ZOOLOGY. 109 



the former for coursing and the latter in following large 

 Game. In short, all lovers of sport, should be well provided 

 with dogs. 



Snipes are large and well-flavored ; they are not numerous, 

 but a tolerable shot will kill five or six brace in a forenoon. 

 They come in September, and are seldom found after April. 

 That beautiful bird, the solitary snipe (Scolopax major), is 

 occasionally shot on the hills. 



Jungle fowl are very numerous, and very delicate, as are 

 spur-fowl. Quails are common all over the hills. 



An immense variety of Hawks, are every where to be met 

 with, two of them are particularly beautiful, one milk-white, 

 with a large black mark between the wings, and one of a 

 cream colour. A large black Eagle is occasionally met with ; 

 an immense horned Owl, and many species of a smaller size 

 may be numbered among the predatory birds. 



The English Black-bird is very common, as is the Thrush, 

 the wren, and the lark, and a great variety of woodpeckers. 

 I have also observed a very beautiful kingfisher. The im- 

 perial pigeon, and blue wood-pigeon, and dove, are common, 

 as are sand larks, and a species of green plover, or peewit. 



Of Fish 1 have never seen any but a very small species, but 

 I am informed that some of considerable size have been caught 

 near Mallkoondah, in the deep pools of the river skirting the 

 Koondahs. Crabs are common in all the brooks. 



Reptiles are not in great variety — a very pretty small 

 green snake, (perfectly harmless), is common in the dry wea- 

 ther, and some suspicious-looking species, said by the natives 

 to be poisonous, have been seen about the Grliats. Scorpions 

 and centipedes are unknown. Frogs and toads are common, 

 as also one or two small species of lizards. 



Insects are fortunately rare, and not in great variety. Mos- 



