediocriB)_De  F.  Arch.  ZooL  Oen.  ii» 

p.  384. 
Fringilla  obioleta,  Licht.  in  Everaman's  Reise  nach  Buchara,  App.  p.  13a. 

I  (}.  Niriz,  east  of  Shir&z 5300  ••  June  a8. 

a  9.  Shir&z   ..  ..         ..         ..  5000  ..  June. 

3  (}.  Shir&z 5000  ..  Angiift. 

4  (}.  Shir&z ..  5000  .. 

5,  6  <$.  Ab^eh,  north  of  Shiriz   ..         ..  6000  ..  July. 


De  Filippi  is  in  error  in  stating  that  the  plumage  of  both  sexes  is 
the  same.  From  the  figure  in  Bonaparte's  LoxienSy  and  the  descrip* 
tion  given  by  Lichtenstein  and  Bonaparte  it  is  clear  they  had  a  female 
or  young  male  before  them.  Lichtenstein^  it  is  true,  says  the  bill  is 
black,  which  is  a  character  of  the  adult  male,  but  he  also  describes 


I 


A  VES,  253 

the  feet  as  blacky  which  they  never  are.  It  is  di£Scult  to  recognise 
the  bird  from  either  description  or  figure,  but  I  have  compared  my 
specimens  with  the  type  in  the  Berlin  Museum  and  ascertained  their 
identity.  The  species  is  well  worth  refiguring,  beang  one  of  the  most 
exquisitely  and  delicately  coloured  of  the  group  to  which  it  belongs, 
and  I  think  the  accompanying  illustration  of  it  by  Mr.  Keulemans 
does  it  justice.     The  following  is  a  description  of  the  plumage : — 

Male  in  breeding  dress : — ^lores  and  a  few  feathers  at  the  base  of 
the  mandible  black;  upper  parts  pale  sandy  brown,  upper  tail  coverts, 
which  are  rather  long,  a  little  darker  and  more  rufous ;  tail  feathers 
blackish  brown  with  their  outer  margins  white ;  this  margin  occupies 
the  whole  outer  web  of  most  of  the  rectrices,  but  is  narrower  on  the 
outer  pair^  on  which  it  does  not  extend  to  the  tip ;  quills  blackish 
brown,  outer  webs  of  the  primaries,  and  basal  portion  of  the  inner 
webs  of  both  secondaries  and  primaries  white,  edges  of  the  secondaries 
(the  last  three  excepted)  nearly  but  not  quite  to  the  tips,  and  of  all 
the  larger  coverts  a  most  delicate  rose  pink,  the  three  last  secondaries 
with  broad  brownish  white  margins.  Lower  parts  to  the  breast  the 
same  colour  as  the  back  but  rather  paler^  passing  into  white  on  the 
abdomen  and  lower  tail  coverts.  Bill  blacky  legs  brown^  claws  dusky. 
Length  (measured  before  skinning)  6.2,  expanse  9.75,  wing  3.45>  ^il 
a.4,  tarsus  0.63,  bill  from  forehead  0.44,  wings  from  end  of  tail  i.i. 

In  the  male  in  winter  plumage  the  colour  of  the  upper  parts  is  a 
little  paler,  and  the  bill  is  horny.  The  female  has  the  bill  homy,  and 
the  lores  are  brown,  scarcely  differing  in  colour  from  the  rest  of  the 
cheeks;  the  male  in  winter  may  apparently  be  distinguished  by 
having  the  lores  dark  brown  or  black.  There  appears  to  be  no  differ- 
ence in  the  size  of  the  sexes. 

Of  this  rare  bird  I  obtained  but  one  specimen,  which  was  shot  in  a 
plain  covered  thinly  with  grass  and  bushes  on  the  shores  of  the  salt 
lake,  near  Niriz.  The  remainder  were  procured  by  Major  St.  John. 
De  Filippi  found  it  breeding  in  gardens  at  Kazvin  (Viag.  in  Pers. 
p.  ai2),  and  he  says  it  is  also  found  at  Tehrin. 

I  cannot  find  any  description  of  Eryihrospiza  obscura  (Lichtenstein), 
from  Tehr^,  Gray's  *  Handlist/  No.  7527,  ii,  p.  102.  No  such  bird 
is  mentioned  in  the  *  Verzeichniss  der  Doubletten,'  the  *  Nomenclator 
Avium,'  or  the  *  Museum  Heineanum.'  The  name  must,  I  think,  be 
one  of  the  numerous  manuscript  titles  given  by  Lichtenstein^  unless 
indeed  it  be  a  misprint  or  mistake  on  a  label  for  E.  obsoleta. 


254 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 


208.  *  CocoothrauBteB  vulgaris,  Pall. — De  F. 

Obsei-ved  by  De  Filippi  in  Ghildn  at  Rustamabid,  between  Kazvin 
and  Resht. 


209.  *  C«  (Hesperiphona)  oameipea,  (Hodgs.) 

Coccothrau9te8  tpeculigera,  Brandt,  Bull.  Acad.  Sd.  St.  Fet.  ix.  p.  i  f ,  (184a). 

The  species  described  by  Brandt  from  Northern  Persia  has  been 
identified  by  various  authors  with  the  Himalayan  ff.  cameipes^ 
Hodgson,  and  Gould,  in  the  *  Birds  of  Asia,'  states  that  he  has  compared 
specimens  from  the  Altai,  identified  with  C.  speculigera^  with  Hodgson's 
species.  It  is  not  quite  clear  that  typical  examples  of  the  former  have 
ever  been  compared.  Brandt's  description,  however,  agrees  very  fairly 
with  the  Himalayan  species. 


210.  Passer  domestious,  (L.) — De  F. 

I,  3  s.  Resht,  on  CaBpian  Sea 

3*  4i  5  <}*  6  $•  Forests  on  Caspian  . . 


November. 
November. 


The  birds  from  Ghfl&n  are  the  only  Persian  sparrows  I  have  seen 
which  agree  with  European  specimens,  and  even  they  are  rather  pale. 


21L  P.  Indious,  J.  and  S. 

i>  ^  it  3f  4  9*  Gw&dar,  Baliichist&n 
5  $.  Dasht,  BaliiohistAn 
6 ,},  7  9.  Bihii  Kal&t,  Baliichist&n 
8,  9  i.  Kala^4n,  Baluchistdn 
10  ^,  II,  I  a  9.  J^k,  Baliichistdn 

13  ^.  Bampiir,  Baldchistin 

14  i,  Sarj&n,  South  Persia 

15,  16  (},  17  9.  Shir&z         

189.  Shlri^..  ..         ..         .•  .* 

19  9.  Shir&z  .. 

20  (},  ai  9.  Bushire  .. 
2a  (}.  Lura  valley,  Elburz  mountains 

There  appears  to  be  in  some  respects  transition  in  Persia  between 
these  two  races  of  sparrows,  which  are  little  more  than  climatic 
varieties;  but  all  the  house  sparrows  from  the  plateau  and  from  the 
southern  part  of  the  country  agree  best  with  the  Indian  form,  whilst 


— 

Doc.  31. 

— 

Jan.  a6. 

— 

Feb.  I. 

3500   .. 

March  11. 

3000    .. 

March  17. 

1800    .. 

April  4. 

5700  .. 

May  39. 

4750   •• 

September. 

4750  .. 

November. 

4750  .. 

December. 

— 

February. 

6500    .. 

August  6. 

> 


AVES. 


255 


those  from  the  Caspian  resemble  European  specimens.     I  much  doubt 
if  the  diflFerence  between  the  two  forms  justifies  separation. 

212.  *  P.  montanus,  (L.) — ^De  F. 

Obtained  by  De  Filippi  at  the  foot  of  Demavend,  north-east  of 
Tehr&n.    I  did  not  meet  with  it. 

213.  P.  salicarius,  (Vieil.) 

1  ^.  Ghistig&n,  Bampiisht,  Baldchistdn   ..         3000     ..      Feb.  27. 

2  i,  Sarj&n,  south-west  of  Karm&n  ..         5700     . .     May  29. 

This  is  apparently  scarce  in  Persia,  and  only  two  specimens  were 
obtained. 

I  looked  carefully  for  P.  pyrrhonotui  (Blytb),  but  had  no  more 
success  than  Mr.  Hume  in  Sind. 


(?)    .. 

July. 

5000    .. 

June  23. 

5500   .. 

June  24. 

7500   .. 

March. 

7000 

August  16. 

8000    .. 

August  18. 

214.  Petronia  stulta,  (Scop.) — De  F. 

1  9*  Mountains  near  Shiriz 

2  $.  Band4mlr  valley,  north  of  Shir&z 

3  9.  Miyin,  north  of  Shirdz 
4>  5  <}>  ^  9*  ^ear  Is&hin   . . 
7  young  ^.  Lura  valley,  Elburz  mountains 
8,  9  9.  Lura  valley,  Elburz  mountains     . . 

I  did  not  meet  with  this  bird  to  the  east  of  Shir&z.  In  the  moun- 
tains between  Shir&z  and  Isfah&n  it  was  common,  and  also  in  the 
Elburz  north  of  Tehr&n,  keeping  much  to  barren  and  rocky  parts  of 
the  hills  at  a  considerable  elevation,  and  being  usually  seen  in  small 
flocks. 

Mr.  G.  R.  Gray,  in  his  *  Handlist,'  gives  as  one  of  the  synonyms 
of  this  species  diadema^  Miill.  Fringilla  diadema  of  P.  L.  S.  Miiller, 
Linn.  Natursyst.  Suppl.  p.  164,  is  thus  described  in  German :  *  On  the 
forehead  of  this  bird,  above  the  eyes,  there  is  found  a  pale  red  and 
black  band^  elsewhere  it  is  brown,  and  lives  in  Europe.'  That  is  all. 
The  description  I  should  say  does  not  apply  to  P.  stulta. 


215.  P.  braohydaotyla,  (Hemp.) 

Bp.  Consp.  i,  p.  513. — ^Tristram,  Ibis,  1868,  p.  205,  PI.  VI. 
I  (},  a  9*  West  of  Bam,  south-eastern 

Persia  . .         .  •  45^^^     *  * 


April  37. 


5500    •. 

Aprils. 

7000    .. 

Mays. 

6ooo    .. 

May  19. 

lOOO     .. 

January. 

5000    .. 

June. 

8000    .. 

June  39. 

256  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

3  i.  West  of  Bam,  south-eastern  Persia 

4  9.  Near  Karm4n 

5  9.  Near  Karm&n  . .         . .         •• 

6  (},  7  9.  Between  Bushire  and  Shiriz  . . 

8  ^,  9,  10,  II  9.  Shirdz 

1 2  ($.  Dehgirdii,  between  Shir&z  and  Isfahan 
13,  14  young.  Near  Kohnid,   north  of 

lBfah4n      ..         .....  ..         8000     ..     July  17. 

Common  in  many  parts  of  the  Persian  plateau,  apparently  descending 
to  lower  elevations  in  the  winter,  and  breeding  in  summer  on  plains 
with  scattered  low  bushes  from  5cxDO  to  8cx)0  feet. 

My  attention  was  attracted  to  this  bird  by  its  very  singular  note, 
which  so  exactly  resembles  that  of  a  large  cricket  that  it  was  some 
time  before  I  could  feel  convinced  that  it  really  proceeded  from  a  bird. 
At  the  time  I  first  heard  the  note  (the  end  of  April)  these  sparrows 
were  frequently  seen  sitting  on  bushes  in  semi-desert  plains,  and 
uttering  their  singular  stridulation.  I  do  not  think  this  peculiarity 
has  been  noticed  before  in  print,  but  Mr.  Tristram  tells  us  he  observed 
it  on  his  last  visit  to  Palestine.  He  was  more  fortunate  than  I,  for 
he  obtained  the  bird's  eggs,  which  he  described  (1.  c),  and  which  are 
very  peculiar. 

I  have  compared  my  specimens  with  the  types  in  the  Berlih 
Museum.  The  latter  are  from  Arabia,  and  similar  to  the  former  in 
every  respect. 

The  iris  is  dark  umber  brown,  legs  pale  yellowish  brown ;  bill  dusky 
above,  white  below.  Dimensions  taken  on  fresh  specimens:  length 
5.75  to  6,  expanse  11,  wing  3.75  to  3.85,  tail  2  to  2.05,  tarsus  0.8,  bill 
0.48,  from  gape  0.55 ;  wings  about  0.7  short  of  end  of  tail. 


216.  Gymnoris  flaviooUis,  (Franklin.) 

i»  2,  3,  4  (},  5  9.  Ispid&n,  east  of  Bampiir  4500  . .  March  30. 
6»  7  i>  ^»  9i  10, 119.  Near  Aptar,  east  of 

Bampiir     ..  ..  ..  3500  ..  March  31. 

I  a,  13  (},  14  9.  Bampiir 1800  ..  April  7. 

I5»  i6«  I7i  iS>  19  <}•  Shir&z        ..         ..  4750  ..  June. 

The  birds  differ  in  no  respect,  that  I  can  see,  from  Indian  examples. 
The  species  is  only  found  in  the  drier  forests  of  India,  not  extending 
into  the  damp  jungles  of  the  Malabar  coast,  nor  east  of  the  Bay  of 
Bengal ;  so  its  appearance  in  Baluchist&n  and  Southern  Persia  is  less 
surprising  than  is  the  occurrence  of  such  species  as  Praiincola  caprata. 


'V  ^  AVES.  257 

G,  flavicoUis  was  found  abundantly  on  trees  in  a  ravine  throug^h 
whicli  the  road  led  about  forty  miles  east  of  Bampur,  at  Bamp6r' 
itself,  and  again  at  Shiriz,  but  it  was  not  observed  in  any  other 
locality. 


Family  EMBERIZIDiE. 

217.  Emberiza  oitrinella,  L. 

I  $.  MountainB  near  Shir&z        . .  ••         Sooo    . .     July. 

This  appears  to  be  a  rare  bird  in  Persia.  I  did  not  myself  meet 
with  it,  and  it  does  not  appear  to  range  Airther  to  the  south-eastward^ 
although  it  is  found  iu  Siberia.     M^n^tries  records  it  from  Lankorfin. 

218.  E.  miliaria,  L.— De  F. 

CyiichramuB  mUiaris,  (L.)^De  F.  Viag.  in  Pew.  p.  349. 

I  ^,  a  9.  Shiriz    . .         . .         . .         . .         4750     . .     June. 

3  ^,  4  9>  Near  Shir&z      ..  —      ..     September. 

Si.Ahideh         ..         ..         ..         ..         7500     ..      July. 

All  the  specimens  were  obtained  by  Major  St.  John:  I  did  not 
myself  procure  this  species.  De  Filippi  speaks  of  it  as  conmion  in  the 
north-western  part  of  the  country,  and  M^n^tries  obtained  it  on  the 
Caspian  at  Lankor&n. 

219.  E.  oia,  L. 

I    young  ^.  Elburz  mountains,  near 

Tehr&n  ..  ..  7000  March. 

3,  3  young  <},  4  9,  6  young  9.  Elburz 

mountains,  near  Tehr&n      ..       6500-8000     ..      Aug.  11-16. 

Only  one  of  the  specimens  enumerated  is  adult.  Besides  the  above 
there  are  two  skins  collected  by  Major  St.  John,  the  labels  of  which 
have  been  lost.  These  are  probably  from  Southern  Persia,  as  the 
species  can  scarcely  be  a  permanent  resident  in  the  Elburz,  where 
I  found  it  very  abundant  amongst  bushes  on  the  hill  sides  in  the 
middle  of  August.  M^n^ries  says  it  is  not  common  on  the  T&lish 
mountains. 

VOL.   II.  8 


258 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 


220.  E.  intermedia,  Michahelles. 

Shelley,  Birds  of  Egypt,  p.  147.  PL  III.  fig.  a. 
?  E,  Caspia,  Mdn.  Cat.  Rais.  p.  41. 

I  young  ($.  Near  Tehran  ..         ..         3000     ..      Marcb. 

From  the  low  country  near  Tchr&n,  on  the  borders  of  the  salt  desert. 
The  only  specimen  procured  is  immature  ;  the  bill  is  much  larger  than 
in  a,  schtsniclus,  whilst  the  whole  animal  is  smaller,  and  the  bill  much 
less  curved  than  in  E,  pyrrhuloides. 


221.  E.  striolata,  (Licht.) 


It  ^f  3>  4>  5  i'  BiOiii  Kal4t,  Baluchist&n         — 
6.  Pfahin.  BahichistAn  . .         . .         . .  800 

7  ^.  West  of  Bampiir    ..  ..  1800 

8  (}.  9  9.  Has  Masandim.  Arabian  coast  — 


Feb.  I. 
Feb.  8. 
Aprils. 
Dec.  9. 


This  bird  was  only  found  on  sandy  plains  and  occasionally  on  low 
barren  hills  near  the  coast.  I  never  saw  it  at  more  than  3000  feet 
above  the  sea,  rarely  above  20CX) ;  at  lower  elevations  in  Baluchist&n 
it  was  common,  usually  (in  the  winter)  in  small  flocks.  Its  habits  in 
North-western  India  have  been  admirably  described  by  Hume,  (Ibis, 
1870,  p.  399).     It  appears  distinctly  a  desert  form. 


222.  E.  Huttoni,  Blyth.— De  F. 

Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  B.  xviii,  1849,  p.  811. 

Emheriza  CerruiH,  De  F.  Archiv.  p.  1.  Zool.  Genova,  ii,  p.  383  ;  Yiaggio  in 

Persia,  pp.  113,  349. 
Glycispiza  Huttoni,  Gould.  Birds  of  Asia.  pt.  xxi. 

1  9.  Ispid&n.   east   of   Bampiir,    Balu- 

chistan   . . 

2  9.  North-west  of  Bampiir.  Baliichistdn 
S,  4  6.  Hanaka.  south-east  of  Karman 

5  9.  Kh&n-i-siirkh.  south- west  of  Karm^ 

6  9.  Mountains  near  Shir&z 

7  6.  Dehgirdii.  plateau  north  of  Shir&z 

8  <;.  Mountains  near  Ab&deh.  north  of 

Shir&z      •  • 
g  S,  10  9.  Elburz  mountains,   north  of 
Tehr&n 

I  have  examined  the  types  of  E.  Cerrutii,  De  F.,  two  in  number,  in 


5000   .. 

March  30. 

2500    .. 

April  14. 

8000    .. 

May  2. 

8000    .. 

May  23. 

^■■~              •  • 

July. 

8000    .. 

June  29. 

^^™              •  • 

July. 

9000    .. 

August  17. 

A  VES.  259 

the  Turin  Museoro.  They  are  unmistakably  identical  with  E,  IluUoni^ 
Blyth.  This  species  breeds  throughout  the  hills  of  Persia  at  a  con- 
siderable elevation.  I  almost  always  met  with  it  wherever  the  road 
ascended  to  8000  feet  above  the  sea,  but  I  never  saw  it  in  summer  at 
lower  elevations,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  birds  which  are  common 
in  parts  of  North-western  and  Central  India  in  the  winter,  breed  on 
the  highlands  of  Afgh&nist&n  and  Persia.  De  Pilippi's  types  were 
from  near  a  village  called  Sardarak,  almost  at  the  foot  of  Mount 
Ararat,  whilst  the  specimens  originally  described  by  Blyth  were 
collected  by  Hutton  near  Kfindah^r. 

I  took  the  nest  and  eggs  of  E,  Huttoni  on  May  the  22nd.  The  spot 
was  a  hillside  covered  with  low  bushes^  which  at  this  season  were  tolerably 
green,  close  to  the  caravanserai  of  Kh&a-i-surkh,  about  70  miles  south- 
west of  Karm&n,  at  an  elevation  of  8000  feet  above  the  sea.  I  was 
walking  up  the  hill  amongst  the  bushes,  which  grew  in  close  round 
tufts,  so  compact  that  had  they  not  been  covered  with  thorns  they 
would  have  formed  excellent  cushions,  when  a  bird,  which  I  at  once 
recognised  as  Hutton's  bunting,  flew  out  of  a  bush  close  to  me. 
Lifting  up  the  upper  branches,  I  saw  a  neat  nest  about  a  foot  from 
the  ground.  The  nest  appears  to  have  been  lost ;  to  the  best  of  my 
recollection  it  was  of  moss^  very  neatly  and  compactly  made.  It 
contained  three  eggs,  well  incubated,  which  I  have  preserved.  They 
are  very  pale  green  in  colour,  with  small  distinct  rounded  surface  spots 
and  minute  dots  of  purplish  black  and  fainter  purplish  grey  markings, 
the  latter  being  chiefly  confined  to  the  larger  end.  The  eggs  measure 
0.9  by  0.65  inches.  I  should  add,  that  I  shot  and  preserved  the  hen 
bird  to  guard  against  error  in  identification. 

It  will  be  seen  that  in  the  locality  for  the  nest,  and  the  character  of 
the  eggs,  this  species  difiers  considerably  from  the  ortolan,  which  lays 
four  or  five  ashy  grey  eggs  in  a  nest  on  the  ground.  The  markings, 
however,  appear  similar.  The  eggs  of  E,  Iluttoni  appear  rather  larger 
than  those  of  the  ortolan. 


228.  E.  hortulana,  L. — De  F. 

E.  shah,  Bon.  Consp.  Gen.  Av.  p.  465. 

1  <S.  West  of  Bam,  south-eastern  Persia         6000     ..      April  37. 
a  9.  Hanaka,  south-east  of  Karm&n    ..         8000     ..     May  2. 
3  i.  Mountains  near  Abideh,  north  of 

Shir&z      ..  ..  ..         7500     ..     July. 

S  2 


260  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

The  Persian  ortolan  was  separated  by  Bonaparte  under  the  absurd 
title  of  E.  nhah.  My  speeimens  only  differ  from  those  obtained  in 
Europe  in  being  a  little  greyer  and  less  rufous  on  the  back,  as  so 
many  Persian  birds  are,  and  in  having  the  throat  and  breast  marked 
with  dusky  spots,  which  may  be  due  to  immaturity.  I  have  no 
sufficient  series  of  young  European  specimens  for  comparison,  but  I 
have  certainly  seen  none,  with  a  yellow  throat  and  grey  head,  so  much 
spotted  on  the  throat  and  breast  as  is  the  Persian  male  bird  shot  in 
April.  The  only  specimen  at  all  resembling  it  is  one  firom  Smyrna 
in  Mr.  Dresser's  collection,  and  in  this  there  are  streaks  on  the  crown. 
It  is  thus  possible  that  E,  shah  may  be  a  distinguishable  race.  The 
dimensions  of  the  Persian  bird  do  not  differ  from  those  of  European 
skins. 


224.  Euspiza  melanocephala,  (Scop.) — De  F. 

?  E.  granativara^  M^n.  Cat.  Rais.  p.  40. 

If  a,  3  ^,  4  9.  Bamptir,  Baliichistin    . .  1800  April  14. 

5  i,  Hanaka,  south-east  of  Karmikn    ..  8000  . .     BCay  2. 

6  <}.  Mashish,  south-west  of  Karmin  6800  . .     BCay  ao. 

7  9.  Near  Sarvistdn,  east  of  Shir&z     ..  6000  Junes. 

8  df  9  young  (},  10,  119.  Shir&z         ..  4750  ..      June. 
13,  13,  14  i.  K4zruD,  west  of  Shir&z  2750  ..      BCay.^ 
15  young  s,  \6f  179.  Abddeh,  north 

ofShiriz  5000-6000    ..      July. 

I  should  say  that  Persia  must  be  the  principal  summer  residence  and 
breeding  place  of  the  immense  flocks  of  black  headed  buntings  which 
visit  North-western  and  Central  India  in  winter.  When  at  Bampur 
in  the  beginning  of  April,  these  birds  were  passing  by  thousands^ 
all  coming  from  the  south-east.  They  roosted  for  the  night  in  such 
numbers  in  the  trees  by  our  camp  that  a  shot,  almost  at  hazard,  into 
the  tree,  brought  down  ten  or  a  dozen  birds.  I  found  these  buntings 
breeding  on  the  plains  at  about  5000  to  8cxx5  feet,  usually  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  cultivation.  From  their  behaviour  at  Hashish  and  other 
places  near  Karmfin  in  the  middle  of  May,  I  have  no  doubt  they  were 
nesting,  but  although  the  birds  swarmed  I  could  not  find  the  nests. 
Early  in  June,  the  young  birds,  at  a  lower  elevation,  about  5000  feet 
above  the  sea,  were  haunting  thick  bushes  in  large  flocks.  In 
Northern  Persia  I  saw  this  bird  less  frequently,  but  to  the  north- 
west it  was  found  common  by  De  Filippi,  M^n^tries,  and  others. 


Ar£S.  261 

K  granativora^  M^n.  is  probably  the  young  of  this  species,  but  the 
description  does  not  agree  very  well. 

This  bird  affords  the  best  example  I  know  of  migration  from  north- 
west to  south-east.  It  is  common  in  summer  in  the  Levant,  in  Turkey, 
Greece,  and  Asia  Minor,  and  is  occasionally  found  in  Western 
Europe  ;  yet  it  has  never  been  noticed  in  North-eastern  Africa, 
neither  v.  Heuglin  in  the  '  Ornithologie  N,  O.  Africa's/  nor  Shelley  in 
the  '  Birds  of  Egypt '  mentions  it.  It  evidently  migrates  to  the  south- 
eastward. It  may,  of  course,  be  found  in  Arabia,  but  I  did  not  see  it 
in  Baluchistfin  in  winter,  and  its  only  known  winter  quarters  are  in 
India.  In  the  same  way,  in  summer  it  does  not  migrate  northward 
Arom  India.  It  has  never  yet  been  obtained,  so  &r  as  I  know,  in  Tur- 
kest&n  or  in  Siberia;  it  appears  to  wander  to  the  north-west  into 
Persia,  Asia  Minor,  and  Eastern  Europe.  On  a  smaller  scale  similar 
migration  is  shown  by  Saxicola  chrysopygia^  S.  picata  and  Emberiza 
Huttoni^  and  the  course  of  migration  of  these  birds  actually  crosses, 
at  right  angles,  that  of  Merops  apiaster^  M.  JSgyptius^  Coracias  gar- 
rula,  and  Saxicola  melanoleuca^  which  are  found  in  the  countries 
north  of  India  in  summer,  but  do  not  winter  in  the  Indian  peninsula. 

[Immense  flocks  of  this  bunting  breed  in  the  lower  plains  of 
Southern  Persia,  where  it  is  considered  a  pest  only  less  noxious  than 
the  locust,  and  it  is  found,  though  in  smaller  numbers,  throughout 
the  country,  which  it  leaves  entirely  for  the  winter. — O.  St.  J.] 


Family  CORVID^. 
225.  CorvuB  ooraz,  L. — De  F. 

Ealah,  Persian 

I  tf.  Near  Tehrin 4000     ..      (?) 

Common  on  the  Persian  highlands.  I  saw  none  in  Baluchist&n. 
The  specimen  obtained  by  Major  St.  John  measures :  wing  17  inches, 
tail  9.5,  tarsus  2.9,  culmen  3.15. 

Mr.  Hume,  however,  says  that  he  saw  on  the  Makrfin  coast  his 
C.  Lawrencei^  which  I  suppose  to  be  a  variety  of  C.  corax^  unless  indeed 
it  prove  to  be  C  umbrinus,  with  which  the  description  scarcely  agrees. 

[The  raven  is  common  all  over  the  plateau  of  Persia,  descending  to 
the  coast  of  the  Gulf  in  winter.— O.  St.  J.] 


262  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 


226.  C.  umbriniis,  Uedenborg. 

Sundevid.  Kongl.  Vetens.  Acad.  Handl.  1838,  p.  198. 

1.  Chandnkiip,  Makr&n  ooast,  Balii- 

chisUin   . .  . .  —  Nov.  25. 

'1  3  ^»  4  $•  ^wadAT,  Makr&n  coast, 

Baluchist4n  ..  —  Jan.  14. 

5  S,  Ghistigin,  Bampusht,  Baliichiatan  3000  ..      Feb.  19. 

6  s.  Near  Kalagin,  BaliichisUn  3000  March  18. 

7  S.  Near  Dizak,  Baliichistdn  . .  4500  . .      March  35. 

I  have  compared  this  bird  with  specimens  from  Nubia  and  Egypt 
in  the  Berlin  Museum,  and  the  only  difference  is  that  the  Baluchistin 
skins  are  rather  browner.  In  this  character,  however,  there  is  much 
variation,  some  having  the  head,  neck,  and  breast,  much  browner 
than  others.  The  species  may  be  recognised  at  once  by  this  brown 
colour,  and  by  its  rounded  tail. 

The  following  are  dimensions  taken  from  four  specimens,  three 
males  and  one  female,  in  the  flesh  :  length  21  to  22  inches,  wing^  14.2 
to  15.75,  tail  8  to  9,  tarsus  2.4  to  2.6,  mid-toe  and  claw  2.1  to  2.15, 
bill  from  gape  2.5  in  female,  2.7  in  males.  The  wings  about  reach  the 
end  of  the  tail ;  the  central  tail  feathers  exceed  the  outer  by  i  .5  to  2 
inches. 

This  is  the  only  crow  of  Baluchistan,  and  is  rather  a  crow  than  a 
raven  in  its  habits  (according  to  the  manners  of  Eastern  rather  than  of 
European  members  of  the  genus),  being  a  common  scavenger  about 
habitations.  Most  of  the  specimens  were  shot  about  my  camp.  It  is 
perfectly  familiar  and  fearless.  I  thought  I  once  saw  the  same  crow 
on  the  Persian  plateau,  a  little  east  of  Shirdz,  but  I  was  not  certain, 
and  it  was  certainly  very  rare. 


227.  C.  comix,  L. 

1  9.  lUjiD,  south-sou tb-east  of  Karm^  . . 

2  9.  Shirdz    . . 

3  ^.  K4znin,  north-east  of  Bosbire 

Common  throughout  the  Persian  highlands :  keeping  generally  about 
towns  and  villages.  It  is  also  abundant  at  Basrah  (Bussora) :  the  birds 
which  I  saw  in  that  neighbourhood  in  December  appeared  to  me  very 
pale  coloured,  and  in  the  specimen  from  Kazcrun  the  back  is  almost 
isabelline  instead  of  the  usual  pale  cinereous.    I  never  saw  the  hooded 


7000 

April  30. 

4750   . 

June. 

3750  . 

.     May. 

A  VES.  263 

crow  in  Baluchistan.  It  extends  to  Afghdnist&n,  but  has  not  been 
met  with  in  India. 

Men^tries  gives  C,  coroiie  amongst  the  birds  found  near  Lankor&n, 
but  it  has  not  been  noticed  in  Persia  by  any  one  else. 

[The  hooded  crow  is  the  common  crow  of  Persia,  whore  it  remains 
all  the  year,  never  quite  deserting  the  highlands,  but  leaving  the  hot 
plains  in  spring.  The  grey  feathers  have  sometimes  quite  a  roseate 
flush.— O.  St.  J.] 


228.  *  a  frugilegus,  L. — De  P. 

I  saw  iio  rooks  myself  in  Persia,  nor  has  any  one  observed  them  in 
Southern  Persia.    De  Filippi  shot  some  at  Kazvin. 

[I  have  never  noticed  the  rook  south  of  Isfah&n,  and  there,  as 
at  Tehrdn,  only  in  winter.  A  considerable  colony  breeds  in  some  lofty 
trees  in  a  garden  in  the  town  of  E!azvin. — O.  St.  J.] 


229.  I*  C.  monedula,  L. — De  F. 

I  observed  no  jackdaws  in  Persia.  De  Filippi  says  they  are  common 
in  the  Caucasus  and  Armenia :  rarer  in  Persia.  As  they  are  found  in 
winter  in  the  Panjdb,  their  entire  absence  in  Persia  would  be  remark- 
able, but  they  must  be  rare,  and  probably  confined  to  the  northern 
part  of  the  country. 

[I  have  never  observed  the  jackdaw  in  Persia.  If  it  exists  at  all  it 
must  be  in  the  extreme  north-west.  In  the  highlands  of  Armenia, 
across  the  frontier,  it  is  common,  and  so  also  in  the  Caucasus.  The 
cry  of  the  choughs  often  leads  Europeans  to  call  them  jackdaws. — 
O.  St.  J.] 


280.  Fyrrhocorax  alpinus,  Y. — De  F. 

I  9.  Near  Kizriin,  north-east  of  Bushire  4000     . .     January. 

I  did  not  myself  see  the  Alpine  chough,  but  it  was  observed  by 
De  Filippi,  who  says  it  is  common  on  the  slopes  of  Demavend,  the  high 
volcanic  cone  north-east  of  Tehrdn.  Its  presence  in  Southern  Persia 
is,  however,  rather  surprising. 


5000 

June  4. 

6ooo 

Jane. 

(?)      .. 

JaoQAry. 

(?)      .. 

FehnuH] 

264  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

231.  P.  gracnlus,  (L.)— De  F. 

I  9.  Near  Niri£,  east  of  Shirix 
3  6,  AbiKdeh 

3.  Elburz  xnountaiiis 

4.  Elbun  xnotmtains 

Common  in  many  of  the  Persian  hills.  I  met  with  it  first  between 
Bampur  and  Narmashir  in  April,  at  not  much  more  than.40CX>  feet 
above  the  sea,  and  thence  saw  it  here  and  there  thronghont  the 
country,  by  no  means  keeping  always  to  the  highest  elevations,  for  I 
saw  many  in  June  at  a  place  barely  5CHD0  feet  above  the  sea  level. 
Indeed^  to  the  north  they  appeared  to  range  higher  than  to  the  south, 
keeping  to  the  higher  parts  of  the  Elburz  for  instance. 

[P.  graculM  is  very  common  in  Western  Persia  in  suitable  localities, 
and  keeps  in  immense  flocks.  I  have  never  seen  it  in  the  lower  valleys. 
P.  alpinus  is  certainly  much  less  common.  The  only  time  I  have  seen 
it  was  when  the  specimen  in  the  collection  was  obtained  on  the  Kotal- 
Doktar  pass,  between  Bushire  and  Shir&z,  4000  feet  above  the 
sea. — O.  St.  J.] 

232.  Pica  rustioa,  Scop. — De  F. 


P.  caudata,  auct. 

P.  Bactriana,  Bon.  Consp.  Gen.  A.  p.  383. 

Zdgi,  Persian. 

1,  2  <;.  RAyin,  south-east  of  Karman 

7000 

April  30. 

3>  4  <J,  5>  6  young  <j,  7  young  9.  Shir&z    . . 

4750     •• 

Jane. 

8  <},  9  9.  ShiHkz 

4750     .. 

(») 

Mr.  Dresser,  in  the  '  Birds  of  Europe/  has  lately  shown,  from  an 
examination  of  a  large  series,  that  P.  Bactriana  and  several  other  names 
are  synonyms  of  P.  rustica,  and  so  far  at  least  as  P.  Bactriana  is  con- 
cerned I  agree  with  him. 

There  appears  to  me  to  be  in  all  probability  but  one  magpie  in 
Persia,  which  is  found  throughout  the  highlands.  I  did  not  see  it  in 
Baluchistfin,  even  in  the  hills,  though  it  is,  I  am  told,  common  in 
Kel&t. 

[I  have  seen  magpies  with  rumps  of  every  shade  of  colour  from 
brownish  grey,  to  white.  They  breed  as  low  down  as  K&zrun, 
aSoo  feet  only  above  the  sea,  in  29®  to  30°  latitude  N. — O.  St.  J.] 


-  k. 


AVES.  265 

233.  GtarruluB  atricapilliiB,  Geoff. 

B&lvA  Khor  (Aoom-eater),  Persian. 

I,  2  6.  Oak  foresty  near  Shiriz  ..         4000-7000     ..     June. 

The  specimens  obtained  are  peculiarly  pale,  and  the  plumage  is 
worn  and  faded.  For  an  account  of  the  different  black-headed  jays 
see  Dresser's  *  Birds  of  Europe.' 

The  present  form  is  only  known  in  Persia  to  inhabit  the  forests  of 
Fdrs.  Mr.  Dresser  suggests  that  the  Garrulus  glandarius  of  M^n^tries, 
found  at  Lankor&n  and  on  the  T&lish  mountains^  may  be  G,  Krynicii, 
which  is  a  common  species  in  the  Caucasus^  but,  as  I  think  it  at  least 
equally  likely  that  the  bird  noticed  by  M^n^tries  is  the  next  species,  0. 
Hyrcantis,  which  in  all  probability  ranges  thus  far  to  the  westward,  I 
shall  not  include  0,  Krynicki  in  the  Persian  list.  It  is^  however,  I 
should  thinks  the  species  met  with  by  De  Filippi  in  the  Transcaucasian 
provinces,  and  it  may  very  possibly  be  found  in  the  extreme  north- 
west of  Persia,  even  if  not  in  6hil&n.  It  is  distinguished  from  G. 
atricapillu8  by  its  greyer  back,  by  having  the  forehead  spotted  with 
black,  and  much  less  white  on  the  secondary  quills. 

[This  jay  is  very  numerous  in  the  oak  forests  of  F&rs,  and  is  occa- 
sionally to  be  found  in  the  wooded  beds  of  the  Polvfir  and  other 
affluents  of  the  Kur  or  Bandfimir,  but  no  further  north. — O.  St.  J.] 

234.  a.  HyrcanuB,  W.  Blanford,  PI.  XVIII. 

Ibis,  1873,  p.  225. 

I,  a  9.  An&n,  Elburz  mountains,  Mazandardn  6500     ..     August  12. 
3  d,  4.  Elburz  mountains  ..         ..         ..  (?)       ..     February. 

5, 6  i,  Mazandardn  . .  (?)       . .         (?) 

G.  ajffmia  G.  glandario^  sed  minor  ;  ta/rao  breviore ;  pilei  plumis  nigria 
angu8te  rufescentU  vel  rufo-achistaceo  marginatisj  haud  alhido ;  guld 
Uabellind  in  cohrem  aaturatiorem  pectoris  gradatim  transeunte,  remige 
aecundario penuUinu)  etplerumque  antepenultimo  macula  femigined  magnd 
ad  pogonium  externum  signatis.  Long.  aUe  6.5,  cauda  5.2,  tarsi  1.6, 
culminis  1.42. 

Hah.  in  sylvis  Hyrcania^  iodic  Mazandardn  dicta  in  parte  septentrionali 
regni  recentis  Persici  haudprocul  a  littore  maris  Caspii. 

Head  above  blacky  the  feathers  with  narrow  rufous  edges^  which  are 
isabelline  towards  the  forehead,  rufous  slaty  behind,  never  white  as  in 


266 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 


G,  tjlandariu9  and  G,  Japonlcm^  but  rather  resembling  those  of  G. 
Brandti;  sides  of  head  pale  rufous,  the  ear  coverts  being  decidedly 
paler  than  the  back.  There  is  a  black  patch  at  the  base  of  the  lower 
mandible,  extending  a  short  distance  down  the  side  of  the  throat,  but 
not  on  to  the  lores.  Hind  neck  and  back  vinaceous  with  a  grey 
tinge,  upper  tail  coverts  white.  Tail  brownish  black;  the  central 
featiiers,  and  the  outer  webs  of  some  of  the  others,  with  imperfect 
narrow  bluish  grey  tran verse  bars  near  the  base.  Quills  brownish 
black;  all  the  primaries,  except  the  first,  with  broad  white  margins; 
basal  portion  of  outer  web  of  secondaries,  except  the  four  nearest 
the  body,  whit^,  with  a  blue  spot  at  the  further  end  of  the  white 
portion,  and  blue  bands  near  the  base ;  last  secondary  but  three  (or 
four)  with  blue,  black  and  white  bands  near  the  base  of  the  outer 
web  ^;  the  last  three  with  an  increasing  amount  of  ferruginous  brown, 
restricted  to  the  outer  web  in  all  but  the  last,  in  which  it  extends  over 
both  webs,  and  only  the  tip  of  the  feathers  is  black.  Wing  coverts 
as  in  G,  ghndariiis^  those  of  the  primaries  banded  blue  and  black. 
Chin  and  throat  inifous  white,  passing  gradually  into  the  rufous  of  the 
breast  and  abdomen,  which  are  nearly  the  same  colour  as  the  back. 
Vent  and  lower  tail  coverts  white. 

This  jay  is  common  in  the  hill  forests  north  of  the  Elburz,  where 
specimens  were  obtained  by  both  Major  St.  John  and  myself. 

[This  new  jay  was  obtained  by  my  collector  in  the  forests  of  Mazan- 
daran  in  winter.  I  have  myself  seen  it  in  the  oak  woods  of  the  same 
province  at  an  altitude  of  5000  to  6000  feet,  and  in  the  neighbouring 
province  of  Ghilfin  in  the  lower  hills,  but  did  not  observe  it  in  the  low 
forests  between  the  mountains  and  the  sea. — O.  St.  J.] 


Family  STURNIDyE. 
236.  Stumus  vulgaris,  L.— Do  F. 

I  9>  2,  3  (?).  Gwadar,  Baluchistdu 
4,  5  young.  Near  Niriz,  east  of  Shirdz 
6  9*  Shiraa  . .  .• 
7,  8  <},  9,  10  9.  Shir&z 

I I  <}.  ReBht,  Ghf  Idn,  near  the  Caspian 

Not  rare  in  Persia.     It  breeds  even  in  the  south. 

*  In  one  specimen  this  is  the  case  in  the  fifth  secondary  irom  the  proximal  end  of  the 
wing,  the  fourth  being  blackish  brown  throughout,  and  this  specimen  was  described  in  the 
'  Ibis.*    This  arrangement  appears  exceptional ;  the  common  form  is  that  now  devoribed. 


— 

Dooember. 

5000    . . 

June  4. 

4750   . . 

June. 

4750   .. 

(t) 

— 

(t) 

OABRUMIS  HVkCANU:: 


••» 


A  VES.  267 


236.  S.  Bp.  (/  S.  vutijariSf  var.) 

Sturntu  nitens,  Brooks,  Proc.  As.  Soc.  B.  1871,  p.  a  10. — Hume,  Ibis,  1871, 
p.  410;  Lahore  to  Yarkund,  p.  250,  PI.  XXIV,  nee  Brehm.  Vog. 
Deutschl.  p.  399,  ( 1 83 1 ). 

I,  2  ^.  Shir4z  ..  ..         ..  475o     ••     June. 

3  i.  J&ji  Bud  yalley,  Elburz  mountains  7000     . .     August  6. 

Mr.  Dresser,  in  the  'Birds  of  Europe,'  considers  that  S,  niiens^ 
Brooks  and  Hume,  is  very  possibly  nothing  but  an  old  5.  vulgaris. 
I  do  not  think  the  differences  pointed  out  by  Mr.  Hume  in  the  shape 
of  the  bill  are  constant,  and  although  the  eastern  birds  are  rather 
smaller  than  European,  the  difference  is  trifling.  But  at  the  same 
time  Mr.  Dresser  tells  me  he  has  never  seen  European  birds  absolutely 
unspotted  as  are  the  skins  I  refer  to  the  present  form.  I  therefore 
keep  the  two  distinct,  but  the  name  nitens  cannot  be  maintained,  as  it 
was  applied  by  Brehm  to  a  German  bird. 

4?.  purpurascens,  Gould,  is  called  the  Persian  starling  by  its  describer, 
and  the  locality  in  Mr.  G.  R.  Gray's  Handlist,  ii,  p.  22,  is  said  to  be 
Persia.  The  bird,  however,  has  hitherto  only  been  brought  from 
Erzerum,  in  Armenia.  The  Cashmere  bird,  supposed  to  be  the  same 
by  Mr.  Gould,  proves  distinct. 

[The  spotted  stare  is  common  all  over  Persia,  frequenting  the  high 
bare  plateaux  during  summer  in  large  numbers.  S.  nitens  seemed  to 
be  confined  to  wooded  and  garden  districts. — O.  St.  J.] 


237.  *  Aoridotheres  tristiSy  (L.) 

Not  very  common  in  the  few  villages  of  any  size  which  were 
traversed  near  the  coast  of  Baluchist&n.  As  usual  it  was  only  observed 
near  houses,  and  it  was  not  noticed  inland. 


238.  *  Pastor  roseiiB,  (L.) — De  F. 

It  is  simply  a  startling  fact  that  this  bird  appears  to  be  utterly 
unknown  throughout  Persia,  except  in  the  extreme  north-west  and  in 
Mesopotamia.  That  it  is  found  in  the  winter  months  almost  all  over 
India  in  myriads,  that  it  leaves  the  Indian  peninsula  and  its  neigh- 
bourhood during  the  summer  months,  that  it  has  never  been  observed 
at  that  period  in  the  Himalayas,  the  countries  north  of  the  mountains, 


268  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

China  or  Siberia^  and  that  it  breeds  in  Asia  Minor  and  South-eastern 
Eorope  are  facts  as  well  known  as  anything  can  be.  Now  to  get  to 
Asia  Minor  from  India,  and  vice  versa,  the  most  direct  road  is  across 
Persia ;  but  I  certainly  never  saw  any  rose-coloured  starlings  migrating 
in  the  spring  of  1872,  and  Major  St.  John,  during  several  years' 
residence  in  various  parts  of  Persia,  has  never  seen  this  bird.  That 
the  birds  which  breed  in  Western  Asia  go  to  India  in  the  winter  seems 
almost  certain,  because  they  are  unknown  in  Northern  Africa^  and  I 
have  no  doubt  that  this  is  a  simple  case  of  north-west  and  south-east 
migration,  as  with  Euspiza  melanocepAala,  but  the  route  followed  is  a 
mystery.  If  they  go  round  the  coast,  and  up  the  Persian  Gulf,  they 
should  be  looked  for  at  Bushire  about  the  beginning  of  May^.  De 
Filippi  found  this  bird  abundant  in  Armenia,  the  Caucasus,  and 
Western  Persia  (?  Adarbaij&n)^  but  he  noticed  that  it  became  rarer 
to  the  east.  Men^tries  does  not  mention  it.  On  the  other  hand, 
Ollivier  noticed  it  near  B&ghd&d^  and  Chesney  has  recorded  its  presence 
in  Mesopotamia. 

[I  have  heard  of  the  occurrence  of  this  bird  in  large  flocks  about 
Tabriz,  but  have  never  seen  it  myself  in  any  part  of  Persia. — 
O.  St.  J.] 

COLUMBiE. 
Family  COLUMBIDiE. 

230.  *  Columba  livia,  Bp.— De  F. 
240.  C.  intermedia,  Strickland. 

I.  West  of  Bam,  south-eastem  Persia        5500     . .     April  a6. 

I  am  sorry  to  say  that  I  did  not  note  the  range  of  these  two  races  in 
Persia.  Both  certainly  occur,  and,  so  far  as  I  observed,  the  common 
form  in  the  south  appeared  to  be  intermedia  with  the  ashy  rump. 
Certainly  the  only  specimen  preserved  belongs  to  that  race,  and  I 
know  that  others  were  shot.     Hume  obtained  both  in  Sind. 

*  Jerdon  says  they  leave  Southern  India  in  March,  but  remain  in  the  north  a  month  or 
80  longer.  I  have  seen  them  in  Central  India  as  late,  I  think,  as  the  middle  of  ApriL 
They  arrive  at  Smyrna  about  the  15th  of  May.  ForafuU  account  consult  DreasePs 
'  Birds  of  Europe.* 


AVES.  269 

Pigeons  are  common  in  the  wells  and  underground  water  channels 
or  kdnats,  made  for  irrigation  throughout  Persia ;  but  at  the  time  of 
my  journey  the  immense  numbers  which  usually  haunt  the  great 
pigeon  towers  about  Is&h&n  and  other  parts  had  completely  disap- 
peared. All  had  died  or  been  killed  during  the  famine.  Indeed,  I 
saw  comparatively  very  few  pigeons  throughout  Central  and  Northern 
Persia. 


241.  *  C.  SBnas,  L.,  (?  C,  Eversmani,  Bp.) 

I  did  not  myself  notice  stock  doves  in  Persia,  but  Major  St.  John 
informs  me  that  he  has  shot  them  on  the  Persian  plateau.  They 
belong  probably  to  the  eastern  race. 

Both  De  Filippi  and  M^n^tries  obtained  C,  anm  in  the  Caucasus. 

Pallas^  who,  following  Linnseus^  includes  C,  anas  and  C.  livia  in  one 
species,  to  which  he  applies  the  former  name,  states  that  the  pigeons 
of  Russia  leave  in  large  flocks  in  autumn  for  the  warmer  parts  of 
Persia.  The  pigeons  which  thus  migrate  are  probably  C.  anas^  which 
is  a  migratory  bird  in  Europe,  and  not  C.  livia, 

[Shooting  one  winter  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Mashad-i-Murghfit, 
the  ancient  Pasargardse,  I  shot  a  pigeon  which  seemed  to  correspond 
exactly  with  the  description  and  figure  of  the  stock  dove  in  Yarrell, 
and  I  afterwards  got  one  on  the  K&rfi-agatch  river. — O.  St.  J.] 

242.  *  C.  paliunbuB  P,  L.-— De  F. 

243.  C.  casiotis,  Bp. 

I  6f  'i  young  9.  Oak  forest,  near  Shir&z     6ooo     . .      June. 

Woodpigeons  abound  in  the  better  wooded  parts  of  Persia,  both 
in  the  Caspian  and  Elburz  forests,  and  in  the  oak  clad  hills  near 
Shir&z.  I  have  specimens  from  the  latter  locality  alone,  and  the  only 
adult  has  the  buff  neck  patch  characteristic  of  C,  casiotis.  The 
dimensions  are :  wing  9.9,  tail  6.5. 

I  saw  many  woodpigeons,  both  near  Shir&z  and  again  north  of 
the  Elburz  in  Mazandarfin  and  Ghilfin,  but  unfortunately  could  obtain 
none.  I  have  occasionally  seen  them  also  in  gardens  containing  large 
trees  near  the  higher  villages,  as  at  Bfiyin,  near  Earm&n.  Those  in 
the  Caspian  provinces  are  called  C,  palumbus  by  De  Filippi,  and  as 


270  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

they  may  possibly  differ  from  the  southern  birds  and  resemble  the 
European  race,  I  retain  the  name.  Specimens  from  B^hdfid  in  the 
British  Museum  have  a  pure  white  neck  patch  and  unquestionably 
belong  to  C,  palumbus. 

244.  Turtur  auritusy  Gray. — De  F. 

I  i.  Near  Bam,  Narmaahlr,  south-eastern 

Persia       ••                                 ..  2500            April  19. 

1  $,  Khdn-i-Biirkh,  south-west  of  Karm&n  8500            May  2  a. 

3,  4  ^.  Near  Shir&z        5500  ..         (?) 

5  9.  Near  Shir&a (?)  ..     July. 

6  $,  Oak  forest,  near  Shir&z      . .  (?)  . .     June. 

This,  the  European  turtle  dove,  is  common  throughout  Persia.  I 
never  saw  it  in  Baliichist&n,  but  I  met  with  it  immediately  after 
entering  Narmashir,  and  thence  to  the  north  it  was  to  be  found 
wherever  there  were  trees.     It  was  common  in  the  Elburz  mountains. 

I  saw  no  other  species  of  dove  on  the  plateau. 

246.  T.  rifloriuB,  (L.) 

I  9.  Plshln,  Baliichist&n  ..  600     ..     Feb.  10. 

1  6.  Magas,  Baliichistdn  . .  4000     . .     March  39. 

Only  seen  in  Baluchist&n. 

Pallas  refers  to  the  asserted  occurrence  of  this  dove  in  Ghilan^  Zoogr. 
Bos.  As.  i,  p.  564^  but  suggests  that  T.  auritus  may  have  been  mistaken 
for  it.  Major  St.  John  informs  me  that  he  once  saw  a  pair  in  cap- 
tivity at  Isfah&n,  which^  he  was  told,  had  been  taken  from  a  nest  in 
a  garden  there. 

246.  T.  Cambayenfiis,  (Gm.) 

1  9.  B4hu  Kal&t,  Baliichistdn  . .       Sea  level     ..     Feb.  9. 

2  i.  Near  Kalagdn,  Baliichist&n        . .  4000       . .     March  19.  . 

3  9.  Bamptbr,  Baliichist&n       . .         . .  2000       . .     Aiffil  5. 

Like  the  last,  this  was  only  observed  in  Baluchistfin. 

247.  *  P  T.  Senegalensis,  (L.) 

Eichwald  includes  Columha  maculicollis,  Wagler,  and  C.  Aigypiiaca^ 
Lath.,  both  of  which  names  apply  to  7.  Senegalensis,  L.,  amongfst  the 
pigeons  which  he  says  inhabit  the  west  shore  of  the  Caspian^  £rom 
Persia  to  Astrakh&n. 


AVE8.  271 


GALLINiE. 


5800    . 

May  28. 

4750   . 

July. 

(?)    . 

July. 

Family  PTEROCLID^. 

248.  PterocleB  arenarius,  (Pall.) — De  F. 

Siyd  Sinah  (Black-breast),  Persian. 

I  ^.  Saxjdn,  east  of  Shir&z 

3  S'  Shir&z . .  . .  •  •  .  • 

5  $.  Near  Shir&z    . . 

This  is  the  common  sandgrouse  of  the  Persian  plateau.  It  especially 
abounds  on  the  large  semi-desert  plains,  cultivated  only  where  water  is 
available  for  irrigation,  in  Southern  Persia.  It  is  usually  met  with, 
in  April,  May,  June,  and  July,  singly,  or  in  parties  of  not  more  than 
three  or  four,  and  in  the  morning  about  eight  o'clock,  and  again  in  the 
evening  an  hour  or  two  before  sunset,  these  birds  may  be  seen  flying 
to  the  water  to  drink,  as  is  usual  with  all  forms  of  the  genus, 
uttering  their  peculiar  note  as  they  fly. 

I  obtained  the  eggs  near  Niriz,  east  of  Shirdz,  on  the  4th  of  June. 
Three  were  brought  to  me  by  one  of  my  servants,  and,  although  I  did 
not  see  the  bird,  I  have  no  hesitation  in  referring  them  to  this  species, 
for  they  are  unmistakably  the  eggs  of  Pterocles,  and  of  one  of  the  larger 
forms,  and  the  present  was  the  only  species  seen  in  the  country.  The 
eggs  in  question  were  well  incubated  and  measure  1.8.  in.  by  1.25. 

249.  *  P.  alchata,  (L.)— De  F. 

Tdrao  caudacutus,  S.  G.  Gmel.  Reise,  iu,  p.  93.  PI.  XVin. 
T.  chata,  PaU.  Zoogr.  Ros.  As.  ii,  p.  73. 
Kao-Kdr,  Persian. 

So  far  as  I  know,  I  did  not  once  see  the  large  pin-tailed  sandgrouse, 
and  I  doubt  if  it  breeds  in  Southern  Persia.  Major  St.  John  in- 
forms me  that  he  has  seen  it  near  Bushire  in  winter,  and  it  has  been 
noticed  by  De  Filippi  and  others  in  Northern  Persia. 

250.  P.  SenegalluB,  (L.) 

Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  aai. 
Tdrao  SenegaUua,  Linn.  Mantissa,  p.  526. 
Pterocles  fftUUUuB,  Licht.  Yerz.  Doubl.  p.  64. 

I  <},  2  9.  Bampiir,  Baliiohistdn  . .         aooo     . .     April  6. 

This  does  not  appear  to  be  so  common  in  Baluchist&n  as  in  Sind. 


272  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

Sand  grouse  of  all  kinds  appear  less  abundant  in  Baluchist&i  than  I 
should  have  anticipated,  &r  less  so  than  they  are  in  Sind,  where  they 
absolutely  swarm  in  many  places.  On  the  Persian  highlands  I  did  not 
obtain  P.  Senegalliis. 


261.  P.  coronatuB,  Licht. 


Haxne,  Stny  Feathers,  p.  224. 

I  i,  Sam&D,  Daaht,  west  of  Gw&dar, 

BaliichisUm 

— 

Jan.  50, 

2,  3  9.  B4hii  Ealdt,  Baliichistin 

— 

Feb.  4. 

4  9.  Kitni,    between  Karm&n  and 

5000 

May  31. 

5  ^,  6  9.  Yazdikli48t,  between  Shir&z 

and  Isfahan 

7000 

July  I. 

This  appeared  to  me  more  common  in  Baluchistfin  than  P.  Sene- 
gallus.  It  has  been  found  in  Sind,  but  rarely,  whilst  P.  SenegaUm 
is  there  common. 

I  only  met  with  the  smaller  sandgrouse  at  rare  intervals  on  the 
Persian  plateau,  and  the  few  killed  belonged  to  this  species. 

P.  exusius  must  be  found  in  Baluchist&n,  though  I  did  not  meet  with 
it,  and  P.  LicAtensteini,  which  has  been  procured  both  in  Arabia  and 
Sind,  may  also  be  expected  to  occur  occasionally. 


Family  PHASIANIDiE. 


262.  Phasianus  Colchicns,  L. — ^De  F. 

Kargowal,  Persian. 

I  i,  Resht,  near  Caspian  Sea. 

The  common  pheasant,  as  is  well  known,  abounds  in  the  Caspian 
forests. 

[Extends  through  the  forest  region  of  Mazandar&n  as  ba  east  as  the 
upper  valley  of  the  Gurgin.  Travellers  have  recorded  it  j&om  the 
jungles  of  the  Harir^d  valley,  but  do  not  appear  to  have  seen  it. — 
O.  St.  J.] 


A  VES.  273 


Family  TETBAONIDiE. 


!J53.  *  Ferdix  oinerea,  (L.)— De  R 

[The  common  partridge  is  found  all  over  Adarbaij&n,  possibly  ex- 
tending through  the  Elburz  as  far  east  as  Tehr&n.  Taimur  Mirza, 
the  Shah's  grand  falconer,  assured  me  that  this  bird  is  found  in 
the  Lura  or  Karij  valley,  due  north  of  that  city. — O.  St.  J.] 


264.  FrancoliiiiiB  vulgaris,  Steph. — De  F. 

Durrdjt  Persian. 

I  3.  Dasht  river,  west  of  Gw&dar,  BaliichisUn.  Sea  level    . .  Jan.  a6. 

a  6.  B4hd  Eal&t,  west  of  Gw&dar,  Baluchist&n.  Sea  level   . .  Feb.  4. 

3  (}>  4  9.  Khist,  north-east  of  Bushire         ..  1800       . .  January. 

5  <^,  6  9.  Basrah  (Bussora),  Euphrates  valley     Sea  level    . .  Dec.  1 7. 

I  only  met  with  the  francolin  in  the  better  wooded  parts  of  Balu- 
chistan, up  to  an  elevation  of  about  2000  feet^  and  on  the  banks  of 
the  Shat-el-Arab,  near  Baarah  (Bussorah).  It  occurs,  I  believe, 
in  places  all  along  the  coast  of  Southern  Persia^  and  also  on  the  Cas- 
pian. 

[The  common  francolin  is  found  in  the  warm  plains  of  Southern 
Persia,  and  the  damp  forest  regions  of  the  Caspian,  but  not  very 
abundantly  in  the  latter.  The  northern  limit  is  about  Lankordn. 
West  of  our  region  it  is  found  in  great  numbers  in  the  tamarisk 
jungles  and  reed  beds  of  Mesopotamia.  Pterocles  arenarius  and 
Francolinus  vulgaris  are  conftised  by  Mounsey  and  ^ther  writers 
cmder  the  name  of  Durrdj. — O.  St.  J-] 


266.  *  Ortygomifl  Fonticeriana,  (Gm.) 

Jiruftif  Persian. 

Common  in  Baluchistdn  and  found  throughout  the  eastern  part  of 
the  lowlands  or  ^Garmsir*  of  Southern  Persia. 

[The  Indian  grey  partridge  is  confined  to  the  south  of  Persia 
proper,  but  is  probably  found  in  the  Helmund  valley  also ;  the  extreme 

VOL.  II.  T 


274  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

western  limit  appears  to  be  Lar.  The  Persian  name  is  taken  from  the 
jungly  plain  of  Jiruft,  north  of  Bandar  Abbds,  where  this  partridge  is 
very  abundant. — O.  St.  J.] 

256,  Ammoperdix  Bonhami,  G.  R.  Gray. — De  F. 

A .  griseoffularis,  Brandt. — De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia^  p.  351. 
Tihu,  Persian. 

I  ,},  2  9.  Near  B4hii  Kal&t,  BaluchisUn  Sea  level  ..  Feb.  4. 

3  <}.  Pishin,  BaliichiflUn 700     ..  Feb.  6. 

4  i,  Nirlz,  east  of  Shiriz  . .  5000     . .  June  5. 

5  <^.  K4znin,  west  of  Shir&z                      ..  1500  May 

6  <^.  Parpd,  150  miles  east  of  Shir&z        . .  7000     . .  May  30. 
7,  8  <^.  Shirdz           ..          4750     ..  June. 

The  three  last  specimens  are  pale  rufous,  with  the  same  general 
colouration  on  the  back  as  A,  Heyi,  but  they  have  a  differently  coloured 
head  and  white  markings  on  the  side  of  the  neck,  which  are  want- 
ing in  the  western  species.  The  latter  may  possibly  occur  in  Meso- 
potamia. 

The  Tihu  is  found  everywhere  in  Persia,  except  the  forest  regions, 
from  the  sea  level  to  at  least  7000  feet  above  the  sea  in  Southern,  and 
not  much  less  in  Northern  Persia.  They  keep  much  to  low  hills  and 
stony  ravines  about  the  base  of  hill  ranges.  During  the  spring 
and  summer  they  are  found  in  pairs  or  singly,  in  the  winter  they  are 
occasionally  to  be  met  with  in  small  coveys^  but  by  no  means  so  fre- 
quently as  Caccabis,  nor  do  they  collect,  as  far  as  my  observation  ex- 
tends, in  equal  numbers.  They  may  usually  be  seen  walking  quietly 
up  stony  hill  sides,  not  running  so  swiftly  as  most  partridges, 
nor  caring  much  for  concealment ;  indeed  when  they  wish  to  hide  it  is 
sufficient  for  them  to  remain  still,  for  their  colour  so  closely  resembles 
that  of  the  sand  and  stones  around  that  they  are  most  difficult  to  de- 
tect. When  they  rise  it  is  much  like  a  quail,  with  a  rather  quick 
flight  and  a  whistle  uttered  as  they  start.  Their  ordinary  call  is  a 
double  note  repeated  several  times.  They  are  excellent  eating,  far 
superior  to  the  dry  Caccahisy  and  only  second,  if  they  are  second,  to  the 
francolin. 

Hume  has  given  a  full  account  of  the  colouration  of  soft  parts 
and  measurements  (Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  226)  with  which  my  notes 
agree. 


A  7E8.  275 

267.  Caocabis  ohukar,  Gray,  var. — De  F. 

Tttrao  rufa^  Pall.  Zoogr.  Bob.  Ab.  ii,  p.  79,  nee  Idnn. 
CcKcabit  paJUdus  ?,  Hume,  Lahore  to  Yarkund,  p.  283. 
K<ibk,  Persian. 

I  9.  Kalag&n,  Baliichist&n 3500  ..  March  18. 

>>  3  9*  4  young*  Near  Shlr4z         . .  6000  . .           (I) 

5  young  9.  Near  Shir&s     . .         . .          . .  6500  . .  July. 

6  9.  Imimzideh  Iimail»  north  of  Shir&s  . .  6000  . .  June  26, 

I  am  quite  at  a  loss  for  a  name  for  the  Persian  red-legged  partridge. 
Besides  the  two  European  races^  C.  saxatilis  and  C,  Graca^  and  the 
chukdr  of  Northern  India^  Mr.  Hume,  in  *  Lahore  to  Yarkund/  has 
just  named  three  other  Asiatic  races,  two  from  the  country  north  of 
the  Himalayas,  and  one  from  Aden  in  Arabia.  Two  forms  of  this  bird 
are  found  in  Persia,  neither  of  which,  so  far  as  I  can  see,  exactly  agrees 
with  any  described  variety.  As,  however,  it  is  clear  that  to  give  a 
name  to  every  local  race  will  only  tend  to  confusion,  I  shall  leave 
those  from  Persia  without  any  special  name.  It  appears  very  pro- 
bable that  all  these  forms  pass  into  each  other  and  that  there  is  really 
but  one  species.  Still  the  Central  European  race,  C.  aaxatilis,  Meyer, 
as  is  shown  by  Degland  and  Gerbe^  appears  to  be  always  distinguished 
by  having  the  anterior  portion  of  the  lores  blacky  so  that  the  black 
of  the  forehead  is  joined  to  the  spot  at  the  base  of  the  mandible  on 
each  side.  In  all  Asiatic  specimens,  the  lores  are  white  throughout ; 
and  for  the  present  I  think  it  best  to  consider  all  Asiatic  races  as 
varieties  of  C,  Chukar. 

The  common  Kabk  of  the  Persian  highlands  is  a  small  pale  coloured 
race,  the  colour  of  the  back,  even  when  freshly  moulted,  being  deci- 
dedly paler  than  in  the  Indian  chuk&r,  and  fading  in  the  worn  plumage 
to  a  pale  sandy  rufous.  The  tint  of  the  head  above  and  of  the  hind  neck 
is  very  light  grey,  the  superciliary  region  and  the  area  above  the  ear 
coverts  together  with  the  throat  becoming  very  nearly  white.  The 
rump,  upper  tail  coverts  and  rectrices  are  pale  ashy,  with  a  more  or  less 
distinct  rufous  tinge,  outer  rectrices  dull  ferruginous,  breast  light  grey, 
abdomen  and  lower  tail  coverts  isabelline  or  very  pale  rufescent,  the 
feathers  of  the  flanks  light  grey  at  the  base,  the  two  black  bands 
usually  but  not  always  equal  in  breadth^  the  space  between  them  with 
a  more  or  less  rufous  tinge,  tips  of  the  feathers  ferruginous.  Markings 
on  the  wings  as  usual,  the  scapulars  being  grey  at  the  base  with  pink- 
ish ferruginous  outer  edges,  primaries  hair  brown,  the  lower  part  of 

T  2 


276  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

the  outer  web  buff,  secondaries  and  coverts  light  brown  with  an  olive 
tinge. 

The  birds  above  described  are  all  in  worn  plumage,  corresponding 
pretty  well  with  that  of  the  forms  described  as  pallidus  and  arenarius  by- 
Hume  (Lahore  to  Yarkund,  pp.  283^  28^^),  but  the  bird  shot  at  Kalag&n 
in  March  has  rather  the  colouration  of  Mr.  Hume's  C.  pallescen^^  being 
darker  and  more  olivaceous^  though  still  paler  than  Himalayan  and 
Syrian  skins.  It  measured  when  fresh :  length  13  inches,  wing  5.7, 
tail  3,  tarsus  1.7,  bill  from  gape  i.  The  bill  from  the  forehead 
measures  0.77,  anterior  edge  of  nostril  to  tip  of  bill  0.53.  Specimens 
from  near  Shirdz  measure  :  wing  6.25,  tail  3.25  to  3.4,  tarsus  1.65  to 
1.75,  bill  from  forehead  0.8  to  0.9,  fix)m  anterior  edge  of  nostril  0.55 
to  0.58. 

In  the  British  Museum  are  two  specimens  brought  by  Loftus  from 
Mesopotamia,  corresponding  closely  in  colour  with  those  from  the 
Persian  highlands,  but  larger.  They  have  received  a  MS.  name  from 
Mr.  G.  R.  Gray,  which  however  he  has  not  published.  They  measure : 
wing  6.4  and  6.7,  tail  3.65  and  3.9,  tarsus  1.85  and  2,  bill  from 
front  0.9  and  i,  from  anterior  edge  of  nostril  0.54  and  0.6. 

This  bird  is  widely  distributed  in  Persia,  at  all  elevations  up  to 
1 0000  feet,  keeping  to  hills,  especially  those  covered  with  small 
bushes,  and  often  found  in  large  coveys.  I  have  seen  at  least  twenty 
together  in  August  on  the  Elburz.  The  flesh  is  usually  rather  dry 
and  less  well  flavoured  than  that  of  other  partridges. 

[This  is  the  common  partridge  of  Persia,  and  I  have  shot  it  at  all 
elevations  from  loooo  feet  in  the  Elburz  to  the  base  of  the  hills  near 
Bushire.  The  race  found  in  the  south  is,  I  think,  decidedly  larger 
than  that  of  the  Elburz.  In  the  wild  moorland  country  which  fringes 
the  oak  forests  of  Fdrs  on  the  north,  it  is  especially  abundant.  I  have 
killed  twelve  and  a  half  brace  before  breakfast  in  September  near  the 
Khdn-i-zinidn  caravanserai,  twenty-five  miles  west  of  Shir&z.  Contrary 
to  what  is  recorded  of  its  habits  in  the  Himalayas,  it  avoids  culti- 
vation in  Persia. — O.  St.  J.] 

258.  *  Tetraogallus  Caspius,  (S.  G.  Gmel.) — De  P. 

Tetrao  CaspiuB^  S.  G.  Gmel,  Beise,  p.  67,  PI.  X. 

TetraogalluB  Caucasicus,  (Pall.),  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  351. 

KabJc'i-dareh  (the  glen-partridge),  Persian. 

Found  in  small  flocks  on  many  of  the  higher  ranges^  keeping  always 


AV£S.  277 

at  considerable  elevations.     It  is  known  from  the  Elburz,  the  moun- 
tains of  Kiirdistdn,  and  some  of  the  higher  ranges  near  Shirdz. 

Herr  Radde,  of  Tiflis,  assured  me  that  the  Caucasian  bird  T. 
Caucasiciis  (Pall.)  is  distinct.  The  Elburz  bird  is  the  typical  Tetrao 
Caspius  of  Gmelin,  who  procured  his  specimen  near  Astrab^d. 

The  asserted  Persian  locality  for  Tetrao  Scotictis,  var.  Persicm^, 
{Lagopua  Persicua^  G.  R.  Gray,  Gen.  of  Birds,  PI.  CXXXIII,)  must,  I 
think,  be  due  to  some  mistake.  The  type  specimen  in  the  British 
Museum  is  labelled  from  Kaiparriah,  (I  do  not  know  where  this 
place  is,)  and  the  Turkish  name  is  said  to  be  *  Gui^el '  or  *  Kunalee.' 
The  specimen  is  very  pale.  On  the  stand  in  the  British  Museum  is  a 
note  in  pencil  giving  the  Turkish  name  quoted  above,  and  stating  that 
the  bird  is  common  at  the  locality.  There  is,  however,  no  indication 
by  which  the  origin  of  the  specimen  can  be  traced.  In  the  Catalogue 
Brit.  Mus.  GallinsB,  p.  91,  it  is  said  to  be  from  Mr.  Warwick's 
collection. 

Can  the  locality  be  Kaisariah  (Csesarea)  in  Asia  Minor  ?  As  I  have 
frequently  had  occasion  to  notice,  some  English  ornithologists,  not 
many  years  since,  considered  Armenia  as  part  of  Persia,  and  the 
district  of  which  Csesarea  is  the  chief  town,  the  ancient  Cappadocia, 
is  sometimes  called  Turkish  Armenia. 

Newton,  Ibis,  1865,  p.  345,  and  Elliot,  Mon.  Tetraon.,  PI.  XX,  un- 
hesitatingly refer  this  bird  to  L,  Scoticua,  If  this  be  the  case,  of  course 
the  locality  and  the  Turkish  names  are  due  to  somebody's  inventive 
faculty,  before  the  specimen  reached  the  Museum.  I  cannot  help  sug- 
gesting the  bare  possibility  of  this  bird  being  a  variety  of  the  willow 
grouse,  which  might,  perhaps,  be  found  on  the  cold  upland  plains  of 
Armenia  2.  In  any  case  there  is  no  evidence  of  its  being  from 
Persia. 

[It  isnot  impossiblethat  there  are  two  species  of  TetraogaUua  in  Persia, 
as  one  is  said  by  natives  to  be  found  in  the  lofty  Dindr  mountains 
north  of  Shiraz,  which  have  not  yet  been  visited  by  a  European.  In 
the  Elburz  the  Kabk-i-dareh  is  far  from  common,  and  appears  to  be 
confined  to  the  bare  southern  slopes,  so  that  *  Caspius  "*  is  rather  a  mis- 
nomer.— O.  St.  J.] 

^  Gray,  Handlist,  ii,  p.  277. 

'  Since  the  above  was  written  I  have  seen  a  specimen  of  this  bird  {Lagopvu  cJhua) 
obtained  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Tiflis  bj  Mr.  Howard  Saunders.  This  renders 
its  occurrence  in  Armenia  probable. 


278  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 


269.  *  Cotumix  oommuniB,  Bonn. — De  F. 

Common  in  all  cultivated  fields  during  the  time  the  erops  are  green  : 
it  leaves  the  Persian  highlands  in  winter,  resorting  to  India. 

I  heard  quail  calling  in  the  green  crops  at  Bampur  at  the  beginning 
of  April,  at  less  than  2000  feet  above  the  sea^  at  about  5000  to  5ooo 
feet  in  May,  and  at  Kohrud,  between  Isfahan  and  Tehr&n,  7CXX>  feet 
above  the  sea,  in  the  middle  of  July,  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  that 
they  breed  at  different  times  according  to  the  elevation. 


GRALL^. 
Family  CHARADRIADiE. 
260.  CharadriuB  pluvialis,  L. 

I  ^.  Gw&dsr,  Baliichistdn  ..  Sea  levd    ..     Deoemberr 

a.  Near  Resht       ..  ..         ..     Sea  level    ..     Kovember. 

Both  the  specimens  have  white  axillaries,  and  consequently  clearly 
belong  to  the  European  golden  plover,  which  has  not  hitherto  been 
recorded  so  far  to  the  east  as  Baluchistan.  It  will  probably,  I  think, 
be  found  in  North-western  India.  Mr.  Hume  records  CfuUms^  Gm. 
from  Sind,  but  he  was  not  able  to  examine  specimens^  and  the  bird 
may  perhaps  have  been  C.  joluvialis. 


261.  Sqnatarola  Helvetioa,  (L.) 

I  6'  Gwidar,  Baldchlstdn  . .  Sea  level     . .      December. 

Not  observed  elsewhere,  but,  of  course,  found  on  the  Caspian. 

262.  Endromias  morinelliiB,  (L.) 

I  9.  K4znin,  west  of  Shir&z  ..         2750     ..     Janiuury. 

The  dotterel  has  not  before  been  found  so  far  to  the  south-east,  so 
far  as  I  am  aware. 


A  VES.  279 

283.  *  B.  AfiiatiouB.  (Pall.)--De  F. 

E,  Ccupiuf,  (PalL),  De  F.  Viag.  in  Peraia,  p.  351. 

De  Filippi  obtained  this  species  on  the  Caspian  at  Enzeli,  and  it  was 
recorded  by  Pallas  from  the  shores  of  the  same  sea  (Zool.  Ros.  As. 
ii,  p.  136). 

264.  JEgiaUtis  Mongolicus,  (Pall.) 

Charadriua  Mongoltu,  Pall.  Reise,  Russ.  Reich,  iii,  p.  700. 

I.  Persian  Gulf        ..  December. 

I  obtained  this  specimen^  I  think^  at  one  of  the  gulf  islands,  either 
Angfim  (Henj&m)  or  Kishm,  but  did  not  note  which  on  the  label. 
Hume  procured  it  from  the  Makr&n  coast. 

JS.  Geqffroyi  must  also  occur  on  the  southern  coast  of  Persia  and 
Baluchist&n,  but  I  obtained  no  specimens,  nor  apparently  did  Hume, 
although  he  found  it  abundant  at  Kar&chi,  and  it  is  common  both  on 
the  shores  of  India  and  in  the  Red  Sea. 

Neither  of  these  shore  plovers  appears  to  have  been  obtained  on  the 
Caspian. 

266.  JE.  oantianuBy  (Lath.) 

'«  ^  ^>  3t  4  9*  Gw4dar,  Baliichistdn  . .   Sea  level  . .     December. 

5  S'  M&shkld  river,  near  Is&ndak,  Bald- 

chistin         . .         . .  3300    . .     March  8. 

Apparently  not  qommon  on  the  Persian  plateau ;  more  so  on  the 
sea  coast,  and  near  the  Caspian.  De  Filippi  obtained  it  at  Sult&niah, 
between  Tabriz  and  Kazvin. 

[Rare.     I  once  procured  one  near  Yazdikhdst  in  May. — ^O,  St.  J.] 

266.  M.  fluviatiliB,  (Bechst.)— De  F. 

I  ^.  M&ahkld  river,  near  Isfiuidak,  Bald- 

chiBt&n  . .  . .  3300     •  •  March  8. 

a,  3.  4  ^»  5*  ^.  7  9.  Near  KalagAn,  Balii- 

chistin  ..  4000  March  ia-19. 

8  ^>  9  (Q- Near  Tehr&n 5000     ..  March  28. 

10  ^.  Near  Resht  ..  ..     Sea  level..  November. 

II  ^.  Near  the  Caspian  . .  ..  —  November. 

I  saw  a  small  .^ialitis,  probably  this  species,  on  the  borders  of  the 
Shirdz  lake  in  June,  so  it  probably  breeds  on  the  plateau.  De  Filippi 
found  it  common  in  the  summer  on  the  sandy  beds  of  streams  in 
Northern  Persia. 


280 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 


267.  ^  ?  JE.  hiaticalay  (L.) 

Mr.  Ghray  (Handlist,  iii,  p.  15)  gives  Persia  amongst  the  loexlitieB 
for  this  species. 

268.  *  JE.  intermediuB,  (M^n.) 

Charodriiu  inUrmedias,  M^n.  C^ai.  BJds,  No.  189,  p.  53. 

This  small  race  of  jS,  hiaticula  was  described  by  M^n^tries  from 
specimens  obtained  at  Lankordn. 


269.  VanelluB  cristatuSy  Meyer. — De  F. 


November. 


I,  a  9.  Besht,  near  Caspian  Sea  ..     Sea  level     .. 

I  saw  no  lapwings  in  Baluehistfin,  in  Southern  Persia^  or  on  the 
plateau,  but  they  abounded  in  the  plains  of  the  Euphrates  valley,  near 
Basrah,  in  December.  De  Filippi  met  with  some  at  Sult&niah,  a  high 
plain  south  of  Tabriz,  in  July  j  so  they  probably  breed  in  the  higher 
parts  of  North-western  Persia. 

[Breeds  in  the  marshes  about  Asup&s,  north  of  Shir&z,  and 
similar  localities.     Common  everywhere  in  winter. — O.  St.  J.] 

270.  Chettusia  VillotSBiS  (Audouin). 

Ckaradrius  leucurui,  Licht.,  Everem.  Reise  n.  Buch.  p.  137. 
C.JlavipeSt  auct. 


I  9.  J41k,  BAluchist&n 

3000     .. 

March  14. 

2  i.  Rlg&n,  Narmashlr 

3500     .. 

April  17. 

3  ^,  4  9.  Near  Bam 

3000     .. 

April  ao. 

5  9.  Shir&z  lake 

4700     .. 

June  Sb 

69.  SbiHiz 

4750     .. 

Jane. 

7  ^.  Near  Shirds 

6000     .. 

September. 

Common  in  Southern  Persia  and  Baluchistan  in  suitable  localities, 
but  I  did  not  meet  with  it  in  the  north,  nor  does  it  appear  to  have 
been  recorded  from  the  Caspian,  though  described  by  Lichtenstein  from 
near  Bokhara.  I  saw  a  large  number  about  the  lake  of  Shirdz  early  in 
June,  and  they  appeared  to  me  as  if  they  had  nests  in  some  marshes 
on  the  edge  of  the  lake,  but  the  places  were  quite  inaccessible  on 
aecount  of  deep  mud. 

\  See  Shellej,  Birdfl  of  Egypt,  p.  333. 


AVBS.  281 


271.  LobivanelluB  Indicus,  (Bodd.) 

I  9.  Ask&n,  Barapdsht,  Baliichistdn         ..  350a    . .      March  6. 

1  ^.  Sib,  near  Diz4k,  Baluchistan  . .  4500     . .     March  25. 

3  S'  Near  Saryut&n,  east  of  Shiriz  . .         6000     . .     June  5. 

I  was  rather  surprised  to  meet  with  this  plover  so  far  to  the  west- 
ward as  the  neighbourhood  of  Shir&z.  It  was  very  rare ;  indeed  this 
was  the  only  occasion  on  which  I  recollect  seeing  it  on  the  plateau.  In 
Baluchist&n  it  was  by  no  means  common. 


272.  *  HoplopteruB  spinosus,  (L.) 

Charadritu  Pergieus,  Bonnaterre,  Tabl.  Enc.  i,  p.  ar. 

This  bird  is  g^ven  from  Persia  by  Bonnaterre  and  Brisson  (Ornitho- 
log^e,  V,  p.  84),  who  called  it  *  le  Pluvier  Hupe  de  Perse.'  Their  au- 
thority was  probably  Edwards,  who  states,  Nat.  Hist,  i,  p.  47,  that 
this  bird,  which  he  figures,  was  sent  to  him  from  Gambron  (Bandar 
Abbds),  in  Persia,  by  Mr.  Peter  Colinson.  As  there  is  every  proba- 
bility that  the  species  is  Persian  I  include  it« 


278.  *  StrepsilaB  interpres,  (L.) 
Noticed  by  Hume  on  the  Makr&n  coast. 

274.  H»matopiiB  ostralegus,  L. 

1  9.  Hormuz  Island,  Persian  Gulf  December  10. 

Occasionally  seen  along  the  coasts  of  the  Persian  Gulf  and  Balu- 
chistan.    It  is  also  found  on  the  Caspian. 

Dromas  ardeola  probably  inhabits  the  Persian  Gulf,  but  I  did  not 
see  it. 

276.  Oursoriufl  Qftllious,  (Qm.) — De  F. 

I  i.  Gw4dar,  Baldchistin  . .  . .  . .   Sea  level  . .     November. 

1  $.  S&adatabid,  south-west  of  Karmdn  6500     . .     May  23. 

Not  common,  but  noticed  now  and  then  throughout  the  country. 


282  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

276.  Glareola  pratinoola,  (L.) — De  F. 

I  ^,  2  $.  Shir&z         4750     ..     Jane. 

The  pratincole  appears  rare  in  Southern  Persia ;  I  did  not  meet  with 
it.  l)e  Filippi  observed  it  near  Sult&niah  and  Sainkala,  north-west 
of  Kazvin.  Eiehwald  and  Men^tries  also  saw  it  on  the  Caspian,  and 
the  former  mentions  two  species  which  he  calls  G.  Austriaca,  L., 
Gm.  and  G.  torquata^  Meyer,  one  of  which  may  be  G.  Nordmanni^ 
Fischer,  (G.  pratincola^  Pall.),  especially  as  Eiehwald  puts  Pallas's 
name  with  a  query  after  G.  torquata. 


Family  SCOLOPACID^ 

277.  *  Soolopax  nistioolay  L. 

Murgh-irorak  (the  canning  bird),  Persian. 

Common  in  the  large  gardens,  many  of  which  are  extensive  irrigated 
orchards  and  timber  plantations,  but  only  in  the  winter  months. 
Woodcocks  are  said  to  abound  in  the  forests  near  the  Caspian  at  this 
season.     I  have  not  heard  of  any  breeding  in  Persia. 

[Rose  gardens  are  the  favourite  haunt  of  the  woodcock  in  Persia. 
In  December^  [866,  I  shot  five  out  of  one  small  garden  at  Firuzab&d. 
— O.  St.  J.] 

278.  *  Qallinago  major,  (Gm.) 

[The  great  snipe  is  not  unfrequently  shot  in  Northern  Persia  about 
the  beginning  and  end  of  the  season.  I  myself  have  once  procured  it. 
I  have  never  seen  it  in  the  south. — O.  St.  J.] 

279.  G.  BCOlopaoinuB,  Bp. — De  F. 

Pcuhdlek,  Persian. 

I  ^.  J41k,  BaliSchisUn        3000     ..     March  17. 

Common  in  winter  in  suitable  localities.  I  saw  three  or  four  and 
shot  a  couple  on  the  2nd  of  May  at  Hanaka  near  Karm&n,  at  about 
8000  feet  above  the  sea.  The  birds  may  have  been  in  their  breeding 
haunts,  but  it  is  just  as  possible  that  they  were  merely  halting  during^ 


A  YES.  283 

migration,  for  some  do  not  leave  the  tropical  swamps  of  India  before 
the  beginning  of  May. 

280.  G.  gallinula,  (L.) 

1  9.  Dizik,  Baliichistin  . .         4000    . .     March  24. 

2  ^.  Near  Igfah&n   . .         . .  . .         8000     . .     April. 

Generallj  distributed  in  suitable  localities  during  the  winter  months. 

281.  *  Iiimosa  Lapponioa,  (L.) 

Found  on  the  Caspian  (Eiehwald,  Pallas).  I  include  all  shore 
haunting  waders  and  swimming  birds,  known  to  be  met  with  on  the 
Caspian,  because  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  their  visiting  the  Persian 
coast  in  winter.  The  bar-tailed  godwit  has  also  been  shot  in  Sind, 
(Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  235). 

282.  L.  segocephala^  (L.) 

I  9.  Shir4z    . .  . .         475o     . .     December. 

I  obtained  this  also  at  the  mouth  of  the  Euphrates,  and  it  is  of 
course  found  on  the  Caspian. 

288.  *  Terekia  oinerea,  (Gold.)— De  F. 

Obtained  at  Enzeli  on  the  Caspian  by  De  Filippi,  and  on  the  Ma- 
kr&n  coast  by  Hume. 

284.  Calidris  arenaria,  (L.) 

i>  ^  ^9  3-7  $•  Gw&dar,  Baluchifltin  . .     Sea  shore  . .  Dec.,  Jan. 

The  sanderling,  very  rare  in  India,  was  the  commonest  small  wader 
on  the  Makrfin  coast.  Hume,  too,  found  it  abundant  at  Kar&chi.  It 
also  occurs  on  the  Caspian. 

286.  Tringa  cmolus,  L. — ^De  F. 

1-4  ^.  Gw&dar,  Baluchist&n  coast  —  Dec,  Jan. 

5,  6  9.  Shirdz  4750     . .      December. 

Found  common  on  the  coasts  of  Baluchist&n  in  winter.  De  Filippi 
found  it  also  abundant  at  Enzeli  on  the  Caspian  in  the  beginning  of 
September. 


284  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

286.  *  T.  minuta,  Leisl. — De  F. 

Hume  obtained  the  little  stint  on  the  Makran  coast,  and  De  Filippi 
at  Enzeli  on  the  Caspian.  It  is  rather  curious  that  neither  St.  John 
nor  I  happened  to  shoot  it,  but  I  saw  some  small  TWifya-like  waders 
at  Shir&z  lake  in  June,  which  looked  very  much  like  it. 

287.  *  T.  subarquata,  Gtild. 

Hume  reconls  this  also  from  the  Makrdn  coast.     Pallas  says  it  is 
found  on  the  Caspian  in  spring. 

288.  T.  platyrhyncha,  Tern. 

I  9.  Pasni,  Makrdn  coast  ..  ..         November  22. 

Obtained  also  by  Hume  in  Baluchist&n.  71  crassirosiris.  Tern,  and 
Schl.  was  procured  by  the  same  naturalist  in  Karachi,  but  has  not 
been  observed  further  west. 

280.  *  T.  pugnax,  L. 

Found  on  the  Caspian,  according  to  Eichwald. 

I  can  find  no  record  of  the  occurrence  of  T.  Temmincki,  Leister,  in 
Persia,  not  even  on  the  Caspian ;  but  it  must  occur,  and  is  probably 
by  no  means  rare. 

290.  *  Fhalaropus  fulicariuB.  (L.) 

Mr.  Hume  (Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  ^45)  mentions  that  he  met  with 
this  bird  abundantly  on  the  Makrdn  coast  in  February.  I  had  pre- 
viously heard  of  some  small  light-coloured  birds  which  were  to  be  seen 
swimming  in  the  sea  at  a  considerable  distance  from  land^  but  when 
I  passed  along  the  coast  in  November  and  December  there  were  very 
few,  and  I  only  saw  one  flock,  and  that  at  a  distance.  They  are, 
when  on  the  sea,  wary  and  diflScult  to  shoot,  and  Mr.  Hume  only 
succeeded  in  obtaining  one  specimen.  It  is  by  no  means  improbable 
that  both  this  and  the  next  species  occur  on  the  coast. 

201.  P.  hyperboreuB,  (L.) 

T|  a>  3  ^t  4  9.  Near  Tehr&n  ..         5000  March  28. 

The  specimens  are  all  in  the  grey  winter  plumage,  but  a  few  ferru- 
ginous feathers  arc  commencing  to  show  at  the  sides  of  the  neck  and 


AVES. 


285 


on  the  interscapulary  region.  There  appears  to  be  no  diflPerence  in  size 
between  the  sexes,  and  the  measurements  are  :  wing  4.35  to  4.45,  tail 
1.75  to  1.95,  tarsus  0.75  to  0.85,  cubnen  i  to  1.05. 

I  learn  from  Major  St.  John  that  the  red-necked  phalarope  is  by  no 
means  a  rare  bird  in  Persia  in  the  winter  months,  usually  keeping  in 
small  flocks,  and  haunting  pools  of  water.  It  is  probably  much  more 
common  than  P.  fulicariuSy  for  it  is  mentioned  as  found  on  the 
Caspian  by  Pallas,  M^D^tries,  and  Eichwald,  whilst  the  grey  phalarope 
is  not. 

[I  shot  four  phalaropes  on  a  pool  near  Yazdikhdst,  between  Shirfiz 
and  Isfahan,  in  May.  I  have  never  seen  the  bird  farther  south. — 
O.  St.  J.] 

292.  TotanuB  calidris,  (L.) — De  F. 

I,  2  ^.  Shir&z  lake  ..  ..  47oo  June  8. 

Occasionally  seen  in  Baluchistdn  in  winter.  The  redshank  pro- 
bably breeds  on  the  Persian  highlands  at  the  Lake  of  Shiraz  and  other 
places.     De  Filippi  met  with  it,  in  July,  near  Sult^niah. 

293.  T.  stagnatilis,  Bechst. 

I  9.  Bampiir,  BaliichisUn  i8oo  April  6. 

The  only  specimen  shot ;  it  is  in  breeding  plumage. 

294.  *  T.  fusouB,  (L.) 

Caspian  (Pallas).  I  did  not  obtain  either  this  or  T.  glotlu^  but  both 
doubtless  occur  in  Persia. 

296.  T.  ochropuB  (L  ) — De  F. 


I  ^,  2  9.  Kalag&n,  BaluchistAn 

3*  Sbirdz       .. 

4,  5  ^.  Near  Shir&z 

3500     •• 
4750     .. 
6000 

March  12. 
December. 

0 

296.  T.  glareola,  (L.)— De  F. 

1  i,  Rfg&n,  Narmasblr 

2  9.  Near  Bam,  south-east  Persia 

2500     .. 
3000     .. 

April  17. 
April  20. 

297.  Tringoides  hypoleucuB,  (L.) 

1  i.  Bampiir,  Baliichist&n  . . 

2  ^.  Shiraz 

3  9.  Lura  valley,  Elburz  mountains 

1800 

4750     .. 
7000     .. 

April  7. 
December. 
August  10. 

These  three  species  were  met  with  here  and  there  along  streams  in 


286  ZOO  LOO  7  OF  PERSIA. 

Baluchist&n  during  the  winter  months.  T.  ocAropus  appears  the  most 
abundant^  and  is  the  only  one  mentioned  as  found  on  the  Caspian  hj 
Men^tries  and  Eiehwald. 

288.  Himantopus  oandidus,  Bon. 

1  9.  Near  Bam,  Nannashfr,  aoaih-eastem 

Persia  3000     . .      April  50. 

2  d,  3  9.  Near  Tehrin        ..  5000     ..      March. 

Frequently  seen  in  Baluchist&n  in  the  winter  months.     It  is  also  of 
course  found  on  the  Caspian. 

I  saw  stilt  plovers  at  Shirdz  lake  on  Jime  the  8th,  so  some  probably 
breed  there.  Their  breeding  in  India  has  been  described  by  Mr. 
Hume,  Ibis,  1870,  p.  145. 

288.  Becurvirostra  avooetta,  (L.) 

I  9.  Shiriz  lake  47oo     . .     June  8. 

I  only  saw  the  avocet  at  Shirdz  lake,  where  there  were  several  pairs 
apparently  breeding. 

300.  *  Numenius  arquatus,  (L.) 

SOL  *  N.  phseopuB,  (L.) 

Both  these  curlews  are  said  to  occur  on  the  Caspian  by  Eiehwald. 
N.  arquatus  was  seen  on  the  Makrdn  coast  by  Himie,  and  I  believe  I 
saw  it  myself  there  and  in  the  Persian  Gulf,  and  there  can  be  no 
question  but  that  the  whimbrel  will  also  be  found. 

Major  St.  John  tells  me  that  the  common  curlew  is  often  seen  in 
the  plain  of  Shir^. 


Family  GRUID^. 


302.  *  Grus  communis,  Becbst. 

Eiehwald  gives  the  common  crane  from  the  southern  portion  of  the 
Caspian.  It  doubtless  may  be  found  in  many  parts  of  Persia  during 
the  migratory  season^  and  it  is  probable  that  G.  virgo  and  (?.  leueo^ 


A  VE8.  287 

geranm  both  visit  parts  of  Persia  at  times,  both  being  found  in  India, 
and  also  on  the  shores  of  the  Caspian. 

I  saw  flocks  of  cranes  flying  overhead  on  two  or  three  occasions  in 
Baluchist&n,  about  March.  They  may  have  been  either  the  common 
crane  or  the  demoiselle. 

[Cranes  are  very  plentiftd  in  Southern  Persia,  but  very  wary.  I 
never  succeeded  in  shooting  one.— O.  St.  J.] 

Family  OTIDiG. 

308.  *  Otis  tarda,  L. 

Found,  according  to  Eichwald,  in  the  Caspian  islands,  near  Astra- 
b&d.  It  has  been  obtained  in  the  extreme  north-west  of  India^  and  is 
probably  an  occasional  visitant  to  many  parts  af  Northern  Persia. 

Major  St.  John  informs  me  that  he  believes  it  is  found  in  Adarbai- 
j&n^  he  has  himself  seen  it  in  Armenia,  just  beyond  the  Persian 
frontier,  and  it  is  common  in  the  Transcaucasian  provinces  of  Russia. 

304.  *  O.  tetrax,  L. 

Major  St.  John  tells  me  that  he  has  seen  a  specimen  of  the  little 
bustard,  which  had  been  shot  close  to  Tehran.  It  is  said  to  be  very 
common  in  the  country  west  of  the  Caspian,  and  must  occur^  I  think, 
not  seldom  in  Adarbaij&n.  It  is  sometimes  obtained  in  North-western 
India. 

I  saw  a  small  bustard  on  one  of  the  islands  of  the  Persian  Gulf, 
which  was  probably  this  species.  It  is  said  also  to  be  found  in  Meso- 
potamia. 

306.  *  O.  {Uovhara)  McQueenii,  Gray. 
Hobara,  Persian. 

Found  throughout  Persia,  being  the  only  common  bustard  of  the 
country.  It  is  a  summer  visitant  to  the  plateau,  where  it  breeds, 
passing  the  winter  in  the  lowlands  of  Southern  Persia,  Baluchistdn, 
and  Sind. 

De  Filippi  states  that  he  obtained  at  Julfa,  in  Armenia,  two  speci- 
mens of  0.  houbara,  and  that  they  were  not  0.  McQueenii^  but  he  did 
not  preserve  them  for  comparison. 


288  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

306.  *  OBdicnemuB  orepitans,  Tern. — De  F. 

Bacha-houbara^  Persian. 

De  Filippi  saw  the  stone  curlew  at  Mifina  and  Sainkala^  between 
Tabriz  and  Kazvin.     It  probably  occurs  in  Southern  Persia  also. 

[Not  uncommon  about  Bushire.  Never  seen  on  the  plateau. — 
O.  St.  J.] 

Family  RALLID^. 
S07.  BalluB  aquaticuB,  L. 

Scolopax  ob^cura^  S.  6.  Gmel.  Reise,  iii,  p.  90. 

I  9>  3,  3  young  9.  Near  Shir&s  . .         6000     . .      Aogoit. 

Probably  not  rare  in  the  higher  marshes,  but  I  do  not  know  if  it 
breeds  there.  Judging  from  one  of  the  specimens,  which  is  scarcely 
full  grown,  I  should  think  it  did.  The  specimens  were  collected  by 
Major  St.  John.  Menetries  found  it  in  the  marshes  between  Sali£n 
and  Lankordn. 

[A  water  rail,  migrating  from  Arabia,  was  caught  between  the 
sashes  of  the  window  at  the  Bushire  Residency,  in  April. — O.  St.  J.] 

308.  Forzana  mametta,  Leach.— De  F. 

1 .  Shir&z     . .  . .         . .  . .  . .         May. 

De  Filippi  states  that  Doria  found  this  rail  common  in  spring  at 
Veramin,  south-east  of  Tehr&n. 

Probably  P.pymcea^  Naum.  and  P.  minuta,  Pall,  may  also  be  found  in 
Persia.  The  latter  occurs  near  the  Caspian,  and  Hume  found  it 
abundant  in  Sind.  The  former  also  inhabits  both  Europe  and 
India. 

309.  Crex  pratensis,  Bechst. 

One  specimen,  without  a  label,  is  amongst  the  specimens  collected 
by  Major  St.  John,  who  thinks  he  obtained  it  at  Tehrdn. 

310.  GaUinula  ohloropus,  (L). — De  F. 

I.  Sib,  near  Diz&k  4000  March  26. 

Doubtless  to  be  met  with  throughout  Persia  in  suitable  localities. 
It  is  common  in  the  Caspian  provinces. 


A  VES,  289 

[Not  uncommon  about  the  rivers  and  marshes  of  Southern  Persia. — 
O.  St.  J.] 

311.  ♦  Porphyrio  veterum,  S.  G.  Qm. 

Beise,  iii,  p.  79,  PI.  XII. 

Found  abundantly,  according  to  S.  G.  Gmelin,  on  the  Caspian  in 
Ghilfin.  Specimens  from  this  locality  require  comparison  with  the 
European  P.  hyacinthinua,  Tenmi. 

312.  *  P.  negleotus,  Schl. 

A  specimen  collected  by  Loftus  is  referred  to  this  race  by  Mr.  Gray 
(Handlist^  iii,  p.  64),  and  the  locality  is  there  stated  to  be  Persia.  The 
locality  in  the  British  Museum  register  is,  however,  B&ghdfid.  It  is 
probable  that  the  bird,  which  appears  to  be  correctly  referred  to  the 
Indian  race^  is  from  Turkish  territory,  but  it  must  in  all  probability 
inhabit  Persian  Mesopotamia  also. 

