Capt. R. C. Tytler on the Fauna of Barrackpoore. 375 



whilst H. garzetta and H. hubulcus are very common ; the latter 

 are found in fields following cattle, in search of insects : all these 

 birds are called Paddy Birds by Europeans. I obtained another 

 bird of the genus Herodias, but as it may prove to be a hybrid, I 

 will make no particular mention of it. The next three species 

 are common, viz. Butorides javanica, Ardeola leucoptera and Nyc- 

 ticorax griseus ; this latter is the same as the Night Heron of 

 England. The Botaurus stellaris, or common Bittern of Europe, 

 is also frequently obtained, but the little Ardetta cinnamomea ia 

 rare. The marshes are abundantly tenanted by the Porphyrio 

 poliocephalus ; they are seen early in the morning and late of an 

 evening venturing into fields to feed, but always in the vicinity 

 of water ; their gay colour and natural docility make them great 

 favourites. The Porzana phoenicura and P. pygmcea are very 

 common; the former I have frequently shot on trees. The 

 Rallus striatus and R. indicus are also rarely met with, but the 

 Gallinula chloropus, which is the same as the English Moor Hen, 

 is not uncommon. During a very severe gale of wind we had 

 at Barrackpoore, I saw a fine specimen of that splendid large 

 Gull, the Larus ichthyaetus, the only one I saw ; it was flying 

 along the banks of the river, unable to make any progress 

 against the wind. The Hydrochelidon indica and Sterna aurantia 

 are both common, the latter more so than the former. A large 

 flight of Pelicans passed over Barrackpoore, but of what species I 

 am unable to say, for they flew very high. The Graucalus pyg- 

 mcms is a common species about ponds and marshes. 



I was very unfortunate with my Ducks ; but as my object is 

 only to enumerate what I actually saw, I trust the reader will 

 excuse my giving so small a list. The Dendrocygna major and D, 

 arcuata are both common ; they are known to Europeans as the 

 Whistling Teal of India. The little Rice Teal, Nettapus coro- 

 mandelianus, is very plentiful, as is also Querquedula circia, the 

 English Garganey or Summer Duck. I likewise procured the 

 Fuligula nyroca, the White-eyed Duck of Europe ; they are not 

 common ; but the little common Grebe, Podiceps philippensis, 

 is very abundant on all ponds and marshes. 

 • This ends my ornithological list of birds actually seen wild 

 and collected by me, at and in the neighbourhood of Barrack- 

 poore during a period of two years : in the Calcutta bazaar a 

 great many more species are exposed for sale, brought from the 

 Soonderbunds and other places; all these are to be purchased 

 at a very moderate price. 



I shall now conclude by giving a brief sketch of the mammalia 

 I saw at Barrackpoore, first mentioning that a Leopard, Felis 

 leopardus, was shot in a garden ; it had evidently strayed here 

 from the Soonderbunds; they have been shot here before, but 



