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is exported commercially). *Ephedra Atropa belladonna*, sunflower, caraway seed, wormwood, camomile, mint, night-shade, saffron, poppies, berberis, marsh mallow and artemisia are a few of the medicinal herbs. Wheat, barley, rice, maize, varieties of millet, peas and beans are among the important crops grown in Afghanistan. Other plants of food value are: tomato, potato, egg plant, cucumber, spinach, carrot, turnip, lettuce, cauliflower, radish, onion, garlic, melon and watermelon. The Afghan melons, especially the ones from the Mazar-i-Sharif area, are very famous for their sweetness and delicacy. Cotton, tobacco, sugercane and beetroot are some of the other cultivated plants, the products of which supply various local industries. Clover, lucerne and alfalfa are fodder crops. FAUNA Afghanistan does not have a great many wild animals. The following are the known wild animals in the country; bear, wolf, fox, hyena, wild cat, wild dog, common leopard, tiger (Mongolian), mon- goose, wild sheep, deer, hedgehog, porcupine, hare, mole, jerboa and pica. Oorial, ibex, ovis poli and ammon inhabit the mountainous areas of central and north-eastern Afghanistan. The domestic animals include horses, camels, cows, ghizgaw (yak), donkeys, sheep, goats, dogs and cats. The many varieties of sheep include the famous Karakuli raised in northern Afghanistan. The Karakoli lambskin (also known as astrakhan and, wrongly, Persian lamb) comprises a very important export item for Afghanistan. There are many breeds of horses, the Kataghani being, perhaps, the best. Bactrian (two-humped) camels are to be found in the northern provinces. There are some 124 specimens of birds including pheasant, teal, crane, woodcock, partridge, falcon, hawk (some of which are trained for game-hunting) golden oriole, magpie, bulbul, swallow, quail, sparrow, pigeon, dove and cuckoo. Domestic birds include hens, ducks, geese and turkeys. Trout and some other varieties of fish abound in the fresh-water lakes near Bamyan and in all the major rivers. Bamyan Valley.