313.  Fulica  atra,  L.— De  F. 

I  i.  Bampiir,  Baldchistin  ..         1800  April  a. 

I  did  not  meet  with  many  likely  spots  for  coots  in  Baluchistdn,  and 
none  were  noticed  on  the  highlands  in  summer.  They  are  common  on 
the  Caspian  according  to  De  Filippi  and  M^n^tries. 

GAVIiE. 

The  whole  of  my  specimens  of  gulls  and  terns  have  been  examined 
by  Mr.  Howard  Saunders,  and  compared  with  his  fine  collection. 

I  have  included  all  the  Caspian  terns  and  gulls  in  the  Persian  fauna^ 
since  all  occur  at  times,  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge,  on  the  Persian 
coast  of  the  Caspian. 


Family  LABIDiE. 
314.  *•  StercorariuB  parasiticiiBP  (L.) 

S,  AsieUkut,  Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  268. 

A  skua  is  not  rare  on  the  Makran  coast,  and  I  think  it  also  occurs 
in  the  Persian  Gulf.     I  obtained  no  specimen,  and  Hume  only  secured 

VOL.  II.  u 


290  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

one,  which  lie  identified,  with  some  doubt,  as  8. parasiticus y  but  proposed 
to  call  it  S,  Amaiicus,  should  it  prove  new. 

Mr.  Saunders  suggests  the  possibility  of  the  Makran  bird  proving 
identical  with  the  Cape  species  5.  spinicauda,  Hardy. 

316.  Larus  fuscuB,  L. — De  F. 

?  L.  occidenttUU,  Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  273,  nee  Aud. 

1  6,  2,  3,  4  9.  Gw&dar,  Baluchist&n  Jannaiy  i-ia. 

Three  of  the  above  are  in  the  young  plumage  and  may  belong 
either  to  this  or  the  next  species.  The  fourth  is  a  young  female  as- 
suming the  summer  plumage,  and  both  Mr.  Howard  Saunders  and  Mr. 
Dresser,  who  have  very  carefully  and  repeatedly  examined  it,  have  no 
doubt  of  its  really  belonging  to  L,  Juscus.  Mr.  Hume  referred  this 
bird,  from  the  same  locality,  to  L.  occidentalism  because  the  basal  portion 
of  the  primaries  is  grey  or  greyish ;  but  Mr.  Howard  Saunders  in- 
forms me  that  this  is  not  a  safe  character,  except,  if  I  understand 
him  rightly,  in  full  summer  plumage.  It  follows  that  Dr.  Jerdon  and 
Mr.  Blyth  were  probably  right  in  including  this  species  in  the  Indian 
fauna. 

The  young  female  assuming  the  summer  plumage  has  been  fully 
described  by  Mr.  Dresser  in  the  *  Birds  of  Europe.' 

L.fuscus  is  also  common  on  the  Caspian. 

316.  L.  argentatus,  Gmel. — De  F. 

Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  270. 

L.  Uucophaiu,  Licht,  Dresser,  Birds  of  Europe. 

?  L.  cahinarui,  Pall,  partim. 

I  young  ^.  Omiura,  coast  of  Baluchistan  . .  Not.  aS. 

7  young  9.  Pasnf,  coast  of  Baluchistin    . .         . .  Nov.  2g. 
3>  4  <J»  5  9,  6,  7,  8  young.   Gwddar,   coast  of 

Baliichist&n  . .  Dec,  Jan. 

9  young  ,J.  Bushire,  Persian  Gulf  ..  ..  Januaiy. 

These  specimens  have  been  referred  by  Mr.  Dresser  to  £,  leueo^ 
phteusy  which  Mr.  Howard  Saunders  tells  me  he  considers  only  a  cli- 
matic variety  of  L,  argentatus.  They  are  intermediate  in  character 
between  the  two  European  forms,  which  are  distinguished  by  the 
latter  haying  the  mantle  a  shade  darker,  and  the  legs  in  the  adult 
yellow  instead  of  flesh  coloured.  In  my  adult  specimens  the  legs  were 
flesh  coloured  with  a  yellow  tinge.  Hume  gives  them  as  pale  yellow, 
greenish  yellow  and  pale  lemon  yellow  with  a  grey  shade,  and  those  of 
the  immature  birds  in  winter  plumage  as  greyish  white,  with  more  or 


AVES.  291 

less  of  a  fleshy  tinge.  This  agrees  with  my  own  notes.  If  the  two 
races  are  kept  separate,  the  Baluchist&n  bird  will  have  to  be  referred 
to  L.  leucopAaus,  or  perhaps  they  should  rather  be  called  L.  caccAinans 
Pall,  which  name  has  priority,  but  appears,  according  to  Dresser,  to 
comprise  both  the  pale  race  and  the  dark  coloured  form  known  to 
some  authors  as  L,  occidentalis. 

The  young  of  this  species  are  absolutely  undistinguishable  by  any 
certain  character  from  the  last ;  usually  they  may  be  known  by  the 
shafts  of  the  primaries  being  pale  towards  the  base,  but  no  line  can  be 
drawn. 

Z.  argentatus  (v.  leucophaua)  was,  I  think,  on  the  whole,  in  November 
and  December,  the  commonest  gull  on  the  Makrdn  coast  and  the  Persian 
Gulf,  with  the  exception  of  L.  UempricAi,  It  is  much  more  frequently 
to  be  found  a  short  distance  inland  than  the  latter,  keeping  more  about 
backwaters  and  creeks.  Thus  at  Gwddar,  L,  argentatus  and  L,  fuscus 
swarmed  about  a  pool  of  rain  water  near  the  village,  and  even  acted  as 
scavengers  in  the  village  itself,  picking  up  oflal  and  4>ieces  of  fish, 
whilst  L.  HempricAi,  although  abounding  on  the  sea  close  to  the  coast, 
was  not  actually  seen  on  the  shore. 
.  Z,  argentatus  {L,  cacchinnana^  Pall.)  is  also  common  on  the  Caspian. 

317.  L.  oanuB,  K 

L,  niveuSf  Pall. 

I.  Bushire,  Persian  Gulf        ..  ..  January. 

Neither  Mr.  Hume  nor  I  obtained  this  species  on  the  Baluchistdn 
coast ;  and  the  specimen  from  Bushire  was  one  of  those  collected  by 
Major  St.  John.  It  considerably  extends  the  known  range  of  the  com- 
mon gull.  The  specimen  belongs  to  the  larger  race  Z,  niveus,  Pall.,  Z, 
Heini,  von  Hom.  Wing  14.5,  tail  5.6,  tarsus  2.15,  culmen  1.9,  none 
of  which  exceed  some  measurements  of  British  skins. 

Zarus  caiius  is  said  by  Mfe^tries  to  be  the  commonest  bird  on  the 
Caspian.  Eichwald  states  that  it  breeds  in  large  numbers  on  the 
Kulali  and  other  islands  on  that  sea,  together  with  several  species 
of  tern. 

318.  L.  gelastes,  Licht. 

L.  Lambruschini,  Bp.  Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  274. 

1  ^.  R&B  Mal&n,  Baliichist&n  coast         ..  Nov.  a6. 

2  9.  Pasnl,  Baliichist&n  coast      ..  ..  Nov.  29. 
2  S,  Gwodar,  Baldchistin  coast  ..          ..                     Jan.  8. 

V  2 


292  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

Very  common  on  the  Makr&n  coast  and  in  the  Persian  Gralf, 
Hume  says  more  so  than  any  other  species  at  Kar&chi,  bat  I  think 
along  the  coast  in  November  and  December  (six  weeks  earlier  in 
the  year  than  Mr.  Hume's  visit,  which  may  have  made  a  considerable 
difference)  both  L,  argentatus  and  L.  HempricAi  were  more  numerous 
everywhere,  except  at  J&shk,  where  I  saw  more  of  the  present  species. 
At  Gw&dar  I  did  not  observe  L.  gelastes  at  all. 

319.  L.  ridibundusy  L. — De  F. 

I  $.  Maskat,  Arabia        ..  ..  ..  ..         Dec.  ii. 

This  does  not  appear  to  be  common  on  the  coast  of  Baluchistan ; 
at  least  I  obtained  but  this  one  specimen.  Mr.  Hume^  however,  shot 
more.     It  occurs,  as  might  be  expected,  on  the  Caspian. 

320.  L.  Hemprichiy  Bp. 

Finsch,  Tr.  Z.  S.  vii,  p.  302,  PI.  XXVII.— Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  279. 

1,2^.  Gw4<lar,  Baliichist&n  coast  Dec.,  Jan. 

3-8  9.  Off  Maskat,  Arabian  coast         . .  Dec.  5. 

Extremely  common  all  along  the  coast  of  Baluchist&n  and  Southern 
Persia,  more  so,  I  think,  than  any  other  sj^ecies.  On  several  occasions 
in  the  Gulf  of  Om&n  I  saw  large  flocks  out  at  sea,  several  miles 
from  the  coast,  and  on  one  occasion  Captain  Bishop  lowered  a  boat 
for  me^  and  I  shot  about  a  dozen,  seven  or  eight  falling  to  the  first 
two  barrels,  although  there  was  a  considerable  swell,  which  pre- 
vented anything  like  a  great  slaughter.  All  the  specimens  thus 
shot  proved  to  be  females.  These  birds  are,  as  was  noticed  by  Hume, 
very  tame,  coming  close  to  the  fishermen's  boats  at  Gwfidar  and  feed- 
ing on  the  offal  of  fish ;  but,  although  they  will  come  when  the  men 
call  them  and  make  a  show  of  casting  out  food  for  them,  they  do 
not,  so  far  as  I  saw,  enter  the  village  on  shore  like  L.  argetUatus. 
They  doubtless  breed  in  the  Persian  Gulf. 

I  almost  expected  to  find  with  L,  Hemjmchi  its  associate  in  the  Bed 
Sea,  L,  leucophthalmm.  The  two  closely  resemble  each  other  in  win- 
ter plumage,  but  neither  Mr.  Hume  nor  I  obtained  the  latter. 

321.  *  L.  ichthyaetus,  Pall. 

Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  276. 

I  saw  this  large  gull  (at  least,  I  have  no  doubt  it  was  this  species) 


A  VES.  293 

constantly  at  Gw&dar,  and  I  spent  much  time  in  trying  to  shoot 
specimens^  but  I  could  never  get  sufficiently  near.  It  is  curious  and 
illustrative  of  the  vaiying  habits  of  gulls,  that  whilst  Tristram  found 
the  great  black  headed  gull  quite  tame  in  Palestine  (Ibis,  1 868,  p.  330)^ 
and  Hume  says  nothing  of  its  being  particularly  wild,  I  spent  two  or 
three  afternoons  fruitlessly  aft^er  it  in  Gwfidar  Bay,  and  M^netries 
notices  how  difficult  it  is  of  approach  upon  the  Caspian.  It  is  found 
throughout  the  southern  coasts  of  Persia  in  winter  and  resorts  to  the 
Caspian,  where  it  breeds,  in  summer. 

322.  *  L.  marinuBy  L. 

The  greater  black  backed  gull  is  stated  by  Pallas  and  Eichwald  to  be 
found  in  the  Caspian.  Both  also  g^ve  L.  tusvius,  which  is  the  same 
species. 

L,  glaucusj  Brunn,  is  another  species  included  in  Eichwald^s  list. 
Probably  the  gidl  meant  is  L.  glaucM^  Retz.  (nee  Briinnich),  which  is 
Z.  argentcUtis. 

828.  *  L.  mmutUB,  Pall. 

Said  also  to  occur  on  the  Caspian. 

824.  *  Biflsa  tridaotyla^  (L.) 

Found  on  the  Caspian  by  M^n^tries  and  Eichwald,  but  not  common. 

825.  *  Sterna  fluviatilis,  Naum. — ^De  F. 

8.  hirundo,  (L.),  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  35a,  nee  Linn. 

De  Filippi,  M^n€tries,  and  Eichwald  all  mention  this  tern  under 
the  name  of  S,  hirundo  as  common  on  the  Caspian.  For  the  differences 
between  the  arctic  tern,  the  true  8.  hirundo  of  Linnaeus,  and  the 
present  species,  see  Sharpe  and  Dresser  in  the  '  Birds  of  Europe.' 

It  is  by  no  means  improbable  that  8,  hirundo  also  may  visit  the 
Caspian  in  winter. 

826.  S.  Caspia^  Pall.— De  F. 

I  9.  Gw^dor,  BaliichisUn  ooast  . .  December. 

Not  common  on  the  Baluchist&n  coast,  although  both  Hume  and  I 


294  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

obtained  specimens.  It  is  more  abundant  on  the  Caspian^  where  it 
breeds,  according  to  Eichwald.  Men^tries  says  it  is  very  common  at 
Lankor&n  in  June. 

[Very   common   on   the   Shir&z   and   K&zrun  plains  in   winter. — 
O.  St.  J.] 

327.  S.  cantiaca,  Gm. 

I,  a  9.  Gwidar,  Baliichistin  coast  ..         December. 

Common  on  the  Makr&n  coast. 

328.  *  8.  afilnis,  Riipp. 

S,  BengalentU,  Leas.,  Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  1,  p.  284. 

Equally  common  with  the  last  according  to  Hume. 

329.  *  8.  Bergii,  Licht. 

Rare  on  the  Makrdn  coast.  For  notes  on  these  'three  species  see 
Hume^  *  Stray  Feathers/  i,  pp.  283-286.     All  are  found  out  at  sea. 

830.  *  8.  minuta,  L.—De  F. 

Caspian.  De  Filippi  obtained  it  at  Enzeli^  and  also  on  the  Persian 
plateau  at  Mi&na.  Eichwald  also  mentions  it  amongst  the  terns  com- 
mon on  the  Caspian. 

831.  "*  8.  flssipeB,  L.—De  F. 

Caspian.  De  Filippi  states  that  it  is  excessively  abundant  at  Enzeli. 
I  presume  too  that  this  is  the  8.  lUBvia  which  Pallas  and  Eichwald  say 
is  common  on  the  Caspian. 

382.  *  8.  nigra,  L.—De  F. 

8.  leucopterat  Tem.,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Pere.  p.  352. 

Caspian  (Men.,  Eichw.,  De  F.) 

383.  ♦  8.  hybrida,  Pall— De  F. 

Caspian  (De  F.) 

S.  Indica^  S.  An^lica,  and  perhaps  8,  Javanica,  will  probably  be  fotilld 
to  inhabit  Persia  besides  the  species  enumerated,  whilst  Anaus  stolidns 
and  Onyckoprion  anasthatua  probably  inhabit  parts  of  the  Persian  Oulf 


A  VES,  295 

and  adjoining  seas,  and  Bhyncopn  albicollu  is  very  likely  to  be  found  on 
the  Euphrates. 


Family  PROCELLARIDiE. 
334.  *  FufOiniis  obBCunis,  Gm. 

P.  Penicus,  Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  5. 

Mr.  Hume  frequently  saw  a  shearwater  on  the  Makrdn  coast,  and 
once  obtained  a  specimen  which  he  considered  new.  The  same  species 
is  said  also  to  be  common  in  the  Persian  Gulf.  I  have  shown  (Ibis, 
1873,  p.  215)  that  it  is  probably  a  variety  of  P,  obsci/rtM, 


HERODIONES. 


Family  ARDEID^. 


336.  *  Ardea  oinerea,  L. — De  F. 

336.  A.  purpurea,  L. 

I  9.  Is&h&n        5000 

Both  found  in  suitable  localities  throughout  Persia. 

Both  Major  St.  John  and  I  noticed  at  Bampur,  on  the  river,  a  very 
large  dusky  heron,  which  was  certainly  neither  of  the  common  species, 
and  may  have  been  A.  Goliath, 

337.  A.  alba,  L.— De  F. 

I  ^.  Bampiir,  Baliichist&n        ..         ..  1800     ..     April. 

Not  common,  but  occasionally  seen  both  in  Baluchistdn  and  on  the 
highlands.     It  is  also  found  on  the  Caspian. 

The  specimen  obtained  is  rather  large,  measuring  when  fresh: 
length  43  inches,  wing  18,  tarsus  8,  bill  from  end  of  feathers  on 
forehead  5. 


296  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

[There  is  a  colony  of  great  white  herons  on  the  K&r&-agatch  river, 
west  of  Shirfiz.  I  have  seen  them  every  summer  for  years. — 
O.  St.  J.] 

388.  A.  garsetta,  L. — De  F. 

I  9.  Isfah&n  5000     . .      April  6. 

Same  distribution  as  the  last.     I  saw  many  at  Is&h&n. 

839.  *  A.  ibis,  Hasselq.— De  F. 

Buphut  buhulcw,  (L.),  De  F.  Viaggio  in  Pereia,  p.  351. 

De  Filippi  states  that  all  the  three  last  species  were  found  in 
countless  numbers  on  the  Murd&b,  an  inlet  of  the  Caspian,  close  to 
Enzeli. 

840.  *  A.  gularis,  Bosc. 

Very  abundant  on  the  rocks  at  Gw&dar.  I  did  not  notice  it  else- 
where, but  Mr.  Hume  found  it  equally  common  at  KaricM  and 
Maskat.     All  I  saw  were  in  the  slaty  plumage. 

A.  comata^  Pall,  is  probably  Persian  also^  but  I  have  no  evidence  of 
its  occurrence  within  our  area.  It  is  said  by  Pallas  to  inhabit  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  Caspian. 

841.  *  Nyctioorax  grisens,  (L.) 

I  saw  the  night  heron  at  Isfahan.  Major  St.  John  has  shot  it  near 
Shirfiz,  and  M^n^tries  met  with  it  at  Lankorfin.  It  is  probably  veiy 
locally  distributed. 

[In  the  winter  of  1866-7,  being  at  Firuzabid,  eighty  miles  south  of 
Shir&z,  I  found  a  colony  of  night  herons  inhabiting  a  great  cjrpress 
tree  in  a  garden  there.  Not  knowing  what  they  were,  I  shot  one, 
which  I  had  no  difficulty  in  identifying  from  Yarrell's  plate  and  des- 
cription.— O.  St.  J.] 

842.  Ardetta  minuta,  (L. ) 

I,  2  9.  Bampiir,  BaldchiBtin     . .  1800     . .     April  6. 

3  ^.  Mashish,  south-west  of  Earm4n  ..         6000  May  ai. 

I   found  the   little   bittern  common   in   two   or  three  places  in 


A  VES,  297 

Southern  Persia  and  Baluchist&n  amongst  thick  bushes  and  reeds 
beside  streams.  Major  St.  John  told  me  he  had  once  before  met 
with  it  in  Southern  Persia  after  an  unusually  severe  winter  (as 
that  of  1872  was).  Eichwald  mentions  its  occurrence  on  the  Cas- 
pian. 

343.  *  Botaurus  stellaris,  (L.) 

I  did  not  meet  with  the  common  bittern  in  Persia,  but  Major  St. 
John  tells  me  he  has  occasionally  seen  it. 

[I  have  twice  shot  a  bittern.  The  first  was  an  immature  bird  in 
the  marshes  of  Shir&z,  and  the  second  in  full  plumage  near  Tehrfin. 
— O.  St.  J.] 

Family  CICONIIDiE. 

344.  *  Cioonia  alba,  Bechst. — De  F. 

Lag-lag,  or  Hdjji  Lag-lag,  Pereian. 

The  stork  is  not  rare  in  Northern  Persia.  It  breeds  in  the  towns, 
and  I  saw  several  at  Kum,  south  of  Tehran,  sitting  on  their  nests, 
which  were  at  the  summit  of  some  of  the  high  minarets  so  common  in 
Mohanmiadan  graveyards.  Mr.  Dresser,  in  the  'Birds  of  Europe,^ 
states^  on  my  authority,  that  the  stork  is  found  in  Baluchist&n,  but  I 
think  he  has  misunderstood  me,  as  I  do  not  remember  seeing  it  there, 
though  it  may  very  possibly  occur. 

[The  common  stork  is  found  all  over  the  plateau  of  Persia,  building 
its  nests  on  minarets,  and  oftener  on  the  low  towers  which  flank  the 
mud  walls  of  Persian  villages.     It  is  not  molested  by  Persians,  who 
say  that  it  makes  a  pilgrimage  to  Mecca  during  its  annual  winter   . 
absence,  whence  its  name  of  HdjjL — O.  St.  J.] 

346.  *  C.  nigra,  (L.)— Be  F. 

Less  common,  but  I  believe  I  once  saw  some  at  a  distance  in 
Southern  Persia.  Major  St.  John  has  occasionally  noticed  it,  and 
M^n^tries  found  it  common  at  Lankor&n. 

[I  have  twice  noticed  this  bird;  on  both  occasions  near  Tehr&n. 
— O.  St.  J.] 


298  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

346.  *  Tantalus  ibis,  L. 
Caspian  (Pallas,  Eichwald.) 

Family  PLATALEIDifi. 

347.  *  Flatalea  leuoorodia,  L. 

I  once  saw  spoonbills  at  Bampur,  in  Baluchist&n.  They  are,  < 
course,  also  found  on  the  shores  of  the  Caspian. 

Although  I  leave  the  spoonbills  and  ibises  in  the  Herodianes^  I  ai 
far  from  certain  that^  despite  the  characters  of  the  youngs,  their  in 
affinities  are  not  with  the  cranes  (conf.  Oarrod,  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  p.  ^6). 

348.  *  Ibis  faloineUus,  (L.)— De  F. 

De  Filippi  found  the  glossy  ibis  in  large  numbers  on  the  Murdil 
near  the  Caspian. 

STEGANOPODES. 

Family  PHALACROCORACIDiE. 

349.  Phalacrooorax  carbo,  (L.) — De  F. 

1  S'  6w4dar,  Baltlchistin         . .  . .         Jan.  3. 

2  9.  Maskat,  Arabia       ..         ..         ..         ..         Dec  3. 

Excessively  abundant  on  the  Makr&n  coast.  Every  evening  long 
processions  of  cormorants,  flying  at  a  considerable  elevation^  used  U 
pass  from  one  to  the  other  of  the  bays  on  each  side  of  the  isthmus  01 
which  the  village  is  built.  I  heard  that  all  disappeared,  with  most  oj 
the  gulls,  pelicans,  etc.  about  March.  Cormorants  are  very  abundani 
too  on  the  Caspian. 

[Cormorants  abound  on  the  lakes  and  rivers  of  Southern  Persia.— 
O.  St,  J.] 

360.  *  P.  graculus,  (L.) 
Caspian  (Pall.) 

351.  *  P.  pygmfldus,  Pall. — De  P. 

Caspian  (Pall,  Eichw.)     Eichwald  also  gives  P.  tftavius,  PalL,  whid 


A  VES,  299 

I  am  unable  to  identify.     P.  maviuSy  Gmel.  is  P.  pumitatua^  a  New 
Zealand  species. 


Family  SULIDiE. 


352.  *  Sula  fiber,  (L.) 


I  saw  one  or  two  boobies  in  the  Gulf  of  Omfin,  probably  of  this 
species.  Hume  does  not  appear  to  have  noticed  any.  They  are  said  to 
be  as  common  in  parts  of  the  Persian  Gulf  as  they  are  in  the  Bed  Sea. 


Family  PHAETHONTIDiES. 

853.  *  Fhaethon  SBthereus,  L. 

Obtained  by  Hume,  Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  286,  on  the  Baluchistan 
coast.  I  did  not  see  it  there,  though  it  is  common  further  out  at  sea, 
and  is  usually  seen  between  Aden  and  Bombay.  Hume  obtained 
specimens  by  firing  a  shot,  when  these  birds,  with  their  usual  curiosity, 
came  near  to  see  what  was  the  matter. 


Family  PELECANIDiE. 
854.  *  PelecanuB  onoorotaluB,  L. — De  F. 
Common  on  the  Caspian. 

« 

856.  P.  orispufi,  Feld.— De  F. 

I  9.  Gwadar,  Baliichist&n  coast  Jan.  l%. 

Abundant  on  the  coast  of  Baluchist&n,  keeping  to  the  bays  and 
inlets.  The  specimen  obtained,  for  which  I  am  indebted  to  one  of  the 
oflSccrs  belonging  to  the  telegraph,  is  a  fine  female.  This  species  is 
found  also  on  the  Caspian^  and  De  Filippi  gives  it,  doubtfully,  from 
Lake  Gokscha. 

I  saw  a  few  pelicans,  at  a  distance,  on  the  Lakes  of  Niriz  and 
Shir&z^  but  of  course  could  not  determine  the  species. 


300  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

Eichwald  includes  P.  cri^tatus  (=P.  rufeieena)  as  well  as  P.  amoeroUbu 
amongst  the  Caspian  birds^  but  as  he  does  not  mention  P.  crispmij  he 
has  probably  mistaken  the  one  for  the  other.  P.  rm/egcens  may,  how- 
ever, very  probably  occur  in  the  Persian  Gulf. 


ANSERES. 

Family   PHGENICOPTERID^. 
856.  *  FhoBnieopterus  antiquorum,  Tern. 

£aj-i'iurkh  (Bed-goose),  Peniaii. 

Common  on  the  Baluchist&n  coast  and  in  the  Persian  Gulf.  In  the 
latter,  on  one  occasion^  off  the  Island  of  Hormuz^  I  saw  a  flock 
swimming  in  the  sea,  at  least  half-a-mile  from  shore.  Flamingoes 
are  also  said  to  be  common  on  the  Caspian.  Major  St.  John  tells 
me  he  has  seen  a  flock  on  the  Shir&z  plain  in  May. 

P.  minor,  an  African  species,  which  has  been  several  times  observed 
in  India  (compare  Hume^  Stray  Feathers,  i^  p.  31)^  doubtless  visits 
parts  of  Persia. 


Family  ANATIDiE. 
367.  Anas  boschas,  L. 

M4rghdbi,  Peniaii. 

19.  Tehr&n        4000     ••     (!) 

Found  throughout  Persia  in  the  winter  months. 

[Common  everywhere ;  breeds  occasionally  about  Shiriz.  llie  name 
Murghibi,  like  that  of  Urdak  applied  to  the  teal^  is  generic^  and 
used  for  any  waterfowl. — O.  St.  J.] 

858.  A.  strepera,  L. 

A.  Kehuehka,  S.  G.  Cornel.  Beise,  iii,  p.  349,  PL  XXVII. 
I,  3  ^,  3  9.  Tehr4n        4000 

Same  distribution  as  the  last.      S.  G.   GmeUn  described 
KekuscAia  from  GhiUtn. 


AVE 8.  301 

[One  of  tbe  earliest  birds  to  visit  Persia.  I  have  shot  it  near 
Shir&z  in  the  first  week  of  October. — O.  St.  J.] 

359.  Anas  angUBtirostris,  M^n. 

A.  marmarcUa,  Temm. 

I  $.  Bampiir,  Baliichistdn  . .         aooo    . .     April  6. 

The  only  specimen  of  a  duck  secured  in  Baluchistfin  belonged  to 
this  species.  It  has  also  been  obtained  in  Sind  by  Mr.  Hume.  It 
was  originally  described  by  M^n^tries  from  s]>ecimens  procured  at 
Lankor&D,  on  the  Caspian. 

300.  *  Querquedula  orecca,  (L.) 

Urdak,  Persian. 

[The  common  teal  is  found  all  over  Persia  in  winter. — O.  St.  J.] 

361.  *  Q.  ciroia,  (L.) 

Both  species  of  teal  are  found  on  the  Caspian,  and  doubtless  to  be 
seen  in  suitable  localities  throughout  Persia. 

302.  Daflla  acuta,  (L.) 

I.  Tehrdn  ..  4000 

Said  to  be  found  in  Persia  and  on  the  Caspian. 

[Very  common  in  winter.  More  terrestrial  in  its  habits  than  other 
ducks.  Major  Champain  and  I  once  shot  over  a  dozen  in  less  than  an 
hour,  in  the  fields  bordering  the  K&zrun  lake. — O.  St.  J.] 

303.  *  Mareca  Penelope,  (L.) 

Only  noticed,  as  yet,  on  the  Caspian,  by  Eichwald,  and  by  Major 
St.  John  on  the  salt-water  creeks  about  Bushire. 

364.  *  Spatula  clypeata,  (L.) 

I  saw  a  shoveller  at  Bampur ;  it  is  probably  not  rare.  Like  the 
others,  it  is  included  in  the  Caspian  lists  by  Menetries  and  Eich- 
wald. 

305.  *  Fuligula  ruflna,  (Pall.) 

Pallas  states  that  he  received  this  pochard  from  the  neighbourhood 
of  Isfahan. 


i 

/ 


/ 
.' 


I 


302  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

[Breeds  in  the  marshes  about  Shir&z  ;  ducklings  are  often  brou 
iuto  the  city  and  kept  in  the  tanks^  which  occupy  the  middle  of  ev 
courtyard  in  a  Persian  house. — O.  St.  J.] 

300.  *  F.  cristata,  (Bay.) 

« 

307.  *  P.  marila,  (L.) 

308.  F.  ferina,  (L.) 

I  <$.  Near  Isfidi&ii  ..  ..         ..  7500     ..      April  7. 

All  the  above  pochards  are  found  on  the  Caspian  and  doubtk 
locally  throughout  Persia.     F.ferina  I  shot  at  Basrah. 

309.  P.  nyrooa,  (Giild.) 

I.  Near  Isfahdn 7500     ..      March. 

This  also  is  included  in  the  Caspian  lists. 

370.  *  Clangula  glauciony  (L.) 
Caspian. 

371.  P  *  C.  hyemalis,  (Pall.) 

Anas  hyemaliBy  Pall.  Zool.  Ros.  As.  ii,  p.  270. 

This  is  separated  from  the  last  by  Pallas^  Menetries,  and  Eichwalc 
For  want  of  specimens  I  cannot  ascertain  if  it  be  really  distinct.  It  i 
said  to  be  found  on  the  Caspian^  but  to  be  rare.  Pallas,  on  th 
authority  of  S.  G.  Gmelin^  says  that  it  is  met  with  at  all  seasons  c 
the  year  on  the  Persian  mountains  near  the  Caspian. 

Pallas's  description  runs, '  Anasfusca^  suhtus  albiday  rostra  brevi,  specui 
alarum  diviso  iridibusque  albis,  pedibus  lutesceniibu^.^  It  is  said  to  b 
the  size  of  a  teal. 

372.  *  (Edemia  nigra,  (L.) 
Caspian  (Pallas,  Eichwald). 

373.  ♦  (E.  fuBoa,  (L.)— De  F. 

Found  by  De  Filippi  abundant  on  a  pool  of  water  near  Tabri 
and  on  Lake  Gokscha.  Pallas  says  it  is  found  on  the  Caspian  with  th 
preceding,  which  is  less  common. 


AVUS.  303 

374.  MerguB  albelluB,  L. 

i^.  Tehr&n  4000 

The  smew  is  not  included  by  either  M^n^tries  or  Eichwald  amongst 
the  Caspian  species. 

875.  Tadoma  vulpanser,  Flem. 

I,  2.  Tehrin        4000 

Found  also  on  the  Caspian  (Pallas^  Eichwald). 

376.  *  Casarca  rutila,  Pall.— De  F. 

I  saw  the  ruddy  sheldrake  on  more  than  one  occasion  in  Southern 
Persia^  near  Bam,  and  again  on  Shir&z  lake.  It  also  inhabits  the 
Caspian,  and  De  Filippi  saw  it  in  North-western  Persia. 

[The  Brahmani  duck  of  India  is  very  numerous  in  Southern  Persia, 
where  it  breeds. — O.  St.  J.] 

377.  *  Anser  albifronsy  Gm. 

Kdj,  Persian  (generic). 

Caspian  (M^n.) 

378.  *  A.  erythropus,  L. 
Caspian  (Eichw.,  Pallas). 

879.  *  A.  rufiooUis. 

Caspian  (Pall.,  Eich.,  M^n.) 

[One  goose  at  least  is  very  common  in  Persia.  Many  couples  remain 
to  breed  in  the  reeds  round  the  little  lake  of  Dashtiarjan  and  the 
marshes  near  Shir&z,  whence  goslings  are  often  brought  into  the  town. 
I  have  never  seen  them  in  mature  plumage,  nor  been  able  to  shoot  an 
old  bird,  so  cannot  say  to  what  species  they  belong. — O.  St.  J.] 

Singularly  enough,  A,  clnereus,  so  abundant  in  North-western  India, 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  noticed  in  Persia  or  on  the  Caspian  ;  but 
the  list  both  of  geese  and  ducks  is  poor  and  might  doubtless  be  largely 
increased. 


; 


# 


i 


304  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

380.  Cygnus  fertis,  Leach. 

I .  Tehran  . .  . .  . .  4000 

A  young  specimen^  but  I  believe  it  belongs  to  this  species.  Swaz 
as  Pallas  has  already  noted,  abound  on  the  Caspian  in  winter,  and 
am  told  that  on  the  Murd&b,  the  great  backwater  between  Reeht  ai 
Enzeli,  thou&nds  are  sometimes  to  be  seen.  In  the  depths  of  wintc 
when  the  northern  part  of  the  Caspian,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Volg 
is  frozen,  all  the  birds  fly  south ;  and  in  the  inlets  near  Enzeli^  whei 
frosts  are  unknown,  all  the  swimmers  and  waders  collect,  it  is  said,  i 
immense  quantities,  promising  grand  sport  and  many  interesting  caj 
tures  to  anyone  who  will  pass  January  and  February  at  Besht  < 
Enzeli.     These  places  are  easily  accessible  and  fairly  civilized. 

C,  olor  probably  also  inhabits  the  Caspian. 

PYGOPODES, 

Family  COLYMBIDiE. 

381.  *  Fodiceps  cristatus,  (L.) 

Common  everywhere  on  the  Baluchist&n  coast.  I  shot  one  or  twc 
but  did  not  preserve  them.  Hume  gives  a  most  exciting  account  of  1 
grebe  hunt,  (Stray  Feathers,  i,  p.  142).  I  saw  a.  pair  on  the  river  a 
Bampur  in  April.     It  is  found  also  on  the  Caspian  (M€n.,  Eichw.) 

382.  "^  F.  nigricoUis.  Suud. 

Hume  obtained  this  also  on  the  Baluchist&n  coast. 

383.  *  F.  anritus,  (L.) 

P.  Ccupicus,  Gm.,  M^n.  Cat.  Rais.  p.  54. 

Common  on  the  Caspian.  Men^tries  declares  that  P.  Caspieus  i 
difierent  from  P.  auritus,  but  all  other  authors  unite  them. 

[Very  common  in  winter  on  the  K&zrun  lake.  I  shot  several  oni 
year  from  an  Indiarubber  boat. — O.  St.  J.] 

384.  *  P.  minor,  (Gm.) 

I  ^.  Near  Gw&dar,  Baliichistdn     . .  . .  Jan.  25. 

Shot  in  a  small  pool  of  water  in  a  stream.  This  also  inhabits  th< 
Caspian^  and  I  saw  it  occasionally  on  the  Persian  highlands. 


fiEPTILIA. 


Thb  orders  of  Reptilia  represented  in  Persia  are  the  Chelonia^ 
Lacertilia,  and  Ojthidia.  No  crocodiles  are  known  to  occur  in  the 
country;  so  &r  as  I  can  leam^  there  are  none  in  the  Tigris  or 
Euphrates,  and  I  have  been  unable  to  obtain  any  information  of  their 
existence  in  Persian  Baluchist&n.  In  the  neighbourhood  of  Sind 
CrocodUus  palmtrU  is  common^  I  found  it  abundant  in  deep  pools  on 
the  Hab  river  west  of  Kar&chi,  and  heard  of  crocodiles  (doubtless 
the  same  species)  somewhat  farther  west;  but  there  are  few  spots 
in  Baluchistfin  where  the  supply  of  water  throughout  the  year 
furnishes  a  suitable  habitat  for  crocodiles^  and  the  only  locality  where 
their  existence  is  at  all  probable  is  in  some  of  the  great  marshes  on  the 
shores  of  the  Persian  Gulf,  especially  that  lying  along  the  coast  north 
of  Kishm  Island  and  west  of  Bandar  Abb&s.  The  absence  of  crocodiles 
in  the  Shat-el-Arab  renders  their  existence  in  other  rivers  running 
into  the  Persian  Gulf  very  improbable.  It  is  rather  surprising,  however, 
that  none  are  found  there,  since  they  are  said  to  occur,  though  rarely, 
in  Palestine,  and  they  certainly  extend  much  farther  to  the  northward 
in  India  than  the  latitude  of  Basrah. 

The  most  abundant  reptiles  in  Persia  by  far  are  the  lizards,  several 
kinds  of  which  swarm  throughout  the  country.  On  the  semi-desert 
plains  Eremias,  Phrynocejahalua,  and  Agama  are  the  prevailing  forms, 
Acanthx)dactylu%  being  only  met  with  in  the  South,  whilst  a  huge  Uro- 
masticid  {Centroirachelwt)  lives  in  burrows  at  the  edge  of  the  Sistfin  and 
Karm&u  desert,  a  second  is  found  on  the  shores  of  the  Persian  Gulf,  and 
a  true  Uromasiix  inhabits  Mesopotamia.  In  hilly  parts  of  the  country 
Stellio  and   Oviiops  prevail,  the  former  keeping  much  to  rocks,  but 

VOL.  n.  X 


306  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

one  species  being  also  found  on  old  walls.  The  (Geckos  and  Scincids 
are  less  numerously  represented  than  the  Agamoids  and  IjaoertiaiiBy 
but  still  are  not  rare.  Of  snakes  the  prevailing  forma  are  species  of 
Paammo/jhis  and  Zamenis,  and^  in  Northern  Persia  especially,  JVopidO' 
nofus  iydrus.  Poisonous  snakes  are  less  abundant,  the  only  common 
one  being  EcAis  carinatus.  All  which  were  obtained  belongs  to  the 
Vi])erul/p,  but  poisonous  Coluhrida  undoubtedly  exist.  Land  tortoiMS 
are  common,  and  a  species  of  Clemmya  abounds  in  suitable  localities. 

The  present  list  adds  considerably  to  the  number  of  reptiles  known 
to  exist  in  Persia.  The  forms  inhabiting  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
Caspian  have  mostly  been  collected  and  described  by  varioas  Russian 
naturalists,  Pallas,  S.  G.  Gmelin,  M^n^tries,  Eichwald,  and  Strauch, 
but  the  only  collections  previously  made  in  the  central  and  southern 
parts  of  the  country  appear  to  have  been  those  of  Olivier,  Ancher-Eloy, 
Kotschy,  Keyserling,  De  Filippi,  and  Doria  \ 


CHELONIA. 

Family  TESTUDINIDiE. 
1.  Testudo  Ibera,  Pall. — De.  P. 

T,  Ihera,  Pall.  Zuog.  Bos.  Ab.  iii,  p.  i8,  PI.  II,  fig.  i,  3  (1831).— Eichwald,  Faan. 

Canp.  Cttuc.  p.  47,  PI.  V,  VI. — De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  35a. 
T,  ecaudata^  Pall.  Zoog.  Ros.  Ab.  iii,  p.  19,  PI.  Ill,  fign.  i,  a. 
T,  Mauritanica,  Dum.  et  Bibr.  Erp.  G^n.  ii,  p.  44  (1835). 
T,  jmtilla*,  Shaw  apud  Strauoh,  Mem.  Acad.  Sd.  St.  Pet.  1865,  viii.  No.  13, 

p.  14,  nee  Linn. 
T,  Grosca,  partim,  Gray,  Cat.  Shield  Rept.  p.  xo. 

1-6.  Karm&Q  ..  ..  5000 

Dr.  Gray  unites  this  species  with  S,  Graca.  It  appears  to  me  to 
differ  in  colour^  in  the  shape  of  the  plates,  and  in  being  less  convex  and 
more  oblong.  It  is  kept  separate  by  the  authors  of  the  Erp^iologie 
GSn^rale,  and  by  Strauch  in  his  work  on  tortoises. 

'  See  Introduction,  pp.  3-6. 

*  The  T.  puillia  of  Linnseos  was  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  amongBt  other 
charactera  the  fore  and  hind  legs  were  said  to  bo  naked  and  without  scalei^  whilrt  the 
colouration  difiers  widely  firom  that  of  T.  Ibera. 


REPTILIA,  307 

T,  eeaudata^  Pall.,  was  described  from  a  drawing  made  by  S.  G. 
Gmelin  of  a  specimen  obtained  on  the  south  shore  of  the  Caspian.  It 
was  said  to  have  five  toes  on  all  its  feet,  but  the  additional  toe  on  each 
hind  foot  may  very  possibly  be  attributed  to  an  error  of  the  draughts- 
man. 

The  name  Ibera  applied  to  this  species  by  Pallas  is  derived  not  fix>m 
Spain^  but  from  another  coimtry  anciently  also  called  Iberia,  viz. 
Georgia. 

I  was  at  first  disposed  to  consider  the  South  Persian  Testudo  a 
distinct  species  from  T.  Ibera,  from  ordinary  specimens  of  which  it 
difiers  in  the  form  of  the  sternal  plates,  the  pectorals  and  prseanals 
being  very  short  along  the  median  suture.  In  young  specimens  the 
median  suture  between  the  pectoral  shields  is  about  half  the  length  of 
that  between  the  gulars  and  postg^ars,  which  are  equal  to  each  other ; 
in  adults  the  proportion  is  still  less,  about  one  quarter.  The  median 
abdominal  suture  is  always  about  one-third  the  length  of  the  sternum. 
The  suture  between  the  prseanals  is  about  one-third  as  long  as  that 
between  the  anals.  The  transverse  sutm*e  between  the  postgulars  and 
pectorals  is  much  curved,  that  between  the  abdominals  and  prseanals  is 
also  curved. 

Another  circumstance  which  induced  me  to  suspect  that  the  tortoise 
of  Southern  Persia  difiered  from  that  of  the  North  was  pointed  out  to 
me  by  Major  St.  John.  In  the  first-named  region  the  common 
land  tortoise  inhabits  barren  hill-sides  and  semi-desert  plains  far  from 
cultivation.  In  Northern  Persia  it  is  chiefly  foimd  in  woods  and 
gardens. 

On  comparing  my  specimens,  however,  at  the  Zoological  Crardens 
with  a  large  series  of  living  T.  Ibera  {v,  Mauritanica)  from  various  parts 
of  Southern  Europe  and  Northern  Africa,  I  found  that  there  was 
no  constant  diflerence,  some  of  the  African  specimens  having  the  same 
form  of  sternal  plates  as  those  from  Persia. 

Tortoises  are  common  throughout  Persia.  All  my  specimens  are 
from  Karm&n^  but  I  frequently  saw  and  examined  others  near  Sbir&z 
and  on  the  road  from  Shir&z  to  Isfahan,  which  appeared  to  differ  in  no 
respect  from  those  collected.  I  saw  none  east  of  Karman,  and  I  did 
not  meet  with  any  in  Northern  Persia,  though  they  are  far  from  rare. 


X  2 


308  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

2.  *  T.  (Hamopua^)  Horslleldi,  Gray. 

Tatudo  Hcr^fiddii,  Graj,  Cat.  Tort.  Croo.  etc  Erit.  Muo.  1844,  p.  7.- 
Shield  Bept  p.  7,  PL  I.— Gonther,  Rept  Brit.  Ind.  p.  7. 

BotnopuB  Bumetiit  Blyth,  J.  A.  S.  B.  1853,  xrii,  p.  64a. 

Tettudindla  Hor^fiddii,  Gray,  P.Z.S.  1870,  p.  658.— 811pp.  CSai.  Shidd  BcpC 
Brit.  Mm.  p.  I  a. — ^Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  Ser.  4,  ii,  p.  143,  Fefau  1873. 

Dr.  Gray  has  referred  to  this  species  two  carapaces  obtained  hj 
General  Goldsmid's  party  near  Duruh,  north  of  Sistfin,  and  presented 
to  the  British  Museum^  where  I  have  examined  them.  Althongb  the 
animal  has  not  been  preserved,  and  consequently  the  number  of  the 
claws  on  the  fore-feet^  the  peculiar  character  of  this  iyi>ej  cannot  be 
determined,  the  form  of  the  carapace  agrees  well  with  that  of  T.  Hcn^ 
Jieldif  and  Dr.  Gray  is  probably  right  in  referring  these  specimens 
to  that  species,  the  range  of  which  is  thus  shown  to  extend  into 
North-eastern  Persia. 

The  Sind  tortoise,  T.  LeitAiy  Giinther,  P.Z.S.  1869,  p.  502  (sub- 
sequently considered  by  Dr.  Giinther  to  be  probably  identical  with 
T.  margi7iata\  may  perhaps  be  found  in  Baltichist&n,  but  I  did  not 
meet  with  it. 


Family  EMYDIDJE. 
3.  Emys  orbicularis,  (L.)— De  F. 

T€$tudo  orbicularis,  L.  Syst.  Nat.  1766,  i,  p.  351,  No.  5.  — Gm.  SyBi.  Nat  i. 

pt.  3,  p.  1039. — P*^'  Zoog.  R08.  As.  iii,  p.  17. 
T,  Europcta,  Schneider,  Schildk.  p.  323,  (1783). 
Cutudo  Earopcea,  Dum.  et  Bibr.  Erp.  G^n.  ii,  p.  220, — Gray,  Syn.  B^t.  p.  19. 

— De  F.  Viag.  in  Pen.  pp.  80,  35a,  etc. 
Lutremys  EuropcBa,  Gray,  Cat^  Shield  Bept.  p.  40. — Supp.  Gat.  Shield  Bept. 

p.  aa. 
Emys  lutaria,  Strauch,  Mem.  Acad.  Sd.  St.  Pet.  1865,  Tiii,  No.  13,  p.  49,  neo 

Testudo  lutaria,  L. 

1-5.  Enzeli,  on  the  Caspian  Sea. 

^  I  doabt  whether  the  division  of  the  genus  Testudo,  on  account  of  tlie  number  of 
claws  on  the  ibre-feet,  first  proposed  by  Dum^ril  and  Bibron,  is  quite  naturaL  The 
character  appears  to  me  scarcely  of  generic  importance.  But  if  the  Afiican  species  haTing 
four  toes  on  the  fore-feet  be  made  into  a  distinct  genus  Ilomopus,  I  fail  to  peroeiTe  any 
object  to  be  gained  by  creating  an  additional  genus  for  the  A%han  tortoise  as  proposad 
by  Dr.  Gray. 


REPTILIA,  309 

This  species  is  not  known  to  be  found,  in  Persia,  anywhere  except 
on  the  shores  of  the  Caspian.  It  abounds  at  Enzeli  in  the  gpreat 
sheet  of  shallow  water  called  the  Murd&b  and  the  various  streams 
and  creeks  running  into  it.  According  to  De  Filippi,  it  is  usually  to 
be  met  with  in  brackish  waters,  Clemmys  Caspia  inhabiting  running 
streams  of  fresh  water. 

The  Caspian  variety  of  the  common  European  Emys  is  a  very  beauti- 
ful tortoise :  the  carapace  above  is  dark  olive,  finely  and  closely  dotted 
over  with  yellow  spots,  which  tend  to  form  radiating  lines  on  the 
vertebral  and  costal  plates ;  the  sternum  is  uniformly  coloured  yellow. 
The  head  and  limbs  are  also  dark  olive,  finely  spotted  and  streaked 
with  yellow.  It  grows  to  a  considerable  size ;  I  saw  specimens  nearly 
a  foot  long. 

I  cannot  understand  why  this  species,  which  appears  to  be  unmis- 
takably the  Teatudo  orbicularis  of  Linnaeus,  should  be  known  to  all 
European  naturalists  by  Schneider's  later  name,  which  is  in  no  way 
preferable.  Dr.  Gray,  in  his  Catalogue  of  Shield  Reptiles,  quotes  the 
Linnsean  title  as  a  synonjrm  of  that  given  seventeen  years  later  by 
Schneider.  The  name  Emys  Interna  employed  by  Strauch  is  by  him 
ascribed  to  Marsili,  Danubius  perlustr.  iv,  p.  91,  tab.  3a  and  33,  a 
work  which  I  have  not  succeeded  in  finding.  The  Testudo  lutaria  of 
LinnsBUS  is  evidently  a  distinct  form ;  it  is  said  to  be  from  India,  and 
to  be  carinate  on  the  three  hinder  plates. 


4.  Clemmys  Caspia,  (S.  Q.  QmeL) — De  F. 

Teaudo  Coipica,  S.  G.  Omel.  Beue  d.  Biuflland,  iii,  jk  59,  PI.  X,  XI. 

T,  OroRca,  PaU.  Zoog.  Bos.  As.  iii,  p.  17. 

Emy8  CatpiOt  Eichwald,  Zool.  Spec.  Boss.  Pol.  iii.  p.  196. — ^Dum.  et  Bibr, 

Erp.  Gr^n.  ii,  p.  255,  partim.  —  Oray,  Cat.  Shield  Bept.  p.  2a,  partdm. — De 

F.  Yiag,  in  Persia,  pp.  88,  108,  353,  etc. 
Clemmys  Ccuptoa,  Eichw.  Faun.  Gasp.  Gauc.  p«  45,  PI.  Ill,  lY. — Strauch, 

Mem.  Acad.  Sci.  St.  Pet.  viii.  No.  13,  p.  73. 
E,  Qrayi\  Giinther,  P.  Z.  a  1869,  p.  504,  PI.  XXXVIII. 
Emmenia  Qrayi,  Qtnj^  Supp^  Gat.  Shield  Bept.  Brit.  Mas.  p.  38. 

^  The  locality  of  the  type  presented  by  Dr.  Leith  to  the  British  Museum  was  Bossoniy 
evidently  the  port  of  that  name  (more  oorreotly  writtep  Basrah)  on  the  Shat-el-Arab,  the 
stream  formed  by  the  union  of  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates.  It  is  well  to  note  this,  because 
all  the  other  specimens  presented  by  Dr.  Leith  at  the  same  time  were  from  Western 
India. 


310  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

i-ii.  Near  Shiiis,  partly  from  Tkng-i-Kerim,  sef^enty  milee  aait  d 
ShirtLs,  partly  from  the  Bandtoiir  valley,  near  PecMpdif. 
I  a.  Safed  Rdd,  south  of  Besht,  North  Perrijk 
13.  Murd&b,  near  Enzeli,  od  the  Caspiaii  Sea. 

The  various  authors  who  have  referred  the  common  demmys^  of 
Southern  Europe  to  this  species  have  evidently  been    unaoquunted 
with  the  young  of  the  Caspian  and  Mesopotamian  form,  which  is  well 
distinguished  by  its  peculiar  colouration,  and  a  specimen  of  which,  re- 
ceived in  the  British  Museum  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Basnh^  was 
recognised  as  distinct  by  Dr.  Giinther,  and  named  by  him  E.  Orofu 
This  was  subsequently  made  the  type  of  Dr.  Gray's  genus  J^menia; 
but  although  the  specific  difference  is  unquestionable,  I  cannot  think 
the  Eastern  form  deserving  of  generic  separation,  for  the  two  species 
are  very  closely  allied.     Indeed^  in  the  adults,  the  only  characters  by 
which  the  forms  can  be  certainly  recognised  are  the  colours  of  the 
under  part  of  the  shelly  and  especially  of  the  marginal  shields  just 
below  the  lateral  edge  of  the  carapace.   In  every  specimen  of  C.  Qupia 
which  I  have  examined,  young  or  old^  the  portions  of  the  fourth,  fifthi 
sixth,  and  seventh  marginal  shields  (counting  from  the  front)  which 
are  bent  over  between  the  axillary  and  inguinal  incisions  to  meet  the 
shields  of  the  sternum,  are  yellow,  marked  with  two  black  spots  on 
each  shield.     In  the  European  and  Levant  form,  the  oldest  name  for 
which  appears  to  be  K  leprosa  2,  Schweigger,  this  is  never  the  case,  the 
inferior  portion  of  the  shields  in  question  being  of  a  imiformly  dusky 
brown,  or  else  brown  with  irregular  patches  of  yellow.     The  sternal 
shields  themselves,  too,  in  C.  Caspia,  are  dusky  brown  in  the  young, 
with  narrow  yellow  margins,  and  in  older  specimens  the  yellow  covers 
a  larger  portion  of  the  surface,  there  being  usually  a  black  patch  in 
the  middle  of  each  plate,  whilst  in  the  young  of  C  leprosa  the  sternum 

^  As  Strauch  has  pointed  out,  the  type  of  the  genus  Emy8  of  Wagner  was  S. 
Europcea  (sJ?.  orbicvlaria) ;  and  the  forms  referred  by  Dum^ril  and  Bibran,  Gray 
and  others,  to  Emys  are  those  constituting  Wagler's  genus  Clemmys,  The  genus  JSbyt 
was  first  proposed  by  Dum^ril,  who,  however,  included  all  the  freah^w^ter  tortoisea 
{EmydidoB  and  Trionicidce),  and  named  no  typical  species.  Wagler  divided  the  genus 
into  several,  which  have  been  adopted  more  or  less  by  subsequent  writers,  and  he  fint 
defined  the  genus  as  now  admitted. 

'  Dum^ril  and  Bibron  appear  to  have  united  with  0,  Catpia  the  form  inhaibiting  Sonth-^ 
eastern  Europe  and  Asia  Minor,  and  they  distinguished  this  firom  the  spedea  ibimd  in 
Spiun  and  Northern  Africa,  thoir  E,  tigriz.  If  this  distinction  holds  good,  the  lattsr  ia 
probably  the  true  C  hproaa,  whilst  the  Levant  form  must  take  Gray's  name  C.  vklfforU^ 
published  in  1831,  Syn.  Rept.  p.  24,  PI.  lY. 


REPTILIA.  311 

appears  to  be  as  a  rule  uniformlj  coloured,  and  in  older  shells  the  dis- 
tribution of  the  pale  and  dark  colours  is  less  regular  than  in  C,  Caspia, 
the  transverse  sutures  being  frequently  the  portions  which  remain 
darkest.  So  far  too  as  I  can  judge  from  the  very  feir  series  of  speci- 
mens in  the  British  Museum,  the  nuchal  plate  in  adults  of  C.  leprosa 
is  always  longer  than  broad,  in  C,  Caspia  it  is  as  broad  as  long,  or  the 
1)readth  slightly  exceeds  the  length.  The  markings  on  the  neck  and 
limbs  consist  in  both  forms  of  longitudinal  yellow  lines;  these  seem  to 
be  rather  coarser  in  C,  leprosa  than  in  C.  Caspia, 

But  it  is  in  the  young  shell  that  the  distinctions  between  the  two 
forms  are  most  marked.  Dum^ril  and  Bibron  describe  the  young  (of 
the  European  tortoise  evidently)  as  tricarinate,  but  this  character 
appears  not  to  be  constant,  at  least  specimens  from  the  Levant  in  the 
British  Museum  do  not  show  it,  whilst  a  specimen  in  which  the  lateral 
keels  are  well  developed  may  perhaps  be  somewhat  distorted.  It  is 
possible  that  two  forms  are  still  confounded  under  C.  leprosa^  in  one  of 
which  the  young  is  tricarinate,  in  the  other  destitute  of  lateral  keels, 
but  this  I  have  no  means  of  determining.  The  central  keel,  however, 
does  appear  always  to  be  more  developed  in  C.  leprosa  than  in  C.  Caspia. 
But  the  principal  distinction  of  the  Eastern  species  can  only  be  seen 
when  the  epidermal  shields  are  worn  thin,  or  when  they  have  been  re- 
moved, and  then  upon  the  blackish  surface  of  the  bone-plates  beneath 
there  is  seen  a  double  whitish  ring,  somewhat  like  a  distorted  figure  of 
8,  on  each  of  the  vertebral  and  costal  shields,  and  a  single  ring  on  each 
of  the  marginals.  Lines  run  out  from  some  of  the  angles  of  the  rings 
to  the  margins  of  the  shield,  so  that  on  some  there  is  almost  a  double 
figure  of  8.  On  the  lateral  marginals  below  the  angle  of  the  carapace 
the  two  characteristic  black  spots  are  also  found,  on  removing  the  epi- 
dermal shield,  to  be  due  to  the  colouration  of  the  bone-plates  below. 

That  this  is  really  Gmelin's  species  is  shown  by  the  following  &cts. 
Gmelin's  type,  described  in  the  '  Beise  durch  Riissland,'  was  procured 
in  a  stream  called  the  Pusahat,  close  to  the  town  of  Shamaki,  west  of 
B&ku,  on  the  Caspian,  and  the  same  form  was  found,  as  stated  by 
Gmelin  himself,  in  Ghil&n.  The  plates  in  Gmelin's  work  are  coarsely 
executed,  and  PI.  X,  representing  the  upper  part  of  the  shell,  might 
have  been  taken  as  well  from  JEmys  orbicularis  {E.  Europaa)  as  from 
C.  Caspia^  but  PI.  XI,  in  which  the  sternum  is  figured,  is  evidently, 
from  the  colouration,  taken  from  the  Caspian  ClemmySy  the  peculiar 
black  spots  on  the  marginal  plates  being  clearly  shown.  Plates  III  and 


I  :i  zicz,:*?  T  v^  FiisiJL 


*i«ir*  zr-'irSL'.  r'.m.  LJUiiBsc^  "21^  ^:iriii=isi:iL  <f  t&e  soft  ports  is  inconect, 
lii  -irt  •vjnxzi  J*  r«:r*«KL:-!-i  m  rxf:-:«ai>  duk.  vkidi  is  not  die 
!:i:Sr  :^  ioiii  K*:'!rzii^!*:s  ii«  I  laTif  <£acuE3ed :  fed  the  nsclul  pkte  if 
iitflr!?  iiiiiikr^.  jcji  'za   ics^^sZiX^iXx  caA  ipcss  ju«  sbown  on  the 

Tbr*  rr:  f^.;<c=:H>-«  :c~cjdzed  :t  ex  ia  GbiSiii,  anr  Besht  and 
TrTrrjL  url,  \-=rj:  T-.^nLZ-  JCTW  cxaAhr  widi  tliOBe  obtauned  in 
^•.rrlifzTz.  PrrsJA.  izii  -wii  ir  tTT«es  rf  J",  (rwyi  from  tlie  £iiphzmteflL 
Tz^'jt  C^'TBUii  ^b'.fi^Is  is  tbe  strnzzs  nmnrng  into  the  Caspisn  in 
GLfir^  ir:  *. **»  iri^ks  &r:czi  Bdsci:*  sad.  aeondiiig  to  I>e  FiUppi,  in 
rzr^zlz^  -^k^ZkTs  *iir:c2c:«i  &et:-csix  It  is  eqnsUr  common  in  the 
r.T^rrs  -.i  S.::ti.-rm  ???».  &nd  pTclabh-  in  Mesopotamia,  for  it 
ex:  irz.\\j  &>•:  -ir. i«  in  thr  SLa:-«^I-Arat>  st  Bssnh,  whence  a  fine  series 
LjkS  'ivl'.r  r^oentlr  l«{i  pr:c:ire«i  f:r  the  Zocl<^icil  Gardens  in  London. 
Id  tlv:  Ban  iazir  vxler  I  ssw  kiadrcds  on  the  banks  of  the  stresms 
which  trav«:ra<  the  plain  of  Persepolis.  I  did  not  meet  with  this 
Fjj^;]^  more  than  i  cc  milrs  east  of  Shiriz. 

Major  St.  John  informs  me  that  he  has  seen  a  fiesh-water  tortoise, 
prJiably  a  C7^tfiwy*,  in  great  numbers,  on  the  banks  of  a  small  brack- 
ish (stream  near  Kizrun.  on  the  road  between  Boshiie  and  Shiiix. 
T\\*ty  were  lar^rer  than  C.  Ca^pia  nsoallj  is  near  Shiriz,  and  thej 
want/.fl  the  brii^ht  green  and  rellow  colouring  of  the  soft  parts.  This 
last  difference  may  have  been  due  to  age,  the  colours  being  less  distinct 
in  oMer  h-jK-cimens,  but  it  is  possible  that  the  K&zriin  form  may  be 
distinct.  Major  St.  John  tells  me  that,  on  a  subsequent  occasion, 
a  sf.'arch  for  this  tortoise  at  the  salt  lake  near  KiLzrun  was  unso<y 
cessful. 


Family  TEIONYCIDiE. 
6.  Trionyx  Suphraticus,  (Daudin). 

TrHudo  Euphratiea,  Daad.  Hist.  Nat.  Rept.  ii,  p.  305,  (z8oa). 

T.  rtifefU,  Olivier,  Voy.  Emp.  Othm*  Eg.  et  Pen.  iii,  p.  454,  PL  XU,  (1807)* 

Trionyx  Euphraticu$,  Qnj,  Sjnope.  Rept.  p.  48. 

OymnopiiM  Kuphraticut,  Dmn.  et  Bibr.  Erp.  O^n.  ii,  p.  498. 

Trumyx  rafehi,  Qnj,  Cat.  Shield  Rept.  p.  65,  PI.  XXX. 

Hafetui  £uphraHeui,  Qnj,  Supp.  Cat.  Shield  Rept.  p.  104* 

Trionyx  ro/tiht,  Strauohi  Mem.  Aoad.  Sd.  St.  Pet.  18651  viii,  No«  i^  p.  ijo. 


REP  TI LI  A.  313 

This  species,  which  inhabits  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates,  must  be  found 
in  the  large  streams  running  into  those  rivers  from  the  eastward,  the 
E^run  for  instance,  and  there  cannot  I  think  be  much  doubt  of  the 
propriety  of  including  it  in  the  Persian  fauna.  I  do  not  know  if  it 
inhabits  the  Shat-el-Arab,  the  estuary  formed  by  the  united  rivers, 
the  left  bank  of  which  for  some  distance  from  the  mouth  belongs  to 
Persia. 


LACERTILIA. 

Family  AQAKTDjE. 
6.  Calotes  versioolor,  (Daudin). 

Dum.  et  Bibr.  Erp.  Gr^n.  iv,  p.  405. — Giintheri  Rept.  Brit.  Ind.  p.  140. 

I.  Khor  Askin,  north  of  Bamposht,  BaliiohiBtto     . .         3000 
a-6.  Kalftg^n,  BaliSchistfa  3500 

I  was  somewhat  surprised  at  finding  this  Indian  tree-lizard  in 
Baluchist&n,  for  it  extends  &r  to  the  east  of  India,  and  even  to  China^ 
and  as  a  rule  the  animals  (forms  of  world-wide  distribution  excepted) 
which  range  from  the  Malay  coimtries  into  India  are  not  found  even 
in  Western  India.  Pratincola  caprata^  however,  affords  one  instance  of 
a  species  ranging  both  east  and  west  of  India,  and  Calotes  versicolor  is 
another.     The  latter  had  previously  been  brought  from  Afghfinist&n. 

I  only  met  with  this  species  twice,  and  on  both  occasions  it  was 
foimd  on  date-palms.  As  the  plantations  of  these  palms  are  few  in 
number  and  many  miles  intervene  between  them,  it  is  very  difficult 
to  account  for  the  appearance  of  these  lizards,  unless  we  suppose  them 
to  have  inhabited  the  country  at  a  time  when  it  was  more  covered  with 
wood  than  is  the  case  at  present.  It  is  quite  true,  as  stated  by  Dr. 
Stoliczka,  J.  A.  S.  B.  187^^  p.  no,  that  Calotes  is  often  not  much  more 
arboreal  than  terrestrial  in  its  habits.  I  have  repeatedly  seen  and  cap- 
tured  specimens  on  the  groimd^  but  always,  I  thinJc,  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  trees.  I  do  not  remember  meeting  with  it  in  open  plains 
away  from  trees  or  large  bushes,  as  I  have  often  seen  Sitana  PondU 
ceriana^  and  I  cannot  conceive  a  Calotes  crossing  the  desert  plains 
and  barren  rocky  hills  of  Sind  and  Baluchistfin  to  reach  patches  of 
date  cultivation.     In  the  geological  portion  of  this  work,  however, 


314 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PER8I± 


details  are  given  to  show  the  probability  of  a  more  moist  dimite 
having  formerly  existed  in  Persia  and  Baltichist&n,  and  it  is  rason- 
able  to  suppose  that  this  lizard  migrated  into  the  oomitEy  whilst  tkis 
was  the  case.  Many  of  the  date-groves  are  probably  of  veiy  higfc 
antiquity^  and  the  Calotea  may  have  inhabited  them  for  ages. 

I  cannot  say  how  far  this  species  extends  to  the  westward  in  Bsto- 
chist&n  ;  it  should  be  looked  for  in  the  country  near  Bushire  and  die 
date-groves  of  Mesopotamia. 


7.  Agama  agUis,  Olivier. — De  F. 

Olivier,  Voy.  Emp.  Othm.  Eg.  et  Pers.  ii,  p.  428,  PI.  XXIX,  ^.  r.— Don. 
et  Bibr.  Erp.  G<5n.  iv,  p.  496.  — De  F.  Viag.  in  Pew.  p.  353. — Ajudamm, 
P.  Z.  S.  1872,  p.  384. 

1-8.  Sam&n,  Dosht,  west  of  Gw^Ular,  BaliichistAn  

9-1 1.  Bahii  EaUt,  BaluchiBUn 


12-16.  Mand,  Baluchist&n 

1 7.  Ispidun,  near  Mand,  BaliichiaUn 
18,  19.  Zamran,  BaliichistAn 
ao,  21.  Ghistigan*  Bampusht,  BaldohisUn 
12-1^,  Isfandak,  Baliichist&n 

35.  Dizak,  Baltichistin 
26-29.  Sib,  west  of  Dizak,  Baluchistan  . . 
30,  31.  Magas        

32.  Between  Magas  and  Bampur,  Baldchist&n 
33)  34*  Near  Rig&n,  Narmashir,  south-eastern  Persia 

35>  Kannan      ••  ..         ..         .. 

36-42.  Southern  Persia  (labels  illegible). 

43.  Ghilan,  northern  Persia 


700 
zooo 


3000 
3000 
4000 
4000 

4500 

3000 
2500 

5000 


This  is  the  most  common  and  widely  spread  of  the  Agamoid  lizards 
of  Persia ;  indeed  amongst  all  the  Persian  lizards  I  know  of  there  is 
but  one,  Eremidspardalis^  which  has  an  equally  extensive  range  through- 
out the  country.  Agama  agilia  is  to  be  found  equally  on  rocky  hills  and 
open  plains^  lurking  in  the  clefts  of  the  rocks  or  under  roots  of  bushes. 
It  is  active  in  its  movements,  running  with  considerable  speed.  So  fiur 
as  I  have  seen,  it  never  ascends  trees  or  bushes,  but  is  always  to  be 
found  on  the  ground ;  its  original  discoverer  however,  Olivier,  says 
that  he  observed  it  on  shrubs  near  Baghdad.  I  cannot  help  suggest- 
ing that  he  may  have  confounded  the  habits  of  this  species  with  tihiose 
of  the  nearly  allied  Trapelm  ruderatm. 

I  do  not  remember  noticing  A,  agilh  at  any  considerable  elevati<m 
above  the  sea,  even  in  Southern  Persia,  as  a  rule^  I  think,  not  above 


REPTILIA.  316 

6000  feet,  and  it  was  met  with  throughout  Baluchist&n  as  low  as  the 
sea  level.  It  has  been  obtained  in  the  Punjab  in  India  by  Theobald, 
and  I  myself  collected  specimens  in  Sind^  near  Kar&chi. 

The  following  notes  of  the  colouration  are  taken  from  living 
specimens.  Upper  parts  dark  sandy^  with  a  bluish  tinge  on  the  scales 
of  the  back ;  the  limbs  above  with  faintly-marked  pale  narrow  cross 
bands;  tail  with  transverse  dark  bands  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  apart, 
becoming  more  distinct  and  black  about  the  tip.  Sides  of  body  dull 
cobalt  blue  speckled  with  sandy.  Abdomen  whitish,  often  with  darker 
longitudinal  bands  more  or  less  distinctly  marked.  Chin  mottled 
bluish  and  sandy  or  dusky;  throat  pale  blue;  a  black  fold  before 
each  shoulder. 

In  spring  the  blue  colouration  becomes  richer  and  darker,  the  chin, 
throat,  and  sides  of  the  belly  becoming  dark  ultramarine,  more  or  less 
mottled  with  white.  Some  specimens  have  claret-coloured  spots  on 
the  back,  forming  imperfect  cross-bands.  Young  specimens  are  some- 
times transversely  banded  with  dark  brown  on  the  back,  the  cross- 
bands  being  more  or  less  broken  up  by  lighter  patches. 


8.  Trapelus  ruderatus,  (01i^der). — De  F. 

Agama  niderata,  Olivier,  Voy.  Emp.  Othm.  Eg.  et  Pers.  ii,  p.  429,  PL  XXIX, 

A.  muiabilie,  Dam.  et  Bibr.  Erp.  G^n.  iv,  p.  505  pariim,  nee  Merr.  Syst. 

Amph.  p.  50. 
Trapeka  rudercUa,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  258. 
Agatna  Lestona,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  353. 
Trapelus  ruderatus,  Anderson,  P.  Z.  S.  1872,  p.  384. 

1-8.  Near  Shir&z  . .         . .         4000 

9.  Near  Isfah&n         . .  . .         5000 

I  have  examined  the  type  of  Agama  Lessonay  De  F,,  in  the  Turin 
Museum.  The  whole  of  the  dorsal  scales,  whether  enlarged  or  not, 
are  distinctly  keeled,  but  I  cannot  consider  this  as  a  sjpecific  character, 
because  I  find  that  there  is  great  variation  amongst  the  specimens  of 
jT.  ruderatus  from  one  locality,  some  having  all  the  scales  or  nearly  all 
distinctly  keeled,  whilst  in  others  only  a  few  are  carinate.  Usually 
the  keeled  scales  have  a  fresher  appearance,  whilst  those  which  are  not 
keeled  have  a  worn  rounded  look,  as  if  all  the  scales  were  normally 
keeled  but  the  keels  wear  off. 


31 G  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  FSersian  lizard  is  the  type  ot 
Agama  ruderata  of  Olivier,  and  therefore  even  if  the  ^gyptaan  form  be 
separated,  Olivier's  name  must  be  retained  for  the  Pendan  aninnL 
Judging  from  the  specimens  from  North-eaatem  Africa  in  the  Bntidi 
Museum,  I  am  disposed  to  consider  that  they  are  distiiigiuahed  from 
the  Persian  lizards  by  the  back  being  mostly  coyered  with  equal-sind 
scales  in  transverse  rows  with  only  a  few  distinctly  keeled  huger  sciki 
scattered  singly  here  and  there,  whilst  in  the  true  T.  ruderatui  laiger 
and  smaller  scales  are  most  irregularly  mixed,  and  the  smaller  soalei 
are  neither  uniform  in  size,  nor  arranged  in  distinct  rows.  Tltf 
Egyptian  species,  if  it  be,  as  I  think  it  isj  distinct,  will  retain  tbe 
name  of  T.  mntabilU^  Merr. 

On  the  whole,  my  specimens  agree  fairly  with  Dr.  Anderscm's 
description  of  those  obtained  by  him  from  Shirfiz^  except  that  the  tul 
is  about  i^  times  the  length  of  the  head  and  body,  instead  of  a  littk 
less  than  twice  the  lengthy  and  that  I  think  the  number  of  oblique 
rows  of  ventral  scales  between  the  fore-legs,  14,  must  be  a  misprint  for 
24.  It  is^  however,  very  difficult  to  specify  any  exact  nomber,  no  two 
people  in  all  probability  woidd  count  the  same  in  any  given  specimen. 
Tlie  largest  specimen  I  possess  measures  7.5  inches,  of  which  the  tul 
from  the  anus  measures  4.1,  fore-limb  1.7,  hind-limb  2.25. 

The  colour  when  fresh  was  sandy^  with  transverse  bands  formed  of 
larg^  subquadrate  spots  on  the  back ;  these  are  usually  red,  but  some- 
times dusky^  the  animal  having  probably  the  power  of  changing  the 
colour.  Tail  with  irregular  cross-bands  often  indistinct.  There  are 
five  transverse  bands  between  the  head  and  the  thighs^  the  anterior 
one  being  on  the  neck. 

I  only  met  with  Trapelus  ntderaiuB  near  Shir&z  and  Isfahan  ;  Ander- 
son received  it  from  Tehr&n.  The  type  of  Agama  Le^sana  was  from 
near  Isfah&n.  I  did  not  notice  this  species  far  east  of  Shirfiz.  It  is 
very  often  found  on  bushes,  indeed  I  saw  it  more  commonly  in  this 
position  than  on  the  ground.  The  greater  portion  of  the  specimens 
captured  were  females^  and  they  appear  to  have  been  engaged  in  laying 
eggs,  which  may  possibly  have  been  connected  with  their  being  found 
on  bushes.  In  the  oviducts  of  one  I  find  as  many  as  thirteen  eggs 
about  half-an-inch  long. 


REPTILIA,  317 

9.  Stellio  nuptus,  De  F.  R.  XIX,  fig.  i. 

Agama  nupia,  De  F.  Giornale  dell'  I.  B.  Ist.  Lomb.  vi,  1843. 

Stellio  carinatut,  A.  Dam.  Cat.  M^th.  Bept.  Mus.  Par.  p.  107, 1851 ;  Arcli. 

MuB.  Hist.  Nat.  viii,  p.  580. 
8,  nupiiu,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Penia,  p.  352. 

I.  Near  Sib,  west  of  Dizak 4000 

a-5.  South-eait  of  Big4n,  NarmaBhir,  south-eastern  Persia  3000 

6-10.  Karm&n  •  5000 

II.  Tebnid,  near  Karm&n  5000 

II.  South-east  of  Kaim&n  ..         5500 

13.  NorthofShiria         (t) 

14.  Kushkizard,  between  Shir&z  and  IsfiEth&n  ..         ..  8006 

15.  lB£Edi&n  5000 

Description : — General  form  rather  stout,  head  and  body  depressed, 
tail  long,  from  ij  times  to  nearly  twice  the  length  of  the  head 
and  body.  The  head  is  rather  flat^  triangular,  broader  in  males 
than  in  females,  the  breadth  at  the  ear  orifices  in  the  former  being 
equal  to  the  length.  The  fore-leg  when  laid  back  extends  to  the 
thigh  in  some  specimens,  in  others  it  falls  somewhat  short  of  it;  the 
hind-limb  nearly  reaches  the  ear  when  laid  forwards.  The  third  and 
fourth  toes  on  the  fore-foot  differ  but  little  in  length,  the  fourth 
being  just  perceptibly  the  longest;  on  the  hind-foot  the  fourth  toe 
exceeds  the  third  by  less  than  half  the  length  of  the  claw.  All  the 
claws  are  strong  and  curved.  Adult  specimens  measure  when  perfect 
16  to  17  in.  in  lengfth;  head  and  body^  from  nose  to  anus,  6  in.; 
tail^  10  to  II  in.  In  such  a  specimen  the  head  alone  measures  1.6 
in. ;  fore-limb  3  ;  third  fore-toe,  without  claw,  0.6 ;  hind-limb  4.75; 
third  hind-toe,  without  claw,  0.75. 

The  scales  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  head  are  mostly  smooth, 
especially  those  of  the  supraorbital  and  occipital  regions ;  on  the  snout 
the  scales  are  often  bluntly  keeled.  The  nostril  is  of  moderate  size, 
directed  a  little  backwards,  and  situated  on  the  canthua  rostralis,  which 
is  sharp  just  in  front  of  the  superciliary  ridge,  and  then  appears  inter- 
rupted by  the  nostril.  There  are  two  or  three  scales  between  the  nasal 
shield  and  the  rostral,  and  the  same  number  between  the  former  and 
the  upper  labials.  Rostral  nearly  twice  as  broad  as  it  is  high,  and 
twice  as  broad  as  the  supralabials ;  mental  (or  lower  rostral)  the  same 
breadth  as  the  rostral,  but  longer  and  pointed  behind.  Labials  very 
little  larger  than  the  adjoining  scales ;  about  fifteen,  or  rather  more,  may 


3 1 8  ZOO  LOG  Y  OF  PERSIA, 

l)(j  (.'OuntiHl  on  each  side  of  each  jaw.  Scales  at  the  side  of  the  l 
keeled,  thos<;  near  the  upper  labials  longitudinally  elongate.  ' 
margins  of  the  tympanum  and  sides  and  back  of  the  neck  are  oi 
m(?nted  with  groups  of  well-developed  flattened  spines,  less  develo 
in  the  females  :  of  these  tubercular  groups  of  spines,  there  are  two 
each  side  of  the  back  of  the  neck,  the  posterior  pair  beings  more  wid 
separated  than  the  anterior  ones  :  round  the  tympanum  are  five  aim 
c(iuidistant  groups,  the  largest,  bearing  the  longest  spines,  being  j 
behind  the  ear-oi>ening,  and  there  arc  three  or  four  much  smaller  groi 
in  an  horizontal  line  under  the  ear,  the  hindmost  of  them  being  at  1 
extremity  of  the  anterior  throat- fold,  some  of  the  scales  on  whi 
have  distinct  spines  in  old  specimens. 

The  si'ales  of  the  occiput  are  keeled  and  pass  gradually  into  t 

small  scales  of  the  back  of  the  neck.     In  the  centre  these  are  rais 

into  a  small  longitudinal  ridge  or  rudimentary  crest.     The  scales 

the  back  are  imbricate,  equal  in  size,  all  keeled,  and  terminated  by  smi 

points ;  there  are  usually  about  15  or  16  (in  extreme  numbers  13  to  i< 

eiilargeil  scales  across  tlie  centre  of  the  back,  arranged  in  slightly  obliqi 

lines  converging  behind  ;  they  are  abruptly  separated  at  the  sides  fro; 

the  small  rhomboidal  scales  of  the  flanks ;  the  ventral  scales  are  all 

rhomboidal,  larger  than  those  of  the  sides,  though  smaller  than  thoi 

of  the  back,  and  arranged  in  transverse  and  oblique  series ;  they  ai 

quite  smooth,  and  pass  gradually  into  the  scales  of  the  sides,  whic 

j  anj  for  the  most  part  not  keeled,  though  they  are  pointed   behini 

)  Tliere  are  no  enlarged  spiny  or  tubercular  scales  scattered  over  tl 

;  sides.     The  scah^s  above  the  limbs  and  tail  are  sharply  keeled  and  tei 

>  minatc  in  ix)ints,  and  the  scales  above  the  shoulder  are  almost  spim 

)  in  some  specimens.     Scales  on  the  lower  part  of  the  tail  not  keele 

\  near  the  base.     The  tail  scales  are  in  more  or  less  distinct  rings. 

Besides  the  double  fold  beneath  the  chin  there  is  a  very  distinct  fol 
across  the  back  of  the  neck,  single  in  the  middle,  more  or  less  dif 
tinctly  double  at  the  sides ;  and  from  the  side  of  the  neck  anothc 
fold  begins,  which  runs  at  first  upwards  and  backwards  above  tfa 
shoulders  and  then  descends  gradually  along  the  sides  to  the  anteric 
lower  portion  of  the  thigh.  In  many  sj)ecimens  there  is  a  well 
marked  but  small  fold  below,  inside  the  thigh,  and  three  or  four  sligl 
folds  at  the  back  of  the  thigh.  There  are,  in  the  males  only,  three  or  for 
rows  of  thickened  scales  in  front  of  the  anus,  and  a  small  oval  patchy  fi^ 


r 

I  ■ 

I 


REPTILIA.  319 

to  seven  scales  long  and  five  or  six  broad,  of  similar  thickened  scales  in 
the  centre  of  the  abdomen.     Both  of  these  are  wanting  in  females. 

The  general  colour  above  is  pale  yellowish  brown,  sometimes  more 
or  less  dusky,  the  upper  part  of  the  limbs,  the  fore  limbs  especially, 
and  the  end  of  the  tail  being  often  dusky  or  black,  but  the  distribution 
of  dark  and  light  colouration  varies  much.  The  chin  is  cobalt  blue, 
more  or  less  mottled  and  veined  with  yellow ;  the  abdomen  the  same  in 
front,  but  paler. 

Stellio  nupiua  is  found  on  rocks,  walls,  and  buildings.  It  is  often 
very  common  about  towns  and  villages  on  the  old  walls,  tombs,  etc. 
built  of  earth  hardened  by  exposure  or  of  unbumt  bricks,  but  it  is 
equally  abimdant  in  places  on  rocky  hills  far  from  dwelling-places.  It 
is  insectivorous.  I  captured  one  in  the  act  of  devouring  a  small 
scorpion,  and  I  have  found  remains  of  insects  in  the  stomachs  of  such 
as  I  have  examined,  mixed,  however,  with  remains  of  vegetables.  I 
found  ten  eggs,  each  three  quarters  of  an  inch  long,  in  the  oviducts  of 
a  female  captured  at  Karm&n  in  May. 

I  met  with  this  species  first  in  the  highlands  of  Baluchist&n  at 
3000-4000  feet  above  the  sea,  and  found  it  abundant  thence  in  many 
places  throughout  Southern  Persia,  as  far  north  as  Isfah&n,  where  it  is 
common  on  the  old  walls  near  the  suburbs  of  Julfa.  I  never  saw  it  in 
Northern  Persia.  Major  St.  John  informs  me  that  either  this  species 
or  a  closely  allied  one  is  very  abundant  in  the  rocky  pass  called  Miyan 
Kotal,  between  Shir&z  and  Bushire.  If  the  species  be  the  same,  it  is 
probable  that  this  lizard  is  also  found  in  the  Zagros  mountains  west  of 
Shir&z. 

De  Filippi  (Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  353)  states  that  the  dorsal  and  caudal 
scales  are  finely  pectinate.  I  do  not  find  this  character  constant ;  in 
some  specimens  the  edges  of  the  scales  show  distinct  comb-like 
serration,  especially  on  the  upper  basal  portion  of  the  tail,  but  in  others 
I  can  see  no  trace  of  this  character.  It  is  by  no  means  confined  to  the 
upper  parts,  but  may  be  traced  distinctly  on  the  throat  and  abdomen 
in  some  specimens.  It  is  entirely  confined  to  the  lower  or  cuticular 
layer  of  each  scale,  and  is  best  seen  when  the  epidermal  or  homy 
portion  is  removed. 

9  a.  S.  nuptuSy  var.  fuseua, 

I.  Kalag&n,  BaliichiBUn  ..  3506 

a.  Near  Jalk,  Baliichist^n  ..  ..  5000 


820  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

S.  differt  a  S.  napto  typico  plied  nuckaU  eareniCj  9guamu  ngfMr 

collarilms  paullo  majoribMy  colore  tubnigro. 

These  two  specimens  differ  from  all  others  in  their  very  dark  ooloar, 
in  the  absence  of  the  fold  on  the  back  of  the  neck,  and  in  the  scales  of 
the  same  part  being  not  quite  so  minute  as  in  the  typical  form  ;  bat  I 
feel  a  little  doubt  about  distinguishing  them  specifically^  because  in 
one  there  appears  a  tendency  to  a  rudimentary  fold  above  the  neck, 
and  because  the  specimen  of  the  typical  form  from  Sib,  near  Dizak,  in 
Baluchist&n,  shows  a  smaller  fold  than  those  from  Eann£n  and 
Shir&z.  The  colouration  too  may  be  partly  due  to  the  season,  and  it 
is  variable  in  Persian  specimens. 

The  following  is  the  colouration  of  the  Kalag&n  lizard  noted  wh^ 
fresh: — General  colour  black,  the  under  parts  from  the  throat  and 
nearly  the  whole  of  the  limbs  and  tail  being  entirely  of  that  coloor, 
but  the  upper  parts  of  the  head  and  body  and  the  sides  are  speckled 
with  brownish  white,  and  the  chin  and  throat  are  mottled  whitish  and 
dusky.  Usually  on  the  upper  parts  there  is  a  brown  spot  in  the 
middle  of  each  scale,  the  edges  being  black. 

10.  S.  lipatus,  W.  Blanf.  PI.  XX,  fig.  a. 

Ann.  and  Mag^.  Nat.  Hiat.  June  1874,  xiii,  p.  453. 
I.  Samin,  Dasht,  Baltichist&n,  near  sea  leveL 

S.  supra  fu^cuB^  nigreacente  transveraimfaeciatue;  a  valde  affini  S.  mela- 
nurft  BIyth,  aquafnU  supracaudalibus  cauda  basin  versus  haud  carinaHs^ 
plied  nuchali  prasente,  et  forsan  squamis  carinatis  ad  medium  dorsum 
mujoribus  distingnendus.  A  Stellio  nupto  differt  squamarum  carinis 
ad  medium  dorsum  in  lineis  parallelis  dispositisy  ad  latera  postice  diver- 
gentibuSy  ipsis  squamis  dorsalibus  utrinque  gradatim  diminuentibus,  et 
colli  lateribus  vix  spinosis. 

Hob,  in  Gedrosid  {BalucMstdn)  haud  procul  a  Gwddar, 
Description : — General  form  moderately  stout,  depressed,  tail  much 
longer  than  the  body,  head  rather  flat^  the  breadth  behind  about 
two-thirds  of  the  length.  The  fore-limb,  laid  back,  extends  to  the 
thigh,  or  rather  beyond ;  the  hind-limb,  laid  forward^  reaches  in  front  of 
the  ear.  The  fourth  toe  on  the  fore-foot  very  slightly  longer  than  the 
third  ;  on  the  hind-foot  the  fourth  toe  exceeds  the  third  by  the  length 
of  the  claw.  Claws  rather  small,  well  curved.  The  only  specimen 
obtained^  a  female,  measures  4  in.  from  the  snout  to  the  anus ;  the 


REPTILIA.  321 

tail  is  imperfect ;  the  head  barely  i  in. ;  the  fore-leg,  to  the  end  of  the 
toes,  measures  a  in. ;  its  third  toe,  without  the  claw,  0.35  ;  the  hind- 
leg  2.95  ;  its  third  toe  0.55. 

The  scales  of  the  upper  part  of  the  head  are  transversely  keeled  on 
the  occiput,  smooth  in  the  convex  superciliary  regions,  convex  or 
bluntly  keeled  longitudinally  on  the  snout.  Nostril  in  the  hinder 
part  of  a  small  nasal  shield  in  the  middle  of  the  canlAus  rostraliSy 
separated  by  two  scales  from  the  rostral,  and  with  two  or  three 
between  it  and  the  upper  labials.  Bostral  twice  as  broad  as  it  is  high, 
and  more  than  twice  the  breadth  of  the  adjacent  supralabials.  Mental 
the  same  breadth  as  the  rostral,  acuminate  behind.  About  fourteen 
upper  and  fifteen  lower  labials  on  each  side.  The  sides  of  the  head  are 
covered  with  keeled  scales,  very  small  near  the  tympanum  and 
immediately  round  the  eye.  A  group  of  spinose  scales  in  front  of  the 
large  tympanum,  and  a  very  few  scattered  spines  below  and  behind  it. 
(In  males  these  spines  may  be  more  developed,  and  the  head  is  perhaps 
broader.) 

The  scales  of  the  back  of  the  neck  are  very  small ;  in  the  middle, 
a  little  behind  the  occiput,  commences  a  row  of  larger  keeled  scales, 
forming  a  rudimentary  crest.  These  are  continued  backwards  and  join 
the  enlarged  dorsal  scales.  In  the  middle  of  the  back  are  six  or  seven 
rows  of  large  keeled  scales,  the  keels  forming  continuous  parallel  lines ; 
towards  the  sides  the  scales  gradually  diminish  in  size,  and  the  keels, 
still  forming  continuous  lines,  diverge  backwards.  The  lateral  scales 
are  small,  all  being  keeled  ;  the  ventral  scales  are  flat  and  rhomboidal, 
much  larger  than  the  lateral  ones,  but  not  half  as  large  as  the  median 
dorsal  scales;  they  pass  gradually  into  the  smaller  lateral  scales.  I 
count  lao  to  130  scales  round  the  middle  of  the  body;  those  on  the 
sides  and  abdomen  are  all  in  transverse  series.  No  enlarged  scales  on 
the  sides.  The  scales  above  the  limbs  are  sharply  keeled  and  pointed, 
those  above  the  base  of  the  tail  are  pointed  but  not  keeled,  those 
below  the  tail  towards  the  base  are  smooth  and  rounded,  the  re- 
mainder of  the  tail  scales  are  keeled  and  pointed.  None  are  in 
distinct  ringps. 

A  fold  across  the  back  of  the  neck,  single  in  the  centre,  dividing 
into  two  immediately  at  each  side.  Two  or  three  folds  across  the 
throat ;  a  fold  from  the  side  of  the  neck  over  the  shoulder,  running 
back  towards  the  groin.  The  only  specimen  being  a  female,  there  are 
no  thickened  prseanal  or  abdominal  scales. 

VOL.  n.  Y 


322  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

Colour,  wbcn  fresh,  dusky  above,  with  imperfect  blackish  transverse 
markings ;   a  small  blackish  pit  before  each  shoulder. 

The  only  specimen  procured  was  found  on  rocks  in  some  barren 
hills  near  the  halting-place  called  Sam&n,  in  the  Dasht  province 
of  Baluchistan,  four  marches  west  of  Gwidar. 

This  species  is  evidently  close  to  &  mefanura,  Blyth,   of  which  I 
have  no  specimen  for  comparison,  but  judging  by  the  fact  that  Dr. 
Anderson  was  at  one  time  disposed  to  consider  8,  melanura  the  yooDg 
of  S,  JDayanus^   Stol.,  I  can  only  suppose  that  the  dorsal   scales  in 
&  melanura  must  be  considerably  smaller  than  in  the  present  form; 
and  this  is  rendered  more  probable  by  the  number  of  scales  round  the 
body   being  greater  in   the    former,    149   according    to    Anderson. 
Anderson  gives  53  as  the  number  of  smooth  ventral  scales  in  8.  mela- 
nura ;  in  the  present  species  they  are  less  numerous,  but  they  pass  so 
gradually  into  the  small  lateral  scales  that  it  is  impossible  to  assign 
any  exact  number.     The  present  form  is  also  distinguished  apparently 
by  having  a  fold  at  the  back  of  the  neck  as  in  8.  nupius^  and  by  the 
scales   above   the   tail   near  the   base    not   being   distinctly   keeled. 
8,  mclannra^  too,  is  said  to  have  the  tail   scales  in  distinct  verticils, 
but  in  some  allied  forms  of  8tellio  this  character  is  somewhat  liable  to 
variation.      I  have  not  seen  any  species  in  which  the  annulation  is  so 
indistinct  as  in  the  present. 

From  SteUio  nuptns  the  present  form  may  be  immediately  distin- 
guished by  the  keels  of  the  dorsal  scales  forming  parallel  lines  in  the 
middle  of  the  back,  instead  of  converging  behind,  and  by  the  enlarged 
scales  of  the  back  passing  gradually  into  the  smaller  scales  on  the 
sides.  Judging  too  from  the  present  specimen,  8.  liratits  is  a  much 
smaller  form,  with  very  few  and  small  spines  at  the  sides  of  the  neck 
and  around  the  tympanum. 


11.  S.  Cauoasious,  Eichwald,  PI.  XX,  fig.  i. — De  F. 

Eichwald,  Zool.  Spec,  iii,  p.  187.— -Fauna  Casp.-Cauc.  p.  80,  PL  XIII  (Oste- 
ology).—Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  255.— A.  Dum.  Cath.  M^tli.  p.  105 ; 
Arch.  Mu8.  Hiat.  Nat.  viii,  p.  578.— De  F.  Viag.  in  Peraia^  p.  352; 
Bull.  Sc.  pp.  198*200. — Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  Ser.  3,  xix,  p.  145. 

Laceria  muricata  ot  L.  Stcllio,  Pall.  Zoog.  Bos.  As.  iii,  pp.  20,  2|. 

Stellio  vulgaris,  M.4n.  Cat.  Bais.  No.  219,  p.  64. 

S.  Persicut,  Anderson,  P.  Z.  S.  1872,  p  382,  fig.  4  [Jig.  mala). 


REFT  ILIA,  323 

l-io.  Kohnid,  north  of  Isfahan  ..  ..  7000-8000 

11-16.  Elburz  mountains,  north  of  Tehrdn     ..  5000-7000 

17-21.  Elburz  mountains,  north  of  Kazvin      ..         4000-5000 

Although  I  have  not,  for  want  of  specimens,  ventured  to  keep  the 
species  from  the  Caucasus  distinct  from  that  inhabiting  the  Elburz 
and  other  ranges  in  Northern  Persia,  I  am  not  quite  convinced  that 
they  are  identical.  A  single  specimen  in  the  British  Museum  from 
Elizabethpol,  Transcaucasia,  differs  from  Elburz  examples  in  colour, 
in  having  all  the  scales  of  the  centre  of  the  back  sharply  keeled,  and 
in  having  fewer  scales,  about  135,  round  the  body.  The  original  types 
of  Eichwald  came  from  the  Caucasus,  near  Tiflis,  B^u,  etc.,  but  he 
identified  with  them  specimens  from  the  Tdlish  mountains  which  are 
almost  certainly  of  the  same  species  as  those  from  the  Elburz;  in  describ- 
ing the  species  in  the  *  Fauna  Caspio-Caucasica,'  he  calls  the  central 
back  scales  subcarinate,  and  his  description  generally  agrees  with  the 
Elburz  form,  so  that  it  is  by  no  means  improbable  that  the  Elizabethpol 
specimen  may  belong  to  a  species  inhabiting  Armenia,  not  the  Cauca- 
sus. Anderson's  typical  specimen  of  S,  Persicus  differs  in  no  respect  that 
I  can  see  from  young  specimens  of  the  Elburz  species,  identified  by  Eich- 
wald with  S.  Caucasicus,  At  the  same  time,  should  the  Caucasus  form 
prove  distinct,  Anderson's  name  will  stand  for  that  of  Northern  Persia. 
In  young  specimens  of  the  latter  the  enlarg^ed  scales  in  the  centre  of 
the  back  are  distinctly  keeled,  but  with  age  the  keels  disappear  more  or 
less.  There  is  no  distinct  line  of  smaller  scales  along  the  Vertebral 
line,  and  in  adults  there  are  decidedly  spinose  scales  scattered  over  the 
sides.  As  no  complete  description  taken  from  adult  specimens  appears 
to  have  been  given,  I  append  the  following,  for  the  purpose  of 
iacilitating  comparison  with  the  form  next  to  be  described. 

Descriptions : — General  form  stout,  much  depressed ;  tail,  depressed 
near  the  base,  ij  to  ij  times  the  length  of  the  body;  the  fore-limb 
does  not  reach  the  thigh,  the  hind-limb  about  reaches  the  ear  or  falls 
a  little  short  of  it.  Head  flat,  triangular,  its  length  exceeding  its 
breadth.  The  fourth  toe  on  the  hind-foot  exceeds  the  third  by  about 
half  the  length  of  the  claw.  In  a  large  specimen,  the  bead  and  body, 
from  the  nose  to  the  anus,  measures  nearly  6  in.  Judging  from 
other  specimens,  this  would,  if  the  tail  were  perfect,  be  about  14  in. 
long.  The  head  measures  1.55,  fore-limb  to  end  of  toes  1.75,  hind- 
limb  4  in. ;  third  toe  of  hind-foot,  without  the  claw,  0.75. 

The  scales  on   the  supraorbital   bosses   are   smooth  as  usual,  and 

Y  2 


324  ZOO  LOG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

nitbiT  smaller,  especially  near  the  superciliary  ridg^^  than  on  other 
parts  of  tlie  head.     Those  on  the  occipital  region  are  smooth  in  front, 
but  towards  the  hinder  portion  they  bear  compressed  spines.      Scales 
of  the  snout  convex  ;  cant //us  rosfralis  well  marked ;  loreal  region  con- 
cave ;  the  nasal  shield  is  just  below  the  canthus,  usually  separated  by 
two  shields  from  the  rostral,  and  by  three  long^itudinal  rows  from  the 
u]>])er  labials;  nostril  in  the  hinder  ]X)rtion  of  the  scale,  and  directed 
backwards.     The  scales  of  the  snout  and  sides  of  the  head  and  some 
of  the  occripital  scales  have  brown  dots  on  their  outer  or  lower  mar;giiis. 
Rostml  ])roader  than  high,  about  twice  as  broad  as  the  adjoining  labials; 
mental  the  same  breadth  as  the  rostral,  bluntly  ]X)inted  behind.    There 
are  alK)ut  twelve  upper  and  thirteen  lower  labials;  two  or  three  rows 
of  elongate*  scales  ahmg  the  edge  of  both  upper  and  lower  hibials, 
those  on  thtj  upper  jaw  being  keeled.     A  line  of  sharply-keeled  en- 
larged scales  (sometimes  two  rows)  runs  back  from  under  the  eye  to 
over  the  tympanum,  which  is  large.     Enlarged  spinose  conical  scales, 
niorr  or  less  arranged  in  groups  before,  below,  and  behind  the  tym- 
])anuni ;  the  largest  patch  is  usually  behind :  there  is  another  g^up 
a  little  further  back  on  the  side  of  the  neck,  and  several  smaller  g^ups 
of  similar  enlarged  conical  scales  scattered  over  the  lateral  portions  of 
the  neck  above,  but  none  in  the  middle,  and  there  is  no  trace  of  a 
crest. 

The  back  of  the  neck  is  covered  with  minute  granules,  amongst 
which  the  s])iny  groups  of  scales  are  scattered.  Just  before  the 
shoulders  these  pass  gradually,  in  the  middle  of  the  back,  into  larger 
scales,  which  form  a  not  very  broad  line  down  the  centre  of  the  back. 
They  are  rather  irregular  in  shape  and  size,  not  arranged  in  rows, 
subimbricat^,  and  keeled  in  young  specimens,  but  smooth  in  adults. 
Sometimes  they  are  smaller  in  the  middle,  but  not  always,  and  nsoally 
irom  seven  to  ten  may  be  counted  across.  The  sides  of  the  back  and 
the  flanks  are  covered  with  very  small  keeled  scales,  arranged  in  trans- 
verse series,  scattered  amongst  which  are  larger  conical  scales,  often  in 
small  grou})s.  Towards  the  middle  of  the  body,  separated  by  an  area 
of  smaller  scales  from  the  enlarged  vertebral  series  and  joining  the 
ventral  scales,  there  is  a  somewhat  conspicuous  patch  of  larger  scaleSi 
keeled  and  submucronato,  unequal  in  size.  The  ventral  scales  are  smooth, 
rhomboidal,  in  transverse  series,  containing,  in  the  middle  of  the 
abdomen,  about  fifty-five  to  sixty  scales.  I  count  150  to  t6o  scales 
altogether  round  the  middle  of  the  body,  but  owing  to  the  irregular 


1 
i 

1 


i 


n 


i 


;•   1.1' 


REPTILIA,  325 

size  of  the  scales  the  number  is  variable.  The  chin  scales  resemble 
those  of  the  abdomen^  but  are  smaller;  those  beneath  the  neck  smaller 
still.  Scales  above  the  limbs  strongly  keeled  and  spinose,  those  on 
the  thigh  as  large  as  the  caudal  scales ;  behind  the  thigh  are  some 
scattered  spinose  scales  amongst  smaller  ones.  Scales  below  the  limbs 
smooth.  Tail  scales  strongly  keeled  and  spinose,  except  below  near 
the  base ;  all  are  in  distinct  verticils. 

