Afghanistan

by A. Hamilton

• Gum-resin, Narthex assafœtida(grown chiefly on the plains between Kandahar and Herat).
• Walnut, Juglans regia.
• Pine-nut, Pinus pinea.
• Rhubarb (edible, chiefly grown in the highlands of Kabul).
• Elæagnus orientalis Sanjit.
• Pistacia khinjak, Gul-i-pista.
• Fraxinus ornus, Ash.
• Mushrooms, Agaricus campestris.

As regards vertebrate zoology Afghanistan lies on the frontier of three regions—the Eurasian, the Ethiopian and the Indo-Malayan. In the main the species are Eurasian.

The following wild animals are to be found:

Felidæ	⎧ Felis catus	Wild cat.
	⎪ F. chaus	Jungle cat.
	⎨ F. caracal	Kara-kul.
	⎪ Cynælurus jubatus	Cheetah.
	⎪ F. pardus	Common leopard.
	⎩ F. tigris	Tiger.
Canidæ	⎧ Caries aureus	Jackal.
	⎪ C. bengalensis	Wolf.
	⎨ Hyæna striata	Hyæna.
	⎪ Vulpes bengalensis	Wild dog.
	⎩ V. flavescens	Small Indian fox.
Mustelidæ	⎧ Herpestes	Mongoose.
	⎪ Mustela erminea	Stoat.
	⎨ M. flavigula	Marten.
	⎪ Ursus torquatus	Black bear.
	⎩ Ursus isabellinus	Yellow bear.
Ruminants	⎧ Capra ægagrus	Ibex.
	⎪ C. megaceros	Markhoor.
	⎪ Ovis vignei	Wild sheep.
	⎪ Gazella subgutturosa	Persian gazelle.
	⎨ Gazella dorcas	Common gazelle.
	⎪ Cervus wallichii	Indian barasingha.
	⎪ Sus scrofa	Wild hog.
	⎩ Equus onager	Wild ass.
Talpidæ	⎧ Talpha europæa	Mole.
	⎪ Sorex indicus	Indian shrew.
	⎪ Erinaceus collaris	Collared hedgehog.
	⎪ E. auritus	Long-eared hedgehog.
	⎨ Phyllorhinus cineraceus	⎫
	⎪ Scotophilus bellii	⎪
	⎪ Vespertilio auritus	⎬ Bats.
	⎩ V. barbastellus	⎭
Rodentia	⎧ Sciurus syriacus	Squirrel.
	⎪ Dipus telum	Jerboa.
	⎪ Alactaga bactriana	Bactria Jerboa.
	⎨ Gerbillus indicus	Gerbit.
	⎪ G. erythrinus	Gerbit.
	⎪ Lagomys nepalensis	Pica, or Tailless Hare.
	⎩ Lepus ruficaudatus	Hare.

Birds.—There are 124 species of Afghan birds, comprised as follows:

95	Eurasian;
17	Indian;
10	both Eurasian and Indian;
1	Eurasian, Ethiopian and Indian;
1	Carpodacus (Bucanetes) crassirostris, peculiar to the country.

Reptiles:

Pseudopus gracilis		Glass “snake.”
Argyrophis horsfieldii	⎫	Lizards. All Indian forms, without distinctive English names.
Salea horsfieldii	⎪
Calotes maria	⎪
C. versicolor	⎬
C. minor	⎪
C. emma	⎪
Phrynocephalus tickelii	⎭
T. horsfieldii		A tortoise peculiar to Kabul.

Domestic Animals:

• Camels: Bactrian and Dromedary.
• Horses.
• Cows, humped.
• Sheep—white and black, fat-tailed.
• Goats—black, parti-coloured.
• Dogs—pointers, greyhounds, khandi (sporting dog).