460 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
at the same time an account of the various attractive water-plants 
to be met with at this interesting spot. 
Describing the food supplies of Monghyr, he especially notices 
the Mahwa-tree, Bassia latifolia, one of the most useful trees in 
the world. “It is a fountain producing food, wine, and oil. Food 
to thousands of poor people, who find the succulent flowers, both 
fresh and dried, wholesome food; wine, or rather spirit, distilled 
from the flowers, to the whole of the district; and oil pressed from 
the fruit, used for the adulteration of ght in this district and in 
Calcutta.” Of the vast amount of Mahwa collected, by far the 
greater part is eaten, and during the famine of 1873-74, it kept alive 
thousands who otherwise must have starved. 
Among the plants cultivated for oil in Monghyr is Mustard, from 
which many thousand tons of oil are yearly manufactured for home 
consumption or exportation. Flax, or “ Linseed,” as it is called in 
India, ranks next in importance, and may be seen in almost every 
village; Castor-oil comes next, and then Sessamum, Poppy, Saf- 
flower (Carthamus linclorius), and Starflower (Verbesina sativa). It 
is observable that, though common enough in the south, no poppies 
are to be seen north of the Ganges. Indigo usurps nearly 16,000 
acres, and tobacco is cultivated to a very considerable extent. 
Although the soil of Monghyr is said to have deteriorated since 
it was first cultivated, the number and variety of the crops which 
are successively raised is remarkable. In addition to the vast rice 
tracts with which, in the south, a great portion of the district is 
covered, and besides the vegetable products above named, may be 
seen cucumbers, egg-plants, potatoe, Indian corn, capsicums, 
cauliflowers, peas, wheat, and the edible grass, Sorghum sac- 
charatum, the last-named growing to such a height as to com- 
pletely hide a horseman when passing through it. 
From the timber trees, of which an account is given (p, 249 
et seq.), to the birds, reptiles, and insects which frequent them 
the transition is natural, and Mr. Lockwood has many interesting 
observations concerniug them—so many, indeed, that it is difficult 
to make choice of any particular passage for quotation. His aim, 
as he informs us in his Preface, has been “to tell his story briefly, 
and in the lightest possible style.” He has succeeded in writing 
a very entertaining volume, and one which contains more infor- 
mation on the Natnral History of India than is to be found in 
many Anglo-Indian books of greater pretentions. It is to be 