No  distinct  nuchal  fold :  there  are  two  distinct  folds  on  the  sides 
and  lower  portions  of  the  neck.  The  fold  running  back  from  the  neck 
over  the  shoulder  is  not  so  distinct  as  in  8,  nuplus,  nor  is  it  continued 
in  the  same  way  down  the  sides  to  the  inguinal  region.  In  front  of 
the  anus  are  several  rows  of  thickened  scales,  as  many  as  six  to  eight 
in  adults,  those  in  front  being  smaller;  and  a  large  oval  patch  of 
similar  scales  occupies  the  centre  of  the  abdomen,  rather  nearer  to  the 
vent  than  to  the  throat.  This  also  increases  with  age ;  in  old  males 
I  find  it  occupies  in  the  centre  forty-five  to  forty-eight  transverse 
rows  of  scales,  and  where  broadest  comprises  about  twenty-six  scales, 
and  it  is  2  inches  long  by  i^  broad.  There  are  the  same  thickened 
prseanal  and  abdominal  scales  in  adult  females,  but  they  are  much 
fewer  in  number. 

Colour : — Head  pale  olive  above,  paler  than  the  body :  the  enlarged 
scales  in  the  middle  of  the  back  are  also  pale,  often  whitish,  but 
generally  with  black  scales  scattered  amongpst  them.  The  rest  of  the 
upper  part  of  the  body  varies  from  greyish  to  dusky  olivaceous,  with 
more  or  less  distinct  transverse  bands  of  white  or  pink,  black-edged 
ocelli;  these  are  usually  well  marked  near  the  shoulders,  but  not  on  the 
loins.  Occasionally  the  sides,  which  are  usually  darker  than  the 
jniddle  of  the  back,  are  sooty,  the  enlarged  scales  being  always  pale 
coloured.  Limbs  olivaceous  to  dusky  above,  the  fore-limbs  with 
irregular  pale  cross-bands.  The  tail  pale  olive  to  whitish,  usually 
with  irregular  transverse  dusky  marks.  Lower  parts  usually  pale, 
often  with  a  pinkish  or  salmon  tinge ;  the  breast  and  abdomen  in  old 
specimens  are  often  dusky,  and  the  skin  is  frequently  veined  or  marbled 
with  dusky  marks. 

Stellio  Cauca&icu^  abounds  on  the  Elburz  mountains,  especially  on 
the  northern  slope  in  the  upper  portion  of  the  Mazandar&n  and  Ghil&n 
forest  region.  I  met  with  it  up  to  7000  feet,  or  perhaps  rather  higher. 
I  never  saw  it  in  the  plain  of  Tehr&n,  and  I  think  it  probable  that  Dr. 
Anderson's  specimen  of  S.  Persicus  was  from  the  Elburz  north  of  the 


i2-.  Z'J'jL'MT  of  PERSIA, 

•::\v.     I  'JLr-j  zi.-t  «::b  this  lizanl  in  the  gnntest  abandanoe  at  7000 
:•:<  y^cc  :V^:  al-:  ve  the  •€a  on  the  zange  of  high  hills  crosBed  by  the 


r&i  :>:zi  L'a'.an  v^  Tehran,  near  Soh  and   Kohrod,  three  to  foar 
jijir-.':.-^    n:r.h    of   lifar.an.     There    is    nothing  peculiar    in    their 
Li' ::?  :  tlrv  are.  like  all  Stellic«y  so  far  as  I  haTe  seen,  stzictljr  dinmal 
lizar^L:^  o^'.'ZrJnj  c-::t  as  Siiion  as  the  son's  ravs  acquire  sufficient  eleratioa 
to  wjrm  the  tarth  in  the  momine,  and  hiding  at  nigfat  and  in  cdd 
\vea:h>.  r  l-rrneath  stones  or  in  the  fismres  between  rocks.     In  winter,  I 
am  informed  ly  Major  St.  John,  none  are  to  be  seen.     I  belicTe  that, 
like  Tsi'jii  rej'tik'r.  they  keep  to  one  spot ;  I  haTe  certainlj-  seen  one 
and  ap]'ar<:rntly  the  same  lizard  occupy  the  same  stone  day  after  day. 
Profe^s^'r  De  Filippi  has  noticed  that  they  are  chiefly  herbivorous; 
I  have  found  remains  of  insects  in  the  stomachs  of  all  which  I  have 
esamine^l,  mix»::d  with  fragments  of  herbaceous  plants,  chiefly  smaD 
stems.     I  did  not  tind  seeds. 

A  full  account  of  the  c«steology  of  this  species  is  given  by  Eichwald 
in  the  Fauua  Ca.^'pio-Caucasica.  He  gives  fifteen  as  the  number  of  teeth 
ill  eufh  ramus  i*i  each  jaw,  l.iesides  the  two  elongate  incisors  on  each 
siih;  in  front.  I  find  only  fourteen  maxillary  teeth  in  my  specimens  on 
each  side.     In  old  specimens  they  are  much  worn. 

12.  S.  microlepis,  W.  Blauf.  PI.  XIX,  fig.  2. 

Aiiii.  ami  Mag.  Xat.  Ui»t.  June  1874,  xiii,  p.  453. 

1-4.  Kban-i-surkh   pass,  north  of  Saijan,  be- 
tween Karmun  and  Shiraz,  South  Persia        . .  9000 
5-14.  Kushkizani,  between  Shiraz  and  Isfahan           . .  8000 

S.  Caucasico  offinis^  sed  Kquamis  pra^erilm  in  medio  dorso,  inter 
humeroH^  m'lnor'ihus  ct  color ihu9  magis  fuscis  diHinguendM.  Squama 
circHtti  medium  corpus  plus  quam  200,  cum  in  S.  Caucasico  150-160  dun' 
taxat  numerantur. 

Halj,  in  mojitibus  Persia  meridio/ialis. 

It  is  quite  unnecessary  to  give  a  detailed  description  of  this  species, 
which  is  so  closely  allied  to  45.  Caucasicus  that  the  characters  of  that 
sj)ecies  ajjply  equally  to  S.  microlepis^  with  the  following  exceptions. 
The  scales  in  the  present  form  are  all  smaller.  I  count  always  con- 
sideral)ly  more  than  200,  usually  210  to  220,  round  the  middle  of  the 
iKwly.  The  enlarged  scales  down  the  middle  of  the  back  are  decidedly 
Hiiialler,  and  they  diminish  in  size  on  the  sides  and  i)ass  more  gradually 


REPTILIA,  327 

into  the  lateral  scales.  They  also  decrease  rapidly  in  size  in  front; 
between  the  shoulders  they  are  always  much  smaller  than  in  &  Cau- 
casiciMy  and  there  appears  always  a  longer  space  on  the  back  of  the  neck 
between  them  and  the  occiput. 

The  scales  of  the  supraorbital  bosses  are  very  little  smaller  than  those 
of  the  occiput,  except  close  to  the  superciliary  ridges.  The  brown  dots 
on  the  scales  of  the  snout  and  loreal  region  are  &int  or  wanting.  The 
labials  are  rather  more  numerous,  usually  thirteen  to  fifteen  in  the 
upper  and  about  fourteen  to  sixteen  on  each  side  of  the  lower  jaw,  but 
the  number  varies.  The  spinose  scales  around  the  tympanum  and  on 
the  sides  of  the  neck  are  a  little  smaller.  As  a  general  rule  the  head 
and  limbs  are  rather  smaller  and  the  tail  rather  shorter,  but  this  is 
only  well  seen  on  comparing  adult  males.  There  are  the  same  large 
patches  of  thickened  scales  on  the  abdomen  and  before  the  anus,  but 
the  scales  themselves  are  a  little  smaller. 

The  general  colour  is  dusky  olivaceous,  the  scales  in  the  middle  of  the 
back  never  being  conspicuously  paler  as  in  5.  Caticasicus,  and  being 
frequently  darker  than  the  sides.  The  whole  colour  is  more  uniform 
than  in  the  Northern  form ;  the  cross-bands  of  pale  s]X)ts  are  very 
much  less  marked  and  smaller. 

I  met  with  this  species  in  two  localities,  both  at  a  considerable 
elevation^  in  Southern  Persia ;  first  on  a  high  pass,  about  90CX)  feet 
above  the  sea,  near  Kh&n-i-surkh,  on  the  road  from  Karm&n  to  Shir&z^ 
about  100  miles  south-west  of  the  first-named  city ;  secondly^  at  about 
8000  feet  above  the  sea^  near  Kushkizard,  on  the  high  plateau 
traversed  about  half-way  from  Shir&z  on  the  road  to  Isfah&n.  Both 
of  these  passes  traverse  portions  of  the  same  range  of  hills,  and  this 
lizard  may  probably  be  found  throughout  the  higher  parts  of  the  chain. 
I  nowhere  saw  Stellio  microlepis  at  an  elevation  much  below  8000  feet 
above  the  sea.  Its  habits,  so  fiir  as  observed,  are  precisely  similar  to 
those  of  S,  Caticaaicus. 


18.  FhrynocephaluB  Olivier!,  Dum.  et  Bibr. — De  F. 

Olivier,  Voy.  Emp.  Othm.  Eg.  et  Pera.  Atlas,  PI.  XLII,  fig.  i.— Dum.  et  Bibr. 

Erp.  G^n.  iv,  p.  517. — De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  354.— Anderson,  P.  Z.  S. 

187a,  p.  386. 
P,  TidceUii,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  260.— Giinther,  Kept.  Brit.  Ind. 

p.  160. 


328  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

1-33.  Ghistig/Sn,  Bampusht,  Baliichiitin  ..  ••  300O 

34-28.  Dizak,  Baluchistin  ••  -•  4000 

29-31.  Magna,  BaliichisUn        ..  ..  ••  ..  450(9 

33,33.  Near  Bampiir,  Baldchistia  ..  ••  1500 

34-38.  Near  Rig&n,  Narmashir,  Bouih-eastem  Persia  2500 

39,40.  Near  Bam,  Boath-eastem  Persia  ..  ..  4000 

41-44.  Rayin,  south-east  of  Karm4n     ..  ..  7000 

45-50.  South  Persia        ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  — 

51.  Nearls&h&nf      ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  — 

I  have  examined  the  single  type  specimen  of  P,  Ticielliiy  said  to  be 
from  Afghdnistdn,  in  the  British  Museum.  It  is  much  dried  and 
shrunk,  and  the  scales  on  the  limbs  have  contracted  so  much  as  to 
appear  keeled  in  places,  but  I  have  no  doubt  of  its  being  identical 
with  P.  Olivieri,  as  was  suggested  by  Dr.  Gunther  in  the  *  Reptiles  of 
British  India.' 

The  colouration  varies  a  good  deal  in  fresh  specimens,  and  changes 
greatly  in  those  preserved  in  spirits.  The  following  note  of  the  colour 
was  taken  from  living  animals.  Above  olive  grey,  drab,  or  dusky. 
Along  the  middle  of  the  back  in  many  specimens  is  a  well-defined  oval 
patch,  extending  nearly  from  the  shoulder  to  the  loin,  and  one-third  the 
widtli,  of  a  decidedly  pink  or  pale  purplish  colour.  A  dark  band 
crosses  the  back  behind  the  shoulders,  and  another  in  front  of  the 
thighs,  and  these  are  often  united  by  longitudinal  bands,  one  along 
each  side,  but  these  markings  vary  greatly,  and  are  often  wanting. 
There  is,  in  many  cases,  a  fine  whitish  speckling  on  the  back.  On 
each  side  of  the  neck  above  are  two  short  dark  longitudinal  marks, 
occupying  slight  depressions  ;  between  them  and  below  the  lowest  are 
raised  folds  covered  with  tubercular  scales.  There  are  in  some  speci- 
mens dusky  spots  on  the  labials.  The  limbs  are  marked  above  with 
transverse  bands.  Tail  greyish  above,  white  below,  with  five  to  seven 
perfect  black  rings,  which  are  jetty  black  beneath,  Bemainder  of 
lower  parts  pure  white.  The  length  varies  from  3-5  to  4.5  inches,  the 
tail  from  the  anus  being  i  to  |  longer  than  the  head  and  body. 

P.  Olivieri  inhabits  gravelly  or  stony  plains.  I  have  occasionally 
seen  one  take  refuge  on  a  small  bush  when  I  have  been  endeavouring 
to  capture  it,  but  I  never  at  other  times  noticed  it  on  bushes.  Neither 
this  nor  any  other  of  the  Persian  species  inhabits  holes,  nor  have  I 
noticed  any  in  pairs  as  was  observed  by  Theobald  in  the  case  of 
P.  caudivolvulus  (J.  A.  S.  B.  xxxi,  1862,  p.  518,  and  xxxvii,  pt.  2, 
extra  number,  Cat.  of  Rcpt.  p.  40).     The  tail  is  not  prehensile ;  nor 


REPTILIA.  329 

have  I  ever  seen  it  coiled,  but  it  is  extremely  flexible ;  it  never  appears 
to  be  reproduced,  and  very  rarely  lost  or  defective.  I  do  not  think 
P.  Olivieri  is  viviparous  (cf.  Theobald  on  P.  caudivolvuhis^  1.  c).  I  find 
in  each  case  four  eggs  of  rather  large  size,  about  half-an-inch  long,  in 
pregnant  females  captured  about  the  end  of  February  and  in  March. 
The  food  of  this  lizard  consists  chiefly  of  ants.  I  have  not  in  any 
case  detected  vegetable  substances  in  the  stomach^. 

I  found  P.  Olivieri  abundant  in  most  parts  of  Southern  Persia  and 
Baluchist&n,  at  elevations  from  2000  to  about  7000  feet  above  the  sea, 
keeping  chiefly  to  open  semi-desert  stony  or  gravelly  plains,  but  not  on 
sand.  I  met  with  it  commonly  near  Isfahfin,  but  farther  north  it 
became  very  scarce,  and  I  am  not  sure  that  it  occurred  near  Tehr&n, 
where  it  appeared  to  be  completely  replaced  by  P.  PersicM.  De 
Filippi  also  received  it  from  Southern  Persia  only.  Around  Shiriz 
and  Karm&n  it  is  common. 

14.  F.  Fersious,  De  F. 

De  Filippi,  Archiy.  p.  la  Zool.  Gen.  ii,  p.  387 ;    Yiag.  in  Persia,  p.  353. — 
Anderson,  P.  Z.  S.  1871,  p.  388,  fig.  5. 

1-27.  Kushkizard,  between  Shirdz  and  Isfah&n        . .         8000 
38,  39.  Between  Tehr&n  and  Kazvin  . .         4000 

I  have  compared  my  specimens  with  De  Filippi's  types  in  Turin, 
and  they  are  undoubtedly  the  same  lizard.  I  believe  the  species  to  be 
distinct  from  P.  Aelioscojms^  Pall.,  of  which  there  are  specimens  from 
Siberia  in  the  British  Museum,  but  not  on  the  same  grounds  as 
Prof.  De  Filippi ;  and  I  may  mention  that  I  feel  much  doubt  whether 
the  P.  Aelioscopus  of  that  writer  from  Armenia  is  really  identical  with 
Pallas's  species.  P.  Persicus  appears  to  me  to  differ  from  P.  helioscojms 
in  having  the  back  scales  neither  keeled  nor  as  a  rule  distinctly 
imbricate,  in  the  scales  below  the  head  not  being  imbricate,  the  scales 
above  the  limbs  being  ai9  a  rule  smooth,  or  sometimes  very  faintly 
keeled,  on  the  fore-arm  and  tarsus  especially,  and  by  the  enlarged 
spinose  scales  of  the  upper  parts  being  much  larger.  In  P.  helioscopus 
all  the  scales  of  the  upper  parts  are  bluntly  keeled,  those  of  the  back 

^  I  may  remark  that  I  greatly  doubt  if  there  is  any  close  affinity  between  Uromattix 
and  Phrynocephahu,  as  suggested  by  Theobald.  Phrynocephaliu  I  consider  as  most  nearly 
allied  to  Agama  and  Trapdtu,  Urcmaatix  I  agree  with  Theobald  in  looking  upon  as  the 
type  of  a  distinct  sub-family  at  least  (see  foot-note  to  p.  334). 


330  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

and  also  those  of  the  chin  and  throat  over-lapping  the  next  scales  at 
their  posterior  marg^ns^  and  the  dorsal  tubercles  are  much  smaller. 
The  colours  also  diflTer  somewhat.  I  give  the  fresh  coloaration  of 
P,  Persicus  below. 

With  reference  to  both  De  Filippi's  and  Anderson's  descriptions 
(P.  Z.  S.  1.  c),  I  note  the  following  characters  from  the  series  before 
me.  The  scales  between  the  nasals  vary  from  two  to  five,  the  com- 
monest number  in  my  specimens  being  three  (five  is  the  number  given 
by  both  De  Filippi  and  Anderson) ;  they  are  irregular  and  not  in 
distinct  rows,  except  occasionally  in  the  middle,  where  in  some  speci- 
mens there  is  a  vertical  row  of  enlarged  keeled  scales.  The  ordinary 
scales  of  the  back  are  subimbricate  in  general  rather  than  imbricate; 
often  in  the  middle  of  the  back  they  have  no  tendency  to  over- 
lap. The  scales  on  the  low^er  portion  of  the  posterior  half  of  the 
tail  are  bluntly  keeled  and  arranged  in  longitudinal  rows.  The 
number  of  enlarged  scales  on  the  edge  of  the  eyelids  varies  somewhat, 
but  is  usually  about  the  number  given  by  Dr.  Anderson;  twelve  on 
the  upper,  ten  on  the  lower.  The  number  of  labials  varies  greatly ;  I 
count  in  various  specimens  twenty-nine  to  thirty-five  round  the  upper 
lip.  The  dental  formula  in  fully  adult  animals  is  ^f^JJ*  ^z^  but 
except  in  rather  old  specimens  some  of  the  teeth  are  often  deficient, 
and  in  the  young  it  is  impossible  by  an  inspection  of  the  mouth  to 
distinguish  the  anterior  molars  from  the  incisors.  When  full  grown 
the  outer  pair  of  incisors  (?  canines)  are  longer  than  the  other  teeth. 
The  crest  on  the  nape  is  very  variable,  and  more  often  wanting,  in 
Southern  Persian  specimens  at  least,  than  present.  The  edges  of  the 
toes  on  the  hind-feet  are  slightly  fringed,  especially  the  outer  edge  of 
the  fourth  toe,  but  not  those  of  the  fingers;  the  animal  is  not  a 
digger.  The  figure  in  the  *  Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society' 
is  not  good,  the  head  being  much  too  large. 

To  the  above  I  may  add  that  the  scales  above  the  head  are  tuber- 
cular, bluntly  keeled  or  submucronate.  The  tail  varies  in  length 
from  a  little  less  than  that  of  the  head  and  body  to  a  little  more.  A 
large  specimen  measured  4.75  in.  in  length,  of  which  the  tail  from  the 
anus  was  2.3,  fore-leg  1.05,  hind-leg  1.55.  In  another  specimen, 
4.25  in.  long,  the  tail  measured  a.3. 

The  prevailing  colour  above  is  sandy,  below  white.  There  are  no 
distinct  cross-bands  on  the  body  or  tail,  but  there  are  large  dusky 
spots  on  each  side  of  the  latter.     There  are  often  a  pair  of  large  spots 


REPTILIA,  331 

on  the  sides  of  the  back,  one  behind  the  shoulders,  the  other  before 
the  thighs,  and  small  spots  on  the  upper  parts  of  the  limbs  and  sides 
of  the  head.  In  many  specimens  there  is  a  large  greyish-blue  or  pale 
indigo  patch  of  considerable  size  on  each  side  of  the  neck,  with  the 
upper  margin  bright  scarlet.  In  a  few  specimens  the  under  parts 
were  dingy  red,  and  in  one  the  lower  portion  of  the  tail  was  pale 
green,  becoming  red  near  the  anus.  These  bright  colours  on  the 
lower  parts  are  probably  seasonal.  In  most  specimens  the  under  sur- 
face of  the  head  is  mottled  with  dusky  grey. 

The  habits  of  this  species  appear  to  me  identical  with  those  of 
P.  Olivieri.  It  inhabits  similar  plains^  does  not  live  in  holes,  and 
when  pursued  takes  refuge,  not  under  stones  or  in  the  ground,  but 
amongst  the  roots  of  bushes  or  on  the  bushes  themselves.  Its  food, 
too,  consists  largely  of  ants. 

I  first  met  with  P.  Peraicua  near  Kushkizard^,  on  the  plateau, 
8000  feet  above  the  sea,  traversed  by  the  road  from  Shir&z  to  Isfah&n. 
It  abounded  on  the  same  open  plain  with  scattered  bashes,  on  which 
I  found  Ahlephams  biviUatua,  another  North  Persian  species  not  met 
with  elsewhere  in  Southern  Persia.  I  again  found  this  Phrynocephalus 
abundant  near  Tehrin  at  a  much  lower  elevation,  4000-5000  feet 
above  the  sea. 

15.  P.  maoulatuB,  And. 

AnderaoD,  P.  Z.  S.  187a,  p.  289,  fig.  6. 

1-3.  Near  Bam,  south-eastern  Persia  . .  3000 

4-7.  Karm&n      ..         ..          ..         ..  ..  ..  5000 

8.  Salt  marsb,  Sar-i-jiim        ..         ..  ..  ..  5000 

9-12.  Between  Kann&n  and  Shir&z      ..  ..  ..  (?) 

Although  my  specimens  difier  from  Dr.  Anderson's  description  in 
colouration,  in  the  number  of  teeth,  and  a  few  minor  points,  I  have 
ascertained  by  comparison  with  the  type  that  the  species  is  the  same. 
The  colour  varies,  and  some  of  the  teeth  in  Anderson's  specimen  were 
deficient,  owing  to  its  being  immature.  I  give  a  fresh  description 
from  adults. 

Description: — General  form  rather  depressed,  similar  to  that  of 
P.  caudivolvulus ;  head  not  quite  so  short,  body  not  so  broad,  as  in 

^  The  locality  whence  Anderson's  specimens  were  obtained  was  near  this,  but  on 
another  road  firom  Shiriz  to  Isfahdn.  *  Awada/  seven  days  north  of  Shir&z,  is  a  misprint 
or  misreading  for  Ab&deh. 


332  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

P.  OHvieri ;  limbs  and  tail  longer.  In  adults,  the  fore-limb  laid  back 
reaches  the  thigh,  the  hind-limb  laid  forward  extends  about  to  the  eye, 
in  younger  specimens  to  the  end  of  the  snout ;  the  tail  exceeds  the 
body  in  length  by  from  one-third  to  one-half.  The  base  of  the  tail 
is  depressed  and  very  slightly  dilated,  the  tail  tapers  g^radaally^  is 
much  thicker  in  proportion  than  in  P.  Olivieriy  and  can  be  coiled 
upwards  near  the  end.  Toes  strong  and  moderately  long^,  very  little 
serrated  at  the  edge;  the  fourth  toe  on  the  hind-foot  exceeds  the 
third  by  twice  the  length  of  its  claw.  Claws  strong,  very  little 
curved,  of  a  yellow  colour ;  the  claw  of  the  fifth  toe  on  the  hind-foot  is 
double  the   length  of   the  others.     Maxillary  teeth   (molars)  J—^' 


lOi 


incisors  ^,  the  outer  pair  of  the  latter  in  each  jaw  being  elongate. 


J-2 


A  large  specimen  measures  7.25  inches,  of  which  the  tail  firom  the 
anus  is  4.2;  the  fore-limb  is  1.5,  hind-leg  a.45  long,  measured  as 
usual  to  the  ends  of  the  toes. 

Scales  of  the  head  rather  tubercular,  slightly  unequal  in  size,  those 
of  the  frontal  region  and  centre  of  the  occiput  being  usually  rather 
larger ;  each  nostril  is  usually  in  the  upper  part  of  a  rather  large 
oval  shield,  with  a  smaller  crescentic  shield  above  it>  or  it  is  between 
two  shields,  an  upper  and  a  lower ;  one  scale  (more  rarely  two)  in  the 
middle  between  the  nasals.  There  is  a  fringe  of  moderate-sized,  rather 
rounded  scales  to  the  upj^er  eyelid,  and  of  much  longer  pointed  ones  to 
the  lower,  in  each  case  about  ten  in  number,  varjring  slightly.  The 
scales  on  the  sides  of  the  head  above  the  labials  and  some  of  the  scales 
of  the  occiput  have  often  pores  on  their  lower  or  outer  surface,  but  1 
do  not  find  this  character  constant.  Upper  labials  about  30-31; 
usually  the  last  on  each  side  is  larger,  and  there  is  no  distinct  rostral. 
But  there  is  much  variation  in  these  points ;  in  one  specimen  I  count 
36  upper  labials.  The  mental  plate  or  lower  rostral  is  larger  than 
the  other  lower  labials ;  there  are  two  rows  of  enlarged  scales,  the 
lower  of  them  the  larger,  but  not  extending  far  back,  along  the  lower 
labials.  Ears  covered  by  small  granular  scales  similar  to  those  of 
the  throat. 

Scales  of  the  back  rhomboidal,  smooth,  in  transverse  rows,  in  the 
centre  of  the  back  a  little  larger,  and  gradually  diminishing  slightly 
towards  the  sides,  granular  in  front  of  the  thigh  and  behind  the 
shoulder  ;  ventral  shields  nearly  square,  about  the  same  size  as  those  in 
the  middle  of  the  back,  and  as  a  rule  smooth,  but  in  some  cases  I 
find   slight   keels   and  distinctly  mucronate  terminations  behind  on 


REFT  I  LI  A,  333 

some  of  the  scales  about  the  middle  and  posterior  portions.  I  count 
about  106-1 1  a  scales  round  the  middle  of  the  body.  Scales  on  the 
limbs  as  a  rule  smooth ;  on  the  tarsus  and  fore-arm  however  they  are 
usually,  but  not  always,  more  or  less  keeled  above  and  below ;  scales 
beneath  the  soles  of  the  feet  strongly  keeled,  cross-plates  beneath  the 
toes  ribbed  (only  seen  under  a  strong  lens).  The  tail  is  covered  near 
the  base  and  for  about  a  quarter  of  its  length  with  smooth  rhomboidal 
scales  the  same  size  as  those  of  the  back ;  the  remainder  is  covered 
with  keeled  scales,  the  keels  forming  longitudinal  lines  below,  but  not 
above ;  all  the  tail  scales  are  in  rings. 

Colour  of  the  upper  parts,  when  fresh,  pale  slaty  grey  to  dusky 
brown,  speckled  more  or  less  finely  and  closely  with  whitish,  and 
occasionally,  but  by  no  means  generally,  crossed  with  transverse  dusky 
bands,  usually  of  a  pinkish  or  coppery  colour  in  living  specimens,  or 
marked  with  dark  spots.  The  tip  of  the  tail  is  always  black  below, 
and  usually  above  also,  but  the  distance  to  which  the  black  extends 
from  the  tip  varies;  in  front  of  the  black  portion  and  separated  from 
it  there  are  frequently  one  or  more  black  ring«,  and  the  basal  portion 
is  often  marked  with  dusky  spots  at  the  sides  or  banded  with  dusky 
above.  Lower  parts,  except  the  end  of  the  tail,  usually  white  ;  in  some 
cases  the  lower  part  of  the  tail  except  the  tip  is  of  salmon  colour 
(probably  during  the  breeding  season  only),  and  the  hinder  part  of  the 
thighs  is  bright  yellow. 

This  Phrynocephalus  was  found  in  open  plains,  very  locally  distri- 
buted, and  apparently  keeping  to  more  barren  and  sandy  parts  of  the 
country  than  the  other  species.  The  only  place  where  I  found  it 
common  was  in  the  great  sandy  plain  east  of  Karman.  I  first  met 
with  it  in  Narmashir,  near  Bigan  and  Bam,  at  about  2500  feet  above 
the  sea;  the  other  places  where  it  was  seen  were  2000  to  3000 
feet  higher,  but  it  was  not  observed  at  any  greater  elevation.  One 
specimen  was  captured  on  the  utterly  barren  salt-swamp  of  Sar-i-jum, 
between  Karm&n  and  Shiraz.  Anderson's  examples  come  from  Awada, 
evidently  Abfideh,  which  is  higher  than  any  place  where  I  observed 
this  species.  I  also  remember  seeing  it  near  Isfah&n,  but  I  have  not 
preserved  specimens,  and  I  did  not  notice  it  further  north. 

P.  maculatus  has  a  habit  of  coiling  the  end  of  its  tail  upwards,  or  in 
the  reverse  direction  to  that  in  which  a  chamseleon  coils  it.  I  cannot 
form  any  idea  of  the  use  to  which  this  animal  puts  its  tail  as  a  pre- 
hensile organ.     The  places  it  inhabits  are  as  a  rule  destitute  even  of 


334  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

bushes,  so  that  the  tail  can  scarcely  be  employed  for  climbing.  Although 
it  is  closely  allied  to  P.  caudivolvulus,  I  do  not  think  it  is  either  her- 
bivorous or  viviparous ;  I  find  only  remains  of  insects  (chiefly  ants,  as 
in  the  other  species)  in  the  stomach ;  and  in  two  pregnant  females 
captured  near  Bam  on  the  aist  of  April  I  find  two  eggs  in  eadh 
Neither  have  I  ever  observed  that  this  species  burrows  or  takes  refuge 
in  holes  or  under  stones  ^ 

Undoubtedly  P.  mcLCulatm  is  closely  allied  to  P.  caudivolvulMS.  On 
comparing  it  with  specimens  of  that  species  from  Tibet,  in  the  British 
Museum,  I  find  the  latter  difier  in  having  a  shorter  tail,  no  keels  on 
the  tail  scales  except  close  to  the  tips,  and  strong  keels  to  the  scales  of 
the  abdomen.  The  size  is  much  smaller  and  the  colouration  different. 
Dr.  Oiinther  states,  in  his  *  Reptiles  of  British  India,'  p.  i6i,  that  these 
Tibetan  specimens  have  been  compared  by  Prof.  Peters  with  the 
type  of  P.  cavdivohulus  and  found  identical.  But  it  is  worthy  of 
notice  that  Eichwald,  in  his  '  Fauna  Caspio-Caucasica,'  describes  the 
ventral  scales  of  P.  caudivolvulm  as  not  keeled,  and  the  present  species, 
as  we  have  seen,  has  them  sometimes  slightly  keeled,  so  it  is  possible 
the  difference  in  this  respect  is  not  constant. 

16.  Uromastix '  miorolepis,  W.  Blanf. 

P.  Z.  S.  1874. 

U.  affinis  U.  spinipcdi,  tubercuUs  majoribus  ad  lai^a  corporis  sparM 
carefitibuSj  plicis  ad  latera  colli  tvberculos  parvos  ferenttbuSy  squamisque 
supra  et  infra  pedes  minoribiis,  distingvendus,  Ab  U.  acanthinurd 
squamis  omnibus  viulio  tninoribus  facile  recognoscitnr, 

Ilab,  in  Mesopotamia  juxta  urbem  Basrah  {Bussora), 

'  I  mention  these  hcta  because  Mr.  Theobald  found  a  Phrynccephalu»  on  the  banks  of 
Lake  Tsomoriri  in  Thibet,  called  at  first  P.  OHvieri  by  the  finder,  J.  A.  S.  B.  1862,  xxxi, 
p.  518,  and  then  P.  TKeobaldi  by  Mr.  Blyth,  id.  1863,  xxxii,  p.  90,  but  subeequently 
identified  by  Mr.  Theobald  himself  with  P,  caudivclvulua,  Cat.  Rept.  Mus.  As.  Soc 
p.  40,  which  he  described  as  living  in  pairs,  inhabiting  burrows,  and  producing  living 
young, — two  and  occasionally  three  fceti  being  found  in  females.  The  same  species  was 
described  apparently  as  P.  Stcliczkai  by  Steindachner,  Rept.  Novara,  p.  32,  but  identified 
by  Giinther  with  P.  ca\idivolvulu8,  Zool.  Record,  1867,  p.  137. 

'  Mr.  Theobald  (Joum.  Linn.  Soc.  x,  p.  34,  and  J.  A.  S.  B.  1868,  Cat.  Rept  p.  39) 
proposed  to  separate  UromastiXf  Ldolepis,  and  Pkrynocejthalvs  as  a  distinct  family, 
because  they  are  herbivorous  and  live  in  burrows.  This  view  has  been  adopted  by 
Anderson,  P.  Z.  S.  1871,  p.  167,  and  Stoliczka,  P.  A.  S.  B.  1872,  p.  81.  If  maintained, 
however,  it  must  be  so  on  other  grounds  than  those  assigned  by  Theobald,  and  I  do 


REPTILIA.  336 

Description :— General  form  massive;  trunk  broad,  depressed  ;  head 
triangular,  upper  portion  flat  behind,  descending*  in  a  curve  towards 
the  muzzle.  Limbs  rather  stout ;  the  fore-foot  laid  forward  extends 
beyond  the  snout  by  the  length  of  the  fingers,  laid  backward  it 
reaches  two-thirds  of  the  distance  to  the  thigh ;  when  the  hind-foot 
is  brought  forward,  the  ends  of  the  toes  nearly  touch  the  axil.  Toes 
strong,  a  fringe  of  pointed  scales  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  fourth 
toe  of  the  hind  foot,  and  less  marked  fringes  on  the  second  and 
third  toes.  Claws  rather  long,  pale  coloured.  Tail  thick,  gradually 
attenuate,  formed  of  rings  of  pointed  conical  tubercles,  its  length 
about  equal  to  that  of  the  body  without  the  head  and  neck. 

About  eighteen  subconical  teeth  on  each  side  of  the  upper  jaw, 
those  in  front  smaller  and  much  worn  down;  fifteen  similar  teeth 
much  blunted  on  each  side  of  the  lower  jaw.  In  front  of  the  upper 
jaw  is  a  cutting  edge  formed  of  a  broad  central  portion,  which  appears 
to  be  a  process  of  the  maxillary  bone,  and  two  smaller  lateral  teeth, 
one  on  each  side,  apparently  united  to  the  central  process  at  the 
base.  Similarly  in  front  of  the  lower  jaw  are  two  cutting  edges, 
one  at  the  end  of  each  ramus  of  the  mandible,  each  composed  of 
an  osseous  and  a  dental  portion,  the  osseous  portion  the  broadest, 
and  nearest  to  the  extremity  of  the  jaw.  In  young  specimens  the 
dental  portion  of  these  pseudo-incisors  is  more  developed  and  the 
osseous  portion  less  than  in  adults.     Tongue  deeply  cleft  at  the  end. 

The  largest  specimen  obtained  measures  21  inches,  of  which  the 
tail  from  the  anus  measures  8.5,  head  2,  fore-limb  to  end  of  claws 
4.75,  third  toe  and  claw  measured  from  the  division  between  the  third 
and  fourth  toes  1.12,  hind-limb  6.25,  third  toe  1.22. 

Scales: — Head  covered  above  with  convex  scales,  largest  on  the 
snout  and  occiput,  and  on  the  forehead  between  the  eyes.  Canihus 
rostralis  rounded;  nostrils  lateral,  oval,  rather  large,  each  in  the 
middle  of  a  single  plate  below  the  canihus.  Rostral  enlarged ;  mental 
smaller  than  the  rostral.    Labials  scarcely  larger  than  the  neighbouring 

not  think  Phrynocephdlus,  none  of  the  Pereian  species  of  which  live  in  holes  or  are 
herbivorous,  and  the  dentition  of  which  resembles  Agama  and  not  UromastiXt  can  be 
included.  Stdlio,  on  the  other  hand,  is  herbivorous,  though  not  exclusively  so.  That 
Uromastix,  Centrotrachdus,  and  I  believe  Leiolepis,  form  a  well-marked  section,  is 
obvious,  and  they  appear  to  me  just  as  deperving  of  separation  firom  the  Agamidce  as 
are  the  SepsicUe  from  the  8cincid(rf  but  I  prefer  myself  retaining  the  larger  groups 
as  families. 


336  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

scales ;  posterior  upper  labials  triangular,  all  others  sqnare  Chin^ 
except  near  the  lower  labials,  covered  with  very  small  convex 
scales;  scales  of  the  neck  equally  small,  subconical  or  mucronate, 
those  of  the  lower  surface  in  transverse  rows.  Sides  of  the  neck 
with  irregular  longitudinal  folds^  bearing  larger  tubercular  pointed 
scales;  there  are  also  transverse  folds  below  the  neck,  but  th^ 
do  not  bear  larger  tubercles.  Scales  of  the  back  aod  sided  all  small, 
submucronate,  with  the  points  compressed  and  directed  backward, 
in  well-marked  transverse  rows  except  near  the  middle  line  of  the 
back ;  no  enlarged  scales  on  the  sides.  Abdominal  scales  rhomboidal, 
a  little  larger  than  those  of  the  back,  arranged  in  transverse  series. 
Scales  of  anterior  portion  of  the  fore-limb  like  those  of  the  abdomen, 
those  on  the  posterior  surface  the  size  of  the  back  scales,  a  few 
slightly  enlarged  scales  on  the  outer  surface  of  the  fore-arm.  On 
the  hind-limb  the  scales  are  larger  on  the  inner,  smaller  on  the 
outer  surface;  a  row  of  large  conical  tubercles  passes  down  the 
front  of  the  tarsus^  and  large  spinose  tubercles  are  scattered  over 
its  outer  surface ;  a  few,  less  in  size,  occurring  on  the  posterior  portion 
of  the  thigh.  Feet  and  toes  covered  beneath  with  keeled  scales, 
the  keels  longitudinal  on  the  soles  of  the  fore-feet,  transverse  on 
those  of  the  hind-feet.  In  the  largest  specimen,  a  male,  there  are 
eighteen  femoral  pores  on  one  side,  twenty  on  the  other,  in  a  younger 
specimen  fourteen  beneath  each  thigh,  the  two  series  coming  close 
together  in  the  pneanal  region.  Tail  when  perfect  consisting  of 
about  twenty-three  or  twenty-four  rings,  the  upper  and  lateral  portion 
of  each  ring  consisting  of  large  spines,  the  points  directed  backward ; 
the  lower  portion,  except  towards  the  tip,  is  covered  by  rings  of 
smaller  nearly  flat  scales,  diminishing  in  size  towards  the  base  of 
the  tail. 

Colour  olive  grey,  with  small  rather  indistinct  darker  spots  on  the 
back ;  lower  parts  and  tail  rather  paler. 

Intestinal  canal  elongate,  but  apparently  less  so  than  in  CetUro- 
irachelus.  In  a  specimen  measuring  altogether  17  in.  in  length, 
of  which  the  tail  is  7,  the  whole  length  of  the  intestinal  tract  from 
the  cardiac  end  of  the  stomach  to  the  anus  is  28  in.,  the  large 
intestines  measuring  8  in. 

This  species  was  found  inhabiting  the  neighbourhood  of  Basrah, 
whence  three  specimens  were  brought  by  Captain  Phillips  and 
presented  alive  to  the  Zoological  Society.     It  is  in  all  probability 


REPTILIA,  337 

this  lizard  which  was  first  noticed  in  Mesopotamia  by  Olivier  (Voyage 
dans  TEmpire  Othman,  TEgypte,  et  la  Perse,  ii^  p.  428),  and  said 
to  be  larger  and  longer  than  a  man's  arm,  and  dwelling  in  holes 
like  those  made  by  foxes. 

U.  microlepis  is  closely  allied  to  the  African  17.  spinipes  and  U, 
acanthinurus ;  it  is  distinguished  £rom  the  former  by  the  absence 
of  enlarged  scales  on  the  sides  and  by  the  lateral  folds  on  the  neck 
bearing  tubercles,  and  from  the  latter  by  its  much  smaller  scales. 


17.  CentrotraoheluB  AsmuBsi,  Strauch,  PI.  XXI. 

Bull.  Acad.  Imp.  Sd.  St.  Pet.  1863,  vi,  p.  479. 
Boz-mich  or  Boz-mijeh,  Peniaii  (Gk)at-milker). 

I.  About  ninety  mfles  north-west  of  Bampdr,  Balii- 

chist4n 1800 

2-4.  Near  Rigan,  NarmaBhir,  south-eastern  Persia     ••         2500 

This  is  the  second  of  the  two  remarkable  lizards  proctired  at  Sar-i- 
ch&h,  north-west  of  Sistfin  and  north-north-east  of  Karm&i,  by  Count 
Keyserling,  when  attached  to  Mons.  de  Khanikoff's  expedition  into 
Eastern  Persia,  and  described  by  Strauch.  The  example  from  which 
the  description  was  taken  was  brought  alive  to  St.  Petersburg. 
Strauch's  description  in  Latin  is  excellent:  it  is  reproduced  in  the 
Zoological  Record  for  1864,  p.  115.  I  append  a  somewhat  fuller 
account  in  English. 

Description : — General  form  very  massive ;  trunk  remarkably  broad 
and  depressed;  head  short,  subtriangular,  depressed^  but  not  very  flat, 
about  as  broad  as  long,  the  frontal  region  descending  in  a  curve  to  the 
blunt  muzzle.  Limbs  stout,  of  moderate  length ;  the  fore-foot  laid 
forward  extends  beyond  the  snout  by  the  length  of  the  fingers,  laid 
back  it  reaches  more  than  half-way  to  the  thigh;  the  hind-leg  laid 
forwards  extends  about  three-quarters  of  the  distance  to  the  axil.  Toes 
short  and  strong,  not  fringed,  those  of  the  hind-foot  about  the  same 
length  as  those  of  the  fore-foot,  gradually  increasing  in  length  from 
the  first  to  the  fourth ;  in  the  fore-foot  the  fourth  toe  is  very 
little  longer  than  the  third,  in  the  hind-foot  it  exceeds  it  by  the 
length  of  its  claw.  Tail  very  thick,  rather  shorter  than  the  body  and 
head,  depressed  near  the  base,  regularly  attenuate,  surrounded  by  rings 
of  conical  tubercles.      Dentition  peculiar,  being  similar  to  that  of 

VOL.  II.  z 


338  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

Urmnasiix^  and  differing  widely  from  tliat  of  the  insectivoroos  Agamoids. 
There  are  in  a  large  specimen  twenty-two  subcorneal  teeth  on  each 
side  of  the  upper  jaw ;  twenty^  of  which  nineteen  are  sabconical  and 
one  in  front  to  be  presently  described,  on  each  side  of  the  lower.  These 
teeth  are  laterally  compressed  and  very  close  together,  formings  a  con- 
tinuous series^  and  those  in  front  are  worn  down,  so  as  to  form  almost 
a  continuous  cutting  edge.  In  front  of  the  uppeit  jaw,  separated  by 
a  small  interspace  from  the  maxillary  teeth,  is  a  broad  cutting  ^g^ 
like  that  of  a  human  incisor,  formed  apparently  of  a  process  of  the 
intermaxillary  bone,  and  not  an  implanted  tooth ;  opposed  to  this  in  the 
lower  jaw  are  two  cutting  edges,  one  at  each  end  of  the-  row  of  lower 
molars,  not  separated  &om  the  lower  molars  by  any  space,  but  a  little 
apart  from  each  other.  These  pseudo-incisors  appear  entirely  com- 
posed of  bone,  the  dental  portion  seen  in  Uramastiso  being  apparently 
deficient  in  the  present  species,  or  perhaps  becoming  so  worn  down  in 
old  specimens  tliat  it  cannot  be  seen.  The  tongue  is  moderate,  deeply 
cleft  at  the  end.  The  largest  specimen  collected  measures  20  in.,  of 
which  the  tail  from  the  anus  is  9.5,  head  2 :  the  body  is  5  in. 
broad.  In  another  smaller  specimen  measuring  15  in.,  the  tail  is 
6.25  long,  head  about  1.75,  fore-limb  3,  third  toe  and  claw  measured 
from  the  division  between  the  third  and  fourth  toes  0.7,  hind-limb 
4.25,  third  toe  and  claw  0.7. 

Frontal  and  occipital  regions  of  the  head  and  the  central  line  joining 
them  covered  with  convex  tubercular  scales  of  unequal  size,  but  much 
larger  than  those  on  the  supraorbital  region.  This  is  indented  by  a 
longitudinal  groove  just  inside  the  superciliary  ridge,  which  is  not 
prominent.  Canthus  roslralis  rounded,  indistinct,  the  nostril  lateral, 
crescentic,  rather  large,  occupying  the  hinder  portion  of  a  nasal  plate 
below  the  position  of  the  canihuSy  and  with  the  hinder  margin  formed 
of  small  scales.  No  enlarged  rostral  or  mental;  labials  all  small, 
scarcely  if  at  all  larger  than  the  adjoining  scales.  Several  rows  of 
rather  elongate  scales  parallel  with  the  lower  labials.  Scales  of  the 
sides  of  the  head  mostly  spiall ;  a  row  of  rather  larger  tubercular  or 
bluntly-keeled  scales  commences  below  the  eye  and  continues  upwards 
and  backwards  to  above  the  tympanum.  Scales  in  front  of  the  ear 
slightly  enlarged  and  conical.  Tympanum  rather  large,  its  height 
greater  than  its  breadth,  partly  concealed  by  the  spinous  folds  of 
the  neck;  the  membrane  rather  deeply  seated.  Chin  and  throat 
below  granular. 


On  tbe  ztuA. 


odes  of  la*  leik .  -jir.    zzt^-tt^-tuz:^  •-..—    ^i:.:^    i-i:.    -i.  n:   -  :-' 

points;  aer:»  "rinsf  -zmr^ni  2.zni*r  u?  m.:.--— -t^^    -...^..-.-11:-  -  vr 
some  «i  The  szr,>irj:c  >n: .^f     :  -.l-    r.  j-?  ^--    =t  ii  -^      —   >   r.  1 

uoni.  nfis^  V  ^•"  "***  ~*  ST"**-*  ~  • '••  •j"*'^-»*  •■-s^  m-^.-^  "^  —  ■  •  ""—i 
with  imbrkKie  ««2i.!^  hj-.tt  ::  k:??  l.-t:::!:-.-  l-^-l  •  ~.  z  .  -  :— *- 
modi  iargfn  »:»:t*  -■itL"  :»rj.=v  ?.  E:.r  '^-'^  jj^i:-  i.  .1^  -.^  ~  -  ^~-•-- 
over  the  nj-j^e?  &cif  i_:zii*r  "ZJtrs  =:  "_:ir  "jl^i  i^i  ■-L.Tri>  >-:^  -?  ' :  t 
Boles  keekd.  lic  m»g*-":'an--i  >-:  -v  -_jt  "  •-*  t — .:  —---1^  .  — .r  -^  :. 
Tul  in  Terr  ci^rii':  r:iii-»  L'* 'zr.  ~v-»l— -:--  :^  luii.  -•  -_-  1  -:.'- 
rounded  abc'Te  &^i  *"  'Jik  afre?  :"  t-^^  11.-^^  -~  ^ll;  -^  "-  *-_    —  -  —*: " 

■  ■ 

ten  in  eicii  rii;^.  *ir  j-.-Br-eT  :»:'rr.  •:-  x-r_:;  ' — :.  -r-ir-    ■  v    ■■-•-.  r-  •: 
keeled  scales.     ¥t:*::l  zsz^i  '.   -'--tc  :•  •—    •:    *»-:..    l?   -  -       .:-: 

tiibercle&  on  ti»r  -=^5*7^:1^7    i  -^-i   'j. -:.    -..  ■:    ■.•  '-   -:."•   ■ '-  --1 

small  scales,  the  n-a-  :•:  ••:irt-?  -iir.-oiii:  i-  -       :»•   :-.-.:--..    ^v    1 

not  aCTOGS   it-       N^*:»>i    "Vn^    i  ^^i    :*-..:    V     i.lj.     i*  -    ..rr        L       -.--~_1j    : 

fold  acrosB  the  naj^e. 

The  inteetinil  /^-^a'  i-  •e-l.i.jri.'-:    z:.--i:?:i~-: ^'  .-    i.    -    1    •-:--"-i 
about  i8  in.  hyns.     Ir  &  F:e/:i>:^    :  _£. . »..  ■  -    i.    1     ■ :  .'  : 

the  intestinal  tzac^  FinilirT  r.-a.?i'-ri  ::  ::  ;:.-..i. 

stomach  to  the  an'as,  is  :lIt  -  i:.  '   li*  ■:-   v.:- 

seired  in  Fpirh.  the  t^f:***  Ll-t  i.i  -_.--    ■  i-^- -  ■.. 
cS  CetUrotractefui  is  s=.ill   :^   -.Tr.v^-.rr-:  - 
About  10  in.  from  the  »i."L5  :i.-:  .MV-rz-  ■  - 

csciun,  mnch  ex«*diii2  *ii-r  r.'.n-i-'.i  -  .-.11  -"-i- 
18  thick,  and  longttTadiiAl'T  irr>:  "^t-i  '/z'rrz.'^  ;  -  • ;  .  j*. 
part  of  its  lengthy  huz  ili*  rj^y  '•^  :..t  v  i:-.  - 
death. 

All  the  specimens  oi'll^^r-t-i  i»Ti  zli'.^t.     Zi  •" -iv 
head,  limbs,  and  tail  were  ll&<:k:?l  £.'"••-.:  .  --.t  ■  -t:  -.-.l 
the  larger  tubercles  and  marr  c:  :1c  g^-  .'--.:    "- .--  ':■  -  * 
and  shonlders  scarlet,  the  red  Kl'.::r  irr. I  -•-".!■■  I--2.:  :»vi.r.:,^'  '.:,  •"•.:-  -.•- 
laiged  soalesof  the  back.     Prol^Vj  •/!>  --  !-  •:_'  :*  i-r^r'  --i.   ;.•  ..  .-.-Li.;.  >-• 

z  : 


■     »• 


*  •. 


■  I  • . 


■  •-     •  i 


I 


REPTILIA.  339 

On  the  back  of  the  occiput  are  some  large  mucronate  scales,  and 
groups  of  still  larger  spinose  tubercles  are  scattered  over  the  back  and 
sides  of  the  neck;  the  intervening  scales  small  and  submucronate. 
The  back  and  sides  are  covered  with  small  rhomboidal,  subimbricate 
scales^  obtusely  keeled,  and  terminating  posteriorly  in  rather  blunt 
points ;  across  these  extend  numerous  transverse,  equidistant  rows  of 
much  larger  mucronate  tubercles,  their  points  directed  backwards; 
some  on  the  anterior  portions  of  the  sides  are  spinose.  Abdomen 
clothed  with  rhomboidal  imbricate  scales  in  transverse  series,  mostly 
smooth,  but  sometimes  bluntly  keeled  near  the  sides,  especially  in 
front,  nearly  equal  in  size  to  the  larger  dorsal  scales.  Limbs  covered 
with  imbricate  scales,  more  or  less  distinctly  keeled  or  submucronate, 
much  larger  above  than  below ;  some  very  large  conical  scales  scattered 
over  the  upper  and  hinder  parts  of  the  thigh  and  tarsus.  Scales  of  the 
soles  keeled^  the  cross-plates  below  the  toes  with  several  keels  each. 
Tail  in  very  distinct  rings,  about  twenty-five  in  number,  each  sur- 
rounded above  and  at  the  sides  by  very  large  spinose  tubercles,  eight  to 
ten  in  each  ring,  the  lower  portion  without  tubercles,  but  covered  with 
keeled  scales.  From  nine  to  eleven  pores,  showing  as  soft  blunted 
tubercles,  on  the  underside  of  each  thigh,  each  pore  sturounded  by 
small  scales,  the  row  of  pores  extending  to  the  prseanal  region  but 
not  across  it.  Neck  with  fold  below  and  at  the  sides ;  no  distinct 
fold  across  the  nape. 

The  intestinal  canal  is  elongate,  measuring  40  in.  in  a  specimen 
about  18  in.  long.  In  a  specimen  of  Agama  agilisj  10  in.  in  length, 
the  intestinal  tract,  similarly  measured  from  the  cardiac  end  of  the 
stomach  to  the  anus,  is  only  7  in.  long :  both  specimens  being  pre- 
served in  spirit,  the  tissues  have  doubtless  contracted.  The  stomach 
of  Centrotrachelua  is  small  in  circumference  but  about  6  in.  long. 
Aboat  10  in.  from  the  anus  the  intestine  swells  into  a  large  sac-like 
csecum,  much  exceeding  the  stomach  in  circumference.  The  rectum 
is  thick,  and  longitudinally  grooved  externally  throughout  the  greater 
part  of  its  length,  but  this  may  be  due  to  contraction  just  before 
death. 

All  the  specimens  collected  are  males.  In  these,  when  fresh,  the 
head,  limbs,  and  tail  were  blackish  above ;  the  back  and  sides  were  buff, 
the  larger  tubercles  and  many  of  the  smaller  ones  upon  the  head,  neck, 
and  shoulders  scarlet,  the  red  colour  gradually  disappearing  on  the  en- 
larged scales  of  the  back.     Probably  this  colour  is  seasonal,  and  may  in 

z  % 


340  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

the  height  of  the  breeding  season  colour  all  the  back.  Some  specimens, 
probal^ly  females,  appeared  to  be  of  a  uniform  yellowish  olivaoeoos 
colour  on  the  upper  parts.  The  lower  parts  of  the  head,  limbs,  and 
tail  blacky  more  or  less  mottled  with  greyish  white;  abdomen  pale. 

This  superb  Uromasticid  was  first  seen  at  Khusrin,  five  marches 
north-west  of  Bampur,  in  Baluchist&n^  where  a  specimen  was  shot  by 
Miijor  St.  John  on  a  small  stony  rise  at  the  edge  of  the  Bampur  plain. 
We  mot  with  it  more  commonly  along  the  margin  of  the  Narmashir 
desert,  near  Rig&n,  a  few  marches  farther  to  the  north-west.     This 
plain  extends  far  to  the  northward,  towards  Sist&n  and  Khorassfin^  and 
the  same  lizard  may  inhabit  a  considerable  portion  of  Eastern  Persia. 
Where   seen  it  lived   in  a  semi-desert,  rather  gravelly  plain,  with 
scattered  patches  of  low  thin  bush^  chiefly  barilla  and  tamarisk.     It  is 
heavy  in  its  movements,  but  can  run  tolerably  quick.     It  lives  in 
large  holes  resembling  rabbit-holes,  evidently  dug  by  itself;  I  dug  out 
one  individual^  which  I  had  seen  take  reftige  in  a  hole,  from  a  depth  of 
about  2  fl.  under  ground.     The  burrow,  about  i8  in.  from  the  surface, 
turned  at  right  angles  to  its  original  direction,  and  was  altogether 
about  4  ft.  long. 

Centrotrachelus  A&ninssiy  like  Uromaatix  Hardwicki  ^,  is  purely  herbi- 
vorous, living  on  leaves  and  stems  of  herbaceous  plants,  seeds,  etc. 
It  also  resembles  Uromaatix  in  not  leaving  its  burrow  until  the  sxm  is 
well  up,  in  the  cold  season  at  all  events,  and  in  its  gentle  disposition. 
It  does  not  attempt  to  bite  when  captured. 

In  the  accompanying  plate  this  lizard  is  represented  two-fifths  the 
natiiml  size. 


18.  *C.  loricatus,  W.  Blanf. 

r.  z.  s.  1874. 

C.  peraj/inh  C.  Asmussi,  a  quo  colore  j)allidiare,  isabellino  nee 
oUvaceo,  fusco^macnlatOy  squamarum  majorum  dorsalium  seriebus  magU 
duianiibuSy  unguibus  foriiorlbua^  squamis  aupradigitalihis  minoribus  et 
carinis  squaviarum  infra  ped^s  poateriorea  in  linear  tranaversas  hand 
obliquas  dispo&ilis,  tantum  differt, 

Ilab,  hand proctd  a  Buahire. 

"  Conf.  Theobald,  Jour.  Lin.  Soc.  x,  p.  34.— Cat.  Rept.  Mua.  Afl.  Soc.  p.  39,  in  J.  A.  S.  B. 
zzxvii,  Pt.  a.— Stolicska,  Proc.  A.  S.  B.  1873,  p.  81. 


REPTILIA.  341 

In  all  essential  characters  this  species  resembles  the  type  of  the 
genus  very  closely.  I  have  only  examined  a  single  specimen  of 
C,  loricatus^  and  that  is  said  to  be  a  very  small  one ;  it  is  i6  in. 
long,  and^  as  preserved  in  spirit,  of  a  pale  pinkish  or  cream  colour, 
very  different  from  the  olive  of  C.  Asrrmssi.  The  back  is  marked  with 
small  dusky  spots^  owing  to  some  of  the  larger  scales  here  and  there 
being  of  that  colour.  The  larger  scales  are  arranged  in  rather  more 
distant  lines,  and  in  the  lines  themselves  they  are  more  scattered,  but 
the  most  striking  difference  is  that  there  are  very  few  spinose  scales  on 
the  neck,  and  the  enlarged  scales  of  the  back  and  sides  are  nearly  fiat, 
instead  of  being  sharply  mucronate.  This,  however,  may  be  partly  a 
sexual  distinction,  as  all  my  specimens  of  G.  Asmussi  are  males.  The 
only  example  of  C.  loricatns  is  eviscerated,  and  I  cannot  determine  the 
sex.  The  femoral  pores  are  ill-developed  and  obscure,  but  they  appear 
closer  together  and  more  numerous  than  in  C.  Asmusii.  The  best 
character,  however^  for  separating  these  two  forms  is  to  be  found  in 
the  toes^  which  in  C,  loricatue  are  shorter  and  have  much  stouter  claws, 
the  scales  above  the  toes,  except  close  to  the  claws^  being  much 
smaller^  and  the  keeled  scales  beneath  the  feet  having  their  longer 
diameter  and  the  direction  of  their  keels  transverse^  whilst  in 
C.  Asmussi  they  are  oblique.  In  the  specimen  of  the  former^  the 
third  toe  with  claw  in  the  fore-foot  measures  0.67  in.^  in  the  hind- 
foot  0.6.  The  feet  too  are  broader  in  the  Bushire  species,  and  there 
is  a  much  more  distinct  fringe  along  the  outer  edge  of  the  fourth 
hind-toe. 

From  the  various  accounts  given  of  this  CentrotracheluSy  I  believe 
it  to  be  probably  larger  than  G.  Asmussi.  The  specimen  I  have 
examined  is  said  by  the  gentleman  who  sent  it  to  be  very  small. 
I  am  indebted  to  Major  St.  John  for  the  following  interesting  note 
of  its  occurrence  near  Bushire.  Major  St.  John  also  told  me  that  he 
believed  this  lizard  was  a  larger  animal  than  that  which  we  found  in 
Narmashlr. 

For  an  opportunity  of  examining  a  specimen  I  am  indebted  to 
Dr.  Sclater,  who  has  been  indefatigable  in  endeavouring  to  obtain 
from  the  different  correspondents  of  the  Zoological  Society  some  of  the 
Persian  animals  of  which  I  had  heard,  but  which  I  had  been  unable  to 
procure.  The  present  lizard  was  obtained  and  sent  to  Dr.  Sclater  by 
Mr.  Ellis,  who  after  much  trouble  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  specimen 
from  the  Arabs.     His  chief  difficulty  was  that  in  the  winter  these 


342  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

lizards  were  never  seen ;  donbtless  they  hybemate  at  that  season,  as 
suggested  by  Major  St.  John. 

A  young  Uromastix  was  obtained  from  the  south  coast  of  Arabia  by 
Dr.  Carter,  P.Z.  S.  1863,  p.  237.  Dr.  Gray^  who  ezammed  the  speci- 
men, wliich  wafi  dried,  found  that  it  was  impossible  to  determine  the 
species. 

[The  Centrotrachelua  I  have  only  seen  once,  when  ridings  across  the 
desert  from  Shif,  a  small  port  opposite  Bushire,  to  Borasjdn,  the 
surface  being  sandy  clay,  with  small  bushes  of  wormwood  and  barilla. 
The  lizards  were  sitting  outside  their  holes  in  the  evening  in  May,  and 
my  bull-terrier  killed  two.  They  evinced  no  terror  of  the  dog;  in- 
deed, one  attacked  her,  and  the  dog's  mouth  was  severely  cut  by  the 
sharp  scales  of  the  lizard's  flanks;  from  memoiy,  I  should  say  the 
lizard  was  20  in.  long.  The  above  was  the  only  occasion  on  which 
I  have  been  off  the  regular  road  in  summer,  though  I  have  been  all 
over  the  country  in  winter  without  remarking  the  CentroUuekeluB^ 
which  must  therefore,  I  should  think,  be  a  hybemating  animaL— - 
O.  St.  J.] 


Family  GECKOTIDiE. 

19.  *Hemidactylus  maoulatus,  Dum.  et  Bibr. 

I  saw  this  species  in  houses  at  Gwfidar,  on  the  coast  of  Baluchistin. 
It  may  perhaps  have  been  introduced  from  India. 

20.  H.  Fersious,  Anderson. 

P.  Z.  S.  1872,  p.  378,  fig.  a  (mediocris). 

No  exact  locality  is  given ;  I  believe  the  species,  however,  to  have 
been  obtained  in  Southern  Persia,  and  probably  at  Bushire.  The 
woodcut  is  not  very  correct,  the  dorsal  tubercles  being  represented 
as  hemispherical  and  the  pupil  as  circular. 

The  tubercles  on  the  centre  of  the  back  are  not  distinctly  trihedral, 
though  they  are  keeled ;  they  become  more  elongate  on  the  loins,  and 
are  conoidal  towards  the  sides.  The  tubercles  on  the  tail  are  rather 
smaller  than  those  on  the  back ;  they  are  a  little  irregular,  but  the 
proper  number  in  each  row  is  six,  three  on  each  side.     Limbs  moderate, 


RE PT I  LI  A.  343 

.  the  hind-foot  laid  forward  does  not  extend  to  the  shoulder,  the  fore-foot 
\eaehes  the  eye.     The  rostral  is  cleft  for  some  distance  above ;  nostril 
ith  three  enlarged  scales  behind  it. 

4 
I 

\  H.  8p,  PI.  XXII,  fig.  I. 

I.  Diz4k,  Baliichistin    ..         ..         ••         ..  ..         4000 

\ot  satisfactorily  identify  the  only  example  of  a  Hemidactylus 

^^^„rf^r  procured.  It  is  near  H.  maculatns  and  H.  Persicus.  The 
^mck  is  covered  with  granular  scales,  thickly  interspersed  with  rather 
small  trihedral  tubercles,  none  of  which  equal  the  ear-opening  in  size. 
There  are  about  fourteen  rather  irregular  rows  of  these  tubercles 
across  the  middle  of  the  back ;  they  are  rather  smaller  in  front,  and 
on  the  sides  of  the  back  and  fore-part  of  the  limbs  they  are  smaller 
and  indistinctly  trihedral.  There  are  about  forty  scales  across  the 
abdomen.  Tail  verticillate^  towards  the  base  the  rings  are  marked  by 
three  or  four  tubercles  on  each  side,  smaller  than  those  on  the  back ; 
no  enlarged  subcaudal  plates,  and  in  the  only  specimen  obtained  (a 
female  apparently)  no  femoral  or  prssanal  pores. 

Occipital  portion  of  the  head  with  small  round  tubercles  scattered 
over  it.  Eyelid  circular,  without  enlarged  scales  ;  pupil  vertical.  The 
granular  scales  between  the  nostril  and  eye  rather  larger  than  those  on 
other  parts  of  the  head.  Nostrils  between  the  rostral,  first  labial  and 
three  sUghtly  enlarged  scales  behind.  Ear-opening  moderate.  About 
ten  upper  and  eight  or  nine  lower  labials  ;  a  row  of  slightly  enlarged 
scales  along  the  superior  edge  of  the  upper  labials ;  only  one  pair  of 
chin  shields,  which  form  a  broad  suture  behind  the  mental,  and  only 
meet  the  first  lower  labial ;  a  few  enlarged  scales  along  the  edges  of 
the  lower  labials. 

Limbs  rather  longer  than  in  H.  maculatus.  The  fore-foot  extends 
beyond  the  eye  if  laid  forward,  the  hind-limb  just  reaches  the  shoulder. 
Plates  beneath  the  toes  numerous  (twelve  to  fourteen),  divided  nearly 
to  the  base^  the  two  halves  meeting  at  a  very  obtuse  angle. 

Colour  grey,  with  imperfect  cross-bands  on  the  back  and  tail ;  a  dark 
line  from  the  nostril,  through  the  eye^  and  above  the  ear.  Length 
3.65  in.^  of  which  the  tail  from  the  anus  measures  a  in. 

This  species  is  distinguished  from  H.  maculatus,  D.  and  B.  (as 
restricted  by  Giinther),  by  the  much  smaller  tubercles  on  the  tail 
(which  has  no  appearance  of  having  been  reproduced  in  the  specimen 


344  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

before  me),  by  its  rather  more  elongate  form,  by  much  smaller  scales  on 
the  abdomen,  only  one  pair  of  chin  shields,  and  more  numerous  plates 
beneatli  the  toes. 

From  11.  PersicuSy  And.,  it  appears  to  differ  in  being  more  slender,  in 
having  longer  and  slighter  limbs,  fewer  scales  across  the  abdomen  and 
less  marked  tul^erclcs  on  the  tail.  It  is  possible  that  the  greater 
slendemess  may  be  due  to  immaturity. 

But  a  single  specimen  was  obtained  of  this  form^  and  although  it 
ap^x'ars  to  me  distinct  from  J7.  Persicus,  I  do  not  name  it,  as  it  may 
prove  only  a  variety. 

22.  Gynmodactylus  brevipes,  W.  Blanf.  PL  XXII,  fig.  2. 

Add.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  June  1874,  xiii,  p.  453. 

I.  Aptar,  near  Bampiir,  Baldchiatin  ..         ..         ..  3000 

G.  affinu  Gjrmnodactylis  geckoidi,  Caspio  Kachhensique,  dorso 
iulerculis  parcis  triqnelris  in  10  aeries  longitudinaleB  dispositis  or%ato^ 
caiidd  verticiUaUi,  annulo  singula  tuberciUis  iribtis  carinatis  hngiuseulis 
ntrinqiie  arwato,  suit  us  scutis  wajoribus  {nonnullis  divisis)  indtUd: 
sqjiamis  ventralibus  in  serie  transversd  circum  32  ;  poris  inguinalihis  4, 
femoralibus  nnllis,  membris  digitisqtie  brevibus^  pede  anteriore  vix  an/€ 
oculum,  posteriore  humemm  attingente. 

Hah,  in  Gedrosid  {Baluchistan), 

Head  and  body  moderately  depressed,  limbs  rather  short.  Scales  of 
tlie  back  granular,  with  numerous  sharply-keeled  trihedral  tubercles, 
each  nearly  equal  to  the  small  ear-opening  in  size,  and  all  arranged 
in  regular  longitudinal  lines,  of  which  ten  may  be  counted  in  the 
middle  of  the  back,  diminishing  to  six  between  the  thighs.  All  these 
tubercles  are  rather  longer  than  broad.  Tail  longer  than  body,  dis- 
tinctly ringed,  each  ring  with  three  sharply-keeled,  rather  elongate 
triliedral  tubercles  (larger  than  those  on  the  back)  on  each  side,  the 
space  between  the  two  uppermost  in  the  centre  of  the  tail  being 
very  little  broader  than  the  interspaces  on  the  sides ;  lower  portion  of 
the  tail,  except  at  the  base,  covered  with  larger  plates,  many  of  them 
divided  into  two ;  when  undivided  they  are  about  equally  long  and 
broad,  and  there  are  two  to  each  ring. 

Hinder  part  of  head  covered  with  unequally  sized  granular  scales; 
scales  of  the  anterior  portion  larger,  equal  in  size,  convex,  not  carinate. 
Pupil  vertical,  upper  eyelid  very  short,  lower  wanting.  Nostrils  between 


i   hemidactylus  3-  g.  hetehocercus. 

2.  gymnohactylus    brevipes.   4.,  bun  opus  TUBEECULATUS  . 


REPTILIA .  345 

the  hinder  edges  of  rostral  and  first  labial  without  any  enlarged  plates 
behind.  Bostral  rather  broader  than  high,  deeply  cleft  above.  Upper 
labials  nine,  lower  seven  on  each  side.  Two  pairs  of  larger  chin 
shields,  the  first  only  in  contact,  the  second  pair  smaller  and  widely 
separated ;  a  few  larger  scales  along  the  edge  of  the  lower  labials. 
Scales  below  head  round,  flat,  those  beneath  the  neck  rather  smaller, 
those  on  the  belly  considerably  larger  in  the  centre  than  towards  the 
sides,  in  about  twenty-two  rows  in  the  middle  of  the  abdomen,  but  the 
passage  into  the  granular  scales  of  the  sides  is  so  gradual  that  it  is 
difficult  to  say  where  either  ends.  I  count  about  eight  granules  on 
each  side  between  the  flatter  ventral  scales  and  the  lowest  trihedral 
tubercles.     Femoral  pores  four,  in  a  curved  row  between  the  thighs. 

The  hind-limb  laid  forward  just  reaches  the  shoulder,  the  fore-limb 
laid  back  extends  about  two-thirds  of  the  distance  between  the  shoulder 
and  thigh ;  laid  forward  the  toe  reaches  to  between  the  eye  and  snout. 
The  longest  toe  of  the  hind-foot  is  about  equal  to  the  distance  between 
the  eye  and  nostril.  Limbs  covered  with  imbricate  scales  above, 
some  larger  tubercles  on  the  anterior  portion  of  the  hind-limb  only. 
The  two  last  joints  of  each  toe  much  smaller  than  the  basal  portion. 

Colour  grey,  with  three  rather  imperfect  longitudinal  dusky  bands 
on  the  back,  formed  of  arrow-head  shaped  marks.  A  dusky  line  not 
very  strongly  marked  from  the  eye  to  the  shoulder. 

The  only  specimen  obtained  was  found  in  an  open  sandy  plain,  with 
scattered  vegetation,  not  far  from  Bampur,  in  Baluchistfin.  The  length 
is  2.95  in.,  of  which  the  tail  from  the  anus  measures  1.7,  fore-limb  0.4, 
hind-limb  0.57,  middle  toe  of  hind-foot  0.13. 

This  species  is  distinguished  from  all  its  allies,  G.  Colpitis,  G,  geek- 
oideSy  G.  KolseAyi,  and  G.  Kachhensi^,  by  its  much  shorter  limbs  and 
feet,  and  especially  by  its  short  toes.  It  is  further  distinguished  from 
O,  Caspim  by  its  smaller  number  of  prseanal  pores,  from  the  same 
species,  G.  Kotsch^i  and  G,  geckoides,  by  its  more  slender  form,  narrower 
and  more  depressed  head,  and  narrower  subcaudal  shields.  It  differs 
from  G.  Kachhemis  in  not  having  subcarinate  shields  on  the  snout,  in 
having  fewer  rows  of  tubercles  on  the  back,  and  of  scales  across  the 
belly. 

23.  *C}ymnodaotyluB  heterocerous,  W.  Blanf.  PI.  XXU,  fig.  3,  3  a. 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  June  1874,  xiii,  p.  453. 

G,  CaspiuSt  De  F.  Viag.  in  Pera.  p.  352,  partim,  noc  Eichwald. 


346  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

G.  (lepresHus,  capite  granulu  majmculis  snpeme  tecto;  dorso  fuberculU 
carina f is  friquefris  in  seriebus  1 2  longitudinalibus  omato,  catidd  supeme 
terticillatd,  annulis  singulis  tuberculis  iribus  majoridM  utrinqne  ad  lotus 
instruct  is,  subtus  squamis  parvis  imbricatis  carinatis  mucronatis  induUi; 
cruribus  supra  tuberculis  tnajoribus  amatiSy  subtus  squamis  jparvis  imbri- 
catis carina t is  tectis. 

Ilab,  ad  Haviaddn  in  Persia  occidenta/i  {Boria). 

Head  and  body  much  depressed,  limbs  rather  short.  The  back 
covered  with  small  granular  scales^  and  with  sharply-keeled  trihedral 
tubercles,  about  equal  to  the  small  ear  orifice  in  size^  and  arranged  in 
regular  longitudinal  rows,  twelve  in  number  in  the  middle  of  the  back. 
These  tubercles  are  very  little  if  at  all  longer  than  broad.  The  tail  is 
depressed  at  the  base,  in  distinct  rings  above,  each  ring  bearing  on 
each  side  three  sharply-pointed  keeled  tubercles  about  twice  the  size 
of  those  on  the  back;  there  are  no  tubercles  above  the  tail  in  the 
central  line ;  between  the  tubercles  there  are  small  keeled  imbricate 
scales.  Tie  scales  on  the  lower  portion  of  the  tail  are  stnally  strongly 
keeled,  sharply  pointed  behind,  imbricate,  and  not  arranged  in  regular 
verticils,  (PI.  XXII.  fig.  3  a.)  This  character  alone  distinguishes  the 
present  from  all  allied  species,  for  the  tail  in  one  specimen  has  not 
the  least  appearance  of  having  been  renewed,  except  towards  the 
end,  where  it  is  surrounded  by  keeled  scales  without  any  enlarged 
tubercles. 

Tlie  fore-legs  are  covered  with  imbricate  keeled  scales  above,  with 
some  trihedral  tubercles  on  the  fore-arm ;  the  upper  surface  of  the 
thigh  and  tarsus  bears  larger  tubercles,  exceeding  those  of  the  back 
in  size.  TIic  lower  surfaces  of  the  carpus  and  tarsus  are  covered 
with  small,  sharply-keeled,  imbricate  scales,  the  keels  forming  regular 
longitudinal  lines.  Tiie  scales  below  the  thighs  are  more  faintly 
keeled.  The  fore-limb  laid  forward  extends  to  the  end  of  the  snout, 
laid  back  it  does  not  quite  reach  the  thigh.  The  hind-leg  laid 
forward  extends  to  the  shoulder.  There  are  no  femoral  or  prseanal 
pores  in  either  of  the  specimens  examined,  probably  females.  The 
scales  across  the  belly  are  in  twenty-five  to  thirty  rows,  and  there  are 
from  three  to  six  small  scales  on  each  side  between  the  enlarged 
ventral  scales  and  the  lowest  dorsal  tubercles. 

The  head  is  covered  above  with  rather  coarsely  granular  scales, 
much  larger  than  the  scales  of  the  throat,  and  nearly  equal  in  size  to 
those  of  the  abdomen.    Nostril  small,  in  the  angle  between  the  rostral 


REFT  ILIA.  347 

and  first  labial,  without  any  enlarged  scales  behind.  Rostral  broader 
than  it  is  high,  deeply  cleft  above.  Upper  labials  eight  to  ten,  lower 
seven  to  eight.  Mental  shield  triangular,  rather  large,  with  two  or 
three  pairs  of  enlarged  chin  shields  behind  it,  only  the  first  pair 
meeting  behind  the  mental.  Upper  eyelid  well  developed,  pupil 
vertical.     Ear-opening  small. 

The  colour  in  spirits  is  grey  throughout,  without  markings.  A 
specimen  measures  3.2  in.;  the  tail,  partly  replaced  but  apparently 
full  grown,  being  exactly  one-half  this  length,  or  1.6,  head  0.45, 
fore-leg  0.55,  hind-leg  0.78. 

The  only  two  specimens  of  this  species  which  I  have  seen  belong  to 
the  Turin  Museum,  and  were  brought  by  the  Marquis  Oiacomo  Doria 
from  Hamad&n.  The  keeled  imbricate  scales  beneath  the  tail  and  legs 
serve  to  distinguish  it  from  all  allied  forms. 

24.  *a.  Caspius,  Eichwald.— De  F. 

Spic.  Zool.  pan  posterior,  p.  181. — Faun.  CaBp.-Cauc.  p.  91,  PI.  XV,  Fig.  1,  2. 

— C.  Dum^ril,  Cat.  M^th.  Col.  Bept.  Mub.  Paris,  p.  45. — Steindachner, 

Sitzb.  K.  K.  Acad.  Wise,  bdi,  p.  329. 
Utfmyiuiit  faMiaiu%t  M^n.  Cat.  Rais,  p.  64. 
Qymm/odMAy\u%  geekcidetf  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  Brit.  Mub.  p.  175,  partim. — Blyth, 

J.  A.  S.  B.  1853,  xzii,  p.  4io.~Tbeobald,  J.  A.  S.  B.  1868;  Cat.  Bept.  Mub. 

Ab.  Soo.  Bengal,  p.  31. 

Dum^ril  and  Steindachner  have  shown  that  Gymnodactylus  Qutpius 
is  distinguished  from  6.  geckoideSy  Spix^  amongst  other  characters,  by 
the  number  of  femoral  and  prseanal  pores ;  about  thirty  in  the  former 
species,  extending  in  a  line  along  both  thighs;  only  four  to  eight  in 
the  latter,  confined  to  the  inguinal  region.  Steindachner  (Sitz.  Acad. 
Wien,  Ixii,  1870,  p.  329)  has  farther  separated  from  the  African 
6.  geckoides  {0.  scabery  Rupp.),  under  the  name  of  G,  KoUchyiy  the 
race  with  much  smaller  dorsal  tubercles  inhabiting  Syria  and  the 
neighbouring  countries,  and  agreeing  with  the  African  species^  not 
with  0.  CaspitiSy  in  the  number  of  prsBanal  pores.  A  fourth  form  is 
O.  KacMenaiSy  Stoliczka,  from  the  province  of  Eachh^  in  Western 
India^  *Proc.  As.  Soc.  Bengal,'  1872,  p.  81. 

I  did  not  meet  with  O.  Caspius  in  Persia ;  but  it  is  probable  that 
it  is  not  rare  in  some  of  the  northern  provinces.  It  may  very  possibly 
be  found  in  Ehorass&n  and  Afgh&nist&n,  as  specimens  were  collected 
by  Theobald  in  the  Fanj&b.    The  specimens  obtained  by  the  Marquis 


348 


ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 


Doria  at  Hamad&n^  and  referred  to  this  species  by  De  Filippi^  are 
clearly  distinct,  and  belong  to  the  last  species. 

26.  '^G.  geckoides,  Spix. 

Gray,  Cat.  Lii.  Brit.  Mob.  p.  175. 

Q.  scaler,  RUpp.  Atlas,  p.  15,  PI.  IV,  fig.  a. 

A  specimen  obtained  by  Kotschy  at  Shir&z  exists  in  the  British 
Museum,  which  received  it  from  the  Museum  at  Vienna.  I  am 
indebted  to  Mr.  O'Shaughncssy  for  calling  my  attention  to  it. 

Specimens  of  the  same  species  are  said  also  to  have  been  brought 
from  Persia  by  Aucher-Eloy. 

Bunopiis  \  gen.  nov. 

W.  Blanf.  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  June  1874,  ziii,  p.  454. 

Genm  inter  Gymnodactylum  et  Stenodactylum  fere  medium^  cum  Mo 
digiiis  ad  latera  iaud  denficulaio-Jimbriatis,  cum  hoc  seuteUis  in/ra^ 
digitalihm  verrucosis  concordat. 

Toes  slender,  not  fringed  at  the  sides,  covered  below  by  cross  plates, 
which  are  furnished  with  projecting  tubercles  (PL  XXII,  fig.  4  a). 
General  form  as  in  Gymnodaciylm. 

This  form  only  differs  from  Stenod^ictylus  in  the  absence  of  fringes 
to  the  toes ;  but  this  distinction  is  important,  since  the  presence  of 
fringes  is  characteristic  of  lizards  which  dig  holes  and  usually  live 
in  them  2. 


26.  Bunopua  tuberculatus,  W.  Blanf.  PI.  XXTT,  fig.  4,  4  a,  4  b. 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  L  c. 

I.  Sam4n,  Dasht,  Baliichist&n — 

2-7.  B&hd  Kalit,  Baliichistdn — 

8-23.  Pisbin,  Baliichist&n   ..          ..          ..         ..         ..  500 

74-27.  Mand,  Baldohist&n    ..         ..          ..          ..          ..  700 

28.  Ifi&ndak,  Baldchist&n                      ..          ..         ..  3200 

99.  Near  Bampiir,  Baldohist&n              ..          ..  1500 

30.  Bfg&n,  Narmaahir,  south-eastern  Penda     . .  3500 

31.  Tiimb  Island,  Persian  Gulf             ..          ..          ..  — 


1  Etym.,  fiovydtt  a  mound,  and  wovt,  a  foot. 
"  Conf.  C.  Dum&il,  Rev.  Zool.  1851,  p.  479. 


REP  TI LI  A,  349 

B.  griseus^  fusco^maculatus  atque  transfasciatiis  ;  tuberadU  dorsalUms 
confertis  triquetrUy  meatum  auditorium  magnitudine  fere  aquantiius^ 
omattts;  fiorisque  inguinalibus  circa  7  pradiius;  sctitellis  post  et  inter 
nares  via  majorihus,  &upralabialibus  io-i2 ;  cauda  annuhtd^  annulis 
tuberculatis. 

JSiab,  in  GedroHd  {Baluchistan)  Peraidque  meridionalifreqnens. 

General  form  moderately  depressed  ;  the  head  higher  and  broader 
in  proportion  to  its  length  in  adult  specimens  than  in  young  ones. 
Back  granular,  with  numerous  enlarged  tubercles  in  about  fourteen 
longitudinal  rows  (not  very  regular),  larger  and  as  a  rule  trihedral  on 
the  centre  of  the  back  and  base  of  the  tail,  where  they  are  often  nearly 
as  large  as  the  ear-opening,  smaller  and  convex  on  the  back  of  the 
neck  and  on  the  sides.  The  larger  trihedral  tubercles  are  nearly  as 
broad  as  long. 

Pupil  vertical.  Nostrils  between  the  rostral,  first  labial  and  three 
small  shields  behind,  the  latter  being  scarcely  larger  than  the  granular 
scales  covering  the  muzzle.  Rostral  about  as  broad  as  it  is  high, 
grooved  above;  mental  rather  broad.  Upper  labials  about  ten  to 
twelve ;  lower  labials  eight  to  ten.  No  enlarged  chin  shields  behind 
the  latiials  ;  ear-opening  small.  Chin  and  throat  covered  with  small 
granular  scales.  Abdomen  covered  with  flat  hexagonal  subimbricate 
scales  in  about  twenty-five  to  thirty  rows  across  the  middle.  A  row 
of  prseanal  pores  between  the  thighs  nearly  in  a  straight  line,  usually 
seven  in  number,  sometimes  six  or  eight  (PI.  XXII,  fig.  4  b).  Tail, 
when  perfect,  longer  than  the  head  and  body,  verticillate,  each  ring 
being  terminated  by  a  row  of  large  closely-set  carinate  scales,  wanting 
below  and  in  the  centre  above ;  no  enlarged  subcaudals. 

Limbs  moderate,  granular  above  with  scattered  enlarged  tubercles, 
the  granular  scales  larger  and  flatter  below,  on  the  thighs  especially. 
Toes  and  fingers  rounded,  rather  short,  covered  with  small  imbricate 
scales  above. 

Colour  sandy,  with  dark  spots  taking  more  or  less  the  form  of  cross- 
bands  on  the  back  and  tail.  Dark  marks  from  the  nostrils  on  each 
side  through  the  eyes,  sometimes  meeting  each  other  on  the  occiput. 
Some  specimens  are  much  darker  than  others,  and  marked  with  brown 
transverse  bands  throughout. 

A  variety  of  which  I  have  specimens  from  Mand,  B&hu  Kal&t,  and 
Sam&n,  in  Baluchistan,  diflers  so  much  in  colour  from  the  common 
form  of  the  species  that  I  was  at  first  inclined  to  consider  it  distinct. 


350  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

The  ground  colour  is  pale  sandy,  with  the  dark  markingfi  on  the  back 
almost  confined  to  the  enlarged  tubercles,  some  of  which^  in  patches, 
arc  brown^  the  patches  having  a  tendency  to  form  longitudinal  tows. 
Tiierc  is  a  dark  mark  from  the  nostril  through  the  eye  to  above  the 
shoulder ;  farther  back  it  becomes  broken  np.  The  dorsal  tubercles 
too  in  this  form  are  small,  and  sometimes  less  distinctly  trihedral 
There  appears,  however^  to  be  no  constant  distinction  between  the 
two  varieties,  which  occur  together. 

B,  tuberculatua  abounds  in  parts  of  Baliichist&n,  being  found  in 
houses  and  under  stones  on  hill-sides,  etc.  I  never  obtained  it  at 
more  than  about  3000  feet  of  elevation  above  the  sea.  In  PL  XXII, 
fig.  4  a,  the  terminal  portion  of  a  toe,  much  magnified,  is  shown  from 
beneath  ;  fig.  4  b  represents  the  pores  of  the  inguinal  region. 

27.  FristuruB  rupestris,  W.  Blanf.  PI.  XXIII,  fig.  i,  i  a. 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  June  1874,  xiii,  p.  454. 

1-3.  Near  Maskat,  Arabia. 

4-6.  Kharg  or  Karrack  Idand,  Persian  Gulf. 

P.  jmrvu^i  dorso  squamis  aqtialibn^  induio^  sine  cristd;  caudd  com' 
pressd^  supra,  hand  infra^  criat-atd;  pnjpilld  rotunda,  A  P.  flavipunctato, 
Euj)/).,  differt  dorso  non  cristaio,  crurihus  lon^ioribuSy  scutis  in/ralabia- 
libns  phrumque  3,  nee  5. 

Hab,  in  rupibus  ad  Maakat  Arabia  et  in  insuld  Kharg  vel  Karrack 
dicta,  in  Sinn  Persieo. 

Scales  of  the  back  and  sides  and  of  the  upper  part  of  head  and  limbs 
equal,  not  imbricate,  round,  convex.  Back  not  crested.  Tail  compressed 
laterally^  indistinctly  verticillate^  with  a  low  crest  of  flat  spines,  their 
points  directed  a  little  backward,  along  the  top ;  none  below.  Scales 
of  the  sides  of  the  tail  equal,  granular;  those  below  rather  larger  and 
flatter.  Scales  of  abdomen  round,  flat,  but  little  larger  than  those  on 
the  back,  and  passing  so  gradually  into  the  convex  scales  of  the  sides 
that  it  is  difficult  to  estimate  the  number.  No  femoral  or  prseanal 
pores. 

Pupil  round.  Upper  eyelid  but  slightly  developed ;  no  lower  eyelid. 
Nostril  directed  laterally  upwards  between  the  rostral  and  about  three 
scales,  two  of  which,  one  on  each  side  of  the  nostril,  are  enlarged,  the 
outer  of  these  separating  the  nostril  from  the  first  labial ;  the  other 
enlarged  scale  does  not  meet  the  corresponding  one  on  the  opposite 


REPTILIA,  351 

side  of  the  rostral.  Rostral  large,  cleft  above.  Mental  larger  and 
broader  than  the  rostral.  Six  upper  and  three  lower  labials ;  no  en- 
larged chin  shields  behind  the  labials. 

Limbs  rather  elongate,  the  fore-limb  laid  forward  reaches  the  end  of 
the  nose,  and  laid  back  extends  to  the  thigh ;  the  hind-limb  laid  for- 
ward comes  nearly  or  quite  to  the  ear ;  toes  5-5,  slender,  rounded^ 
with  minute  claws.  The  scales  above  the  limbs  similar  to  those 
on  the  back,  those  on  the  inner  anterior  side  of  the  thigh  and  below 
the  tarsus  larger  and  flat,  those  above  the  toes  imbricate ;  beneath 
the  toes  are  cross-plates^  as  in  Gymyiodactylus^  scarcely  so  broad  as  the 
toes,  the  plates  beneath  the  joints  of  the  toes  being  longer^  but  not 
broader  than  the  others. 

Colour  (noted  when  fresh)  olive  grey,  a  pale  band  down  the  centre  of 
the  back,  the  back  and  sides  with  rufous  spots  forming  broken  longi- 
tudinal lines,  those  on  the  back  larger  than  those  on  the  sides  and  with 
a  white  hinder  margin;  these  spots  disappear  in  spirits,  A  rather 
narrow  dark  mark  from  the  nostril  to  the  eye,  continued  a  short  dis- 
tance behind  the  latter..  Specimens  from  Kh&rg  are  spotted  black  on 
the  sides  of  the  head  and  neck^  chin,  and  throat,  but  Maskat  examples 
are  unspotted. 

The  length  of  the  only  perfect  specimen  I  have  is  1.9  in.,  of 
which  the  tail  from  the  anus  measures  1.05^  and  the  head  and  body 
0.85  ;  the  hind-limb  0.55,  and  the  fore-limb  0.35.  Other  specimens 
are  a  little  larger,  the  length  from  the  nose  to  the  anus  in  the  largest 
specimen  being  a  little  over  an  inch,  but  the  species  would  appear 
never  much  to  exceed  two  and  a  half  inches  in  length. 

This  is  evidently  a  second  species  of  Riippell's  genus  PristurtiSy  and 
very  closely  allied  to  P.  flavipunctatua^  Riipp.  (Neue  Wirbelth.  Rept. 
p.  17,  PI.  VI,  fig.  3),  but  that  species  is  distinguished  by  having  the 
posterior  portion  of  the  back  crested  as  well  as  the  tail,  by  its  stouter 
habit  and  shorter  limbs.  In  specimens  of  P.  flavijyunctatus  in  the 
British  Museum  the  hind-legs  just  reach  the  shoulder,  whereas  in 
P.  Tupestris  they  come  in  front  of  it  when  laid  forward,  and,  in  the 
former,  the  fore-legs  do  not  extend  to  the  thigh  when  laid  backward, 
which  they  do  in  the  latter.  Other  differences  are  that  in  P.  flavi- 
punctaiiM  the  tail  is  more  compressed^  and  that  there  are  seven  upper 
and  five  lower  labials  on  each  side,  the  usual  corresponding  number  in 
P.  rupestris  being  six  and  three.  According  to  its  discoverer  also,  the 
habitat  o{  P.Jlavipunctalus  differs  essentially  from  that  of  P.  rupeatriSy 


352  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

for  Rup2>cn  found  the  former  on  trees.     It  was  discovered  near  Mas- 
sowa,  on  the  eoastland  of  Abyssinia. 

Messrs.  Dum^ril  and  Bibron  unite  Pristnrus  to  Gymnodactylui,  bat 
Dr.  Gray^  in  his  ^  Catalogue  of  the  Specimens  of  Lizards  in  the  Britifih 
Museum/  classes  it  as  distinct,  and  I  quite  agree  with  this  view.  The 
genus  is  distinguished  not  only  by  its  compressed  tail  and  caudal 
crest,  but  by  its  being  diurnal  and  having  a  circular  pupil. 

I  obtained  s})ecimens  first  near  Maskat,  in  Arabia,  on  limestone 
rocks  and  in  houses  at  a  place  called,  I  think,  F&lej,  four  or  five  miles 
inland.  The  majority  of  these  had  dried  and  become  useless  before  I 
could  put  them  in  spirits,  and  in  none  was  the  tail  preserved,  but 
I  had  noted  down  their  characters  when  fresh.  I  subsequently  ob- 
tained some  more  specimens,  which  only  differ  in  colouration,  on  the 
island  of  Kh&rg  or  Karrack,  north-west  of  Bushire,  in  the  Persian 
Gulf,  again  u}>on  limestone  rocks.  These  geckoes  appeared  to  be  quite 
diurnal ;  I  found  them  out  on  the  surface  of  the  rocks  at  lo  or  1 1 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  they  only  took  refuge  in  the  crevices  when 
approached.  Owing  to  the  numerous  cracks  and  fissures  in  the  lime- 
stone, it  was  difficult  to  capture  specimens,  for  these  little  geckoes  were 
very  active. 


Ceramodaotylus  ^  gen.  nov. 

W.  Blanf.  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  June  1874,  xiii,  p.  454. 

Digiti  ad  latera  fimbriaii,  subtus  squamU  jkxrvi^  inAricaiis  in  seriebu^ 
obliquU  ordinaiis  obtecti ;  cajnU  corpiisque  squamh  jaarvulis  undique 
induta ;   crura  longiuscula ;  palpebra  inferior  nulla. 

The  toes  fringed  at  the  sides  and  covered  beneath  with  minute 
pointed  scales,  distinctly  imbricate.  In  the  only  species  known 
the  edges  of  these  scales  are  denticulate  (PI.  XXIII,  fig.  %  a).  Greneral 
form  rather  agamoid ;  head  large,  not  depressed  ;  both  the  head  and 
body  covered  with  very  small  subequal  scales  above  and  below  ;  legs 
rather  long. 

This  genus  is  near  Stenodactylus^  but  differs  from  it  in  having  imbri- 
cate scales  in  oblique  series  instead  of  cross-plates  beneath  the  toes. 
A  similar  arrangement  is  represented  by  Dum^ril  in  the  fig^ure  which 
he  gives  of  the  toe  of  the  remarkable  West  African  form  named  by 

>  Etym.  Kipa/JtoM,  a  tile,  and  9&ktv\o9,  a  Bnger, 


.^ 


i 


»/ 


REPTILIA,  353 

him  Stenodactylus  caudicinctus  (Arch,  du  Mus.  viii,  PI.  XVIII,  fig.  15), 
but  the  scales  are  much  fewer  in  number.  This  species  Dr.  Gray 
(P.  Z.  S.  1864,  p.  60)  proposed  to  make  the  type  of  a  new  genus 
under  the  name  o(  Psilodactylu^^  which  he  considered  (rightly,  I  believe) 
allied  to  Eublepkarua,  It  differs  widely,  in  my  opinion,  from  Ceramo- 
dactylus  DoruB,  being  distinguished  by  its  heavy  body,  massive  ringed 
tail,  and  very  marked  and  peculiar  dorsal  tuberculation,  and  I  think 
that  Dr.  Gray  was  quite  justified  in  placing  it  in  a  genus  by  itself. 

The  toes  of  Stenodactylus  garrulua  (Smith),  {Pletiqpns  maculatus,  Gray) 
are  broader  than  those  of  S,  gutfatus^  and  besides  the  cross-plates  with 
projecting  points,  which  occupy  the  central  portion  of  their  lower 
surface,  there  are  granules  towards  the  margin.  Still  there  is  no 
such  important  difference  from  S.  gutfatus  in  the  scales  covering  the 
lower  surface  of  the  toes  as  there  is  in  the  present  genus. 

28.  *  CeramodactylUB  DoriflB,  W.  Blanf.  PI.  XXIII,  fig.  2,  2  a.— De  F. 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  Jane  187^,  1.  c. 

Stenodaclylus  gutlattu,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Pers.  p.  352,  nee  Cuv. 

C.  squamis  capitis^  corporis  atque  cauda  omnibus,  supra  sublusgue, 
parvis,Jere  aqualibus ;  caudd  quam  cor  pore  breviore ;  capite  inagno,  parum 
depresso ;  oculis  magnis,  pupilld  verticali,  meatu  audiiorio  parvo ;  pede 
anteriore  femur  fere  aitingentey  posteriore  axillam ;  poris  inguinalibus 
duobus  distantibus  ;  supeme  fulvus,  albo  conferiim  maculatus, 

Hab,  hand  procul  a  Bandar  Abbas  juxia  Vitus  Sinus  Persici, 

The  surface  of  the  head,  body,  and  tail,  both  above  and  below,  is 
covered  with  small  subequal,  slightly  convex  scales,  those  of  the 
throat  being  scarcely  smaller  than  those  of  the  belly,  and  the  latter 
about  equal  to  those  of  the  back.  The  back  scales  are  in  oblique  rows. 
There  are  no  enlarged  pneanal  or  subcaudal  scales,  but  there  are  two 
scales,  one  on  each  side,  in  the  inguinal  region  just  between  the  thighs, 
rather  larger  than  the  others,  and  each  perforated  by  a  pore.  These 
two  scales  are  separated  from  each  other  by  about  six  ordinary  scales. 
The  tail  is  not  verticillate,  it  is  very  slightly  depressed  at  the  base 
only,  regularly  attenuate  and  shorter  than  the  head  and  body. 

The  body  is  rounded,  not  depressed ;  the  head  large,  much  broader 
than  the  neck  * ;  the  limbs  long ;  the  fore-foot  laid  forward  extends 

^  The  specimen  appears  to  have  slightly  shrunk  in  spirits,  and  the  head  in  a  fresh  speci- 
men may  differ  leas  in  size  from  the  neck  and  body. 

VOL.  II.  A  a 


354  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

beyond  the  snout  by  the  whole  foot,  bud  back  it  nearly  touches  the 
thigh  ;  the  hind-foot  laid  forward  reaches  the  shoulder.  The  length 
of  the  only  specimen  examined  is  4.5  in.,  of  which  the  tail  from  the 
anus  measures  2,  head  0.8,  fore-leg  to  end  of  toes  1.15,  longest  toe 

(third)  0.18,  hind-leg  1.35,  longest  toe  0.25. 

The  toes  are  of  moderate  length,  fiinged  at  the  sides  like  those  of 
an  Acanihodactyhis^  rather  broad,  and  covered  beneath  with  pecoliar 
imbricate  scales,  so  small  that  a  microscope  is  required  to  make  them 
out.  These  scales  are  in  cross  rows  close  to  the  ends  of  the  toes,  hot 
only  in  oblique  series  elsewhere ;  they  are  sharply  pointed  at  the  end, 
and  their  free  margins  bear  one  or  two  smaller  points  ou  each  side. 
The  claws  are  well  developed  (PL  XXIII,  fig  2  a,  showing  the  ex- 
tremity of  a  toe  seen  from  beneath  and  greatly  magnified). 

The  eyes  are  large,  with  a  well-developed  upper  eyelid  covered  with 
small  granular  scales  ;  no  trace  of  a  lower  eyelid ;  the  pupil  appears 
to  be  vertical.  Ear-opening  small.  Nostrils  surrounded  by  the 
rostral,  first  labial,  and  three  postnasal  shields,  which  appear  a  little 
swollen  in  the  specimen,  but  this  appearance  may  be  due  to  the 
shrinking  of  the  head.  The  rostral  is  divided  vertically  into  two. 
Supralabials  about  twelve  to  fourteen,  those  behind  very  small;  lower 
labials  about  fourteen.  Mental  shield  quadrangular,  rather  larger 
than  broad ;  no  enlarged  plates  behind  it. 

Colour,  in  spirits,  pale  brown,  thickly  spotted  with  white,  much  as 
in  Stenodactylus  guttaius. 

