'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎82] (129/905)

82
BIRDS, FISH, AND REPTILES. [CHAP, IV.
camel, of which there are two distinct kinds. The low,
strong, rough-haired animal, with two humps, called bughur,
which was brought originally from Bactria; and the taller,
lighter Arabian breed, called schutter, of which there are
three or four classes adapted to different purposes. There is
likewise a third, or mule breed, between the Arabian and
Bactrian, with a single hump, but much larger than that on
the back of the former; it is called Ner, and is much prized
as a beast of burthen, especially by the Turkomans. Besides
the buffalo, and other domestic animals, there are large-tailed
sheep, the long-haired cat, and a particularly fine swift dog,
the Macedonian greyhound.
The subjects to be noticed in ornithology are two or three
sorts of eagles, 1 the Ahubarah (a kind of bustard), Capk-e-
Derri (royal partridge), the black and desert partridge, 2 phea
sant, jungle fowl (towards Affghanistan), several varieties of
the heron, the magpie, and myriads of a kind of quail, 3 nearly
as large as a pigeon, the blackbird, thrush, and nightingale.
Fowls are abundant, but common geese and ducks very rare.
In ichthyology, the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , as well as the Black
and Caspian Seas, are more remarkable for the quantity
than the variety of specimens; but sturgeon and the sterlet,
a delicate kind of carp, abound in the Caspian Sea, where
they are taken chiefly for the caviar and isinglass. In
the rivers towards the southern extremities of the empire,
barbel and carp, especially the latter, attain a prodigious size.
Serpents abound, as in ancient times, in the plains of
Moghan, and elsewhere there are several kinds, which, in
general, are harmless; but the bite of the long bright-coloured
snake, so abundant in different parts of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
(a little way from the shore), is said to be very dangerous.
Large-sized lizards are numerous, as well as tarantulas and
scorpions, both white and black. The latter, or that which
is found in Kashan, and on the plains of Abu-Sh^hr, is con
sidered dangerous.
The insect tribe appears to be more numerous and less
1 Elphinstone's Kdbul, p. 144.
2 Bogra Kard, black breast, about the size of a grouse. 8 Katta.