The immense numbers of small lizards found in these and the surrounding regions, have been noticed by many travellers. Major Skinner, speaking of the desert of Syria, observes,-"The ground is teeming with lizards; the sun seems to draw them from the earth; for sometimes, when I have fixed my eye upon one spot, I have fancied that the sands were getting into life, so many of these creatures at once crept from their holes." Bruce is still more explicit. "I am positive that I can say without exaggeration, that the number I saw one day, in the great court of the Temple of the Sun at Baalbec, amounted to many thousands: the ground, the walls, the stones of the ruined buildings, were covered with them; and the various colours of which they consisted, made a very extraordinary appearance, glittering under the sun, in which they lay sleeping and basking."

Little seems recorded concerning the fishes of Assyria; though doubtless the rivers and mountain streams are well supplied. Most of those which have been recognized belong to the great carp tribe, or to some of its sub-genera. The barbel, the chub, and the loach are mentioned; the binny or scaly carp (Cyprinus lepidotus), a fine fish much esteemed, is abundant, as it is throughout Western Asia. The celebrated black-fish is stated by Mr. Ainsworth to be a Macropteronotus, a genus of the Silure family, which is also represented by other species in these waters. Trout are common in the mountain streams.

Insects are numerous, but still require investiga

tion. Among the beetles, of which two hundred species were collected by Dr. Helfer after the rains, many genera, supposed to be peculiar to the northern and temperate parts of Europe, occur. Such are the brachelytrous beetles, seven hundred species of which belong to Britain, and of which our common black rove-beetle, or cock-tail, is a familiar example; of these, forty species were met with. Carabus Hemprishei is one of the most common insects of the plains. In spring the Heteromerous division of beetles is characteristic of the region, especially the Melastomata, of which our common churchyard beetle (Blaps mortisaga) is an example. The genus Pimelia and its allies are numerous. Weevils (Curculionida), and lady-birds (Coccinellada), are in considerable abundance: the chafers (Lamellicornes) are rather scarce, with the exception of the little genus Aphodius (small dung-chafers common in our pastures in spring), which occurs at certain seasons in swarming flights like locusts. Locusts and grasshoppers of many kinds are abundant during the dry months. Many fine butterflies are peculiar to this region, and some are shared in common with Europe; others are Indian types. Dragon-flies and other lace-winged flies are numerous along the borders of the rivers. Bees, wasps, ants, flies, and gnats, are also common; and parasitic insects swarm in the filthy huts of the inhabitants to a degree hardly imaginable by an untravelled European.

The climate, as might be supposed from the nature of the country, its elevation, and its distance from the sea is marked by great extremes of heat

and cold, and by absence of moisture. In the mountains there is a great accumulation of snow during the winter, which remains long after vegetation has commenced in spring. The influence of warm days and cold frosty nights in spring is to forward vegetation, and yet preserve the snow. In crossing the Marash hills (near the head of the Tigris), in February, Mr. Ainsworth found the snow from two to three feet deep, and so hard as to bear a horse; yet in occasional bare spots, crocuses were in flower, and spiders were running about. At the same time, in sheltered valleys, Daphne, Euphorbia, and bright and various coloured anemones, were in full bloom. The summer heat is often excessive in these valleys, from the radiation and reflection of the sun's rays.

In the plains also there are considerable variations. of temperature. "From the Mediterranean to the Tigris there is an increase of cold in the same parallels, from west to east... This is not the case, however, in the plains east of the Tigris, which, sheltered by the Koordish mountains, have a more temperate winter. The influence of Taurus, clad for so many months with snow, is considerable in reducing the winter temperature; and on the plains of North Syria and of Mesopotamia, from the want of protecting hills, causes the vegetation to be in reality less southern than that of Sicily and Andalusia. At the same time, the long extent of littoral mountains, Ananus, Casius, and Lebanon, add to these unfavourable circumstances by impeding the passage of mild air from the Mediterranean. Notwithstanding these circumstances, the direct heat of

the sun, increased by radiation and equality of level, is almost without a moderating influence, for evaporation is nearly null, and hence, where the winter temperature is so low, the summer heats are intense. The traveller whom we are citing, states that in the month of August, the thermometer was observed as high as 115° (Fahr.) in the shade, and in winter as low as 12°, which gives an annual range of temperature of more than 100°.

To these excessive variations of temperature, and to the proximity of lofty snow-covered ranges of mountains it is probably owing that this region is subject to sudden tempests which rage with terrific violence. The Exploring Expedition was caught unawares in one of these tornados, and before a place of shelter could be gained, one of the steamers was overwhelmed and sunk, with the greater part of her brave crew. The atmosphere, during its brief but terrible continuance, was so darkened, that though the vessel was within a short distance of the river's bank, several persons who could swim are believed to have been drowned, from not knowing in what direction to make for the shore.

We shall conclude our observations on the physical characteristics of this region by a vivid picture of the Assyrian plains at two seasons of the year, sketched by the accomplished Mr. Layard.

"The middle of March in Mesopotamia is the brightest epoch of spring. A new change had come over the face of the plain of Nimroud. Its pasture lands known as the Jaif,' are renowned for their * Ainsworth's Assyria, &c., p. 31.

6

rich and luxuriant herbage. In times of quiet the studs of the Pasha, and of the Turkish authorities, with the horses of the cavalry and of the inhabitants of Mosul, are sent here to graze. Day by day they arrived in long lines. The Shemutti and Jehesh left their huts, and encamped on the greensward which surrounded the villages. The plain, as far as the eye could reach, was studded with the white pavilions of the Hytas, and the black tents of the Arabs. Picketed around them were innumerable horses in gay trappings, struggling to release themselves from the bonds which restrained them from ranging over the green pastures.

"Flowers of every hue enamelled the meadows; not thinly scattered over the grass as in northern climes, but in such thick and gathering clusters that the whole plain seemed a patchwork of many colours. The dogs, as they returned from hunting, issued from the long grass dyed red, yellow, or blue, according to the flowers through which they had last forced their way."

Some six weeks have elapsed, and the traveller thus records the change of circumstances. "The heats of summer had now commenced, and it was no longer possible to live under a white tent. The huts were equally uninhabitable, and still swarmed with vermin. In this dilemma I ordered a recess to be cut into the bank of the river, where it rose perpendicularly from the water's edge. By screening the front with reeds and boughs of trees, and covering the whole with similar materials, a small room was formed. I was much troubled, however, with