The  only  known  specimen  of  this  species  was  obtained  by  the 
Marquis  Giacomo  Doria,  who  has  informed  me  that  he  found  it  on  the 
sand  of  a  torrent  bed,  one  march  from  Bandar  Abb&s  on  the  road  to 
Karmin.  It  is  the  specimen  to  which  De  Filippi  refers  under  the 
name  of  Stenodacfj^Ius gutiatus.  It  belongs  to  the  museum  of  Turin,  and 
I  am  indebted  to  the  courtesy  of  Count  Salvadori  for  the  loan  of  this 
and  of  specimens  of  Gi/mnodactylusheterocercus  and  Lacerta  BrandtL 

29.  *Teratoseincus  Keyserlingi,  Strauch. 

Strauch,  Bull.  Acad.  Sci.  St.  Pet.  i863»  vi,  p.  480. — Zool.  Record,  1864,  p.  iii. 
— Mel.  Biol,  vi,  p.  554. 

This  was  one  of  two  species  brought  by  Count  Keyserling  from 
Khorass&n,  and  described  by  Strauch,  who  at  first  referred  the  form  to 
the  scinques,  on  account  of  the  granular  surface  of  the  tongue,  but  sabse- 


REPTILIA.  355 

quently  ascertained  that  it  was  a  gecko  near  Stenodactylus.  It  is  in  all 
probability  still  more  closely  allied  to  the  remarkable  form  from 
Western  India,  Teratolepis  fasciala  (Blyth),  (Giinther,  P.  Z.  S.  1869, 
p.  504),  from  which  it  differs  in  having  an  external  ear,  the  toes 
not  dilated,  but  fringed  at  the  sides,  the  tail  longer,  and  the  scales  of 
the  back  not  carinate.  It  is  perhaps  a  question  whether  the  two 
genera  might  not  be  united,  but  a  comparison  of  specimens  would  be 
necessary. 

Teratoscincus  is  a  rather  large  gecko,  about  six  inches  long,  covered 
with  smooth  imbricate  scales.  The  head  is  gecko-like,  the  pupil  of 
the  eye  circular.  The  feet  are  like  those  of  Stenodactiflus^  the  margins 
being  fringed  as  in  S,  garrulus.  It  was  obtained  at  a  place  called  Seri- 
Tschah  (probably  Sar-i-ch4h,  head  of  a  spring,  or  spring-head),  and 
most  likely  from  a  spot  so  named  marked  on  Khanikoff's  map  about 
150  miles  W.  by  N.  of  L&sh  Jowain,  and  a  similar  distance  N.N.E.  of 
Karm&n. 

Afi^amura,  gen.  nov. 

W.  Blanf.  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  June  1874,  xiii,  p.  455. 

Gentis  Geckotidarum  propter  squamas  digitosque  ad  Gymnodactylum 
accedens,  darso  tuberculatOy  joalpebris  inferiaribus  nullis,  pupilld  vertically 
dentibus  numerosis  cequalibusquey  lingud  antice  brevissime  Jiaaa ;  aed 
membris  elongatiSy  caudd  subcylindricd,  valde  Jiexibili,  nunquam  regenitd^ 
AgamsB  simile. 

This  new  genus  is  proposed  for  the  very  singular  gecko  described  by 
C.  Dum^ril  as  Gymnodactylm  PersiciM^  and  for  another  closely  allied 
species  which  I  obtained  in  Baluchist&n.  These  two  appear  to  form, 
with  Spatalura  Carteriy  Gray,  and  perhaps  PriUurus  longipes^  Peters, 
a  group  which  may  almost  be  considered  as  a  sub-family  of  the 
Geckotidce  with  Agamoid  affinities,  which  are,  however,  perhaps  more 
superficial  than  real.  The  characters  of  the  skin,  tongue,  teeth,  and 
eyes  are  those  of  ordinary  geckoes,  but  the  elongate  limbs  and  the 
very  peculiar  flexible  tail  differ  widely  from  the  corresponding  parts 
in  other  genera  of  the  family ;  not  a  single  specimen  of  Agamura  which 
I  have  examined  shows  signs  of  the  tail  having  been  reproduced, 
whilst  in  ordinary  g^koes  nearly  one-half  have  lost  their  tails  and 
formed  new  ones.  The  caudal  vertebrse,  however,  are  biconcave  as  in 
the  other  geckoes,  not  concavo-convex  as  in  the  Agamoids,  and  they 

A  a  2 


356  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

differ  principally  from  those  in  the  more  typical  forms,  such  as  Hemi- 
dactylm^  in  their  very  short  apophyses,  the  transverse  processes  in 
especial  being  very  little  developed,  as  might  be  expected  from  the  tail 
being  round  instead  of  depressed. 

The  nearest  ally  of  Agamnra^  so  far  as  I  know,  is  a  form  obtained  by 
Dr.  Carter  on  the  island  of  Massira,  off  the  south  coast  of  Arabia. 
This  was  described  by  Dr.  Gray  (P.  Z.  S.  1863,  p.  236),  under  the  name 
of  Sjmtalura  Carteri,  It  is  distinguished  from  Agamura  by  having  a 
compressed  tail,  fringed  above  and  below,  and  it  also  differs  from  both 
the  known  forms  of  the  new  genus  by  its  non-tuberculate  back,  much 
fewer  labials,  and  much  larger  ear  orifice. 

30.  Agamura  cruralis,  W.  Blanf.  PL  XXIII,  fig.  3,  3  a. 

Aim.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  1.  c. 

I.  Has  Malan,  about  120  miles  west  of  Kar&chi,  Baluchistan. 
2-4.  Bahii  Kalat,  Baluchistan. 
5,  6.  Mand,  Baluchistan. 
7,  8.  Zamran,  Nihing  River,  Baluchistdn. 
9,  10.  Askan,  near  Bampusht,  Baliichist&n. 

A.  grisea^  fusco  transversim  fasciata  ;  dorso  granulato^  granulis  rw? 
convejcis  tuberculisqne  majorihus  frequentibu^  instructo ;  membris  elon- 
gatis^  pede  posteriore  ociilum  aitingentey  hand  tuhercxdatu^  nisi  interdum 
supra  f cm  nr;  capUe  brevi^  alto  ;  supralabialibus  uirinque  12— 14;  fneatu 
audiiorio  ffiediocri,  caudd  verticillafd^  iner?ni,  stibtus  serie  nnicd  scutorum 
j)oIi/gonalium  majorum  insinicfd,    Poris  inguinalibtcs  in  maribus  duobus. 

Hub.  inter  lapides  in  Baluchistan, 

Scales  of  the  back  rather  flat,  more  or  less  round  and  somewhat 
unequal  in  size,  with  rather  numerous  and  larger  scattered  convex 
tubercles,  not  in  distinct  rows,  but  nearly  equidistant  from  each  other. 
Scales  of  sides  granular,  subequal,  smaller  than  those  of  the  back  ; 
those  of  the  belly  rounded,  subimbricate,  about  the  same  size  as  those 
on  the  back,  passing  gradually  at  the  sides  into  the  smaller  scales. 
Head  covered  with  rounded  scales  above,  those  on  the  occiput  smaller 
than  those  on  the  snout,  and  having  sometimes  a  few  scattered  larger 
tubercles  ;  eye  large,  pupil  vertical  ^ ;  upper  eyelid  well  developed,  with 
a  row  of  larger  scales  along  the  margin ;  lower  eyelid  wanting.  Nos- 
trils directed  rather  upward,  between  the  rostral,  first  upper  labial  and 

*  In  many  specimens  preserved  in  spirits  the  pupil  is  fully  expanded  and  appears 
circular. 


REPTILIA.  357 

three  scales,  a  little  larger  than  the  ordinary  scales  on  the  snout,  be- 
hind. Rostral  nearly  twice  as  broad  as  high,  grooved  in  the  centre 
above;  upper  labials  12-14,  lower  9-1 1  on  each  side,  both  becoming 
much  smaller  behind  and  often  varying  in  number  on  the  two  sides  of 
the  same  animal.  Mental  shield  elongate ;  no  enlarged  chin  shields 
behind  the  labials :  chin  and  throat  covered  with  rounded  s^ranular 
scales,  very  little  smaller  than  the  ventrals,  and  some  of  which  along 
the  edges  of  the  lower  labials  are  larger  than  the  others.  Ear-opening 
moderate,  about  as  large  as  one  of  the  anterior  upper  labials. 

Limbs  covered  above  and  below  with  nearly  equal  subimbricate 
scales,  about  the  same  size  as  those  of  the  back ;  occasionally  there  are 
a  few  convex  enlarged  tubercles  on  the  upper  part  of  the  thigh,  but 
not  on  the  tarsus ;  the  scales  behind  the  thigh  smaller  and  granular. 
The  soles  of  all  the  feet  are  covered  with  convex  tubercles  of  unequal 
size,  some  being  much  larger  than  others.  The  toes  are  rounded,  not 
fringed  at  the  sides,  and  covered  with  small  imbricate  scales  above, 
and  with  cross-plates  below.  All  the  toes  are  furnished  with  minute 
claws.  The  hind-foot  laid  forward  reaches  the  eye,  the  fore-limb  laid 
backward  extends  beyond  the  thigh,  often  reaching  the  vent. 

There  are  two  inguinal  pores  in  enlarged  adjacent  scales  between  the 
thighs  some  distance  in  front  of  the  vent,  in  the  males  (PI.  XXIII, 
fig.  3  a) ;  the  females  have  the  enlarged  scales,  but  not  the  pores. 

Tail  thick  at  the  extreme  base,  but  becoming  suddenly  small  just 
behind,  and  continuing  of  nearly  the  same  thickness  to  the  end.  Its 
length  is  rather  less  than  that  of  the  body  and  head  together.  It 
is  covered  above  and  at  the  sides  with  smooth  subimbricate  scales, 
rather  longer  than  broad,  arranged  in  rings,  every  fourth  ring  consist- 
ing of  rather  larger  scales  in  some  specimens,  though  not  in  others, 
and  the  verticils  thus  formed  are  never  so  w^ell  marked  as  in  the  next 
species.  Beneath  the  tail  is  a  single  row  of  larger  polygonal  plates, 
equally  long  and  broad,  each  corresponding  to  two  rings  of  scales; 
these  are  often  broken  up  into  smaller  scales  near  the  base  of  the 
tail. 

Total  length  of  a  large  specimen  measured  when  fresh  5.75  in.,  of 
which  the  tail  from  the  vent  measured  2.4,  head  0.8,  fore-limb  1.43, 
third  toe  of  fore-foot  0.27,  hind-limb  1.9,  its  middle  toe  0.32. 

The  teeth  are  obtuse,  subcylindrical,  numerous,  and  closely  set  in 
both  jaws  throughout ;  no  larger  teeth  in  front  of  either  jaw ;  the 
tongue  broad  and  fleshy,  very  briefly  cleft  at  the  end. 


358  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

Colour  grey,  with  broad  transverse  dusky  bands  on  the  upper  parts 
of  the  body,  tail^  and  limbs,  and  with  more  or  less  dusky  irreg^ar 
spots  on  the  upper  parts,  chin^  and  throat.  There  is  usually  a  dark 
cross-band  on  the  back  of  the  neck,  and  four  others,  sometimes  five^ 
across  the  back. 

The  first  of  these  peculiar  geckoes  which  I  met  with  I  found  in  the 
middle  of  the  day  on  the  open,  barren^  stony  plain  which  forms  the 
flat  top,  2000  feet  above  the  sea^  of  the  promontory  known  as  lUs 
Mal&n.  I  at  first  took  it  for  an  Agamoid  lizard,  and  it  was  only  on 
carefully  examining  it  subsequently  that  I  saw  it  was  a  gecko.  I 
afterwards  found  several  specimens  in  barren  stony  plains  and  on  hill- 
sides, usually  in  the  evening,  and  from  the  vertical  pupil  I  should  judge 
this  species  to  be  usually  nocturnal.  I  met  with  it  here  and  there  up 
to  an  elevation  of  about  3000  feet  above  the  sea,  but  not  higher :  it 
was  never  common,  and  I  found  no  specimens  about  houses. 

Its  mode  of  progression  is  by  no  means  fast,  and  somewhat  resembles 
that  of  a  chama^leon,  although  it  is  not  so  slow.  It  is  usuaUy  easily 
captured,  although  on  level  ground  it  can  run  quickly  for  a  short  dis- 
tance, but  its  motions  have  but  little  of  the  usual  activity  of  geckoes. 
I  never  saw  it  climb  up  a  perpendicular  surface,  and  from  the  formation 
of  its  feet  I  doubt  if  it  can  do  so,  except  by  clinging  with  its  claws  as 
the  Agamoid  lizards  do. 

31.  A.  Persica  (C.  Dum.),  PL  XXIII,  fig.  4  a,  4  b. 

Gymnodaciylus  Persian,  C.  Dumdril,  Archives  du  mus^  d*Hut  Nat.  Tiii, 
p.  481. 

i-a.  RAyin»  eouth-eagt  of  Karm&n  . .         . .         8000 

3.  ?  near  Isfahdn  ^      . .  . .         . .  • .         •  •  (?) 

I  find  on  comparison  with  the  types  in  the  Paris  Museum  of 
Natural  History  that  my  specimens  correspond  with  those  described 
by  Dumeril.  It  is  unnecessary  to  give  a  detailed  description  of  this 
form,  which  closely  corresponds  in  all  its  principal  characters  with 
A.  cruralis,  but  is  distinguished  by  having  rather  shorter  limbs,  the 
hind-foot  when  laid  forward  only  reaching  the  ear,  the  fore-foot  only 
just  extending  to  the  thigh ;  by  having  the  ear  orifice  rather  smaller, 

*  The  label  of  this  Bpecimen  was  illegible.  It  was  obtained  from  some  place  on  the 
road  from  Karm4n  to  Isfah&n  via  Shir^,  and  I  think  I  remember  finding  it  not  far  from 
IsfikhAn. 


REPTILIA.  359 

and  the  tubercles  on  the  back,  and  especially  on  the  occiput,  larger 
and  more  numerous.  There  are  no  inguinal  pores  in  any  of  the 
specimens  examined^  but  all  have  the  scales  between  the  thighs 
slightly  enlarged.  The  most  characteristic  differences,  however,  are, 
that  in  the  present  species  the  upper  parts  of  the  thigh  and  tarsus  are 
ornamented  with  enlarged  convex  tubercles  (PI.  XXIII,  fig.  4  b)  that  the 
tubercles  on  the  posterior  portion  of  the  back  are  conoidal  with  points 
directed  backward,  and  the  rostral  shield  is  vertically  divided  into  two 
(fig.  4  a)  instead  of  being  merely  cleft  above.  In  general  form, 
colouration,  and  habits,  A.  Persica  resembles  A,  cruralisy  but  it  is 
found  at  a  much  greater  height  above  the  sea.  The  specimens  pro- 
cured near  Rfiyin  were  taken  on  the  stony  lower  slopes  of  the  Kuh-i- 
haz&r,  at  an  elevation  of  at  least  8000  feet. 

This  species  was  originally  described  by  C.  Dum^ril,  from  specimens 
collected  by  M.  Aucher-Eloy.  As  has  been  already  pointed  out,  these 
specimens,  although  all  labelled  Persia,  appear  in  part  to  have  been 
procured  in  countries  lying  to  the  westward,  and  the  exact  localities 
not  having  been  recorded,  it  is  impossible  now  to  identify  them. 


Family  CHAMJELEONTIDiE. 

A  specimen  of  Chamceleon  vulgaris^  brought  by  Aucher-Eloy  from  his 
Persian  journey,  exists  in  the  Paris  Museum.  It  belongs  to  the 
western  or  African  form,  and  not  to  the  Indian  {C.  Ceylonums, 
Laur.) 

As  with  most  of  Aucher-Eloy's  collections,  the  exact  locality  of  the 
specimen  remains  doubtful,  but  it  is  highly  probable  that  the  chamse- 
leon  inhabits  the  forests  on  the  flanks  of  the  Zagros  mountains  and 
those  of  Mazandardn.  Without  more  certain  information,  however, 
I  cannot  say  positively  if  it  is  found  in  Persia  or  not. 


Family  VAEANIDiE. 
82.  ^FsammoBaunis  CaspiuB,  Eichwald  (?=:P.  seincus  [Merr.] ). — De.  F. 

Eiobwald,  Zool.  Spec,  iii,  p.  190.  —  FaimA  Casp.-Cauc.  p.  48,  PI.  VII,  YIII, 
IX.    (The  Plates  represent  the  osteology  only.) 

Varanui  arenariut,  Geof.  De  F.  Yiag.  in  PersU,  p.  352. 


360  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

I  did  not  obtain  this  species^  and  I  have  not  access  to  specimens 
sufficient  to  determine  whether  it  is  really  distinct  from  P.  scincus 
(Merrem).  There  is  a  very  fine  stuffed  specimen  of  P.  Caspius  in  the 
British  Museum  which  appears  to  agree  well  with  African  examples 
of  P.  sclncusy  and  as  the  species  found  in  North-western  India  (  Faranus 
omal?is,  Carlleyle)  has  been  identified  with  P.  scincus  by  several  natural- 
ists, I  think  it  very  possible  that  P.  Caspius  may  be  the  same  lizard. 

The  distinctions  pointed  out  by  Eichwald  are  chiefly  the  shape  of 
the  tail,  which  he  says  is  round  throughout  in  P.  scincus  (P.  grUeus  is 
the  name  under  which  he  refers  to  it),  whilst,  except  at  the  base,  it  is 
somewhat  compressed  in  P.  Ca^pius^  and  the  teeth  are  said   to   be 
minutely  serrated  at  the  edge  in  the  former,  but  not  in  the  latter.    But 
in  specimens  of  P.  scincus  preserved  in  spirit  in  the  British  Museum 
the  tail  is  slightly  compressed  behind,  and  the  serration  on  the  sides 
of  the  teeth  does  not  appear  to  be  a  very  well  marked  character.  Eich- 
wald also  notices  some  differences  in  the  form  of  some  of  the  bones. 

Eichwald  states  that  this  reptile  extends  to  Persia,  and  De  RHppi 
obtained  a  specimen  froin  the  neighbourhood  of  Tehrdn,  which  is  now 
in  the  Turin  Museum. 

33.  Varanus  dracsena  (L.) 

Giinther,  Rept.  Brit.  Ind.  p.  65. 
I.  PiHhln,  Baliichibtdn. 

Only  a  single  specimen  was  obtained  in  BaludustUn,  and  no 
monitors  were  seen  on  the  Persian  plateau.  The  specimen  procured 
was  olive-grey  when  alive,  with  imperfect  whitish  transverse  bands  on 
the  posterior  portion  of  the  body  and  the  tail.  The  lower  parts  are 
much  paler,  with  dusky  spots  on  the  throat.  The  length  when  fresh 
was  36  in.^,  of  which  the  tail  from  the  vent  measured  21  in.  There  are 
107  rows  of  ventral  shields  from  the  gular  fold  to  the  groin,  the  first 
25  being  irregular,  the  remainder  in  regular  transverse  rows ;  the 
whole  number  is  considerably  more  than  that  given  by  Giinther,  but 
specimens  from  the  west  have  perhaps  more  numerous  ventral  shields 
than  those  from  other  parts  of  India.  Stoliczka  gives  the  number  in 
specimens  from  Kachh  as  90  to  100. 

Faranus  dracana,  so  far  as  my  observations  extend,  is  a  thoroughly 
terrestrial  lizard,  living  in  dry  places  far  from  water.     The  same  has 

'  It  haa  scarcely  altered  by  preservation  in  spirits. 


REPTJLIA.  361 

been  noted  by  Carlleyle  (J.  A.  S.  B.  xxxviii,  1869,  p.  195)  and 
Stoliczka  (P.  A.  S.  B.  1872,  p.  73),  and  is  also  said  by  Carlleyle  to  be 
the  case  with  V.  lunatus,  which  indeed  appears  to  be  little  more  than  a 
variety  of  V,  dracana.  I  found  the  Abyssinian  V,  ocellatua  living 
similarly  far  from  water.  The  specimen  of  V,  dracana  from  Balu- 
chistan was  obtained  in  a  very  dry  region,  where  the  only  water  occurs 
in  small  streams,  which  are  dry,  except  in  a  few  pools,  for  the  greater 
part  of  the  year. 


Family  LACERTID-E. 
34.  Lacerta  muraUs,  Merr. — De  F. 

L,  agUis,  Men.  Cat.  Baia.  p.  60,  teste  Eichwald. 

1-55.  Elburz  mountains,  north  of  Tehran      . .         5000-I000O 

Some  of  the  specimens  collected  want  the  usual  large  mid-temporal 
shield.  Dimi^ril  and  Bibron  speak  of  this  character  as  variable,  but 
in  some  specimens  I  i&nd  it  entirely  wanting,  the  whole  temporal 
region  being  occupied  by  subequal  scales.  The  fore-legs,  too,  when 
laid  forward  do  not  reach  the  nostril,  as  they  are  said  to  do  in 
European  specimens ;  usually  the  ends  of  the  toes  just  touch  the  eye. 
The  prefrontal  is  occasionally  divided,  and  sometimes  there  is  a  small 
shield  between  the  postfrontals. 

The  colouration  (noted  from  fresh  specimens)  agrees  best  with  that  of 
variety  d.  of  Dum^ril  and  Bibron.  It  is  olive-grey  on  the  back^  finely 
spotted  with  black,  rather  darker  on  the  sides,  the  under  parts  pale 
throughout  in  some  individuals,  in  others  (probably  males)  all  the 
abdomen,  breast,  throat,  and  sometimes  part  of  the  lower  labials,  are 
brick-red,  and  when  this  colour  is  most  intense  there  is  a  line  of  pale 
blue  spots  on  the  exterior  edges  of  the  outermost  ventral  scales.  This 
colour  is  very  possibly  only  assumed  in  the  breeding  season  (my  speci- 
mens were  collected  in  August).  Behind  the  eye  is  a  broad  dark 
band. 

i.  muralis  inhabits  the  higher  parts  of  the  Elburz  mountains.  I 
only  saw  it  on  the  south  side  of  the  hills,  close  to  their  summit,  but  it 
abounded  on  the  north  side,  in  the  forest  region,  as  low  as  5000  feet 
above  the  sea,  and  perhaps  lower,  and  was   met   with,  rather  less 


364  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

by  a  small  elongate  central  occipital,  and  a  still  smaller  interoccipital 
behind  it,  and  are  bounded  on  the  outer  margins  by  some  rather 
long  shields.  Supralabials  nine  on  each  side,  the  sixth  beings  the 
large  infraorbital  shield  ;  lower  labials  six  or  seven ;  chin  shields  in 
five  pairs  all  touching  the  lower  labials;  the  first  three  pairs  in 
contact  with  each  other,  and  the  fourth  pair  a  little  the  largpest. 

This  form  does  not  appear  to  have  been  refound  by  any  one  since  its 
first  discovery  by  De  Filippi ;  neither  Major  St.  John  nor  I  met  with 
it  during  our  travels  in  Persia. 

36  .  ''^  L.  viridis,  L. 

According  to  Eichwald,  a  variety  of  this  lizard  is  found  on  the  shore 
of  the  Caspian,  near  Astrabad.  (Fauna  Casp.-Cauc.  p.  66,)  It  is  also 
met  with  in  the  Caucasus.  Pallas  states  that  his  Lacerta  Eurojksa^ 
p.  viridisy  which  I  believe  is  the  same,  is  conmion  in  Persia  (the 
Caspian  provinces  ?)  in  grassy  fields.     (Zoog.  Ros.  As.  iii,  p.  29.) 

37.  Lacerta  strigata,  Eichwald.— De  F. 

Eichwald,  Zool.  Spec,  iii,  p.  189. — Fauna  Casp.-Cauc.  p.  70,  PI.  X,  fig.  4,  5,6. 
— Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  31. — Anderson,  P.  Z.  S.  187a,  p.  373. 

L,  viridvtf  var.  Dum  et.  Bibr.  Erp.  Gen.  v,  p.  21a. 

L.  riridis,  var.  atrigata,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  354. 

Two  specimens  of  this  lizard,  obtained  by  Major  St.  John  at  Shir^, 
have  been  described  by  Dr.  Anderson  (1.  c),  who  has,  however, 
omitted  to  state  by  whom  the  specimens  were  obtained.  De  Filippi 
met  with  the  same  species  at  Lankorfin,  and  the  specimens  collected 
by  him  are  in  the  Turin  Museum, 

This  may  perhaps  be  only  a  small  form  of  L.  viridis  ;  but  although 
it  appears  closely  to  resemble  that  species  in  all  important  characters, 
it  looks  so  difierent  from  the  common  green  lizard  of  Southern  Europe 
that  I  should  hesitate  to  unite  them.  De  Filippi  says  of  L.  viridis^ 
var.  strigata :  '  A  constant  race,  very  nearly  ranking  as  a  true 
species.' 

38.  L.  princeps,  W.  Blanf.  PI.  XXIV. 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  July  1874,  xiv,  p.  31. 

I.  Hillii  near  Niriz,  east  of  Shir4z,  South  Persia       ..  7000 


KEPT  ILIA,  365 

L.  magna^fere  sesquipedalia,  deniibus  palatalibua  preedita ;  acutis  post- 
nasalibua  utrinque  binis ;  prafrontali  imico  ;  verticalia  marginibus  latera- 
libus  parallelism  anteriare  posterioreque  in  medio  prominentibus  ;  squamis 
temporalibus  polygonalibus^  antici  majoribns  ;  collare  libero,  denticulato  ; 
squamis  dorsalibus  rAomboideisy  carinalis,  in  series  transversas  ordinatis ; 
ventralibus  in  decent  series  longitudinales,  extremas  valde  angustiores ; 
poris  femoralihus  utrinque  14 ;  supra  griseo-oUvaceay  subius  albida,  tnacu- 
lis  4-5  ccemleisy  nigro  marginatis,  longitudinaliier  ordinatia,  post  axillam 
utrinque  omata. 

Hab,  in  Persia  meridionali. 

Description  : — Palatal  teeth  present.  Nostrils  in  the  lower  posterior 
angle  of  the  nasal  shield  followed  by  two  postnasals.  Lower  eyelid 
opaque,  scaly.  Temples  covered  with  polygonal  shields,  large  in  front, 
small  behind.  Scales  of  the  neck  above  and  at  the  sides  granular, 
passing  gradually  on  the  shoulders  into  the  subimbricate,  equal, 
rhomboidal,  diagonally  carinate  scales  of  the  back.  Scales  of  the  sides 
rather  smaller  than  those  of  the  back,  and  not  keeled.  Scales  of 
the  sides  and  back  in  transverse  rows  of  about  thirty-four  each. 
Scales  of  the  throat  imbricate  behind,  about  the  same  size  as  those  of 
the  back ;  collar  well  marked,  with  a  denticulated  edge,  formed  by  the 
projecting  points  of  seven  enlarged  imbricate  plates.  Ventral  scales 
in  thirty-one  transverse,  and,  in  the  middle  of  the  belly,  ten  longitu- 
dinal rows,  the  outer  longitudinal  row  much  smaller  than  the  others, 
and  the  two  central  rows  rather  narrower  than  the  rest.  Praeanal 
plate  slightly  larger  than  the  others ;  fourteen  femoral  pores  on  each 
thigh.  Limbs  covered  with  smooth  scales;  those  on  the  lower  portion 
of  the  fore-arm  and  tarsus  very  little  larger  than  on  the  humerus  and 
thigh.  Scales  on  the  under  part  of  the  feet  smooth,  convex ;  toes 
with  transverse  plates  below ;  those  beneath  the  proximal  portions  of 
all  the  toes,  except  the  first  on  the  fore-feet  and  the  fifth  on  the  hind- 
feet,  divided  in  the  centre^;  plates  near  the  claws  undivided.  Tail 
with  all  the  scales  keeled  and  in  distinct  rings. 

Habit  of  body  moderately  stout,  rather  depressed  :  tail  more  than 
twice  the  length  of  the  body ;  •  head  conical ;  limbs  moderate ;  when 
the  fore-leg  is  laid  forward  the  longest  toe  reaches  to  the  nostril,  the 
hind-limb  extends  about  four-fifths  of  the  distance  to  the  axil. 
Length  17   in.,   of  which  the    tail    from  the  anus  measures    13.5; 

*■  This  may  of  course  be  an  individaal  peculiarity. 


rj.;0  ZOOLWY  OF  PERSIA. 

thff  h"a/l.  from  th*.-  fenoat  to  the  hinder  margin  cT  the  oceipiud  shields, 
J.I*;:  fore-Iimb,  to  the  end  of  the  toes,  1.75;  longest  toe  ^thiid  <w 
fourth,  C.5  :  hind-limb  2.7;  longest  toe   fourth)  c.95. 

C  \  MT : — Oiivacrous  grey  alx>ve^  whitish  below;  there  are  a  fi?ir 
small  bliir.'k  Ki^Aa  on  the  L^ek  and  sides  of  the  neck,  and  a  row  <^ 
thn<:  or  four  blue  ocelli  those  in  front  donble^^  with  black  margiiu^ 
behind  (ta/:\\  shoulder,  extending  in  a  line  for  a  short  distance  down 
ea^:h  hide.  Tlie  hidei*  of  the  head  are  bluish^  a  tint  especially  marked 
on  the  labials  ;  throat  vellow. 

Ilr-a/l  fill  if 'Ms : — IWtral  moderate,  broader  than  high ;  nasals  forming 
a  suture  Whind  the  ro.-tral.  and  articulating  also  with  the  rostral  and 
iipjKrr  fKiatnasal.  Nostrils  in  the  lower  posterior  angle  of  the  nasal 
fihield,  surrounded  by  the  nasal,  rostral,  first  labial,  and  two  small 
sulHKpial  fKjstnasals.  Pnefrontal  single,  broader  than  long;  post- 
frontal  s  each  about  er]ual  in  size  to  the  frontal,  meeting  behind  it  in 
a  broad  suture :  their  k-ngth  exceeds  their  breadth,  and  the  posterior 
margin  of  each  is  very  convex  exteriorly  where  it  fits  into  the  hollow 
Ixftwecn  the  vertical  and  superciliary  disk,  and  concave  towards  the 
middle  to  receive  the  convex  anterior  edge  of  the  vertical.  Vertical 
with  a  very  slight  groove  in  the  middle ;  sides  parallel,  anterior  and 
IK)sterior  margins  convex  in  the  middle.  Superciliary  shields  four 
on  e<ich  sitlc ;  the  anterior  small,  the  two  central  ones  nearly  equal ; 
[Kwterior  about  one-third  the  size  of  a  central  one ;  only  a  very  few 
granules  along  the  exterior  edge  of  the  central  superciliaries  between 
them  and  the  supraorbital  ridge.  Two  anterior  occipitals  of  rather 
irregular  form,  convex  in  front  and  behind,  and  with  a  salient  angle 
extijriorly,  each  a  little  smaller  than  the  vertical.  Two  postoccipitals 
(parietals),  each  about  treble  the  size  of  an  anterior  occipital ;  two 
centml  occipitals ;  the  anterior  the  smaller^  with  an  oval  depression  in 
the  centre ;  the  posterior  nearly  triangular,  its  posterior  margin  forming 
u  right  line  with  the  same  margins  of  the  postoccipitals.  Two 
loreals,  the  posterior  about  double  the  size  of  the  anterior  ;  eight  upper 
labials,  the  last  small ;  the  sixth  enlarged  above  and  forming  the  lower 
l)ortion  of  the  orbit.  Temples  covered  with  polygonal  shields  all 
much  larger  than  the  neck  scales,  those  in  front  larger  than  those 
Iw^hind,  and  two  elongate  shields  above  touching  the  postoccipitals. 
Kar-ojHMnng  not  toothed ;  a  rather  large  shield  on  the  upper  anterior 
wlgo.  Lower  labials  six  ;  five  pairs  of  chin  shields,  the  three  first  in 
contact  in  the  middle  of  the  chin,  the  fourth  the  largest. 


4- 


5 


1 


ii 


11 


REPTILIA,  .  367 

Of  this  very  fine  lizard  but  a  single  specimen  was  obtained.  This 
was  shot  by  my  collector  in  brushwood  on  a  pass  near  Niiiz^  about  lOO 
miles  east  of  Shir^,  and  at  an  elevation  of  about  7000  feet  above 
the  sea. 

The  nearest  allies  of  this  form  appear  to  be  Notopholis  Fitzingeriy 
Weigman,  and  its  allies,  which  have  similar  scales  on  the  back.  All 
are  small  and  differ  widely  from  the  present  species.  They  are  placed 
by  Gray  (Cat.  Liz.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  34)  in  the  genus  Notojpkolis.  But  the 
type  of  Notopholis  of  Wagler,  as  Dumeril  and  Bibron  pointed  out,  had 
previously  been  separated  as  Paammodromua  by  Fitzinger,  and  the  type 
species  P.  Hispanictis  differs  in  important  generic  characters  from  the 
Lacerta  with  rhomboidal  scales  of  the  type  of  L.  Mtzingeri. 

39.  Ophiops  elegans,  M^n. — De  F. 

M^n.  Cat.  RoiB.  p.  64. — Eichwald,  Fauna  Casp.-Cauc.  p.  78,  PL  XII,  fig.  1-5. 
— Anderson,  P.  Z.  S.  187a,  p.  374. 

Amystet  Bhrenbergi,  Wiegm.  Archiv.  f.  Naturgesch.  1835,  p.  i. 
Ophiseps  elegans,  Bum.  et  Bibr.  £rp.  G^n.  v,  p.  359,  PI.  53,  fig.  i. 

I,  2,  3.  Kiih-i-liaz&r,  Bouth-east  of  Karm&n           . .  8000-10000 

4.  Kann&n                     . .                      . .          . .  5^^^^ 

5-10.  Sarjin,  south-west  of  Karm&n  5000 

II.  Nirfz,  east  of  Shir&z           ..          ..          ..  — 

12-23.  Between  Karm&n  and  Shir&z  (labels  illegible)  — 

33-36.  Between  Shirdz  and  Tehr&n  (labels  illegible)  — 

37.  North  of  Isfah&n                 ..          ..          ..  — 

28.  Kohriid,  north  of  Isfahdn   ..          ..          ..  7000 

3g.  Near  Tehr&n                        . .          . .  4000 

The  above  series  shows  less  variation  in  the  characters  of  the  head 
shields  than  I  should  have  anticipated  from  that  shown  by  its  Indian 
ally  0.  Jerdoniy  (conf.  Stoliczka,  J.  A.  S.  B.  1872,  xli,  pt.  ii,  p.  89.) 
In  no  case  do  I  find  more  than  two  post-nasals,  and  I  have  not  a  single 
example  in  which  these  shields  or  the  two  nasals  are  united,  but  in  two 
specimens  from  Southern  Persia  the  lower  nasal  is  joined  to  the  lower 
postnasal,  so  that  the  nasal  shields  resemble  those  in  Chondrophiops  or 
Eremias.  In  one  instance  the  anterior  loreal  is  divided  longitudinally 
on  the  canthus  rostralis,  and  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  this  shield  is 
included  when  the  species  is  stated,  as  it  is  by  some  writers,  to  have 
three  small  shields  behind  the  nostril.  .In  only  one  specimen  is  the 
anterior  frontal  divided,  as  it  is  represented  in  Dumeril  and  Bibron's 
figure.      In  specimens  described   by  Dr.  Anderson  from  Shirdz  the 


^/6  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

f/fj^frontsAx  were  Dot  in  contact  m  ererr  case,  but  iher  mre  so  in  all 
collected  hv  mf:.  and  divided  hx  a  sntnie  of  some  lenfith.  Tlie  nmnber 
of  labialfi  rariee  ^lij^htly  of  ooorse ;  osnallv  there  are  four  upper  labials 
Ix'for*'  the  suborbital  shield  and  three  behind,  bat  not  imfreqiiaitlT 
one  of  the  fehieldis  is  divided  or  else  two  are  united.  Domeril  and 
Bibron's  figure  agrees  with  most  Persian  specimens,  except  that  in  the 
latter  the  praefrontal  is  not  divided. 

The  ventral  shields  af>pear  more  variable  than  usual.  The  nmnber  of 
trannveriie  rows,  counted  from  the  comer  of  the  fold  before  the  shoulder 
to  the  |[^oin,  ranges  from  twenty-four  to  thirty-one,  the  latter 
num^M^r  Wing,  however,  clearly  exceptional.  Dumenl  and  Bibion 
and  Anderson  give  the  number  of  rows  across  the  belly  as  ei^ht^  but 
in  most  of  the  sfKKrimens  before  me  there  are  but  six  rows  of  broad 
K.'ales,  with  a  much  narrower  series  along  each  edge.  In  a  few 
specimens,  however,  this  outer  row  is  half  as  broad  as  the  next.  The 
femoral  jK^res  are  asually  nine  or  ten  in  each  thigh.  There  are  about 
twenty-six  scales  round  the  body,  not  including  the  ventral  plates. 
This  is  rather  more  than  the  usual  number  in  the  closely  allied 
0.  Jerdo7ti  of  India,  which  is  distinguished  by  its  rugose  head  shields, 
and,  to  judge  by  the  only  specimen  which  I  possess,  its  much  larger 
scales  in  the  centre  of  the  back  and  large  shields  between  the  oceipitals. 
The  scales  on  the  back  of  the  neck  in  0.  elegans  are  granular,  as  in 
0,  microlejds. 

The  largest  specimen  collected  measures  a  lifctle  over  6  in.,  of  which 
the  hea^l  and  body  from  the  nose  to  the  anus  measure  2.  Usually, 
how<jver,  the  tail  is  not  quite  twice  the  length  of  the  head  and  body. 

The  following  is  the  colouration  of  fresh  specimens  noted  from  those 
taken  on  the  Kuh-i-hazdr,  near  Karmdn.  General  tint  above  brownish 
olive  or  dull  olive,  with  two  more  or  less  well-marked  white  bands 
down  each  side;  the  upper,  which  runs  from  the  superciliary  ridge, 
being  the  best  marked.  A  well-defined  dark  band  between  the  two 
white  streaks.  In  many  specimens  there  are  black  spots  on  the 
labials  and  along  the  sides  of  the  back,  less  frequently  in  the 
centre.  Some  specimens  have  a  black  line  in  the  middle  of  the  hind 
neck  and  anterior  portion  of  the  back.  In  specimens  from  Northern 
PiTsia  there  is  sometimes  no  trace  of  the  white  bands  on  the  sides,  and 
the  dark  band  running  back  from  the  eye  is  replaced  by  a  dull  reddish 
brown  one. 


REP  TI LI  A,  3B9 

In  a  female  captured  in  July  I  found  four  eggs,  each  about  j^  of  an 
in.  in  length. 

0,  elegant  is  a  common  lizard  on  the  Persian  plateau.  I  did  not 
meet  with  it  in  Baluchist&n,  and  it  appeared  in  Southern  Persia  not 
to  occur  below  about  4000  to  5000  feet  above  the  sea,  but  in  the  North 
it  was  common  at  a  lower  elevation.  On  the  Kuh-i-hazdr,  near  Eir- 
m&n,  I  saw  it  at  an  elevation  of  at  least  loooo  feet,  but  I  did  not 
notice  it  upon  the  Elburz  mountains  near  Tehr&n,  although  it  abounded 
in  the  plain  between  Tehran  and  Kazvin.  As  a  rule,  it  was  found  on 
rather  stony  plains  and  slopes  of  hills.  I  did  not  observe  it  in  the 
sandy  semi-deserts,  where  forms  of  Eremias  are  more  common.  It  is 
very  active  and  not  easily  captured. 

I  somewhat  doubt  whether  Ophiops  macrodactt/lus^  Berth.  *  Gottingen 
Abhandlungen,'  i.  p.  58,  is  more  than  a  variety  of  0.  elegans.  The 
colouration  described  is  certainly  similar  to  that  of  some  specimens  of 
the  latter,  the  length  of  the  tail  is  not  excessive,  and  the  remaining 
characters  scarcely  appear  to  me  of  specific  importance. 


40.  O.  meizolepis  (Stol.),  PI.  XXV,  fig.  2,  2  a. 

Oymnops  meizolepU,  Stol.  Proc.  As.  Soc.  Bengal,  1872,  p.  124. 
1-6.  Banks  of  the  Shat-el-Arab,  Basrah,  Mesopotamia. 

I  am  unable  to  note  any  character  by  which  this  little  lizard  can  be 
distinguished  from  the  species  described  by  Stoliczka  from  the  Panjdb. 
The  legs  are  a  little  shorter,  the  fore-foot  not  quite  reaching  the  end  of 
the  snout  instead  of  extending  beyond  it,  whilst  the  hind-foot  laid 
forward  reaches  the  ear  instead  of  the  eye,  but  in  all  other  respects 
the  specimens  agree  with  Dr.  Stoliczka's  description.  I  presume  that 
in  giving  the  number  of  *  lateral  transverse  rows  of  scales  between  the 
fore  and  hind  limbs'  as  forty-five.  Dr.  Stoliczka  refers  to  the  small 
scales  on  the  sides.  I  count  about  the  same  number,  but  of  the  en- 
larged ventral  shields  between  the  rudimentary  collar  and  the  groin 
there  are  twenty-four  to  twenty-nine  transverse  rows. 

There  is  nothing  in  the  character  of  the  scales  which  distingtiishes 
this  species  from  0.  elegans^  and  as  in  writing  of  the  latter  I  have 
shown  that  the  lower  nasal  and  lower  postnasal  are  sometimes,  though 
rarely,   united,   I  can   no   longer  consider  that  the  subgenus  Chon* 

VOL.  II.  B  b 


370  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

drophiops^   (which   I   proposed   for  0.  microlepUi)  is   worthy  of  di8- 
tinctioD. 

0.  meizolepis  was  found  abundantly  on  the  bank  of  the  Shat-d- 
Arab,  the  river  formed  by  the  union  of  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates, 
opposite  Basrah  (Bussora  of  many  maps).  Though  the  locality  is 
not  in  Persian  territory,  the  frontier  is  at  no  great  distance^  and  there 
can  be  but  little  doubt  that  this  and  other  forms  met  with  near  Basrah 
occur  within  Persian  limits  also. 

41.  Eremias  Persica,  W.  Blanf.  PL  XXVI,  ^g,  i,  i  a.— De  F. 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  July  1874,  xiv,  p.  31. 

E.  variahUU,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  354,  nee  Pallas. 

I .  Magas,  Baluchistdn   . .  . .  . .  .  •  •  •  4500 

2-5.  Rdyin,  south-east  of  Karm&n  ..         .<  ..  7000-8000 

6.  Kuh-i  hazar,  near  R&jin       . .  . .  . .  loooo 

7-9.  Karmdn  ..  ..  ••  ••  5^^^^ 

10-18.  Between  Karm&n  and  Shir&z  (labels  illegible)  . .  — 

19-25.  Near  Isfab&n  ..         ..         ..         ..  ..  — 

E.  vrnjoTy  Cauda  elangatd^  corporis  loiigituduiem  dimidio  vel  plus  quam 
dimidio  excedente,  membris  longiorihus  qunm  in  E.  argute,  Pall.,  pede 
anteriore  ad  rostrum  attingente^posteriore  ultra  humerum;  scuto  infraoeulari 
ad  labrum  pertinente,  supralabialihus  ceteris  5—7  antice,  3—4  posiice; 
squamis  caudal i bus  basin  versus  haud  carinatis ;  adulta  supra  grisescenti 
castanea  nigro  sparsim  maculata^  fascid  latd  nigra  vel  ntgrescenie^  inier^ 
dum  albo  maculafd  vel  interruptd  utrinque  ad  latus  omata;  Jorso  in  <Btat€ 
juniore  albo  nigroque  longitudinaliterjasciato,  lateribus  membrisque  tupeme 
nigrisy  albo-maculatis  ;  ceterum  E.  argutae,  PalLy  E.  velocijfi^  similis. 

Habitat  frequeus  fere  in  omnibus  planitiebus  Persicis  qua  altUudinem 
circa  3000  pedum  supra  mare  superant. 

Description : — Palatal  teeth  present.  No  interoccipital  behind. 
Lower  eyelid  opaque,  granular.  The  infraorbital  shield  extends  to  the 
upper  lip ;  there  are  from  five  to  seven  supralabials  in  fix)nt  of  it,  and 
about  four  behind.  Temples  covered  with  small  granular  scales. 
Collar  distinct,  free.  Dorsal  scales  circular,  convex,  in  transverse 
rows,  with  a  few  minute  granules  between.  Ventral  shields,  fourteen 
to  sixteen  across  the  middle  of  the  abdomen,  in  about  thirty-one  trans- 
verse rows,  arranged  in  oblique,  not  in  longitudinal  series.   No  enlarged 

^  Jour.  As.  Soc.  Bengal,  1873,  xlii,  pt.  2,  p.  144,  olim  Oymnops,  J.  A.  S.  B.  1870^ 
xxxix,  pt.  2,  p.  357. 


REPTILIA.  371 

prseanal  shields.  Tail  in  rings^  all  the  scales  perfectly  smooth  except 
near  the  tip,  where  some  show  convexity  in  the  middle.  Femoral 
pores  eighteen  to  twenty-four  (usually  about  twenty)  in  each  thigh, 
the  two  series  closely  approaching  each  other  and  being  only  separated 
by  two  scales  in  the  groin.  The  fore-leg  laid  forward  reaches  to  the 
end  of  the  snout,  laid  back  it  extends  about  three-fourths  of  the  dis- 
tance to  the  thigh  ;  when  the  hind-limb  is  laid  forward,  the  toes  come 
in  front  of  the  shoulder,  always  reaching  the  collar  and  in  some  speci- 
mens to  the  ear.  The  body  is  stout  for  the  genus ;  and  the  tail,  when 
perfect,  from  about  half  as  long  again  as  the  body  to  nearly  twice  its 
length. 

Colour : — ^The  adult  when  alive  is  chestnut  brown  on  the  back  and 
the  upper  parts  of  tlie  limbs,  with  a  more  or  less  strongly  marked  grey 
tinge,  and  dotted  over  with  rather  small  black  spots  (never  with  ocelli, 
as  in  E.  arguta)  rather  irregularly  dispersed,  or  arranged  in  lines. 
There  is  usually  a  broad  black  or  brownish  black  stripe,  spotted  with 
white  down  the  upper  part  of  each  side,  but  this  is  occasionally  broken 
up  into  patches  or  spots ;  in  many  specimens  there  is  a  narrower  dark 
stripe  or  more  commonly  a  line  of  black  spots  along  the  side,  below 
the  upper  black  band,  from  the  axil  to  the  thigh.  Lower  parts  white. 
Young  specimens  show  a  totally  different  colouration,  so  distinct  in- 
deed that  they  might  easily  be  taken  for  a  different  species.  The  back 
is  marked  with  about  four  longitudinal  black  bands  alternating  with 
white  or  pale  brown  stripes,  the  sides  and  the  upper  part  of  the  limbs 
are  black  or  blackish,  spotted  with  white.  As  the  lizards  grow  older 
the  black  bands  on  the  back  appear  to  break  up  into  spots.  Some 
specimens  are  dark  brown  with  white  spots  at  this  stage. 

Head  shields: — Rostral  rather  broader  than  high.  Nasal  shields 
much  swollen,  the  upper  nasals  meeting  in  a  suture  behind  the  rostral ; 
lower  nasals  about  equal  in  size  to  the  upper,  just  touching  the  rostral 
in  front,  and -extending  along  the  upper  surface  of  the  two  anterior 
upper  labials.  Loreal  small,  nearly  square,  followed  by  a  large  prae- 
ocular,  which  extends  to  the  upper  surface  of  the  head.  Praefrontal 
hexagonal,  about  as  long  as  broad;  postfrontals  convex,  each  very 
little  smaller  than  the  praefrontal,  meeting  in  a  broad  suture  in  front  of 
the  vertical,  which  is  longitudinally  grooved  in  front,  where  it  is  about 
twice  as  broad  as  behind ;  the  anterior  margin  is  strongly  convex,  the 
lateral  edges  concave.  The  superciliaries  consist  of  two  larger  sub- 
equal  semi-elliptical  shields,  meeting  in  a  straight  line,  with  a  row  of 

B  b  2 


372  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

granules  along  their  outer  edge  separating  them  from  the  elongate  or 
granular  shields  forming  the  supraorbital  ridge;  in  front  of  and  be- 
hind the  superciliaries  is  a  small  triangular  space  chiefly  oocnpied  b? 
small  granular  scales  with  one  rather  larger  shield  behind.  Anterior 
occipitals  small,  each  about  the  same  size  as  one  of  the  frontals,  rather 
irregularly  triangular;  posterior  occipitals  as  broad  as  long,  eadi 
about  three  times  as  large  as  a  pneoccipital ;  a  very  small  central 
occipital,  no  azygos  interoccipital  shield  {plaque  occipital,  D.  and  B.). 
Upper  labials  five  to  seven  in  front  of  the  large  infraorbital  shield, 
which  extends  to  the  lip ;  three  or  four  smaller  supralabials^  gradoallj 
diminishing  in  size  backwards,  behind  the  infraorbital ;  five  or  six 
pairs  of  chin  shields,  the  first  three  generally  meetings  in  the  middle, 
the  third  and  fourth  pairs  largest,  sixth  when  present  very  small; 
the  anterior  four  pairs  in  contact  with  the  lower  labials. 

Scales  of  tbc  back  rather  larger  and  less  convex  than  those  on  the 
neck ;  there  are  a  few  granules  interspersed  between  them,  which  are 
more  numerous  on  the  sides.    I  count  sixty-five  scales  across  the  middle 
of  the  back  from  the  ventral  plates  on  one  side  to  those  on  the  other. 
Scales  of  the  throat  about  the  same  size  as  those  of  the  back.     Collar 
slightly  curved  backward,  consisting  beneath  of  about  nine  enlarged 
scales,  those  in  the  middle  the  largest,  and  those  at  the  sides  becoming 
gradually  smaller,  until  they  are  no  larger  than  the   neigfhbouring 
scales.     The  ventral  shields  are  not  in  longitudinal  rows;    they  are 
in   very   distinct    transverse    lines    as    usual,   and    in    less     marked 
oblique  series;    there  are  fourteen  to  sixteen  across  the  middle  of 
the   belly,  and  thirty-one  or  thirty-two   transverse  series   from  the 
collar  to  the  groin.     The  scales  in  front  of  the  anus  are  very  irre- 
gular, usually  they  are  all  nearly  the   same   size,  sometimes   some 
of  those  behind  or  in  the  centre  are  rather  larger  than  the  others. 
The  scales  beneath  the  tarsus  are  very  broad,  those  in  the  middle  ex- 
tending completely  across ;    scales  beneath  the  feet  lozenge-shaped, 
sharply  keeled,  the  direction  of  the  keels  being  transverse  to  the  foot 
on  the  hind-feet,  longitudinal  on  the  fore-feet.     Caudal  scales  perfectly 
smooth  near  the  base,  and,  in  adults,  for  at  least  the  anterior  half  of  the 
tail ;  near  the  tip  they  are  bluntly  keeled,  and  in  young  specimens  the 
keeled  scales  are  found  to  extend  rather  farther  forwards. 

This  fine  lizard  grows  to  a  length  of  between  9  and  10  in.  A 
specimen^obtained  near  Karmdn,  with  a  perfect  tail,  is  9.5  in.  long, 
of  which  the  tail  from  the  anus  measures  6  in.,  but  in  this  the  tail  is 


REPTILIA,  373 

longer  than  usual.  A  perfect  specimen,  from  near  Isfahan,  measures 
9  in.,  of  which  the  tail  from  the  anus  measures  5.5,  head  0.75,  fore- 
limb  to  the  end  of  the  toes  1.4,  hind-limb  a.  15. 

JEremias  Persica  is  common  in  almost  all  parts  of  the  Persian  plateau 
where  there  are  open  plains,  not  absolutely  desert.  It  is  usually  found 
amongst  bushes,  on  sandy  or  gravelly  soil^  at  an  elevation  of  not  less 
than  4000  feet  above  the  sea.  I  first  saw  it  on  a  plain  covered  with 
bushes^  near  Magas,  in  Baluchistan^  and  thence  met  with  it  in  most 
suitable  places  till  beyond  Tehrdn.  It  is  very  active  in  its  movements. 
So  far  as  I  have  observed,  I  do  not  think  it  lives  in  holes,  although  it 
will  of  course  take  refuge  in  a  hole  made  by  another  animal.  I  met 
with  these  lizards  in  pairs  in  May^  and  once  captured  a  male  which 
had  actually  seized  the  female.  The  former  had  his  claspers  fully 
exserted,  and  upon  capturing  him,  he  discharged  the  seminal  fluid 
through  them. 

I  frequently  met  with  young  lizards  of  this  species  throughout  the 
summer,  some  of  them  (not  very  small)  as  early  as  the  end  of  April, 
and  at  Rdyin^  at  least  7000  feet  above  the  sea. 

E,  Persica  was  collected  in  Northern  Persia  by  De  Filippi,  who,  how- 
ever^ mistook  it  for  its  near  ally  E,  variabilis  {E,  arguta\  and  specimens 
obtained  by  the  Marquis  G.  Doria,  I  believe  near  Tehrdn,  are  preserved 
in  the  British,  Turin,  and  Genoa  Museums.  De  Filippi  also  states  that 
he  found  E.  variabilis  abundant  in  Armenia,  but  as  I  did  not  see  any 
specimens  at  Turin,  I  cannot  help  thinking  it  possible  that  he  may 
have  mistaken  E,  velox  for  it.  Stilly  it  is  equally  probable  that  the 
present  species  may  be  met  with  as  far  west.  To  the  eastward  it  has 
been  brought  from  Nasirabfid^  in  Sist&n^  by  Major  Euan  Smith. 

This  species  may  be  distinguished  from  Eremi^is  arguta  (v.  variabilis) 
by  its  much  longer  tail  and  limbs,  by  the  infraorbital  shield  descending 
to  the  lip,  which  it  does  not  do  in  E,  arguta^  by  the  larger  number 
of  upper  labials,  and  femoral  pores ;  of  the  latter  there  are  about  ten  in 
E,  arguta^  twenty  in  E,  Persica.  From  E,  velox  it  is  distinguished  by 
its  larger  size,  by  its  upper  caudal  scales  near  the  base  never  being 
keeled,  and  by  the  scales  beneath  the  palms  of  the  feet  being  keeled, 
which  they  are  not  in  E.  velox. 

On  Plate  XXVI,  fig.  i  represents  the  adult  lizard,  i  a  the  young. 


374  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

42.   B.  velOX  ]  (Pall.) 

Tjoccrta  velox,  I'all.  Reitfe,  i,  p.  718,  No.  40. 

L.  arffuliu,  Eichwald,  ZooL  Spec.  Ros.  Pol.  iii,  p.  188. 

Podarcit  relaXt  Eichwald,  Fauna  Ca^p.-Cauc.  p.  76. 

A*pidorhina»  graciluf,  Eichwald,  Fauna  Casp.-Oauc.  p.  74. — Gray,  C«t.  Lis. 

Brit.  Mus.  p.  42. 
^EremiaB  apruho-ocellatat  Dum.  et  Rbr.  Erp.  GWn.  v,  p.  ^95,  portini. 
Eremiae  rr/(Mr,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  40. 

1-3.  Ghilun,  south  of  Resht. 

The  three  specimens  which,  with  a  little  hesitation,  I  refer  to  this 
species,  are  in  some  respects  int-ermediate  in  character  between  it  and 
i\  Perm'a,  for  they  have  the  tail  scales  either  smooth  or  very  bluntly 
keeled.  In  the  true  F.  relax,  of  which  I  obtained  a  specimen  at  B&kii, 
on  the  Caspian,  all  are  distinctly  keeled.  In  size  however,  in  coloura- 
tion (which  differs  from  that  of  E,  Persica  in  the  absence  of  black  spots 
on  the  back,  and  the  occurrence  of  black-edged  white  markings),  and 
in  the  want  of  keels  on  the  scales  beneath  the  palms  of  the  feet,  the 
specimens  agree  with  E.  relax. 

I  think  it  almost  certain  that  Aspidorhinu8  (jrracilis,  Eichwald,  is 
founded  on  the  young  of  this  species,  which  differs  so  much  in 
appearance  from  the  a<lult  that,  but  for  the  parallel  case  of  £!,  Persica^ 
I  should  not  have  recognised  it.  A  sj^cimen  procured  by  me  in 
Ghil^n  agrees  very  well  with  Eiehwald's  figure  and  description. 

I  doubt  if  the  A\  creruleo-ocellata  of  Dumeril  and  Bibron  from  the 
Crimea  be  not  another  species,  for  it  is  said  to  have  no  palatal  teeth, 
whilst  they  are  clearly  present  in  the  specimens  of  E,  relax  collected  by 
me.  The  number  of  femoral  pores  also  appears  larger  in  E,  velox^  and 
the  colouration  different.  Dr.  Anderson  refers  to  E,  c^&ruleo^ocelluta 
specimens  from  Yarkand,  which  agree  with  Messrs.  Dumeril  and 
Bibron's  description,  but  he  does  not  mention  the  palatal  teeth  nor 
the  presence  of  keels  on  the  caudal  scales  in  his  description,  P.  Z.  S. 
1872,  p.  373.  If,  however,  his  identification  be  correct,  it  shows  that 
the  different  forms  of  Eremias  belonging  to  the  typical  group  have  a 
peculiarly  complicated  geographical  distribution. 


43.  Eremias  fasciata,  W.  Blanf.  PI.  XXV,  ?ig.  3. 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  July  1874,  xiv,  p.  3  J. 


REFT  ILIA.  375 

I.  Magas,  Balucbist&n  ..  ..  ..         4500 

a,  3.  West  of  Rig&n,  NarmAsbir  ..  3500 

4-13.  Near  Saidabid,  Sarj4n,  south-west  of  Karrain      . .         5500 

E.  sexpollicarisy  gracilis,  elongata  ;  caudd  corporis  longiiudinem  duplam 
tJBquante  vel  superante ;  collate  libera^  recto ;  squamis  dorsalibus  parvis, 
rotundatisy  convexU ;  caudalibus  superioribus  carinatia ;  venlralibus  in- 
series  iransversas  circa  32-35,  singulaa  in  medio  abdomine  e  14-16 
scutisj  oblique  nee  longitudinaliter  ordinalis,  compositas ;  prceanali  nnd 
sapCy  hand  semper  majore^  paris  femoralibns  uirinque  16-19  ;  scuto  prce^ 
frantali  unico  a  rostrali  supranasaltbus  et  a  verticali  postfronialibus  longS 
discrete,  supraciliaribus  duobus  teqtmlibus  granulis  fere  vel  omnino  cir- 
cumdatis  ;  interoccipitali  posteriore  nullo  ;  infraorbitali  ad  labrum  perti^ 
nente ;  dentibus  palatalibus  nullis ;  supra  albi-da  vel  fulvescenti-grisea, 
fusco  longitudinaliter fasciata  ;  membris  supeme fuscis^  albo-maculatis. 

Hab,  in  Persid  meridionali  haudprocul  ab  urbe  Karmdn,  et  in  Gedrosid 
{Baluchistan)  haudfrequens. 

Description : — ^No  palatal  teeth.  No  interoccipital  behind.  Lower 
eyelid  opaque,  granular.  The  infraorbital  shield  extends  to  the  lip ; 
there  are  six  or  seven  (more  rarely  five)  supralabials  in  front  of  it,  and 
three  or  sometimes  four  behind.  Temples  covered  with  small  scales. 
Ear-opening  moderate,  about  the  same  size  as  the  eye ;  margin  not 
toothed,  with  one  large  scale  above  in  front.  Collar  distinct,  free,  nearly 
straight,  consisting  of  a  variable  number,  usually  about  eight  to  ten 
enlarged  scales,  the  largest  being  in  the  middle,  whence  they  diminish 
gradually  in  size  on  each  side ;  sometimes  only  the  central  scales  are 
larger  than  those  in  front.  Dorsal  scales  circular,  convex,  in  transverse 
rows,  those  on  the  back  of  the  neck  a  little  smaller,  whilst  on  the 
flanks  ttiey  become  larger  and  flatter ;  I  count  from  forty-five  to  fifty 
scales  in  each  transverse  row  across  the  back,  from  the  ventral  plates  on 
one  side  to  those  on  the  other.  Tail  scales  in  distinct  rings,  all  sharply 
keeled  except  those  beneath  near  the  base.  Ventral  shields  in  thirty- 
two  to  thirty-five  transverse  rows,  each  in  the  middle  of  the  belly  con- 
sisting of  fourteen  to  sixteen  rhomboidal  plates,  not  arranged  in  longi- 
tudinal rows,  but  in  oblique  series.  There  is  usually  a  larger  scale  in 
front  of  the  anus,  but  it  is  by  no  means  constant ;  in  some  specimens 
all  the  scales  near  the  anus  are  rather  larger  than  in  front,  whilst  in 
others  all  are  of  about  the  same  size.  There  are  from  sixteen  to 
nineteen  femoral  pores  on  each  thigh,  the  two  series  being  separated 
by  about  four  scales  in  the  groin. 


376  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

»' 

Both  body  and  tail  are  elongate,  the  latter  especially  so,  beings  wbien 

perfect  twice,  or  more  than  twice,  the  length  of  the  head  and  body. 

The  fore-limb  laid  forward  reaches  the  end  of  the  snout,  the  hind-limb 

to  between  the  shoulder  and  ear,  occasionally  extending  to  the  latter. 

Colour : — Head  uniform  pale  brown  above ;  back  light  brown  to 
white  (paler  in  specimens  from  Narmashir  and  Baluchist&n),  with 
from  six  to  eight  longitudinal  dark  brown  bands,  equal  to  the  inter- 
8]>aces  in  breadth,  extending  the  whole  length  of  the  body,  and  each 
pair  uniting  and  terminating  on  the  anterior  portion  of  the  tail,  or 
occasionally  in  the  middle  of  the  back.  Limbs  above  dark  brown 
spotted  with  white  or  pale  brown.     Lower  parts  white. 

Head-shields  : — Rostral  rather  broader  above  than  below,  and  about 
as  high  as  broad.  Nasal  shields  moderately  swollen ;  the  upper  nasal 
meeting  the  rostral  and  just  touching  the  first  labial  on  each  side  in 
front,  and  the  ])air  forming  a  broad  suture  and  separating  the  rostral 
from  the  pra?frontal ;  lower  nasal  touching  the  three  first  labials. 
Loreal  about  as  broad  as  high.  Pncf rental  single,  hexagonal,  broader 
than  long,  })roadly  separated  from  both  the  rostral  and  vertical.  Post- 
frontals  each  very  little  smaller  than  the  prsefrontal,  meeting^  in  a 
broad  suture  before  the  vertical.  Vertical  about  twice  as  long^  as 
broad,  nearly  twice  as  broad  in  front  as  behind,  with  a  rather  shallow 
broad  groove  on  its  anterior  surface ;  front  margin  very  convex,  lateral 
edges  concave.  Superciliaries  two,  equal  in  size  and  semi-elliptical,  in 
most  specimens  entirely  surrounded  by  granular  scales,  but  in  some 
cases  these  are  wanting  along  the  middle  of  the  inner  edge.  Ptbb- 
occipitals  each  about  the  size  of  a  frontal.  Postoccipitals  each  about 
four  times  the  size  of  a  praeoccipital,  equally  broad  and  long,  the 
posterior  margin  of  the  two  being  a  straight  line.  A  very  small 
central  occipital  with  a  tubercle  in  the  centre,  no  shield  behind  it* 
Five  pairs  of  chin  shields,  the  first  three  meeting  in  the  middle,  third 
and  fourth  the  largest ;  all  are  usually  in  contact  with  the  lower  labials. 

Scales  of  the  throat  rather  larger  than  those  on  the  back.  Shields 
beneath  the  tarsi  very  broad,  extending  quite  across.  Scales  beneath 
the  feet  not  keeled. 

The  length  is  usually  from  six  to  seven  inches.  A  fine  specimen 
from  Sarj^  measures  6.8  in.,  of  which  the  tail  is  4.5,  head  0.55, 
fore-limb  0.8,  hind-limb  1.5. 

This  species  closely  resembles  young  individuals  of  E,  Persica, 
but  it  is  much  more  elongate,  and  may  be  distinguished  at  once  .from 


; 


11' 


■  J 


.!■■ 


f 


ILi 


REPTILIA. 


377 


that  species  and  all  its  allies  by  the  absence  of  palatal  teeth^  and 
usually  by  the  superciliary  shields  being  surrounded  with  granules  on 
their  inner  edge.  From  E.  Persica  it  may  further  be  known  by  the 
caudal  scales  being  keeled  and  those  beneath  the  feet  flat,  by  the 
inferior  nasal  articulating  with  three  supralabials  instead  of  two,  by 
the  rostral  being  narrower  in  front,  the  prsefrontal  shorter  compared 
to  its  breadth,  the  less  numerous  scales  round  the  body,  and  by  the 
longitudinal  dark  bands  on  the  sides  not  being  spotted  with  white. 

I  found  one  specimen  of  E.  fasciata  near  Magas,  in  Baluchist&n,  on 
the  same  day  and  in  the  same  spot  as  I  procured  my  first  specimen  of 
E,  Persicay  on  an  elevated  plain  covered  with  bushes.  I  again  met 
with  this  species  on  the  fertile  plain  of  Narmashir,  south-east  of  Bam, 
and  once  more  in  the  much  higher  plateau  of  Sarjdn,  on  the  road 
between  Karmdn  and  Shir&z.  In  the  two  last-named  places  it  was 
common,  but  I  saw  it  nowhere  in  the  intermediate  country.  Its 
habits  present  nothing  remarkable ;  it  lives  on  bushy  plains,  and  is 
very  active  and  difiicult  to  catch. 


44.  Mesalina  pardaliB  (Licht). — De  F. 

Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  43. 

Eremi€U  pardalis,  Dum.  et  Bibr.  £rp.  G^.  v,  p.  31a. — De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia, 

P-  354- 
^E,  Watwnarui,  Stol.  Proo.  As.  Soc.  Bengal,  187a,  p.  86. 

I.  R&s  MaUn,  Baliichist4n        ..  ..  ..  ..  2000 

3-7.  Gw&dar,  Baliichistdn 


8-17.  Dasht  river,  Baliichistdn 
18- ao.  Mand 

a  1-23.  Zamn&n,  Baluchistdn 
a4-a6.  Bampusht,  Baliichistdn 
a  7.  Magas,  BaliicbisUn   .. 
a8,  2g.  R4yin,  south-east  of  Karm&n,  South  Persia 
30,31.  Karm&n  ..  ..  .. 

3a-34.  Sarjin,  south-west  of  Karm&n 

35.  Near  Isfah&n  ?  label  illegible. 

36.  North  of  Isfah&n        .. 

37.  Near  Tehran.. 


700 
aooo 
3000 
4500 
8000 
5000 

5500 

(?) 
4000 


The  best  distinction  of  the  genus  Mesalina  from  Eremias  appears  to 
be  the  character  of  the  ventral  shields,  which  are  in  longitudinal  rows 
in  the  former  and  in  oblique  rows  in  the  latter.  The  principal  character 
assigned  by  Gray,  viz.  the  large  pra^anal  shield  of  Mesalina^  varies  in 
individuals. 


37*  ZOOLOGY  OF  FEiL^IA. 

TTjat  ary^ve  Mrrifri-  of  thi«  lizard  ompriseB  spcinmeiftf  agmiag  w»I 
mirh  t yj/k/ftl  North  African  examples  in  the  Britid  Musetan.  a: 
with  D'iirjeril  and  Bi Won't  description;    l«at  cr-nsidexalple  variab'xie 

t^x\i\\f\Ut\.  Thus,  the  bir:?e  praeanal  plate,  just  n^enlioiied  al<>Te.  s 
ver\'  une^fiaWy  develoj^rfl ;  nsxially  it  is  lar^^.  and  cccajdcs  a  c<«iadff- 
aLle  prf/]ifjrtion  of  the  area  between  the  anns  az>d  the  er^'in.  let  ii 
K/ine  fraH'!?  it  i--  v-n-  little  largrc'r  than  the  scales  aix^osd  it.  1^ 
vntral  plat«-^  are  in  tfoi  lon^tndinal  rows,  the  tvo  enter  of  which  ct 
\t-ry  much  rukrro'wt'T  t^ian  the  others:  but  I  do  not  think  thev  areerer 
wantin^r.  althontrh  they  are  often  brr^ken  np  into  smaller  scal««  in  the 
anterior  and  j^or-l'-rior  j^irtions  ''•f  the  aMomen.  and  in  one  sf^cimn^ 
^and  only  on**,  of  the  larjre  series  before  me  they  aie  thus  brokes 
ijT»  alrn^^rt  throuirhout.  The  number  of  transverse  rows  is  nscaljT 
28  to  31,  Kernel imes  af>  few  sls  27,  and  occasionally  as  manr  as  34. 
Femoral  jKjres  11  to  15,  the  eommoneft  number  bein^  12.  There  i?e 
about  45  to  ;o  (Tt^nular  scales  round  the  middle  of  the  back  from  the 
ventral  plateK  on  one  f^ide  to  those  on  the  other,  those  on  the  aiei 
JH'nr  the  vfntnil  ]ilatei>  l»ein^  larger  than  thoee  on  the  back.  The 
)iind>rrx;t  laid  forwanl  sometimes  reaches  the  ear,  in  other  cases  it 
ban-lv  exlendn  li<'Vond  the  shoulder:  the  fore-limb  sometimes  extends 
to  \]u-  end  of  the  muzzle,  but  usually  falls  short  of  it*  But  few  of  the 
HjKT'imens  eolleetinl  by  me  exceed  five  inches  in  length  ;  one^  however, 
meanureH  5.7  .-j  in. 

The  ininK])an-nt  dihk  on  the  lower  eyelid  is  single  or  doable,  or 
fieeaKionally  dividnl  into  three  or  four.  The  interoceipital  plate 
bi-tween  the  hinder  portion  of  the  postoccipitals  is  asnallj  well 
develoi>e<l,  and  forms  a  suture  with  the  central  occipital,  separating 
the  jK;8t^K:cipitalK  from  each  other,  but  occasionally  the  interoceipital 
iK  cjuite  minute,  and  not  sufficiently  produced  in  front  to  meet  the 
central  oeeipilal,  or  there  may  l>e  another  small  plate  interposed 
Ix'tween  the  two. 

Hie  ro/otfr  is  dark  slaty  grey  above,  \*'itli  small  black  spots,  often 
cwlgcil  on  one  or  Ixith  sides  by  white,  or  sometimes  forming  small  ocelli 
with  a  white  e(;ntrc,  and  usually  with  a  tendency  to  form  longitudinal 
lincH,  esiKJcially  U)ward8  the  sides.  Tlie  markings  are  sometimes  very  fiunt 
or  altogether  wanting.  Lower  parts  white,  sometimes  with  a  yellow 
tinge  (m  the  chin  and  throat.  In  some  specimens  the  markings  on  the 
upjHjr  parts  arc  very  distinct,  in  others  scarcely  perceptible.     At  the 


REPTILIA.  379 

beginning  of  July  I  found  specimens  near  Isfahan  with  the  chin,  throat, 
and  breast  yellow.     They  were  probably  breeding  at  that  time. 

Mesalina  pardalis  chiefly  inhabits  stony  plains  or  gentle  slopes, 
where  there  is  not  much  herbage  or  bush.  I  did  not  usually  notice  it 
in  the  more  sandy  portions  of  the  country.  It  appears  to  occur 
throughout  Persia  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Tehrdn  to  far  east  in 
Baluchist&n.  I  met  with  it  first  on  my  way  from  India,  at  R^  Malan, 
only  200  miles  west  of  Kardchi ;  and  if  I  am  correct  in  believing  Dr. 
Stolickza's  E.  JFatsonana^  to  be  the  same,  it  extends  into  North- 
western India.  It  was  common  on  the  rocky  promontory  near  Gwfidar, 
and  throughout  Baluchistdn  and  South-western  Persia;  rather  less  so 
in  Central  and  Northern  Persia,  but  I  occasionally  met  with  it  as  far 
as  Tehrdn. 


45.  M.  brevirostris,  W.  Blanf. 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  July  1874,  xiv,  p.  52. 

E,  Wataonana,  Stoliczka,  Proc.  As.  Soc.  Bengal,  187a,  p.  125,  ex  ElaUbagh 
(?  nee  typus  ejusd.  speciei). 

1-5.  Tiimb  Island  (Great  Tombs),  Persian  Gulf. 

M.  ab  M.  pardali  scidis  veniralihus  in  la  series  longitudinales  {nee 
10)  ordinatis^  capite  breviore^  minusque  depresso,  disiingu^nda. 

Hah.  ad  KdUhagh  in  regi<me  Panjdb  dicfd  Indice,  et  ad  insulam  Tumb 
in  Sinu  Persico. 

This  species  is  distinguished  from  M,  pard^lis  by  its  having  two 
additional  rows  of  ventral  plates,  there  being  twelve  in  all,  of  which 
the  two  outer,  one  on  each  side,  are,  as  in  M,  pardalisy  not  more  than 
half  the  size  of  the  other  shields.  It  has  moreover  a  shorter  head, 
much  less  depressed  in  proportion  to  its  height,  and  consequently  the 
head  shields  are  as  a  rule  shorter  in  proportion  to  their  breadth.  The 
small  azygos  inter-occipital  (^  occipitale '  of  Dumeril  and  Bibron)  is 
moreover  very  minute  or  wanting,  and  the  postoccipitals  meet  behind 
the  central  occipital,  which  is  very  little,  if  at  all,  longer  than  broad. 
The  scales  beneath  the  tarsus  also  are  not  quite  so  broad  as  in  M.  par^ 
dalis.     The  following  is  a  brief  description  of  M.  b^reviroslris. 

Palatal  teeth  none.  Lower  eyelid  with  a  transparent  disk  (some- 
times divided)  in  the  centre.     Nasal  shields  much  swollen,  the  upper 

*■  See  under  the  next  species. 


380  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSI± 

pair  meeting  in  front  of  the  single  praefrontal,  which  is  also  separated 
by  the  postfrontals  from  the  vertical.  Head  shorter  and  hig^her  than  in 
most  allied  species ;  from  the  suture  between  the  superciliary  shields  to 
the  point  of  the  nose  is  about  equal  to  the  breadth  of  the  head  behind 
the  eyes.  A  central  occipital  is  present^  nearly  equal  in  size  to  each 
of  the  praeoccipitals ;  posterior  interoccipital  rudimentary  or  wanting. 
Four  or  five  supralabials  between  the  rostral  and  the  large  infraorbitad, 
which  is  usually  divided  below,  a  narrow  supralabial  being  formed 
from  the  lower  portion  inter\'ening  between  it  and  the  lip,  but  tiiis 
character  is  not  constant ;  in  some  specimens  the  infraorbital  extends 
to  the  tip.  Ear-opening  rather  large,  not  denticulate  in  front,  with 
an  elongate  plate  above  and  in  front  of  it.  Dorsal  scales  convex,  in 
transverse  and  oblique  rows,  those  at  the  sides  larger  and  flatter. 
There  are  about  forty-three  to  forty-five  scales  round  the  body,  not 
counting  the  ventral  plates,  of  which  there  are  twelve  longitudinal 
rows,  the  two  outermost  smaller  than  the  others,  and  from  thirty  to 
thirty-three  transverse  rows.  Femoral  pores  thirteen  to  sixteen  in 
each  thigh.  A  large  pneanal  plate.  Tail  scales  in  verticils,  all  keeled 
except  those  beneath.  The  fore-limb  laid  forward  extends  nearly  or 
quite  to  the  muzzle ;  the  hind-limb  comes  in  front  of  the  shoulder. 
Colour  dark  grey,  with  indistinct  dusky  spots,  pale  in  the  centre, 
on  the  back  forming  more  or  less  distinct  longitudinal  bands. 

I  only  obtained  specimens  of  this  form  on  a  small  island  known  as 
Tumb,  and  marked  on  the  chart  as  Great  Tombs,  lying  in  the  Persian 
Gulf,  about  seventy  miles  west  of  the  Straits  of  Hormuz,  and  nearly 
south  of  the  port  of  Bassadore  in  Kishm  Island.  The  lizard  was 
abundant  among  some  low  shrubs  close  to  the  shore. 

My  friend,  the  late  Dr.  Stoliczka,  kindly  sent  me  a  specimen  of 
this  form  from  K&I&bdgh,  in  the  Panj&b,  as  his  Eremias  Watsonana, 
But  the  type  of  that  species  from  Sakkar,  on  the  Indus,  is  described  as 
having  *  the  belly  with  eight  rows  of  enlarged  trapezoid  shields^  one 
row  on  either  side  being  situated  at  the  edge,'  which  agrees  with 
M.  pardalis,  I  think  Dr.  Stoliczka  must  have  overlooked  the  distinc- 
tions between  these  two  closely-allied  forms,  but  his  description  clearly 
does  not  apply  to  the  present  species,  for  besides  the  difference  in  the 
ventral  shields,  he  states  that  the  postoccipitals  are  separated  by  a 
small  shield,  and  he  does  not  mention  the  division  of  the  infraorbital^ 
which  appears  to  be  the  rule  in  the  form  now  described.  I  am  there- 
fore compelled  to  propose  a  new  name  for  the  latter. 


REPTILIA.  381 

46.  M.  pardaloides,  W.  Blanf. 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  July  1874,  xiv,  p.  32. 

I.  Henj4m  (Ang&m,  Angaiun,  or  Angar)  Island,  Persian  Gulf. 

M.  peraffinis  M.  pardali,  sed  scutis  ventralibus  in  seiies  longitu- 
dinales  duniaxat  8  {nee  10)  ordinatis  serie  extremd  utrmque  e  seuiis 
muUo  angu^tioribus  composita, 

Hab.  in  insula  Henjdm  seu  Angdm  dietd  in  Sinu  Persico, 

This  species  agrees  in  every  respect  with  M,  pardalis^  except  that  it 
has  only  eight  longitudinal  rows  of  ventral  shields  instead  of  ten ;  of 
these  eight  longitudinal  rows,  the  outer  row  on  each  side  consists,  as  in 
M.pardalis  and  J/,  brevirosiris,  of  shields  not  half  the  breadth  of  those 
forming  the  remaining  six  rows,  so  that  there  can  be  no  difficulty  in 
distinguishing  from  it  such  exceptional  specimens  of  M,  jftardalis  as 
may  have  the  outer  row  ill  developed,  since  they  have  still  eight  rows 
of  plates  nearly  equal  in  size.  The  type  of  M.  pardaloides  has  fourteen 
femoral  pores  in  each  thigh,  twenty-eight  transverse  rows  of  ventral 
plates,  and  about  fifty  scales  round  the  body,  excluding  the  ventral 
shields.  The  hind-legs  and  feet  are  rather  long,  the  ends  of  the  toes 
reaching  the  ear  when  laid  forward. 

I  obtained  but  a  single  specimen  of  this  lizard.  It  was  not  rare, 
but  as  I  was  busily  occupied,  during  the  few  hours  I  spent  on  the 
island,  in  looking  after  fossils,  I  did  not  collect  more,  as  I  did  not  then 
notice  the  diffisrence  from  M.  pardalis.  The  specimen  captured  was 
found  on  barren  stony  ground,  the  usual  habitat  of  M,  pardalia, 
Henjdm,  or  Ang&m,  is  a  small  island  lying  south  of  the  large  island  of 
Kishm  in  the  Persian  Gulf,  not  far  from  the  entrance. 


47.  Aoanthodaotylns  Cantoris,  GUnther,  PI.  XXVI,  fig.  3,  3  a,  3  b. 

Gunther,  Bept.  Brit.  Ind.  p.  73.— Jerdon,  Proc.  A.  S.  B.  1870,  p.  71. — Sto- 
liczka,  J.  A.  S.  B.  1872,  xli,  Pt.  2,  p.  91,  and  Proc.  A.  S.  B.  1872,  pp.  85, 
124. 

I,  2.  J&shk,  coast  of  Persia,  outside  entrance  to  Persian  Gulf  — 

3-10.  Dasht  river,  west  of  Gw4dar,  Baliichistdn  . .  — 

II.  B&hii  Kaldt,  Baliichist&n      ..  ..  ..  ..  — 

12,13.  Mand,  Baluchistdn    ..  ..  ..  700 

14-18.  Bampiir,  Baliichistdn  ..  ..  ..  ..  2000 

19,  20.  Near  Rig4n,  Narmashir,  South-eastern  Persia  ..  2500 

21-24.  Near  Bam      ..  ..  ..         ..  ..  ..  3000 


Z'>:'i»/   'jF  fersia 


fc.-. •.--:.  M-^-.-iL.     I  --i-ir  '"-.•.  Lr:!-  *.:■  a»5d  v.  Dr.  G^nslier's  vrieisii 
■:>«!-  •.;*...::  .:  •.:->-  •7.='  --  ir  --r^^rOr^te^i  cy  Dr.  Stolkzka's  remozb. 
A.    '..<  -r-r-r?!  'r. ..-i'.'r-i  :i.  Bii."S.-CL2*ii  &^*i  tic  De^gtAlMXxrin^  pouts  €i 
P-.v-i  i.v  i#: ..:  :.•  n-rir: v  =-:.  jki-i  ti.^  ^.c^tadixuil  atripes  on  die  lack 
arr:    r'i.:.*.  -^.r  wis.:!::^.  ?,-.'.  ii.  XiTrnbtr.   ia  Siad.    I   fband   tocoi? 
y^zW:  -.'-^.rc^L.-  :r.  i-.-jr.iar.':*.  ir^riariT  ^sr^&tins  in  coloar  with  Dr. 
5!JV.!>rzki»'s  'i-^vT-ipt :'>:..     In  ev^rv  --.-Eie  »:f  mj  spmznens  also  the  bol 
k'r.ir .•':.',  SLTr  i-  ir-frrlrj^rti  V-v  Dr.  G^^ther :  there  is  a  single  pne^ntaL 
ar.'l  t;--:  jA/*t:V'/:.*-k!25  f.nr.  a  brcapi  snture  lehind  it :  Lot  in  one  voimg 
f-xArfj;/.*:   from  Si&d  xL^  {/neirontal  is  divided,  and  there  is  a  email 
f 'J:: Aral  [*!;**>:  Iv^twfrrQ  it  and  thtr  p^«tfrontAli.     I  have  not  a  single 
i^yj'iuj'.Zs  id  which  the  !ar:^*r  infraoHiital  shield  reaches  the  lip,  but  the 
hrtr^ttlVi  of  the  -u[<nftl2ih:a!s.  which  separate  the  infraorbital  j&om  the 
lahiiil  war^iu.  varifri:  trr»:-at!y.     The  anterior  edge  of  the  ear  appears 
aluiont  a!%4av-  rnonr  or  l<r*s  t/y^thed,  hut  the  number  and  size  of  the  pro- 
yn:i\n'i^  j^fal*:^,  and  the  extent  to  which  ther  project,  are  variable.     The 
nur/jl^-r  of  rows  of  en!ar<^<l  iicsAe^  in  the  middle  of  the  back  is  eighteen 
to  twenty  in   rno.^t   f^i^-cimens,  and  in    some   ca^es    these    terminate 
abruptly  on  the  .-ide.'i.  and  are  succeeded  by  small  scales,  but  in  other 
KjM;einien»  th<*  K.'aleh  in  the  centre  of  the  back  pass  gradually  into  the 
HiiiiUor  h^nh-s  of  the  Rides,  there  apjiearin^  to  be  much  variation  in 
thih  rfriHrci,     Th«;  hcalcs  on  the  sides  are  always  larger  in  the  middle 
tfian  near  the  hhouUh*r  and  thi^h,  but  there  is  mneh  variation  in  the 
hize  of  tlie  hiterul  neales  where  they  are  largest ;  in  some  specimens 
only  five  or  a'lx    K<;aleH   intervene  just    in   the   middle  of  the    body 
lietween  tlie  ventral   plates  and  the  enlarged  dorsal  scales,  whilst  in 
other  cxarnphfH  there  are  double  that  numl)er.     In  the  same  w&y  the 
venlnil  Khic^lds  are  very  variable  in  numlxjr.     Giinther  gives  twelve  as 
the  nurrib(*r  of  longitudinal  rows,  Stoliczka  fourteen  to  sixteen,  and  I 
httvi!  exuni]ileH  in  which  as  few  as  ten  occur,  but  the  most  common 
nuinb(;r  uniongst  my  sjMKjimens  is  about  twelve;  there  are  however, 
\'ory  ofUm,  on<j  or  two  smaller  rows  about  the  middle  of  the  body  on 
eiu;h  Hide,  fonning  a  ])aHsage  into  the  smaller  lateral  scales.    The  num- 
Imt  of  iransverHe  rows  of  ventral  plates  is  usually  thirty,  varying  from 
twenty-eight  t*)  thirty-three.     The  number  of  femoral  pores  in  each 
thigh  is  from  Heventeen  to  twenty-one,  twenty  being  the  commonest 
hunibiT. 

Tli(«  hin<l-limb  usually  extends  to  the  ear,  and  in  small  specimens 


RE PT I  LI  A.  383 

(probably  immature)  sometimes  even  as  far  as  the  eye.  I  have  no 
example  exceeding  9  in.  in  length. 

Acanthodactylua  Canloris  is  usually  found  only  on  sand.  It  is  pecu- 
liarly abundant  in  sandy  places  near  the  coast,  and  where  hillocks  of 
blown  sand  have  accumulated  upon  plains  and  have  remained  sufficiently 
unchanged  to  permit  tamarisk  and  other  plants  to  grow.  In  such  places 
the  surface  of  the  sand  will  be  found  marked  in  all  directions  by  the 
tracks  of  these  lizards,  which  live  in  holes,  usually  made  in  the  raised 
and  somewhat  consolidated  mounds  around  the  roots  of  bushes.  In 
these  holes  the  animals  appear  to  pass  the  night,  and  in  them  they 
take  refuge  when  alarmed.  In  the  cold  season,  on  the  Baluchistan 
coast  and  in  Sind,  the  Acanthodactyli  usually  issue  from  their  holes 
about  nine  or  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when  the  air  has  become 
thoroughly  warmed  by  the  sun,  and  they  retreat  to  them  again  before 
sunset.  They  are  very  swift,  and  easily  alarmed^  but  they  may  be 
captured  by  approaching  them  very  slowly  and  cautiously,  especially 
if  two  persons  approach  them  at  once,  one  from  each  side,  in  which  case 
the  lizards  frequently  remain  quiet,  apparently  trusting  to  their  re- 
semblance in  colour  to  the  soil  around  them  for  concealment.  From 
the  circumstance  that  I  found  large  numbers  of  young  in  November, 
whilst  in  January  and  February  all  appeared  to  be  nearly  full  grown,  I 
think  it  probable  that  the  eggs  are  hatched  in  the  autumn,  having 
probably  been  laid  in  the  simmier. 

Acanthodactylus  Cantoris  abounds  throughout  the  lower  portions  of 
Baluchistdn  and  South-eastern  Persia,  but  I  never  met  with  it  at  a 
greater  elevation  than  about  3000  feet  above  the  sea.  It  appears 
to  be  equally  common  throughout  the  desert  portions  of  Sind  and  the 
Panjdb,  extending  eastward  as  far  as  the  neighbourhood  of  Delhi  and 
Agra.  The  points  furthest  west  at  which  I  found  it  were  near  Bam 
and  at  Cape  J&shk,  close  to  the  entrance  of  the  Persian  Gulf.  I  cannot 
say  if  it  occurs  on  the  shores  of  the  Gulf. 

48.  A.  micropholis,  W.  Blanf.  PL  XXXI,  fig.  2. 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  July  1874,  xiv,  p.  33. 

1.  lUs  Malan,  coast  west  of  Kaiichf,  Baliichistan     . .  — 

2.  Dasht  river,  we:it  of  Gw&dar,  Baliichlstdn  . .  . .  — 
3, 4.  Zamr&n,  Baldchistin            . .          . .          . .          . .          2000 

5.  Kalagin,  Baliichistdn  ..  ..  ..  3500 


384  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

6.  Dizak,  Baluckiistdn    ..          ..          ..           ..  ..  4000 

7-9.  MogaM,  Baliichistdn  ..          ..          ..          ..  ..  4500 

10,11.  Bampiir,  BaliichiBtan            ..          ..          ••  ..  1000 

12-14.  Near  Kigan,  NarmaBhir,  south-easieni  Persia  . .  2500 

A.  sqvanils  dorsalibus  carina  fix,  parvis,  atUice  et  ad  luiera  mimMit; 
scutis  ventralibiia  in  series  longitudinal es  10,  extremas  an^u^tioreSf  wUr 
natis ;  j)oris  femoralibns  virinqne  circiter  25 ;  digilis  breviter  Jimbriatis; 
scut-o  iufraorhitali  plerumqiie  ad  labrum  periinente  ;  supra  griaeuM  rd 
fuscus,  longitudinaliter  albo^striaius,  membris  alho^maculatis ;  ceUnm 
A.  Cantoris  similis. 

Ilab,  in  Gedros'ul  [Baluchistdn). 

Description  : — No  palatal  teeth.  The  infraorbital  shield  as  a  rule  ex- 
tends to  the  lip  behind  the  fourth  supralabial,  but  this  charact-er  is  not 
quit«  constant,  for  I  have  two  specimens  from  Magas  in  which  the 
infraorbital  is  separated  from  the  lip  by  the  fourth  and  fifth  supia- 
labials.  Temporal  region  covered  with  small  scales,  minute,  granukr, 
and  convex  above,  rather  larger  below,  and  either  flat  or  convex,  but 
never  so  distinctly  keeled  as  they  usually  are  in  A,  Canloris,  Ea^ 
opening  usually  with  from  two  to  four  scales  projecting  so  as  to  form 
a  serrated  edge.  Scales  of  the  back  small,  subimbricate,  semi-OYtl, 
rounded  behind  and  sliarply  keeled,  arranged  in  transverse  and  obhqoe 
series,  and  passing  imperceptibly  into  minute,  convex,  granalar  scales 
like  those  of  an  Eremias  on  the  back  of  the  neck,  and  into  equally 
small,  rhomboidal,  bluntly  keeled  or  convex  scales  on  the  flanks,  the 
latter  becoming  smooth  and  increasing  in  size  below  near  the  ventral 
plates.  The  number  of  scales  round  the  middle  of  the  body,  not  in- 
cluding the  ventral  plates,  is  about  50  (49-53),  whilst  in  A.  Cantoris, 
although  very  variable,  I  never  find  it  to  exceed  40,  and  in  some  speci- 
mens it  is  only  30.  Ventral  plates  in  28  or  29  transverse  rows  and  in 
10  longitudinal  series,  the  outer  of  which  on  each  side  consists  of  much 
narrower  scales  than  the  others,  and  is  frecjuently  only  well  marked 
in  the  middle  of  the  body.  Femoral  pores  usually  23  to  27  ;  in  one 
specimen  there  are  only  21  on  one  side  and  2t  on  the  other,  hut 
this  is  exceptional.  Scales  beneath  the  tarsi  of  moderate  size,  none  of 
them  extending  more  than  about  half  the  breadth  of  the  limb.  Scales 
beneath  the  feet  rhomboidal,  subequal,  transversely  keeled  on  the  hind- 
feet,  longitudinally  on  the  fore-feet.  Fore-toes  only  slightly  serrated 
along  the  edge,  and  the  fringes  formed  by  the  projections  of  the  scales 
along  the  edges  of  the  hind-toes  are  shorter  than  in  A.  Canioria.    Scales 


=  1 


I 

4 


I 

i 
'I 


-I 


111 


RE  PT ILIA.  385 

of  the  throat  about  the  same  size  as  those  of  the  middle  of  the  back, 
smooth  and  becoming  larger  and  more  imbricate  near  the  collar,  which 
is  quite  free  and  consists  of  eight  to  ten  scales  with  their  points  slightly 
projecting,  and  of  about  the  same  size  as  the  anterior  ventral  scales. 
Tail  scales  about  three  times  the  length  of  those  on  the  back,  rhom- 
boidal,  in  distinct  verticils,  all  keeled  except  some  of  those  underneath, 
the  keels  forming  continuous  longitudinal  lines.  The* scales  in  the 
middle  of  the  prseanal  region  are  generally  larger  than  those  on  the 
sides,  but,  as  in  most  Lacertians,  they  are  variable. 

Body  and  tail  elongate,  snout  moderate,  head  rather  shorter  than 
in  A.  Cantoris^  tail  about  twice  the  length  of  the  head  and  body.  The 
fore-limb  laid  forward  usually  reaches  the  end  of  the  snout,  but  some- 
times falls  a  little  short  of  it.  The  hind-limb  extends  usually  to  the 
eye,  more  rarely  only  to  the  ear.  The  largest  specimen  obtained 
measures  8.25  in.,  an  average  example  7.25.  In  the  latter,  the  head 
from  the  snout  to  the  hinder  edge  of  the  postoccipitals  measures  0.56, 
snout  to  anus  24.,  tail  from  anus  5.85,  fore-limb  to  end  of  toes  0.95, 
hind-limb  1.85. 

Colour : — Head  greyish-brown  above.  Body  dark  grey,  with  five 
white  lines  down  the  back,  and  another  more  or  less  distinct  down 
each  side.  Just  behind  the  head  there  are  six  white  lines,  two  of 
which  meet  a  little  way  back  and  form  a  single  line,  which  disappears 
on  the  root  of  the  tail,  where  the  two  adjoining  ones  coalesce,  and  far- 
ther back  on  the  tail  all  the  bands  become  indistinct.  The  dark  stripes 
between  the  white  lines  are  sometimes  blackish,  with  white  spots,  at 
other  times  grey,  with  small  black  spots  or  with  alternating  black  and 
white  dots,  being  more  spotted  towards  the  sides  than  in  the  middle  of 
the  back.     All  the  lower  parts  white. 

Head  shields: — Rostral  moderate,  terminating  in  an  obtuse  angle 
above  between  the  anterior  nasals.  Nasal  shields  slightly  swollen,  the 
anterior  pair  meeting  in  a  short  suture  behind  the  vertical.  Two 
loreals,  the  anterior  about  half  the  length  of  the  posterior,  their  upper 
margin  forming  a  distinct  canthua  roatralis,  Prafrontal  single, 
rather  broader  than  long,  with  a  slight  hollow  running  longitudinally 
down  the  centre.  Postfrontals  each  a  little  smaller  than  the  praB- 
frontal,  bluntly  keeled  longitudinally,  meeting  in  a  broad  suture  in 
front  of  the  vertical,  which  is  elongate,  grooved  in  front,  where  it  is 
about  twice  as  broad  as  it  is  behind,  the  anterior  margin  convex,  the 
lateral  margins  concave  and  converging.     Superciliary  disk  consisting 

VOL.  II.  c  c 


386  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

of  two  lar^e  semi-oval  subequal  plates  in  the  centre,  a  smaller  shield  i 

front,  sometimes  occupying  all  the  anterior  portion  of  the  disk,  but  moi 

\  frequently  seimrated  from  the  large  shields  by  a  row  of  granules  an 

,  small  granular  scales,  and  occasionally  one  rather  larger  plate  behini 

a  row  of  granules  separating  the  principal  shields  from  the  supereiliai 
ridge.  Pra^occipitals  about  the  same  size  as  the  postfrontals,  iiearl 
triangular,  with  the  inner  angles  truncated ;  postoceipitals  more  tha 
twice  the  size  of  the  prseoccipitals,  subquadrate,  their  joint  posteric 
margins  generally  slightly  concave  in  adults,  straight  in  youngc 
i  specimens ;  there  is  a  very  small  central  occipital  with  a  small  circuli 

depression  in  the  centre,  but  no  ayzgos  shield  behind.  Supralabial 
four  in  front  of  the  large  infraorbital  shield,  which  usually  reaches  tb 
lip  behind  the  fourth  labial,  but  in  some  specimens  is  separated  froii 
the  margin  by  the  fourth  and  fifth  supralabial  shields.  The  anterio 
portion  of  the  infraorbital  region  is  separate,  and  the  infraorbital  shield 
only  touches  two  supralabials,  differing  in  this  from  A.  Canlaris,  ii 
which  it  rests  u^wn  three  or  four.  There  are  usually  three  or  fou: 
more  supralabials  behind  the  infraorbital,  but  they  rapidly  diminish  ii 
size.  There  are  generally  six  lower  labials  on  each  side  and  five  pain 
I  of  chin  shields  (more  rarely  six) ,  the  first  three  pairs  in  contact  witli 

'  each  other,  and  all  touching  the  lower  labials ;   the  third  pair  is  the 

largest,  but  does  not  much  exceed  the  second  or  fourth. 

Acanihodactiflua  micropholis  was  found  locally  throughout  Baluchis- 
tan, l>eing  much  less  abundant  in  the  lower  elevations  near  the  coast 
than  A,  Cantoris^  but  apparently  replacing  that  species  completely  at 
elevations  above  3000  feet.  It  was  not,  however,  found  on  the 
highlands  of  Persia,  where,  hitherto,  no  species  of  AcanlAodaclylus  hafl 
been  observed.  Its  habits  are  precisely  similar  to  those  of  A,  CantarU^ 
with  which  it  is  found  consorting. 

From  its  ally  A,  Cantoris  it  may  easily  be   distinguished   by  itfi 
'  much  smaller  scales  on  the  back,  by  the  granular  scales,  like  those  oi 

an  Eremias,  on  the  back  of  the  neck,  by  the  infraorbital  shield  resting 
on  two  supralabials  instead  of  three  or  four^  and  usually  reaching  the 
lip,  by  its  more  numerous  femoral  pores,  its  shorter  fringes  to  the  feet, 
and  by  its  colour,  being  always  striped,  even  in  adult  8{)ecimens.  The 
only  other  Acanthodact^lua  which  approaches  the  present  in  its  charac- 
ters, viz.  A.  Boskianus,  has  even  larger  scales  on  the  back  than  A, 
Cantoris. 


REPTILIA.  387 


Family  ZONUMD^ 

Paeudopus  apoda  (Pall.)  (P.  Pallasii,  Cuv.,  P.  serpentinuSy  Merr.  etc.) 
has  not  as  yet  been  found  within  the  territory  of  Persia,  but  it  was 
obtained  by  M^ndtries  on  the  river  Kur,  just  north  of  the  Persian 
frontier  (Cat.  Rais.  p.  65),  so  that  it  may  very  possibly  occur  within 
our  limits.     De  Filippi  only  observed  it  in  the  Caucasus. 

Family  SCINCIDiE. 
49.  Eiuneoes  pavimentatus,  Geoff. — De  F. 

8c.  pavimtntaJhu,  Geoff.  St.  Hil.  Deac.  de  TEgypte,  p.  135,  PL  HI,  fig.  3,  and 
PL  IV,  fig.  4,  4  a. — Peters,  Monatsber.  Akad.  Berlin,  1864,  pp.  48,  51.— 
Anderson,  Proc.  As.  Soc.  Bengal,  1871,  p.  180. — Stoliczka,  J.  A.  S.  B. 

1872,  p.  131. 

