tube, which (when nervous) used to endanger it.

It is this extreme aridity that gives Khorassan so rich a spring flora,
this season being that of rain, of melting of snow, and the ground being
well moistened.

It is this extreme aridity that necessitates the abundance of bulbous
plants in Khorassan, these deposits of nutrition existing even in several
of its Compositae.

Query--Why are Carduaceae, (Artemisia) so adapted to aridity?

The region of Carduaceae, commences about Ghuzni, and extends to _Maidan_
or Cabul, it is at its maximum about Shaikabad and Huftasya. The
abundance of Carduaceae on the higher grounds, as for instance towards
Bamean, belong rather to a vernal flora.

I hope to be particular in hereafter comparing the floras of all the
deserts? and to notice the absurd remarks of some travellers in
Khoristhan, on the domesticated parasitic nature of the watermelon plant,
on the Hedysarum Alhagi, _Shooturkari_.

_3rd_.--Fine moderate north-east wind, very clear.

_4th_.--Over-clouded.

_5th_.--Rain.

_6th_.--Unsettled.

_7th_.--Rain, thunder, distant lightning occasionally last night.

_8th_.--Fine: ice in the morning, thermometer five feet from the ground
35 degrees at 7 A.M.

_9th_.--Fine diffused clouds last night, succeeded by a strong northeast
wind.

_10th_.--Fine.

_11th_.--Fine in the morning, then threatening.

_12th_.--Quite over-clouded, north-east wind. The inferior level of snow
is now several hundred feet above that which it was at first.

Oxalis corniculata in abundance, what an universal plant this is.

All the natives of these parts wear sandals, those about the Khyber being
made of the leaves of a small Chamaerops, which is common on the rocks of
those mountains.

A proof of the extreme want of useful plants is seen in the fact, that
baskets are scarcely ever seen, all the loads of flour, etc. being
invariably carried in skins.

Leopards' skins for the purpose are obtained from Chugur Serai, Pullung
and also Sofaid-Koh.

_16th_.--The troops marched on their return. A lark very much like the
English species occurs in flocks; it is a stupid bird, although obviously
aware of its resemblance to clods of earth, which it makes use of on
every occasion when a little frightened. The Gypaetos is also found
here; it feeds principally on carrion. I observed Trichrodroma for the
first time here to-day, this bird is by no means a powerful climber;
indeed the individual s