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 lalifolia, 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 ghi 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, aud may be seen in almost every 

 village; Castor-oil comes next, and then Sessamum, Poppy, Saf- 

 flower {Carthamus tint-tori us), 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 encumbers, 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 

 el seq.), to the birds, reptiles, and insects which frequent them 

 the transition is natural, and Mr. Lockwood has many interesting 

 observations concerning 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 Natural History of India than is to be found in 

 many Anglo-Indian books of greater pretentions. It is to be 