PlestiodoH  Aldrovandi,  Dum.  et  Bibr.  £rp.  G^n.  y,  p.  701.  —  De  F.  Viag.  in 

Penda,  p.  354. 
P.  aunUuB  \  Gray,  Cat.  Bept.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  9i> 
Mahouia  auraia,  Giinther,  Kept.  Brit.  Ind.  p.  82. 
Euprepia  princep$,  Eichwald,  Bull.  Soc.  Nat.  Mose.  1839,  p.  303 ;  Fauna  Casp.- 

Cauc  p.  93,  PI.  XVI. 

I.  Pishin,  BaMchistin 700 

2,  3.  Saijan,  south-west  of  Karm4n,  Southern  Persia    . .         5500 
4-9.  Near  Kiriz,  east  of  Shiraz    . .  . .  . .    -     4000-6000 

I  find  twenty-six  scales  round  the  middle  of  the  body  in  all  speci- 
mens except  one,  which  is  from  Pishin,  in  Baluchist&n^  and  has  twenty- 
eight,  thus  showing  a  tendency  to  a  passage  into  the  very  closely 
allied  Mahouya  Blythiana,  Anderson  *.  The  fore-leg  when  laid  forward 
in  some  specimens  only  reaches  the  eye,  in  others  it  extends  to  the 
end  of  the  snout.  The  nasal  shield  is  divided  in  all  my  specimens,  and 
two  central  rows  of  dorsal  scales  are  broader  than  the  others,  so  there 

*  The  specific  name  auraiu$  has  been  applied  to  this  species  by  several  naturalists,  in 
the  belief  that  it  is  the  Scineut  auratus  of  Schneider  (Hist.  Amph.  fasc.  ii,  p.  1 76).  But 
Wiegmann  (Arohiv,  1837,  ^'  i»  P*  '34)»  Gravenhorst  (Act.  Acad.  C.  Leop.  Carol,  xxiii, 
pt.  i,  p.  321,  PL  XXXII),  and  Peters  (Monatsber.  Akad.  Wiss.  Berlin,  1864,  p.  51)  have 
all  shown  that  Sohneider^s  type  is  8.  trigUUus,  Daud.,  an  American  species.  Moreover 
Schneider's  specific  name  was  taken  from  Linnaeus,  and  can  only  be  employed  for  the 
Lacerta  aurata  of  the  'System^  nature,'  a  species  which  has  never  been  clearly 
identified. 

'  Proc.  As.  Soc  Bengal,  1 871,  p.  186. 

C  C  2 


388  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

can  be  no  question  of  Blyth's  genus  Eurylepia  being  identical  with 
Evmeces^  as  has  been  ix)inted  out  by  Anderson. 

The  colour  is  olive  grey  or  sandy  grey,  with  at  times  golden  yellow 
longitudinal  stripes,  varying  in  breadth  and  distribution,  down  the 
sides.  In  two  specimens  from  Sarjdn  there  are  dusky  long^itudinal 
bands  down  the  back  and  sides. 

I  met  with  this  fine  scinque  but  seldom  in  Southern   Persia  and 
Baluchistan.     Most  of  the  specimens  obtained  were  brought  to  me  by 
villagers.     The  few  I  myself  saw  occurred  on  plains  covered   with 
bushes,  and  on  one  occasion  I  saw  two  together,  apparently  a  male  and 
female^  which  took  refuge  in  a  hole  beneath  a  stone  and  had  to  be  dug 
out.     The  hole  appeared  to  have  been  made  by  some  animal,  for  it 
possessed  the  peculiarity  of  turning  at  right  angles  a  short  distance 
from  the  surface  :  I  doubt  if  the  scinques  had  dug  it.    De  Pilippi  found 
this  lizard  common  in  Armenia;  Eichwald,  who  described  it  again 
under  the  name  of  Euprepis  princeps^  and  gave  a  very  fair  figure  of  it, 
obtained  it  from  the  T&lish  mountains,  south-west  of  the  Caspian,  and 
I  heard  of  a  species,  which  from  the  description  was  probably  the 
same,  near  Tehran,  so  that  it  inhabits  the  whole  of  Persia. 

60.  Euprepes  septemtaBniatus,  Reuss, — De  F.  PL  XXVII,  fig.  3. 

Mu8.  Senck.  i,  p.  47,  PI.  Ill,  fig.  1.— De  Filippi,  Atti  Soc.  ItaL  Sc.  Nat.  vii, 

p.  185. 
E.  ({ffinis,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  354. 

I .  Kushkizard,  between  Sbir&z  and  Isfohdn  . .  . .  8000 

3.  Between  lB£Edi&n  and  Tehran,  near  Kiim   ..  ..  (?) 

I  have  examined  the  typical  specimens  of  E.  affinis  in  the  museums 
at  Genoa  and  Turin,  and  compared  with  them  the  specimen  obtained 
by  myself  between  Isfahan  and  Tehrdn,  which  agrees  in  every  respect, 
except  that  in  the  former  there  are  in  each  thirty-four  scales  round  the 
body  and  about  thirty-eight  between  the  axils,  whereas  in  the  speci- 
men I  collected  there  are  thirty-six  scales  round  the  body  and  thirty- 
five  between  the  axils.  In  the  other  specimen,  from  Kushkizard,  the 
scales  round  the  body  number  thirty-four,  as  in  De  Filippi's  types,  and 
thirty-six  between  the  axils.  Of  three  specimens  presented  to  the 
British  Museum  by  the  Marquis  Doria,  two  have  thirty-eight  and  the 
third  thirty-five  scales  round  the  body. 

I  have  also  compared  my  specimens  with  the  two  typical  examples 
of  Euprepes  septeniianiatua  in  the  Paris  Museum,  and  I  have  anived  at 


RE  PT I  LI  A .  389 

the  same  conclusion  as  De  Filippi  did,  viz.  that  E,  affinis  cannot  be 
considered  a  distinct  species.  The  only  differences  I  can  see  are  that 
the  postfrontals  are  contiguous  in  the  specimens  of  E.  8ept€)ntcBniatu9 
from  Nubia,  whilst  they  are  separated  in  the  Persian  form,  and  that 
the  lobules  in  front  of  the  ear  are  larger  in  the  latter ;  but  these 
differences  are  insufficient  for  specific  distinction.  I  find  in  the  Paris 
Museum  specimens  of  the  same  form  from  Maskat  and  from  some  other 
part  of  Arabia,  whicK,  if  the  localities  be  correct,  show  that  this  species 
has  a  wide  range  throughout  South-western  Asia.  From  E,  quinqne" 
t(Bniatu8y  Wagler  {E,  Savignii  Dum.  et  Bibr.),  which  I  myself 
obtained  in  Abyssinia,  and  of  which  I  have  seen  specimens  labelled 
E,  septemtaeniatus^  the  last  named  is  distinguished  by  the  absence  of 
keels  on  the  scales  of  the  anterior  portion  of  the  back  and  of  the  upper 
part  of  the  limbs,  and  by  the  smaller  ear-opening,  which  is  round,  not 
oval.  I  cannot  help  feeling  some  doubt,  however,  as  to  these  dis- 
tinctions being  constant. 

The  following  is  a  brief  description  of  the  Persian  specimens.  General 
form  much  as  in  E,  carinatus,  Schn.  {E,  rufescens^  Shaw),  and  E,  quin- 
quet(Bniatus,  Wagler,  except  that  the  tail  is  much  shorter.  A  pair  of 
supranasal  shields,  which  meet  in  a  suture  behind  the  rostral.  Post- 
frontals separate,  each  about  half  the  size  of  the  single  prsefrontal.  An 
elongate  central  occipital,  completely  separating  the  postoccipitals  from 
each  other.  The  fifth  upper  labial  is  the  largest,  and  forms  the  lower 
part  of  the  orbit ;  it  has  two  other  labials  behind  it.  liower  eyelid 
with  a  large  transparent  disk.  Ear-opening  rather  small,  circular, 
with  two  or  three  subequal  lobules  in  front.  Scales  of  the  back  with 
three  very  faint  keels  ;  scales  of  the  anterior  portion  of  the  back,  of  the 
sides,  and  the  limbs,  smooth.  Tliirty-four  to  thirty-eight  series  of 
scales  round  the  body,  thirty-five  to  thirty-eight  between  the  axils. 
Neither  the  praanal  shields  nor  subcaudals  are  enlarged.  Limbs 
moderate ;  the  fore-limb  laid  forward  extends  in  front  of  the  eye. 

The  general  colouration  of  Persian  is  very  different  from  that  of 
African  specimens,  but  that  of  the  latter  is  so  variable,  that  I  doubt 
if  any  conclusiona  can  be  drawn  from  this  character.  The  colour  of 
Persian  specimens  of  E.  aeptemtieniaius^  to  judge  from  those  I  have  seen, 
does  not  appear  to  vary  greatly ;  it  is  pale  olive  brown,  with  more  or 
less  numerous  black  spots  on  the  head,  back,  and  sides ;  these  tend  to 
form  four  longitudinal  bands  on  the  anterior  portion  of  the  back,  and 
a  broad   band,  produced  in  front  through  the  eye,  down  each  side. 


390  ZOOLOGY  OF  FERSIA, 

Below  this  is  a  narrow  pale  line  &om  the  upper  labials  tx>  above  the 
shoulder,  with  a  more  or  less  marked  dark  band  beneath  it.  The 
specimen  from  Kushkizard  is  more  strongly  marked  than  those  finom 
Northern  Persia,  and  in  this  the  head  shields,  the  posterior  portion 
of  the  back^  and  the  tail  are  all  spotted,  the  spots  on  the  hinder 
portion  of  the  body  having  rather  a  tendency  to  form  transverse 
bands. 

This  species  is  viviparous.  The  large  female  which  I  captured  at 
Kushkizard  on  being  placed  in  spirit  gave  birth  to  three  perfectly- 
formed  young,  each  about  3  in.  in  length,  and  with  an  umbilical  cord 
attached  to  a  placenta-like  mass.  Two  others  remained  inside  the 
body.  The  length  of  this  specimen  was  7.8  in.,  of  which  the  tail  from 
the  anus  measured  3.9,  fore-limb  1.05,  hind-limb  1.3.  It  was  found 
in  a  high  open  valley,  which  is  covered  with  snow  in  the  winter 
months. 

De  Filippi's  specimen  was  from  Kazvin,  north-west  of  Tehrin.  I 
saw  this  scinque  more  than  once  in  Northern  Persia,  but  I  never  met 
with  it  in  the  South  except  at  Kushkizard. 

61.  Ablepharus  bivittatus  (M^n.)— De  F.  Pi.  XXVII,  fig.  a,  2  a. 

Schicus  bivUtatuSf  M^n.  Cat.  Rais.  p.  64. 

Ablepfiarus  Meneetriesiit  Dum.  et  Bibr.  £rp.  G^n.  v,  p.  811.  —  De  F.  Viag.  in 

Persia,  p.  355. 
A,  bivUtcUus,  Gray,  Cat.  Liz.  Brit.  Mas.  p.  64. 

1-5.  Kushkizard,  between  Shirdz  and  Is^4n  . .  8000 

The  specimens  obtained  agree  with  Dumeril  and  Bibron's  descripti'on, 
except  that  the  nasal  shields  in  all  my  specimens  are  widely  separate, 
instead  of  being  *  assez  rapprochees.'  I  have  examined  the  examples 
of  this  species  collected  by  De  Filippi  in  Northern  Persia,  and 
preserved  in  the  Turin  Museum,  and  compared  them  with  those  col- 
lected by  myself.  The  differences  are  trifling.  The  head  in  the  former 
is  rather  longer,  and  there  are  only  twenty-two  rows  of  scales  round 
the  body.  In  the  specimens  from  Kushkizard  there  are  twenty-four 
rows,  as  in  the  type  described  by  Dumeril  and  Bibron. 

The  colour  noted  from  living  specimens  is  pale  greyish  olive  above^ 
with  dusky  mottling  which  forms  three  more  or  less  well-marked 
longitudinal  lines  down  the  centre  of  the  back.  A  broader  and  better 
marked  dark  line  runs  down  the  upper  part  of  each  side  over  the 


REPTILIA.  391 

shoulder,  above  the  tympanum  and  through  the  eye,  commencing  from 
the  nostril ;  below  this  is  a  whitish  line,  followed  by  a  narrow  dark 
line,  the  latter  often  ill-marked.  The  under  parts  in  the  specimens 
collected  were  salmon  colour,  deepest  at  the  base  of  the  tail ;  but  it  is 
highly  probable  that  this  tint  is  seasonal,  and  disappears  during  part 
of  the  year.  The  length  of  the  largest  specimen  was  4.8  in.,  of  which 
the  tail  from  the  anus  measured  2.9. 

I  met  with  this  scinque  only  in  the  locality  mentioned,  a  high 
plateau,  8000  feet  above  the  sea,  traversed  by  the  summer  road 
between  Shirdz  and  Isfahan.  There  it  consorted  with  Phrynocephalus 
Persicus,  De  P.,  another  Northern  Persian  species  which,  in  the  same 
way,  was  not  noticed  in  any  other  part  of  the  country  south  of  the 
plains  near  Tehran.  De  Pilippi  found  the  present  species  rather  scarce 
at  Tabriz  and  Kazvin. 

AblepAarus  bivittatus  was  met  with  rather  commonly  at  the  locality 
mentioned,  on  open  ground,  dry  and  level  but  not  sandy,  scattered 
over  with  very  small  thorny  bushes,  amongst  the  roots  of  which  this 
little  scinque  buried  itself  when  pursued. 

62.  Ablepharus  Brandti,  Strauch,  PL  XXVII.  fig.  i,  la^ 

Bull.  Acad.  St.  Pet.  xii,  p.  367. 

1  Blepharo9tere$  agilis,  Stoliczka,  Proc.  As.  Soo.  Beng.  1872,  p.  126. 

A.putillus,  W.  Bl.  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  July  1874,  xiv,  p.  33. 

1-2.  Basrah   (Bussora),  on  banks   of  the  Shat-el-Arab,   the 
estuary  formed  by  the  union  of  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates. 

Two  specimens  of  an  Ablepiarus  belonging  to  the  section  with  an 
undivided  pnefrontal  were  procured  at  Basrah,  and  were  described 
by  me  1.  c.  as  a  new  species  under  the  name  of  A.  pusillns.  In  the 
description,  a  serious  error  was  printed,  the  number  of  scales  between 
the  axils  being  given  as  26  instead  of  36.  I  believe  that  this 
mistake  was  the  principal  cause  of  my  describing  the  species  as 
new,  because  the  only  important  difference  between  the  Basrah 
scinques  and  a  typical  specimen  of  A,  Brandti  in  the  British  Museum 
consists  in  the  latter  having  about  fifty  scales  between  the  axils. 
The  two  scales  above  the  eye  forming  a  portion  of  the  orbital  ring 
are  a  little  more  developed  in  A.  Brandti^  but  the  difference  is  trifling. 

1  The  name  printed  on  the  plate  is  A,  jmnUluM. 


392  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

In  the  species  described  by  Dr.  StoHczka  from  the  Panj&b  as 
Blepharosteres  agilis^  the  number  of  scales  between  tlie  axils  is  said 
to  be  forty  to  forty-five,  and  as  the  description  of  this  form  agieei 
perfectly  in  every  other  character  with  A,  Brandti,  I  am  disposed  to 
believe  that  it  is  the  connecting  link  between  that  species  and  A. 
pnsillus,  and  that  the  three  must  in  all  probability  be  considered 
as  varieties  ofone  species.  It  is  true  that  so  much  variation  in  the 
number  of  the  ventral  scales  is  unusual,  for  the  transverse  rows  on  the 
abdomen  correspond  to  the  number  of  dorsal  vertebra?.  In  Blej}karo9tem 
agilis  there  are  said  to  \ye  twenty-one  to  twenty-two  longfitudinal  rows 
of  scales  round  the  body,  instead  of  twenty,  as  in  A,  Brandti  and  A, 
pnsillus^  but  I  do  not  consider  this  a  specific  distinction. 

The  following  is  a  full  description  of  the  Basrah  Ablepiam^, 
Description: — General  form  slender;  IxKly  rounded,  the  back  being 
slightly  flattened ;  tail  nearly  twice  as  long  as  the  head  and  body ; 
head  rather  short ;  limbs  feeble,  all  with  five  toes ;    the  fore-limb  laid 
forward  reaches  the  angle  of  the  mouth  ;  the  hind-limb  extends  about 
two-thirds  of  the  distance  to  the  shoulder ;   third  and  fourth  toes  on 
the  fore-foot  nearly  equal,  on  the  hind-foot  the  fourth  toe  is  a  little 
the  longer.     The  scales  are  in  twenty  rows  round  the  middle  of  the 
body,  and  about  thirty-six  from  the  axil  to  the  thigh  ;  those  on  the 
back  are  the  broadest,  and  those  on  the  sides  smallest ;  as  usual,  a  few 
rows  of  scales  on  the  back  of  the  neck  immediately  behind  the  occi- 
pital shields  are  very  ])road.     Feet  granular  beneath ;  toes  with  trans- 
verse plates  below,  which  have  a  blunt  keel  in  the  centre.      There  are 
a  pair  of  enlarged  praeanals,  and  a  row  of  broad  subeaudals.      Ear- 
opening  small,  circular,  w4th  two  or  three  small  lobules  in  front.     The 
largest  specimen  with  the  tail  perfect  measures  just  three  inches,  the 
tail  from  the  anus   is    1.9,  head  0.2,  the  fore-leg  is  0.25,  hind-leg 

0-35  long. 

Head  shields : — Rostral  rather  broad,  but  scarcely  extending  to  the 
upper  surface  of  the  head.  Nasal  shields  distant  from  each  other. 
Two  loreals,  the  anterior  being  perhaps  rather  a  postnasal ;  it  is 
narrower  and  higher  than  the  posterior.  Praefrontal  large,  hexa- 
gonal, forming  a  suture  both  with  the  rostral  and  vertical;  post- 
frontals  small,  distant  from  each  other.  Vertical  elongate,  its  broadest 
portion  about  one-third  of  its  length  from  the  front,  with  three  sides 
in  front,  two  straight  lateral  margins  behind  gradually  approaching 
each  other,  and  a  rounded  posterior  extremity  which  just  touches  the 


REPTILIA,  393 

point  of  the  large  subtriangularly  heart-shaped  praeoccipital.  Super- 
ciliary shields  three  in  number,  the  anterior  much  the  largest,  and  the 
second  larger  than  the  third.  A  bell-shaped  interoccipital,  the 
anterior  margin  of  which  is  slightly  convex,  ahd  fits  into  a  hollow  in 
the  broad  posterior  margin  of  the  praeoccipital.  The  postoccipitals 
meet  behind  the  interoccipital. 

There  is  a  row  of  narrow  shields,  rather  broader  in  front,  between 
the  superciliaries  and  the  orbit ;  the  latter  is  surrounded  by  very 
minute  scales,  in  a  single  row  except  behind,  two  above  the  orbit  being 
more  elongate,  but  very  narrow.  Temples  covered  with  large  poly- 
gonal plates,  the  largest  of  which  on  each  side  above  is  in  contact  with 
the  postoccipital.  Upper  labials  seven,  the  fifth  from  the  front 
being  the  largest,  and  forming  the  lower  portion  of  the  orbit ;  lower 
labials  about  six.  A  broad  and  large  shield  behind  the  mental,  and 
three  or  four  pairs  of  enlarged  chin  shields,  in  contact  with  the  lower 
labials,  behind  it. 

Colour  : — Brownish  olive  above ;  a  narrow  pale  line  from  above  the 
eye  down  each  side  of  the  back,  and  a  broad  dark  brown  band  below  it, 
from  the  back  of  the  orbit  to  above  the  shoulder,  and  continued,  but 
less  distinctly,  down  the  side;  below  this  are  fainter  lines.  Limbs 
with  rather  faint  longitudinal  bands. 

The  only  two  specimens  of  this  little  scinque  which  were  obtained 
were  collected  on  the  bank  of  the  Shat-el-Arab  (the  river  formed  by 
the  union  of  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates),  opposite  the  town  of  Basrah 
(Bussora),  where  it  occurred  with  OpAiops  meizolepis,  I  include  it  in 
the  Persian  fauna  for  the  same  reasons  as  I  have  given  in  describing 
that  species. 

This  small  scinque  has  much  the  form  of  Ahlepharua  hivittatmy  but  it 
is  more  slender.  The  largest  specimen  is  nearly  three  inches  long, 
and  not  thicker  than  a  crowquill.  It  appears  to  be  very  closely  allied 
to  a  species  recently  described  from  North-western  India  by  Dr. 
Stolickza,  under  the  name  of  Bhpharosteres  Grayanua  (Proc.  As.  Soc. 
Beng.  1872,  p.  74),  the  type  of  the  genus  Blepharosteres^  which  is 
destitute  of  any  external  ear,  and  is,  to  use  Dr.  Stoliczka's  phrase,  *  a 
Mocoa  without  eyelids  or  ears.*  But  as  B,  agilia,  which  Dr. 
Stoliczka  has  referred  to  the  same  genus,  possesses  an  ear-opening, 
I  doubt  whether  the  generic  distinction  from  Ahlepharus  can  be 
maintained,  the  only  remaining  distinction  of  importance  being 
that  the  anterior  frontal  is  single  in  BlepharostereSy  double  in  typical 


39*;  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

67.  *  OphiomoroB  miliaria  (Pall.) 

Dunn,  et  Bibr.  Erp.  Gen.  p.  799. 

Angnu  miliarvi.  Pall.  Reise,  ii,  p.  718 ;  Zoog.  Roc  As.  iii*  p.  54. 

Pallas  states  that  a  specimen  of  this  peculiar  limbless  lizard  wi 
sent  by  S.  G.  Gmelin  from  Persia.  The  exact  locality  is  not  meD 
tioned  ;  it  was  prol^bly  MazandaWLn  or  GhOin. 

Zygnopsis ',  gen.  nov. 

W.  BUnf.  Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  July  1874,  xiv,  p.  33. 

Genus  affine  Ophiomori,  narihus  inter  dna  scuta^  ttnum  suproy  vjivi 
infra,  AvpranasaHhuA  contigvis,  sed  membris  qualuor  dehUibus  priBdiium, 

This  form  resembles  Oph'iomornn  in  the  character  of  its  head  scalei 
the  nostrils  bein^  between  two  shields,  an  infranasal  and  a  sapranasa 
the  supranasals  meeting  behind  the  rostral.  The  central  plates  of  th 
head,  rostral,  anterior  frontal,  vertical,  and  occipital  are  laigel 
developed,  as  in  many  sepsoid  forms.  The  essential  distinction  froi 
Ophiomorus  is  in  the  possession  of  small  limbs,  the  fore-feet  in  the  onl; 
species  known  being  tetradactytous,  the  hind-feet  tridactylons.  I  cai 
detect  no  trace  of  an  external  ear.  The  teeth  are  blunt,  small,  almos 
hemispherical.  The  palate  is  not  toothed,  and  the  palatal  fissure 
which  is  rather  broad,  extends  forward  to  the  level  of  the  eve.  Tb 
tongue  is  flat  and  scaly,  but  appears  not  to  be  cleft  at  the  end  ;  in  thi 
only  specimen  I  have  for  examination,  however,  the  tip  of  the  tongni 
has  dried  slightly,  and  when  fresh  it  may  have  a  minute  emargination 
as  in  AbJephanis,  The  eyes  are  very  small^  and  the  lower  eyelid  well 
developed  but  transparent,  as  in  OpMomorus, 

OpJiiomorua  is  by  Dumeril  and  Bibron  included  in  the  family  oi 
Scinco'idiena  or  Lej)idosaures,  which  comprises,  besides  the  normal 
scincoids,  Seps,  Aconlias,  and  other  forms,  which  have  been  by  Dr.  Gra; 
and  other  writers  made  the  types  of  distinct  families,  distinguished 
principally  by  the  characters  of  their  nasal  shields.  Ophiomorus  miliarii 
(Pall.)  is  thus  made  the  type  of  the  family  OphioworidtB^  distinguished 
by  having  the  nostrils  between  two  plates,  one  above  and  one  below 
I  feel  much  doubt  as  to  whether  the  importance  of  the  exact  form  ol 

*  Etym.  (trp^tif  the  name  of  a  lizard,  and  a  name  employed  by  Oken,  Fitzinger,  and 
Wiogman  for  the  gonuB  Stp*,  and  firpti,  *  appearance.* 


REPTILIA,  397 

the  nasal  shields  is  sufficient  to  justiiy  the  foundation  of  families  upon 
them,  and,  after  all,  the  diflference  between  some  of  the  ScincidcB,  e.  ^. 
JEuprepes  and  OpAiamarvs^  consists  only  in  the  position  of  the  nostril 
itself  in  the  nasal  shield ;  in  Euprepes  it  is  in  the  middle  of  the  shield, 
in  OpAiomorus  it  is  on  the  upper  margin ;  in  Sep^,  agaiii)  it  is  in  the 
front  edge  of  the  nasal.  In  all  these  forms  we  have  a  rostral  shield, 
two  nasals,  one  on  each  side,  and  two  supranasals.  In  Acontias  these 
are  all  united  into  one  shield,  the  reverse  condition  being  seen  in 
Anguia^  in  which  the  supranasals  are  divided  into  several  shields. 

If  Sepa  and  its  allies  are  separated  from  the  Scincida^  I  am  inclined 
to  think  that  OpAiomorus^  Acontias^  and  perhaps  Anguia  should  be 
placed  with  them.  In  all  there  is  a  tendency  to  the  development  of 
the  central  plates  of  the  head  at  the  expense  of  the  lateral  plates,  and 
the  limbs  are  weak  or  deficient.  But  weak  limbs  are  also  common 
amongst  the  true  scinques,  and  there  is  no  trenchant  character  by  which 
the  sepsoid  forms  can  be  distinguished. 

68.  ZygnopsiB  brevipes,  W.  Blanf.  Pi.  XXVII,  fig.  4,  4  a. 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  1.  c. 

1.    S4adatab4d,    Sarjin,    between     Kann4n     and 

Sbir&z,  South  Pemia       . .  . .  . .  5500 

Z.  corpore  elongato^  pedidus  brevibuSy  anticis  digitis  4.,  posticis  3  in- 
structis^  capite  conico,  roslro  rotundato ;  acuta  verticali  magna,  paatice 
latiore,  ad  latera  emarginata  ;  occipitali  magnOy  margine  anteriare  cancavd, 
poaticd  valde  convexd ;  pneoccipilalUnia  nullia^  poataccipitalibua  minaribua 
oblique elangalia;  oculia parvia^palpebria  inferiaribua  tranaparentibua;  meatu 
auditaria  nulla ;  aquamia  carporia  lavibua,  in  medio  corpore  in  22  aeriea 
loyigitudinalea  diapoailia ;  griaea,  longitudinaliierftiaco-faaciata. 

Hab,  hand  procul  a  Karmdn  in  Peraiu  meridionali. 

Description  : — Form  anguiform^  slender ;  body  elongate,  cylindrical ; 
the  tail  in  the  only  specimen  is  imperfect,  but  must  have  been 
of  considerable  length,  and  diminishes  in  size  very  slowly.  The  head 
is  conical,  muzzle  rounded ;  no  trace  of  external  ears ;  eyes  small ; 
lower  eyelid  well  developed,  transparent.  The  legs  are  small  and 
rudimentary;  the  fore-foot  when  laid  forward  not  extending  half 
the  distance  to  the  snout,  and  falling  far  short  of  the  mouth; 
the  hind-leg  about  one-fifth  of  the  length  from  the  thigh  to  the 
shoulder,   and   about  equal   to   the   distance  from   the   shoulder  to 


398  ZOOL OG  Y  OF  PERSIA . 

the  eye.  The  fore-foot  has  four  toes,  the  third  a  little  the  longpest; 
the  hind-foot  three  toes,  the  third  the  longest ;  all  the  toes,  normally, 
are  clawed,  but  some  have  lost  their  claws.  Feet  covered  with  smooth, 
imbricate  scales,  the  toes  with  cross-plates  below.  Scales  of  the  body 
smooth,  all  equal  in  size,  in  twenty-two  longitudinal  series  round  the 
middle  of  the  body.  Length  of  the  only  specimen,  from  the  snout  to 
the  anus,  4  in.,  head  0.3,  fore-limb  0.32,  hind-limb  0.6. 

Head  plates ; — The  rostral  rather  large,  extending  to  the  upper 
surface  of  the  head.  The  nostrils  are  in  the  upper  part  of  the  nasal 
shield,  their  upper  margin  formed  by  the  supranasals,  which  are 
rather  larger  than  the  nasals,  and  meet  in  a  broad  suture  behind  the 
rostral.  Prsefrontal  rather  large,  hexagonal,  broader  than  long ;  it 
has  a  broad  concave  hinder  margin,  into  which  the  front  of  the  vertical 
fits.  Postfrontals  small,  pentagonal,  widely  separated.  Vertical  very 
large,  bell-shaped,  with  its  broadest  portion  behind,  and  its  posterior 
margin  rather  convex,  meeting  the  occipital  in  a  broad  suture,  its 
lateral  margins  rather  deeply  emarginate,  each  being  cut  out  by  a  re- 
entering angle  near  the  hinder  edge.  No  pneoccipitals  ;  they  are  repre- 
sented by  two  small  rhomboidal  shields,  one  on  each  side,  between  the 
hinder  outer  margin  of  the  vertical  and  the  postoccipital.  Superciliaries 
four  on  each  side,  the  second  from  the  front  the  longest,  its  hinder  angle 
on  the  inside  projecting  and  fitting  into  the  lateral  emargination  of  the 
vertical.  The  anterior  and  posterior  superciliaries  are  in  contact  with 
the  granular  scales  of  the  small  upper  eyelid  ;  a  narrow  shield  between 
the  eyelid  and  each  of  the  central  superciliaries.  Occipital  large, 
subtriangular,  with  the  anterior  angles  truncated,  anterior  margin 
concave,  hinder  angle  rounded.  Postoccipitals  represented  by  two 
obliquely  elongate  shields  nmning  along  the  outer  margins  of  the 
occipital,  and  not  meeting  behind  it.  Two  loreals,  both  longer  than 
high,  the  anterior  one  in  contact  with  the  prsefrontal,  a  small  prsD- 
ocular  behind  the  last.  Lower  eyelid  transparent,  a  row  of  small 
shields  beneath  it  separating  it  from  the  supralabials.  Temporal 
region  on  each  side  covered  by  two  large  shields,  that  in  front  extend- 
ing from  the  supralabials  to  the  postoccipital,  the  hinder  one  touching 
the  postoccipital  only.  Supralabials  seven,  the  fifth  the  largest, 
fifth  and  sixth  below  the  eye,  the  seventh  much  less  in  height  than 
the  others.  Infralabials  about  six ;  mental  rather  small  with  two 
shields  stretching  across  the  chin  behind  it,  and  other  enlarged  shields 
along  the  edge  of  the  lower  labials. 


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REPTILIA.  399 

Colour  pale  brownish  grey,  with  longitudinal  dark  lines.  Of  these 
there  are  two  narrow  ones  in  the  centre  of  the  back  and  tail  extending 
on  to  the  head  shields,  and  a  much  broader  band  from  the  nostril, 
through  the  eye,  extending  down  the  upper  part  of  each  side  above  the 
limbs  and  dividing  into  two  lines  on  the  tail. 

The  head  is  slightly  injured,  but  not  so  much  so  as  to  render  the 
plates  indistinct.  The  only  specimen  obtained  was  brought  to  me 
at  Sfiadatabfid,  a  village  in  Sarj&n,  about  lOO  miles  south-west  of 
Karmfin  on  the  road  to  Shir&z,  together  with  several  specimens  of 
Eumecea  auratus.  All  were  dead,  and  had  been  more  or  less  injured  in 
being  captured,  the  people  looking  upon  them  as  poisonous,  a  common 
belief  with  r^;ard  to  all  anguiform  lizards. 


OPHIDIA. 
Family  TYPHLOPID^. 
,     60.  Typhlops  Fersious,  W.  Blanf.  PL  XXVH.  fig.  5,  5  a,  5  b. 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  July  1874,  xiv,  p.  34. 

X,  2.  Hills,  north-eaBt  of  Sarj4n,  between  Karmin 

and  Shir&z  . .  . .  8000 

T.  purpurasceiUi-brunneuSy  fere  unicolor,  subtus  vix  jkillidior,  antice 
parum  atlenuatus;  acutorostrali  mediocri,  subtus  parum  aftgustiore^franto- 
nasale  latitudine  haud  aquante;  nasali  cum  fronUmasali  supra  narem 
juncto  ;  praoculari  antice  valde  convexo^  oculare  longitudine  subaquante ; 
Jrontanasalibus  post  rostrate  approximatis,  pnefrontali  frontalis  inter- 
parietalif  supra-ocularibus^  parietalibusque  subaqualibus,  squamas  dorsales 
latitudine  paullo  esccedentibus ;  squamis  corporis  in  22-24  series  longi- 
iudinales  atque  376-390  transversas  dispositis;  caudd  breviy  mucronatd 
seriebus  9  squamarum  circumdatd, 

Hab.  in  Persia  meridionali. 

Description : — Body  nearly  cylindrical,  rather  thin,  very  little  thicker 
behind  than  in  front ;  the  circumference  in  the  middle  is  one-fifbeenth 
of  the  total  length.  The  tail  is  about  equal  in  length  to  the  width  of 
the  head,  it  is  curved  downward  and  terminates  in  a  minute  spine. 
Series  of  longitudinal  scales  twenty-four  in  one  specimen,  twenty-two 


400  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

in  the  other ;  transverse  rows  376-390,  of  which  nine  mre  romid  the 
tail.  Lenj,*!!!  of  the  lai^est  specimen  10.5  in.,  of  the  others  nther 
Iccs. 

The  rostral  shield  occapies  aboat  one-third  of  the  suiiace  of 
the  head  alK>ve,  where  its  lateral  margins  are  parallel ;  belov 
it  is  a  little  narrower,  bat  not  mach.  Xostril  lateral ;  a  satnn 
runs  from  its  lower  margin  to  the  second  supralabial,  dividing  tlie 
fronto-nat^l  from  the  nasal,  but  these  two  plates  are  united  above  thr 
nostril^  and  those  on  the  opposite  sides  of  the  head  are  close  together, 
but  do  not  quite  touch  each  other  behind  the  rostral.  Pr«oealii 
where  broadest,  which  is  just  behind  the  nostril,  of  equal  breadth  with 
the  r>cular ;  the  anterior  marg>in  of  the  former  shield  is  very  convex,  anl 
its  distance  from  the  nostril  less  than  the  breadth  of  the  rostral  belof 
the  snout.  Eyes  distinct ;  the  ocular  shield  is  slig^htly  convex  in  froot 
al>ove  the  eye,  nearly  strai/i^ht  below  it,  and  it  extends  back  as  far  is 
the  last  supralabial  does.  The  parietals,  interparietal,  frontal  ^  pn- 
frontal,  and  su]>raoculars  differ  but  little  from  each  other  in  size '  all 
are  ratlier  broader  than  the  neighbouring  shields  of  the  back.  Foor 
supralubials  increasing  regularly  in  size  backwards ;  the  first  is  verv 
minute^  and  in  contact  with  the  rostral  and  nasal ;  the  second  touches 
the  nasal,  frontonasal^  and  praeocular;  the  third  ascends  somewlut 
between  the  pneocular  and  ocular ;  the  fourth  is  laige,  and  situated 
]>elow  the  ocular. 

Colour  dull  rufous  brown^  rather  paler  below ;  all  the  scales  uniform 
in  colour. 

This  form  is  evidently  closely  allied  to  T.  Syriacus  *,  Jan,  *  Icon.  Oph.' 
p.  15,  livr.  3,  PI.  IV,  V,  fig.  5,  but  distinguished  by  having  the 
dorsal  scales  of  the  same  colour  throughout,  instead  of  beings  parti- 
coloured, whitish  in  front,  light  yellowish  brown  behind,  as  they  are 
said  to  be  in  T.  Synacus.  Comimred  too  with  Jan's  figure,  the  Persian 
T^piloj)s  differs  in  having  the  central  plates  of  the  head  broader  the 
ocular  and  prseocular  wider,  the  anterior  margin  of  the  last-named 
shield  more  convex  and  extending  to  much  nearer  the  nostril  and  the 
labials  much  more  unequal  in  size,  the  postepor  one  bein^  much 
larger. 

Compared  with  T.  vermiculuris,  the  present  species  may  be  distin- 

'  This  shield  is  unequally  divided  obliquely  iu  one  specimen. 

'  Strauch,  Mem.  Acad.  Imp.  St.  Pet.  xxi,  No.  4,  p.  27,  note,  shows  that  T,  Swnacm9  u 
probably  identical  with  T.  rermicularia,  Merr. 


REPTILIA,  401 

guished  by  the  division  between  the  nasal  and  fronto-nasal  shields  not 
extending  above  the  nostril,  by  the  scales  of  the  back  being  uniformly 
coloured,  by  the  head  being  longer  in  proportion  to  its  breadth,  and 
the  rostral  shield  comparatively  narrower,  both  above  and  below.  In 
T,  vermicularis  the  fronto-nasal  is  narrower  than  the  rostral ;  in 
T.  Perslcus  the  reverse  is  the  case. 

60.  *  T.  vermicularis,  Merr. — De  F. 

Strauch  states  (Sehlangen  des  Russischen  Reichs  in  Mem.  Acad. 
Imp.  St.  Pet.  xxi,  No.  4,  p.  28)  that  specimens  of  this  blind  snake, 
captured  by  Hohenacker  at  Lankordn,  exist  in  the  museum  at  St. 
Petersburg.  The  same  TyphhpB  was  found  by  De  Filippi  rather 
common  at  Erivan,  by  Menetries  at  Tiflis  and  at  Baku,  and  it  appears 
to  abound  in  the  Transcaucasian  provinces  generally.  Major  St. 
John  informs  me  that  he  has  seen  a  species  near  Tehr&n  which  is  pro- 
bably the  same,  and  I  have  little  doubt  of  its  existence  in  Ghil&n  and 
Mazandar&n. 


Family  ERYCIDiE. 
61.  Eryx  jaculus,  (L.) — De  F. 

Anguis  colubrina  j<iCtUu8  et  cerastes,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.  i,  pp.  390,  391. 

Eryx  jotcvlus,  Dum.  et  Bibr.  Erp.  G<5n.  vii,  p.  463. — Gray,  Cat.  Vip.  etc.  Snakes, 

Brit.  M118.  p.  109. — Strauch,  Mem.  Acad.  Imp.  St.  Pet.  xxi,  No.  4,  p.  29. 
E.   Turcicm,  Eichwald,  Zool.  Spec,  iii,  p.  176;    Fauna  Casp.-Cauc.  p.  124,  PI. 

•XVII. 
Eryx  jaculus^  var.  Teherana,  Jan,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  354. 

1.  Saidabdd,  100  miles  south-west  of  Karman  ..  6000 

2.  Between  Karm&n  and  Shir&z  (label  illegible)        . .  — 

3.  Kohrud,  north  of  Isfah&n  ..  7000 

Asiatic  specimens  of  Uryx  jaculus  appear  always  to  haVe  the 
scales  of  the  tail  less  strongly  keeled  than  African ;  but  I  am  not 
sure  that  the  distinction  is  suflSciently  marked  to  justify  separation. 
In  the  three  Persian  examples  the  scales  are  rather  convex  than  keeled, 
and  in  a  specimen  in  the  British  Museum  from  Krasnovodsk,  east  of 
the  Caspian  Sea,  larger  than  any  collected  by  me,  only  a  few  scales  on 
the  upper  part  of  the  tail  near  its  base  are  convex,  those  near  the  end 
of  the  tail  being  flat  and  smooth. 

VOL.  II.  D  d 


402  ZOOLOG  Y  OF  PERSIA. 

There  is  much  variatioii  in  the  head  scales,  and  in  the  oolomibn 
of  111  is  biiecies.     The  specimens  brought  by  Doria    from  Tehiin,  vi 
which  Prof.  Jan  described  as  his  rar,  Teierana,   differ  somewhit  ii 
colour  from  those  obtained  in  Egypt,  and  have  smaller  head  sake, 
there  Ijeing  eleven  to  twelve  round  the  eye  instead  of  ten,  and  twdw 
supralabials  instead  of  nine  or  ten.     Bat  one  of  my  specimens  from 
Southern  Persia  agrees  in  these  characters  with  ^Egyptian  examples. 
The  number  of  scales  round  the  middle  of  the  body  in  the  specimens 
examined  by  Jan  was  forty-five.      In  the  specimen  from  Saidab4dthe 
series  arc  forty-seven  to  fifty  round  the  middle   of  the  body,  in  thit 
from  between  Karm^n  and  Shir&z  forty-four  to  forty-seven,  in  tht 
from  Kohrud  forty-seven  is  also  the  highest  number.     In  the  specimen 
from  Krasnovodsk  I  count  fifty.  In  all  cases  the  largest  number  is  to  be 
found  about  half-way  from  the  head  to  the  tail,  the  number  diminishing 
both  in  front  and  behind. 

In  two  of  the  specimens  the  nostril  is  between  three  scales,  in 
anterior  and  a  posterior  nasal  and  an  anterior  frontal.  In  the  Kohrud 
8])ecimen  these  three  plates  are  united  above  the  nostril^  but  the  two 
lower  are  separated  below. 

The  number  of  ventral  and  subcaudal  shields  and  the  total  length 
in  the  three  specimens  respectively  are  : — 


veiitralM. 

8ubca\i(lal<}. 

length, 
in. 

taU. 
in. 

No.  1. 

i8o 

29 

13 

1-55 

2. 

189 

34 

8.5 

I 

3- 

180 

20 

17.5 

'•5 

Ct)lour  j)ale  brown,  with  irregular  spots,  largest  alon^  the  middle  of 
the  back,  smaller  on  the  sides,  and  chiefly  composed  of  blackish  longi- 
tudinal lines  along  the  edges  of  the  scales. 

This  does  not  apjKjar  to  be  a  very  common  snake  in  Persia.  One 
specimen  brought  to  me  was  found  in  a  stable.  The  pupil  is  vertical, 
and  the  animal  nocturnal  in  its  habits. 

Er^x  elegans^  (Gray),  from  AfghdnistAn  {Cursoria  elegans^  Gray, 
Cat.  Sn.  Brit.  Mus.  pp.  84,  107,  and  Giinther,  Kept.  Brit.  Ind.  p.  333), 

*  Tlie  following  was  written  before  I  saw  Dr.  Strauch'a  recently  published  •  Sohlangen 
do8  KuBsischen  Reichs/  in  which,  p.  34,  note  7,  he  comes  to  the  same  oonolunons  ra- 
specting  Cnrsoria  elegant,  and  on  precist'Iy  the  same  grounds. 


REPTILIA.  403 

may  probably  be  found  in  North-eastern  Persia.  The  type  speci- 
men in  the  British  Museum  continues  to  be  unique,  and  I  was  at 
first  disposed  to  look  upon  it  as  possibly  a  variety  of  the  present 
species;  but  the  scales  on  the  body  are  much  larger,  being  in 
only  thirty-five  or  thirty-six  rows  round  the  middle,  and  the  muzzle 
is  blunter.  I  was  inclined  to  doubt  whether  the  latter  difierence 
might  not  be  due  to  injury  or  contraction,  as  the  specimen  is 
much  dried ;  but  Dr.  Gunther  thinks  not,  and  he  is  most  likely  to 
be  correct,  from  his  long  experience  of  museum  specimens.  The 
tail  scales  appear  smooth,  but  most  of  them  are  decorticated,  and 
in  that  state  the  scales  of  E.  jaadu%  also  lose  all  convexity  or 
carination,  whilst  a  few  in  B,  elegans,  which  retain  the  epidermis, 
appear  to  me  slightly  convex,  and  in  any  case,  as  I  have  shown,  this 
character  is  variable,  so  that  I  have  no  hesitation  in  placing  E.  elegans 
in  the  same  genus  as  E.jaculus^  although  it  appears  to  be  a  distinct 
species.  It  certainly  differs  no  more  from  E,  jaculus  than  the  latter 
does  from  E,  Johnii. 

Of  the  family  Calamarida  I  cannot  ascertain  that  any  form  has  as 
yet  been  met  with  in  Persia.  In  the  Catalogue  of  the  Colubrine 
Snakes  in  the  British  Museum,  p.  6i,  a  specimen  of  Calamaria 
coronella^  Schlegel,  is  quoted  from  that  country,  but  Dr.  Gunther 
informs  me  that  he  has  since  ascertained  that  this  is  a  mistake,  the 
specimen  being  really  American. 


Family  COLUBRIDiE. 
62.  Cyclophis  modestus,  (Martin). 

Corondla  modata,  MartiD,  P.  Z.  S.  1838,  p.  82. 

AhlahcM  modestus,  Gttnther,  Cat.  Col.  Sn.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  17. — P.  Z.  S.  1864,  p. 

489. — Straucb,  Mem.  Acad.  Sd.  St.  Pet.  xxi,  No.  4,  p.  36,  PI.  I,  fig.  x. 
Eirenu  collarit,  Jan,  partim,  Archiv.  p.  la  Zool.  Genova,  ii,  p.  256 ;    ?  Icon. 

Oph.  livr.  15,  PI.  IV,  fig.  I,  2. 

1.  Kohnid,  north  of  Is&b&n     ..  ..  8000 

2.  Lura  valley,  north  of  Tehrin,  Elburz  mountains  ..         6000 

It  appears  to  me  that  the  most  important  distinction  between  the 
genera  Ablahea  and  Cyclophis  consists  in  the  presence  of  two  nasal 
shields  in  the  former  and  only  one  in  the  latter.     The  genus  EirenU 

D  d  2 


404  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

of  Jan  was  projwsod  for  species  of  Ablabes  with  united  nasals^  and  it  is 
eonse<iuently  identical  with  Ctfclophls. 

The  following  is  a  description  of  the  Persian  specimens,  which  differ 
but  little  from  each  other.  Head  distinct  from  trunks  rather  de- 
pressed;  snout  short,  rounded;  body  cylindrical,  moderately  stent; 
tail  of  moderate  len^h.  Scales  smooth,  in  seventeen  lon^tudinal  rows. 
Vontrals  i68  in  one,  156  in  the  other  specimen;  anal  divided;  sob- 
caudals  in  sixty-four  to  sixty-eight  imirs.  In  one  s|>ecimen  the  shield 
before  the  anal  is  divided,  and  the  second  and  third  pairs  of  sub- 
caudals  are  united.  Length  of  the  Kohrud  specimen  20  in.,  of  whicb 
the  tail  measures  4.5 ;  of  the  Karij  specimen  the  whole  length  is 
21  in.,  tail  5.5.     Both  are  males. 

The  rostral  is  broader  than  high,  just  reaching  the  upper  snr&ce  of 
the  head.  Pnefrontals  ([uite  as  long  as  the  ^wstfrontals,  and  about  two- 
thirds  their  breadth,  the  median  suture  of  both  rather  oblique.  Vertical 
square  in  front,  its  lateral  margins  very  slightly  converging'  behind. 
Occipitals  rather  broad  in  front  and  in  contact  with  both  postoculars. 
slightly  rounded  behind ;  they  are  about  one-third  longer  than  the 
vertical.  Nasals  about  twice  as  long  as  high,  and  higher  in  front  than 
behind,  the  nostril  in  their  centre.  Loreal  small,  square.  One  pra&- 
ocular,  which  just  reaches  the  upper  surface  of  the  head,  but  is  widely 
separated  from  the  vertical ;  two  postoculars  equal  to  each  other. 
Temporals  i  -f  2  -f  3.  Supralabials  seven,  the  third  and  fourth 
entering  the  orbit ;  eight  infralabials.  Two  elongate  pairs  of  chin 
shields,  the  first  twice  the  length  of  the  hinder  pair,  and  in  contact 
with  four  or  five  pairs  of  infralabials.  Pupil  round.  Teeth  small 
and  ecjual. 

Colour  grey  with  an  olive  tinge  w^hen  living,  greyish  brown  in 
spirit.  A  few  faint  darker  spots  forming  imperfect  transverse  bands 
on  the  back.     No  trace  of  a  collar.     Lower  parts  yellowish  white. 

The  type  of  Coronella  moilesta^  Martin,  was  brought  from  the  Eu- 
phrates valley.  This  s^wcies  has  also  been  found  in  Palestine  (Giinther, 
P.  Z.  S.  1864,  p.  489),  Syria,  Transcaucasia,  and  the  neighbouring 
countries. 

T^ria  argonauta,  Eichwald,  Bull.  Soc.  Nat.  Mosc.  1839,  ii,  p.  306, 
and  Fauna  Casp.-Cauc.  p.  114,  PL  XXVI,  fig.  i,  2,  is  referred  to  the 
present  species  by  Giinther,  Jan,  and  Strauch,  but  it  appears  to  be 
distinguished  by  having  two  prseoculars.  Jan,  who  unites  Ablabes 
decemlineahtSy  Dum.  et  Bibr.,  and  forms  belonging  to   the  present 


REPTILIA.  405 

species  with  Coluber  collirU,  Men.,  states  that  the  prsDOCular  is 
sometimes  single,  sometimes  double,  but  it  is  not  clear  whether  his 
remark  on  this  subject  is  not  due  to  his  having  confounded  more  than 
one  species.  Strauch,  1.  c,  a  far  higlier  authority,  appears  to  me  only 
to  have  had  before  him  specimens  of  Eichwald's  species,  for  although 
he  says  that  some  of  his  specimens  have  the  prseocular  partly,  others 
entirely  divided,  none  have  it  simple,  as  it  appears  always  to  be  in  the 
true  Ci/clophis  modesinSy  and  I  think  specimens  should  be  compared 
before  uniting  the  two  forms.  If  Strauch  is  correct  in  uniting  them, 
the  specific  name  of  modestus  must  apparently  give  way  to  that  of 
nigncollis,  bestowed  by  a  Russian  naturalist  named  Dwigubsky  in 
1832,  although  Strauch  does  not  use  the  latter  name.  Dwigubsky,  as 
stated  by  Strauch,  never  saw  the  species  himself,  and  merely  gave 
Latin  names  to  descriptions  by  Hohenacker  in  the  Bulletin  de  Moscou ; 
but  if  this  were  an  objection,  few  if  any  of  Gmelin's  names  would 
stand.  Moreover,  the  species  was  so  poorly  described  by  Hohenacker 
that  it  could  not  be  recognised  but  for  Strauch's  identification  of  the 
types,  which  were  received  from  Hohenacker  by  the  St.  Petersburg 
Museum.  Unfortunately  the  same  remark  mutatis  mutandis  precisely 
applies  to  Coronelh  modesta  of  Martin ;  the  description  is  insuflScient, 
and  the  species  is  only  known  from  the  type  having  been  made  over  to 
the  British  Museimi. 

63.  *  C.  coUaris  (Mdn.)— De  F. 

Coluber  coHaris,  Men^trioB,  Cat.  Rais.  No.  228,  p.  67. 
EirenU  collarU  (M^n.),  apud  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  355,  nee  Jan. 
Ablabes  collaris,  Strauch,  Mem.  Acad.  Sci.  St.  Pet.  xjd,  No.  4,  p.  41,  PI.  I, 
fig.  2. 

Until  the  appearance  of  Strauch's  account  of  the  Russian  snakes,  it 
was  very  diflBcult  to  identify  this  species,  especially  as  M^netries 
described  it  as  having  an  undivided  anal.  The  original  specimen  of 
Men^tries  exists  in  the  St.  Petersburg  Museum,  and  Strauch's 
description  taken  from  it  and  from  other  Transcaucasian  specimens 
enables  me  to  refer  to  this  species  two  snakes  collected  by  the  Marquis 
Doria  in  Tehrdn,  and  now  in  the  Museo  Civico  at  Genoa.  These 
differ  from  C,  modestus  in  having  only  fifteen  rows  of  scales,  and  in  the 
two  pairs  of  chin  shields  being  equal  to  each  other,  as  they  are  in 
C.  decemliiieatus.  The  following  is  a  description  taken  from  the 
specimens. 


406  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

Scales  smooth,  in  fifteen  very  regular  longitadinal  rows  withool 
any  apical  groove.  Body  and  tail  moderate  ;  head  scarcely  disttnct 
from  neck. 

Nasal  shield  single.  Loreal  present,  small  and  square.  One  anterior, 
two  posterior  oculars.  Rostral  very  little  broader  than  high.  All 
the  frontals  broader  than  long,  and  rather  pointed  exteriorly;  the 
anterior  subtriangular,  about  half  the  size  of  the  posterior.  Vertical 
nearly  square  in  front,  sides  straight  and  parallel  fo^  some  dis- 
tance back,  then  converging  with  a  curve.  Superciliaries  nearly  is 
broad  in  front  as  behind.  Occipitals  comparatively  larg«,  nearly  twioe 
as  long  as  the  vertical,  slightly  rounded  behind.  One  prseocobr 
not  extending  to  the  upper  surface  of  the  head;  two  postoculan 
nearly  equal  to  each  other.  Temporals  i  +  2.  Seven  upper  labials, 
the  third  and  fourth  enter  the  orbit.  Eight  lower  labials.  Two  pairs 
of  subequal  chin  shields,  neither  very  elongate,  the  anterior  each  in 
contact  with  four,  the  posterior  with  two  lower  labials.  Ventrals  174 
and  171  ;  anal  divided  ;  subcaudals  in  55  and  54  pairs. 

Colour  in  spirits  nearly  uniform  grey ;  a  black  half-collar  three  or 
four  scales  broad  on  the  nape,  interrupted  beneath,  commencing  just 
behind  the  occipitals.  In  one  specimen  there  is  a  black  band  between 
the  eyes,  and  a  line  from  the  end  of  it  running  inward  and  backward 
on  to  the  occipitals.  This  band  is  but  faintly  indicated  on  the  other 
specimen. 

64.  C.  fasoiatus  (Jan). 

Eirenis  fatciaiut,  Jan,  Archiv.  p.  la  Zool.  Geneva,  ii,  p.  jgo. loon.  Oph. 

livr.  XV,  PI.  V,  fig.  2. 

I.  Dehgirdii,  about  half-way  between  ShiHus  and 

Isfab&n  •.  ..  ..  8000 

This  specimen  agrees  excellently  in  colour  with  the  description  and 
figure  of  Jan's  type  from  Palestine.  The  only  differences  in  the  head 
shields  are  that  the  prsefrontals  in  the  Persian  form  are  of  the  same 
length  as  the  postfrontals,  whereas  in  the  *  Iconographie  des  Ophidiens' 
the  former  are  represented  as  shorter ;  and  in  the  specimen  collected  by 
me  the  occipitals  are  much  broader  in  front,  coming  down  so  far  as  to 
touch  both  postoculars.  The  anterior  temporal  is  consequently 
elongate  and  narrow,  and  only  in  contact  with  the  lower  postocular. 
In  Jan^s  figure  the  anterior  temporal  is  represented  as  much  broader 


REPTILIA,  407 

and  in  contact  with  both  postoculars,  whilst  the  occipital  only  reaches 
the  upper  one.  The  scales  are  represented  as  minutely  puncticulate 
in  C.fasciatuSf  which  they  are  not  in  my  specimen. 

The  following  is  a  description  of  the  Persian  specimen.  Head  short, 
depressed,  rather  broader  than  the  neck ;  snout  short,  rounded.  Body 
cylindrical,  rather  stout.  Scales  smooth,  diamond-shaped,  but  with 
the  terminal  points  truncated  or  rounded,  in  fifteen  rows.  Ventrals 
158;  anal  divided;  subcaudals  in  63  pairs  (the  second,  third,  and 
fourth  behind  the  anus  undivided  in  the  specimen  obtained).  There 
are  about  ten  short  equal  teeth  on  each  side  of  the  upper  jaw  and 
of  the  palate.     Length  13.5  in.,  of  which  the  tail  measures  3.25. 

Head  plates : — Rostral  broader  than  high.  Anterior  frontals  of  equal 
length  with  the  postfrontals,  and  rather  more  than  half  as  large ;  the 
sutures  of  both  pairs  of  frontals  oblique.  Vertical  pentagonal, 
square  in  front,  lateral  margins  straight  and  parallel.  Superciliaries 
about  equally  broad  before  and  behind.  Occipitals  about  i^  times  as 
long  as  the  vertical,  rather  broad  in  front,  and  in  contact  with  both 
postoculars,  slightly  rounded  behind.  Nasal  nearly  twice  as  long  as 
it  is  high,  with  the  nostril  in  the  centre.  A  small  square  loreal,  much 
less  in  height  than  the  nasal.  One  prajocular,  not  reaching  the  top 
of  the  head.  Two  postoculars  of  equal  size.  Temporals  1  +  2,  the 
first  an  elongate  shield,  only  touching  the  lower  portion  of  the  lower 
postocular  in  front.  Eye  moderately  large,  pupil  circular.  Seven 
upper  labials,  the  third  and  fourth  enter  the  orbit;  seven  lower  labials. 
Two  pairs  of  elongate  chin  shields,  the  anterior  in  contact  with  four 
infralabials,  the  second,  about  half  the  length  of  the  anterior,  in  con- 
tact with  the  fourth  and  fifth. 

Colour  (noted  when  fresh)  sandy  grey,  with  numerous  narrow  slightly 
waved  cross-bands  of  brownish  olive  on  the  back,  breaking  into  spots 
on  the  sides  and  tail.  Belly  salmon  colour ;  the  anterior  portion  of 
each  ventral  shield  brown  near  the  sides.  Head  above  sandy,  with 
small  rather  diffused  spots  of  brown ;  labials  white,  the  hinder  edges 
of  the  upper  labials  brown. 

The  only  specimen  obtained  was  found  amongst  stones  on  a  dry 
barren  hill-side,  at  an  elevation  of  8000  feet  above  the  sea,  at  Dehgirdu, 
about  half-way  between  Shir&z  and  Isfahfin  on  the  summer  route. 
Like  most  of  the  Coronellina,  it  was  very  gentle,  not  attempting  to  bite 
when  handled. 


408  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

65.  *C.  frenatus,  Giinther. 

tJat.  Colubr.  Sn.  Brit.  Mu«.  p.  i  ao.— Bept.  Brit.  Ind.  p.  230,  PL  XIX.  fig- 1. 

The  tyiK?  of  this  species  was  said  to  be  from  A%h&nist£n.  A  sped- 
men  now  in  the  British  Museum  was  obtained  by  Captain  Jones  in 
Mesopotamia,  so  there  can  be  little  or  no  doubt  of  its  occurrence  in 
Persia.  It  is  somewhat  startling  to  learn  that  it  also  occurs  in  the 
Khasi  Hills  in  North-eastern  India,  a  locality  with  a  fauna  differing 
in  evory  res|)ect  from  that  of  Afghfinist&n  and  Persia,  but  there  is » 
spooinu'U  in  the  British  Museum  brought  by  Dr.  Jerdon.  I  confev 
that  even  on  such  high  authority  I  have  much  difficulty  in  believing 
that  this  snake  is  found  in  both  localities. 

Cfrenatiis  has  fifteen  rows  of  scales  round  the  body,  ventrals  165, 
subeaudals  in  95  pairs.  There  is  a  small  square  loreal,  one  prae- 
and  two  post-oculars.  The  vertical  is  broad  in  front,  the  lateral 
margins  converging  much  behind.  Seven  upper  labials,  the  third  and 
fourth  entering  the  orbit ;  temporals  large,  1  +  2.  The  head  is  rather 
broad  and  short,  distinct  from  the  neck.  The  body  and  head  are 
uniform  olive  above,  yellowish  below;  three  black  stripes  from  the 
side  of  the  head  down  the  anterior  jwrtion  of  each  side,  one  &om  the 
eye,  another  from  the  throat  along  the  edges  of  the  ventral  plates,  the 
third  intermediate. 

ee.  C.  Fersicus,  Anderson,  PI.  XXVIII,  figs,  i,  1  a,  i  b. 

P.  Z.  S.  1872,  p.  392,  fig.  8. 

I.  Niriz,  east  of  Shiraz  . .  ..  ,.  ..  ,.  cooo 

C.  corjwre  elongato^  scutis  renfralibus  194-216,  sguamis  corporis 
in  15  Jieries  longitudinal es  dispositis^  scuto  loreali  nulla,  jyrtjpoculan 
nnOf  posfociilari  quoquevnico;  veriicali  pentagonali^  ^<^^€ribu8  parallelii  ; 
cajiite  colloque  supra  nigris,  corpore  pallide  olivaceo^  subfus  pallidiare. 

Hah,  in  Persia  meridionali.  Specimen  typicum  a  Bu^hire  all^ium 
fiiisse  dicitur. 

Owing  to  a  very  serious  misprint  in  the  description  of  this  species 
in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society,  by  which  the  number  of 
ventral  shields  was  given  as  144,  instead  of  194,  and  also  to  the  head 
of  the  only  specimen  obtained  by  me  being  narrower  than  that  of 
Dr.  Anderson's  type,  I  supposed  that  the  two  specimens  represented 


REPTILIA,  409 

distinct  species  until  I  compared  them.  There  are  one  or  two  other 
misprints  or  slight  mistakes  in  the  description  of  C.  Persicus,  due 
to  the  paper  having  been  printed  in  the  author's  absence,  and  I 
therefore  give  a  fresh  description. 

Description  : — Head  rather  short,  broader  than  the  neck  in  the  type, 
though  scarcely  so  in  the  Niriz  specimen  ;  snout  depressed,  obtuse ; 
body  cylindrical,  slender  ;  tail  moderate.  Scales  of  the  body  smooth, 
rather  short,  rhomboidal  with  slightly  blunted  apex  and  no  apical 
groove,  in  fifteen  rows.  Ventrals  194-216,  not  angulate  at  the  sides ; 
anal  divided;  subcaudals  in  74  to  77  pairs,  the  third  pair  behind 
the  anus  undivided  in  one  specimen.  Isodont,  there  being  about 
twelve  or  fourteen  short  equal  teeth  on  each  side  of  the  upper 
jaw ;  palatine  teeth  small,  equal.  Length  of  one  specimen  13.5  in., 
the  tail  being  rather  more  than  3;  of  the  other,  16  in.,  of  which 
the  tail  is  3.5. 

Head  plates : — Rostral  shield  very  low,  just  reaching  to  the  upper 
surface  of  the  head.  Anterior  frontals  rather  broader  than  long,  very 
little  inferior  in  size  to  the  postfroutals,  which  are  the  same  length 
but  much  broader,  extending  to  the  side  of  the  head,  and  nearly 
touching  the  second  labial  on  each  side.  Vertical  nearly  twice  as  long 
as  broad,  with  a  very  obtuse  angle  in  front ;  lateral  margins  parallel, 
hinder  margins  slightly  rounded.  Superciliaries  as  broad  behind  as  in 
front ;  occipital  s  rather  broad  in  front,  extending  to  the  side  of  the 
head  behind  part  of  the  postocular,  rounded  behind.  Nasal  shield 
long,  triangular,  highest  in  front,  pointed  behind,  only  just  touching 
the  pneocular ;  the  nostril  is  situated  about  the  middle  of  the  shield. 
No  loreal.  One  prse-  and  one  post-ocular,  both  of  moderate  size, 
neither  extending  to  the  upper  surface  of  the  head.  Temporals  i  +  i. 
Upper  labials  seven ;  the  third  and  fourth  enter  the  orbit ;  seven 
lower  labials.  Two  pairs  of  elongate  chin  shields,  the  first  in  contact 
with  four  lower  labials,  the  second  with  one;  the  second  .about  half 
the  size  of  the  first. 

Colour  (noted  when  fresh) : — Head  and  anterior  portion  of  neck  above 
black,  this  colour  coming  down  the  sides  of  the  neck  to  below  the 
gape  ;  lower  portion  of  the  upper  labials  white  ;  black  patches  on  the 
anterior  lower  labials.  The  remainder  of  the  body  is  pale  olive,  rather 
lighter  below  than  above.  In  the  type  specimen  described  by  Dr. 
Anderson  the  black  of  the  head  is  divided  by  a  pale  transverse  band 
across  the  occipitals  (fig.  1  b). 


412  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

1.5  in.^  tail  9^  in.  Behind  four  or  five  pairs  of  g^lar  scales  there  are 
26^  ventral  and  icx)  doable  subcaudal  shields.' 

^  Another  indiWdual  belonging  to  the  Milan  Museum,  and  appa- 
rently coming  from  Shidlz,  is  28  in.  long  and  the  tail  6  in.  It  is  in 
all  respects  similar  to  the  first.' 

It  appears  to  me  that  this  form  is  simply  a  Zamenis  (or  Periojps)  in 
which  the  di\'ision  of  the  head  scales  has  been  carried  farther  than  in 
Z,  diadema  and  its  allies.  It  resembles  those  species  in  its  undivided 
anal  and  in  its  colouration.  One  character  not  mentioned  in  the 
preceding  description,  but  shown  in  Jan's  plate,  consists  in  the 
presence  of  two  small  pores  at  the  apex  of  each  scale. 

69.  Zamenis  diadema  (Schl.),  var.— De  F. 

Coiuber  diadema,  Schlegel,  Essai  Phys.  Serp.  ii,  p.  148. 

Zamenis  diadema,  Giinther,  Rept.  Brit.  Ind.  p.  252. — Anderson,  P.  Z.S.  1871, 

p.  174. — Stol.  Proc.  Aa.  Soc.  Benj^,  187a,  p.  82. 
Periops  parallduM.  Ge»>ff ,  var.  Srhiraziana,  Jan,  De  F.  Viagr.  in  Persia^  p.  356. 

— Jan,  Icon.  Oph.  livr.  20,  PI.  II. 
Z.  Cliffordii,  AnderBon,  P.  Z.  S.  1872,  p.  393.— Strauch^  Mem.  Acad.  Sci.  St. 

Pet.  xxi,  No.  4.  p.  105. 


I.  Saman,  Dasht,  Bahicliistin 


2.  Zamrin,  Baluchintan 

3.  Dizak,  Baluchintdn 

4.  East  of  Bampiir,  Baluchistan 
5,  6.  Karmin,  south-eafltem  Persia 

7-1 1.  Between  Karman  and  Shiriz 


2500 

4000 

2500 
5000 


I  must  confess  feeling"  much  doubt  as  to  whether  this  species  and  its 
ally  or  variety  Z.  Clifford  I  (Schl.)  should  not  be  separated  from  Zamenis 
and  placed  in  the  genus  Periops  of  Wagler,  a  genus  admitted  by 
Dumeril  and  Bibron,  though  not  by  Giinther,  doubtless  because  of  the 
difficulty  of  deciding  to  which  generic  group  Coluber  hippocrepu^  L., 
the  type  of  Periops^  should  be  assigned.  The  circle  of  small  plates 
round  the  eye,  to  which  the  genus  owes  its  name,  is  occasionally 
found,  as  I  shall  show,  in  Zamenis  renfrimaciilatus.  There  is  a  speci- 
men of  Z.  hippocrepis  in  the  British  Museum  with  an  undivided  anal,  as 
in  Z.  Cliffordi  and  Z,  diadema^  but  this  plate  is  usually  bifid  in  the  first- 
named  species,  as  in  typical  Zamenis,  Similarly  as  regards  dentition, 
the  number  of  scales  round  the  body,  and  other  characters,  Z.  hippo- 
crepis  is  in  some  respects  allied  to  Z,  Cliffordi^  in  others  to  typical 
Zamenis,     On  the  other  hand,  it  is  difficult  to  class  Z.  diadema^  one  of 


REPTILIA.  413 

the  gentlest  of  snakes,  in  a  genus  which  derives  its  name  from  its 
ferocity. 

I  find  it  almost  equally  difficult  to  decide  whether  Z.  Cliffordi 
(SchL),  the  African  form,  should  be  united  to  the  Asiatic  Z.  dloflema 
(Schl.)  \  or  whether  the  two  should  be  kept  distinct.  Giinther,  in  his 
*  Reptiles  of  British  India,'  distinguishes  the  Indian  form  because  of 
its  having  supplementary  shields  behind  the  frontals  and  of  its  ventrals 
being  keeled.  Both  these  characters  are  liable  to  variation.  I  have 
one  specimen  from  near  Karmfin,  in  which  the  post-frontals  are  in 
contact  with  the  vertical,  as  in  Z,  Cliffordi,  and  in  scarcely  any  of  the 
Persian  examples  is  there  more  than  slight  angulation  of  the  ventral 
shields,  while  even  this  appears  to  be  wanting  in  adults.  But  I  have 
kept  the  two  races  distinct,  although  there  are  evidently  intermediate 
forms,  precisely  on  the  same  principle  on  which  I  have  kept  Salvia 
Jerdoni  separate  from  S,  orpAea  ;  the  Eastern  race  being  distinguished 
by  constant  characters,  although  the  two  forms  blend  where  they 
meet.  This  is  a  different  case  from  that  of  Zamenu  ventrimaculatus, 
fiorulentus^  and  rhodorachis,  amongst  which  all  the  forms  appear  to 
have  nearly  an  equal  range. 

If  the  presence  of  four  supplementary  shields  behind  the  post- 
frontals  be  a  constant  character  in  the  Indian  form,  the  Persian  race 
might  be  distinguished,  for  in  the  latter  there  are  almost  as  constantly 
three,  as  shown  in  all  my  specimens  except  two,  one  of  which,  as  already 
mentioned,  agrees  with  Z,  Cliffordi,  and  in  the  other,  a  large  snake, 
the  central  supplementary  shield  is  irregularly  divided,  not  equally,  as 
in  the  Indian  Z,  diadema,  Jan  also  states  that  several  specimens  ex- 
amined by  him  had  three  scales  behind  the  frontals.  In  a  snake,  how- 
ever, which  shows  so  much  variation,  and  in  which  so  many  of  the 
head  shields  are  liable  to  division,  the  circumstance  of  the  central 
supplementary  frontal  being  single  or  double  can  scarcely  be  thought 
of  sufficient  importance  for  specific  distinction,  although  each  variety 
seems  remarkably  constant  locally. 

The  number  of  ventral  scales  appears  about  the  same  as  given  by 
Giinther  for  Z,  diadema,  or  about  240,  but  the  subcaudals  are  in  only 
eighty-four  to  eighty-seven  pairs   in   several  specimens  in  which  I 


^  If  they  are  united,  the  specific  name  diadema  should  have  precedence,  being  em- 
ployed by  Schlegel  on  p.  148,  yol.  ii,  of  the  '  Essai/  whildt  Coluber  Cliffordii  is  not  de- 
scribed before  p.  1^3. 


s 

I 


JtSPTlLIA. 

loomparBl  tlim.  TIht.'  iir.-  on.'  'T  tw.. 
bntskvi  in  (lie  divcriiitifii  •■(  i'.  l'<-'  ' 
f  Wn  I'rinkd  in  the  aiitln-r'*  ■iU-r.i-<:  ; 
udisscriiitii'n. 

n| nthet  short,  liroailiT  lluin  i!ii'  n.vk  in  t!i' 
I  Nim  qxii'iDU'n ;  Mi"iit  iIiitis*!-.!.  <} 
r:  toil  mwlfriit.'.  Sralw  <•(  lb--  l-'!s  •" 
itli  ^]i^'llt^■  liliintni  ii]--x  iimi  «■■ 
III  r,i!-  iy4-2ifi,  nm  iitiL'uIut-'  iit  'h-- 
I  "I  -o  77  [Miirs,  til'-  TliinI  y.i':T  '■ 
■  -iH'iini'n.  IwhI'iiiI.  i\vf  l.rlrij 
.■(iu:il  twth  nn  (Wll  .i.l-  -I'  '.'■ 
i-i[Wi\.  Lfnfflli  nf  f.ni'  !■(- '■:i:j-:.  ;■ 
I  tiun  3;  of  till-  ollu-r.  l"-  :::.. 

Iliield  very  low,  jusl  n-j-'liir,,'  ■■   ■ 
fcerior  fmntals  rather  Ipnaf.  r  •'..:.    ■  ,■ 
■t1)€  postfroDtal:^  ffbicli  an- ';.-  - 
f^JDg  to  the  side  (.f  rl;.;  '...^l    .  .  - 
to  each  side.    Wniialn-ar.v 
■liisi'  ang!f  in  front ;  lat.-ra!  :..  -_■ .  ■ 
Pmunded.    Sujmiliari^a.  ■:  .. 
I  liroad  in  front.  i-it--rb!,'a.'  -.  •     . 

mi'si  in  front,  priintwi  f-:.:; 
Mril  is  sitrutwi  a'.  ■;:  -■.  - 
>  und  ow  p<i>t--iocjr,  '■-.■ 
ific  upper  snr&f  ..;■:..  ^._  - 
I'lf  thin]  IDJ  ["-;;.-;  _--..  - 
f^(«''rs»fiJni,gj^.(j:,,^__.  _■_ 
KUw iwoaiii:;   >.  ■ 


•  ine  ^- - 


410  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

This  species  agrees  with  C,  calamaria^  Giinther,  and  C.  nasalis^ 
Giinther,  in  having  no  separate  loreal ;  but  it  is  easily  distinguished 
from  both  of  them  by  having  only  one  postocular,  and  by  the  mnch 
larger  number  of  ventral  shields.  I  am  not  quite  sure  that  it  ought 
not  to  be  separated  from  Cyclopiis  as  a  distinct  g^nus  on  account  of 
its  elongate  form,  but  as  similar  variation  exists  in  the  allied  genns 
Adlabes,  in  one  species  of  which,  A,  ffumberti,  I  have  found  the  ventral 
shields  vary  from  155  to  240  (Proc.  As.  Soc.  Bengal,  1871^  p.  174), 
I  hesitate  to  propose  a  new  generic  name  for  it.  In  its  slender 
form  it  approaches  Tlomalosoma. 

The  figures  in  the  plate  are  of  the  natural  size.  Fig.  i  represents 
the  specimen  from  Niriz,  1  a  being  the  head  with  the  colouration 
omitted  to  show  the  form  of  the  head  shields;  i  b  is  the  head  of  the 
typical  specimen  described  by  Dr.  Anderson. 

67.  *Coronella  austriaoa,  Laur. 

Straucb,  Mem.  Acad.  Sci.  St.  Pet.  xxi,  No.  4,  p.  45. 
Coluber  nebulotui,  M^n.  Cat.  Rais.  No.  339,  p.  73. 
ZachoUs  Ueritf  Eichwald,  Fauna  Casp.-Cauo.  p.  118. 

CoroneUa  atutriaca,  var.  Cauccuica,  Jan,  Archly,  p.  1.  Zool.  Genova,  ii,  p. 
350. 

The  type  of  Menetries's  Coluber  nebulosus,  which  Strauch  has  iden- 
tified with  Chronella  austrmca^  was  obtained  from  the  T&lish  mountains^ 
within  the  Persian  boundary.  The  species  has  not  hitherto  been 
found  elsewhere  in  Persia,  but  it  is  common  in  the  Caucasus  and  in 
Georgia. 

The  above  are  the  only  species  of  colubrine  snakes  belonging  to  the 
CoroneUa  group  which  have,  so  far  as  I  know,  actually  been  found  in 
Persia.  Two  other  species  were  described  by  Martin  from  the  collec- 
tions brought  back  by  the  Euphrates  expedition,  under  the  names  of 
CoroneUa  muUicincta  and  CpulcAra^  (P.  Z.  S.  1838,  p.  82).  As  however 
only  the  colours  were  described,  and  the  types  do  not  appear,  as  in  the 
case  of  CoroneUa  modeata^  to  have  been  preserved  in  the  British 
Museum,  it  is  impossible  to  identify  these  species. 


REPTILIA.  411 


68.  'f'SphalerosophiB  miorolepis,  Jan. — De  F. 

Sphalerotophis  mieroUpit,  Jan,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Pereia,  p.  356. 
Loocodon  ^  micrdUpis,  Jan,  Icon.  Oph.  livr.  20,  PI.  III. 

Of  this  very  interesting  fonn  the  original  specimen  was  obtained 
by  the  Marquis  Doria  in  L&rist&n,  on  his  journey  from  Bandar  Abb&s 
to  Shirdz.  It  could  not  be  found  when  I  was  in  Turin,  so  that  I  have 
had  no  opportunity  of  examining  it,  and  I  am  only  acquainted  with  it 
from  the  description  and  the  figure  quoted  above.  Judging  from  the 
latter,  it  appears  to  approach  in  character  to  Zamenis  diadema.  The 
following  is  a  translation  of  Professor  Jan^s  description:  (I  employ 
Giinther's  names  for  the  head  shields,  as  I  have  done  throughout, 
instead  of  Dumeril  and  Bibron's,  which  Jan  uses) . 

*  SpAalerosopAis,  n.  gen.  Belongs  to  the  family  of  the  ColubridtB  and 
has  somewhat  the  appearance  of  PeriopSy  but  is  distinguished  by  the 
following  generic  characters.  Anterior  portion  of  the  head  covered  above 
by  twenty  to  twenty-five  small  irregular  shields  in  the  place  of  the 
prae-  and  post-frontals  ;  behind  these  are  a  vertical,  two  superciliaries, 
and  two  occipitals.  Eye  entirely  surrounded  by  ten  to  thirteen  small 
shields  of  various  shapes,  which  separate  it  entirely  from  the  labials. 
B/Ostral  truncate  at  the  apex,  with  six  well-marked  angles.  Nasal 
divided.  Loreal  and  temporals  replaced  by  small  and  numerous  scales. 
Upper  labials  fourteen  or  fifteen,  lower  fifteen  to  seventeen.  Two  pairs 
of  chin  shields.  Scales  of  the  body  small,  smooth,  convex,  arranged  in 
forty-one  to  forty-three  longitudinal  series.  Anal  entire.  Subcaudals 
double.  Teeth  of  the  upper  jaw  smooth,  equal  in  size,  without 
interval.' 

*  Sphalerosophia  microlepisy  Jan.  Ground  colour  that  of  the  chamois 
(or  rather  of  cafe  au  lait).  Above  there  are  blackish  rectangular 
spots,  narrow  and  transverse  to  the  back^  flanked  by  others,  longitu- 
dinal near  the  neck,  farther  back  smaller,  subquadrate  and  alternating ; 
a  black  stripe  runs  from  the  eyes  and  is  prolonged  to  behind  the 
mouth.     Below  the  colour  is  yellowish,  without  spots.' 

'  The  specimen  obtained  by  Doria  in  Lfiristdn  measures  4  fb.,  head 

^  Loocodon  appears  to  be  a  generic  name  invented  by  Professor  Jan  for  this  species 
because  Sphaleroaophis  had  been  objected  to.  But  Loxodon  having  been  abeady  applied 
by  Falconer  to  a  genus  of  elephants,  cannot  be  used  for  this  snake.  On  the  cover  of  the 
*  livraison  *  the  generic  name  is  printed  Toxodon. 


41 G  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

Var.  B.  of  Gunther,  with  black-ed^^ed  ocelli,  is  not,  so  for  as  I  koow, 
found  in  Persia  ;  but  var.  C,  *  Olive,  without  cross-bands,  a  broad  rose- 
coloured  band  alonp^  the  whole  back,'  is  the  type  of  Jan's  Z.  rhodoraekU 
and  of  Anderson's  Gonyosoma  donah,  Jan  says  that  it  is  distdngtiished 
by  having"  only  nineteen  rows  of  scales,  whereas  Z,  flarulenius  {ventri- 
maculatus)  has  twenty-one,  but  he  is  in  error ;  the  latter  species  has 
usually  only  nineteen  rows,  and  in  two  specimens  in  the  British 
Museum,  from  Egypt,  with  the  colouring  of  Z.  rAodorachis,  one  has 
nineteen,  the  other  twenty-one  rows. 

This  form  passes  into  another,  to  which  some  of  the  specimens 
collected  by  me  belong,  without  the  rose-coloured  stripe  down 
the  back,  but  also  without  any  indication  of  cross-bands.  An  in- 
dividual of  this  variety  brought  from  Shir&z  exists  in  the  Museo 
Civico  of  Genoa,  and  was  identified  by  Jan  with  his  Z.  rhodoracku. 
This  colouration  again  passes  into  the  common  Persian  form,  which  is 
allied  to  Giinther's  var.  D.  It  is  jmle  greyish-drab  in  colour,  with 
darker  cross-bands  of  varying  breadth,  often  breaking*  up  into  spots, 
and  with  dusky  or  grey  spots  along  the  edges  of  the  ventral  shields. 
The  head  is  uniformly  coloured  above,  the  lower  parts  pale. 

Of  these  different  forms  the  most  distinct  is  var.  A.,  the  true  ZamenU 
renfrimaculafus,   but   all   have  the   same  peculiarly  formed   occipital 
shields,  abruptly  truncated  behind  \  and  nine  upper  labials,  of  which 
usually  the  fifth  and  sixth  enter  the  orbit.     In  three  of  my  specimens, 
however,  two  from  Karmfin  and  one  from  Zamr&n  in  Baluchist&n,  the 
sixth  supralabial  is  divided,  so  that  there  are  three  postoculars,  and 
only  the  fifth   supralabial  enters  the  orbit.     This   form    is  Zamenh 
Karelinii  (Brandt),  but  as  the  division  of  plates,  and  especially  of  the 
supralabials,  is  so  common  as  almost  to  be  characteristic  of  the  genus 
Zamenis,  I  do  not  think  the  distinction  specific.  For  if  it  be,  why  should 
not  the  variety  already  mentioned  from  Sistdn,  in  which  none  of  the 
supralabials  enters  the  orbit,  also  be  distinguished  ?    In  all  the  forms  of 
this  snake  the  markings  of  the  side  of  the  head  are  similar,  the  prse- 
and  post-oculars  being  pale,  and  a  spot  under  the  eye  and  the  hinder 
supralabials  with  the  temporal  region  dark  coloured.     The  pupil  is 
slightly  elliptical  horizontally,  but  becomes  circular  in  spirit. 

This  is  one  of  the  commonest  Persian  snakes,  and  occurs  throughout 
the  whole  country,  both  in  the  highlands  and  lowlands,  being  found  in 

^  I  have  in  no  case  found  the  larger  rounded  scales  mentioned  by  Gilnther  as  oocnrring 
behind  the  occipitaU. 


REP  TI LI  A.  417 

semi-desert  plains  and  on  stony  hill-sides.  So  far  as  I  have  seen^  it 
exhibits  little  or  none  of  the  ferocity  characteristic  of  some  species  of 
Zamenis. 

71.  *Zamenis  Caspius  (Iwan). — De  F. 

Coluber  Cctspius,  Iwan,  Voy.  en  Russ.  i,  p<  3i7>  PL  XXI  (1769),  teste  Strauch. 

C.  cUrovireMj  Shaw,  ZodL  iii,  p.  449. 

HamorrhoU  trabalit,  Boie,  Eichw.  Faun.  Casp.-Cauc.  p.  113. 

Zamenit  viridifiaws.  Dam.  et  Bibr.  £rp.  G^.  vii,  p.  686.  —  De  F.  Viag.  in 

Peraia,  p.  350. 
Z.  trabcdist  Dum.  et  Bibr.  1.  c.  p.  689.  —  Straacb,  Mem.  Acad.  Sci.  St.  Pet. 

xxi,  No.  4,  p.  116. 
Z,  (Urovirens,  Giinther,  Gat.  Col.  Sn.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  lOi. 

I  did  not  obtain  this  species.  There  are  two  specimens  in  the 
museum  at  Genoa,  collected  by  the  Marquis  G.  Doria.  One  of  these 
is  from  Tehr&n,  and  has  the  colouration  of  European  specimens  (Z.  atro^ 
virenSy  var.  viridiflavus).  The  other  is  from  Hamad&n,  and  is  of  a  bluish 
grey  colour,  with  numerous  small  black  spots  much  broken  up  by  the 
general  ground  colour.  This  appears  to  approach  the  form  distin- 
g^hed  by  some  authors  as  Zamenis  Caspius^  var.  trabalU  {HamorrAois 
trahalis  of  Boie  and  Eichwald). 

72.  ♦Z.  Dahlii  (Fitz.)— De  P. 

Coluber  ocdlata,  M^n.  Cat.  Rais.  p.  70. 

Tyria  najadum,  Eicbwald,  Fauna  Casp.-Cauo.  p.  115,  PI.  XXVlI,  fig.  i,  a. 

Zatnenu  Dahlii,  Dum.  et  Bibr.  Erp.  G^n.  vii,  p.  69a. — Gflnther,  Cat.  CoL  So. 

Brit.  Mus.  p.  107. — Strauch,  Mem.  Acad.  Sci.  St.  Pet.  xxi,  No.  4,  p.  ia3. 
Tyria  Dahiih  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  355. 

This  snake  also  escaped  my  researches.  It  was  obtained  at  Isfah&n 
by  Doria,  the  specimen  being  preserved  at  Genoa,  and  two  specimens 
were  in  Aucher-Eloy's  collection.  Eichwald  and  M^n^tries  state  that 
it  is  found  in  the  T&lish  mountains  near  the  Caspian. 

78.  Z.  Bavergieri,  (M^n^tries), — De  F. 

Coluber  fnaculaiu8\  Dwigubsky  (1832). 

C.  Ravergieri,  M^n.  Cat.  Bais.  p.  69,  No.  235  (183a). 

^  TbiB  name  cannot  be  adopted  because  there  is  a  previous  Coluber  maeuiatus  of 
Merrem.  The  quotation  of  Dwigubsk/s  name  is  of  course  taken  from  Strauch's 
Memoir  '  On  the  Snakes  of  Bassia.' 

VOL.  II.  B  e 


418  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

ZamenU  caud'Celineatas,  Giinther,  Cat.  Ck>L  So.  Brit.  Mua.  p.  104. — Jan,  looa. 

Oph.  livr.  33,  PL  III. 
PeriopB  caudalintatuSf  Jan. — De  F.  Viag.  in  Pereia,  p.  255. 
Zamenis  Bavergieri,  Strauch,  Mem.  Acad.  Sci.  St.  Pet.  xxi.  No.  4,  p.  138. 
Z.  PedUchenkoi,  Strauch,  ib.  p.  135,  PI.  IV. 

I.  Karm4n  .•  ••  ••  ..  5000 

3.  Between  Karm&n  and  Sbir&z  ..  ..  ..  — 

3-5.  Southern  Persia,  near  ShiHkZ  ..  ..  ..  4000-too 

6,  7.  Kohriid,  north  of  Isfahan     ..  ••  ..  ..  7000 

Jan,  in  his  notes  on  De  Filippi's  snakes,  places  this  species  in 
Periops  with  Z,  hipjwcrejjk  and  Z.  Cllffardii,  but  in  his  *  Iconographie'  he 
restores  it  to  Zamenla.  I  should  have  thought  that  if  it  be  removed 
from  Zamenis  it  should  be  placed  in  TropidonotuSy  from  which  genus 
it  is  only  distinguished  by  its  more  numerous  ventral  shields  and  the 
tendency  to  division  in  some  of  its  labials,  for  some  Tropidonoti  have  the 
game  dentition  as  Zamenis, 

The  scales  are  usually  smooth  in  the  anterior  portion  of  the  body, 
keeled  behind.  The  number  of  rows  of  scales  is  normally  twenty-one, 
but  not  unfrequently  twenty-three  in  parts  of  the  body,  and  less 
commonly  nineteen.  There  is  usually  a  small  shield  below  the  loreal, 
and  in  one  specimen  two  are  present.  The  colouration  is  very  constant, 
but  in  two  specimens,  from  Shir^  and  Kohrud,  the  tail  is  spotted  as 
well  as  the  body ;  not  streaked.  This  is  the  form  called  Z.  FedUchenkm 
by  Strauch,  my  specimens  being  somewhat  intermediate  in  coloaration 
between  Strauch 's  species,  which  he  considers  as  probably  only  a 
variety,  and  the  true  Z,  Raver gieri^  and  proving  clearly  that  the  two 
pass  into  each  other. 

I  have  no  notes  of  the  habits  of  this  species.  All  the  specimens 
obtained  were,  I  believe,  brought  to  me. 

Z,  Ravergieri  appears  to  be  found  throughout  the  Persian  plateau, 
for  besides  the  localities  quoted  it  has  been  found  at  Tehr&n  by  Doria» 
and  at  Shfihrud,  south  of  Astrab^d,  by  Christoph  (Strauch,  I.  c).  In 
the  British  Museum  are  specimens  from  Shir&z  and  Kurdist&n.  Out- 
side of  Persia  it  has  been  found  in  Transcaucasia,  in  Palestine,  and  in 
some  of  the  countries  to  the  east  of  the  Caspian. 


74.  Tropidonotns  natrix  (L.) 

Dum.  et  Bibr.  Erp.  Gen.  vii,  p.  533.— Giinther.  Cat.  Col.  Sn.  Brit.  Mas.  p.  61. 
— Anderson.  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  p.  393. 


REPTILIA.  419 

Cohiber  natrix,  acutatita,  Peraa  et  minutus,  Pall.  Zoog.  Ros.  As.  iii,  pp.  35 — 

4'. 
T,  Persa,  natrix,  ater  et  scutalus,  Eichwald,  Fauna  Casp.-Cauc.  pp.  105-109, 

PI.  XXI.  xxn,  xxin. 

I,  a.  Enzeli,  in  Ghil&D,  on  the  Caspian  Sea. 

The  two  specimens  obtained  agree  very  well  in  colouration  with  the 
description  given  by  Eichwald  of  T,  scutatus,  which,  as  he  remarks,  is 
merely  a  black  variety  of  T,  natri^t.  The  plate  labelled  T,  scutatus 
represents  however,  as  is  stated  by  Eichwald,  another  variety  with 
which  he  identifies  T,  eluphoides,  Brandt.  Anderson  describes  speci- 
mens somewhat  similarly  coloured,  which  were  collected  at  Resht. 
Those  which  I  obtained  were  brought  to  me  with  others  of  T,  hydrua^ 
and  I  believe  the  two  live  together  in  the  creeks  around  the  great 
marsh  called  the  Mard&b,  between  Resht  and  Enzeli.  Eichwald 
describes  T,  scutatiis  as  living  thus  near  Astrab&d. 

Hitherto,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  T,  natrix  has  only  been  found  in 
Persia  in  the  Caspian  pro\dnces. 


75.  T.  hydrufl  (Pall.)— De  F. 

Eichwald,  Fauna  Gasp.-Caac.  p.  110,  PI.  XXIV. — Dnm.  et  Bibr.  Erp.  G^n. 

vii,  p.  564. — GUnther,  Cat.  Ck)l.  Sn.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  63. — ^De  F.  Viag.  in  Pers. 

P»  357* — Anderson,  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  p.  394. 
Coluber  reticulatui,  M^n6tries,  Cat.  Rais.  p.  71. 

I.  Tang-i-Kerim,  near  Niriz,  east  of  Shir&z   . .         . .  5000 

2,  3.  An4n,  Mazandar&n,  in  the  Elburz   mountains, 

north  of  Tehran  . .  . .  . .  7000 

4-8.  Enzeli,  in  GhiUn,  on  the  Caspian  Sea        ..  ..  — 

All  the  Persian  specimens  collected  by  me,  except  one,  have  three 
prseoculars  and  four  postoculars,  the  exception  has  two  prseoculars 
and  five  postoculars  on  one  side,  four  on  the  other.  The  lowest  post- 
ocular  varies  much  in  size,  being  sometimes  very  minute.  In  one 
specimen  the  third  supralabial  is  divided  into  two. 

This  snake  is  common  in  the  marshes  and  streams  of  the  Persian 
highlands,  and  is  peculiarly  abundant  in  the  creeks  about  Resht  and 
Enzeli,  near  the  Caspian.  Wherever  I  have  met  with  it,  it  lives  in 
the  water. 

Ee  2 


420  ZOOLOGY  OF  PKRSIA. 

76.  *  Coluber  longiasiinus  (Laurent!) . 

Zamenis  JBsculapii,  Eichwald,  Fauna  Casp.-Cauc.  p.  119. 

Coluber  ^tadapii,  Strauch,  Mem.  Acad.  ScL  St.  Pet.  xxi,  Xo.  4,  p.  57,  nacL. 

Coluber  jEscuhpii^  L.,  being  a  diflferent  species,  the  name  cannot  be 
employed  for  this  snake,  although  used  by  Dum^ril  and  Bibron, 
Gunther,  and  others.  According  to  Strauch^  this  snake  has  been 
found  at  Lankor&n  by  Radde. 

C.  Hohenackeri^  Strauch  (C  rubrivenf-er,  Dwigubsky),  has  been 
described  from  the  Transcaucasian  provinces.  It  is  said  to  differ 
from  C.  longmimus  in  the  number  of  lower  labials^  in  the  ventrals  not 
being  keeled,  and  in  colouration.  Like  other  Transcaucasian  forms, 
it  probably  extends  into  Persia. 


77.  *  1  Elaphis  dione  (Pall.) 

Dum.  et  Bibr.  Erp.  G^n.  vii,  p.  348.— Gttnther,  Cat.  CoL  Sn.  Brit.  Mot. 

p.  93. 
Coluber  Dione^  Pall.  It.  ii,  p.  717;  Zoog.  Ros.  Ajs.  iii.  p.  39. 
Ccelopdtit  Dione,  Eichwald,  Fauna  Casp.-Oauc.  p.  120,  PI.  XXVJLIX. 

This  snake  is  said  by  Pallas  to  have  been  sent  firom  Persia  by 
Gmelin,  and  as  it  inhabits  the  countries  both  east  and  west  of  the 
Caspian,  it  may  probably  be  found  within  our  limits.  Strauch  says  it 
is  rare  in  Transcaucasia,  and  that  it  was  only  obtained  by  M^n^tries 
from  the  Mogan  steppe,  between  Bdku  and  Salian^  and  he  suggests 
the  possibility  of  Gmelin's  having  procured  it  in  the  same  country, 
which  does  not  now  belong  to  Persia,  although  it  did  so  in  Ghnelin's 
time,  a  century  ago. 

ElapMs  Sauromates,  Pallas  {Tropidonotiis  Sauromales,  Eichwald,  I^Vuma 
Casp.-Cauc.  p.  iii,  pi.  XXV)  is  said  by  Eichwald  and  Strauch  to  be 
found  throughout  the  Caucasus  and  Transcaucasia.  It  also  extends 
east  of  the  Caspian  Sea,  and  may  very  possibly  inhabit  parts  of 
Northern  Persia. 


REP  TI LI  A.  421 


Family  PSAMMOPHIDiE. 


78.  PsammophiB  Leithi,  Gttntlier. 

P.  Z.  S.  1869.  p.  505.— Stoliczka,  Proc.  A.  S.  B.  1872,  p.  83, 

I.  Pishin,  BaliSchifltdn 80O 

1,  Hung,  Baliichistiin    ..          ..          ..          ..          ..  2500 

3.  Isfandak,  Baliichist&n            ..          ..          ..          .#  4000 

4.  Dizak,  Baliichistdn    . .          . .          . .          . .         . .  4000 

5.  Near  Bam,  soath»ea8tem  Persia      . .         . .          . .  4000 

6-8.  Karmin,  south-eastern  Persia         . .          . .          . .  5000 

9.  Near  Karmin            • .          . .          . .  — 

10.  Niriz,  east  of  Shirdz              ..          ..          ..         ••  5000 


The  only  constant  difference  that  I  can  see  between  Persian  speci- 
mens and  the  types  described  by  Giinther  is  that  in  the  former  there 
are  always  two  temporals  in  contact  with  the  postoculars.  The  nostril 
is  always  between  three  shields,  one  in  front,  the  hinder  edge  of  which 
forms  a  re-entering  angle,  in  the  point  of  which  the  nostril  is  situated, 
and  two  postnasals,  the  upper  being  narrow  and  elongate,  extending 
for  a  varying  distance  above  the  loreal,  and  separating  it  from  the 
praefrontal,  the  lower  much  higher,  but  shorter.  In  the  type  speci- 
mens of  P.  Leithi,  the  head  is  somewhat  injured  and  the  nasals  not 
easily  distinguished,  but  I  think  there  are  two  shields  behind  the  nostril. 
This  does  not,  however,  appear  to  have  been  the  case  in  the  specimens 
obtained  by  Stoliczka,  and  should  Sind  specimens  prove  always  to  have 
an  undivided  postnasal,  the  Persian  form  may  be  distinguished  by 
this  character,  and  by  the  constant  presence  of  two  temporals  in 
contact  with  the  postoculars. 

The  loreal  is  always  very  long,  more  than  twice  its  height.  The 
praeocular  is  usually  partially  cleft  in  front,  and  in  two  specimens  it  is 
completely  divided  on  one  side  of  the  head  only,  just  below  the  super- 
ciliary ridge.  It  is  always  in  contact  with  the  vertical.  Postoculars 
two  always.  Supralabials  eight  or  nine,  the  latter  number  being  the 
more  common,  and  due  to  the  third  being  divided,  the  fourth  and  fifth 
in  one  case,  or  the  fifth  and  sixth  in  the  other,  entering  the  orbit,  and 
the  four  posterior  shields  being  larger  than  those  in  front. 

The  anterior  frontals  are  comparatively  small,  being  only  about  half 
the  length  of   the    postfrontals.    The  vertical  is  long,  of  moderate^ 


422  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

width  in  front,  then  it  contracts  suddenly,  and  is  very  narrow  behind ; 
it  is  nearly  or  quite  as  long  as  the  occipitals.  There  is  always  a  large 
temporal  shield  against  the  hinder  part  of  each  occipital. 

The  chin  shields  are  very  elongate,  the  hinder  pair  rather  the 
longer  of  the  two.  The  ventrals  are  not  angulate^  180—188;  sub- 
caudals  in  three  specimens  selected  for  description  122—124  pairs. 

The  only  young  8i)ecimen  I  possess,  about  ao  in.  lon^,  has  four 
broad  longitudinal  bands  on  the  back,  separated  by  narrow  yellowish 
lines,  but  in  no  adult  are  these  longitudinal  stripes  represented  by  any- 
thing more  than  lines  of  dark  dots,  and  most  of  the  specimens  are 
uniform  pale  sandy  brown  or  sandy  grey  above.  There  are  some- 
times one  or  two  rows  of  small  dots  along  each  side  of  the  ventrals. 
There  is  always  a  dark  band  along  the  loreal  region  continued  behind 
the  eye. 

The  first  and  second  maxillary  teeth  are  large,  then  there  is  a  space 
followed  by  a  still  larger  tooth,  and  after  another  shorter  space  six 
smaller  teeth.  At  the  back  of  the  jaw  are  two  large  teeth^  the  anterior 
the  larger.     Altogether  there  are  eleven  teeth  in  each  maxillary. 

The  largest  si^ecimen  obtained  measures  4  ft.  In  this  the  tail  is 
slightly  imperfect ;  when  perfect  it  is  about  half  the  length  of  the  head 
and  body. 

