819 



A TENTATIVE LIST OF THE VERTEBRATES OF THE 

 JALPAIGURI DISTRICT, BENGAL. 



BY 



Chas. M. Inglis, M.B.O.U., W. L. Travers, H. v. O'Donel 

 AND E. 0. Shebbeare, i.f.s, 



( With Plates.) 



AlthoiTgh several present and past residents of the district have 

 taken an interest in natural history, we know of no list of the 

 fauna, and have accordingly attempted to draw one up to the best 

 of our ability as far as the vertebrates are concerned. On Inglis' 

 first visit to the district, Shebbeare proposed the drawing up 

 of the list ; the latter had already done some collecting and the 

 former had collected in the adjacent districts of Darjef^ling and 

 Goalpara. Inglis drew up a tentative list of the birds which 

 during his later visits he was able to add to and confirm many of 

 the species given in it. Later, Inglis and Shebbeare made out the 

 list of mammals and sent both lists to O'Donel, who added several 

 birds and confirmed a number more and sent notes on a number of 

 species ; he also added considerably to the list of mammals, more 

 especially bats as, besides collecting himself, he had the Society's 

 collector Baptista working with him for some months. Shebbeare 

 also sent a copy to Travers to add any ducks which had been omitted 

 and for some notes on them which he gave. Travers also drew up 

 the list of snakes, having collected them for some years. He also 

 collected the tortoises for Dr. Annandale who kindly identified 

 them and gave us the names of others probably found in the 

 district ; these we have included with a note. None of us have 

 worked out the lizards and frogs, but we have included such as we 

 know for the sake of completeness. The list of fishes for which 

 Shebbeare is responsible is compiled from a previous list made by 

 him. His collection and observations were chiefly made near the 

 hills in the quick-flowing streams, and having had no opportunity 

 of visiting the south of the district where most of the tanks occur, 

 he has been unable to add the numerous Bengal tank and sluggish 

 river fish which are sure to be found. His list is therefore very 

 incomplete. The names of a few mammals and birds were also 

 got from a Settlement Report of the Western Duars by Mr. Sunder 

 written in 1895. 



As to the nomenclature, we have followed the Fauna of British 

 India except in the mammals where we have tried to give the 

 names from the mammal survey, and in the game-birds, pigeons 

 and doves, where we have followed Mr, Stuart Baker. We have also 

 followed the late Lt.-Col. H. H. Harington in the TimeliidcB as far 

 as he had gone before his regrettable death. 



