FROM THE GANGES TO THE GODAVERT. 193 



includes, besides the hills, a narrow belt of low-lying- land in 

 the neighbourhood. This will account for the number of 

 water-birds included. As I shall have to explain on a sub- 

 sequent page I exclude several species which are fouud 

 on this border-land, as they do not belong to our present sub- 

 province, but are eminently characteristic of the one next 

 adjoining. The actual bed and margins of the Ganges are 

 outside the sub-province. 



My collection in this district was made during the season 

 1869-70. It was by no means an extensive one, and there is but 

 little other material available. Dr. Jerdon gives this locality 

 for a few birds — chiefly rare species. 



Bhagulpur. — This district might have been omitted from 

 the list so far as material exists, for an account of the birds, 

 but the hilly western and southern portions, adjoining the 

 Daman-i-KoIi, belong naturally to our area, and they were 

 partially traversed by me in 1869-70. 



Birbhum. — Regarding this district, too, there is very little 

 information. I have on two occasions spent a few days in it, 

 and the Indian Museum has received some specimens from 

 that part of the country. 



Bardwan. — This district includes Ranigunj, Barakar, Ban- 

 kura and Assensole. I have collected and noted birds in all of 

 these areas, and Mr. Brooks' residence at Assensole has: enabled 

 him to supply me with a list of birds seen or obtained by him 

 in that vicinity. 



Midnapur. — Mr. Blyth is the principal authority on the birds 

 of this district. So far as I am aware he left no complete list 

 of the birds observed by him there, but he wrote a brief sketch 

 of the fades of the Avifauna.* In the year 1868 I paid a 

 brief visit to Midnapur and collected a few birds there. 



Manbhum. — Captain Beavan, as is well-known, worked this 

 district, and in two papers, published in the P. Z. S.f and the 

 I6is%, gave very complete accounts of the birds observed by him. 

 I spent several seasons also in Manbhum before 1867, and on 

 subsequent occasions I have made traverses across it. 



Hazaribagh. — Of this district again the record is somewhat 

 meagre. Colonel Tickell obtained a few birds there, as is men- 

 tioned in a paper by the Marquis of Tweedale.§ 



In 1864-65 I spent some months in this district ; but at that 

 time I had not commenced any systematic collection of birds. 



* J. A. S. B., Vol. XVI, pp. 117, 118, note. 



t P. Z. S., 1868. 



i Ibis, N. S., Vol. I, 1865 ; Vol. III., 1867 ; Vol. IV.. 1868. 



§ On Uol. Tickell'8 manuscript work, Ibis, 3rd series, Vol.. VI, 1876, p. 336. 



