PREFACE. Vll_ 



reptiles of British India, which, it is to be hoped, will soon be re- 

 published with additions ; Blanford's Zoology of Eastern Persia, 

 which has been of special value; Theobald's BeptUes of India ; Hume's 

 Stray Feathers, and the valuable papers contributed from time to time 

 to the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal by Dr. J. Anderson, 

 Superintendent of the Indian Museum at Calcutta. It will, therefore, 

 be understood that this work is chiefly a compilation. 



To facilitate the identification of animals, diagrams are given, illus- 

 trating the different parts of birds and reptiles, with the corresponding 

 terms used in their description. These, it is hoped, will be found 

 useful to collectors, students, and would-be enquirers. 



The scientific and trivial English names of each species is given ; 

 the dijfferent synonyms by which it is known ; an account of its 

 habits, resorts, and distribution, and its name in the vernacular. In 

 the case of reptiles, besides their description, range, &c., diagrams are 

 given showing the dentition of venomous and non-venomous species, 

 and the nature of the punctures that would be made by their bites. 

 The symptoms of the action of their poison, and the treatment to 

 be followed in all cases of wounds caused by them are also detailed. 



For the sportsman woodcuts of most of the game birds are added. 



Tables of the distribution of the animals of Sind are also appended, 

 the range or geographical limits being, on one side, to Beloochistan, 

 Persia and Afghanistan, and on the other, throughout India, including 

 the Punjab, N. W. Provinces, Oudh, Bengal, Burmah, the Western 

 Coast, Rajputana, Southern and Central India, the Concans and 

 Deccan. 



