found in Eastern Bengal. 89 



annual rainfall not exceeding 70 inches. The damp atmo- 

 sphere of Cherrapoonjce and the coolness of Shillong form 

 great contrasts with the temperature of the swampy marshes 

 of Lower Sylhet, which can be seen from Cherra steaming and 

 sweltering below ; and from these waters the dwellers and 

 passengers in boats look up to the lofty hills, gleaming with 

 magnificent foaming cascades after every heavy shower, with 

 longing eyes. Naturally there is a wonderful change in the 

 ornis of Eastern Bengal reaching to the foot of the Cherra- 

 poonjce mountain and that found in the tableland at its sum- 

 mit J but this country has been carefully examined by many 

 a competent ornithologist. 



From the foot of this high range to the Goomtee or Tip- 

 pera river lies a low marshy country, interspersed with fine 

 rice-bearing land, in places very thinly inhabited and rei^u- 

 larly overflowed every summer, when the inhabitants live in 

 boats and on mounds made by themselves and crowded thickly 

 with huts. In this country every little child can row, even 

 with his feet, and swim like an otter. Wildfowl are not so 

 abundant here as might be expected; but Eagles and Par- 

 ridae and Gallinulcs abound. In places, and as you approach 

 Tippera, the country is better, and bears splendid crops of 

 rice and jute, and is very thickly inhabited. In the north 

 of Tippera, towards Sylhet, are found vast plains, which for 

 half the year show most beautiful green grass and support 

 vast numbers of tame buffaloes ; and formerly these plains 

 swarmed with deer [Cervus duvaucelli) , the numbers of which 

 are very mournfully reduced. 



Between the Goomtee and the Fenny rivers lies the district 

 of Tippera. The western face of this district consists of low 

 alluvial land ; but near Comilla (the sudder station of the dis- 

 trict) low forest-clad hills begin ; and these stretch away east- 

 ward to China. Independent Tippera, Cacliar, Munipore, 

 and the Looshye territory are situated in these hilly tracts ; 

 and our knowledge goes a very little way beyond tliere. 

 The Tippera country has not been thoroughly investigated 

 ornithologically, and would form rare ground for an ardent 

 student of the science. The late Mr. Irwin, of the Bengal 



