42 



EASTERN HINDOOSTA X. 



the mandibles recede from each other, and leave an open- 

 fpace. 



Plover. The long-lcgged Plover, Br. Zoo!, ii. N* 209, is common to 



England, the Jfejl I?tdies^ and this country. 



Courier. The Curforius Aftaticus, Latham, Index. Orniih. ii. p. 751,. 



and Syn. Av. v. 217. PL Enl. tab. 859, is a rare bird, found 

 here. 



PoRPHYRio- Here are met with the Porphyrio, Latham, v. 253, and fome 



other gallinules ; to be traced in the rude attempts to figures 

 on the Indian and Chinefe papers. 



Skimmer. The Black Ikimmer, Ar^t.Zool. ii. N° 445. Lathajn, vi. 347^ 



is common to North America and the Coromandel co7i.?i. 



Ducks. Among the ducks I fliall only mention the Coromandel, La- 



tham, vi. 556. PL Enl. tab. 949, 950. 



GijjcEE. A LITTLE beyond Pondicherry, the fmall river Sce-aiir flo-.vs 



towards the Ihore. About forty miles from the coaft are the 

 fingular mountains of Gingee, three in number, fortified with a 

 ftrong wall, flanked with tov/ers, including the whole within a 

 triangle. On the funamit of each is a fort : that on the top of 

 the greatell is feated on a folid rock, rifing fuddenly from the 

 area of the hill, quadrangular, and quite mural on every fide ;. 

 and in a cleft of the rock is a fupply of very fine water. It is 

 tenable by ten men againft any open force that can be brought 

 againft it. Befides thefe forts, on all parts of the mountains- 

 arc redoubts above redoubts. Yet, in 1750, European valour 

 furmounted every difficulty, and the able M. BuJJy made him- 

 felf mafter of it by florm. It w^ns done in the night, a time in 

 which every Indian falls under the terror of the gloom. 



9 Gingee 