P.  Leithi  is  common  in  Baluchistan  and  on  the  hig'hlands  of 
Southern  Persia,  inhabiting  bushy  plains  and  valleys.  I  have  seen 
it,  like  Passerifa,  on  bushes  apparently  hunting  for  prey.  I  did  not 
observe  it  in  Northern  Persia. 


79.  Taphrometopum  lineolatum,  Brandt. — De  F. 

Coluber  {Taphrometopon)  lineolatus^  Brandt,  Bull.  Ac.  Sci.  St.  Pet.  iii,  p.  243. 

1837. — Peters,  P.  Z.  S.  1861,  p.  47. 
PsammophU  Dorlce,  Jan,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  356. 
Taphrometopon  lineolatum^  Strauch,  Mem.  Acad.  Sci.  St.  Pet.  xxi.  No.  4.  p. 

185,  PL  IV. 

I.  Near  S4adatabad,  100  miles  aoutb-west  of  Karman 


The  only  individual  obtained  agrees  perfectly  in  external  characters 
with  specimens  from  Central  Asia  in  the  British  Museum;  the 
dentition  appears  to  differ  from  Peters's  description,  but  this  may  be 
due  to  some  teeth  being  deficient ;  there  appeared,  when  I  examined  the 
specimen  just  after  capture,  to  be  three  small  breaks  in  the  series.  The 


REPTILIA.  423 

last  tooth  is  longer  than  the  others.  I  give  a  brief  description,  as  that 
in  the  *  Proe.  Zool.  Soc.'  scarcely  mentions  the  characters  of  the  head 
shields.  The  following  account  of  the  colouration  and  form  was  taken 
from  the  fresh  specimen. 

Body  rather  depressed ;  back  flat.  Head  short,  scarcely  broader 
than  the  neck.  Loreal  region  slightly  concave.  Pupil  very  small, 
slightly  elliptical,  being  lengthened  horizontally.  Scales  smooth,  lan- 
ceolate, minutely  punctated  with  brown,  in  seventeen  rows.  Ventrals 
178  ;  anal  bifid  ;  subcaudals  in  eighty -six  pairs.  Length  17.75  "^-j  ^^ 
which  the  tail  from  the  anus  measures  4.1. 

Rostral  rounded  above,  about  as  broad  as  high.  Nostril  between 
two  shields ;  one  large  prsenasal,  with  the  hinder  edge  forming  a  re* 
entering  angle  to  receive  the  point  of  the  postnasal,  the  upper  part  of 
which  is  elongate  horizontally,  and  runs  back  between  the  loreal  and 
the  frontals  ;  on  one  side  the  postnasal  is  divided  into  a  small  lower 
shield  and  an  elongate  upper  one.  Praefrontals  small,  scarcely  half  the 
length  of  the  postfrontals ;  they  are  convex  in  front  and  concave 
behind  to  receive  the  convex  anterior  margins  of  the  postfrontals.  The 
latter  have  very  sinuate  anterior  and  posterior  margins,  and  are  at 
least  twice  as  long  where  they  meet  each  other  in  the  middle  of  the 
head  as  they  are  at  the  side,  where  their  posterior  margin  is  hollowed 
out  to  receive  the  prajocular.  Vertical  elongately  bell-shaped,  square 
in  front,  rapidly  decreasing  in  breadth  just  behind,  and  with  its 
posterior  portion  long  and  narrow.  Occipitals  about  the  same  length 
as  the  vertical,  rather  broad  in  front,  their  united  posterior  edge 
forming  a  re-entering  angle,  which  receives  a  scale  rather  larger  than 
those  of  the  back.  Loreal  elongate,  twice  as  long  as  high.  Prceocular 
single,  large,  in  contact  with  the  vertical.  Postoculars  two,  equal. 
Temporals  2  +  2  +  3  on  one  side,  2  +  3  +3  on  the  other,  there  being 
on  each  side  a  rather  large  shield  against  the  occipital  separated  by 
two  shields  from  the  postoculars,  Supralabials  nine,  the  fourth, 
fifth,  and  sixth  entering  the  orbit,  the  hinder  four  larger  than  those  in 
front.  Two  pairs  of  chin  shields,  elongate,  about  equal  to  each  other, 
each  of  the  anterior  in  contact  with  five  lower  labials. 

Colour  ; — Centre  of  the  back  light  grey,  bordered  by  a  black  band, 
the  inner  margin  of  which  is  broken,  being  formed  of  the  black  edges 
of  whitish  scales.  Below  the  black  stripe  down  each  side  is  a  whitish 
line  of  the  same  breadth,  and  then  an  olive-grey  band  which  extends 
to  the  margins  of  the  ventrals.     These  aie  white  towards  the  side,  with 


aopiu  Doria  in  Turin,  and  tbey  appear  to  correspond. 
nasal  in  my  epecioicn  is  divided  on  one  aide  but  not  on  ' 
ei-ident  that  this  character,  mentioned  by  Jan  in  his  dee 
JDoritt,  is  of  no  imixtrtance.     The  type  of  P.  Dorue  hi 
oculars  instead  of  two,  but  I  doubt  if  this  be  a  specific  dj 

80.   *  Coalopeltis  laoertina  CWagter). 

Giinthcr,  i.'tX.  I'lJ.  Sn.  Brit.  Mua.  p.  13S. —  Eichwald,  Fm 
111.— Htmnch,  Mem.  Acad.  Sd.  St.  Pet.  zxi,  Ko.  4,  p.  17 

CofMArr  rtrxH\r«}atvt,  Mi'D.  Cat.  Bnii.  p.  71. 

ValoffUit  Tinauiitiila,  Eiehmld,  F&unk  CBsp.-Cftuo.  p.  laa 

Cititisnltiit,  Dom,  et  Bibr.  Eip.  Gen.  Tii,  p.  113a.  —  Jmi,  Ii 
PI.  I.  fig.  2. 

There  arc  three  specimeiiB  from  Tehr&n  collected  by  th 
Doria  in  the  collection  at  Genoa,  but  this  snake  has 
from  Dc  Filippi's  list,  and  neither  Major  St.  John  nor  1 1 
fortune  t«  meet  with  it.  A  Tehr&n  specimen  has  bee 
Jan  (I.e.) 


Family  DIPSADID.*;. 

)1.  Dipsas  rhinopoms,  W.  Blanf.  PI.  XXVUI.  figs.  3.  a  a 
Ann.  and  Slag.  Nat.  Hint.  Julj  1874,  xiv,  p.  34. 


1  CYCLOffllS  PERSICUS 

2  DIPSAS  RHINOPOMA. 

3  BUFO  OUVACKUS, 


II 


I 


REPTILIA,  425 

superiore  ad  verticalCy  inferime  ad  nasale  attingente^  loreali  distincto  nullo  ; 
scutis  ventralibus  268—274,  anali  hand  bifido,  iubcaudalibus  76-77; 
pallide  griseo-fusca,  transveraim  albido-^asciafay  squamis  nigro-jpuncti- 
culatis. 

Hab.  in  Carmanid,  Persia  meridionalis. 

Description  : — Head  of  moderate  length,  broad  and  flat,  considerably 
broader  than  the  neck  ;  body  very  slightly  compressed ;  tail  moderate, 
flat  beneath.  Scales  of  the  body  smooth,  rhomboidal,  imbricate,  in 
twenty-three  (occasionally  tweniy-four)  rows,  the  dorsal  row  being  a 
little  larger  than  the  others.  Ventrals  268-274;  anal  undivided*; 
subcaudals  in  seventy-six  or  seventy-seven  pairs.  Teeth  seven  in  each 
maxilla,  four  large  ones  in  the  front,  then  a  space  followed  by  two 
smaller  teeth  ;  the  last  is  again  large  and  grooved,  and  rather  farther 
from  the  penultimate  than  that  is  from  the  next.  Eye  rather  small, 
pupil  vertical.  Length  of  the  largest  specimen  47.5  in.,  of  which  the 
tail  measures  6.75. 

Head  shields : — Rostral  rather  broader  than  high,  just  reaching  the 
upper  surface  of  the  head.  Prflefrontals  very  narrow  in  front,  rather 
shorter  than  the  postfrontals  and  barely  half  as  large.  Postfrontals 
a  little  broader  than  long,  slightly  bent  over  on  the  side.  Nostril 
large,  in  the  centre  of  a  nasal  plate  which  is  divided  above  the  nostril, 
but  not  below ;  nasal  valvules  distinct.  The  vertical  is  very  short, 
and  almost  triangular,  square  in  front,  the  lateral  margins  converging 
rapidly  behind.  Superciliaries  rather  short,  much  broader  behind  than 
in  front.  Occipitals  rather  short,  about  one-third  longer  than  the 
vertical,  in  contact  with  the  upper  postocular  only  in  front,  much 
rounded  behind.  Two  prseoculars  ;  the  lower  is  united  with  the  loreal, 
forming  a  shield  about  twice  as  long  as  high,  and  in  contact  with  the 
second,  third,  and  fourth  supralabial :  the  upper  prseocular  is  in 
contact  with  the  vertical.  Postoculars  two.  Temporal  shields  not 
enlarged.  Supralabials  normally  apparently  eight,  of  which  the  fifth 
and  sixth  enter  the  oi:bit ;  but  in  one  of  the  specimens  there  are  nine  on 
one  side  and  ten  on  the  other.  Two  pairs  of  elongate  chin  shields,  the 
anterior  much  the  larger. 

Colour,  when  living,  pale  sandy  brown,  with  numerous  irregular  pale 
waved  transverse  bands,  much  narrower  than  the  intervening  dark 
spaces,  and  more  distinct  near  the  head  than  farther  back.     All  the 

^  In  one  of  the  two  specimens  procured  the  anal  shield  is  cleft,  evidently  by  accident, 
the  integument  beneath  being  also  divided. 


426  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

scales  are  more  or  less  minutely  puncticolated  vntYi  black.  Veotnl 
scales  dusky,  with  sandy  mottling.  Head  sandy  above,  with  minnte 
irregular  black  specks. 

The  nearest  ally  of  this  species  appears  to  be  Dipsas  ohtu^a^  which, 
however,  difTers  in  having  a  separate  loreal.  The  head  shields  bear  a 
considerable  resemblance  to  those  of  Tachymenu  vivax^  but  the  scales  of 
the  body  are  very  different. 

82.  *Tachymenis  vivax  (Fitz.)— De  F, 

GUnther,  Cat.  Col.  Sn.  Brit.  Mua.  p.  33. 

Trigonophis  iberus^  Eichwald,  Zool.  Spec,  in,  p.  175;    Fauna  Casp.-Caac  p. 

loi.  PI.  XVIII.— M^n.  Cat.  Rais.  p.  66. 
Tarbophis  vivcu%  Dum.  et  Bibr.  Erp.  G^n.  vii,  p.  913. — Strauch,  Mem.  Acad. 

Sci.St.Pet.  xxi.  No.  4,  p.  194. — Cope,  Proc.  Acad.  Phil,  xiv  (i86a),  p.  338. 
T.  fallax,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  355. 

This  snake  is  common  in  Transcaucasia  and  in  many  parts  of  Westeni 
Asia.  The  only  known  Persian  locality  is  on  the  shores  of  Lake 
Urumiah,  whence  a  specimen  was  procured  by  the  Museam  of  Phila- 
delphia. 


Family  ELAPIDiE. 


83.  IN'aja,  sp. 


Major  St.  John  informs  me  that  he  once  killed  an  unmistakable 
cobra  in  the  plain  of  Bushire ;  he  was  riding,  and  his  horse  nearly  trod 
on  it,  when  it  rose  up  and  struck  its  head  against  the  stirrup.  It 
had  an  expanding  hood,  but  so  far  as  Major  St.  John  can  recollect^ 
no  spectacle  mark.  The  belly  was  marked  with  orange  or  rose 
colour.  No  colouration  of  this  kind  is  found,  so  far  as  I  am.  aware^ 
in  either  the  Indian  cobra  N,  tripudians,  or  in  the  African  species 
N,  haJBy  and  it  is  possible  that  the  snake  seen  by  Major  St.  John  may 
have  been  Tomyru  oxiana^  Eichwald,  Faun.  Casp.-Cauc.  p.  1 04,  PL  XX, 
which  is  said  by  Strauch  (Bull.  Acad.  St.  Pet.  xiii,  p.  81)  to  be  a  Naja^ 
and  the  throat  of  which  is  described  as  flavo-rosea.  It  inhabits  the 
countries  east  of  the  Caspian,  and  may  be  found  in  Persia. 


REPTILIA.  427 


Family  HYDROPHIDiE. 

Sea  snakes  abound  on  the  Baluehist&n  coast  and  in  the  Persian 
Gulf.  Those  enumerated  below  are  doubtless  but  a  very  small  portion 
of  the  species  existing  in  those  seas. 

84.  Hydrophis  gracilis  (Shaw). 

1.  Gw4dar,  Baluchist&n  coast. 

2.  Jashk,  Persian  coast,  outside  entrance  to  Persian  Gulf. 

Both  specimens  are  very  dark  coloured,  the  head,  anterior  portion  of 
the  neck,  and  end  of  tail  being  dusky  black  throughout,  whilst  along 
the  sides  of  the  tody  are  large  white  or  yellow  oval  spots. 

85.  '^H.  viperinus  (Schmidt). 

Anderson  has  received  this  from  Maskat^  it  must  therefore  be  found 
on  the  Persian  coast  also. 

Stoliczka  obtained  H,  cuHus  (Shaw)  and  II.  Bayanus,  Stol.^  a  new 
species  allied  to  H.  Belcheri,  at  Kdrachi^  and  doubtless  both  may  be 
found  on  the  Baluchistfin  coast. 


86.  Enhydrina  Valakadyen,  Boie. 

E,  BengalensUt  Gray,  Cat.  Vip.  Sn.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  48. 
I.  Gwad4r,  Baluchist4n  coast. 


87.  Felamis  platurus  (L.) 

p.  bicolor  (Schneid.),  auct. 

I.  Gwad&r,  Baluchistan  coast. 

The  only  specimen  procured  is  greyish  on  the  back,  yellowish  white 
below,  the  tail  only  marked  with  transverse  blackish  bands  forming 
imperfect  rings.  There  is  one  postocular  only  on  one  side,  two  on  the 
other. 


428  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 


Family  VIPERIDiE. 


88.  Vipera  obtusa,  Dwigubsky. — De  F. 

F.  Euphratica,  Martin.  P.  Z.  S.  1838,  p.  82.  —  Strauch,  Mem.  Acad.  ScL  St 

Pet.  xxi.  No.  4,  p.  221,  PI.  VI. 
EcJiidna  Mauritanica,  Dum.  et  Bibr.  £rp.  Gen.  vii,  p.  1431. 
Vipera  Mauritanica,  Strauch,  SynopuB  der  Viperiden  in  Mem.  Acad.  Sci.  St 

Pet.  xiv.  No.  6,  p.  79. 
V.  libfihina,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Persia,  p.  357. 

I.  Niriz,  east  of  Shiraz  . .  . .         6000 

The  Vipera  Euphratica  of  Martin  is  so  imperfectly  described  that 
only  the  preservation  of  the  type  in  the  British  Museum  could  enable 
it  to  be  recognised  with  certainty.  The  name  of  Dwigubsky  has 
priority,  and  must  therefore  be  retained,  in  the  same  manner  as 
Hemprich  and  Ehrenberg's  names  for  Saxicola,  etc.  are. 

The  following  is  a  brief  description  of  the  specimen  obtained.  Head 
rather  broad;  snout  broad,  obtuse;  canfhus  rostralU  well  marked; 
loreal  region  slightly  concave ;  nostril  below  the  canthus  with  a  large 
plate  in  front  of  it,  one  of  a  row  of  somewhat  enlarged  plates  which 
are  in  contact  with  the  rostral.  The  latter  is  about  as  high  as  broad. 
A  slightly  enlarged  plate  above  each  nasal ;  eleven  upper  labials ;  one 
pair  of  chin  shields. 

Scales  of  the  upper  surface  of  the  head,  except  on  the  end  of  the 
snout,  and  all  the  body  scales  rounded  behind,  imbricate^  and  with  a 
filiform  central  keel ;  twenty-five  longitudinal  rows  round  the  body. 
Ventrals  178  ;  anal  single  ;  subcaudals  in  forty-six  pairs. 

Colour  sandy  grey,  approaching  cream  colour,  with  ill-marked  spots 
forming  imperfect  transverse  bands  towards  the  tail.  The  specimen 
obtained  measures  32.5  in.,  of  which  the  tail  is  4.25. 

I  heard  of  a  large  viper  in  Baluchist&n  which  may  have  been  tlie 
same  species.  It  does  not  appear  to  be  common  in  Persia,  but  it  is 
probably  found  here  and  there  throughout  the  country.  My  speci- 
men was  from  near  Shir&z.  Strauch  states  that  it  was  found  by 
Hohenacker  in  several  parts  of  Transcaucasia,  and  the  Marquis  Doria 
obtained  a  specimen,  now  in  Genoa,  at  Hamad&n. 


REPTILIA.  429 

89.  *V.  xanthina,  Gray. 

Sfcrauch,  Syn.  Vip.  p.  73,  PL  I. 
Daboia  xanthina.  Gray,  Cat.  Sn.  p.  24. 

A  specimen  is  said  by  Straueh  to  have  been  obtained  by  Wagner  in 
Adarbaij&n^  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Urumiah. 

Fipera  berus  and  F,  ammodytes  are  said  by  Straueh  to  be  found  in  the 
Transcaucasian  provinces  of  Russia^  and  may  therefore  very  possibly 
occur  in  North-western  Persia. 

90.  Cerastes  Fersicus,  Dum.  et  Bibr. 

Dum.  et  Bibr.  Erp.  G^n.  vii,  p.  1443. 

Vipera  Ptnica,  Straueh,  Syn.  Vip.  p.  103,  PI.  11 ;   Mem.  Acad.  Sd.  St.  Pet. 
xzi,  No.  4,  p.  335. 

I.  Isfandak,  RnliichiBt&n  ..  ..  ..         ..         3500 

In  the  only  specimen  obtained,  a  young  individual  measuring 
13  in.,  the  horn-shaped  scale  above  the  eye  is  about  as  long  as  the 
diameter  of  the  eye.  The  nostrils  are  small,  provided  with  distinct 
valvules,  and  situated  between  two  shields,  the  lower  of  which  is 
large  and  has  a  deep  concave  upper  surface  to  receive  the  small  upper 
nasal ;  there  is  an  elongate  shield  above  both.  Pupil  vertical.  Two 
large  chin  shields,  each  in  contact  with  four  infralabials.  The  scales 
of  the  upper  part  of  the  head  are  distinctly  imbricate,  and  all,  except 
on  the  snout,  keeled.  Scales  of  the  body  finely  keeled  in  twenty-five 
to  twenty-seven  longitudinal  rows  on  the  neck  and  tweniy-four  in  the 
middle  of  the  body.  Ventrals  151;  anal  single;  subcaudals  in  43 
pairs. 

Colour,  when  fresh : — The  head  and  back  earthy  grey,  with  a  row 
of  anvil-shaped  or  subtrapezoidal  olive  spots  along  each  side,  the  outer 
edges  of  these  spots  elongate  and  very  dark.  Sides  sandy  with  dusky 
spots,  which  are  more  numerous  and  closer  together  behind  near  the 
tail.  A  small  spot  on  each  side  of  the  occipital  region.  A  dark  band, 
darkest  on  its  tipper  margin,  from  the  eye  to  behind  the  gape.  Lower 
parts  whitish. 

This  species  was  named  by  Dum^ril  and  Bibron  from  specimens 
collected  by  Aucher-Eloy.  These  were  probably  procured  in  Southern 
Persia,  for  Major  St.  John  informs  me  that  a  horned  viper,  which  is 


4»  ZrXjLOGT  OF  PERSIA . 


yr>.A'Aj  this  fp^oes.  alocai'is  C4i  the  diores  of  the  Persimi  GqU^  nor 
B;isLir«:.     Stnuafch  obtained  this  Tipa*  firom  KKormacfci, 


9L  Edns  cannjrta  ^SdLneid./— De  F. 

I>:n.  «5  Ki*.  Erp.  G*a.  tH,  p.  i44S.-0«BSher,  Bept.  Bkit.  lad.  pu  397.- 

.ScTftTxi:.  St*.  Vip.  p.  121. 
E.  artmialx,  B^At,  Lu,  i§ i;,  p.  fsS.— Scwnrfc,  Mean.  Acad.  SeL  St.  Pet  xxi, 

Xo.  4-  p.  21*. 
£.  firaurta,  I>[:iii.  et  B£br.  £rp.  G^n.  Tn«  p.  1441^ 

f .  West  of  BftzLpdr,  BiJaducUn 
7.  Bttreen  Kan&iii  and  Siinx 


1800 


This  \iper  is  common  in  Soathem  Persia  and  Baluchistiio  but  I  did 
not  meet  with  it  north  of  Shir^ ;  it  has,  however,  been  found  on  the 
east  coast  of  the  Caspian.  A  specimen  was  broog^ht  from  Sistin  by 
Major  Euan  Smith.  Some  are  much  darker  in  colour  than  otheis, 
and  whilst  a  few  specimens  have  numerous  black  spots  on  the  ventral 
scales,  others  have  none. 

The  largest  specimen  I  obtained  measured  23  in.  Its  bite  killed  a 
small  chicken  in  six  minutes  and  a  half. 


Family  CROTALIDiE. 


92.  Halys  Fallasii,  GUnther. 

GUnther,  Ropt.  Brit.  Ind.  p.  392. 

Vipera  halyt,  PallaR,  Zoog.  Ros.  As.  iii,  p.  49. 

TritjonocephdluB  kalyt  (Pall.) — M^n.  Cat.  Rais.   p.  73.— -Eichwald,  Faana 

CaHp.-Cauc.  p.  101,  PL  XIX. — Dum.  et  Bibr.  Erp.  G^n.  vii,  p.  1495.— 

Strauch,  Mem.  Acad.  St.  Pet.  xxi,  No.  4,  p.  231. 

I  -3.  Andn,  Mazendardn,  Elburz  mountains,  north  of 

Tehr&n      . .  . .  . .  . .  6500 

A  specimen  from  Mangyschlak  on  the  east  coast  of  the  Caspian,  in 
the  British  Museum,  precisely  resembles  those  collected  in  the  Elburz. 
I  ^ivo  a  short  description  of  the  latter^  as  I  can  find  no  good  one  in 
any  English  work. 


REPTILIA.  431 

Description  : — Head  flat,  moderately  broad ;  snout  rounded  in  front ; 
pupil  vertical.  Scales  of  the  body  imbricate,  in  twenty-three  longitu- 
dinal rows,  all,  except  the  two  lowest  rows  on  each  side,  with  a  sharp 
central  keel.  Yentrals  149-164;  anal  undivided;  subcaudals  in  36 
to  44  pairs.  The  largest  specimen  obtained  measures  22  in.,  of  which 
the  tail  is  3.  In  a  small  specimen  (probably  a  female),  10^  in.  long, 
the  tail  measures  less  than  an  inch. 

Head  plates : — Rostral  about  as  high  as  broad,  only  just  reaching  the 
top  of  the  head.  Anterior  frontals  small,  triangular;  posterior 
frontals  rather  rounded,  about  as  broad  as  long,  not  bent  over  the  side 
of  the  head.  Vertical  a  little  longer  than  broad ;  occipitals  rather 
longer  than  the  vertical,  rounded  behind.  Nostrils  between  two  shields; 
loreals  and  praeoculars  in  two  rows,  the  lower  of  which  enclose  the 
prseocular  pit.  Two  postoculars,  the  lower  much  the  larger,  extend- 
ing imder  the  eye.  Upper  labials  usually  seven  (eight  in  one  case),  the 
third  entering  the  orbit ;  the  hinder  labials  are  low,  and  above  them  is 
a  row  of  large  temporal  scales.  Lower  labials  about  ten.  A  pair  of 
large  chin  shields,  each  in  contact  with  four  lower  labials. 

Colour  (noted  when  fresh)  dusky  olive  brown,  with  numerous  fainter 
rather  narrow  cross-bands;  sides  paler,  with  a  row  of  diamond  or 
arrow-head  shaped  spots  along  the  edges  of  the  ventrals.  Head  dusky 
above,  a  dark  band  surmounted  by  a  pale  superciliary  streak  along  the 
side,  broad  on  the  temporals.     Upper  labials  and  chin  whitish. 

This  species  appears  to  be  common  in  the  Elburz  mountains,  but  it 
is  unknown  in  other  parts  of  Persia.  It  does  not  appear  to  have  been 
found  in  the  Caucasus,  its  western  range,  so  far  as  is  known,  termina- 
ting in  the  mountains  of  T&lish  \  In  the  countries  south  of  the 
Caspian  it  inhabits  forests.  It  has  the  farthest  western  range  in  the 
old  world  of  any  crotaline  snake. 


'  As  M^n^tries's  statement  of  the  occurrence  of  this  snake  in  the  T&lish  mountains  had 
not  been  confirmed  by  later  collectors,  and  as  the  original  specimen  could  not  be  found, 
Btrauch  was  rather  inclined  to  suspect  an  error  in  the  locality.  The  rediscovery  of  the 
species  in  the  Elburz  shows  that  M^ndtries  was  in  all  probability  right. 


AMPHIBIA. 


The  amphibia  are  very  poorly  represented  in  Persia.  But  two  species 
of  Batrachia  are  known  to  be  generally  distributed  throughout  the 
highlands,  a  few  others  being  met  with  either  in  the  Caspian  provinces 
or  in  Baluchist&n.  Of  the  Urodela  two  species  of  newts  have  been 
described  by  Strauch  from  Northern  Persia. 

BATRACHIA. 
Family  RANID-E. 

1.  *  Rana  temporaria,  L. — De  F. 

R.  oxyrhina,  Steenstr.,  De  F.  Viag.  in  Penda,  p.  357. 

Eichwald  mentions  (Fauna  Cauc.-Casp.  p.  125)  the  occurrence  of  the 
common  frog  of  Europe  in  the  parts  of  Persia  near  the  Caspian  Sea. 
De  Filippi  met  with  the  variety  distinguished  as  oxyrhina  by  some 
naturalists  at  Sult&niah,  between  Tabriz  and  Kazvin,  and  suggests  that 
this  form  replaces  the  typical  iZ.  temporaria  in  Western  Persia. 

2.  B.  esoulenta,  L. — De  F. 

GUnther,  Cat.  Bat.  Sal.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  li, 

R.  Tigrina,  Eichw»dd,  Fauna  Casp.-Cauo.  p.  125. 

R.  cacckinana  (Pall.),  lb.  p.  126,  PI.  XXX. 

I,  a.  Basr&h,  on  the  Shat-el-^Arab  (the  Tigris  and  Eophrate*  united). 
3,  4.  Near  Shir&z. 
5.  Near  Besht. 

This  is  the  common  frog  of  the  Persian  highlands.  I  did  not,  how« 
ever^  meet  with  it  far  east  of  Shir&z.  There  are  specimens  in  the 
British  Museum  brought  from  the  Euphrates. 

Eichwald's  figure  represents  the  common  colouration  of  Persian 
specimens,  olive  above,  with  large  black  spots  and  a  pale  dorsal  stripe. 


AMPHIBIA.  483 

In  some  the  stripe  is  wanting,  and  the  ground  colour  is  sometimes 
bright  green,  with  or  without  spots. 

The  specimens  from  the  Euphrates  valley  have  decidedly  longer 
webs  to  the  hind  feet  than  those  from  the  Persian  highlands,  and  there 
is  no  trace  of  emargination  in  the  former,  but  similar  differences  are  to 
be  found  amongst  European  specimens. 


3.  R.  oyanophlyotiB,  Schneid. 

GQnther,  Bept.  Brit.  Ind.  p.  406. 

1-20.  Pishfn,  BaliSchist^   ..          ..          ..  ..  ..  700 

ai.  Hiing,  Baliithist&n    ..          ..          ..  .•  ..  2500 

aa.  Ghistig^n,  Bampiliaht,  Baliichistin  ..  ..  3000 

13,34.  Dizak                                                ..  ..  4000 

I  can  see  no  difference  between  Baluchistan  and  Indian  specimens. 
Stoliczka  has  already  (Proc.  As.  Soc.  Beng.  1872,  pp.  85,  102,  130) 
noticed  the  occurrence  of  this  species  in  Sind,  the  Panj&b,  and  Kachh, 
so  that  its  extension  into  Baluchist&n  is  not  surprising. 

I  found  R,  cyanophlyctis  common  in  Baluchist&n  up  to  an  elevation 
of  4000  feet  wherever  there  was  water.  I  did  not  notice  it  in  Persia 
proper. 


Family  HYLIDiE. 


4.  Hyla  arborea  (L.). 


Giinther,  Cat.  Bat.  Sal.  Brit.  Mus.  p.  107. — Anderson,  P.  Z.  S.  187a,  p.  403. 
Eyla  viridist  Laur. — Eichwald,  Fauna  Cajip.-Cauc.  p.  I  a4. 

1.  Baanih,  on  the  Shat-el-Arab  (Tigris  and  Eaphrates  joined). 
a-7.  P4rchap4,  south  of  Resht,  GhiUn,  Northern  Persia. 

This  species  has  not  been  found  in  Persia  proper.  Its  occurrence  in 
the  Caspian  provinces  and  in  Mesopotamia  was  known  before.  I 
found  it  abundant  amongst  grass  and  bushes  on  the  banks  of  a 
stream  close  to  a  caravanserai  called  P&rchap&,  on  the  road  from 
Kazvin  to  Resht.  All  the  specimens  seen  were  small,  about  an  inch, 
in  length. 

VOL.  II.  p  f 


434  ZOO  LOG  7  OF  PERSIA 


Family  BUFONIDJE. 


6.  Bufo  viridifly  Laur. — De  F. 

Giinther,  Cat.  Bat.  SaL  Brit.  Mas.  p.  58.— Andenon,  P.  Z.  S.  187a,  p.  40a. 
B.  variabUU,  Pall.  —  Eichwald,  Fauna  Casp.-Cauc.  p.  126.  —  De  F.  Vlag.  a 
Persia,  p.  357. 

I.  Dizak,  Baliichi8t4n    ..  ••  ..  ..  4000 

2-4.  Near  Bam,  South-eastern  Persia    . .  . .  . .  4000 

5,6.  West  of  Bam  ..  ••  ..  ..  5500 

7,  8.  Near  Kesht,  Ghilin,  Northern  Persia  . .  . .  — 

Some  specimens  are  marked  with  large  spots  aboTe^  others  are 
unspotted.  This  toad  is  found  throughout  Persia,  and  extends  into 
the  Himalayas.  I  have  even  obtained  specimens  as  fisir  east  as  Sikkim. 
In  Baluchist&n  it  appears  to  be  replaced  by  the  next  species. 


e.  B.  olivaceus,  W.  Blanf.  PI.  XXVHI,  fig.  3- 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  July  1874,  xiv,  p.  35. 

I,  a.  Dasht  river,  BalUchistin    ..  ..  ..  ..  — 

3.  B4hti  Kal4t,  Baluchist&n    ..  ..  ..  ..  — . 

4.  Ghistig&n,  Bampusht,  Baliiohisti&n  ..  ..  5000 

B.  qffinis  B.  viridi  B.  vulgarique,  ab  ambobus  differt  glandulit  para- 
toideis  niajoribus  valde  laiioribus,  ovalibus,  dorso  subglairo;  supra  jaaliide 
olivaceus,  subtus  albescefis, 

Hab,  in  Gedrosid  (Baluckistdn). 

Description  : — Tympanum  distinct,  about  half  the  size  of  the  eye ; 
head  short,  muzzle  rather  pointed ;  crown  of  the  head  slig^htly  con- 
cave^ quite  smooth^  without  any  trace  of  bony  ridges;  cantAus  rosiralis 
rounded.  Parotoids  very  large,  but  not  much  raised ;  they  are  oval  in 
form^  the  posterior  portion  being  slightly  produced;  they  extend  fipom 
a  third  to  nearly  one-half  the  length  of  the  body  behind  the  head,  and 
their  breadth  equals  or  exceeds  half  their  length;  they  are  nearly 
flat^  being  slightly  concave  in  front  and  convex  behind.  Upper  parts 
nearly  smooth ;  lower  abdomen  finely  tuberculate.  Limbs  moderate ; 
the  hind-limb  exceeds  the  body  by  about  the  length  of  the  foot.    Solss 


AMPHIBIA.  485 

of  feet  and  under  snr&ce  of  tarsus  covered  with  small  tubercles ;  two 
small  subequal  prominences  on  the  metatarsus ;  toes  half  webbed ; 
the  first  finger  longer  than  the  second. 

Colour  pale  olive  above^  whitish  below.  In  adults  the  tips  of  the 
fingers  and  toes  are  dark  coloured^  and  in  two  specimens  the  first  and 
second  fingers  are  blackish  above. 

This  toad  is  near  B.  viridis  and  B.  vulgaris^  but  distinguished  from 
both  by  its  very  large  broad  flat  parotoids>  and  to  judge  by  the  speci- 
mens collected^  by  its  much  smoother  back. 

I  found  a  few  specimens  in  Baluchist&n,  none  of  them  at  elevations 
exceeding  3000  feet  above  the  sea.  Above  that  height  this  species 
was  replaced  by  B.  viridis. 


7.  *1  Bufo  yulmris.  Laur. 


Rana  Bufo,  L.,  Pall.  Zoog.  Bos.  As.  iii,  p.  14. 

I  insert  the  common  toad  on  PaUas's  authority.  It  does  not  appear 
to  have  been  noticed  in  Persia  by  later  travellers^  though  it  probably 
exists  in  the  Caspian  provinces. 


URODELA. 
Family  SALAMANDBIDiE. 
8.  *  Triton  Earelini,  Strauch, 

Strauch,  M<em.  Acad.  Sci.  St.  Pet.  zvi,  No.  4,  p.  49,  PI.  I,  fig.  I  (1870). 

Of  this  species  and  of  that  next  mentioned  I  know  nothing  beyond 
the  description  which  is  given  in  Strauch's  '  Revision  der  Salaman- 
driden-Gattimgen,'  1.  c.  The  specimens  described  as  IHton  Karelini 
were  collected  by  Karelin  in  North-eastern  Persia,  but  no  exact  locality 
was  recorded. 

Ff2 


436  ZOOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

9.  *  T.  longipeS;  Strauch. 

Strauch,  Mem.  Acad.  Sd.  St.  Pet.  zvi.  No.  4,  p.  44,  PL  I,  ^.  2  (1870). 

This  species  is  from  Mazandar&n^  near  Astrab&d. 

Triton  cristatus^  Laur.^  and  T.  opAryticus,  Berthold,  are  found  in 
Transcaucasia,  and  T.  taniatus  (Schn.)  in  Armenia. 

I  did  not  see  any  newts  in  Persia,  and  Major  St.  John  tells  me  that 
during  a  residence  of  several  years  he  never  met  with  one.  I  think  it 
probable  that  there  are  none  except  in  the  northern  parts  of  the 
country. 

ERBATA. 

The  number  of  species  of  birds^  as  stated  at  p.  7,  known  to  inhabit 
Persia  should  be  384  instead  of  383.  The  Oralla  are  54  in  number 
instead  of  53,  the  Qavia  21  instead  of  22,  and  the  Stegcmopodc^  7 
instead  of  6. 

At  page  20,  for  <  Vespertilio  desertommy'  substitute : — 
Vespertilio  emarginatus. 

Vespertilio  emargincUus,  QeoSroj,  Ann.  du  MuB^um,  vol.  viii,  p.  198  (1806}. 

Sub-species  a,  V.  desertommi  Dobson,  n.  subsp. 

At  page  23,  for  '  Vesperugo  leuootis,  Dobson/  substitute  :-^- 
Vesperugo  Kuhlii. 

Vesperugo  Kuhlii,  Natterer :  in  Kuhl,  Deutsch.  Fledenn. — Wetterau,  Ann.  iv,  p.  58. 

Var.  V.  leucotis. 

Vetpentgo  {PipitireUua)  leueotis,  Dobeon,  J.  A.  S.  B.  (187a),  pt.  ii,  p.  aaa. 

At  p.  51,  Family  MYOXID^  has  been  omitted  before  Jfyoaw 
ptctusy  which  is  thus  represented  as  if  belonging  to  the  Castorida. 

In  the  measurements  of  rodent  skulls,  pp.  55,  57,  67,  69,  71,  for 
'  breadth  of  frontal  bones  behind  postorbital  processes/  read  '  breadth 
between  orbits.' 

•  On  PI.  XV,  for  SiTLA  read  SiTiA. 

On  PI.  XXVII,  for  Ablepharus  fusillus  read  Ablkphabub  BsAinyri. 


J% 


■'■<■ 


GEOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 


Illl 


I 


I 


GEOLOGY. 


PART  I. 
GENERAL   SKETCH. 

1.  Iktroduction. — Previous  Observers. 

The  following  pages  contain  no  complete  account  of  the  geology 
of  Persia :  our  knowledge  of  this  extensive  country  is  as  yet  fer  too 
imperfect  for  any  general  description  of  its  geological  formations  to 
be  attempted.  My  own  observations  were  of  course  restricted  to  the 
route  I  followed  from  the  Indian  Ocean  at  Crwadar  to  the  Caspian 
at  Enzeli,  and  most  of  the  other  travellers  who  have  left  any  record 
of  the  geology^  have,  in  the  same  manner,  merely  traversed  par- 
ticular roads.  Some  of  them,  however,  remained  much  longer  in 
Persia  than  I  did,  and  consequently  had  the  opportunity  of  examining 
larger  areas.  My  own  journey  in  Persia  lasted  rather  more  than 
seven  .months,  in  addition  to  which  two  months  were  spent  on  the 
Makran  coast  and  in  the  Persian  Gulf,  but  even  of  this  time  much 
was  lost  &om  the  frequent  necessity  of  halting  in  cities  away  from  any 
interesting  geological  sections,  and  of  hurrying  past  those  places 
where  delay  would  have  been  profitable. 

In  order  moreover  to  attempt  to  correlate  with  any  hope  of  success 
the  various  descriptions  given  by  other  travellers,  it  would  be  necessary 
to  possess  from  personal  examination  a  sufficiently  extensive  know- 
ledge of  the  geological  formations  of  Persia  to  justify  my  criticising 
the  observations  and  conclusions  of  my  predecessors.  This  extensive 
knowledge  I  had  not  the  means  of  acquiring.  All  therefore  that  I 
shall  attempt  in  the  present  sketch  will  be  to  give  a  very  brief 
summary  of  the  principal  geological  features  of  the  country,  so  far 
as  they  have  hitherto  been  ascertained  by  other  travellers  and  by 
myself,  and  to  add  a  somewhat  more  detailed  account  of  my  own 
observations  on  the  line  of  route  which  I  followed. 


440  GEOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

There  are  many  geological  observations  to  be  found  in  the  yarioos 
works  published  on  Persia,  their  value  varying*  with  the  geological 
knowledge  of  the  writers.  To  call  attention  to  all  would  be  profitless, 
and  the  following  list  only  includes  the  more  important  notices,  or 
those  which  apply  solely  to  the  geplogy  of  the  country. 

By  far  the  greater  number  of  travellers  who  have  g^ven  an  account 
of  the  geology  of  parts  of  Persia  have  been  restricted  to  the  north- 
western provinces.  Only  a  few  have  penetrated  east  of  Sam&vand 
or  south  of  Tehran.  Thanks  to  Mr.  Loftus  we  have  a  very  fiur 
knowledge  of  Western  Persia,  and  various  Russian  and  Crerman 
explorers  have  made  us  tolerably  acquainted  with  Adarbaij£n,  Ghil^n, 
and  Mazandardn.  Khorass&n,  and  indeed  Eastern  Persia  generally, 
is  quite  unknown  geologically,  whilst  the  south  is  almost  equally  a 
terra  incognita^  as  a  few  observations  on  the  shores  of  the  Persian  Gulf 
are  all  that  have  hitherto  been  recorded. 

The  earliest   contribution   to   Persian  geology  with    which    I  am 
acquainted  is  in  the  form  of  anonymous  '  Notes  made  in  the  course  of 
a  voyage  from  Bombay  to  Bushire  in  the  Persian  Gulf,*  published 
about  1822,  in  the  *  Geological  Transactions,'  Ser.  2,  vol.  i,  p.  409. 
Brief  descriptions  are  given  of  the  rocks  at  Maskat,  and  on  Kishm, 
Hormuz,  and  other  Gulf  islands.     The  accounts  are  somewhat  scanty 
and  not  always  accurate,  as,  for  instance,  when  the  author  states  at 
Hormuz  that  ^  no  rock  of  salt  has  been  discovered,'  which  shows  that 
very  little  attention  was  paid  to  the  island,  for  rock-salt  exists  in 
enormous  quantities.     On  the  other  hand  the  description  of  the  rocks 
near  Maskat  appears  to  be  good  and  accurate. 

In  the  same  work,  Ser.  2,  vol.  v,  p.  577,  Dr.  C.  M.  Bell  published 
some  *  Geological  Notes  on  part  of  Mazandarfin.'  He  described  the 
rocks  observed  on  a  journey  from  Tehrdn  via  Damavand  village, 
Aminab&d,  Firuzkuh,  and  the  valley  of  the  Tatar  to  the  Caspian, 
returning  by  Amol  and  Ask.  He  noticed  the  occurrence  of  various 
volcanic  rocks,  limestones  of  different  kinds,  sandstone,  shale,  coal,  &c., 
but  he  affords  very  little  aid  towards  making  out  the  relations  of  the 
various  formations. 

F.  A.  Biihse,  a  botanist,  travelled  in  1847-48-49  in  several  parts 
of  Northern  Persia,  his  only  journeys  off  the  beaten  track  being  from 
Resht  via  Damdvand  to  Astrabad,  and  from  Astrabad  via  Sh&hrud  to 
Yezd,  across  the  salt  desert.  His  notes,  published  in  the  Bulletin  de 
la  Soci^te  Imperiale  des  Naturalistes  de  Moscou,  vols,  xxiii^  xxviii, 


BUUSE.     GREWINGK.  441 

and  xxxiv,  contain  a  few  geological  observations^  the  most  important 
of  which  is  his  description  of  the  salt  desert ;  op.  cit.  xxiii,  p.  557,  and 
xxviii,  pp.  293-306.  By  his  account  the  salt  portion  of  the  desert 
is  only  a  few  miles  across,  and  mnch  resembles  the  salt  marsh  crossed 
by  Major  St.  John  and  myself  in  Sarjdn^  between  Karm&n  and  Shir&z. 
In  the  Bulletin  de  la  Societe  Geologique  de  France  for  1850,  Ser.  2, 
vol.  vii,  p.  491,  is  a  short  account  by  M.  A.  Visquenel  of  the  journeys 
and  collections  made  in  Persia  by  Mons.  Hommaire  de  Hell,  who  died 
at  Isfah&n  in  1848.  He  had  travelled  from  Trebizond  on  the  Black 
Sea  via  Diarbekir,  Van,  and  Tabriz  to  Tehran,  visited  several  parts 
of  Eastern  Mazandardn  and  the  Elburz  mountains,  his  journeys  ex- 
tending as  far  as  Astrabfid,  and  finally  he  went  to  Isfahan,  where  he 
died  a  few  days  after  his  arrival.  His  collections  of  fossils  were 
examined  by  M.  de  Verneuil,  and  comprised  Devonian  species  collected 
on  the  southern  slopes  of  the  mountain  of  *  Schebennem^  * '  and  of 
the  central  axis  of  the  Elburz  chain  between  the  valley  of  the  Nebha 
and  that  of  the  Suiva  ^ ;  cretaceous  fossils  from  Yeni-Hiss&r  near 
Rddk&n,  and  nummulitie  from  the  same  neighbourhood  and  also  from 
a  mountain  called  Khealanek,  north-west  of  Tehr&n. 

Dr.  C.  Grewingk's  *  Die  geognostischen  und  orographischen  Ver- 
haltnisse  des  Nordlichen  Persiseus'  (the  geological  and  orographical 
relations  of  Northern  Persia),  published  in  1853,  is  a  digest  of  the 
notes  and  collections  obtained  by  Dr.  F.  Biihse  and  Lieut.-Col. 
Woskoiboinikow  ^  during  their  journeys  in  Northern  Persia,  combined 
with  such  information  as  had  been  obtained  by  previous  travellers. 
It  suffers  apparently  from  the  disadvantage  that  the  author  had  no 
personal  acquaintance  with  Persia,  but  it  nevertheless  contains  much  * 
information^  and  is  accompanied  by  a  geological  map.  The  region 
described  comprises  Adarbaij&n,  Ghil&n,  and  Mazandar&n^  with  a 
small  tract  south  of  the  Elburz. 

It  is  difficult  without  entering  into  great  detail  to  give  an  adequate 
idea  of  this  singular  and  interesting  paper.  It  commences  with  an 
*  orographical  sketch/  giving  a  general  account  of  the  physical 
geography  of  Adarbaij^n  and  the  Caspian  provinces.     Then  follows 

*  I  do  not  know  what  mountain  is  meant,  and  therefore  preeerve  the  original  or- 
thography. 

*  This  locality  is  dose  to  Ridk4n,  S.  W.  of  Astrab&d. 

'  Of  the  travels  of  this  officer  some  notes  are  published  in  the  *  Journal  des  mines  de 
St.  Petersbourg/  1846,  tome  ii,  p.  171  ;  and  in  Erman's  Archly  fUr  Russland,  y,  p.  674, 
but  everything  of  importance  is,  I  believe,  repeated  in  Grewingk's  paper. 


442  GEOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

a  geological  description  in  detail  of  varioos  tracts  and  routes,  be- 
ginning with  the  valley  of  the  Araxes,  and  ending  with  the  roat« 
from  Sh&hrud  to  Astrah^.  The  third  part  of  the  paper  consists  of 
a  gt^ological  summary  (Geognostisehe  Uebersicht),  showing*  the  dis- 
tribution of  various  formations  throughout  the  country.  Some  of  the 
classification  does  not  appear  quite  correct,  for  instance^  Hippuritie 
limestone  is  mentioned  under  the  head  of  Jurassic  formations,  and  beds 
containing  OdontopterU  Lamia  (Pal/eozamia)  and  Pt^roph^Uum  are  in- 
cluded in  the  carboniferous  series ;  but  these  are  triflings  drawbacks. 

Briefly  it  may  be  stated  that  Dr.  Orewingk  records  the  existence  of 
Silurian  rocks  (including  perhaps  Devonian)  in  three  places  ;  one,  Gir, 
lying  some  miles  north  of  Kazvin,  the  other  two  bein^  at  Chalikhaa, 
west  of  Sliahrud,  and  at  the  foot  of  the  hills  south  of  the  latter  place. 
Carboniferous  rooks  (including,  besides  mountain    limestone,  Liassic 
coal  measures  with  Cyeads)  have  a  wide  extent,  beings  traced  almost 
from  end  to  end  of  the  Elburz ;  they  reappear  in  the  Araxes  valley 
where  the  carboniferous  limestone  rests  on  Devonian  rocks.     Jurassic 
beds  are  said  to  occur  near  Argan  and  Massula,  north-west  and  west 
of  Resht,  and  again  near  Surt,  fifty  miles  west  of  Sh&rud.      Some 
localities  are  also  mentioned  on  the  Araxes,  near  Ordub&d,  nearly  dae 
north  of  Tabriz,  but  the  fossils  enumerated  as  occurring  appear  to  be 
cretaceous.      Cretaceous  rocks  are  shown  on  the  map,  and  described 
in  the  text  as  occurring  here  and  there  throughout  the  Elburz,  and 
also  as  covering  a  considerable  area  in  Adarbaijfin,  north  of  Tabriz, 
and  on  the  flanks  of  the  Sahend  mountains,  east  of  Lake  Urumiah. 
Orewingk,  however,  points  out  that  in  several  of  the  localities  indicated, 
and  especially  in  the  last,  the  age  of  the  rocks  is  not  clearly  deter- 
mined.    So  far  as  my  own  observations  are  concerned,  I  greatly  doubt 
the  existence  of  cretaceous  rocks  along  the  southern  base  of  the  Elburz 
from  Tehr&n  to  Kazvin,  as  shown  on  Grewingk's  map.     Nammulitic 
limestone  is  said  to  be  found  usually  in  Northern  Persia,  associated 
with   upper  cretaceous  beds.      It   is  described  as  occurring  in  the 
Araxes  valley  near  Nakhichevan,  Julfa,  etc.,  in  the  hills  east  of  Rudbir, 
between  Kazvin  and  Resht,  and  again  west  of  Sh&hrud^.     On  the 

*  Dr.  Orewingk  also  Rtates  that  Nummulitic  limestone  is  found  at  Schirk(ih  (T  Sfyth 
Kiih)  near  Yezd  and  at  'Cohurt'  between  Isfahan  and  K&shan.  The  latter  place  may 
be  identical  with  Kohnid  as  appears  probable  from  the  context,  but  I  did  not  obBorve  any 
limestone  of  Nummulitic  character.  Dr.  Grewingk's  orthography  of  proper  names  in 
ultra-Teutonic  is  not  always  correct.   [For  Shir-kiih,  near  Yazd,  see  p.  1 7  J,  Y<d.  L— -F.  J,  O.] 


MR.   W.  K.  L0FTU8.  443 

map  all  tertiary  and  poet-tertiary  deposits,  including  the  alluvial 
desert  plains,  are  represented  of  one  colour.  Volcanic  rocks  of  various 
kinds  form  the  Sahend  mountains  south  of  Tabriz,  the  Saval&n  near 
Ardabil,  some  of  the  ranges  north  and  north-east  of  Kazvin  and 
Dam&vand^  besides  minor  outbursts.  Metamorphic  and  granitic  rocks 
are  said  to  be  found  north  and  west  of  the  Lake  of  the  Urumiah,  in  the 
*  Schaverdih '  (Shecvek?)  mountains  in  Karaddgh,  and  along  the  lower 
ranges  of  the  Elburz,  fikcing  the  Caspian,  from  Massula  west  of  Besht 
to  a  spot  a  little  west  of  north  from  Tehran. 

The  want  of  personal  knowledge  of  the  region  of  course  detracts 
greatly  from  the  value  of  this  paper,  and  especially  of  the  map,  but 
considering  the  difficulties  under  which  it  was  written  it  is  a  very 
valuable  contribution  to  our  knowledge  of  the  country. 

By  far  the  best  and  most  complete  geological  account  which  we 
possess  of  any  part  of  Persia  is  W.  K.  Loftus's  paper  *  On  the  Geology 
of  portions  of  the  Turko-Persian  Frontier,  and  of  the  Districts  adjoining,' 
published  in  the  Quarterly  Journal  of  the  Geological  Society  for  1855, 
vol.  xi,  p.  247  ^.  Mr.  Loftus  was  attached  as  geologist  to  the  English 
Commission  under  laeut.-Col.  Williams  (subsequently  Sir  W.  P.  Wil- 
liams of  Kiirs),  appointed  to  assist  in  determining  the  frontier  between 
Turkey  and  Persia  in  the  years  1849-52.  The  paper  is  accompanied 
by  a  map  on  which,  without  any  attempt  at  detail,  the  broad  geolo- 
gical features  of  the  great  range  of  hilly  country  intervening  between 
the  Tigris  and  Euphrates  plains  and  the  Persian  plateau  are  laid 
down.  This  map  extends  along  the  whole  Turko-Persian  frontier 
from  Mount  Ararat  to  the  Persian  Gulf.  Numerous  detailed  sections 
of  the  Zdgros,  Kurdistan,  and  other  ranges  are  described  and  figured, 
but  the  memoir,  owing  to  the  author's  departure  from  England,  was 
left  unfinished. 

Mr.  Loftus  shows  that  the  ranges  forming  the  western  flank  of  the 
Persian  plateau  consist  mainly  of  granite  and  metamorphic  rocks, 
altered  limestones  and  slates,  some  of  which  are  probably  of  mesozoic 
age,  cretaceous,  nummulitic,  and  post-nummulitic  deposits.  These 
formations  as  a  rule  succeed  each  other  in  ascending  order  from  east 
to  west,  the  oldest  rocks  being  close  to  the  Persian  plateau,  whilst  the 
plains  of  Mesopotamia  are  bordered  by  a  broad  unbroken  bed  of  the 
post-nummulitic  rocks,  classified  by  Loftus  as  the  Gypsiferous  series. 

'  An  abetraot  of  this  paper  appeared  in  vol.  x,  p.  454. 


444  GEOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

The  age  of  this  series  is  not  exactly  determined,  veiy  few  fossils  being 
found  in  it,  but  it  has  been  shown  to  have  an  extensive  range  through- 
out Western  Asia,  and  it  is  perhaps  represented  in  Sind  and  the 
Panjab.  Locally  some  other  formations  were  observed,  some  lower 
secondar}'^  limestones  occurring  between  Bdsht  and  fVilijdn,  north- 
west of  Shirdz,  and  palaeozoic  beds  being  noticed  at  one  spotj  south- 
west of  Isfah&n.  Volcanic  rocks  are  of  unimportant  extent  in  the 
southern  portion  of  the  area  described,  but  occupy  a  considerable  tract 
near  the  lakes  of  V&n  and  Urumiah^  and  culminate  in  Mount  Ararat 

Some  notes  by  M.  N.  de  Khanikoff^  communicated  by  Professor 
Abich  to  the  Imperial  Academy  of  Sciences,  St.  Petersburg,  BuIL  Ac. 
Sci.  xvi,  p.  348^  contain  a  few  geological  observations  made  in 
Adarbaijdn.  They  add  little,  if  anything,  to  what  was  known  before, 
except  that  a  collection  of  fossils  from  the  limestone  forming  the 
islands  of  Lake  Urumiah  proved,  according  to  Professor  Abich,  who 
gives  a  list  of  them,  of  miocene  age. 

Professor  H.  Abich 's  *  Vergleichende  Oeognostische  Grundziige 
der  Caucasischon,  Armenischen,  and  Nordpersischen  Grebirge'  (Com- 
parative Geological  Grundziige  laws  of  the  Caucasian,  Armenian,  and 
North  Persian  Mountains),  was  also  published  in  1858  (Mem.  Acad. 
Sci.  St.  Pet.  vol.  vii).  It  refers  principally  to  the  Caucasus  and  the 
Transcaueasian  provinces  of  Bussia,  which  have  been  very  carefully 
examined  by  the  author,  a  distinguished  geologist  in  the  service  of  the 
Russian  government ;  but  there  are  several  interesting  notes  on  locali- 
ties in  Persia,  principally  in  the  province  of  Adarbaijdn. 

The  first  portion  of  the  paper  (pp.  1-45)  is  occupied  with  a  dis- 
cussion of  the  direction  of  lines  of  elevation  (Erhebungsrichtungen). 
These  in  North  Persia  are  all  reduced  to  three  principal  systems  running 
approximately  north-west  to  south-east,  and  north-east  to  south-west, 
or  rather  east-north-east  to  west-south-west.  A  doubt  may  be  ex- 
pressed whether  the  data  given  justify  the  conclusions;  e.g.  the 
direction  of  the  Elburz  range  north  of  Tehrdn  is  said  to  be  east  and 
west,  and  it  is  determined  by  the  relative  position  of  Dam&vand  and 
of  two  other  peaks,  one  lying  east  of  it,  the  other  west.  Why  these 
mountains  are  chosen,  and  what  may  be  their  geological  composition 
and  their  relations  to  Damdvand,  is  not  stated.  Dam£vand  itself  is  a 
subrecent  volcanic  rock,  of  far  later  date  than  the  other  rocks  of  the 
rangtj,  and  lying  considerably  north  of  the  watershed. 

The  second  part  of  Professor  Abich's  memoir  (pp.  45-75)  relates 


PROFESSOR  ABICH.  445 

to  the  distribution  of  hot  and  mineral  springs,  outbursts  of  inflammable 
gases,  naphtha  localities,  lines  of  extinct  volcanoes,  dykes,  and  mineral 
veins^  all  chiefly  considered  in  connexion  with  the  theories  of  Elie  de 
Beaumont  and  others  on  mountain^  elevation,  in  which  theories  Pro- 
fessor Abich  is  a  firm  believer.  This  part  relates  solely  to  the  Cau- 
casus, Georgia,  and  Armenia ;  the  volcanic  formations  of  the  Elburz, 
Savaldn,  the  neighbourhood  of  Tabriz,  Lake  Vdn,  etc.,  not  being 
mentioned. 

The  third  portion  (pp.  75-163)  is  devoted  to  the  sedimentary  rocks. 
The  greater  part  of  this  also  refers  to  countries  beyond  the  Persian 
border,  but  Occasional  descriptions  are  given  of  parts  of  Persia.  Thus 
at  p.  76,  in  treating  of  the  Palseozoic  rocks,  a  section  is  described 
through  the  Merer  Ddgh  range,  near  Sofian,  north  of  Tabriz,  exhi- 
biting besides  metamorphic  and  volcanic  rocks,  palaeozoic  limestones 
(probably  Devonian),  gault  (?)  and  Lunulite  limestone.  The  exten- 
sive spread  of  Devonian  and  Carboniferous  limestone  in  Adarbaij&n 
and  the  Elburz  is  mentioned ;  they  are  said  to  closely  resemble  each 
other,  and  to  be  distinguished  with  diflSculty,  except  by  their  fossils. 

The  existence  of  Jurassic  rocks  south  of  the  village  of  Gerger,  near 
the  right  (south)  bank  of  the  Araxes,  is  mentioned  (pp.  91-92),  and  it 
is  suggested  that  rocks  of  similar  age  have  a  wide  extension  in 
Northern  Bussia. 

In  his  description  of  the  cretaceous  rocks,  Abich  especially  points 
out  (pp.  1 20-1 21)  the  remarkable  extent  to  which  deposits  of  this 
age  in  the  mountains  of  Georgia  and  Armenia  have  been  aflTected  by 
volcanic  outbursts  of  the  cretaceous  and  early  tertiary  epochs.  No 
such  evidence  of  igneous  action  was  remarked  in  rocks  of  the  same 
period  north  of  the  Caucasus.  This  is  extremely  interesting,  because 
there  appears  much  reason  for  believing  that  many  of  the  volcanic 
outbursts  of  Southern  Persia  also  are  of  cretaceous  age. 

No  special  description  is  given  of  cretaceous  formations  within  the 
boundaries  of  Persia,  and  the  same  remark  ^plies  to  Abich's  account 
of  the  tertiary  and  quaternary  periods.  It  is  shown  that  the  great 
gravel  and  conglomerate  deposits  of  the  Armenian  plateau,  Georgia, 
and  the  Caucasus  are  older  than  the  last  great  volcanic  outbursts  of 
those  regions,  but  at  the  same  time  local  gravels,  etc.  exist  con- 
temporaneous with  the  lava-flows.  Finally,  the  absence  in  the  region 
of  the  Caucasus  of  any  extensive  accumulation  of  erratic  blocks,  and 
consequently   of  any  evidence  of  a  great  former  extension  of  the 


446  GEOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

glaciers,  is  insisted  upon.  There  is  also  a  want  of  the  polished  and 
scored  rock  surfaces,  which,  in  the  mountains  of  Europe,  extend  so  fiir 
below  the  level  of  existing  glaciers. 

In  the  Journal  of  the  Asiatic  Society  of  Bengal   for  1859,  vol. 
xxviii,  p.  41,  and  in  that  for  i860,  vol.  xxix,  p.  359,  is  a  *  Report  on 
Geological  Specimens  ^  from  the  Persian  Gulf,  etc.,  collected  by  Captain 
C.  G.  Constable,  I.  N.'    This  account  is  by  Dr.  Carter  of  Bombay. 
The  specimens  procured  appear  to  have  afforded  a  very  fair  means  of 
ascertaining  the  nature  of  the  rocks  occurring  in  the  varioas  islands 
of  the  Gulf,  which  are  correctly  stated  by  Dr.  Carter  to  consist  of 
a  sedimentary  formation,  resting  upon  volcanic  rocks  associated  with 
beds  of  rock-salt,  gypsum,  sulphur,  pyrites,  specular  iron  ore,  eic. 
In  some  islands  the  volcanic  and  saliferous  series  is  absent.     The 
sedimentary  formations  are  (also  quite  correctly)  said  to  include  thick 
calcareous  clays  capped  by  a  calcareous  shelly  grit,  resembling  the 
formation  called  milliolite  by  Dr.  Carter^  which  occurs  in  Kathiawir 
in  North-western  India,  and  on  the  south-east  coast  of  Arabia.     These 
beds  are  considered  to  be  miocene.     In  the  first  part  of  the  paper  the 
islands  along  the  Persian  coast  are  described,  in  the  second  part  those 
on  the  Arabian  coast,  the  same  formations  being  found  in  both.     The 
data  given  are  to  a  large  extent  derived  from  notes  and  sketches  by 
Captain  Constable  and  Lieutenant  Stiffe,  who  collected  the  specimens. 

Dr.  Theodor  Kotschy  gave  in  Petermann's  Mittheilungen  for  1859, 
p.  49,  an  account  of  an  ascent  of  Damdvand,  with  (p.  67)  a  few  petro- 
logical  notes. 

Notes  by  the  Hon.  C.  A.  Murray  on  some  mineral  springs  near 
DamAvand,  and  on  some  copper  ore  and  other  minerals  from  near 
Tabriz,  were  published  in  the  Quarterly  Journal  of  the  Geological 
Society  for  1859,  vol.  xv,  pp.  198  and  605.  Professor  W.  W.  Smyth 
examined  the  minerals  and  gave  a  brief  description  of  them  (p.  606). 
The  copper  ores  probably  indicate  the  existence  of  valuable  deposits. 

In  the  Bulletin  Acad.  Imp.  Sci.  St.  Petersburg  for  1861,  vol.  iii, 
pp.  292-299,  Professor  H.  R.  Goppert  published  a  paper,  which  was 
translated  in  the  Quarterly  Journal  of  the  Geological  Society  for  1862, 
vol.  xviii,  pt.  2,  p.  17,  'On  the  Occurrence  of  Liassic  Plants  in  the 
Alborus  (Elbrus)  range,  Persia,'  etc.  In  this  a  brief  description  is 
given  of  a  small  collection  of  fossil  plants  found  by  Dr.  Gobel,  who 

*  For  shorter  notices  and  descriptioiiB  of  rock  specimens  from  the  Persiim  Guli|  see 
Brust,  Jour.  Bombay  Br.  Roy.  As.  Soc..  i,  p.  345,  and  Newbold,op.  cit^vol.  iii,  pi.  a,  p.  a6. 


DE  FILIPPI,  447 

accompanied  M.  de  KhanikofiTs  mission  as  geologist,  in  the  Eastern 
Elburz,  east  of  the  village  of  Tash,  in  the  province  of  Astrabad.  The 
plants  included  a  species  of  Pterophyllum  (either  Tt,  Abxchianum  or  an 
allied  form),  Zamites  distanSy  Nilsoiiia  Sienibergii^  Alethopieris  Whitbi- 
ensis^  TceniopterU  vitiata  and  Complopteris  Nilioniiy  all  liassic  or  volitic 
species. 

De  Filippi's  *Note  di  un  Viag^o  in  Persia,'  published  in  1865, 
contains  numerous  geological  observations  made  on  his  journey.  He 
went  from  the  Black  Sea  vid  Tiflis,  Julfa,  Tabriz,  and  Kazvin  to 
Tehr&n^  made  a  visit  from  the  capital  to  Dam&vand,  and  returned  by 
Kazvin  and  Resht.  Amongst  the  most  important  facts  mentioned  is 
(pp.  199-208)  the  occurrence  of  remains  of  pottery  in  beds  con- 
siderably below  the  level  of  the  plain  near  Saink&la,  north-west  of 
Kazvin^  where  the  alluvial  deposits  are  cut  through  by  a  stream  called 
the  Abhar.  Hence  De  Filippi  concludes  that  the  present  surface 
of  the  plain  near  Saink&la^  and  probably  of  the  other  plains  of  the 
Persian  plateau^  is  of  later  date  than  human  occupation.  The  absence 
of  any  evidence  of  ancient  glacial  action  in  the  Elburz  is  noticed 
(p.  254),  and  a  very  good  description  g^ven  of  Dam&vand^  which  was 
ascended  by  several  members  of  the  Embassy  (pp.  257-279).  There 
is  further  in  the  1 8th  chapter  of  the  work,  pp.  303-325,  an  excellent 
discussion  of  the  question  as  to  the  former  extension  of  the  Caspian. 
De  Filippi  treats  this  subject  in  a  masterly  manner,  he  points  out 
that  the  Caspian  &una  is  essentially  lacustrine,  and  concludes  on 
zoological  grounds  that  the  Caspian  has  never  been  in  direct  commu- 
nication either  with  the  Black  Sea  or  the  Arctic  Ocean.  This  subject, 
although  appertaining  rather  to  physical  geography  than  to  geology, 
is  of  too  much  interest  to  remain  unnoticed. 

A  brief  note  on  the  geology  of  the  country  between  Bushire  and 
Shirdz,  by  W.  H.  Colvill,  is  printed  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Bombay 
Geographical  Society,  xvii,  p.  167,  in  connexion  with  a  paper  by 
Colonel  Lewis  Pelly. 

In  a  *  Note  on  the  Geological  Formations  seen  along  the  Balu- 
chistan Coast  from  Karfichi  to  the  head  of  the  Persian  Gulf,  and  on 
some  of  the  Gulf  Islands  ^,'  published  in  the  *  Records  of  the  Geo- 
logical  Survey  of  India'   for    1872,  pp.  41-45,   I  briefly  described 

>  I  should  state  that  this  note  was  written  at  Gwadar,  and  that  I  had  no  works  to 
refer  to,  or  I  should  have  noticed  Dr.  Carter's  paper  describing  Captain  Constable's 
specimens  from  the  islands  of  the  Persian  Oulf. 


448  GEOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

the  occurrence  of  a  great  group  of  rocks  of  later  tertiary  age  ex- 
tending along  the  coasts  in  question,  which  I  called  the  Makrin 
group,  and  I  also  noticed  the  salt-formation  of  Hormiiz  and  the  neigh- 
bouring islands.  In  another  'Note  on  Maskat  and  Masandam  on 
the  East  Coast  of  Arabia*  (Records  Geol.  Survey,  1872,  p.  75),  I 
pointed  out  that  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  movement  in  different 
directions  has  taken  place  on  the  two  coasts  of  the  Straits  of  Hormdz, 
the  Persian  shore  showing  evidence  of  elevation,  whilst  the  Arabian 
coast  has  apparently  sunk  in  recent  geological  times  ^. 

Lastly,  in  the  '  Quarterly  Journal  of  the  Geological  Society'  for  1873, 
vol.  xxix,  p.  493, 1  gave  a  short  account  of  the  *  Nature  and  Probable 
Origin  of  the  Superficial  Deposits  in  the  Valleys  and  Deserts  of  Central 
Persia/  with  a  brief  description  of  the  sands,  clays,  and  gravels  which 
cover  so  large  a  part  of  the  country,  and  their  probable  connexion 
with  a  greater  rainfall  in  former  times,  and  a  gradual  decrease  at 
the  present  epoch. 

Mr.  A.  H.  Schindler  furnished  some  *  Notes  on  the  Greology  of 
Kdzrun'  to  the  Quarterly  Journal,  Geol.  Soc.  1873,  xxix,  p.  381,  from 
which  it  appears  probable  that  beds  of  later  tertiary  age,  belonging 
perhaps  to  the  Gypseous  series  of  Loftus,  exist  near  the  locality  named, 
which  is  about  60  miles  west  of  Shir&z.  In  the  same  Journal  for 
1874,  XXX,  p.  50,  Lieut.  A.  W.  Stiffe  gave  a  very  interesting  short 
paper,  *  On  the  Mud  Craters  and  Geological  Structure  of^  the  Makrin 
Coast,'  in  which,  in  ignorance  of  my  note  on  the  same  tract,  pubUshed 
the  previous  year,  he  entirely  confirmed  my  view  that  one  g^reat  newer 
tertiary  group  of  clays,  sandstones,  &c.  prevails  along  the  whole  coast, 
whilst  the  cursory  examination  of  some  of  the  fossils  by  Mr.  Etheridge 
resulted  in  their  being  attributed  to  the  miocene  age.  Lieut.  StiflTe 
also  called  attention  to  the  great  submarine  cliff  extending  along  the 
Makrdn  coast,  at  a  distance  of  from  10  to  20  miles  from  the  present 
shore. 

2.  General  Geological  Features  and  their  relations  to 
THE  Physical  Geography  of  Persia. 

It  is  well  known  that  Persia  consists  principally  of  a  table-land,  and 
that  a  great  part  of  its  surface  is  composed  of  desert  plains  at  an 
average  elevation  of  between  3000  and  4000  feet  above  the  sea.     Less 

^  There  is,  however,  a  sabmarine  cliff  off  the  Makrdn  coast,  which  is,  perhaps,  doe  to 
depreesion  previous  to  the  last  elevatoxy  movement. 


IIYDROGRAPUY.  449 

attention  has  however  been  paid  to  the  very  curious  fact  that  the  edges 
of  this  table-land  are  everywhere  higher  than  the  interior,  and  that 
from  the  whole  surfece  of  Persia,  with  the  exception  of  a  narrow  belt  of 
land  along  the  coast  of  the  Arabian  Sea  and  Persian  Gulf,  and  of  the 
western  watershed  of  the  Zdgros  and  Kurdistfin  mountains,  not  a  river 
finds  its  way  to  the  ocean,  or  to  any  sea  in  communication  with 
oceanic  waters  \  Not  only  is  there  no  constant  stream  flowing  from 
the  interior  of  Persia,  but  no  watercourse  communicates  with  the 
sea  from  the  interior  of  the  country,  and  every  drop  of  rain  which 
falls  on  the  Persian  plateau  is  evaporated  within  its  limits. 

The  whole  of  Persia  may  be  divided  into  three  hydrogmphical  areas ; 
(i)  the  country  watered  by  streams  flowing  into  the  Caspian;  (2)  the 
southern  and  south-western  region  draining  into  the  Tigris,  the  Persian 
Gulf,  and  the  Arabian  Sea  ;  and  (3)  the  plateau.  The  first  comprises 
the  northern  part  of  the  province  of  Adarbaijdn,  which  is  drained  by 
the  Araxes,  the  southern  portion  drained  by  the  Kizil-Uzun,  and  the 
Caspian  provinces  of  Ghil&n  and  Mazandar&n.  The  second  tract,  as 
already  pointed  out,  consists  of  the  western  slope  of  the  great  ranges 
of  mountains  extending  from  Ararat  to  the  neighbourhood  of  Shirdz, 
the  southern  portions  of  which  were  known  to  the  Greeks  as  the 
Z&gros,  together  with  the  small  portion  of  the  Tigris  plain  belonging 
to  Persia,  and  the  country  along  the  coasts  of  the  Persian  Gulf  and 
the  Arabian  Sea  for  a  varying  distance  inland.  The  remainder  of 
Persia  constitutes  the  plateau,  and  includes  geographically  Afgh&nistfin 
and  the  northern  portion  of  Ral&t.  The  boundaries  of  this  region 
are, — to  the  north,  the  Elburz  and  the  ranges  joining  it  to  the  Para* 
pamisus ;  to  the  west,  the  mountains  of  Kurdist&n  and  the  Zagros ;  to 
the  east,  the  Suleim&n  and  other  ranges  on  the  borders  of  India,  and 
to  the  south,  the  chains  of  southern  Rarm&n  and  Baluchist&n.  The 
valley  plains  of  Her&t  and  Mash-had  should  be  excluded,  because  the 
streams  watering  them  run  out  into  the  great  Aralo-Caspian  plain  to 
the  north. 

So  far  as  the  surface  of  the  Persian  plateau  has  been  surveyed  it 
consists  of  a  number  of  isolated  plains  of  varying  extent  and  elevation 
above  the  sea,  all  without  any  outlet,  and  separated  from  each  other 

'  On  all  maps  hitherto  existixig,  a  stream  is  shown  running  south-west  from  Sarawdn  in 
Northern  KaUt,  across  the  southern  part  of  the  desert  north  of  Baliichist&n,  and  joining 
the  Dasht  river  which  passes  by  Kej  and  enters  the  Arabian  Sea  west  of  GwAdar.  The 
surveys  of  Majors  St.  John  and  Lovett  have  shown  that  this  is  an  error. 

VOL.  II.  G  g 


450  GEOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

by  rangpes  of  hills,  frequently  of  considerable  heigfht.  The  lowest 
portion  of  each  of  these  plains  is  generally  a  salt  lake  or  marsh  ^.  If 
there  be  a  lake,  its  level  often  fluctuates,  and  one  or  two  seasons  of 
deficient  rainfall  suffice  to  lay  bare  the  greater  portion  of  its  beds,  or 
to  convert  it  into  a  marsh. 

Rivers  are  few  in  number,  and  singularly  small  in  volume ;  in  &ct, 
not  the  least  striking  physical  feature  of  the  country  consists  in  their 
l>aucity  or  absence.  The  whole  of  Persia,  except  near  the  shores 
of  the  Caspian  and  on  the  western  slopes  of  the  Zag^ros,  is,  in  fact,  a 
desert,  and  all  cultivated  oases  owe  their  fertility  to  irrigation  from 
springs^  or  from  the  small  streams  fed  by  the  rain  and  snow  of  winter. 

Such  being  the  general  character  of  the   region,   barren  isolated 
plains,  separated  from  each  other  by  equally  barren  hills,  it  remains  to 
point  out  briefly  the  geological  features  presented^  features  closely  in 
connexion,  as  might  be  expected,  with  the  physical  peculiarities  of  the 
country.    The  most  striking  circumstance  noticed  during^  a  journey  in 
Persia  is  the  great  prevalence  of  formations,  such  as  gravel,  sand,  and 
clay,  of  apparently  recent   origin ;    the  whole   of  the    great  plains 
covering  at  least  one-half  the  surface  of  the  country  consist  either  of 
a  fine,  pale-coloured  alluvial  loam,  which  covers  the  lowest  portion  of 
the  surface,  or  of  gravel,  fine  or  coarse,  which  usually  forms  a  long 
gentle  slope  from  the  surrounding  hills  to  the  alluvial  flat,  and  fills 
up  with  long  slopes  the  broad  valleys  opening  into  the  larger  plains. 
All   these   deposits   are   more  conspicuous   than    they   are    in   most 
countries  in  consequence  of  the  paucity  of  vegetation  and  the  absence 
of  cultivation  throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  surface. 

Nor  is  this  prevalence  of  recent  or  subrecent  detrital  accumulations 
confined  to  the  plains,  for  the  slopes  of  the  hills  up  to  a  considerable  ele* 
vation  are  in  some  cases  composed  of  similar  unconsolidated  formations, 
from  which  only  occasional  peaks  of  solid  rock  emerge.  This,  how- 
ever, is  by  no  means  universally  the  case,  many  ranges  consisting 
entirely  of  rock.  Again,  the  descent  in  Baluchistan  from  the  plateau 
to  the  sea-coast  is  over  broad  terrace-like  flats  of  gravel  and  sand, 
separated  from  each  other  by  ranges  of  hills  running  parallel  to  the 
coast  line. 

'  In  a  paper  on  the  superficial  deposits  of  Persia,  published  in  the  Quart.  Jour.  Geol. 
Soc,  xxix,  p.  495,  I  spoke  of  the  Sistiin  lake  as  differing  from  other  Persian  lakes  by 
being  fresh.  I  depended  upon  what  appeared  the  latest  information,  but  I  find  that 
Conolly,  who  had  excellent  means  of  observing,  declared  the  water  to  be  brackish.  It 
probably  is  fresh  only  where  riven  enter  the  lake,  salt  or  brackish  elsewhere. 


MOUNTAIN  RANGES.  451 

The  mountains  and  hill  ranges  of  Persia  comprise  a  considerable 
variety  of  ^ological  formations,  a  few  of  which,  however,  prevail 
over  large  areas  of  country.  So  far  as  our  knowledge  at  present 
extends,  the  great  mass  of  the  Z&gros  chain  (the  term  being  used  in 
the  widest  sense  for  the  whole  mountain  range  from  Mount  Ararat  to 
Shiriz,  together  with  the  numerous  parallel  minor  ranges  north-east 
of  the  main  chain)  consists  of  cretaceous  (hippuritic)  and  tertiary 
formations,  the  former  constituting  the  north-east  half  of  the  range 
and  its  slope  towards  the  central  plain  of  Persia,  whilst  the  nummu- 
litic  and  later  formations  prevail  almost  exclusively  on  the  south-west 
watershed  overlooking  the  Tigris  valley.  Older  rocks  occur,  but  they 
are  of  subordinate  importance,  and  it  appeared  probable,  both  to 
Mr.  Loftus  and  myself,  that  part  at  least  of  the  altered  rocks  which 
form  no  inconsiderable  portion  of  the  range  to  the  north-east  is  very 
probably  of  cretaceous  origin.  Old  granite  rocks,  however,  form  a 
great  band,  extending  from  Lake  Unimiah  to  a  point  nearly  due 
west  of  Isfahdn,  and  the  same  crystalline  masses  appear  in  the  ranges 
between  Isfah&u  and  Kfishdn. 

The  Zdgros  range  runs  very  nearly  from  north-west  to  south-east, 
and  it  is  shown  by  Loftus  to  consist  of  parallel  bands  of  rock  having 
the  same  stripe  as  the  chain.  The  same  general  direction  prevails  in 
the  ranges  which  traverse  the  country  between  Isfah&n,  Yezd,  and 
Karmdn,  and  a  continuation  of  which  extends  as  far  south  as  the 
neighbourhood  of  Bampur  and  J&lk,  in  Baluchist&n.  In  &ct,  it 
may  be  said  to  characterise  all  the  mountains  south-west  of  the  great 
central  desert  of  Persia,  and  forming  a  belt  of  more  or  less  hilly 
country  intervening  between  those  deserts  and  the  great  depression 
of  the  Persian  Gulf  and  the  Mesopotamian  plain.  So  far  as  these 
north-west-south-east  ridges  have  been  examined,  they  have  the  same 
geological  features  as  the  Z&gros,  and  consist  similarly  in  the  main  of 
cretaceous  and  nummulitic  rocks,  the  former  prevailing  to  the  north- 
east towards  the  desert,  the  latter  to  the  south-west  near  the  sea. 
Here,  again,  metamorphic  rocks  occur,  some  of  them  granitic,  others 
but  little  altered,  and  closely  resembling  in  facies  the  cretaceous  beds 
in  their  neighbourhood.  Volcanic  formations  also  occupy  an  extensive 
area,  and  whilst  some  appear  of  very  late  origin,  others  are  possibly 
contemporaneous  with  the  cretaceous  epoch. 

Along  the  south-western  edge  of  the  Zagros  range  there  is  a  great 
development  of  tertiary  formations  newer  than  the  nummulitics.    The 

G  g  2 


462  GEOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

precise  position  of  these  beds  in  the  geological  sequence  has  not  been 
determined,  and  they  may  comprise  representatives  of  both  the  Miocene 
and  Pliocene  ages.  By  Mr.  Loflas  they  have  been  classed  under  the 
general  designation  of  the  Gypseous  series. 

The  southern  border-land  of  the  Persian  plateau  has  not  yet  been 
sufficiently  examined  for  its  geological  characters  to  be  well  known. 
Where  crossed  by  Major  St.  John  and  myself^  between  Gwfidar  and 
J&lk,  it  consisted  of  low  ranges  running  east  and  west,  and^  except 
near  the  sea,  almost  entirely  composed  of  unfossiliferous  sandstones 
and  shales^  associated  with  a  few  beds  of  nummulitic  limestone.     So 
&r  as  could  be  ascertained,  these  ranges  appear  to  betongf  entirely  to  the 
older  tertiary  epoch.     Here  and  there  a  few  isolated  masses  of  basaltic 
igneous  rock  have  been  intruded  through  the  strata,  but  their  occur- 
rence is  exceptional.     Along  the  sea-coast,  however,  from  the  frontier 
of  Sind  to  the  Persian  Gulf,  and  probably  throughout  a  larg^  portion 
of  the  north-east  shores  of  the  Gulf,  a  newer  series  of  rocks  rests  upon 
the  nummulitics.   This  newer  series  is  easily  recognised  by  the  presence 
of  thick  beds  of  hardened  clay  or  marl ;  it  is  of  great  thickness,  and 
abounds  in  fossils,  a  few  of  which  appear  to  be  living  forms,  whilst 
others   are    extinct.     The   exact  age  has  not  been  ascertained  ;  the 
mineral  character  is  very  diffijrent  from  that  described  by  Iioftus  as 
characteristic  of  the  gypseous  series,  and  it  is  therefore  premature  to 
class  these  beds  of  the  Persian  coasts  for  which  I  have  proposed  the 
name  of  Makr^n  group^  more  definitely  than  as  newer  tertiaries.    It  is 
highly  probable  that  they  represent  a  portion  at  least  of  the  gypseous 
series.     Along  the  coast  itself  are  a  few  mud  volcanoes. 

But  very  little  is  known  of  the  eastern  and  north-eastern  frontiers 
of  the  Persian  table-land.  In  ElaUt,  on  the  Bolan  Pass,  and  in  the 
Sulaiman  ranges,  nummulitic  rocks  are  known  to  be  largely  de- 
veloped, and  strata  of  older  date  were  found  by  Dr.  Cook  in  Kal&t  ^, 
but  the  hippuritic  limestone^  so  greatly  developed  in  Southern  Persia, 
has  not  yet  been  noticed  on  the  eastern  borders  of  the  country. 

North-western  Persia,  on  the  other  hand,  has  been  widely  explored 
by  various  Russian  and  German  travellers^  and  there  would  appear, 
both  in  Adarbaij&n  and  the  Elburz  range,  to  be  a  greater  develop- 
ment of  older  Mesozoic  and  Palaeozoic  formations  than  in  other  parts  of 
Western  or  in  Southern  Persia.  From  the  very  brief  visits  which  I 
was  enabled  to  pay  to  the  Elburz  and  the  small  area  examined,  I  can 

*  Joor.  Bombay,  Bnuich  Roy.  Ab.  Soc.,  vi,  p.  184. 


METAMORPHICS.  45? 

form  but  an  imperfect  conception  of  the  range  as  a  whole,  but  the 
impression  produced  by  my  visits  is  that  the  geological  composition  of 
this  mountain  chain  presents  a  striking  contrast  to  that  of  all  other 
parts  of  Persia  which  I  had  previously  seen.  It  appears  probable  that 
a  very  considerable  portion  of  this  range  consists  of  carboniferous  and 
Devonian  beds,  and  that  Jurassic  or  Liassic  rocks  are  also  extensively 
developed.  The  same  formations  extend  to  Adarbaij&n,  but  here,  as 
well  as  in  the  eastern  parts  of  the  Elburz,  cretaceous  and  nummulitic 
rocks  are  also  found.  Metamorphics  (granite,  &c.)  exist  in  several 
places,  whilst  volcanic  outbursts  occupy  a  considerable  area,  and  the 
highest  mountain  in  Persia,  Dam&vand,  in  the  Elburz  chain,  about 
60  miles  east-north-east  of  Tehr&n,  is  a  volcano  which,  although 
dormant  in  the  historical  period,  is  of  recent  formation,  and  still  gives 
vent  to  heated  gases.  The  volcanic  masses  of  Ararat  Sahend,  south 
of  Tabriz,  and  Saval&n,  are  also  in  great  part  at  least  of  geologically 
recent  origin. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  formations  hitherto  noticed  in  Persia, 
followed  by  a  few  details  as  to  their  known  mineral  character  and 
distribution. 

QUATEBNABT  OB  ReCBNT  :— 

1.  Gravel,  sand,  clay,  &c.,  of  the  desert  plains  and  yalleys.     Calcareous  conglome- 

rate of  the  coast.     Alluviam  of  Mesopotamia.     Subrecent  yolcanic  rocks. 
Tebtiaby  : — 
*  Newer, 

2.  Makr&n  group. 

3.  Gjpsiferous  series.     (?)  Salt  beds  of  Hormiiz,  &o.,  older. 

4.  Nummulitic  series. 
Becondabt  : — 

5.  Cretaceous  series.    Hippuritic  limestone.     (?)  Volcanic  beds  of  South-western 

Persia. 

6.  Jurassic  and  Liassic  beds. 
Paljeozoio  : — 

7.  Carboniferous  and  Devonian. 
Metamobphio  : — 

8.  Granite,  Gneiss,  8lc, 

In  treating  these  formations  it  is  most  convenient,  as  usual,  to 
commence  with  the  oldest. 

8.   METAJiORPHic  Bocks,  including  Granite. 

As  has  already  been  mentioned,  these  occupy  a  considerable  area  in  the 
Z&gros  range,  extending  from  Mount  Ararat  nearly  to  Isfah&n;  they 


454  GEOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

occur  in  several  scattered  localities  in  North-western  Persia,  in  the 
mountains  north  of  Tabriz,  and  near  Saink&la,  between  Salt£niah  and 
Kazvin.  By  G^e^\^ngk  they  are  also  marked  as  existing^  in  several 
places  on  the  lower  ranges  in  Ghil&n  south-west  and  south-east  of 
Resht^  and  some  slaty  rocks,  perhaps  schistose,  oocnr  near  AstnhitL 

THie  only  place  where  granitic  rocks  were  croased  in  znj  jonmcy 
through  Persia  was  at  Kohrud^  between  Isfah&n  and  K&sh&n,  where 
they  form  the  steep  scarp  facing  to  the  north-east  of  a  hig'h  range, 
about  8000  to  9000  feet  above  the  sea.  Similar  granitoid  forma- 
tions were,  however,  proved  to  exist  in  the  lofty  range  called  the 
Kuh-i-Shdh-Sowdr4n,  lying  south  of  Bam,  and  forming  the  south- 
western limit  of  Narmashir,  for  large  pebbles  of  g^nite  and  similar 
rocks  abounded  in  the  streams  running  from  the  range,  which  was  of 
sufficient  altitude  to  be  thickly  capped  with  snow  in  April. 

Besides  these  more  granitoid  metamorphic  rocks,  there  is  a  large 
extent  of  more   or   less   altered  slaty  and  sandy  beds,  occasionally 
schistose,  and  of  limestones  which    were   seen   in    Sarjfin,   between 
Karm&n  and  Shirdz,  near  the  town  of  Saidab&d,  and  again  between 
Asup&s  and  Yazdikh&st  on  the  road  from  Shir&z  to  Isfahan.     In  the 
former  case  the  alteration  appears  greater  than  in  the  latter ;   near 
Saidabfid  the  hills   consist   of  crystalline  limestone  associated  with 
mica  schist,  quartzite,  and  gneissose  rock.    Nevertheless,  except  in  the 
crj'stalline    structure,   the    resemblance    to    the   cretaceous    beds   of 
Karmdn   is    so    great  that    it   appears    highly  probable  that    these 
altered  rocks   belong  to  the    same   formation.     In  the   case    of  the 
rocks  near  Kushkizard  and  Dehgirdii  between   Shir&z  and  Isfahan, 
the  change  has  been  less,  and  the  evidence  of  the  altered  beds  being 
in  part  at  least  cretaceous  is  stronger  because  they  appear  to  pass 
into  hippuritic  formations  south  of  Asupds  and  near  Yazdikh&st. 

Similar  slaty  and  schistose  rocks  are  shown  by  Loftus  to  have  a 
wide  range  in  the  Zdgros,  extending  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
granitic  rocks  from  a  little  south  of  Lake  Urumiah  to  the  plain  of 
Persepolis,  and  he  likewise  remarked  the  resemblance  of  portions  of 
them  to  the  beds  of  the  cretaceous  formations  ^     The  altered  beds 

'  Loftus  is  inclined  to  refer  a  lai^e  proportion  of  these  rocks  to  altered  nommQliticSt 
Q.  J.  G.  S.,  xi,  p.  380,  but  he  admits  that  a  portion  of  them  are  older,  and  that  their 
appearance  is  very  different  from  that  of  the  usual  tertiary  rocks.  A  glance  at  Loftus's 
sections,  especially  fig.  i.  p.  326,  and  fig.  10.  p.  333,  wiU  show  the  greater  probability  of 
the  altered  rocks  belonging  to  the  cretaceous  than  to  the  nummulitic  formations.  TbeM 
itoctions  are  very  similar  in  general  character  to  some  between  Shiriz  and  Karmiii. 


PALEOZOIC  FORMATIONS.  455 

of  Sarj&n  are  on  the  strike  of  the  same  band  of  rock,  and  the 
granitoid  mountains  forming  the  range  of  Kuh-i-Shah-Sow&r&n  are 
very  little  to  the  north-east  of  the  same  line,  so  that  it  appears  far 
from  improbable  that  the  great  band  of  granitoid  gneissic  schistose 
and  slaty  rocks  extending  from  Mount  Ararat  to  the  borders  of 
Baluchistan,  a  distance  of  considerably  more  than  looo  miles,  is  con- 
tinuous, and  that  its  metamorphism  is  of  the  same  age.  That  age 
moreover  is  not  older  than  cretaceous,  if,  as  appears  probable,  a  por- 
tion at  least  of  the  altered  beds  both  south-west  of  Karm&n  and  north 
of  Shiriz  represent  the  hippuritic  limestone,  and  it  is  difficult  to  avoid 
the  conclusion  that  the  metamorphism  of  the  band  of  rock  men- 
tioned is  connected  with  the  volcanic  formations  which  in  places 
appear  to  be  associated  with  the  cretaceous  beds^.  It  should  also  be 
remembered  that  Abich  has  pointed  out,  in  the  Caucasus,  evidence  of 
great  volcanic  outbursts  towards  the  close  of  the  cretaceous  period. 

7.  Pakeozoic. 

In  Southern  Persia  no  fossiliferous  rocks  are  known  of  older  date 
than  the  cretaceous  period,  but  the  age  of  the  salt  rocks  of  Hormuz 
and  the  other  islands  in  the  Persian  Gulf  has  not  been  ascertained, 
and  they  may  be  ancient,  though  it  is  more  probable  that  they 
are  tertiary.  In  Northern  Persia  there  is  a  great  development  of 
Devonian  and  carboniferous  rocks  in  the  Elburz,  extending  north- 
west to  the  valley  of  the  Araxes,  where  they  have  been  found  by 
Abich  around  Julfa,  north-west  of  Tabriz.  The  only  locality  in  the 
Zdgros  chain  at  which  pa1aK>zoic  formations  have  been  detected  is  in 
the  Bakhtiy&ri  mountains,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Kuh-i-Kell&r  range, 
about  50  or  60  miles  south-west  of  Isfah&n.  Here  Mr.  Loftus 
observed  some  highly  crystalline  grey  limestone  containing  a  species 
of  Orthis  considered  by  Mr.  Morris  as  a  form  intermediate  between  a 
Devonian  and  Silurian  species.  It  is  not  impossible  that  the  rock 
found  may  be  of  the  same  age  as  the  Devonians  of  Northern  Persia, 
but  this  is  only  a  suggestion. 

In  the  only  case  in  which  an  opportunity  occurred  for  examining 
the  Palaeozoic  formations  of  the  Elburz,  which  was  close  to  the  town 
of  An&n,  due  north  of  Tehrdn,  I  found  very  thick  beds  of  carboniferous 
limestone,   containing   Producfus  gigantem  in  places,   and   precisely 

^  These  remarks  do  not  apply  to  the  g^ranite  and  gneiss  of  Kohnid. 


456  GEOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

similar  in  character  to  the  mountain  limestone  of  the  west  of  Engknd, 
associated  here  and  there  with  shales,  which  were  more  or  less  cv- 
bonaceous.  In  some  of  these  shales  I  found  several  fossils,  especially 
Streptorhpichus  crenUtria^  Spirifer,  sp.,  Spiriferina,  sp.,  and  two  species 
of  Befepora,  which  Mr.  Etheridge,  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  the 
names,  considers  Devonian.  So  far  as  I  could  judge  from  a  reiy 
hasty  examination,  the  shales  in  which  the  fossils  occurred  were  not 
only  interstratified  with  the  Productus  limestone,  but  they  were  high 
up  in  the  series ;  the  sections  were  finely  seen  in  an  immense  gorge  in 
the  mountains,  and  although  I  tried  to  detect  evidence  of  faulting, 
I  could  see  none.  From  the  accounts  given  by  Abich  and  Grewingk, 
it  appears  that  similar  associations  of  Producing  limestone,  with  beds 
containing  Devonian  fossils,  are  found  elsewhere  in  Northern  Persia. 


SECONDARY. 

6.  LiASsic  AND  Jurassic. 

These   lower    secondary  formations,  like  the  Pala^zoic^  have  not 
hitherto  been  recognised  in  Southern  Persia.     Mr.  Lofbus  points  out 
that  some  of  the  altered  rocks  of  the  Z&gros  range  are  probably  of 
older  secondary  age,  and  he  describes  a  limestone  occurring  at  Miam 
Mir  Achmet,  between  B&sht  and  Fdliyan,  north-west  of  Shir^^  con- 
taining Ammonites  Gryphcea  Yoluta  and  other  fossils,  as  of  this  date. 
The  species  of  fossils  are  not  mentioned,  but  the  occurrence  of  Tolui'a 
tends  to  induce  the  belief  that  the  strata  are  more  recent  than  the 
Jurassic  epoch,  and  the  beds  are  said  to  pass  upwards  into  a  hard 
yellow  compact  and  crystalline  limestone,  which  Mr.  Loftus  is  inclined 
to  refer  to  the  Nummulitic  group  ^,  so  their  lower  secondary  age  is  by 
no  means  clearly  proved. 

Marine  Jurassic  rocks  are  said  by  Grewingk  to  be  found  in  the 
Araxes  valley  and  in  Ghildn,  but  he  has  included  Hippuritic  lime- 
stones, and  it  is  far  from  clear  that  all  the  rocks  described  are  not 
cretaceous.     Abich  describes  the  occurrence  of  Jurassic  formations  in 

'  The  degcription  agrees  better  with  the  Hippuritic  limestone,  so  far  as  my  obaervationa 
of  the  two  rocks  extended,  and  I  think  Mr.  Loftus  has  in  several  cases  indoded  ere- 
taoeouB  limestones  which  arc  frequently  very  unfossiliferous  in  the  NummuUtio  group. 


CRETACEOUS  ROCKS,  Ao7 

the  Caucasus  and  in  Karab&gh,  and  indicates  a  probable  locality 
south  of  the  Araxes,  but  does  not  prove  their  existence  in  Northern 
Persia. 

There  is,  however,  in  the  Elburz  mountains  a  widely-spread  forma- 
tion  containing  fossil  plants  of  unquestionable  lower  secondary  age, 
and  beds  of  coal.  The  principal  fossils  are  species  of  PferqpAyllum^ 
Palaozamiay  Nilhonia^  Odontopteris,  etc.  The  same  rocks  with  similar 
fossils  have  been  traced  far  into  the  Caucasus  by  Abich.  It  is  not 
quite  clear  whether  all  the  coal  beds  of  the  Elburz  are  of  this  age,  nor 
whether  the  greenish  and  grey  shales  and  sandstones  so  largely 
developed  just  north  of  Tehr&n  should  be  referred  to  the  Jurassic 
formation ;  but  this  is  far  from  improbable. 

5.  Cretaceous  Series. 

Bocks  of  cretaceous  age  occupy  an  extensive  area  in  South-western 
Persia,  and  it  appears  probable  that  a  very  large  portion  of  the  plateau 
is  covered  with  formations  belonging  to  this  epoch.  The  most  con- 
spicuous member  of  the  series  is  massive  limestone,  usually  compact, 
but  sometimes  crystalline,  whitish,  pale  yellow,  pink,  grey,  or  slaty 
in  colour^  the  pale  tints  predominating.  The  peculiar  compact  texture, 
fine  grain,  and  conchoidal  fracture  of  the  most  common  variety  of 
limestone  are  characteristic,  and  the  form  of  the  hills  composed  of  it 
is  equally  so:  it  weathers  into  rounded  bosses,  with  a  very  pale- 
coloured  surface.     In  places  this  limestone  abounds  in  Hippurif-es. 

With  the  limestone,  sandstones  and  shales  are  associated,  usually 
in  rather  thin  beds,  but  often  attaining  a  considerable  thickness.  The 
whole  series  near  Karm&n,  where  it  is  well  developed  and  consists 
chiefly  of  limestone,  appears  to  exceed  8000  feet  in  thickness,  and 
neither  the  top  nor  base  is  seen. 

Cretaceous  rocks  are  shown  by  Lofbus  to  extend  throughout,  or 
almost  throughout,  the  Z&gros  range  from  a  little  south-west  of  Lake 
Urumiah  to  Persepolis;  and  I  have  traced  them  to  the  south-west, 
apparently  without  interruption  from  this  point  north  of  Shir&z  to 
about  half-way  between  Karm&n  and  Bam,  so  that  they  occupy  an 
unbroken,  or  almost  unbroken,  tract  from  north-west  to  south-east, 
at  least  800  miles  in  length.  This,  however,  only  gives  a  partial  idea 
of  their  range*  Loftus  frequently  mentions  his  impression  that  some 
of  the  limestones  classed  by  him  as  Nummulitic  are  really  cretaceous ; 


458  GEOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

and  amongst  the  formations  of  doubtful  age  marked  in  bis  map  as 
•  Blue  Limestone  and  Slate  Rocks/  I  found  what  appeared  to  me 
unmistakeable  Hippuritic  limestone  in  several  places  on  the  road 
between  Shir&z  and  Isfuh&n.  The  limestones  near  Isfab&n,  south-west 
of  the  city  and  the  hills  north  of  the  Band^ir  valley,  near  Persepolis, 
are  both  marked  as  Nummulitic  by  Loftus,  but  appeared  to  me  pro- 
bably cretaceous,  and  in  the  last-named  locality  I  found  HipjmriU* 
in  places.  Moreover^  many  of  the  isolated  masses  of  limestone  seen 
on  the  road  from  Isfahan  to  Tehran  had  precisely  the  same  character 
as  the  Hippuritic  beds  of  Karm&n,  and  in  some  blocks  of  limestone 
brought  from  a  hill  a  few  miles  east  of  Tehr&n  for  buildings  purposes 
I  found  Ilijqmrifes  in  abundance.  According  to  Grewingk,  cretaceous 
beds  occur  in  the  Elburz,  and  in  Adarbaij&n  they  were  detected  by 
Hommaire  de  Hell  near  Astrab&d,  and  they  are  well  known  to  be 
largely  developed  in  the  Caucasus  and  in  Asia  Minor.  Thus  the 
Persian  rocks  of  this  epoch  are  in  connection  with  those  of  southern 
and  south-eastern  Europe. 

