382 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI V. 



Schedule should follow the classitication used in the Fauna of British India 

 and should specify each species under its English and Scientific denomina- 

 tion. The vernacular list should comprise all the names under which those 

 species are known to the people in the vernaculars of India. In printing it 

 in vernacular transliterations of scientific nomenclature, which can only 

 confuse the vernacular mind, should be scrupulously avoided. The prepara- 

 tion of this vernacular list would take time, and would involve enquiries in 

 many outlying portions of the Empire, for the lists of vernacular names 

 given in the " Fauna of British India " are by no means complete. Never- 

 theless the compilation is no impossible task, and it should certainly be 

 undertaken. Government is, we all know, determined that its Acts shall be 

 effective. Acts dealing with the wild life of the Empire can never be 

 effective until they are " understanded of the people," as this Act will never 

 be in its present shape. It is safe to say that not an Indian who has had 

 the Act read to him can recognise under the terms Bail, Bakre or Bhekian 

 am/ form of wild animal : Hudhud means a " hoopoe " and not a " wood- 

 cock," Jangli Mukghabian could never in any part of India connote 

 " Jungle Fowl." If the revision is undertaken, as we confidently expect it 

 will be, we need hardly say that the services of the Society will be at the 

 disposal of Government. 



We would suggest one alteration only in the text of the Act. To section 3 

 should be added a clause : — 



{(() " To take or possess, to sell or buy, or offer to sell or buy an egg 

 or eggs or nest of any such bird." 



The practice of taking the eggs of sitting pheasants and partridges is 

 becoming increasingly common, and, to our uninstructed mind, the Act 

 provides no safeguard against this malpractice. 



G. C. HOWELL, i.o.s. 



GUKDASPUK, 



2nd October 1915. 



[We cDtirely agree with Mr. Howell's valuable suggestions and would draw 

 attention to the Vernacular names of animals given in the Mammal Survey 

 Reports published in our journals. In time we hope to complete these lists as 

 the Survey is completed. — Editoks.] 



