156 G A N G E T I C H 1 N D O O S T A N. 



gives us a new piece of knowlege, that the mute fwaii is found 

 about Surat. I fhall not in this place mention, any of the ter- 

 rcftrial birds of the province of Bengal, but confine myfelf ta 

 thofe Vrhom inftind: and necelllty compel to frequent thefe 

 watery haunts. 



In gratitude I mnil mention the feveral friends to whom I 

 am indebted for information refpedting the natural hiliory of 

 this rich province. Sir Elijah Impey, and his lady, gave me the 

 moll liberal acceCs to their vaft and elegant colledlion of draw- 

 ings, made with much fidelity on the fpot ; to them I was in- 

 debted for permiflion to have feveral copies made by my paintrefs 

 Mifs Stone, taken from the moll curious fubjeils of their cabinet- 

 Mrs. Edivard Wheeler communicated to me the numerous paint- 

 ings which fire colledted in. Bengal, nor was Nathaniel Middle- 

 ion, Efquire, lefs favorable in promoting my defign. He laid 

 before me his great treafare of Afiatic drawings of quadru- 

 peds, birds, fifhes, and vegetables,, with the offer of per- 

 miflion to have copies made of thofe I thought might fuit 

 my purpofe. 



Jabirc. The firfl bird I fhall mention is the Indian Jabiru, Latham^ 



vii. p. 231, a diflinifl fpecies from the American, it is of a large 

 lize, and feeds on fnails, 



Argali. The next is the great Heron, the Argali, or Adjutant, or 



Gigantic Crane of Latham, vii. p. 232. tab. cxv. It is found 

 alfo in Guinea. It arrives in the internal parts of Bengal before 

 the rainy feafon, retires at the approach of the dry ; fuch I be- 

 lieve is the cafe with almoft all of the aquatic fowl of Bengal, 

 It grows to the height of five feet when ereft ; the bill is of 



great 