The  south-eastern  limit  of  the  cretaceous  area  is  not  well  ascer- 
tained. Fossiliferous  limestones  were  found  as  far  as  Khusrin,  about 
half-way  between  Karm^n  and  Bam,  but  some  sandstones  and  shales 
very  probably  belonging  to  the  same  series  as  the  limestones  extended 
along  the  south-western  side  of  the  Bam  valley  to  the  neigpfabourhood 
of  that  town,  and  limestones  of  unknown  age,  but  possibly  cretaceous, 
were  observed  on  the  northern  margin  of  the  Bampur  plain. 

Besides  the  sedimentary  rocks  of  undoubted  cretaceous  age,  there  are 
in  several  parts  of  Persia  volcanic  rocks,  chiefly  dolentes  and  ash  beds, 
often  associated  with  gravels,  conglomerates,  and  sandstones  of  un- 
mistakeably  aqueous  origin,  which  appear  in  places  so  closely  con- 
nected with  the  cretaceous  series  that  their  contemporaneity  seems 
highly  probable.  Here  and  there,  as  near  Karm&n,  volcanic  rocks  are 
found  apparently  intercalated  amongst  cretaceous  strata,  and  as  Abich 
has  pointed  out  that  great  outbursts  of  volcanic  rocks  took  place  in  the 
Caucasus  towards  the  close  of  the  cretaceous  epoch,  it  appears  highly 
probable  that  a  portion  at  least  of  the  widely-extended  volcanic 
formations  of  Southern  and  South-western  Persia  should  be  referred 
to  the  same  geological  period.  At  the  same  time  some  of  the  igneous 
rocks  are  probably  newer,  for  the  volcanic  cones  of  the  Elburz  are  of 
comparatively  recent  date,  as  are  also  those  of  the  country  between 
Bampur  and  Narmashir,  on  the  frontier  of  Baluchist&n,  whilst  the 


NUMMULITIC  BEDS,  459 

basaltic  outbursts  seen  in  Baluehistdn  itself  are  intruded  amongst  the 
nummulitic  rocks. 

Another  circumstance  which  tends  to  render  probable  a  late  cre- 
taceous or  post-cretaceous  date  for  some  of  the  volcanic  outbursts  is 
the  circumstance  that  some  of  the  altered  roeks^  as  for  instance  those 
of  Sarj&n  and  those  of  Asup&s,  appear  to  be  of  cretaceous  age.  These 
have  already  been  described  under  the  heading  of  metamorphic 
rocks. 

If  we  include  the  volcanic  rocks,  whether  associated  with  sedi- 
mentary beds  or  not,  in  the  formations  to  be  ascribed  to  the  cretaceous 
period,  it  is  evident  that  strata  belonging  to  this  series  occupy  all  the 
area  of  Western  and  South-western  Persia,  where  rocks  have  been 
detected  from  the  outcrop  of  the  nummulitics  along  a  line  drawn 
south-west  of  the  principal  axis  of  the  Z&gros  range  to  the  borders  of 
the  interior  deserts,  and  from  the  base  of  the  Elburz  to  Baluchist&n. 
It  becomes  highly  probable  that  similar  rocks  extend  far  into  the 
central  deserts,  and  probably  cover  a  very  large  portion  of  the 
plateau. 

TERTIARY. 

4.  NuMMULinc  Series. 

Like  the  cretaceous  rocks,  the  nummulitic  beds  are  found  in  the 
extreme  north-west  of  Persia,  and  extend  thence  throughout  the 
whole  of  the  Z&gros  range  to  Shir&z.  Their  presence  in  Adarbaijdn 
and  the  Elburz  has  been  shown  by  various  observers.  I  met  with  them 
around  Shir&z,  and  in  the  country  intervening  between  the  lakes  of 
Shiriz  and  Niriz,  but  the  whole  journey  from  Bam  to  Niriz  was  over 
older  rocks.  Throughout  the  area  traversed  between  6w&dar  and 
J&lk,  and  from*  J&lk  to  Bampur,  in  short,  during  the  whole  of  the 
journey  in  Baluchist&n,  the  only  fossiliferous  beds  observed,  except  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  coast,  were  nummulitic  limestones,  and 
from  the  mode  of  association  of  the  sandstones  and  shales  which  occupy 
the  greater  portion  of  the  coimtry  with  the  limestones,  there  appears 
no  reason  for  separating  the  two.  Still  no  proof  of  their  identity  has 
been  found  beyond  conformity  in  a  much  disturbed  area,  where  nearly 
all  the  beds  are  vertical. 

Whether  the  Baluchistdn  nummulitics  are  connected  with  those  of 


460  GEOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

Shir&z  it  is  impossible  to  say,  but  it  is  far  from  improbable  that  a 
continuous  belt  of  formations  of  this  age  extends  parallel  to  the  coast 
and  joins  the  two  tracts.  It  appears  highly  probable  that  the  num- 
mulitics  of  Diz^k  and  Pishin  are  a  portion  of  the  Kal&t  and  Sind  area, 
which  again  is  joined  to  that  of  the  Panj&b  and  Afgh&nistkn,  so  that 
the  plateau  of  Persia  is  surrounded  on  three  sides^  west^  south,  and 
east,  by  older  tertiary  formations.  At  the  same  time  there  appears  to 
be  a  want  of  tertiary  beds  on  such  portions  of  the  Persian  plateau  as 
have  hitherto  been  examined^. 

The  nummulitics  near  Sbiraz  consist  chiefly  of  limestone^  with  a 
few  bands  of  sandstones  and  sandy  shales  intercalated.    The  limestone 
is  sometimes  compact,  but  often  in  thin  beds,  decomposing^  into  loose 
irregular  blocks.     So  far  as  it  was  observed,  it  never  occurred  in  such 
compact  masses  as  are  characteristic  of  the  Hippuritic  limestone,  the 
strata  were  thinner,  and  there  was  a  far  gi'eater  tendency  to  decompose 
into  loose  blocks  on  the  surface.     More  compact  limestones,  however, 
are  described  by  Loftus  as  occurring  in  the  Z^ros,  and  near  Shir^z 
and  Niriz  fragments  of  a  very  homogeneous  grey  limestone,  abounding 
in  Alveolina^  were  seen,  resembling  the  fine- textured  limestone,  con- 
taining  the  same   fossil,  in   Sind    and   Baluchistdn.     In    one   place 
east   of  Sarvist&n,  a  great   thickness  of  red   shales   and   variously 
coloured  sandstones  is  exposed,  which  apparently  belong  to  the  num- 
mulitic  series,  although  their  relations  are  obscure.    Somewhat  similar 
beds  arc  seen  at  the  base  of  the  Hippuritic  limestone  cliffs  near  the 
town  of  Niriz. 

So  far  as  can  be  judged  from  Loftus's  descriptions  and  detailed 
sections,  the  nummulitic  rocks  of  the  Zdgros  closely  resemble  those  of 
Shir&z,  and  consist  chiefly  of  limestone  of  various  colours,  often  com- 
pact and  crystalline. 

The  rocks  of  Baluchistan  are  very  difierent.  They  consist  chiefly  of 
shales  and  thinly-bedded  sandstones,  grey,  greenish  grey,  brown,  or 
slaty  in  colour,  with  occasional  beds  of  harder  sandstone.  In  some 
places  they  are  much  hardened,  and  become  slaty,  well-marked 
cleavage  being  developed  in  one  or  two  instances,  and  even  incipient 
foliation.     At  a  few  localities,  as  about  Hung,  north  of  the  Kshin 

'  As  already  noticed,  Grewingk  states  that  Nummulitic  limestone  occurs  near  Teid. 
This  however,  like  the  asserted  occurrence  at  Kohnid,  needs  confirmation,  it  being  pos- 
sible, unless  the  fossils  were  carefully  compared,  that  some  of  the  Hippuritic  limestonei 
were  taken  for  Nummulitic. 


GYPSIFEROUS  SERIES.  461 

Valley,  near  Dizak,  and  near  Magas,  compact  grey  and  whitish  lime- 
stones containing  Nummulites  and  Alveolina  occur,  usually  in  small 
isolated  masses,  but  near  Magas  forming  a  high  range  of  hills.  These 
limestones,  although  not  in  continuous  bands,  recur  along  the  same 
Btrike,  the  Magas  rocks  being  on  the  general  strike  of  those  seen 
between  Kshin  and  Hung. 

The  most  curious  point  connected  with  all  these  Baluchist&n  beds 
is  that,  throughout  the  whole  area  traversed,  they  dip  at  excessively 
high  angles,  being  very  often  vertical,  or  nearly  vertical,  for  miles 
together.  A  great  thickness  of  beds  must  be  exposed,  and  the  question 
arises  whether  all  are  nummulitic,  or  only  those  associated  with  the 
limestones.  But  there  is  no  difference  in  mineral  character  between 
any  of  them,  indeed  the  similarity  throughout  is  most  marked,  and, 
although  it  is  quite  possible  that  different  formations  may  occur,  no 
way  of  distinguishing  them  was  detected. 

3.  Gypsiperous  Series. 

No  opportunity  was  afforded  of  studying  these  rocks  during  my 
journey  through  Persia.  The  name  was  applied  by  Loftus  to  all 
stratified  deposits  above  the  nummulitic  limestone.  The  beds  thus 
named  are  of  great  thickness,  and  their  exact  geological  horizon, 
owing  to  the  paucity  pf  fossil  evidence,  is  not  determined.  They  are 
doubtless  newer  tertiary,  but  whether  Miocene  or  Pliocene  is  un- 
certain. 

These  beds,  according  to  Loftus,  occupy  the  whole  outer  slope  of 
the  Z&gros  range,  and  are  found  locally  in  the  plains  of  Mesopotamia. 
They  nowhere  are  known  to  exist  on  the  inner  or  north-eastern  slope 
of  the  Z&gros ;  they  have  been  traced  from  Mosul,  on  the  Tigris,  to 
KAzrun,  west  of  Shir&z,  but  are  not  known  with  certainty  farther  to 
the  south-east,  nor  is  it  by  any  means  clear  whether  they  are  repre- 
sented partly  or  wholly  by  the  Makrdn  group. 

The  general  section  of  the  Gypsiferous  series  is  said  by  Loftus 
to  be — 

I.  Fine  gravel,  passing  into 

2»  Friable,  red,  calcareous  sandstone. 

3.  Variegated  marls,  frequently  saliferous;  with  vast  deposits  of 
gypsum,  and  thin  beds  of  impure  limestone. 

There  is  a  bare  possibility  that  the  salt  rocks  of  Hormuz,  Larak, 


462  GEOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

Kishm,  and  other  islands  of  the  Persian  Galf  may  represent  the  6jp- 
siferous  series.  Certainly  the  beds  in  question  have  a  very  ancient 
appearance^  but  this  may  be  due  to  the  association  of  volcanic  rocks. 
Salt  occurs  in  the  Gypsiferous  series,  though  not  in  the  same 
abundance  as  in  the  Hormuz  beds,  but  the  latter  resemble  the  former 
in  several  peculiarities  of  mineral  character,  such  as  the  presence  of 
gypsum. 

As  regards  the  age  of  the  salt-bearing  beds,  all  that  has  been 
ascertained  is  that  the  newer  tertiary  Makr&n  beds  rest  unconfbrmably 
upon  them,  and  that  they  are  greatly  disturbed.  Still  the  nummulitics 
in  Baluchist&n  are  just  as  old-looking  and  are  found  vertical  over  an 
enormous  area. 

The  salt  formation  consists  of  beds  of  rock-salt  more  or  less  pure, 
frequently  mixed  with  reddish  clay  interstratified  with  shales  and  sandy 
beds,  oflen  of  bright  red  and  reddish  brown  colours,  and  with  volcanic 
rocks,  dolerites  and  trachytes.  Micaceous  and  specular  iron  ore  and 
iron  pyrites  are  associated,  and  gypsum  and  sulphur  are  said  to  occar. 
The  quantity  of  rock-salt  in  some  places  is  enormous ;  at  Hormuz  it 
appears  to  equal  or  exceed  in  amount  all  the  other  constituent  parts  of 
the  formation  together,  but  it  is  not  extracted  in  any  large  quantity. 

The  appearance  of  these  rocks  from  a  distance  is  very  characteristic, 
owing  to  the  rich  red  and  brown  colours  assumed  by  them,  and  to  the 
singularly  craggy  appearance  produced  by  the  solubility  of  the  salt. 
The  formation  appears  to  occur  in  all  or  nearly  all  the  islands  of  the 
Persian  Gulf,  those  near  the  Persian  as  well  as  those  near  the  Arabian 
coast.  It  is  also  found  at  a  few  places  on  the  Persian  coast,  as  at  B& 
Boston  ah  ^,  south-west  of  Linga,  and  some  other  spots  in  the  same 
neighbourhood  ^. 

2.  Makran  Groups. 

Throughout  the  Makr&n  or  Baluchist&n  coasts  from  near  the  frontier 
of  Sind  to  the  entrance  of  the  Persian  Gulf,  the  hills  and  headlands  are 
composed  of  a  late  tertiary  formation,  differing  entirely  in  mineral 
character  from  the  Gypsiferous  series  of  Loftus,  of  which,  or  part  of 
which,  it  may  however  be  a  marine  equivalent.  The  distance  from  the 
coast  to  which  this  group  extends  is  quite  unknown,   except  near 

'  This  was  not  examined,  but  the  rocks  present  the  characteristic  appearance  of  tlie 
salt-bearing  beds. 

■  Compare  Carter,  J.  A.  a  B.  1859,  xxyiii,  p.  44. 


MAKRAN   GBCUFS.  463 

Gw&dar,  where  it  is  found  for  about  20  miles  inland  before  the  Num- 
mulitic  formation  crops  out  from  beneath  it. 

I  am  disposed  to  think  it  probable  that  the  rocks  forming  the  hills 
along  the  north-eastern  shore  of  the  Persian  Gulf  belong  to  the  same 
formation,  and  that  it  also  forms  the  surface  of  many  of  the  islands  in 
the  Gulf^  resting  unconformably  upon  the  salt  rocks  just  described. 

For  this  formation  I  have  proposed  the  name  of  the  Makran  group  ^, 
which  may  be  retained  until  the  position  of  the  beds  in  the  general 
series  is  determined.  The  prevailing  rock  along  the  coast  is  a  pale 
grey  clay  or  marl^  more  or  less  indurated,  occasionally  intersected  by 
veins  of  gypsum,  usually  sandy,  and  often  highly  calcareous,  occurring 
in  beds  of  great  thickness.  With  this,  clay  bands  of  shelly  limestone, 
calcareous  grit  and  sandstone  are  interstratified,  but  these  usually 
form  but  a  small  portion  of  the  mass,  although  their  greater  hardness 
makes  them  conspicuous  at  the  surface.  Inland,  near  Gwddar,  the  clays 
are  less  developed,  and  thinly-bedded  sandstones  are  the  prevailing 
beds. 

Nothing  accurate  has  been  determined  hitherto  as  to  the  thickness 
of  the  Makran  group,  and  very  little  can  be  stated  as  to  any  definite 
distinctions  to  be  drawn  between  the  diflferent  beds  of  which  it  is  com- 
posed. From  the  sections  exposed  on  the  sides  of  the  hill-ranges  in 
Baluchist&n,  it  is  probable  that  not  less  than  an  aggregate  thickness 
of  2000  or  3000  feet  can  be  assigned  to  the  group ;  probably  this  is 
much  below  the  truth.  From  what  little  was  seen  of  the  basal  portion 
near  B&hu  Kalat,  where  the  Makr&n  beds  rest  upon  the  Nummu- 
litics,  it  seems  probable  that  the  grey  clays,  with  rather  thick  bands  of 
calcareous  sandstone,  as  at  Gw&dar,  are  the  upper  members  of  the 
group,  that  the  sandstone  beds  become  thin  and  much  more  numerous 
below,  and  at  the  same  time  less  calcareous,  whilst,  still  further  down, 
sandstone  predominates,  and  clay,  if  it  occurs,  is  altogether  sub- 
ordinate. But  it  is  not  quite  certain  that  the  sandstones  without 
clay  are  not  nummulitic. 

The  rocks  of  the  Makr&n  group  are  highly  fossiliferous,  but  un- 
fortunately the  fossils  have  not  hithei-to  been  fully  examined,  and 
therefore  all  that  can  at  present  be  said  of  their  age  is  that  they 
represent  a  portion  of  the  later  tertiary  epoch  ^.      From   a  cursory 

'  Records,  Geological  Sarvey  of  India,  187a,  v,  p.  43. 

'  My  own  fossil  collections  from  the  Baluchistltn  coast  and  the  Persian  Gulf,  containing 
many  fine  Echinodermata  besides  Mollusca^  were  sent  to  Calcutta  in  the  hope  that  my  late 


464  GEOLOGY  OF  PERSIA. 

examination  of  some  shells  collected  by  Captain  Stifle^  Mr.  Etheridge 
thought  that  Miocene  forms  could  be  detected  amongfst  them^  but  the 
same  gentleman  has  very  kindly  examined  a  larger  collection  made 
at  Gw&dar  by  Dr.  Day,  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  an  opportunity  of 
examining  them,  and  he  considers  that  the  shells  collected  have  a 
very  late  facies,  and  may  even  be  Pleistocene.  The  following  is  a  list 
of  the  forms  included  in  Dr.  Day's  collection  : — 

Doliuni,  sp. 

Natica  Laroarcklana,  or  a  closely  allied  form. 

N.,  sp.  Bmall. 

Cerithium  tonilaflum  L.  apud  Reeve. 

Turritella,  sp. 

Fissurella,  sp.  near  P.  italica  and  F.  imhriecUa. 

Jouanettia  (or  Talona),  near  /.  Cumingiana, 

Sellina  edentula.  Spongier. 

Venus,  sp.  near  F.  plicata,  L.,  and  V.  rugosa,  Chem. 

Cytherea  (ineretrix).  near  C.  lyrcUa,  Desh. 

Astarte  ?   sp.  closely  allied  to  dree  corrugata,   Chem.     I  dredged  this  species 

living.     Mr.   Etheridge  points   out  that  it  is  nearer  to  Attarie  than  to 

Circe. 
Diplodonta,  sp. 

Cardium,  two  sp.,  one  near  C.  papyraceum. 
Chama,  sp.  near  C.  iostoma,  etc. 
Chama  (or  Cleidothareis  ?),  sp. 
Area,  four  or  five  species— one  of  which  is  A,  {ParaUdopipedum)  tortuota,  the 

others  allied  to  various  recent  forms. 
Pectunculus,  two  species,  one  allied  to  P.  pectinifortnU,  Lamarck,  the  other 

allied  to  P.  lividas. 
Pecten,  sp.  somewhat  resembling  P.  pffxicUUut, 
Ostrea,  sp. 

Temnopleurus,  two  sp. 
Eupsammia,  sp.  (coral). 
Meandrina,  sp.  (coral). 
Operculina,  sp. 

The  most  characteristic  and  abundant  fossils  are  the  Artarte,  allied  to 
A.  {Circe)  corrugata^  Ostica,  Pecieii,  and  Bal^nu^,  These  appear  to  bo 
almost  always  found  where  fossils  are  present.  From  the  very  small 
number  which  it  has  been  found  possible  to  identify  with  living 
species,  although  I  have  compared  all  carefully  with  the  British 
Museum  collections,  I  think  an  earlier  age  than  Pleistocene  must  be 
assigned  to  tlie  Makr^n  group,  but  before  this  and  other  tertiary  for«- 

friend.  Dr.  Stoliczka,  would  be  able  to  examine  them.  His  engagement  with  the  Tarkand 
expedition,  and  his  untimely  death  on  his  return  journey,  have  prevented  this,  and  I  have 
not  had  time  to  obtain  the  fossils  from  India  and  examine  them  mysell 


SURFACE  ACCUMULATIONS,  465 

mations  in  Southern  Asia  can  be  correctly  referred  to  their  geological 
position,  the  whole  series  of  tertiary  beds  and  the  recent  fauna  must 
receive  more  study  than  has  hitherto  been  given  to  them. 

1.    QUATERNABY   OR   ReCENT. 

Under  this  general  term  I  include  all  the  sur&ce  acciunulations  of 
gravel,  sand,  and  clay  in  the  plains  and  valleys  of  Persia  and  on  the 
hill  slopes  ^,  the  raised  beaches  or  calcareous  conglomerate  occurring 
on  the  seaHshore,  and  the  alluvial  deposits  of  the  Mesopotamian 
plains. 

As  has  already  been  mentioned  in  treating  of  the  general  geological 
features,  deposits  of  large  and  small  pebbles,  boulders,  clay  and  sand, 
of  geologically  recent  origin,  and  often  of  such  thickness  as  to  cover 
all  other  formations  over  hundreds  of  square  miles  together,  cover  an 
enormous  area  in  Persia ;  probably  more  than  one-half  the  surface  of 
the  country  is  occupied  by  them.  In  this  prevalence  of  superficial 
deposits,  and  also  in  the  forms  they  assume,  there  appears  to  be  a 
great  similarity  between  Persia  and  other  parts  of  Central  Asia,  and 
throughout  Turkist&n,  Afghanistan,  and  Tibet  there  is  the  same 
aridity,  small  rainfall,  absence  or  scarcity  of  rivers,  and  paucity  of 
cultivated  land,  combined  with  the  same  recurrence  of  broad  desert 
or  semi-desert  plains,  often  without  an  outlet,  surrounded  by  barren 
mountains. 

The  deposits  in  the  central  portions  of  the  desert  plains  are  usually 
a  fine  pale-coloured  loam,  often  covered  over  by  shifting  sands.  These 
fine  deposits  may  be  of  lacustrine  orig^,  for  it  is  probable  that  lakes 
have  once  existed  in  the  enclosed  plains  without  outlets,  which  are 
now  deserts.  The  surface  appears  flat,  but  there  is  probably  in  all 
cases  an  imperceptible  slope  towards  the  middle  of  the  plain.  The 
margins  of  the  plains  usually  consist  of  a  long  slope  composed  of 
gravel  and  boulders,  and  with  a  surface  inclination  of  i<>  to  30.  Such 
slopes  oft)en  extend  to  a  distance  of  from  five  to  ten  miles  from  the 
base  of  the  hills  bounding  the  plain,  the  difierence  in  level  between 
the  top  and  bottom  of  the  incline  being  frequently  2000  feet  or 
even  more.  What  proportion  of  this  depth  consists  of  detritus  it  is 
impossible  to  say,  but  the  depth  of  the  deposit  must  be  great,  because 
hills  of  solid   rock  but  rarely  emerge  from  it.      The  pebbles  and 

*  Compare  QoMt.  Jour.  GeoL  Soc  zxix,  p.  493. 
VOL.  11.  H  h 


466  GEO  LOO  Y  OF  PERSIA.     ' 

boulders  are  often  angular  or  subang^lar,  and  mixed  with  large 
blocks  sometimes  two  to  three  feet  in  diameter;  all  are  derived 
from  the  neighbouring  hills.  Nothing  resembling^  a  beach  deposit 
has  been  noticed  in  any  case. 

From  many  of  the  desert  plains  valleys  of  g^eat  breadth  extend 
into  the  more  hilly  regions.  Along  the  sides  of  these  valleys  there 
are  precisely  the  same  slopes  of  gravel  as  on  the  margins  of  the 
plains.  Several  instances  of  these  slopes  will  be  mentioned  in  the 
subsequent  pages ;  some  of  the  most  remarkable  occur  near  Bam, 
KsiTm&n,  K&sh&n,  and  Tehrdn.  They  are,  however,  ill  marked  or 
wanting  near  Shir&z,  and  appear  not  to  occur  in  the  valleys  which 
contain  running  streams  such  as  that  of  the  Bandamir. 

In  many  places,  even  at  higher  elevations  than  those  of  the  desert 
plains,  immense  accumulations  of  coarse  gravel  are  met  with,  coveriDg 
the  country,  so  that  only  the  higher  peaks  rise  above  them.     This 
was  noticed  between  R&yin  and  Karmfin,  and  on  the  ranges  between 
Karm&n  and  Sarjdn.     These  high  deposits  may  be,  in  part  at  leasts 
glacial,  but  all  the  pebbles   and  boulders  appeared   to   be    rounded. 
In  general  these  deposits  are  destitute  of  stratification^  but  sometimes 
they  are  distinctly  bedded.     In  a  few  instances,  as  north  of  Ghistig&n 
in  Baluchist&n^  near  Obdrik  ^  N.  W.  of  Bam,  and  near  Hanaka  S.  E. 
of  KarmAn,  the  beds  of  gravel  have  been  greatly  disturbed.   At  Ghisti- 
gdn  the  disturbed  beds  may  have  been  older  than  those  of  the  plain^  and 
perhaps  represented  the  Makrdn  group,  but  elsewhere  they  appeared 
to  pass  into  the  horizontal  undisturbed  strata  in  the  neighbourhood* 

Terraces  of  gravel  are  a  stroDgly-marked  feature  of  the  valleys  and 
plains  of  Baluchistfin.  The  valleys  themselves  are  mostly  flat,  and 
frequently  veiy  broad,  and  on  the  flanks  of  the .  enclosing  hills  terrace 
above  terrace  is  seen,  frequently  to  a  height  of  lOO  feet  above  the 
present  valley.  These  terraces  are  extremely  irregular  in  height  and 
size^  they  not  unfrequently  cap  isolated  hills  in  the  middle  of  the 
valley  (as  in  one  instance  close  to  B&hu  Kal&t,  or  along  its  edge),  or 
they  extend  up  the  lateral  valleys  &r  into  the  hills,  which  are  often 
not  much  higher.  Frequently  they  are  hundreds  of  yards  broad,  cut 
up  by  ravines  and  side  valleys,  and  they  consist  of  stones,  sand^  and 
clay,  usually  but  little  cemented  together. 

The  formation  of  these  terraces  is  well  seen  north  and  west  of 

?  OftUed  'Awirik'  at  page  195.  vol.  i.— i^./.  O. 


CALCAREOUS  CONGLOMERATE :  ALLU  VIUM  DEPOSITS.  467 

Kshin.  A  great  part  of  the  broad  flat  valley  in  which  PisMii  lies, 
five  to  seven  miles  across,  consists  of  gravel  washed  down  from  the 
hills,  the  sur&ce  being  nearly  flat.  This  plain  slopes  away  from  the 
hills,  the  slope  being  rather  sharper  near  the  base  of  the  latter,  and 
there  is  a  broad  fan-shaped  slope  of  detritus  at  the  exit  of  each  little 
ravine.  The  streams  coming  from  the  ravines  spread  themselves  over 
the  sur&ce,  distributing  the  gravel  and  sand  washed  down. 

West  of  Hshin  this  plain  is  in  places  washed  away  near  the  B&hu 
stream,  and  its  remains  appear  as  a  series  of  terraces,  marking  probably 
successive  levels  of  the  stream,  which  has  gradually  cut  its  way  to  a 
lower  level. 

Calcareotis  conglomerate  of  coast. 

This  is  an  impure  loose-textured  limestone,  often  closely  resembling 
in  appearance  the  well-known  calcaire  grossiSre,  of  which  Paris  is 
built,  abounding  in  shells  (often  as  casts  only)  and  corals,  the  majority 
belonging  to  forms  now  common  on  the  coast.  It  is  said  to  be  found 
at  many  places  on  the  shore  of  the  Persian  Gulf,  and  at  Bushahr  it 
forms  a  low  cliff  and  supplies  the  stone  from  which  the  town  is  built. 
The  same  is  the  case  at  Cape  J&shk,  just  outside  the  entrance  to  the 
Gulf.  The  same  formation  is  seen  on  many  of  the  islands  in  the  Gulf, 
and  is  in  some  cases  evidently  a  raised  coral  reef.  It  of  course  proves 
elevation  of  the  coast  in  recent  geological  times. 

A  similar  formation  is  common  locally  in  Western  India,  as  at 
Bombay,  where  Dr.  Carter  described  it  as  *  littoral  concrete.' 

Alluvium  of  Mesopotamia, 

The  alluvium  deposits  of  the  Mesopotamian  plains  have  been 
described  by  Loftus  (Q.  J.  C.  S.  xi,  p.  249),  who  divides  them  into 
fluviatile  and  marine,  and  shows  that  whilst  the  former  are  confined 
to  the  neighbourhood  of  the  river,  the  latter  cover  an  extensive  area 
and  extend  at  least  250  miles  from  the  present  northern  termination 
of  the  Persian  Gulf.  The  marine  nature  of  these  deposits  is  proved 
by  their  abounding  in  marine  shells  of  species  identical  with  those 
now  living  in  the  Gulf.  The  fluviatile  alluvium  *  consists  of  a  stiff  blue 
or  fine  arenaceous  grey  clay,  and  fine  sand  or  gravel.'  The  marine 
beds  are  composed  of  '  dark  grey  or  reddish-yellow  loose  sands  and 
sandy  marls.' 

H  h  2 


4«  GEOLffGY  OF  FEE.<IA. 


Smf/reeeni  Tokmmie  Baet»^ 

It  is  onlj  necfwirr  to  meotioo  these  in  order  to  poiiit  out  their 
distnbatir>n.  Volcanoes  hare  existed  im  reeent  geological  times  in 
Korth-westem  Persia,  and  on  the  Sootli  lasff  m  finontier,  dose  to 
Baluc'bisULn* 

The  prindpal  rolcanoes  of  Xotth-westem  Persia  mre  3f  oont  Arant 
on  the  frontier,  Sahend,  sooth  of  Td>riz,  SaTsMn,  east  ci  TabiiZy  and 
Damifrand^  north-east  of  Tehran.  As  I  hare  not  been  mble  to  visit 
anjr  of  these  mountains  I  can  add  nothing  to  the  descriptions  of  them 
given  by  other  trayellers. 

In  South-western  Persia  are  the  Knh-i-Basmin  and  Kuh-i-Naosh^ 
north  of  Bamptir,  and  several  small  craters  a  little  fiulher  west  on  the 
edge  of  the  Narmashir  desert  \ 

In  conclusion  a  brief  attempt  may  be  inade  to  show  what  has  been 
the  probable  geological  history  of  Persia  daring  the  later  mesozoic 
and  tertiary  periods.  It  has  already  been  shown  that  we  have  only 
fragmentary  records  of  the  earlier  formations,  and  that  so  &r  as  the 
country  has  been  examined,  they  are  only  known  to  be  represented  in 
the  region  south  of  Adarbaij&n  and  the  Elborz  range  by  a  few  local 
representations  in  the  Z%ro8  mountains. 

It  is  evident  that  during  cretaceous  times  the  greater  portion  and 
prol>ably  the  whole  of  Southern  and  South-western  Persia  v^as  beneath 
the  sea.  We  know  that  at  this  period  there  was  a  great  development 
of  land  in  what  is  at  present  part  of  the  Indian  Ocean  south  of  Persia 
and  Arabia,  and  that  very  probably  land  communication  existed 
between  India  and  Africa.  Towards  the  close  of  the  cretaceous  epoch 
a  great  change  took  place  accompanied  by  volcanic  outbursts  in  the 
Caucasus,  over  a  great  area  in  Western  India  ^,  and  probably  in  several 
parts  of  Persia,  and  the  result  was  the  elevation  of  the  Z^ros  range, 
and  perhaps  of  the  country  now  forming  the  Persian  plateau.     Unless 

*  Mud  voloanoeg,  m  they  are  called,  abound  on  parts  of  the  Baldchiitin  coaat  east  of  the 
Penlan  ftt)ntier,  but  I  do  not  know  of  any  occurring  in  Persian  territory.  Still  it  is  by 
no  means  improbable  that  some  may  occur.  I  do  not  consider  those  I  have  examined  as 
having  any  connexion  with  true  volcanic  action,  they  are  caused  by  evolution  of  gas,  i^ 
parently  light  oarburetted  hydrogen  through  beds  of  clay ;  the  water  brought  np  with  the 
gas  forms  mud,  which  is  ejected. 

'  I  have  pointed  out  that  the  age  of  the  Deccan  and  Bombay  trapa  of  India  is  approxi- 
mstaly  lator  oretaotoos  memoira,  Geological  Sorrey  of  India,  voL  vi,  p.  159. 


FORMER  EXTENT  OF  PERSIAN  OULF.  469 

the  asserted  existence  of  nummulitic  rocks  near  Yezd  and  Kohrud 
be  confirmed,  there  is  no  evidence  at  present  that  the  Persian  high- 
lands have  been  submerged  since  the  close  of  the  mesozoic  epoch. 

The  south-west  slopes  of  the  Z&gros  and  the  country  on  the  coast 
of  the  Persian  Gulf  and  Arabian  Sea  were  however  still  beneath  the 
ocean  in  early  tertiary  times,  and  the  nummulitic  sea  extended  far  to 
the  eastward  along  the  southern  slopes  of  the  Himalayas,  and  very 
possibly  occupied  the  plains  of  Northern  India  and  the  Panjdb.  It 
certainly  covered  nearly  the  whole,  if  not  the  whole,  of  Baluchistan 
and  Sind.  To  what  extent  elevation  took  place  at  the  close  of  the 
eocene  epoch  and  previous  to  the  deposition  of  the  gjrpsiferous  and 
Makr&n  beds  is  not  clear,  but  it  is  evident  that  in  later  tertiary  times 
the  shores  of  the  Indian  Ocean  were  further  north  than  they  are  at 
present,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  north-east  coast  of  the  Persian 
Gulf  was  also  under  water.  Up  to  a  very  late  period  also  the  Gulf 
extended  far  into  Mesopotamia.  It  is  probable  that  this  extension 
of  the  Persian  Gulf  was  contemporaneous  with  the  existence  of  a  great 
inland  lake  covering  the  Aralo-Caspian  plain  north  of  Persia,  and 
extending  west  to  the  Danube,  and  it  is  only  reasonable  to  conclude 
that  Persia  and  the  neighbouring  countries  enjoyed  a  much  damper 
climate  than  at  present  ^. 

It  is  probable  that  at  this  time  the  plains  of  Persia,  now  flat  deserts, 
were  covered  by  lakes,  some  and  perhaps  all  of  which  were  salt  or 
brackish.  It  is  the  deposits  in  these  lakes  which  have  formed  the 
deep  accumulations  of  sand  and  clay,  the  surfaces  of  which  now  form 
the  desert  plains  occupying  so  large  a  portion  of  the  country.  Pre- 
viously, however,  to  the  formation  of  these  lakes,  the  plateau  of 
Persia  must  have  been  cut  into  river  valleys,  for  the  rocks  which  once 
filled  the  depressions  of  the  present  desert  basins  must  have  been  cut 
out  by  the  action  of  rain  and  running  water,  and  the  detritus  carried 
to  the  sea.     It  may  perhaps  have  been  the  same  elevatory  movements 

*  I  have  entered  Bomewhat  into  this  question  in  a  short  paper,  already  quoted,  Quart. 
Jour.  Geol.  Soc.  1873,  vol.  xxix,  p.  500.  For  information  on  the  Aralo-Caspian  area  the 
following  works  may  be  consulted  : — 

Murchison,  de  Yemeuil  and  von  Keyserling,  'Russia  and  the  Ural  Mountains^' 
i,  pp.  297-325. 

Humboldt,  '  Asie  Centrale/  ii,  pp.  121-364. 

Von  Baer,  'Gaspische  Studien,'  Bull.  Soo.  Imp.  Sci.  St.  Pet.  xiii,  1855,  pp.  193,  305  \ 
xiv.  1856.  p.  I ;  XV,  1857,  pp.  33,  65,  81,  113,  117. 

De  Filippi,  *  Viaggio  in  Persia,*  pp.  303-325. 


470  GEOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 

which  converted  the  seas  of  the  Makr&n  period  into  dry  land  and 
dammed  up  the  outlets  of  the  river  valleys,  and  it  is  far  from  im- 
probable that  already  a  diminution  of  the  rainfall,  to  which  the  valleys 
owed  their  origin,  had  taken  place,  and  that  the  water  flowing  down 
the  river  channels  no  longer  sufficed  to  cut  down  the  ohstacles  pre- 
sented by  the  elevation  of  the  lower  portion  of  the  stream  heds.  The 
outburst  of  volcanoes  in  Northern  Baluchist&n  was  perhaps  syn- 
chronous with  the  elevation  just  mentioned. 

As  the  rainfall  farther  diminished,  the  lakes  g^radually  dried  up, 
and  the  streams  which  had  formerly  carried  down  the  detritus  of  the 
hills  now  only  transported  such  debris  as  rain  and  frost  detached  from 
the  surface  to  the  base  of  the  incline,  where  it  formed  a  longp  slope  of 
gravel  and  sand  such  as  we  now  see  on  the  edges  of  the  deserts. 
That  a  paucity  of  rainfall  is  the  cause  of  these  enormous  slopes  of 
gravel  appears  probable  from  the  fact  that  similar  accumnlations 
appear  throughout  the  world  to  be  characteristic  of  comparatively  dry 
climates.  But  the  regions  in  which  such  accumulations  are  found 
must  once  have  engaged  a  larger  rainfall,  or  the  valleys  and  basins 
now  being  filled  up  could  never  haVe  been  formed  ^. 

Of  glacial  action  in  Persia  there  is,  perhaps,  a  trace  in  the  thick 
gravel  found  locally,  as  near  Karm&n,  on  ranges  of  considerable  height. 
At  the  same  time  no  clear  evidence  of  inaction  could  be  detected. 
In  the  Elburz  mountains,  which  are  in  about  36°  latitude,  neither 
De  Filippi  nor  I  could  find  any  evidence  of  former  glacial  action.  It 
is  true  that  neither  of  us  had  much  opportunity  for  exploring,  but 
it  is  remarkable  that  Abich  should  have  called  attention  to  the  same 
absence  of  glaciation  in  the  Caucasus. 

^  My  brother,  Mr.  H.  F.  Blanford,  lias  suggested  to"me  that  the  greater  huiniditj  of 
Persia  and  the  neighbouring  countries  in  former  times  may  have  partly  aoooonted  for  the 
former  g^reat  extension  of  glaciers  in  the  north-west  Himalayas.  If  the  west  wind  so  pre- 
valent in  North-western  India  were  moist,  instead  of  being  hot  and  dry  as  it  now  is,  there 
would  be  certainly  a  great  increase  in  the  deposition  of  snow  on  the  Western  Himalayan 
ranges. 


PART  II. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  EOCKS  SEEN  ON  JOURNEY. 


1.     Cheddar  to  J  ilk. 

The  whole  coast  of  Baluchist&n,  from  near  Cape  MoDze  west  of 
Kar&;hi  to  the  entrance  of  the  Persian  Oulf,  appears,  so  far  as  could  be 
judged  from  its  aspect  when  viewed  from  the  sea,  and  its  cursory 
examination  at  B4s  Mal&n,  Fasni,  Gw&dar,  Ch&hb&r,  and  J&shk,  to 
consist  of  one  group  of  rocks,  which  I  have  called  the  Makr&i  group, 
from  the  name  commonly  applied  to  the  coast  and  the  country  adjoin- 
ing it.  This  group  of  beds  is  elsewhere  described  generally;  near 
Gwadar  it  is,  as  usual,  represented  by  thick  beds  of  pale  grey  clay, 
more  or  less  indurated  with  layers  of  calcareous  conglomerate,  grit,  and 
sandstone. 

Gwfidar  is  situated  on  a  low  sandy  isthmus^  not  half-a-mile  broad 
at  the  town,  with  a  deep  bay  on  both  sides.  No  rocks  are  seen  in 
this  isthmus^  which  unites  with  the  mainland  a  peculiarly-shaped  flat- 
topped  headland^  9  miles  long  from  east  to  west  by  2^  miles  broad, 
its  greatest  length  being  thus  parallel  with  the  general  direction  of 
the  coast  line.  It  is  composed  of  the  usual  clays,  with  bands  of 
calcareous  conglomerate,  hard  layers  of  which  form  the  upper  surface. 
A  few  large  oysters  occur  in  the  conglomerate,  and  in  some  of  the  clay 
beds^  CeritAium,  Turrilella,  Faraminifera,  and  Balani  are  found. 

The  road  taken,  after  leaving  Gw&dar,  runs  west  not  far  from  the 
coast,  to  the  neighbourhood  of  Gwatar  Bay.  The  country  near  the 
sea  consists  principally  of  a  flat  sandy  plain,  covered  in  parts  by 
hillocks  of  blown  sand.  At  Ankora^  12  miles  from  Gw&dar^  a  small 
stream,  containing  brackish  water,  is  crossed.  The  tide  rises  as  far  as 
the  crossing  place.  On  the  banks  of  this  stream,  a  few  feet  above 
high-water  mark,  are  beds  of  marine  shells,  Dostnia^  Area,  Conu9^ 
Natica,  etc.,  in  loose  argillaceous  sands,  several  of  the  species,  and 


472  ROCKS  SEEN  ON  JOURNEY. 

{)erhap8  all,  being  those  now  oonunon  on  the  coast.  lliis  bed  k 
evidently  a  sub-recent  formation^  and  probably  a  form  of  the  coast 
deposit,  which,  at  Jdshk  and  elsewhere,  takes  the  shape  of  a  shell 
limestone.  Fragments  of  a  bed  containing  recent  shells,  and  apparentlj 
belonging  to  the  same  formation,  are  common  on  the  shore  at  Gwidsr, 
but  their  origin  was  not  ascertained.  Such  beds,  wherever  they  occur, 
afford  evidence  of  a  rise  of  land  along  the  coast  at  no  distant  geological 
period,  and  similar  evidence  has  been  noticed  at  several  spots  along 
the  coast  of  Persia,  Baluchist^,  Sind,  and  Kathiaw^r,  and  also  at 
Bombay. 

From  Ankora  to  Falari,  and  thence  to  the  D&ht  river,  the  road, 
which  is  along  the  line  of  the  telegraph,  traverses  a  flat  plain  of  sandy 
clay,  liocks  of  the  Makr&n  series  crop  out  to  the  north  of  the  road 
as  far  as  Falari,  and  here  and  there  farther  west.  There  are  also  hills 
on  the  searcoast  in  places.  The  dip,  near  Falari,  is  a  little  east  of 
south.     Some  Turriiella  occur  in  these  beds. 

In  tlic  stream  at  Falari  there  are  large  pebbles  of  nummulitic 
limestone,  but  these,  as  well  as  rounded  fragments  of  a  basaltic  rock 
found  scattered  about  the  plain,  are  probably  derived  from  the  con- 
glomerates of  the  Makr&n  series.  Beds  of  marine  shells  are  scattered 
here  and  there  about  the  plain  near  Falari,  affording  additional 
evidence  of  recent  elevation  above  the  sea. 

Tlie  Ddsht  river  runs  through  a  very  large  plain,  so  perfectly  flat  as 
to  become  almost  covered  with  water  in  heavy  rain.  The  Darabal 
hills  near  Gwatar  Bay  rise  from  the  middle  of  this  plain.  They  con- 
sist of  sandy  clay  and  sandstone  dipping  in  various  directions  at  rather 
high  angles. 

After  crossing  the  D&sht  river,  the  road  from  Gwfidar  to  B^u 
Kal&t  enters  the  hills  on  the  west  side  of  the  plain  at  a  place  called 
Sam&n.  The  rocks  of  the  hills  between  this  place  and  Bahu  Kaldt 
are  very  similar  tx)  those  of  Darabal  hill,  pale-coloured  clay,  with 
numerous  thin  bands  of  rather  flaggy  soft  sandstone,  oft^n  more  or 
less  calcareous.  All  the  ranges  have  a  peculiar  dusky  appearance,  or, 
in  strong  sunlight,  reddish  brown,  owing  to  their  surfaces  being 
covered  by  fragments  of  the  sandstone,  left  behind  when  the  soft  clays 
are  washed  away  by  rain.  The  dips  of  the  rocks  are  very  variable, 
but  usually  higl\.  West  of  Sam&n,  however,  the  beds  are  nearly 
horizontal  over  a  considerable  area. 

Approaching  Bihu  Kalit,  a  change  takes  place  in  the  character  of 


VICINITY  OF  BAHU  KALAT.  473 

the  rocks,  and  thick  bands  of  sandstone,  greenish  or  pale  brown  in 
colour,  are  met  with,  whilst  the  clays  become  less  abundant.  Owing 
to  the  great  disturbance  to  which  all  the  beds  have  been  subjected, 
their  sequence  is  far  from  clear ;  but  it  appears,  on  the  whole,  probable 
that  these  sandstones  are  lower  in  the  series  than  the  beds  in  which 
the  clays  predominate,  as  near  Gw&dar. 

The  low  hills,  five  miles  north-west  of  B&hu  Kal&t,  consist  of  thin 
layers  of  sandstone,  some  of  which  is  argillaceous^  but  there  is  no 
absolute  clay ;  these  beds  appear  to  dip  imder  massive  sandstones^  like 
those  seen  a  few  miles  to  the  south-east ;  but  the  large  hills  farther 
to  the  north-west,  the  Feteh  Kuh,  consist  of  thick  clays,  with  hard 
dark-coloured  bands,  apparently  of  sandstone,  like  the  rocks  of 
Gwddar.  The  beds  of  the  Feteh  Kuh  have  the  appearance  of  resting 
unconformably  on  the  sandstones  near  B&hu  KaUt^  and  it  is  possible 
that  this  really  is  the  case,  and  that  the  B&hu  Kal&t  rocks  are  num- 
mulitic ;  but  there  is  so  much  disturbance  that  a  closer  examination 
than  time  permitted  would  be  necessary  in  order  to  determine  this 
question. 

From  Gw&dar  to  B&hu  Kal&t  the  road  followed  had  a  general 
direction  to  west-north-west,  but  at  B&hu  Kal&t  we  turned  to  the 
northward^  and  thence  to  J&lk ;  our  line  of  march  was  on  the  whole 
nearly  north,  though  with  many  local  windings. 

About  six  miles  north  of  B&hu  Kal&t,  on  the  road  to  Fishin^  the 
low  hills  consist  of  greenish  grey  sandstones  and  sandy  shales,  much 
disturbed  and  forming  sharp  anticlinal  curves.  Here  again  the  clays, 
also  much  disturbed,  appear  to  rest  on  the  sandy  beds,  but  there  is  no 
marked  imconformity,  at  least  none  could  be  seen  on  the  road.  At 
the  same  time  some  hills  to  the  north  and  north-west,  called  Do-br&dar 
(two  brothers),  consist  evidently  of  Makr&n  beds,  the  thick  clays  being 
conspicuous,  and  these  beds  appear  to  be  lying  at  very  low  angles, 
and  quite  unconformably  to  the  much  contorted  and  almost  vertical 
beds  traversed  on  the  banks  of  the  B&hu  river.  On  the  whole  I  think 
it  probable  that  the  rocks  seen  between  the  B&hu  river  and  Kastag 
are  nummulitic,  but  the  age  of  those  met  with  about  Bahu  must 
remain  imdecided.  There  can  be  no  hesitation  in  classing  the  rocks 
traversed  between  Kastag  and  Kshin  with  the  nummulitic  series. 
So  &r  as  could  be  determined,  the  Makr&n  beds  extend  fisurther  north 
to  the  east  of  the  B&hu  river  than  they  do  to  the  west. 

About  four  miles  south-west  of  Kastag  there  is  an  isolated  crag 


474  ROCKS  SEEN   ON  JOURNEY. 

called  Kuh-i-Siyfih  or  Siy&h  Kuh  (the  black  hill).  It  consists  of  brown 
and  greenish  amygdaloidal  dolerite,  sometimes  passings  into  true 
basalt,  and  is  part  of  a  dyke-like  intrinsic  mass  running  in  a  general 
direction  from  north-east  to  south-west,  and  greatly  altering  the 
sandstones  and  shales  in  contact  with  it.  The  small  vesicles  in  the 
amygdaloid  are  filled  with  zeolites,  and  they  are  lined  with  a  crystal- 
line silicate  of  iron. 

From  a  little  north  of  Kastag  to  Fishm  the  rocks  traversed  con- 
sist of  very  fine  grey  shales  and  sandstones  looking  much  older  than 
the  beds  seen  immediately  to  the  south,  but  this  appearance  of  age  is 
probably  due  to  pressure  and  disturbance ;  in  composition  the  rocks 
appear  very  similar  to  the  sandy  shales  and  sandstones  of  B£hu, 
except  that  they  are  more  argillaceous.  Occasionally  thicker  sand- 
stones are  met  with,  exhibiting  a  strongly-marked  nodular  or  con- 
centric structure ;  and  the  same  is  sometimes  seen  in  the  shales.  All 
these  beds  are  vertical,  with  a  very  regular  east  and  west  strike 
changing  to  a  little  south  of  west  near  Pishm.  No  fossils  were 
noticed  in  these  or  in  similar  beds  throughout  Baluchistan. 

Pishin  lies  in  a  broad  valley  plain,  about  eight  to  ten  miles  across 
from  north  to  south,  and  extending  considerably  more  than  lOO  miles 
from  east  to  west.  So  far  as  it  was  examined,  it  appears  to  be 
entirely  covered  with  gravel  and  sand.  Terraces  of  older  date  are 
strongly  marked  along  the  edge  of  the  plain,  both  here  and  further 
south  along  the  edges  of  the  B&hu  valley;  indeed  they  form  a  con- 
spicuous feature  throughout  the  portion  of  Baluchist&n  traversed. 

The  long  Hshin  and  Mand  plain  is  bounded  both  on  the  north  and 
south  sides  by  ranges  of  hills,  the  former  being  much  the  higher,  but 
it  does  not  form  the  valley  of  a  stream.  The  streams  which  run  into 
it  from  the  north  follow  its  general  direction  for  a  distance,  and  then 
break  through  the  low  range  to  the  south.  Its  present  form  is 
evidently  due  to  some  other  agency  than  that  of  the  existing  rivers, 
nor  does  it  look  much  like  a  valley  of  sub-aerial  denudation.  It  forms, 
in  fact,  one  of  a  series  of  step-like  terraces  by  which  ascent  is  made  to 
the  highlands  of  Baluchistan,  and  these  plains  may  mark  different  sea- 
levels  during  the  elevation  of  the  country  above  the  sea.  The  gravels, 
however,  which  cover  the  plain  appear,  so  far  as  they  could  be 
examined,  to  be  sub-aerial,  and  no  marine  beds  were  noticed. 

A  section  of  these  gravels,  about  150  feet  thick,  is  exposed  about 
ten  miles  west  of  Pishin,  where  the  B&hu  river  cuts  its  way  through 


HILLS  AROUND  PISUIN.  476 

steep  cliffs,  entirely  composed  of  pebbles  and  sand.  On  each  side 
terraces  rise  till  they  attain  a  height  of  400  or  500  feet  above  the 
river.  All  this  thickness  consists  of  similar  deposits.  Throughout 
the  plain,  so  &r  as  it  was  traversed,  no  rocks  occur;  the  surface  is 
covered  with  sandy  clay  towards  the  middle  of  the  valley,  and  with 
pebbles  near  the  hills. 

The  hills  at  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  Bagarband  range,  sixteen 
miles  west  of  Pishin,  consist  of  shales  and  sandstones  similar  to  those 
seen  at  Pishin.  The  higher  portion  of  the  range  appears  to  be  formed 
of  horizontal  beds  of  massive  sandstone^  with  softer  bands  intercalated. 
Time  did  not  allow  of  an  examination  of  these,  but  the  blocks  which 
had  fallen  from  above  consisted  of  sandstone  very  similar  to  that  occur- 
ring below.  Still  the  massive  beds  appear,  when  viewed  from  various 
directions,  horizontal,  and  quite  unconformable  to  the  nummulitics  at 
the  base^  which  are,  as  usual,  turned  on  end  and  contorted.  The  upper 
beds  do  not  resemble  the  rocks  of  the  Makr^n  group,  but  it  is 
probable  that  they  must  belong  to  the  lower  portion  of  it,  unless  the 
appearance  of  unconformity  is  one  of  those  fallacious  appearances 
which  the  rocks  of  hills  occasionally  present  when  viewed  from  a 
distance. 

The  hills  south  of  Pishin  and  Mand  valley  plain,  for  some  distance 
east  of  Pishin,  consist  of  rocks,  similar^  in  character  and  strike^  to 
those  seen  near  the  village. 

The  hills  north  of  the  plain  are  less  compressed  and  hardened^  but 
they  likewise  consist  of  shales  and  thin  bands  of  sandstone,  apparently 
identical  with  those  forming  the  lower  hills  to  the  south.  They  are 
much  contorted,  and  dip  at  high  angles,  or  are  vertical.  In  one  place^ 
north  of  Saadi,  in  Mand,  the  beds  were  found  more  crushed  and 
hardened  than  usual,  the  shale  becoming  slaty  and  almost  schistose, 
with  numerous  veins  of  carbonate  of  lime.  In  one  place  the  shale  was 
found  broken  up  by  a  peculiar  system  of  jointing  into  long  acicular 
fragments^  with  rhomboidal  sections  resembling  slate  pencils.  Some 
of  the  sandstones  are  massive^  whilst  a  few  beds  are  conglomeritic,  the 
matrix  being  argillaceous^  the  pebbles  principally  sandstone.  Some 
hard  grits  also  are  found.  The  sandstones  occasionally  have  a  fer- 
ruginous coating  on  the  joint  surfaces^  causing  them  to  assume  a 
peculiarly  dark  appearance.  One  small  hill,  three  or  four  miles  east 
of  Shairfa  Kuh,  is  so  dark  that  it  may,  like  the  Siydh  Kuh,  south  of 
Pishin,  consist  of  volcanic  rock. 


476  ROCKS  SEEN  ON  JOURNEY. 

North  of  the  Fishin  and  Mand  valley  there  are  in  places  masses  of 
nummulitic  limestone,  irregularly  associated  with  the  shales  and  sand- 
stone. The  mode  of  occurrence  of  these  masses  is  singular ;  they  do 
not  form  regular  strata,  co-extensive  with  the  adjoining^  beds,  but  are 
seen  in  immense  blocks,  many  of  them  large  hills,  havings  their  longer 
axes  in  the  direction  of  the  stratification,  but  isolated  from  each  other. 
One  such  mass  forms  apparently  the  peak  of  Shairds  Kuh^  the  highest 
hill  in  the  range  north  of  the  Kshin  plain.  That  the  limestone  is 
contemporaneous  with  the  sandstone  and  shales  is  evident,  but  it 
appears  in  isolated  fragments,  looking  like  the  remains  of  strata  which 
have  not  yielded  to  compression  like  the  softer  sandstones  and  shales. 
Still  there  is  very  little  to  support  this  view.  The  masses  of  limestone, 
although  numerous  in  particular  localities^  as  in  the  valley  ahont 
Hung,  north-east  of  Shair&s  Kuh,  where  they  form  haycock-shaped 
peaks,  compressed  laterally^  do  not  appear  in  regular  bands,  as  they 
would  if  they  were  disconnected  portions  of  one  bed  ;  whilst  farther  to 
the  north-west,  near  Magas,  in  continuation,  apparently,  of  the  same 
strike,  they  form  continuous  ranges. 

The  limestone  abounds  in  nummulites  of  several  kinds.  One  form 
resembles  N.  Lyelliy  another  is  a  small  species  close  to  N,  Beauffumti 
or  N,  Biarifzensis,  and  may  be  identical  with  N,  Vicaryi ;  a  third  is 
perhaps  N.  Exponent ^  and  an  orbitolite  (0.  Mantellx)  also  occurs. 
Several  smaller  Foraminifera  are  also  found  in  the  rock,  but  no  other 
fossils  were  observed. 

There  is  no  change  in  the  general  character  of  the  rocks  to  the 
northward,  except  that  the  sandstones  become  more  massive,  and  the 
shales  form  thicker  beds  north  of  Hung.  The  same  shales  and  sand- 
stones were  met  with  throughout  the  course  of  the  Nihing  as  fiu*  as 
Gishtigdn,  in  Bampusht.  The  limestones  disappeared  north  and 
north-east  of  Hung,  and  only  one  or  two  isolated  masses  are  seen 
beyond ;  one  of  these,  near  Bogan,  contains  Alveolina  elliptica.  The 
general  strike  continues  nearly  east  and  west,  and  the  beds  are 
vertical,  or  nearly  so.  This  continued  high  dip  over  so  large  an  area 
is  a  very  remarkable  feature  in  rocks  of  comparatively  slight  geo- 
logical antiquity. 

The  Hung  plain  is  less  well  marked  than  that  of  Mand  and  I^shin, 
but  it  is  similar  in  character,  being  parallel  in  direction^  and  consisting 
in  the  same  manner  of  a  broad  and  level  depression  between  two 
ranges  of  hills,  running  nearly  east  and  west.     It  is,  however,  much 


GI8HTI0AN:   BAMPUSHT.  477 

more  broken  up  by  low  ridges  of  rock,  many  of  them,  as  already 
mentioned,  consisting  of  limestone.  A  much  better  marked  plain, 
having  the  same  east  and  west  extension^  and  similarly  bounded  by  a 
higher  range  (Kuh  Bampusht)  to  the  north,  and  low  scattered  ridges 
to  the  souths  is  traversed  by  the  upper  portion  of  the  Nihing  stream 
near  Gishtig&n.  This  plain  extends  to  Diz  on  the  east,  and  for  a  long 
distance  beyond  Irafsh&n  on  the  west.  Its  general  elevation  near 
Gishtigdn  is  2800  to  3000  feet  above  the  sea,  whilst  the  Hung  plain 
is  about  2500,  and  that  of  Pishin  and  Mand  500  to  700.  Near 
Gishtig&n  the  expanse  consists  chiefly  of  thick  beds  of  gravel,  but 
ridges  of  sandstone  crop  out  here  and  there. 

Along  the  southern  margin  of  the  Bampusht  range,  north  of  Oish- 
tig&n^  is  a  low  ridge^  consisting  of  calcareous  sandstone  and  con- 
glomerate, the  latter  containing  pebbles  of  sandstone,  apparently 
derived  from  the  nummulitic  series.  These  rocks  closely  resemble 
the  Makr^  group,  and  may  be  contemporaneous,  but  the  resemblance 
is  very  possibly  due  to  both  being  derived  from  the  waste  of  the 
nummulitic  formations.  The  beds  near  Gishtig&n  merely  occur  as  a 
fringe  separating  the  rocks  of  the  hills  from  the  gravels  of  the  Gish- 
tig&n  plain.  From  Gishtig&n  they  appear  horizontal,  but  where 
traversed  south  of  the  Hinduw&n  pass,  they  dip  south,  usually  at  about 
30^  to  40°,  but  occasionally  at  higher  angles,  and  in  places  they  are 
vertical,  their  horizontality,  as  seen  from  Gishtig&n^  being  apparently 
an  exception.  The  plain  gravels  rest  unconformably  upon  these  beds, 
both  on  their  northern  and  southern  sides. 

That  this  is  a  post-nummulitic  deposit  is  clear.  It  may,  however, 
be  simply  a  sub-aerial  accumulation  of  old  date,  like  the  great  valley 
gravels  resting  upon  it,  but  disturbed  and  upheaved. 

The  rocks  of  the  Bampusht  rang«  are  shales  and  sandstones,  pre- 
cisely similar  to  the  other  nummulitics  previously  traversed.  Near 
the  axis  of  the  range  the  strata  are  a  little  altered,  the  shales  being 
much  hardened  and  jointed,  and  breaking  into  spicular  fragments  in 
places.  The  beds  are  as  usual  vertical,  or  nearly  so,  and  have  the 
same  east  and  west  strike  as  elsewhere. 

The  Mashkid  valley  extends  east  and  west  to  the  north  of  the 
Bampusht  range,  forming  yet  another  valley  plain  parallel  to  those  of 
Gishtig&n  and  Pishin.  The  stream  which  drains  it  issues  from  its 
eastern  end  to  the  northward,  and,  after  a  considerable  course,  is  said 
to  lose  itself  in  the  Sist&n  desert,  but  may  perhaps  run  into  the 


478  ROCKS  SEEN  ON  JOURNEY. 

southern  end  of  the  Sist&n  lake.  The  elevation  of  the  Mashkid  stream 
near  Isfandak  is  3250  feet,  or  450  feet  higher  than  Gishtig&n.  South 
of  the  stream  the  country  consists  of  a  confused  mass  of  low  ranges, 
much  as  in  the  upper  Nihing  valley,  whilst,  as  in  that  valley,  ^  long, 
gently-sloping  plain  of  gravel  extends  north  of  the  river  as  fai  as  the 
mountains  of  the  Si&neh  Kuh,  a  range  rising  to  an  elevation  of  5000 
feet  above  the  sea. 

It  is  noteworthy  that,  in  all  these  parallel  plains^  there  is  a  great 
slope  of  gravel  from  the  northern  margin/  none^  or  a  very  trifling  one, 
from  the  south.  The  cause  is  probably  that  each  range  of  hills  rises 
to  a  greater  height  and  more  abruptly  above  the  plain  to  the  south 
than  to  the  norths  hence  a  greater  accumulation  of  detritus  along 
the  southern  slope  of  the  range. 

The  rocks  of  the  Si&neh  Kuh,  between  Isfandak  and  Kalagfin,  are 
much  more  altered  than  those  of  any  of  the  rang^  farther  south,  the 
shale  being  converted  into  hard  skte^  some  of  it  gt)od  roofing  slate, 
with  well-marked  cleavage   running  about   east   and  west,  with  a 
variation  of  about  10  degrees  north  or  south  of  the  general  direction. 
Tlie  general  strike  of  the  rocks  is  the  same,  and  the  bedding  frequently 
coincides  with  the  cleavage,  though  the  latter  is  often  seen  crossing 
the  former.     Some  disturbance  is  evidently  of  posterior  date  to  the 
cleavage,  but,  as  a  rule,  the  latter  appears  to  have   been  contempo- 
raneous with  the  upheaval  of  the  rocks  and  their  arrangement  in  their 
present,  almost  vertical,  position.     No  change  in  the  character  of  the 
formations  takes  place  as  far  as  J&lk,  and  precisely  similar  beds,  alike 
in  character,  strike,  and   cleavage,  are  seen  on  the   road    between 
Kalag&n  and  Kalpurek&n,  near  Dizak. 

North-east  of  the  fort  at  Aibi-Kalag&n  is  a  small  hill  of  porphyritic 
trachy-dolerite,  containing  crystals  of  felspar.  It  abuts  abruptly 
against  the  slates. 

In  one  spot,  between  Kalag&n  and  J&Ik,  rather  east  of  the  main 
road,  owing  probably  to  jointing  crossing  the  cleavage,  the  slate  is 
split  up  so  that  it  weathers  into  most  extraordinary  acicular  fragments, 
a  foot  to  eighteen  inches  long  and  not  more  than  a  quarter  to  half  an 
inch  in  diameter.  Similar  phenomena  were  noted  elsewhere,  but  the 
extent  to  which  it  is  carried  at  this  spot  is  remarkable. 

Kalag&n  and  Jalk  are  both  close  to  the  edge  of  the  great  desert 
plain  which  extends  northwards  from  this  portion  of  Baluchist&i. 
At  the  lower  end  of  the  villages  of  Kalag&n,  near  the  edge  of  the 


MASHKID  PLAIN,  479 

desert,  a  sudden  change  takes  place  in  the  surface  of  the  rocks.  The 
steep  abrupt  and  craggy  ridges  are  replaced  by  gently  rounded  rises 
of  low  elevation,  sloping  away  to  the  borders  of  the  great  desert 
plain.  The  same  change  is  seen  towards  J&lk,  but  it  is  far  less 
strongly  marked.  It  certainly  looks  as  if  the  lower  hills  near  the 
edge  of  the  desert  had  been  rounded  by  marine  (or  lacustrine)  denu- 
dation, and  adds  to  the  probability  of  the  immense  plain  to  the  north 
and  east  having  been  the  basin  of  a  great  inland  sea. 

The  surface  of  the  desert  near  its  margin  consists  of  a  gravel  of 
flat  and  subangular  fragments  of  shale  and  sandstone,  not  rolled,  and 
evidently  washed  from  the  hills.  This,  which  is  of  recent  origin, 
would  conceal  any  lacustrine  deposits  which  may  occur.  Farther  out 
the  surface  of  the  desert  is  said  to  be  sandy,  and  in  places  to  be 
covered  with  blown  sand. 

2.   Jdlk  to  Bamjiur, 

From  Kalag&n  and  J&lk  a  complete  change  was  made  in  the  line  of 
march.  Hitherto  the  general  direction  from  B&hu  Elal&t  had  been 
to  the  north.  Hence  it  was  due  west  as  far  as  Bampur,  leading  back 
into  the  Mashkid  valley  at  Kalpurek&n,  about  twenty  miles  west- 
north-west  of  Isfandak. 

The  plain  of  the  Mashkid,  near  Kalpurek&n,  consists,  as  near 
Isfandak,  of  a  long  gentle  slope  of  gravel  from  the  hills  on  the  north 
to  the  river,  whilst  to  the  south  rocks  form  low  ridges.  From  the 
plain,  near  Kalpurek&n  village,  rise  several  small  limestone  hills,  some 
of  them  abounding  in  nummulites,  others  in  Alveolina  (the  spheroidal 
variety).  In  one  case  fragments  of  corals  and  shells  were  found 
associated  with  the  Foraminifera,  The  bands  of  limestones  begin  here 
to  be  much  better  defined  than  to  the  southward;  they  can  be 
traced  a  considerable  distance  (south  of  Dizak  for  some  miles)  and 
reappear  on  the  same  strike  in  other  hills.  One  band  is  a  con- 
glomerate of  hard  sandstone  and  quartzite  pebbles,  in  a  calcareous 
matrix  abounding  in  nummuUtes. 

Three  large  hills  arise  from  the  plain  south  of  Dizak ;  which  appear 
as  peaks  when  seen  from  the  east,  but  are  really  ridges.  The  north- 
eastern consists  of  shale  and  sandstone,  disposed  synclinally,  the 
others  are  of  nummulitic  limestone,  and  vertical.  The  strike  of  all 
is  about  £.  lo""  S.     The  range  farthest  to  the  westward  is  continued 


480  ROCKS  SEEN   ON  JOURNEY. 

for  many  miles  towards  Sib.  It  turns  slightly  to  the  northward,  and 
the  band  of  limestone  can  be  traced  by  the  peculiar  steep  peaks  whidi 
it  forms  far  to  the  north-west  in  the  direction  of  Faskuh. 

Sib  lies  in  one  of  the  usual  gravel  and  sand  plains.  To  the  south- 
west of  this,  the  road  crosses  low  ridges  of  shales  and  sandstones, 
much  crushed  as  usual,  but  neither  altered  nor  cleaved,  and  having  a 
strike  about  north-west — south-east.  These  beds  are  apparently  the 
continuation  of  those  seen  in  Bampusht,  but  the  strike  has  curved  to 
the  north-west.  Magas  stands  in  a  large  gravel  plain,  throug^h  which 
rocks  appear  here  and  there.  To  the  north-west  there  is  a  fine  chain 
of  hills  called  the  Kuh-i-Birg  rising  to  an  elevation  of  8000  feet 
above  the  sea  (Magas  being  4200)^  and  consisting  of  nummolitic 
limestone  associated  with  red  shale.  To  the  south-east  a  large  hill 
called  MoletAn,  evidently  of  limestone,  is  on  the  strike  of  the  Kuh-i- 
Birg,  and  the  same  strike  prolonged  is  very  close  to  the  Shairfis  Kuh 
and  the  limestone  masses  near  Hung. 

The  rocks  west  of  Magas,  and  those  seen  on  the  Ispid&n  torrent 
on  the  road  to  Aptar,  are  for  the  most  part  the  ordinary  shales  and 
sandstones  of  the  nummiilitic  series.  The  dip  and  strike  vary  con- 
stantly. About  thirty  miles  from  Magas  granite  boulders  occur  in 
large  numbers  in  the  Ispidan  stream.  They  are  apparently  derived 
from  a  conglomerate  which  is  seen  in  the  bank  of  the  torrent's  bed. 
A  little  further  west,  a  large  hill  composed  of  bands  of  limestone  con- 
taining nummulites  is  passed  to  the  north  of  the  torrent. 

For  about  eight  miles  east  of  Aptar  the  principal  rock  is  volcanic, 
a  kind  of  basalt,  in  places  fine  grained,  in  others  coarsely  crystalline. 
Sometimes  masses  of  sandstone,  much  altered  and  hardened,  appear 
enclosed  in  the  igneous  rock.  This  basalt  is  probably  connected  with 
the  volcanic  formations  so  largely  developed  northwards  of  Bampur. 

At  Aptar  the  great  plain  is  entered  which  extends  far  to  the  west 
beyond  Bampur.  The  drainage  of  the  Magas  plain  appears  to  be 
to  the  Mashkid,  and  thence  to  the  Sist&n  desert,  but  a  great  descent 
is  made  to  the  Bampur  plain,  the  drainage  of  which  is  to  the  west- 
ward, and  if  it  have  an  exit,  it  must  be  to  the  Persian  Gulf.  From 
Aptar  to  Fahraj  or  P^hra  the  road  leads  over  a  gravel  slope,  the  hills, 
ten  to  fifteen  miles  north  of  Aptar,  appearing  flat-topped,  as  if  com- 
posed of  horizontal  beds.  North  of  Fahraj  only  low  gravel  rises  are 
to  be  seen,  and  the  road  from  Fahraj  to  Bampur  is  over  a  sandy  plain 
and  along  the  banks  of  a  considerable  stream.    The  great  plain  west 


BAM  PUR  PLAIN.  481 

of  Bampiir  is  of  the  same  nature,  well  wooded  with  tamarisk  and 
acacia  trees  in  many  parts^  but  covered  in  others  with  hills  of  blown 
sand.  This  plain,  like  so  many  others,  may  be  the  bed  of  an  old 
inland  sea,  but  the  deposits  have  been  covered  up  and  concealed  by 
sand  and  gravel  brought  down  by  streams  and  by  surface  wash.  The 
hill  on  which  the  fort  is  built  at  Bampur  is  said  by  Pottinger  to  be 
artificial,  and  it  may  be  so  in  part,  but  it  has  much  the  appearance  of 
a  high  bank  of  alluvium  left  undenuded,  like  similar  rises  to  the  north, 
which  however  are  several  miles  distant.  This  rise  is  on  a  line  of 
sand-hills  which  stretch  east  and  west  for  a  considerable  distance,  and 
possibly  conceal  other  alluvial  mounds. 

8.   Bampur  to  Bam. 

From  Bampiir  the  direction  of  our  route  was  again  changed,  and 
thence  to  Karmin,  vid  Bam,  a  distance  of  nearly  300  miles,  it  led  to 
the  north-west.  For  ninety  miles  from  Bampur  it  traversed  the 
great  Bampur  plain,  consisting  entirely  of  alluvial  formations.  The 
lowest  portion,  at  a  distance  from  the  hills,  consists  of  sandy  clay, 
a  few  small  pebbles  being  found  about  the  watercourses,  but  for 
many  miles  from  the  base  of  the  hills  the  surface  is  formed  entirely 
of  gravel,  composed  of  subangular  and  rounded  fragments,  chiefly 
of  basalt  and  limestone,  the  size  increasing  as  the  hills  are  approached. 
These  pebbles  are  evidently  washed  down  by  surface  (rain)  action, 
yet  the  slope  is  very  gentle,  and  except  near  the  hills  considerably 
under  1°. 

To  the  north  of  the  plain  are  ranges  of  hills  consisting,  so  far  as 
can  be  judged  by  their  appearance  and  the  fragments  of  rock  in  the 
watercourses  running  from  them,  of  volcanic  rocks  to  the  eastward 
near  Basm&n,  and  of  (nummulitic  ?)  sandstone  and  shale  farther 
west.  High  above  these  ranges,  at  a  distance  of  fifty  miles,  towers 
a  great  cone,  Kuh-i-Basm&n  or  Meh-KiSh ;  and  another  peak,  about 
forty  miles  further,  the  Kuh-i-Daft4n  or  Kfih-i-Naushida  ^  is  still 
higher.  Both  of  these  peaks  are  doubtless  dormant  or  extinct  vol- 
canoes. Smoke  is  said  to  issue  from  the  Kuh-i-Naushida,  and  sulphur 
is  obtained  from  it';  but  there  appears  to  be  no  tradition  in  the 

^  Naiuhid*  is  the  Persian  for  Sal-ammoniac.  At  the  period  of  our  jonmey  the  atmosphere 
was  veiy  misty,  and  we  had  only  imperfect  and  oocasional  glimpses  of  these  mountains. 
*  Pottinger,  in  his  interesting  and  adventurous  journey  across  Baldohistin  and  Pend* 

VOL.  II.  1  i 


482  ROCKS  SEEN  ON  JOURNEY, 

ooimtry  of  these  Yolcaaoes  having  beea  actiye,  and  the  period  of  thdi 
activity  may  have  cmncided  with  the  time  when  the  plain  of  Bampor 
and  the  Narmashir  desert  were  eovered  by  inland  seaB. 

From  Khusrin,  aboat  ninety  miles  from  Bampur,  the  route  passes 
for  about  sev^oty  miles  (sixty  in  a  direct  line)  througb  hills  entirdy 
composed  of  volcanic  rocks.  At  Khikrin  traehytes  and  traehytic  ash 
occur  in  thick  beds,  either  horiacmtal  or  rolling  about  at  low  an^ 
with  a  general  dip  to  the  sooth.  Basalts  are  intercalated,  and,  at  one 
place,  a  conglomerate  of  waterwom  pebUes  was  found  interstratifiei 
Above  the  trach3rtes  and  basalts  there  is  a  great  thickness  oi  hori- 
zontal ashy-looking  beds,  forming  flat-topped  hills,  and  appareaUj 
slightly  unconformable  to  the  massive  trachytes  and  basalts  below. 
To  the  northwards,  the  character  of  the  rocks  changes  and  basalts 
prevail^  the  beds  becoming  more  and  more  ashy. 

No  sedimentary  beds,  except  the  conglomerate  mentioned  above,  are 
seen  on  the  road,  although  they  must  compose  a  considerable  pro* 
portion  of  the  hills  a  little  to  the  eastward,  because  the  streams 
coming  from  that  direction  abound  in  limestone  pebbles,  llie  lime- 
stone is  unfossiliferous  and  may  be  cretaceous,  like  that  north  of  Btia, 
to  be  presently  mentioned. 

The  formations  just  described,  all  of  whieh  are  well  consolidated, 
occupy  the  country  traversed  for  about  fifty  miles  (or  forty  in  a 
direct  line) ;  then,  for  fifteen  to  twenty  miles,  much  looser  beds  are 
met  with,  chiefly  ashes  and  vesicular  blocks  of  comparatively  recent 
origin,  with  a  few  outbursts  of  basalt,  which    are   doubtless   lava 
flows.     These  rocks,  which  are  horizontal,  must  be  of  later  origin 
than  the  trachytes  to  the  south     One  distinct  small   cone  with  a 
very  gentle  slope  firom  its  crater  occurs  close  to  the  west  of  the  road ; 
it  is  somewhat  worn,  but  its  shape  is  very  fairly  preserved.     A  mudi 
higher  hill  to  the  east  also  looks  like  a  volcano,  but  it  is  considerably 
broken  down  by  denudation,  and  about  four  or  five  miles  away  to  the 
west  there  is  a  well-marked  crateriform  hill,  which  has  the  appear- 
ance, from  a  distance,  of  a  recent  vent. 

There  can  be  but  little  doubt  that  the  mass  of  volcanic  formations, 
which,  judging  from  the  height  of  some  of  the  hills,  cannot  be  less 
than  3CXX)  to  4cx)o  feet  thick,  represents  the  accumulations  of  a 
lengthened  period,  and  that  some  of  them  are  comparatively  recent. 

in  1809,  pMsed  through  Bastnin  and  near  the  Kdli-i-Naii«liAd%  whick  l»  brieSy  dMnibtd 
4ii  the  pttblished  aocottnt  of  his  *Tnsf^  in  BeloodnstaB  and  Slnde^*  p.  iSd. 


VALLEY  DEPRESSIONS.  483 

There  is  much  probability  that  the  various  volcatiic  rccka  which 
break  through  the  nummulitics  south  of  Pishin,  near  Kalag&n,  and 
at  Aptar,  tc^ther  with  the  volcanoes  of  Basm&n  and  the  Kuh-i- 
Naush&da  in  the  Sarhad,  are  portions  of  the  same  series  of  outbursts. 

About  twenty-five  miles  before  reaching  the  northern  boundary 
of  the  volcanic  rocks,  between  two  halting-places  called  Oirfinrig  and 
Chih-i-Kambar,  the  road  traverses  a  valley,  about  five  miles  across, 
without  any  outlet.  In  the  lowest  portion  is  a  nearly  circular 
plain,  about  three  miles  in  diameter,  of  hard  clay,  destitute  of  vege- 
tation, and  evidently  a  lake  bed^.  It  is  said,  however,  only  to 
contain  water  immediately  after  rain.  In  the  next  valley  to  the 
northward,  the  first  part  traversed  also  appears  to  be  depressed, 
but  further  north  there  is  drainage  by  a  stream  bed.  These  de- 
pressions must  be  due  to  local  sinking  of  the  surface,  for  the  valleys 
themselves  appear  to  have  been  formed  by  denudations,  in  part  at 
least.  The  hollows  are  not  craters,  and  the  rocks  around  are  well 
solidified  ashes  and  lava  flows,  not  the  loose  beds  met  with  farther 
north. 

The  volcanic  ranges  form  the  watershed  between  the  Bampur  and 
Narmashir  plains,  the  latter  being  the  higher  (2500-3000  feet  above 
the  sea  along  its  edge).  The  igneous  rocks  end  at  the  Konar  Nai, 
a  river  descending  from  a  high  range  of  mountains  to  the  south-west, 
capped  with  snow  in  the  middle  of  April.  These  mountains  differ 
entirely  in  form  from  the  volcanic  rocks,  and  are  doubtless  meta- 
morphic,  for  the  river-bed  is  chiefly  composed  of  pebbles  of  gpranite, 
epidote  rock,  quartzite,  and  other  crystalline  formations. 

The  plain  of  Narmashir,  from  Rigin  to  Bam,  is  the  edge  of  a  great 
desert  extending,  it  is  believed,  to  Khorass&n.  The  great  range  just 
mentioned  runs  along  the  south-west  margin  of  the  plain,  and  con- 
tinues to  the  north-west  &r  beyond  Bam.  It  was  everywhere  too 
distant  from  the  road  to  be  visited,  but  its  composition  is  clearly 
shown  by  the  metamorphic  pebbles  derived  from  it :  they  cover  the 
plain  in  places,  and  occur  in  all  the  streams  debouching  into  the  Bam 
valley.  The  plain  itself,  or  rather  its  south-western  margin,  which 
alone  was  examined,  consists  of  sandy  clay  like  most  of  the  Persian 
plains,  and  is  highly  fertile  when  irrigated,  but  barren  elsewhere. 

^  For  account  of  a  lake  at  Dag^i-Farh&d,  between  Chih-i-Kambar  and  Girthi  Beg,  see 
▼oL  i.  p.  «oi.— i'./.  0, 

li  % 


484  ROCKS  SEEN  ON  JOURNEY. 

4.  Bam  to  Karmdn. 

The  town  of  Bam  stands  at  the  entrance  of  a  broad  valley^  which 
leads  from  the  low  Narmashir  plains  to  the  highlands  of  ELannin, 
and  along  which  the  road  ascends  to  the  plateau.  Bam  is  itself 
about  35cx>  feet  above  the  sea,  the  ascent  from  the  plain  being  over  a 
very  low  slope  of  gravel.  The  valley  is  about  twenty-five  miles  broad 
at  Bam^  and  gradually  contracts  for  thirty  miles,  till  at  Ob&rik,  where 
it  is  about  ten  miles  in  breadth  and  55cx>  feet  above  the  sea  at  its 
lowest  portion,  it  is  abruptly  terminated  by  a  low  range  of  hills. 

This  broad  valley  or  valley  plain  consists  of  a  portion  in  the  centre 
sloping  in  the  direction  of  the  valley  itself  (north-west — south-east), 
and  of  a  low  uniform  slope  on  each  side,  the  inclination  of  which  is, 
in  each  case^  from  the  hills  towards  the  centre  of  the  valley.  These 
lateral  slopes  are,  in  places^  as  much  as  ten  miles  in  breadth,  and 
their  angle  of  inclination,  which  is  singularly  uniform,  is  of  course 
very  small,  never  exceeding  about  z""  to  3^.  The  whole  of  these  slopes 
consist  of  gravel.  There  is  in  many  places  no  stream  down  the  centre 
of  the  valley^  the  streams  which  enter  from  the  sides  run  along  the 
slopes  for  long  distances  parallel  to  the  direction  of  the  valley,  until 
their  water  is  absorbed  by  the  ground  or  carried  off  for  irrigation 
channels.  It  is  possible^  however,  that  the  tendency  of  the  streams 
to  run  along  the  slope  instead  of  seeking  the  lower  portions  of  the 
valley^  may  be  due  to  their  waters  having  been  diverted  for  ages  for 
purposes  of  agriculture. 

The  hills  north  of  the  Bam  valley  from  Bam  to  Ob&rik  consist  of 
volcanic  rocks ;  trachyte,  basalt  and  ash.  A  small  ridge  of  these  for- 
mations rises  through  the  gravels  just  north-east  of  the  fort  at  Bam, 
and  consists  of  trachytic  ash^  in  places  finely  bedded.  The  strike  and 
dip  vary,  and  the  beds  are  in  one  place  vertical.  The  volcanic  ranges 
end  in  some  small  basaltic  rises  east  of  Obfink ;  a  small  fort  near  that 
village  is  built  on  a  ridge  of  basaltic  lava-fiows  striking  north  and 
south  and  dipping  east.  Just  north  of  this  the  Tahrud  hills  oom- 
mence ;  they  are  of  limestone. 

The  hills  south  of  the  Bam  valley  were  too  distant  from  the  road 
for  examination.  Those  lying  due  west  of  Bam  and  south-west  of 
Dah&rzin  are  evidently  composed  of  sandstone  and  shale  \  as  frag^ 

*  These  beds  are  ^ery  possibly  representatives  of  the  shales  and  sandstones  of  KarmAs 
believed  to  be  cretaceous. 


THE  KUH  BAZAR,  48» 

ments  of  these  rocks  cover  the  slope  descending  into  the  valley  from 
the  base  of  the  ranges.  Some  of  the  hills,  too,  look  from  a  distance 
as  if  they  consisted  of  limestone.  The  nearest  range  south-west  of 
Bam  may  also  consist  of  unaltered  sedimentary  beds,  the  great  chain 
behind  being  of  metamorphic  rocks  as  already  mentioned. 

Close  to  Ob&rik,  a  range  of  limestone  hills  commences^  which 
attains  a  considerable  height^  and  extends  nearly  continuously  to 
Karm&n^  not  however  in  a  straight  line  but  curved.  These  hills 
near  Ob&rik  is  known  as  the  Tahrud  hills.  The  limestone  of  which 
they  are  composed  is  of  cretaceous  age  \  it  is  compact  and  varies  in 
colour  from  light  yellowish  brown  to  grey,  usually  weathering  with  a 
pale  brown  sur&ce;  a  few  greenish  shaley  beds  are  interstratified. 
Near  Ob&rik  the  limestone  does  not  appear  to  be  very  fossiliferous,  a 
few  Foramini/eraj  an  Oatrea  and  some  obscure  Cardium-VikQ  bivalves, 
alone  being  observed.  At  Kh&nah-Kh&tun,  nine  miles  from  Ob&rik, 
some  specimens  of  Hippurites  were  found. 

Opposite  Obaril^  and  beyond  a  stream  which  here  issued  from  the 
hilly  country  to  the  westward^  there  are  some  high  cliffs  of  shales  and 
conglomerates^  very  slightly  consolidated,  and  to  all  appearance  of 
comparatively  recent  origin.  The  shales  are  rather  brightly  coloured, 
greenish  white,  red^  etc. ;  the  conglomerates  are  mainly  composed  of 
limestone  pebbles,  evidently  derived  from  the  Tahrud  hills.  The  beds 
near  the  river  are  contorted  and  sometimes  vertical,  farther  away  they 
become  more  horizontal,  and  appear  to  pass  up  into  the  alluvial  beds 
of  the  great  plain  to  the  northward^  which  extends  to  R&ym.  Despite 
this  apparent  passage  it  is  probable  that  the  disturbed  deposits  belong 
to  an  older  formation,  and  they  may  represent  the  Makr&n  group  of 
Baluchist&n. 

From  Kh&nah-Kh&tun  the  road  rises  gradually  to  the  surface  of 
the  plain  already  mentioned,  the  whole  ascent  of  about  icxx)  feet 
being  over  beds  of  clays  and  gravels,  the  latter  often  cemented  by 
carbonate  of  lime  into  a  conglomerate.  On  the  surface  of  the  plain, 
which  rises  gradually  towards  B&yin  and  the  base  of  the  Kuh  Haz&r, 
fragments  of  volcanic  rocks  abound  derived  from  that  mountain ;  some 
of  these  are  as  much  as  two  feet  in  diameter. 

The  height  of  the  Kuh  Haz&r  above  the  sea  is  I4^6cx>  feet^  or  about 
7,cx>o  feet  above  the  town  of  B&yin.  The  northern  portion  of  the 
mountain  up  to  an  elevation  of  1 2,ooo  feet  consists  entirely  of  volcanic 
rocks,  ash  beds  and  basalt^  the  former  predominating,  and  it  is  pro* 


486  ROCKS  SEEN  ON  JOURNEY, 

bable  that  the  whole  mass  ooneistfl  of  the  came  formations.  It  has, 
howcTer,  no  appearance  of  being  a  Tolcanic  cone,  nor,  so  far  as  conld 
be  ascertained,  do  the  rocks  composing  it  dip  away  from  any  definite 
crater.  It  is  entirely  distinct  firom  the  main  range  to  the  south- 
ward. 

In  the  ash  beds  some  malachite  occurs,  and  at  the  base  of  the 
mountain,  near  BAyin,  there  is  much  calcareous  tu&  in  horizontal 
beds,  apparently  deposited  by  springs,  some  of  which  are  seen  a  short 
distance  up  the  side  of  the  mountain  forming  calcareoas  deposits. 
Large  blocks  of  massive  carbonate  of  lime  of  a  slightly  greenish  tint, 
and  apparently  formed  in  stalagmitic  masses,  are  found  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood, and  are  used  for  ornamental  purposes.  A  similar  stone  is 
said  to  be  brought  from  Yezd  and  other  places,  and  it  is  generally 
known  in  Persia  as  Yezd  marble.  It  closely  resembles  the  Egyptian 
stone  known  as  oriental  alabaster,  except  that  the  colour  is  greenish- 
white  instead  of  yellow. 

'  Hills  emerge  from  the  B&yin  plain  a  few  miles  north  of  the  vilUge, 
and  rise  into  peaks  of  considerable  height  a  little  further  west.  They 
are  chiefly  composed  of  limestone,  identical  apparently  with  that  of 
the  Tahrud  bills.  The  rock  composing  the  hill  immediately  north  of 
S&yin  is  white  and  sub-crystalline,  and  the  dip  about  45""  to  the 
north-east,  but  the  next  hill  to  the  northward,  a  much  larger  mass, 
consists  of  grey  and  brown  limestone,  somewhat  contorted  and  nearly 
vertical,  with  a  general  strike  of  west-north-west  to  north-west.  The 
northern  portion  is  ^of  brown  limestone  dipping  to  the  south-west ; 
it  contains  small  foraminifera.  Below  the  limestone  are  sandstones 
and  shales.  This  succession,  limestones  of  great  thickness  resting 
upon  sandstones  and  shales,  can  be  traced  to  Karmfin,  north  of  which 
place  the  same  beds  apparently  occur  dipping  in  the  reverse  direction. 

The  road  from  Biyin  to  Mihun  and  Karm&n  via  Hanaka  crosses  a 
pass  at  about  9CX>o  feet  above  the  sea.  The  whole  of  the  country 
traversed  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  pass,  including  the  summit  level 
itself,  consists  of  coarse  gravel  filling  up  the  hollows  between  the 
limestone  and  sandstone  ranges.  The  surfiuse  is  irregular,  broken, 
and  cut  into  by  ravines,  in  which,  and  on  the  sides  of  the  hills,  the 
solid  rocks  crop  out  in  places.  As  a  rule  the  gravels  are  unstratified, 
but  the  great  minority  of  the  pebbles  and  boulders  of  which  they  are 
composed  are  thoroughly  rolled.  Occasionally  the  stratification  is 
-well  marked,  and  in  two  places  a  little  nortli  of  Hanaka  the  beds  are 


KARMAN   LIMESTONES,  487 

disturbed  and  inclined,  being  in  one  spot  even  vertical  for  a  short 
distance.  A  little  beyond  Hanaka  tke  road  descends^  to  the  sandjr 
plain  which  extends  to  Karm&n.  Like  other  Persian  plains,  the 
central  portion  consists  of  sandy  clay,  a  little  blown  sand  i»vering  it 
in  places,  whilst  a  long  gentle  slope  of  gravel  extends  for  many  miles 
from  the  base  of  the  surrounding  hills. 

5.     Neighbourhood  of  Karmdn. 

The  plain  extends  for  many  miles  south,  west,  and  south-east  of 
Karm&i,  but  to  the  north  hill-ranges  approach  clode  to  the  city.  The 
nearest  hill,  on  which  stands  a  fort  called  Kala'h-i-Dukhtar,  and  which 
lies  nearly  due  east  ot  the  present  city,  consists  of  very  compact 
homogeneous  limestone,  pale  pinkish^  or  greyish -white  in  colour, 
usually  containing  but  few  fossils,  but  occasionally  exhibiting  on  its 
weathered  surface  sections  of  Hippuriles  and  BadioUtes.  The  4»trata 
Are  compact  and  of  considerable  thickness,  weathering  into  rounded 
forms  with  a  pale-brown  colour  on  the  sur&ce.  The  limestone  appears 
pure;  it  is  not  at  all  crystalline,  but  compact,  with  a  waxy  lustre 
and  conchoidal  fracture.  It  dips  north  at  angles  varying  from 
5°  to  ao^ 

In  many  places  this  rock  has  the  appearance  of  dipping  under  the 
dark-grey  limestone  beds  forming  the  hills  &rther  east.  Very  possibly 
there  is  a  fault  at  the  junction,  for,  more  to  the  westward,  east-north- 
east of  Sjurmin^  the  pale-coloured  limestone  appears  to  rest  upcm  the 
massive  dark-coloured  grey  limestones.  The  latter  here  dip  souths 
east;  they  are  compact  and  massive,  and  contain  in  places  Hippurites 
of  various  sizes  in  abundance ;  the  bed  is  about  6oo  feet  thick,  and 
rests  upon  an  equal  thickness  of  very  flaggy  limestones  of  the  same 
dark  colour^  but  containing  no  Hippurites.  The  only  fossils  detected 
in  these  flaggy  beds  were  a  species  of  Ostrea^  a  CardiumAJkB  bivalve,  and 
an  echinoderm  resembling  Micrasler,  all  very  ill  preserved. 

These  SLve  tlie  lowest  beds  seen.  North-east  of  Karm&i,  and  four  or 
five  miles  from  the  city,  they  are  fisuilted  against  pale  compact  lim^ 
stone,  apparently  identieal  with  tJiat  of  Kala'h-i-Dukhtar.  Of  this  a 
^>on8id^rable  thickness,  probably  not  less  than  looo  feet,  is  seen.  It 
dips  under  a  very  calcareous  conglomerate,  forming  isolated  hills  about 

^  This  is  probably  the  same  as  the  *  cream-coloured  limestone  *  mentioned  by  Loftus, 
Q.  J.  6.  S.  1855,  pp.  185,  etc. 


1 


488  ROCKS  SEEN  ON  JOURNEY. 

five  to  seven  miles  due  north  of  Earm&n.  This  oonglomerate  aboondi 
in  pebbles  of  Hippurite  limestone,  yet  it  appears  to  rest  oonformablj 
on  the  pale-coloured  beds.  The  junction,  however^  is  concealed.  Hie 
dip  is  north-west. 

Farther  to  the  west  a  bed  of  whitish  limestone  appears  to  overlie 
the  conglomerate,  and  it  again  is  succeeded,  in  ascending'  order^  hj  a 
considerable  thickness  of  dark  and  pale  grey  limestones^  containing 
corals  and  Hippurites,  dipping  north  and  north-east.  All  the  beds 
above  the  massive  pale  limestone  are  seen  in  isolated  hills  dotted  over 
the  plain^  and  to  the  north  of  them  an  alluvial  gravel  flat  five  or  six 
miles  broad  intervenes  before  the  base  of  the  higher  ranges  to  the 
northward  is  reached.  Of  course  this  isolation  of  the  hills  renden 
the  relations  of  the  beds  composing  them  somewhat  obscure. 

So  far,  however^  as  any  conclusion  can  be  drawn  from  the  dips  of 
the  rocks  in  the  different  lulls,  all  the  beds  hitherto  described  must 
dip  under  those  forming  the  higher  ranges  to  the  northwards,  the 
latter  having  generally  a  well-marked  dip  to  the  north.  Along  the 
southern  base  of  these  mountains  are  lower  ranges  much  broken,  three 
to  four  miles  across,  of  a  dark  colour^  and  consisting  of  shale,  sand- 
stone, and  occasional  bands  of  dark  grey  limestone.  North  of  these 
are  two  high-scarped  ranges.  The  more  northern  of  these,  which 
must  be  twenty-five  miles  from  Karm&n,  was  not  visited^  but  the 
southern  range  consists  mainly  of  pale-coloured  limestone,  in  places 
abounding  in  Hippurites,  and  at  least  2CX>o  feet  thick.  This  bed  is 
generally  rather  less  homogeneous  and  waxy  in  appearance  than  the 
limestone  exposed  close  to  Karm&n. 

The  sandstone  of  the  lower  ranges  is  usually  massive  and  hard ;  red, 
brown,  grey,  or  white  in  colour.  The  shales  are  very  variable^  many 
of  them  being  dark  olive,  others  red  or  yellow.  They  are  impure 
sandy,  and  at  times  calcareous.  Limestones  are  of  irregular  occur- 
rence, and  fossils  appear  rare. 

In  a  ravine  about  two  miles  east  of  a  small  village  called  Bazfirgyan, 
at  the  southern  base  of  the  hills,  is  some  carbonaceous  shale,  which  has 
been  taken  for  coal.  It  occurs  in  two  beds  (possibly  three,  the  mode 
of  occurrence  being  obscure  and  puzzling),  exposed  in  the  bed  of  the 
ravine,  and  again  on  the  hill  side.  The  upper  bed  appears  to  be 
fifteen  to  twenty  feet  above  the  lower,  both  are  greatly  decomposed, 
and  very  ill  exposed,  the  rocks  being  much  crushed  and  contorted, 
and  dipping  at  high  angles.    The  upper  bed  appears  to  be  four  or  five 


K ARM  AN  LIMESTONES,  489 

feet  thick ;  it  is  a  very  carbonaceous  shale^  coDtaining  much  pyrites. 
The  lower  bed  is  about  eighteen  inches  thick,  more  carbonaceous 
than  the  other,  and  it  also  contains  pyrites  in  considerable  quantities. 
At  one  place  on  the  hill  side  there  appear  to  be  a  few  laminse  of  coal^ 
but  no  portion  of  the  beds  appears  sufficiently  pure  to  furnish  useful 
fuel. 

The  carbonaceous  shales  are  exposed  on  the  top  of  a  small  anticlinal 
striking  nearly  east  and  west,  the  beds  rolling  over  again  to  the 
westward.  Above  them  are  hard  compact  sandstones,  white  in  colour; 
and  then  a  few  shaley  beds,  capped  by  limestone.  The  name  of  the 
place  is  Gaori. 

To  the  east  of  Karm&n,  following  the  course  of  a  large  open  con- 
duit^ which^  running  east  of  Kala'h-i-Dukhtar,  supplies  the  city  with 
water^  the  hills  fall  back  to  the  north,  and  a  plain  extends  for  some 
distance,  running  up  to  the  northwards  into  a  broad  valley  between 
the  ranges.  To  the  east  of  this  vaUey  are  some  limestone  spurs,  north 
of  which  again  are  low  hills^  stretching  across  from  south-east  to 
north-west,  and  consisting  of  conglomerate,  alternating  with  vol- 
canic ashes  and  basaltic  lava.  All  dip  to  the  south-west  at  high 
angles,  in  places  being  vertical.  These  beds  only  appear  about 
ten  miles  from  Earm&n,  and  their  relations  to  the  limestones  are 
obscure^  but  they  appear  to  form  part  of  the  same  series.  The  con- 
glomerates, however,  contain  limestone  and  sandstone  pebbles,  and 
these  beds  may  be  a  later  formation. 

Neglecting  these,  the  probable  relations  of  the  beds  near  Karm&n 
are  the  following.  It  appears  probable  that  the  massive  Hippurite 
limestone  resting  on  sandstones,  shales,  &c.,  north  of  Karm&n^  is 
identical  with  the  limestone  similarly  superposed  upon  sandstones  and 
shales  between  B&yin  and  M&hun.  In  the  former  locality  the  series 
dips  to  the  norths  in  the  latter  to  the  south,  and  in  both  cases  it 
appears  to  overlie  the  beds  seen  close  to  Karm&n.  This  may  not  be 
the  case,  the  limestones  at  Karm&n  may  be  identical  with  those 
resting  upon  the  sandstones  and  shales^  but  the  other  is  the  more 
probable  view  so  fsur  as  can  be  inferred  from  the  dips.  If  it  be 
accepted,  the  following  is  a  rough  section  of  the  rocks  in  this  neigh- 
bourhood,  in  descending  order,  with  their  approximate  thickness  : — 

Feet. 
I.  Hippurite  limestone,  mostly  pale-ooloored  aooo 

a.  Sandstones,  shales,  and  dark  limestones  ..  3000 

3.  Dark  and  pale  grey  limestone  with  Hippurites  ..         ..  500 


490  ROGKS  SEEN  ON  JOURNEY. 


Feet. 

4.  Pale  limestone 

?  aoo 

5.  Conglomerate  very  calcareoufl 

600 

6.  Pale  limestone  with  Hippuritee     .. 

1000 

7.  Dark  compact  limestone  ivith  ditto 

600 

8.  Dark  flaggy  limestone,  no  Hif^mrites 

600 

The  above  is  certainly  not  the  whole  section.  That  an  immense 
thickness  of  the  Hippurite  limestone  series  occurs  is  proved  bj  its 
forming  hills  rising  5000  and  6000  feet  above  the  plain,  as  it  does 
south  of  M&hun. 

