FURREEDPORE, EASTERN BENGAL. 239 



I hope this may be the case. I am very little of an orni- 

 thologist as yet, though I hope to improve in this respect ; 

 and but for the pressure put upon me by my friend, the Editor, 

 for whom I collected the specimens on which this paper is 

 founded, I should never have ventured to submit my " simple 

 story" to the Public. 



A very few words about the district to which my list refers, 

 viz., Furreedpore, or, as Dr. Hunter is pleased to call it, 

 Faridpur, may be useful. 



The district is of a triangular shape, the apex of which is 

 the southern end. It is bounded on the north by the Ganges 

 River, which separates it from the District of Dacca ; on the 

 south by the Districts of Jessore and Backergunge ; on the 

 east by Dacca; on the north-west by the Pubna District; and 

 on the west by the Jessore District, the Muddoomuttee River 

 running between. The total area of the district is only 1,352 

 square miles. 



The country is totally destitute of forest, but the usual fruit 

 trees, such as Mangoe, Bael, Peepul, with Bamboos and Plan- 

 tains, surround all the villages. Several beels (or as they say 

 up-country jheels) are scattered about the district, none of any 

 great size, except towards the south end, which, for several 

 miles, is one huge swamp, covered with long grass in amongst 

 which are scattered small patches of paddy cultivation. Had I 

 been able to visit this locality, several additional species of Grass 

 and Reed Warblers, &c, would doubtless have been secured. 

 The land to the north-east of the district, and which runs par- 

 allel to the Ganges, is high for a few miles inland ; and thence 

 slopes down to the interior of the district, the whole of which 

 is very low, and is, during the rains, covered with paddy, the 

 staple crop. Wherever any holdings have been deserted, they 

 in time become covered with a dense growth of cane and " Sun" or 

 thatching grass, where pigs and leopards are always to be found. 

 The country being so bare, very many species are wanting that 

 are found in the adjoining districts. The mammals are scantily 

 represented, tigers I have not heard of, there are no deer or 

 antelope, but leopards are common, and pigs and jackals swarm. 

 The mongoose, with tiger and civet cats, are often seen. In all 

 the larger rivers the snub-nosed alligator is common, and from 

 the havoc they commit amongst men aud cattle are a source of 

 terror to all. On their account every bathing ghat in the district 

 is enclosed with a Bamboo fencing, notwithstanding which people 

 are often carried away. 



Last June, word was brought me one evening, that a ryot of 

 mine had been carried away while washing his feet in the river. 

 On going to the spot I saw the crocodile, about 350 yards off, 