6.  Karmdn  to  SAirdz. 

West  of  Karm&n,  the  plain,  at  a  distance  of  about  tw^ve  miles  Grom 
the  citj^  is  divided  into  two  broad  vallejs  bj  a  range  of  hills  known 
as  the  Badam&n  Kfih,  consisting  apparently  of  the  same  rocks  as  tbose 
which  form  the  hills  north  of  Karmto.  The  south-eastern  extfemitf 
of  the  spur  consists  of  pale  limestone,  beneath  which,  on  each  side, 
sandstones  and  shales  dip.  The  principal  rock  of  t^e  lower  beds  is  a 
hard  sandstone^  frequently  saccharoid,  grey  or  white  in  coloar,  scmie- 
times  with  brown  spots,  associated  with  dusky  limestones,  weathering 
brown  on  the  exposed  surface,  and  hard  shales  of  a  whitish  colour. 
Other  varieties  of  rock  occur.  If,  as  is  probable,  these  are  identic^ 
with  the  rocks  of  the  hills  to  tiie  north  of  Karm&n,  those  beds  must 
roll  over  to  the  southwards,  west  of  the  city,  just  as  they  apparently 
do  to  the  south-east,  near  Hanaka  and  M6hiui. 

The  plain  in  which  B£ghin  stands,  south  «f  the  Badamdn  Kdh,  » 
a  good  example  of  the  valley  plains  whi^  occupy  so  large  a  portion 
of  the  Persian  highlands.  It  runs  nearly  east  and  west,  is,  near 
B&ghin,  about  thirteen  miles  across^  and  consists  of  a  lateral  slope  of 
gravel  on  each  side,  and  comparatively  flat  sandy  gpounds  in  the 
middle.  The  northern  lateral  slope  is  three  miles  broad^  and  its 
surface  lies  at  on  angle  of  2°,  or  raitiier  less.  The  central  flat  is  six 
miles  from  side  to  side  opposite  B^hin ;  and  along  its  eootiiera 
margin  is  the  bed  of  a  stream,  tibe  water  of  whi^  is  usually  di^nted 
for  irrigation.  The  southern  IsAervA  slope  is  between  fe«r  and  five 
miles  broad,  in  which  distance  there  is  a  rise  of  450  feet,  eo  tint  the 
inclination  is  a  little  more  than  i^.  The  lower  edges  of  these  gravel 
slopes  are  sharply  defined. 

The  hills  south  of  the  B&ghin  plaixi,  travjersed  on  the  road  from 


MASHISU:   SARJAN.  491 

B&ghin  to  Masbish^  consist  of  volcanic  rocks  of  the  same  type  as  those 
of  the  Kuh  Haz&r.  Towards  the  Mashish  plain  con^lcHnerates  and 
shales  occur,  like  those  seen  north-north-east  of  Karm&n^  the  con- 
glomerates containing  limestone  and  sandstone  pebbles.  Farther 
south  still,  and  close  to  the  plain  of  Mashish,  are  some  pale  brown 
shaley  sandstones,  very  irregular  in  dip  and  strike.  All  appear  sub- 
ordinate members  of  the  volcanic  series^  but  still  the  relations  are  not 
very  clear,  and  it  is  quite  possible  that  these  sandstones  and  shales  are 
cretaceous. 

The  valley  of  Mashish  is  another  broad  expanse  of  alluvium^  but  it 
is  at  a  higher  level  than  the  plain  of  Karm&n  (67cx>  feet)^  and,  as 
appears  to  be  commonly  the  case  in  the  higher  valley  plains,  the 
gravel-slopes  at  the  side  are  less  marked  and  of  smaller  extent.  In  the 
centre  of  the  valley  a  stream  runs  in  a  well-marked  bed,  depressed 
below  the  general  level.     This  also  is  the  case  at  B^hin. 

The  range  intervening  between  the  Mashish  valley  and  the  plain 
of  Sarj&n  consists  also  of  volcanic  rocks,  largely  covered  with  a  great 
thickness  of  gravely  consisting  of  pebbles  of  volcanic  rock  in  reddish- 
brown  earth.  The  hills  are  high,  the  summit  level  near  a  caravanserai 
called  Kh&n-i-surkh,  being  about  8800  feet  above  the  sea.  Bocks 
only  project  here  and  there,  and  all  the  hills  are  rounded  except  one 
crag  of  trachyte,  called  Kuh-i-panj,  which  rises  to  an  elevation  of 
about  10,000  to  1 1,000  feet  two  or  three  miles  west  of  the  pass.  The 
pass  itself  is  on  decomposed  basalt. 

After  crossing  the  pass,  the  road  desoends  very  gradually  to  S&'a- 
.dat&b^  on  the  edge  of  the  great  Sarj&n  plain.  The  descent  is  chiefly 
over  beds  of  whitish  conglomerate^  differing  entirely  from  the  gravels 
north  of  the  range,  and  composed  of  pebbles  and  boulders  of  various 
volcanic  rocks,  all  rounded  in  a  matrix  chiefly  consisting  of  trachyte 
sand.  Some  of  the  boulders  are  of  large  size,  six  feet  or  even  more  in 
diameter,  the  larger  blocks  being  disposed  in  layers.  The  beds  are  of 
great  thickness,  and  a  fine  section  of  them  is  exposed  on  the  banks  of 
a  stream  down  which  the  road  passes.  These  conglomerates  may  be 
sub-aerial  in  origin :  they  dip  at  an  angle  of  about  2°  to  the  west  or 
south-west,  and  have  all  the  appearance  of  being  a  portion  of  an 
ancient  lateral  slope  from  the  hills  to  the  Sarj&n  plain.  The  lower 
portion  of  the  slope,  which  extends  beyond  the  town  of  S&'adat&b&d, 
is  more  gentle,  and  is  apparently  more  recent^  the  streams  running 
over  itj  and  not  cutting  channels  into  it. 


492  ROCKS  SEEN  ON  JOURNEY. 

The  hills  which  border  the  jdain  to  the  aoath-east  of  the  villageB  of 
S&'adaUtUld  and  Said£b4d  oonfflflt  of  ciystdliiie  limeBtoney  wfaituli  or 
dark  grey  in  colour,  associated  with  mica  schist,  talcoee  sdiist, 
qoartzite,  and  gneiss.  Manj  of  the  limestones  are  finely  foliated, 
their  foliation,  as  well  as  that  of  the  schists  and  gneissoee  rocks,  being 
clearly  in  the  plains  of  bedding.  The  whole  have,  at  a  distanee, 
precisely  the  appearance  of  sedimentary  beds,  and  they  so  eiaietlj 
resemble  the  Hipporite  formations  of  Karmin  in  colour  and  mineial 
composition^  that  it  appears  highly  probable  that  they  are  only  the 
same  beds  altered.  If  this  be  the  case,  the  change  may  very  probably 
have  been  contemporaneous  with  the  outbursts  of  volcanic  rocks. 

The  plain  of  Sarj&n  is  between  forty  and  fifty  miles  broad,  and 
entirely  composed,  like  other  plains  already  mentioned,  of  aUnvial  de- 
posits. It  must  extend  for  a  far  greater  distance  to  the  north-west,  and 
it  probably  rises  in  that  direction.  The  surface  of  the  plain  south- 
west of  Said&b&d  descends  with  a  scarcely  perceptible  slope,  and 
consists  of  a  very  fine  light  brown  loam,  with  the  exception  of  the 
last  eight  miles^  which  are  salt  swamp.  All  the  eastern  part  of  this 
swamp  is  very  marshy ;  the  western  part  is  covered  with  a  hard  sheet 
of  salt,  three  or  four  inches  thick  at  least.  This  ends  but  a  few  miles 
from  the  hills,  the  slope  to  which  is  very  moderate^  and,  as  usual, 
composed  of  gravel. 

The  hills  traversed  to  the  south-west  of  the  Sarj&n  plain  consist 
chiefly  of  limestones,  somewhat  altered  but  not  crystalline.  The 
greater  part  are  grey,  some  are  brown,  others  pale-coloured,  and 
although  no  fossils,  except  some  obscure  encrinite  stems,  were  ob- 
served, the  general  character  is  that  of  the  Karm^  Hippurite  beds. 
Some  chloritic  and  talcose  slates  are  associated  with  the  limestones, 
which,  towards  Parp&,  and  sometimes  in  other  places,  exhibit  traces 
of  lamination.  In  one  place,  near  Parpfi,  there  is  a  bed  of  iron  ore, 
apparently  magnetic  ore  and  hematite  mixed,  very  pure,  and  four  at 
five  feet  thick.  It  has  evidently  been  dug  into,  but  only  to  a  small 
extent.     Lead  ore  is  said  to  be  found  in  the  neighbourhood. 

The  strike  of  the  hills  is  about  north  25"^  west,  the  dip  very 
irregular,  but  generally  to  the  eastward;  near  the  salt  plain,  it  is 
nearly  vertical. 

From  these  hills  there  is  a  long  slope  to  the  south-west,  composed 

.  of  gravel,  and  terminating  at  a  small  salt  plain  close  to  the  village 

of  Katru.     In  this  plain,  though  on  a  smaller  scale  tiian  in  that  of 


NIRIZ :   SALT  LAKE.  493 

Sarj&n,  the  broadest  slope  by  far  is  on  the  north-east  side,  the 
smaller  one  to  the  south-west  and  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Katrii. 
This  is  not  due  to  the  greater  height  of  the  hills  to  the  north-east, 
since  those  to  the  south-west  are  at  least  of  equal  height. 

The  range  south-west  of  Katrd  last  referred  to  differs  much  in 
appearance  and  vegetation  from  all  previously  traversed.  It  consists 
chiefly  of  pale-coloured  limestone^  completely  unaltered  though  fre- 
quently crushed  and  contorted.  One  large  bed  is  formed  of  limestone 
pebbles  cemented  together.  Dark-coloured  beds  are  exceptional,  but 
a  small  hill  of  dark  grey  limestone,  much  crushed  and  traversed  by 
seams  of  calcite,  occurs  a  mile  west  by  north  of  Katru,  and  similar 
rock  is  seen  in  places  on  the  hills. 

The  general  outline  of  the  range  is  rounded,  and  the  beds  appear 
to  dip  at  low  angles.  They  are  chiefly  Hippuritic,  but  fragments  of 
Nummulitic  and  Alveolina  limestones  were  seen  near  Katru,  and 
again  south-west  of  the  range  near  Niriz,  showing  that  Tertiary  beds 
rest  upon  the  cretaceous  limestones  in  places,  though  none  were 
noticed  in  siCu. 

In  some  of  the  ravines  which  traverse  the  hiUs  doleritic  rocks 
are  seen  in  the  beds  of  the  streams.  They  have  an  altered  appear- 
ance, and  in  some  places  resemble  altered  sedimentary  rocks.  In 
one  instance  a  conglomerate  of  volcanic  materiab  was  observed. 
The  relation  of  these  beds  to  the  limestones  is  obscure ;  they  may  be 
of  the  same  series,  but  they  probably  belong  to  an  older  formation. 

This  same  range  stretches  for  about  twenty-five  miles  past  Niriz 
along  the  southern  edge  of  the  Niriz  salt  lake.  Towards  the  lake  it 
terminates  in  a  flat-topped  scarp,  about  2CX>o  feet  high,  entirely  com- 
posed of  pale  cream-coloured  limestone  abounding  in  Hippurites.  No 
Nummulitic  rocks  could  be  detected  in  the  cliffs. 

At  the  base  of  the  cliffs,  however,  are  some  ferruginous  shales  and 
sandy  beds  of  peculiar  character,  sometimes  banded  red  and  white, 
and  often  much  decomposed.  In  some  places  they  pass  into  a  red 
and  brown  chert.  They  are  usually  turned  on  end,  whilst  the  Hippu- 
ritic limestone  is  horizontal  or  nearly  so.  These  red  beds  are  con- 
tinuous along  the  base  of  the  Hippuritic  limestone  cliff  as  far  as  Khir 
(where  the  road  followed  turns  away  from  the  lake),  the  only  change 
being  that  near  Khir  Nummulitic  and  Alveolina  limestone  is  seen 
dipping  north,  resting  upon  the  red  shales  in  places,  and  forming 
spurs  stretching  out  towards  the  lake.     At  first  there  appeared  every 


494  ROCKS  SEEN  ON  JOURNEY. 

probability  of  the  red  shales  being  lower  in  position  tiian  the  cretar 
ceoas  limestones,  which  had  the  appearance  of  resting  unconformablj 
on  them^  but  the  more  probable  view^  strengthened  hy  a  very  amilai 
phenomenon  at  the  lake  of  Shir&z,  is  that  the  line  of  clifb  is  a  line  of 
&ult,  and  that  the  red  shales  belong  to  either  the  Nnminulitic  or  the 
Gypseous  series.  If  they  belong  to  the  latter  there  mast  be  a  reversed 
dip,  but  some  similar  red  shales  seen  near  Sarristfin  appeared  sub- 
ordinate to  part  at  least  of  tbe  Nummulitic  formation.  In  the  red 
shales  some  reptilian  teeth,  perhaps  crocodilian,  were  obtained. 

Some  isolated  hills  in  the  plain  west  of  Ninz  consist  of  limestone 
resting  on  dolerite,  as  in  the  hills  to  the  east.  The  limestoue  is 
traversed  by  vertical  bands  of  chert. 

The  lake  of  Niriz  (incorrectly  called  Sakhtig&n  on  maps)  is  satorated 
with  salt.  It  is  of  considerable  size  (about  seventy  miles  long  with  an 
average  breadth  of  not  more  than  five  or  six  miles),  but  very  shallow. 
The  plain  on  its  border^  where  traversed,  consists  of  soft  lig^ht-ooloored 
earthy  similar  to  that  forming  the  plains  of  Karm&n,  Sarj&n,  &c.  Hie 
hills  on  the  north  side  of  the  lake  are  apparently  of  limestone,  and 
seem  to  dip  north,  in  the  opposite  direction  to  those  near  Khir. 

The  road  followed  left  the  Niriz  lake  at  Khir,  and  turning  south- 
ward passed  through  a  gap  in  the  hills,  exposing  sections  of  the  roeks 
in  ascending  order.  First,  with  some  traces  of  the  red  shales  at  their 
base  (or  very  probably  faulted  against  them),  are  massive  limestones, 
pale  in  colour  and  probably  Hippuritic,  they  being  in  fiftct  the  beds 
which  form  the  clifis  between  Niriz  and  Khir.  Upon  them  rest  thin- 
bedded  impure  limestones,  for  the  most  part  dusky  grey  in  colour  and 
having  a  strong  bituminous  smell  when  freshly  broken  or  struck. 
These  beds  form  a  range  running  north  of  the  valley  of  Bohms. 
South  of  this  valley  is  a  high  range  of  pale-coloured  limestones, 
weathering  with  a  peculiar  whitish  appearance.  The  relations  of 
the  bituminous  limestones  are  not  clear,  but  the  pale  limestones  south 
of  Bohnis  are  Tertiary  and  abound  in  Nummuliiei  and  Aheolina  in 
places.  From  Rohnis  tbe  road  enters  a  lateral  valley  between  two 
ranges  of  Nunamulitic  beds,  each  dipping  towards  the  valley,  and 
these  rocks  assume  the  characteristic  appearance  of  the  Nummulitic 
limestones,  being  less  compact  and  hard  than  the  Hippuritic  lime- 
stone, less  homogeneous  in  texture,  and  much  more  rubbly,  weathering 
into  loose  tabular  blocks.  They  are  much  more  fertile  imd  better 
wooded  than  the  cretaceous  formations. 


r  * 


SHIRAZ  AND   VICINITY.  495 

Further  south-west  another  range  of  the  same  rocks  rises  to  the 
south  of  Miinjangal,  and  a  lidge  south  of  Tangkirang  looka  as  if 
composed  of  gravel.  The  road  from  Mi&njangal  to  the  westward 
ascends  over  a  low  pass  composed  of  beds  of  red  shale,  grey  and 
reddish  sandstones  and  some  limestones^  dipping  norths  and  apparently 
resting  on  the  Nunmiulitie  limestone  to  the  southward.  On  a  hill 
to  the  north  these  shales  and  sandstones  are  seen  to  be  capped  by 
massive  limestone,  which  looks  unconformable,  but  little  dependence 
can  be  placed  upon  observationa  made  from  a  distance.  The  red 
shales  may  be  the  same  aa  those  seen  near  Niriz^  but  they  bear  a 
considerable  resemblance  to  the  gypseous  series  of  Lofbus. 

From  the  pass  just  mentioned  the  road  descends  to  Sarvist&n. 
The  hiUs  north  of  thia  village  consist  of  nummulitic  limestone,  dipping 
to  the  south.  South  and  west  of  Sarvistan  is  a  plain  extending  to 
the  lake  of  ShiHiz,  and  the  hiUs  just  mentioned  are  continued  along 
the  northern  shore  of  the  lake,  till  they  join  the  range  north  of  Shiriz 
itself  In  the  plain,  north  of  the  village  of  Khair&b&dj  is  an  isolated 
hill  of  some  height,  consisting  of  a  conglomerate  of  limestone  pebbles, 
chiefly  of  Hippuritic  limestone.  This  conglomerate  is  probably  of 
nummulitic  age,  but  it  may  be  more  recent.  The  pebbles  are  thoroughly 
rounded  as  if  on  a  sea-beach. 

The  hills  al<mg  the  south-west  side  of  Shir&z  lake  are  all  apparently 
of  nummulitic  limestone,  and  a  cliff  rises  near  the  lake,  composed  of 
beds  which  dip  to  the  south-west,  away  from  the  cliff.  But  close  to 
the  edge  of  the  lake,  a  little  west  of  M&hal&,  rocks  are  seen  contorted 
and  dipping  sharply  over  towards  the  lake.  This  looks  much  as  if 
the  cliffy  like  that  of  Niriz,  were  along  a  line  of  &ult  or  fracture,  and 
in  that  case  it  is  probable  that  the  hollow  containing  the  lake  is^  in 
both  casesy  a  recent  depression. 

7.   Shirdz  to  Isfahdn, 
l%e  rocks  of  the  hills  north  of  Shiriz  ^  consist  of  pale  limestone, 

'  An  attack  of  fever  during  the  few  days  I  remained  at  Shir&z  prevented  my  visiting 
the  hills  to  the  west  and  south.  I  especially  regret  having  been  unable  to  examine  the 
Gypseous  series  of  ZiOftus,  wfaicb  are  exposed  at  a  few  miles  distaace  from  Shffte  to  the 
north-west. 

At  the  same  time  the  Gypseous  series  is  represented  on  Loftus's  map  as  occupying  a 
oonsideirable  area  east  and  south-east  of  Shir^,  which  really  consists  of  older  formations. 
This  couAtry  waa  not»  Ibelieve,  visited  by  Loftoa  himself  and  the  boundaries  on  his  map 
are,  of  course,  not  intended  to  be  more  than  approximate. 


496  ROCKS  SEEN  ON  JOURNEY. 

containing  Nammolites  and  other  Foraminifera.  The  bedding  is  more 
distinct  than  is  usoally  the  case  amongst  the  Hippiuitic  limestones, 
but  the  difference  is  scarcely  sufficiently  marked  to  enable  die  two 
formations  to  be  distinguished  by  it  at  a  distance.  The  beds  usoaDj 
roll  about  at  low  angles,  the  ranges  having  a  general  direction  yaiying 
from  about  east  and  west  to  east  25"^  south — west  25^  norths  and  the 
dip  of  one  range  is  often  the  reverse  of  that  in  the  next. 

The  nummulitic  limestone  ends  abruptly  on  the  sonth  side  of  the 
wide  plains  forming  the  western  portion  of  the  Mardasht^  watered  by 
the  Bandamir  (or  the  river  so  called  on  maps)  and  its  branches.  The 
detached  hills  and  ranges  which  rise  from  the  plain  where  the  road 
crosses  it  between  Shek&bid  and  M&yin,  on  the  summer  route  from 
Shir&z  to  Isfah&n,  are  all  of  Hippuritic  b'mestone,  some  of  them 
abounding  in  Hippurites.  The  rocks  dip  at  low  ang^les,  or  are 
horizontal,  and  their  mineral  character  is  unmistakeably  the  same  as 
that  of  the  Karmin  rocks,  and  fax  more  massive  than  the  nmnmulitic 
limestone  near  Shir&z  ^. 

The  valleys  in  this  neighbourhood  contain  running  streams,  and 
differ  completely  in  character  and  shape  from  the  valley  plains  of 
Karm&n ;  there  are  no  slopes  of  gravel  at  the  side,  and  the  flat  ground 
of  the  valley,  consisting  ot  fine  alluvial  soil,  extends  to  the  base  of 
the  hills.  Large  springs  g^h  out  along  the  base  of  the  abrupt  clifis 
in  which  the  hills  rise  from  the  valley^  and  there  can  be  but  little 
doubt  that  these  springs  result  from  the  drainage  of  the  table-land 
above  the  hills,  the  water  finding  its  way  through  fissures  in  the 
limestone. 

Leaving  the  Bandamir  valley  at  M&yin,  the  road  ascends  through 
a  narrow  gorge  called  Miin  Kotbal,  lying  along  the  trough  of  a 
synclinal  axis.  Water  abounds  near  the  bottom^  but  the  torrent  bed 
is  dry  above.  Passing  Im&mz&dah  Ismail,  the  road  surmounts  a 
ridge  and  descends  to  the  plain  of  Rez&bfid  at  7cx>o  feet  above  the 
sea.  The  whole  ascent  is  over  limestones,  apparently  similar  to  the 
cretaceous  rocks  of  M&yin,  but  becoming  much  altered  and  anfossili- 
ferous. 

Rez&b&d  and  Asup&s,  the  next  stage,  are  about  twenty-four  miles 
from  each  other,  and  both  lie  in  a  valley  about  eight  to  ten  miles 
broad,  the  central  portion  of  which  is  occupied  by  a  large  marsh.     On 

*  ICr.  LoftoBy  Q.  J.  G.  S.  zi,  p.  a8i,  refers,  though  with  some  doubt,  the  rooln  at  P< 
poUs,  »  few  miles  test  of  the  route  followed,  to  the  NummuUtios. 


UJUN:    YAZDIKHAST,  497 

each  side  are  limestone  ranges,  that  to  the  soutli-west  being  the  range 
crossed  between  Im&mzfidah  Ism&il  and  Rez&b&d,  and  apparently 
consisting  of  limestone  of  cretaceous  age :  whilst  the  hills  to  the 
north-east  are  composed  of  dark  grey  limestone^  apparently  unfossili- 
ferous.  The  latter  rolls  about  at  high  angles  without  any  definite 
general  dip,  and  it  may  be  cretaceous  or  older,  but  its  age  is  un- 
known ^. 

The  road  crosses  this  range,  and  then  for  nearly  thirty  miles  traverses 
another  broad  grassy  plain  of  sandy  soil,  at  an  elevation  of  about 
iQOO  feet  above  the  sea.  Neither  this  plain  nor  that  of  Asup&s  has 
any  broad  gravel  slope  at  the  side.  Beyond  Ujun,  ten  or  twelve 
miles  beyond  Kushkizard,  the  line  of  road  crosses  rounded  hills  of  the 
drift-like  gravel  so  prevalent  at  high  elevations  in  Persia,  and  here 
consisting  of  limestone  pebbles,  whilst  the  hills  north  and  north-east 
of  Ujun  itself  are  of  limestone,  brecciated  in  places,  and  probably 
identical  with  that  west  of  the  valley^  traversed  on  the  road  from 
Asup&s.  Near  Ujun  the  limestone  becomes  harder  and  more  altered^ 
and  after  a  ruined  caravanserai  on  the  road-side  is  passed  it  is 
succeeded  by  dark-coloured  foliated  limestone,  which  continues  to 
Dehgirdu. 

Along  the  road  from  Dehgirdu  to  Yazdikh&st,  where  the  summer 
and  winter  roads  from  Shir&z  to  Isfah&n  unite,  a  distance  of  thirty 
miles,  all  the  rocks  are  much  altered  and  consist  of  slaty^  almost 
schistose  beds,  alternating  with  limestone ;  these  formations  being  greatly 
marked  by  a  calcareous  conglomerate  in  horizontal  beds  and  gravely 
the  latter  chiefly  resulting  from  the  disintegration  of  the  conglomerate. 
Where  the  hard  altered  formations  are  first  seen,  five  or  six  miles 
south  of  Dehgirdu,  they  are  vertical,  striking  west  30**  north.  But 
little  change  except  slight  variation  in  the  dip  takes  place  for  twelve 
or  fourteen  miles.  Eight  miles  from  Yazdikh&st  two  small  ranges  of 
limestone  are  crossed  with  the  same  strike,  but  varying  in  dip.  The 
road  then  enters  the  plain  of  Yazdikh&st,  another  expanse  of  gravel, 
often  cemented  into  a  conglomerate,  at  an  elevation  of  7cx>o  feet 
above  the  sea.  A  section  of  the  beds  forming  the  plain  are  exposed 
to  a  depth  of  about  100  feet  by  the  stream  which  runs  past  Yazdikh&st, 
the  town  itself  standing  on  an  isolated  block  of  the  conglomerate, 

*  LoftuB,  who  found  similar  beds  eztending  from  near  Penepolis  almost  to  Lake  TJra« 
miah,  was  also  unable  in  most  places  to  assign  any  definite  age  to  it.  Q.  J.  6.  S.  xi. 
pp.  289-391. 

VOL.  II.  K  k 


498  ROCKS  SEEN  ON  JOURNEY. 

with  a  deep  channel  cut  by  a  branch  of  the  stream  on  each  aide,  so  as 
to  appear  from  a  distance  as  if  standing  in  the  plain. 

Two  little  hills  in  the  plain  north  of  YazdikhAst  consist  of  unaltered 
shales  and  sandstone,  capped  bj  very  dark  limestone^  abounding  in 
hippurites.  They  dip  west.  It  is  of  course  uncertain  whether  the 
altered  limestone  of  Dehgirdu,  etc.  be  wholly  or  partly  of  cretaceous 
age,  but  the  occurrence  of  the  hippuritic  limestone  on  both  sides  of 
the  table-land  tends  to  suggest  the  possibility  of  its  being*  represented 
amongst  the  more  crystalline  beds  of  the  intervening^  tract. 

No  other  hills  occur  near  the  road  as  far  as  Maksudbegi.  The  hiils 
to  the  east  of  this  villag^e  consist  chiefly  of  dusky  grey  limestone,  well 
stratified  and  unaltered.  It  abounds  in  fossils,  but  the  only  forms 
which  could  be  distinctly  recognised  were  some  specimens  of  Tere- 
bratula  biplicata^  a  characteristic  cretaceous  fossil.  One  hill  in  the 
plain,  four  or  five  miles  north-west  of  Maksudbegi,  is  probably  Tolcanic  : 
both  its  form  and  colour^  the  latter  a  mixture  of  black  and  reddish 
brown,  being  peculiar,  and  contrasting  strongly  with  the  limestone 
hills  around.  Time  did  not  allow  of  a  visit  to  it.  The  limestone  hills 
are  rather  pale-brown  on  the  weathered  surfaces. 

Near  Maksudbegi  the  broad  plain  of  gravel,  which  extends  from 
&r  beyond  Yazdikh&st,  contracts,  and  at  Kumishah,  a  considerable 
town  about  fourteen  miles  farther,  the  hills  on  each  side  approach  veiy 
closely.  They  here  consist  entirely  of  limestone  in  massive  beds  of 
light  and  dark  colours  alternating ;  the  light-coloured  limestone  is  in 
thicker  and  more  homogeneous  beds^  and  it  weathers  on  the  tops  of 
hills  into  peculiar  rounded  knobs^  looking  more  like  trachyte  or  some 
forms  of  granitoid  gneiss  than  limestone.  Several  of  these  rounded 
hillocks  are  scattered  over  the  plain  near  Kumishah.  The  darker 
beds  are  more  distinctly  stratified.  These  limestones  closely  resemble 
the  Hippuritic  strata  of  Karm&n  in  character. 

As  is  so  frequently  the  case^  these  massive  limestones  are  not  veiy 
fossiliferous,  and  the  organic  remains  which  exist  in  them  are  as 
a  rule  ill-marked  and  difficult  of  recognition;  sections  of  fossils 
are  often  seen,  but  the  shells,  etc.  do  not  weather  out  on  the  exposed 
surface. 

Similar  limestones  form  all  the  ranges  from  Kumishah  to  Isfah&n. 
The  road  traverses  plains  of  fine  loam,  or  slopes  of  gravel  near  the 
base  of  the  hills,  and  crosses  one  narrow  limestone  range,  the  Urchin 
hills,  about  twenty  miles  south  of  Isfah&n.     The  rocks  are  dark- 


LIMESTONES  AND  SHALES.  499 

coloured  limestones,  nearly  horizontal,  and  exhibiting  sections  of  large 
bivalve  shells  (Ostrea  and  Chama  ?)  with  corals. 

A  bold  mass  of  hills  which  rises  just  south  of  Julfa,  the  south- 
western suburb  of  Isfah&n^  consists  of  the  same  limestone  as  that 
forming  the  Kumishah  and  Urchin  hills,  resting  upon  olive-grey 
shales  and  shaly  sandstones  closely  resembling  those  which  underlie 
similar  limestone  east  of  Ejirm&n.  The  shales  are  much  disturbed^ 
rolling  about  at  high  angles,  much  higher  apparently  than  the  lime- 
stones above,  yet  no  clear  unconformity  can  be  traced,  and  it  appears 
as  if  the  softer  shale  beds  had  been  more  squeezed  and  contorted  than 
the  massive  overlying  limestone.  It  is,  however,  possible  that  the 
two  belong  to  distinct  series. 

Fragments  of  Alveolina  limestone  occur  in  the  bed  of  the  Zaindarud, 
showing  that  nummulitic  beds  exist  at  no  great  distance  west  of 
Is&h&n,  but  the  limestones  near  the  city  appeared  all  to  belong  to  the 
cretaceous  series  ^. 

The  plains  near  Isfah&n  resemble  those  near  Karm&n  much  more 
than  they  do  the  valleys  of  F&rs,  but  the  gravel  slopes  at  the  sides  are 
smaller  near  Karm&n.  These  slopes  attain  a  greater  development 
again  to  the  northward  between  Is&h&n  and  Tehr&n. 


8.     IsfaMn  to  TeArdn. 

But  few  geological  observations  were  made  on  this  part  of  the 
journey,  except  near  Kohrud.  The  season  was  the  latter  end  of  July, 
the  hottest  part  of  the  year,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  distance  was 
rapidly  traversed  by  post,  a  considerable  portion  of  it  at  night. 

As  far  as  near  Murchikar,  thirty-five  miles  from  Isfah&n,  the  road 
is  mostly  over  a  level  plain  of  fine  light-coloured  alluvial  soil,  with 
scattered  hills,  one  small  range  of  which  is  traversed.  From  Mur- 
chikar to  Bideshk,  nearly  twenty  miles,  there  is  a  gradual  ascent  over 
a  very  long  well-marked  gravel  slope,  leading  from  the  Isfah&n  plain 
almost  to  the  summit  of  the  range  of  hills  on  which  Soh  and  Kohrud 
stand,  and  which  bounds  the  salt  desert  to  the  south-west.  The 
ascent  from  Murchikar  to  Bideshk  must  be  nearly  2000  feet. 

The  hills  between  Murchikar  and  Soh  are  of  dark  impure  limestone, 

^  Loftas  represents  the  rooks  south-west  of  Isfiihin  as  Nummulitic  on  his  map,  but  I 
can  find  no  reference  to  them  in  the  Memoir. 

K  k  2 


600  ROCKS  SEEN  ON  JOURNEY. 

much  crushed  and  veined,  resembling  that  near  Dehgirdu.     Near  Soh 
it  is  mixed  with  olive  shales. 

About  Soh  some  of  the  g^vel  beds  are  cemented  into  a  conglo- 
merate, and  a  superficial  calcareous  deposit  forms  a  firm  limestone  on 
the  hill  east  of  the  caravanserai.  The  road  from  Soh  to  Kohrod 
passes  for  some  distance  over  gravels  and  cong^lomerates,  and  then 
traverses  volcanic  formations  mixed  with  sedimentary  beds;  grey 
shale^  decomposing  into  whitish  clay,  limestones^  cong^lomerates,  sand- 
stones, etc.  In  many  places  the  greater  part  of  the  formation  is 
sedimentary,  the  volcanic  portion  (lava-flows  and  ash-beds)  being  of 
inferior  thickndss.  Some  of  the  limestones  are  massive  and  of  de- 
cidedly cretaceous  character ;  they  are  interstratified  with  the  basalts 
and  ash-beds  in  a  manner  which  shows  that  all  must  be  of  the  sune 
age. 

At  the  pass  before  reaching  Kohrud,  the  limestones  and  associated 
volcanic  formations  rest  upon  granite.  To  all  appearance  the  two 
series  are  quite  unconformable.  The  granite  passes  into  gneissose  and 
schistose  rocks  between  Kohrud  and  Gabrab&d,  and  is  apparently 
metamorphic^  and  not  intrusive. 

The  Kohrud  range  ends  its  north-east  side  in  a  bold  scarp  facing  the 
great  plain  marked  in  maps  as  the  salt  desert.  South-east  of  Kohrud, 
for  a  considerable  distance,  the  face  of  this  scarp  appears  to  consist  of 
metamorphic  rocks,  but  to  the  north-west  the  only  rocks  seen  for 
many  miles  are  limestones  and  shales.  At  the  caravanserai  of  Oa- 
brab&d,  close  to  the  base  of  the  hills,  these  beds  are  unaltered,  and 
they  precisely  resemble  those  of  Julfa.  They  are  vertical,  and  strike 
east  and  west.  West  of  ICash&n  there  are  some  rocks  which,  at  a 
distance,  look  like  metamorphics. 

One  of  the  finest  and  best-marked  gravel  slopes  seen  in  Persia 
extends  along  the  base  of  the  Kohrud  range,  near  Kash&n ;  it  must  be 
ten  or  twelve  miles  broad,  and  the  difference  in  elevation  above  the 
sea  between  the  bottom  of  the  slope  and  its  upper  limit  at  the  foot  of 
the  hills  is  about  2250  feet  by  a  rough  aneroid  measurement.  The 
town  of  Kash&n  is  at  the  lower  edge  of  the  slope,  close  to  a  plain  of 
the  usual  fine  light-coloured  loam,  which  stretches  away  to  the  horizoD, 
being  part  of  the  great  salt  desert  of  Northern  Persia.  Very  large 
blocks  of  granite,  two  or  three  feet  in  diameter,  are  found  on  the  slope 
three  or  four  miles  from  the  base  of  the  hills,  having  apparently 
been  carried  down  this  slight  incline  by  streams. 


SEDIMENTARY  AND    VOLCANIC,  501 

IVom  Kash&n  to  Tehr&n,  nearly  150  miles,  the  road  lies  either 
along  the  edge  of  the  great  desert  plain,  or  over  spurs  running  out 
into  it.  All  of  the  rocks,  so  far  as  they  could  be  observed  during  a 
rapid  journey  on  post-horses,  were  so  similar  that  it  is  highly  pro- 
bable they  all  belong  to  one  series,  and  that  identical  with  the  rocks 
occurring  between  Soh  and  Kohrud.  They  are  a  remarkable  mixture 
of  sedimentary  and  volcanic  formations ;  limestones,  sandstones,  and 
shales  alternating  with  basaltic  lava-flows  and  beds  of  ash.  None  of 
the  volcanic  formations  have  the  appearance  of  being  recent,  all  seeming 
to  be  associated  with  the  sedimentary  beds  as  if  they  were  con- 
temporaneous. 

Between  Sinsin  and  Shor&b,  thirty  miles  north  of  Kash&n^  are  some 
hills  of  shales,  coloured  in  a  rich  and  peculiar  manner,  and  limestone 
volcanic  beds  (basalts  and  ashes)  are  associated.  Similar  rocks  con- 
tinue nearly  to  Kum.  Thence  to  Pul-i-daldk  the  road  traverses  undu- 
lating grounds  and  gravel  hills.  The  low  ranges  between  Pul-i-daldk 
and  the  salt  marsh  south  of  Hauz-i-sult&n  were  passed  in  the  night, 
but  they  appeared  chiefly  volcanic.  The  hilly  country  north  of 
Hauz-i-sult&n^  extending  as  far  as  Kin&ragird,  is  composed  of  lime- 
.  stones,  shales^  and  sandstones,  with  volcanic  rocks  intermixed ;  whilst 
the  range  north  of  Kin&ragird,  lying  about  twenty  miles  south  of 
Tehrin,  is  entirely  volcanic.  North  of  this  range  is  an  alluvial  plain 
extending  to  Tehr&n. 

Some  hills  in  the  plain  east  of  Tehr&n  are  said  to  consist  of  lime- 
stone. Blocks  of  limestone  brought  from  them  for  use  in  building  the 
English  Mission  contained  hippurites  in  abundance.  This  strengthens 
the  probability  of  all  the  limestones  and  associated  rocks  from  Isfah&n 
to  Tehran  being  cretaceous,  since  the  character  of  the  limestones  in 
general  is  very  similar  to  that  of  the  hippuritic  beds  of  Southern 
Persia. 

9.   Elburz  fuouniains,  north  of  Tehran, 

Whilst  detained  at  Tehrdn,  I  took  the  opportunity  of  visiting  part 
of  the  Elburz  mountains,  immediately  north  of  the  Persian  capital^ 
examining  some  localities  at  which  coal  had  been  discovered,  and 
collecting  specimens  of  the  fauna.  The  rocks  of  the  Elburz  appear 
quite  difierent  from  those  of  the  other  parts  of  Persia  examined.  The 
geology  is  far  too  intricate  to  be  made  out  by  a  mere  traverse,  and  I 


602  ROCKS  SEEN  ON  JOURNEY. 

have  not  attempted  to  indicate  it  on  the  map ;  all  that  I  can  do  is  to 
describe  what  was  seen  on  the  route  followed.  Leavings  Gnlhak,  the 
summer  residence  of  the  British  Mission,  six  miles  north  of  Tehrfin, 
I  went  east  for  a  few  miles  and  then  entered  the  mountains  by  the 
valley  of  the  J&j  Rud.  After  examining  the  coal  seam  near  Butah, 
I  crossed  from  the  J&j  Bud  to  the  Lura  or  Karij,  the  next  river- 
valley  to  the  westward,  and  spent  two  or  three  days  in  the  Lura 
valley.  I  then  marched  north  across  the  dividing  ridge  of  the  Elburz 
to  the  village  of  An&n  in  Mazandar&n,  whence^  after  one  day's  halt, 
I  returned  to  Tehr&n. 

Tehr&n  is  about  ten  miles  from  the  base  of  the  Elburz^  the  inter- 
vening distance  being  occupied  by  one  of  the  immense  gravel  slopes 
so  often  noticed  in  Persia.  Some  of  the  king's  palaces,  the  summer 
residences  of  the  different  European  Missions,  and  of  many  of  the 
Persians  themselves  are  at  various  elevations  upon  this  slope,  the  base 
of  which  at  Tehrdn  is  3000  feet  above  the  sea,  whilst  its  upper  limit 
north  of  Gulhak^  where  the  rocks  of  the  mountains  crop  out,  must 
be  nearly  6500  feet. 

The  rocks  near  the  base  of  the  range  are  chiefly  volcanic,  diorite, 
or  a  closely  allied  formation^  being  common.  It  is  not  clear  whether 
the  igneous  rocks  are  intrusive  or  interstratified,  but  as  they  appear 
chiefly  confined  to  the  southern  scarp  of  the  hills  it  is  highly  probable 
that  they  are  of  intrusive  origin.  The  rocks  too  in  their  neighbour- 
hood appear  harder  than  elsewhere. 

All  the  upper  portion  of  the  high  ridge  north  of  Tehr&n,  forming 
the  southern  scarp  of  the  range,  and  rising  due  north  of  the  city  to 
an  elevation  of  upwards  of  11,000  feet,  is  composed  of  shales  and  fine 
sandstones,  for  the  most  part  quite  unaltered  except  near  the  volcanic 
masses.  The  shales  are  mostly  grey  or  greenish  grey,  not  black.  A 
few  bands  of  hard  sandstone  of  various  colours  are  met  with,  and  a 
little  limestone.  No  fossils  were  observed.  The  rocks  are  much 
disturbed  near  the  J&j  Bud,  but  much  less  to  the  west. 

As  the  valley  of  the  JAj  Bud  is  cut  through  the  ridge  just  describedi 
it  is  evident  that  the  lower  portion  of  the  ravine  in  which  the  river 
flows  must  expose  a  section  of  the  beds  forming  the  ridge.  The  lower 
portion  of  the  deep  glen  of  the  Karij  river  doubtless  exposes  a  similar 
section  about  thirty-five  to  forty  miles  &rther  west,  but  this  was 
not  visited.  Hie  coal  locality  near  Butah  lies  at  some  distance  to 
the  east  of  the  J4j  Bud,  in  the  hills  drained  by  a  small  tributary  of 


SEAM  OF  COAL.  603 

that  river.  To  proceed  to  Rutah,  the  Jdj  Rud  valley  is  quitted  at  a 
village  called  Ush&n,  about  ten  miles  from  the  point  where  the  river 
leaves  the  hills,  and  the  road  runs  for  five  or  six  miles  to  the  north- 
east along  the  valley  of  a  tributary,  it  then  turns  north  up  the  valley 
of  a  still  smaller  stream,  on  which  the  village  of  Rutah  is  situated. 
The  glen  becomes  very  narrow  beyond  the  village,  and  ascends 
rapidly.  The  coal  seam  is  exposed  on  the  face  of  a  hill,  four  or 
five  miles  north  of  Rutah,  at  an  elevation  of  about  9000  feet  above 
the  sea. 

Up  the  small  stream  near  Rutah  there  is  a  great  quantity  of  red 
sandstone,  fine  in  texture,  hard  and  compact,  succeeded  by  argillaceous 
sandstone  or  hard  massive  shale  of  the  same  colour.  Just  beyond  the 
village  of  Rutah,  limestones,  (7  carboniferous,)  dark-coloured  at  first, 
but  afterwards  lighter,  come  in,  whether  resting  on  the  sandstones  or 
faulted  against  them  is  not  clear ;  the  limestones  are  turned  on  end 
where  they  first  appear  and  are  much  broken  and  contorted  through- 
out. The  coal  seam  is  associated  with  shales  and  sandstones,  but  the 
relation  of  these  beds  to  the  limestones  is  doubtful,  because  a  fault 
appears  to  intervene  running  east  and  west  along  the  base  of  the  spur 
on  which  the  coal  crops  out.  No  fossils  were  found  in  the  shales,  and 
the  age  of  the  coal  is  consequently  uncertain. 

The  only  seam  of  coal  which  has  been  at  all  worked  was  so  ill- 
exposed  through  the  outcrop  being  concealed,  and  the  small  opening 
made  having  fallen  in,  that  its  thickness  could  not  be  accurately 
determined :  however  it  is  at  least  three  feet  thick,  probably  more. 
It  dips  at  a  high  angle,  about  60**,  to  the  north,  and  is  much  crushed. 
The  outcrop  can  be  traced  for  150  to  200  yards  at  least,  and  probably 
much  &rther.  About  200  feet  lower  there  is  the  outcrop  of  another 
seam,  and  there  are  other  seams  either  of  carbonaceous  shale  or  coal 
exposed  on  the  opposite  hill. 

The  rocks  exposed  throughout  the  upper  part  of  the  Jij  Rud  valley 
are  shales  and  sandstones,  apparently  similar  to  those  of  the  range 
immediately  north  of  TehrAn.  The  most  conspicuous  and  abundant 
formation  is  a  very  hard  green  shale.  The  same  beds  occur  in  the 
Lura  valley,  mixed  with  some  reddish  shales  and  sandstone  of  various 
kinds.  The  beds  are  much  disturbed  and  the  strike  and  dip 
irregular. 

Ascending  to  the  dividing  ridge  between  the  streams  running  south 
and  those  flowing  north  to  the  Caspian  beyond  the  village  of  Sar-i- 


504  ROCKS  SEEN  ON  JOURNEY, 

gach,  the  road  passes  for  aoout  a  quarter  of  a  mile  over  diorite  S  pro- 
bably  an  intrusive  mass  injected  into  a  line  of  fault ;  beyond  this 
vertical  black  shales  come  in,  striking  nearly  east  and  west.  These 
shales  form  the  crest  of  the  watershed.  They  are  quite  unaltered,  bat 
no  fossils  were  observed  in  them.  Descending  on  the  north  side  of 
the  range,  one  or  two  small  seams  of  coal  are  exposed  in  this  shale  by 
the  road-side,  but  none  were  seen  more  than  a  foot  thick.  A  few  thin 
bands  of  limestone  are  interstratified  with  the  shales. 

Some  large  masses  of  gypsum  occur  both  north  and  south  of  the 
pass,  apparently  interstratified,  but  this  is  not  certain. 

Some  distance  before  reaching  the  village  of  An&n,  massive  lime- 
stones come  in  and  occupy  the  whole  valley  below  An4n  for  several 
miles ;  indeed  as  far  as  it  was  examined.  There  can  be  no  question 
about  the  age  of  the  lower  portion,  as  Producius  giganteus^  one  of  the 
most  characteristic  carboniferous  limestone  fossils,  was  found  abun- 
dantly in  it  in  one  place,  and  probably  all  the  limestone  may  be  of  the 
same  age.  Altogether  the  thickness  exposed  on  the  hill-sides  about 
An&n  cannot  be  much  less  than  5000  feet,  but  some  portion  of  the 
mass  consists  of  carbonaceous  shales,  and  occasional  beds  of  red  sand- 
stone and  shales  are  met  with. 

Where  the  limestones  abut  against  the  shales  south  of  An&n  the 
boundary  is  a  &ult.  Apparently  the  limestones  are  lower  in  the 
section  than  the  shales,  but  as  some  shales  are  interstratified  with  the 
limestones,  and  some  thin  bands  of  limestone  with  the  shales,  it  \s  not 
improbable  that  all  belong  to  one  series.  The  few  fossils  obtained 
from  a  bed  in  the  shales  near  An&n  are,  as  I  am  assured  by  Mr. 
Etheridge,  who  has  examined  them,  decidedly  Devonian  in  aspect 
They  comprise  the  following : — 

Streptorhynchus  crenistria. 
Spirifer  allied  to  S,  disjuncia, 
Spiriferina  allied  to  S.  crisiata, 

Retepora,  two   species,  one  allied  to  R.  lawa,  the  other  to  R. 
flustriformis. 

It  thus  appears   highly  probable  that  there  is  in  the    Elburz   a 
mixture  of  Devonian  and  Carboniferous  forms,  as  has  been  indicated 

>  Thia  rock,  and  that  observed  on  the  southern  scarp  of  the  Elbara,  has  the  appeaimaoe 
of  diorite,  but  as  unfortunately  no  specimens  were  brought  away  for  ezaminAtion,  I 
may  be  mistaken  in  believing  it  to  be  homblendic.  and  it  may  be  a  form  of  dolerite. 


VILLAGE   OF  UIR.  505 

elsewhere.  The  coal  of  Rutah  and  the  small  seams  near  An&n  may 
be  of  carboniferous  age^  but  as  no  fossils  were  found  associated,  this  is 
doubtful  \  As  will  be  presently  shown,  the  coal  of  Hir,  west  of 
Tehr&n,  is  Oolitic.  The  age  of  the  hard  green  shales  and  associated 
beds  which  occupy  so  large  an  area  in  the  J&j  Rud  and  Lura  valleys 
is  undetermined,  no  fossils  having  been  observed  in  them. 

10.  Tehran  io  Beshf, 

The  notes  on  this  section  are  also  very  fragmentary,  the  roads  as  far  as 
Kazvin  being  entirely  over  alluvial  formations,  and  the  hills  which  lie 
to  the  north  of  the  route  having  only  been  visited  in  one  spot,  near 
Hir ;  whilst  from  Kazvin  to  Resht  the  relations  of  the  rocks  appear  too 
complicated  to  be  determined  without  further  examination^  and  the 
beds  being  unfamiliar  required  longer  study  for  determination  than 
could  be  given  during  a  rapid  journey. 

There  is  very  little  ascent  from  Tehrdn  to  Eo^vin,  the  road  tra- 
versing a  great  plain  lying  along  the  southern  edge  of  the  Elburz. 
The  gravel  slope  continues,  but  it  is  less  well  marked,  and  of  smaller 
extent  than  at  Tehr&n^  a  change  doubtless  connected  with  the  di- 
minished height  of  the  mountain  range  from  the  waste  of  which  it  is 
derived.  The  hills  to  the  south  of  the  plain  are  too  distant  for  any 
idea  of  their  composition  to  be  formed. 

As  already  mentioned,  the  Elburz  was  visited  at  the  village  of  Hir, 
about  forty  miles  north-west  of  Tehr&n.  The  rocks  here  are  pale- 
brown  and  greenish-grey  shales  and  sandstones^  the  latter  not  massive^ 
The  coal  locality  is  rather  more  than  a  mile  from  Hir,  and  the  mineral 
is  exposed  on  the  slopes  of  low  hills.  There  are  two  seams,  both  of 
which  have  been  worked  in  a  very  irregular  manner  by  extremely 
small  galleries  driven  in  from  the  outcrop.  The  dip  is  high,  50°  to  60°, 
and  the  direction  varies,  the  beds  rolling  about.  The  lower  seam  is 
about  a  foot  thick,  the  upper  seam  is  rather  thicker,  but  it  appears 
more  mixed  with  shale,  and  has  been  less  worked.  The  coal  is  of 
excellent  quality,  bright  and  clean. 

With  the  seams  pale-coloured  shales  and  sandstones  in  thin  beds  are 

'  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Newton  of  the  Geologrical  Survey  of  Great  Britain  for  sectiona 
of  Uieae  coals,  which  he  made  for  me  in  hopes  that  they  might  shew  some  traces  of  struc- 
ture. Unfortunately  this  proves  not  to  be  the  case ;  the  specimens  of  coal  firom  Riitah 
appear  very  impure,  but  they  were  hurriedly  taken  and  may  not  be  fiur  samples. 


•s- 


506  ROCKS  SEEN  ON  JOURNEY. 

associated,  and  a  little  lower  down  in  the  beds  there  is  a  massiye  band 
of  limestone,  also  of  a  light  colonr.  In  the  shales  immediatelj  asso- 
ciated with  the  coal  Pterophyllom  and  Pabeozamia  abound^  with  traces 
of  conifers,  proving  that  the  rocks  are  Oolitic.  They  do  not  at  all 
resemble  the  beds  associated  with  coal  near  Rutah,  or  the  carbonaceous 
shales  seen  south  of  An&n. 

This  locality  is  very  easy  of  access,  and  an  excellent  road  might 
be  made  to  the  plain  without  the  slightest  difficulty.  This  gives 
it  great  advantages  over  the  more  eastern  locality,  bat  the  coal 
near  Rutah  appears  (so  far  as  can  be  judged  from  mere  inspection)  of 
better  quality,  and  the  seam  is  much  thicker.  The  locality,  however, 
is  very  difficult  of  access^  and  at  so  great  an  elevation  that  it  must  be 
covered  with  snow  for  half  the  yeai*. 

The  rocks  forming  the  southern  edge  of  the  hills  appear  similar  to 
those  seen  at  Hir  till  near  Kazvin,  where  they  are  replaced  by  volcanic 
beds,  which  are  well  seen  on  the  roads  between  Kazvin  and  Kahz&n. 
They  are  quite  unlike  the  rocks  in  the  Elburz  near  Tehr&n,  and  more 
resemble  some  of  those  occurring  in  Southern  Persia,  being  a  great 
series  of  basalts  and  ash-beds.  They  roll  about  at  low  angles.  A 
fine  section  is  seen  on  the  descent  of  nearly  4000  feet  to  Pachapar,  in 
the  valley  of  the  SaHd  Rud,  which  is  entirely  over  bedded  traps,  all, 
or  almost  all,  basaltic. 

Near  Manjil  these  volcanic  beds  are  replaced  by  sandstones,  lime- 
stones, and  conglomerates,  with  black  and  dark  greenish  shale  dipping 
to  the  south.  These  beds  are  said  to  be  of  lower  secondary  age,  and 
some  coal  is  found  in  them.  The  prevalent  beds  are  black  shale  and 
conglomerate,  containing  white  quartz  pebbles.  The  dips  become 
lower  near  Rudb&r,  six  miles  beyond  which  village  the  bedded  traps 
recur,  with  a  high  north-east  dip,  apparently  resting  upon  the  car- 
bonaceous shale.  The  traps  occur  along  the  road,  here  running  due 
north  for  about  ten  miles.  Five  miles  beyond  Rustamab&d  calcareous 
shales,  vertical  and  striking  a  little  north  of  west,  occur,  and  then  soft, 
dull  olive  shale.  Beyond  this  very  little  rock  is  seen,  the  whole 
country  being  covered  by  forest;  and  a  few  miles  further,  near 
Im&mz&dah  Hashim,  the  road  runs  on  to  the  flat  alluvial  plain  which 
extends  to  the  Caspian. 


ITINERARY. 

List  of  haUing-places^  and  distances  travelled  by  Major  St.  John  and 

Mr.  Blanford^  between  Owddar  and  SMrdz, 


Datk, 

187a. 

Haltino-placx. 

DiBTANOS 
AFABT. 

D18TAKCB 

FBOM 
GWADAB. 

January  2a.. 

Ankora 

13 

13 

tt 

a3- 

FaUri            

13.5 

36.5 

*( 

34- 

Siroki 

15 

415 

n 

a?- 

Sain4n  Toirent 

la.5 

54 

•» 

30.. 

Kogh4n  Torrent 

15a 

69.3 

I* 

31.. 

BahiiKaUt 

"•3 

80.5 

Febraaiy  4. .  | 

Camp  on  Bahd  Riyer 

13. a 

92.7 

M 

5.. 

Camp  near  Kastag  . . 

18.8 

111.5 

»* 

6.. 

Piehln            

IT. a 

123.7 

•• 

la.. 

Der-i-diir  Torrent     . . 

3-9 

126.6 

M 

i3- 

Sa'adi 

11.7 

138.3 

t( 

14.. 

Kalari            

5-5 

143-5 

»f 

16.. 

Nihing  River.. 

6.8 

150.6 

H 

17.. 

Mouth  of  Hamzai  Torrent  . . 

93 

159.8 

W 

18  . 

9.1 

168.9 

tt 

19.. 

Camp  near  Uiing 

II. I 

180 

tt 

ai.. 

Camp . . 

11.7 

191.7 

M 

aa.. 

Mouth  of  Shahri  Riyer 

"•5 

203.2 

tt 

33 

Camp  in  bed  of  Nihing 

7-7 

210.9 

tt 

34 

Camp  in  bed  of  Nihing 

14.6 

325.5 

tt 

2S-- 

Camp  in  bed  of  Nihing 

18 

2435 

t» 

26.. 

Gishtig&n 

10.6 

3541 

March 

a    .. 

Camp  . . 

2-4 

356-5 

tt 

3    •• 

HiDdii4n  Torrent 

96 

266.1 

tt 

4    •• 

Camp  . . 

H 

2734 

tt 

5    •• 

T48hkrfk        

7-5 

279.9 

tt 

6    .. 

Kod4oi  Torrent 

9.1 

389 

tt 

8    .. 

Mashkid  Riyer,  near  Isfandak 

16.4 

305-4 

n 

9    •• 

Bonsir  Pass    .. 

171 

3aa-5 

tt 

10    .. 

Aibi 

1 1. 6 

3341 

tt 

la    .. 

Kalag&n  (near  Laji) 

5-7 

339-8 

ft 

13      • 

J41k 

1 1.9 

3517 

tt 

18    .. 

Kalagin  (near  Laji).. 

1 1. 9 

363$ 

tt 

19    . . 

Eali-Baliich 

10 

373-6 

tt 

ao    .. 

Kalpurak4n   .. 

30.6 

394  a 

tt 

11    .. 

Dizak 

13.8 

407 

tt 

25    •. 

Abpat4n 

20.3 

427-3 

tt 

a6    .. 

ouran  .  •          •  •          • .          ••          •  • 

6.8 

4341 
446.1 

tt 

27    .. 

Khaur  Chab4ruk4n 

13 

t» 

a8    .. 

Magas 

156 

461.7 

tt 

a9    .. 

Sar-i-Piihra 

13-6 

475-3 

n 

30    .. 

Ispidiin 

20.9 

1        49^-2 

tt 

31    •• 

Aptar.. 

n-7 

521.9 

508 


ITINERARY, 


Date,  1873. 


April      I 


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*> 

n 
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n 
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n 


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M 
M 
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If 
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May 


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June 


M 


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8 

9 
10 

II 

la 

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14 
15 

10 

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18 

19 
20 

II 

24 
35 

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37 
a8 

a 

3 

4 

17 

19 
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aa 

34 
a8 

39 

ao 

I 

3 

4 

5 
6 

7 
8 


Haltinq-plaoi. 


Puiirft  .• 

Bampiir 

Kiichebgard&n 

Chibshdr 

Kaliins^ 

Ladi    ..  ..         •• 

Khusrin 

6w4m-i-TalAb-Kh4ni 

Giran-rfg 

ChAhkambar  . . 

Konamai  Biver 

Rigin.. 

Biirj-i-Mahammad  Kb&n 

Jamili 

Biirib4d 

Bam  . .         • . 

Bf  dar&n 

Dab4nin        . .         . . 

Tahnid  Caravanserai 

RAyin 

Ha^ka 

Mahiin 

SLarmin 

Bagbin 

Masbish 

Kb4n-i-Burkb.. 

Sa*&dat4b4d  .. 

Sa'id4b4d 

TW4b4d 

Khair4b&d     . . 

Parp4 

Kutru  • .  • «  •  • 

Niris 

Camp  on  shore  of  lake 

BobniB  . .         •• 

Tang-i.kaiim . . 

SarvisULn 

Khair&b&d 

Mah41d 

K>niras<  •  •■         • « 


DlSTANOB 
APABT. 


DiSTAjrCB 

FROM 
GWADAB. 


ia.7 

534-6 

156 

550.3 

16^ 

566.6 

aa.i 

588.7 

a6 

614.7 
636.7 

13 

15.7 

642^ 

14.8 

6572 

14.9 

673.1 

23 

695.1 

13.7 

708.8 

16 

724.8 

15.9 

740.7 

16.9 

757.6 

'9 

776.6 

3.7 

780.3 

6.7 

787 

9.6 

796.6 

17.3 

813.8 

9.3 

833.1 

39.8 

853.9 

33.8 

875.7 

15.3 

890.9 

33 

913.9 

18 

930.9 

35.5 

956-* 

38.8 

985.2 

37 

IOI3.3 

'6.3 

1028.5 

13 

1040.5 

13.7 

1054.2 

30.7 

1074.9 

33.5 

1097.4 

a8wf 

II  25.9 

13 

1 1 37.9 

37.9 

1 165.8 

II.5 

1 1  77.3 

37 

1204.3 

13-5 

I  217.8 

143 

1332.1 

34 

1256 

INDEX 


Abich,  Professor  H.,  444; 
lines  of  elevation,  ib  ; 
Tolcanic  action  and  forma- 
tion, 445 ;  sedimentary 
rocks,  ih, ;  absence  of  any 
great  former  extension  of 
glaciers,  446. 

AUephams  bivittatas,  390. 

—  Brandti,  391. 
Abridgements,     explanation 

of.  17. 
Acanthodactylus      Cantoris, 

381. 

—  micropholis,  383. 

Accentor  collaris,  302. 

—  modularis,  203. 

—  rubidus,  202. 
Accipiter  nisus,  109. 
ACXILPITRES,  99. 
Acredula  tepbronota.  231. 
Acridotheres  tristis,  267. 
Acrocephalus  amndinaceus, 

195. 

—  dunutorum^  193. 

—  palustris,  197. 

—  stentorens,  194. 

"  streperas,  196 ;  supposed 

nest  of,  201. 
Aedon  fiuniliaris,  210. 

—  galaetodeSt  211. 
.^IgiaUtis  cantianus,  279. 
"  fluviatilis,  279. 

—  hiaticula,  2to. 

—  intermedins,  280. 
"  Mongolicus,  276. 
.^Igithalns  pendulinus,  232. 
Agama,  10. 

—  agilis,  314. 
Agaxid^  family,  313. 
Agamura  cruralis,  356. 

—  jren.  nov.,  355. 

—  Persica,  358. 
Alactaga  decumana  (?),  78. 

—  Indica,  77. 
Alauda  arborea,  240. 

—  arvensis,  239. 
Alaudid^  fimiily,  239. 
Aloedikidje,    fiEunily,    lai, 

122. 


Alcedo  ispida,  i  a  i . 
Alluvium  of  Mesopotamia, 

467. 
Ammomanes,  10. 

—  deserti,  245. 
Ammopeidix  Bonhami,    10, 

274. 
AMPHIBIA,  432. 
Anin.  village,  iu  Mazanda- 

n(n,  502 ;  fossils  found  near, 

504. 
Anas  angustirostris,  301. 

—  boBchas,  300. 

—  strepera,  300. 
AKATiDiE,  &mily,  300. 
Anguis  orientalis,  394. 
Ankora,  471 ;   shells  found 

at,  471,  472. 
Anser  albifrons,  303. 

—  cinereui^  303. 

—  erythropus,  303. 

—  ruficollis,  303. 
ANSERES,  300. 
Anthus  campestris,  237. 

—  cervinus,  236. 

—  pratenfds,  236. 

—  Richardi,  236. 

—  sordidus,  237. 

—  spinoletta,  236. 

—  trivialis,  235. 

—  variation  in   size   among 
Persian  specimens,  238. 

Aptar,    480;      entrance    of 

Bampdr  plain,  480. 
Aquila  chrysaetus,  1 10. 

—  clanga,  iii. 

—  fasciata,  112. 

—  heliaca,  iii. 

—  pennata,  112. 
Arabo-Caspian  area,  469. 
Ararat,  Mount,  468. 
Ardea  alba,  295. 

—  cinerea,  29c. 

—  eomato,  296. 

—  garzetta,  296. 

—  gularis,  290. 

—  ibis,  296. 

—  purpurea,  205. 
Abdbidje,  family,  295. 


Ardetta  minuta,  296. 
Arvicola  amphibius  (?),  61. 

—  mystacinus,  9,  61. 

—  Hocialis,  62. 

Astur  {Microninu)    badius, 

107. 
brevipes,  109. 

—  —  sp.,  108. 

—  palumbarius,  106. 
Asupis,  496,  497. 
Athene  Brama,  118. 

—  glaux.  117. 

—  noctua,  118. 
Aucher-Eloy,  5;   penetrates 

where    few    other    Euro- 
peans have  been,  ib, 
AVES,  98-304. 

Badami(n  Ktih,  490. 
Bagarband  Range,  475. 
B^hfn     plain,    490;    hills 

south  of,  volcanic,  491. 
Bihd  KaUt,  47a. 
Bihd  river,  473. 
Balaenoptera  Indica,  48. 
Baldchist&n,  rocks  of,  460 ; 

high  angles  of  dip  of,  461. 

—  and  shores  of  Persian 
Gulf,  15  ;  list  of  fauna,  15, 
16 ;  characteristics  of,  10. 

Bam,  town    and   valley  of, 

484. 
Bam  to  Karmdn^  484-487. 
Bamptir  plain,  481. 
Bampur  to  Bam,  481-483. 
Bampiisht  range,  477. 
Banuamir  river  and  valley, 

496. 
Basmto,  481. 
BATRACHIA,  432. 
Baz^gyan,  488. 
Belanger,  5. 
Bell,  Dr.  C.  M.,  440. 
Bezoar,  89. 
Bideshk,  499. 
'  Bombay  to  Bushire  in  the 

Persian  Gulf,  Notes  made 

in  course  of  a  voyage  from,* 

440. 


510 


INDEX. 


BotauroB  iteUariB,  397. 
BoviDJB,  fiunily,  87-95. 
Bradyptetes  Oettii,  200. 
Bubo  Sibiricos,  115. 
Bucanetes   gitbagineus, ,  10, 

350- 

—  sp.,  351. 

BudyftB  einerei4XtpUlu8t  334. 

—  dtreoluB,  335. 

—  flavuB.  233. 

•^  melanocephaluB,  335. 

—  Rayi  (?),  334. 
BUFONIDJB,  family,  434. 
Bufo  olivaceuB,  434. 

—  yiridis,  434. 

—  vulgaris.  435. 

BObse,   F.    A.,    a    botanlBt, 

440. 
'Bulbui;  170. 
BunopuB,  gen.  no  v.,  348. 

—  tubercolatus,  348. 
Butastur  teesa,  113. 
Buteo  ferox,  10,  113. 

—  bemilasiufl  (?),  113. 

Caocabis,  10. 

—  chukar,  375. 
Calamodus        melanopogon, 

198. 
^  BcbcenobenuB,  199. 
Calandrella     bracbydactyla, 

342. 

—  pispolettay  343 ;  eggs  and 
nest  of,  343. 

Calcareous  conglomerate  of 

coast,  467. 
Calidris  arenaria,  383. 
GjJoted  versicolor,  313. 
Can  IDA,  fjunily,  37-41. 
Canis  aureus,  37. 

—  lupus,  37. 

—  sp.  (Dog-wolf),  38. 
Capra  segagrus,  89. 
Capreolus  capnea,  96. 
Caprimuloidje,  £unily,  137- 

139. 
Caprimulgus  JEgypiiua,  138. 

—  Europeeus,  137. 
^-  Mabrattensis,  138. 

—  sp.,  128. 
Carduelis  elegans,  349. 
CARNIVORA,  29-48. 
Carpodacus  erythnnus,  350. 
Casarca  rutila,  303. 
Caspian  provinces,  1 3 ;  fauna 

or,  13,  14- 
Castor  fiber  (?),  51. 
Castoridjs,  &mUy,  51-53. 
Central  Asian  forms,  10. 
Centrotracbelus       Asmuasi, 

337- 

—  loricatus,  340. 


CeramodaotyluB  "Dorm,  353. 

—  gen.  nov.,  352. 
Cerastes,  10. 

—  Persicus,  439. 
Cereomda  mdanura^  155. 
Carthia  familiaris^  333. 
CKBTHiiDiB,  £Eunily,  333. 
Certbilaada    descaiorum,  9, 

340. 
Ckbvidje,  fiunily,  05-99. 
Cervus  Ca^ius,  go. 

—  dama,  95. 

—  maral,  95. 
Ceryle  rudis,  133. 
CETACEA.  48. 
CHAMiELBOirnD  JE,£unily,  359. 
Charadrtadjb,  fiunily,  378. 
Charadrius  pluvialis,  378. 
Chatorhea  eatkioto,  204. 
CHEIROPTERA,  18. 
Cbelidon  urbica,  316. 
CHELONIA,  306. 
Cbesney,  Col.,  6. 
Chettusia  Yillotei,  280. 
Ciconia  alba,  297. 

—  nigra,  297. 
CiconiDjB,  fiunily,  297. 
CiNCLiDJS,  family,  212-215. 
Cinolus  aquaticus,  212. 

—  CashmiriensiSt  213. 

—  tnelanogatter,  213. 

—  sp.  (?  C.  Itueogaster),  214. 
Circus  »niginosu8,  no. 

—  dnerarius,  no. 

—  macrurus,  no. 
Clangula  glaucion,  302. 

—  hyemalis,  302. 

Classes  included  in  present 

notes,  I. 
Classification  of  birds  not  yet 

satisfitctory,  98. 
Clemmys  Caspia,  309. 

—  —    distinct    from    tbe 
European  form,  310,  311. 

Cliff,  submarine,  along  tbe 

Makr^  roast,  448. 
Coal,  near  BdtaJi  in  Elburz 

mountains,  502,  503 ;    at 

Hlr,  505,  506. 
Coccothraustes         {Hetperi- 

phona)  cameipes,  354. 

—  vulgaris.  254. 
COCCYGES,  1 19-130. 
Cocoystes  glandsfius,  1 20. 
Ccelopeltis  lacertina,  424. 
Coluber  lungissimus,  420. 
CcLUBBiDJE,  fiunily,  403. 
COLOMBO,  268. 
Columba  aenas,  269. 

—  casiotis,  269. 

—  intermedia,  268. 

—  Uvia,  a68. 


Colaniba  palumbos  (f),  269. 
Ck>LUirBiD^,  fiunily,  268. 
Colvill,  W.  H.,  Note  on  the 

geology    of    the    coontiy 

between  Bushire  and  Shi- 

r4z.  447. 
CoLTMBiDA,  family.  304. 
Constable,  Capt.  C.  6.,  LN.. 

446. 
Cook,  Dr.,  45a. 
CoBAOiAOf ,  fiunily,  125-127. 
Coradas  garmla,  125. 

—  Indica,  126. 
Coronella  Auafcriacm,  410. 
CoRViDJ£,  fiunily,  261. 
Corvns  oorax,  261. 

—  comix,  262. 

—  firugil^gus,  363. 

—  monedula,  263. 

—  umbxinus,  262. 
Cossypha  gntturalia,  161. 
Cotumiz  communis,  278. 
Cotyle  {Ptyonoprogne)  obso- 

leta,  217. 

—  riparia,  216. 

—  {Ptyimoprogne)  rupestris, 
216. 

Country,  physical   character 

of,  7.  8. 
Craterofodida.  fiEunily,  203. 
CraUroputt  eludybceuf,  204. 

—  Huttonl,  303  ;    measure- 
ments of,  205. 

Crstacxgus    SEBisa,   457- 

459- 
Crex  pratensis,  288. 

Cricetus  isabellinna,  59. 

—  nigricans,  59. 

—  plueus,  58. 
Crocidura  fmnigata,  24. 
Crocodiles,  none   in   Persia, 

305- 
Crotalidjc,  fiamily,  430. 

CucuLiDJE,  fiunily,  1 1 9-1 2 1 . 

Cuculus  canoros,  119. 

Cursorius  Grallioas,  281. 

Cyaoecula  Suecica,  169. 

—  Wolfi,  169. 
Cydophis  coUaris,  405. 

—  fasciatus,  406. 

—  frenatuB,  408. 

—  modestus,  403. 

—  Persicus,  408. 
Cygnus  ferus,  304. 
C^onycteris       amplexican- 

data,  18. 
CrpsELiDiB,  fiunily,  1 29. 
Cypselus  afifinis*  1 30. 

—  apus,  1 29. 

—  melba,  130. 

Dafila  acuta,  301 . 


INDEX, 


511 


DahlCrzin,  484. 
Darabal  Hills,  473. 
Dasht  Kiver,  47  a. 
Dashtiarjan,  30,  31. 
Daulias  Hafizi,  169. 
Day,  Dr.,  list  of  forms  in 

collection   of  fosidls  made 

at  GwiCdar  by,  464. 
De    Filippi,    Professor,    6 ; 

*  Note  di  un  Viaggio  in 

Persia,*  447. 
Dehgirdii,  497. 
Demavend,   a    volcano,  the 

highest  mountain  in  Per- 
sia, 463,  468. 
Desert  fauna,  13,  note  i. 
Diorite,  502,  504. 
DiPODiDiB,  family,  74-80. 
DiPSADiDJS,  family,  424. 
Dipsas  rhinopoma,  424. 
Dipus  Loftusi,  75. 
"  macrotarsus  (?),  74. 
Divisions  of  Persia,  449. 
Dizak,  478,  479. 
Do-br^<Iar  (hills),  473. 
Drymaca    eremita    and    D. 

strialicepa,  measurements 

of,  210. 

—  gracUis,  306. 

Echis,  10. 

—  carinata,  430. 
Edentata,    not    represented, 

18. 

Eichwald,  E.,  4 ;  Fauna 
Caspio-Oaucasia,  5. 

Elaphis  dione,  420. 

Elapid^,  fikmily,  426. 

Elburz  Mountains,  north  of 
Tehran,  501-505. 

Elburz  range,  geological  com- 
position of,  453  ;  no  former 
glacial    action    traced  in, 

470. 
Emberiza  cia,  257. 

—  citrinella,  257. 

—  hortulana,  259. 

—  Huttoni,  258  ;  nest  and 
^ggs  of,  259 ;  identical  with 
Emberiza  cemUii,  259. 

—  intermetlia,  258. 
"  miliaria,  257. 

—  striolata,  258. 
Embebizida,  family,  257. 
Emtdidje,  family,  308. 
Emys  orbicularis,  308. 
Enhydrina  Yalakadyen,  427. 
EQUiDiE,  funily,  84. 
Equus  hemionuB,  84-86. 
Ereraias,  10. 

—  Pendca,  370. 

—  velox,  374. 


Ebivaoeidje,  family,  27-29. 
Erinaceus        macracanthus, 

27-29. 
Ertcida,  &mily,  401. 
Erythacus  Hyrcanus,  160. 

—  rubecula,  159. 
Erythrospiza  obsoleta,  252. 

—  sanguinea,  9,  252. 
Erythrosterna  parva,  144. 
Eryx,  10. 

—  elegans,  402. 

—  jaculus,  401. 
Eudromias  Asiaticus,  379. 

—  morinellus,  278. 
Eumeces  pavimentatus,  387. 
Euprepes      septemteeniatus, 

388. 
Euspiza    granativora,    26 1  ; 
migrates  from  north-west 
to  south-east,  a6i ;  a  great 
pest,  261. 

—  melanocephala,  260. 

Fiihr^j,  480 ;  road  from,  to 

Bamptir,  480,  481. 
FaUrl,  473. 
Falco  sesalon,  105. 

—  Babylonicus,  104. 

—  barbarus,  102. 

—  lanarius,  104. 

—  peregriuator,  103. 

—  peregrinus,  loi. 

—  sacer,  104. 

—  subbuteo,  105. 
Faloonidje,    fiunily,    10 1 — 

114. 
Felida,  family^  29-37. 
Felis  caracal,  37. 

—  catus,  35. 

—  chaus,  36. 

—  jubata,  35. 

—  leo,  29-34;  geographical 
distribution  of,  30 ;  ad- 
venture with  a  lioness,  31- 

33- 

—  pardus,  34. 

—  tigris,  34. 

—  uncia,  35. 
Formations,  list  of,  453. 
Francolinus  vulgaris,  273. 
Fringilla  chloris,  247. 

—  caelebs,  247. 

—  spinus,  247. 
FRiNOiLLiDiB,  family,  247. 
Fulica  atra,  289. 
Fuligula  cristata,  302. 

—  ferioa,  302. 

—  marila,  302. 

—  nyroca,  302. 

—  rufina,  301. 

Galerita  cristata,  240. 


GALLINiE.  271. 
Gallinago  gallinula,  283. 

—  major,  282. 

—  scolopacinus,  282. 
Grallinula  chloropus,  288. 
Gaori,  489. 

Garrulus  atricapiUus,  265. 

—  Hyrcanus,  265. 
GAVIiE,  289. 
Gazella,  10. 

—  Bennetti,  91. 

—  dorcas  (?)*  93. 

—  fuscifrons,  93. 

—  subgutturosa,  91. 
Geber^bid,  500. 
Gednus  canus,  136. 

—  viridis,  135. 
Geckotidjb,  family,  343. 
Geological    Features,      and 

their  Relations  to  Physical 
Geography  of  Persia,  448. 

Geological  Transactions,  re- 
ferred to,  440- 

GEOLOGY  OF  PERSIA, 
439 ;  Introduction  to,  439  ; 
scope  of  observations  on, 
439  ;  list  of  works  on,  440. 

Gerbillus,  10. 

—  eiythruruB,  70* 

—  Hurrianffi,  68. 

—  Indicus,  63. 

—  nanus,  73. 

—  Persicus,  66, 

—  tamaridnuB,  71. 

—  teniurus,  65. 
Girtbirig   and    ChiOi-i-Kam- 

bar,  clay  plain  between, 

483. 

Gishtig^,  477' 

Glacial  action,  470. 

Glareola  pratincola,  283. 

Gobel,  Dr.,  fossil  plants 
found  by,  447. 

Goppert,  Professor  H.  R., 
on  Liassic  plants  in  the 
Elburz  range,  446. 

GRALLiE,  378. 

Grewingk,  Dr.  C,  paper  on 
geological  and  orographi- 
cal  relations  of  Northern 
Persia,  441. 

Gbuid^  fifimily,  386. 

Grus  communis,  386. 

Gulhek,  the  summer  re- 
sidence of  the  British  Mis- 
sion, 503. 

Gw^ar,  situation  of,  471  ; 
fossils  found  near,  ib. 

Gtcddar  to  Jalh,  471-479. 

Gwatar  Bay,  471,  473. 

GymnodactyluB        brevipet, 

344- 


51* 


INDEX. 


Paru»  aier,  329. 

—  (cy€tniite$)  cemleiis,  231. 
Penknu,  230. 

—  lugubri8(T),  229. 

—  major,  227. 

—  phseonotuB,  aa8. 

—  palustritt  229. 
Paskfih,  480. 

Passer  domesticos,  254. 

—  IndicuB,  254. 

—  montaoas,  9,  255. 

—  salicariag,  255. 
PASSERE8.  136. 
Pastor  roseos,  267. 
Pelamis  platums*  427. 
Pklscawidjb,  fiunily,  299. 
Pelecanus  criBpus,  299. 

—  onocrotalus,  299. 
Perdix  cinerea,  273. 
Persia,  North-westem ,  widely 

explored  by  RussiaD  and 
Germao  irayellen!,  45  a. 
Perttian  &una,  1 1 ;  forms  pe- 
culiar, 12. 

—  Gulf,    iu    later    tertiary 
times,  469. 

—  plateau,  geological  forma- 
tion of  western  flank  of^ 

443- 
Peteh  Kdh.  473. 

Petronia  brachydactyla,  255. 

—  stulU,  255. 
Pbaetbon  ethereus,  299. 
PHAETHOiH'iDiis,  family,  299. 
Phalacbooobacida,  family, 

298. 
Pbalacrocorax  carbo,  298. 

—  graculuB.  298. 

—  pygroaE^us,  298. 
Phaleropus  fulicarius,  284. 

—  hyperboreus,  284. 
Phasiakidjs,  fiunily,  272. 
Phasianus  Colchicus,  272. 
Philomela  majorf  171. 
Phoca  vitulina,  48. 
Phocida,  &mily,  48. 
Ph(Enicoptebid£,      funily, 

300. 
Phoenicopterus   antiquorum, 

300. 
Phrynocephalus,  10. 

—  maculatus,  331. 

—  Olivieri,  327. 

—  Persicus,  329. 
PhylloscopuR  Brebiiii,  182. 

—  brevirotiris,  181. 

—  oollybita,  i8i. 

—  negiectus,  182. 

—  sibilatrix,  183. 

—  tristis.  i8p. 

—  trochylus,  i8q. 
Pica  nistica,  264. 


PICT.  130-136. 
PiciDJS,  fiunily,  130-136. 
Picus  Sancti  Johannis,  133, 

134- 

—  Sindianus,  132. 

—  Syriacus,  130,  131. 
Pierson,  Captain,  30. 
Pipistrellus,  22. 

Pishin,  473,  474 ;  long  plain 

off  474^  475- 
Platalea  leucorodia,  298. 

Plataleida,  family,  298. 

Plateau,  boundaries  of,  449 ; 
includes  Afgbinistin  and 
Northern  Kal4t,  449. 

Plecotus  auritus,  23. 

Podiceps  auritus,  304. 

—  cristatuB,  304. 

—  minor,  304. 

—  nigricollis,  304. 
Porphyrio  negiectus,  289. 

—  yeterum,  289. 
Ponana  mametta,  288. 
PotamoduB  luscinioides, 

199. 
Pottinger,     travels      across 

BaldchistiLn    and    Persia, 

481,  note  2. 
Pratincola  caprata,  9,  144. 

—  Hemprichi,  144. 
— '  rubetra,  146. 

—  rubioola,  145. 
Pristurus  rupestris,  350. 
Proboscidea,  not  represented, 

18. 
Pbocellabidje,  family,  295. 
Produetus  gigantetUf  in  the 

Elburz  near  An&n,  455. 
PsAMiiOPHiDiB,  family,  421. 
Psammophis,  10. 

—  Leithi,  421. 

Psammosaurus  Caspius,  359. 
Pseudopus  apoda^  387. 
Pterocles,  10. 

—  alcbata,  271. 

—  arenarius,  271. 

—  coronatus,  272. 

—  Senegallus,  271. 
Pteboolid^,  £Ebmily,  271. 
Pterophyllum,  457,  506. 
Ptebopid^  family,  18. 
Puffinus  obscurus,  295. 
Pdl-i-dalak,  501. 
PTCNONOTiDiB,    £Ekmily,   218, 

219. 
Pycnonotus  leucotis,  218. 
PYGOPODES,  304. 
Pyrrhocorax  alpinus,  263. 

—  graculus,  264. 
Pyrrhulauda    melanauchen, 

246. 

—  griBea,  246. 


Quadrmnana,  not  repre- 
sented, 18. 

QUATERKABY  OB  RECENT 
(formations),  465 ;  their 
extent  and  nature,  ih. 

Quercas  sgilopifolia,  30. 

Querqueduia  crecca,  301. 

—  cirda,  301 . 

Racene  epoch,  elevation   at 

close  of,  469,  470. 
RainfaU,  paucity  of,  cause  of 

enormous  slopes  of  gravel, 

470. 
RmJUida,  fiunily,  288. 
Rallus  aquations,  288. 
Rana  cyanophlyctis,  433. 

—  esculenta,  432. 

—  teraporaria,  432. 
RANlDiB,  &mily,  432. 
Riyln.  485,  486. 

Recent  formations,  preva- 
lence of,  450,  465. 

Recurvirostra  avocetta,  286. 

Region  referred  to  in  this 
work   ^« 

REPTILIA,  305-431. 

Retepora,  504. 

—  two  species,  456. 
Rez^bid  plain  (7000  ft),  496. 
Rhinolophus     ferrum  •  equi- 

num,  19. 
Rissa  tri((actyla,  293. 
Rivers,  no,  flowing   to    the 

ocean  from  interior,  449. 
Rocks,    carboniferouH,    442, 

455- 

—  cretaceous,  442  ;  affected 

by  volcanic  outbursts,  445, 
408 ;  occupy  mi  exten- 
sive area  in  South-west 
Persia,  457;  extend  almost 
throughout  Zagros  range, 
tb. 

—  Devonian,  442,  455. 

—  granitic,   443,    451,   454, 
500. 

—  Jurassic,  442;   near  river 
Araxes,  455,  456. 

—  L1AS8IO    and    JvBASsio, 

456,  457- 

—  Metamobphic,  443,  453, 

454- 

—  PALJtOZOIC,  455. 

—  Seoondabt,  456.459. 

—  SEEN  ON  JOURNEY, 
471-506. 

—  Silurian,  442. 

—  slaty  and  schistose,  454. 

—  Tebtiaby,  459-470. 

—  volcanic,  443. 
RODENTIA,  49. 


INDEX, 


515 


Bohnis,  464 ;  limestone, 
south  of»  Nummulitic,  494. 

Rddbir,  506. 

Ruminants  (Domestic),  96. 

Rdstamiibid,  506. 

Rtitah,  50a,  503;  coal  at, 
difficult  of  access,  506. 

Ruticilla  erythronota,  167. 

—  erythroprocta,  164. 

—  phoenicura,  163. 

—  phcenieuroidetf  164. 

—  rufiventris,  163. 

—  rufogularit,  168. 

—  $ein(rufa,  165. 

—  titys,  166. 

S^'adatibi(d,  491. 
Saadi,  in  Mand,  475. 
Safid  Rdd,  506. 
Sahend,  468. 
Saidibdd,  49  a. 
Salamakdridjs,  fiimily,  435. 
Salt  desert,  441 . 

—  formation,  46a  ;  distribu- 
tion of^  ib, ;  rich  colour  of, 
t&. 

Saman,  47  a. 

Sandstone,  473. 

Sar-i-gach,  503. 

Sarj^  plain,  491,  493 ;  hills 
south-west  of,  49a. 

Sarvistiin,  495. 

Saunders,  Mr.  Howard,  re- 
marks on  jpiUs,  289  et 
sqq. 

Savalan,  468. 

Saxicola,  10. 

—  albonigra,  153. 

—  chrysopygia,  151. 

—  deserti,  10,  148,  149. 

—  erjrthraea,  150. 

—  isabellina,  147. 

—  leucomela,  153. 

—  melanoleuca,  130. 

—  monacha,  150. 

—  mono,  15a. 

—  oenanthe,  146. 

—  opisiholeuca,  155. 

—  picata,  153. 

—  stapazina,  150. 

—  viUata,  155. 

—  xcmthoprymna,  155. 
Schindler,  Mr.  A.  H.,  Notes 

on  Geology  of  Kasrdn. 
SoiNCiDA,  £Bjnily,  387. 
SoiUBiDiB,  family,  49-5 1* 
Sdurus  fulvus,  49. 

—  persicus,  50. 

—  palmarum,  50. 
SooLOPACiDiB,  family,  a8a. 
Scolopax  rusticola,  283.. 
Scops  giu,  115. 


Scotocerca    inquieta,     207 ; 

measurements  of,  3op. 
Secondabt  (rocks),  456--459. 
Seps    {Qongylut)    ocellatus, 

395. 
Shairis  Kdh,  475. 

Shir^,  lake  of,  495. 

Shiraz  to  Itfaharit  497-499. 

SiiCneh  Kdh,  478. 

Sib,  plain  of,  480. 

Sinsin  to  Shorkb,  501. 

SIRENIA,  84. 

Sist&n  desert,  477;  lake,  478. 

Sitta  aesia,  333. 

—  rupicola,  335. 

—  Syriaca,  223. 
SrrriDJt,  fSamily,  333-337. 
Slopes  of  gravel,  465,  466, 

467. 
Soh,  499,  500. 
Sorex  araneus,  34. 

—  Gmelini,  36. 

—  Guldensteedtii,  35. 

—  pusillus,  35. 
SoBiciDiB,  fiunily,  34,  35. 
Spatula  dypeata,  301 . 
Species,  number  of,   i  ;  list 

o^  very  imperfect,  3. 
Spermophilus  concolor,o,  51. 
Sphalerosophis      microlepis, 

411. 
Sphenocephalns   tridactylus, 

395- 
SpMfer,  sp.,  456. 

—  allied    to    8,    disjuncta, 

504- 
Spiriferinat  sp.,  456. 

—  allied  to  8.  eriattUa^  504. 
Squatarola  Helvetica,  378. 
STEGANOPODES,  298. 
Stellio  Caucasicus,  333. 

—  liratus,  330. 

—  microlepis,  336. 

—  nuptus,  317. 

var;  futeut,  319. 

Stercorarius  parasiticus   (?), 

389. 
Sterna  affinis,  394. 

—  Bergii,  394. 

—  Caspia,  293. 

—  Cantiaca,  294. 

—  fissipes,  294. 

—  fluviatllis,  393. 

—  hybrida,  394. 

—  minuta,  394. 

—  nigra,  394. 

Stiffe.  Lieut.  A.  W.  N.,  446 ; 
note  on  mud  craters,  and 
geological  structure  of 
Makrin  coast,  448. 

Stoliczka,  Dr.,  463  note. 

Strauch,  Profbasor,  7. 


Strepsilas  interpres,  381. 
Streptorhynchus     crenistria, 

456,  504- 
Stbioidjs,  family,  115- 119. 
Stubnidjb,  family,  366. 
Stumus,  1^.  {vidgariSt  var.), 

367. 

—  vulgaris,  366. 
Sub-recent  Volcanic  Rocks, 

468. 
SuiDiB,  fiunily,  86,  87. 
Sula  fiber,  399. 
SuLTD^  family,  299. 
Sus  scrofa,  86. 
Sylvia  affinis  (?),  176. 

—  atricapilla,  1 74. 

—  dnerea,  178. 

—  conspicillata,  179. 

—  craBsirostris,  173, 

—  curruca,  1 75. 

—  Jerdoni,  173. 

—  nana,  10,  178. 

—  nisoria,  174. 

—  orphea,  173. 

—  rubescens,  177. 

—  rufik,  1 74. 

—  salicaria,  1 74. 

—  subalpina,  180. 

Table-land,  edges  of^  higher 

than  interior,  449. 
Tachymenis  vivax,  436. 
Tadoma  vulpanser,  303. 
Talpa  Europsea,  34. 
Talpidjs,  fitmily,  34. 
Tantalus  ibis,  298. 
Taphrometopum  lineolatum, 

423. 
Tehrin,  gravel  slope  near, 

the  site   of  some   of  the 

king's  palaces,  etc.,  502. 

—  to  Kazrfn,  505. 

—  to  Resht,  505,  506. 
Tehrtid  HiUs,  485. 
Teratoscincus      Keyserlingi, 

364- 
Terekia  cinerea,  383. 

Tebtiabt  (rocks),  459-470. 

Testudinida,  family,  306. 

Testudo  eeaudatat  307. 

—  {Homopui)  Honieldi,  308. 

—  Ibera,  306. 

Tetraogallus  Caspius,  9,  376. 
TETBAOKiDJe,  &mily,  373. 
Tichodroma  muraria,  333. 
Tiger.  13. 

Tinnunculus  alaudarius,  105. 

—  cenchris,  106. 

—  vespertinuB,  106. 
Tetanus  calidris,  285. 

—  fuscus,  385. 

—  glareola,  285. 


516 


INDEX. 


Totanus  ochropus,  385. 

—  stagnatilifl,  285. 
TrachyteB,     and     Trachytic 

ash.  48a.  484. 
Trapelas,  10. 

—  ruderatus,  315. 
Truenops  Persicus,  19. 
Tringa  cinclus,  283. 

—  minuta,  284. 

—  platyrhyncha,  284. 

—  pugnax,  284. 

—  Bubarquata,  284. 
Tringoides  hypoleucus,  285. 
TRiONTOiDiB,  family,  312. 
Trionyx  Euphraticus,  312. 
Triton  crbtatus,  436. 

—  Karelini,  435. 

—  longipes,  436. 

—  ophryticus,  436. 

—  teeniatus*  436. 
Troglodytes  parvulas,  222. 
Tboolodttid£,  family,  222. 
Tro^donotus  natrix,  418. 

—  Hydnis,  410. 
TUBDIDA,  family,  144-203. 
Tardus  atriguUris,  158. 

—  iliacus,  157. 

—  morula,  157. 

—  musicus,  156. 

—  torquatuB,  158. 

—  viscivorus,  157. 
Turtur  auritus,  270. 

—  Cambayends,  270. 

—  risorius,  270. 

—  Senegalensis,  270. 
Ttphlopidje,  £Bunily,  399. 
Typhlops  Persicas,  399. 


Typhlops  vermicularisy  401. 

Ujdn.  497. 

UNGULATA.  84-97. 
UPDPiDiE,  family,  130. 
Urchin  Hills.  498. 
URODELA.435. 
(Jromastix  microlepis,  334. 

—  (Centrotrachelus),  10. 
Ursidj^  family,  46. 
Ursus  arctos  (?),  46. 

—  sp.,  Melur$u$  labiatuSf  47. 

—  Syriacus,  47. 
Ushan  village,  503. 

Vanellus  cristatus,  280. 
VARAyiDJB,  family,  359. 
Varanus  dracena,  360. 
Vespertilio  desertorum,  20 

—  murinus,  20. 
VESPERTiLioinDJS,      family, 

ao-23. 
Vesperugo         (Pipistrellus) 
Coromandelicus,  22. 

—  (Pipistrellus)  leucotis,  33. 

marginatuB,  22. 

VesperuB  Mirza,  22. 

—  serotinng,  2 1 . 

—  Shiraziensifl,  2 1 . 
Vipera  obtusa,  428. 

—  xanthina,  429. 
ViPSBiDA,  family,  428. 
ViVEBBiDJE,  family,  42. 
Volcanic     formations,     482, 

483. 
Volcanoes,  list  of,  468. 

Vulpes  corsac,  40. 


Vulpes  famelicus  (?),  41. 

—  flavescens,  40. 

—  Karagan,  38. 
-»-  Persicus,  39. 

—  vulgaris  (t),  38. 
Vultur  monachus,  99. 
VuLTUBiDJt,  family,  99-101. 


Woskoiboinikow, 
Colonel,  441. 


Lieut. - 


Ya^dikhlKst,  gravel  plaiD  of 
(7000  ft.)i  497  ;  ^tile  hills 
north  of,  490. 

Tunx  torquUla,  136. 

ZagroB,  with  oak  forest  near 
Shir&z,  14 ;  fauna  of,  ib. ; 
geol(^cal     formation    of, 

451.452. 

—  range,  4  08 ;  ongin  of, 
ib. ;  submergence  of,  469. 

Zamenis,  10. 

—  Caspius,  417. 

—  Clijfordit  412. 

—  Dahlii,  417. 

—  diadema,  412. 

—  Bavergieri,  417. 

—  ventrimaculatuR,  414. 

—  var.  A.  of  Gunther,  415. 

—  var.  B.  of  Gunther,  4 16. 

—  var.  C.  of  Gunther,  416. 

—  var.  D.  of  Gftnther,  416. 
ZoNUBiDJB,  &mily,  387. 
Zoological    Bubdivisions,  8  ; 

demarcation  of  difficult,  9. 
Zygnopsis  brevipea,  397. 


Tn  Svo,,  w'lih  vinnerova  Jlhisfrailoifs  and  Mapn^  price  iT.«. 

TELEGRAPH  AND  TRAVEL: 

A  Narrative  of  the  Formation  and  Development  of  Telegi-apliie  Com- 
munication Ijetween  England  and  India,  with  Notices  of  the 
Countries  traversed  by  the  Lines.  By  Colonel  Sir  Frederic 
OoLDSMiD,  C.B,,  K.C.S.I.,  British  Commissioner  for  Settlement 
of  the  Perso-Baiuch  Frontier  (1870-71),  and  Arbitrator  in  the 
Perso-Afghan  Boundary  Question  (1872-73).  * 

'  Jjct  us  thank  Sir  Frederic  Goldsmid  for  a  very  interedting  volume,  in  which 
the  achievement  of  great  results  is  most  modestly  described.  It  is  to  Indian 
officers  such  as  Patrick  Stewart  and  Colonel  Goldsmid — to  mention  two  among 
many  well-known  names — that  England  is  indebted  for  the  maintenance  of  her 
supremacy  over  her  great  Indian  Empire.* — Times, 

*  We  question  whether  the  well-told  narrative  of  Sir  Frederic  Goldsmid,  and 
the  assurance  that  the  journey  may  be  performed  without  personal  risk,  will 
induce  many  ordinary  travellers  to  undertake  it ;  a  consideration  which  enhances 
the  value  of  his  achievement.' — Pail  Mall  Gazette. 

*  Colonel  Goldsmid,  assisted  by  Major  Bateman  Chapman,  R.K,  took  up 
8tewart*s  task  ;  and  the  history  of  how  they  performed  it,  from  that  time  until 
its  completion  in  1870,  is  of  serious  and  varied  interest,  and  related  with  a 
simplicity  of  style  which  renders  it  perfectly  intelligible  to  the  general  reader, 
while  we  conceive  that  it  is  a  valuable  record  of  experience  to  professional  tele- 
graphists. >  .  .  The  second  part  of  this  interesting  volume  recounts  several 
of  the  journeys  made  by  Sir  Frederic  on  telegraphic  business,  and  forms  an 
itinerary  of  a  most  entertaining  and  novel  description.' — Spectator, 

*  The  first  section  of  the  book  is,  as  it  were,  an  official  and  documentary  record. 
The  second,  less  historical,  but  more  likely  to  attract  the  general  reader,  is  com- 
posed of  bright  sketches  from  Persia,  Russia,  the  Crimea,  Tartary,  and  the  Indian 
Peninsula,  both  sketches  being  illuminated  by  a  profusion  of  delicate  woodcuts, 
admirably  drawn,  and  as  admirably  engraved.  .  .  .  The  merit  of  the  work  is 
a  total  absence  of  exaggeration,  which  doe?  not,  however,  preclude  a  vividness  and 
vigour  of  style  not  always  characteristic  of  similar  narratives.* — Standard. 

*  The  whole  work,  though  bearing  a  sort  of  official  sameness  of  style,  is  almost 
as  interesting  as  it  is  important  Asa  record  of  travel  and  telegraphic  projects  it 
jvossesses  peculiar  value.' — Morning  Poft^ 

*  The  second  part  of  the  book  abounds  with  interesting  sketches  of  the  placet 
visited  in  the  course  of  journ'^ys  from  the  Persian  Gulf  to  Baghdad  and  Constanti- 
nople, and  from  Liondon  to  Karachi,  through  Russia  and  Persia.  Some  of  his  ex- 
periences will  have  the  charm  of  novelty  for  most  readers,  and  the  last  two 


chapters,  which  reUte  his  travels  firom  Tehran  to  Karachi,  throagh  Kaiman  and 
Baluchistan,  carry  as  pleasantly  over  ground  for  the  meet  part  untrodden  bj 
Earopeans.* — AUtn*i  Indian  Mail. 

*  In  his  recently  published  volnme,  full  of  interest.  Sir  Frederic  Goldsmid  has 
told  the  stirring  history  of  this  arduous  undertaking,  and  has  vividly  depicted  the 
impediments,  partly  political,  partly  physical,  which  had  to  be  overoome  before 
this  vast  line  was  finished.* — Echo. 

*  The  general  effect  of  Sir  Frederic  Goldsmid^s  narrative  is  exceedingly  agree- 
able, and  we  recommend  every  one  to  write  at  once  to  Mudie  for  his  volume.  It 
is  full,  as  we  said  before,  of  the  most  unmisti^ble  evidence  of  good  feeling  and 
good  nature,  and  few  have  had  mcure  varied  and  more  extended  escperience  to 
embody  in  a  book  of  travels.' — Hour, 

*  The  book  has  many  excellent  illustrations,  a  very,  good  miq)  showing  the  routes 
taken  by  Sir  Frederic,  and  some  skeleton  maps  of  the  tel^^aph  lines. 

To  engineers  who  take  an  interest  in  the  question  of  railway  projects  to  India, 
there  U  much  that  may  be  useful  in  Sir  Frederic's  clear,  well-written  book,  and  a 
great  deal  more  to  interest  those  who  are  fond  of  amusing  incidents  connected 
with  •*  Telegraph  and  Travel."  ' — Engineering. 

*  It  is  by  no  means  a  dry,  matter-of-fiM;t  blue-book ;  but,  while  giving  aU  the 
details  necessary  to  a  complete  understanding  of  the  subject  proper,  id  at  the 
same  time  an  entertaining  narrative  of  personal  adventure  and  travel  in  regions 
seldom  traversed  by  Europeans,  and  full  of  historical  interest.' — ScoUman, 

m 

*  Although  a  little  encumbered  with  official  details,  the  story  of  the  working  of 
our  telegraphic  pioneers  and  of  the  diplomatic  negociations  with  Shah  Sultan  is 
highly  interesting  to  follow,  while  firom  that  half  of  the  work  which  is  more 
especially  Colonel  Goldsmid's  own,  we  gain  some  vivid  impressions  of  Oriental 
scenes  and  manners,  not  in  Bagdad  and  Tehran  alone,  but  in  regions  more 
distant  still,  and  where  few,  if  any,  Earopeans  had  ever  come  before.' — Graphic'. 

MACMILLAN  &  CO.,  LONDON.