Capt. R. C. Beavan on various Indian Birds. 403 



coal crops out at Raneegunje, a well-known spot, whose collieries 

 supply most of what is consumed of this precious fuel on this 

 side of India. Gold is found in the beds of the rivers, washed 

 clear of its matrix, quartz ; and copper, as well as bismuth, also 

 exists. I am of opinion that this district will eventually, when 

 its mineral resources become better known, prove to be, on 

 account of its proximity to Calcutta, and the facilities afforded 

 for transport by the extension of railways, a great field for 

 European mineral enterprise *. 



A large portion of it, however, is at present covered with heavy 

 jungles. Roads cannot be said to exist, except for small native 

 carts, even the main road from the S udder Station of Perulia 

 to the railway-station at Raneeguuje being little more than a 

 mere track; and in many parts not only is the population 

 small, but the want of water severely felt in the hot months. 



The climate in the cold weather is all that could be wished 

 for ; but about the end of March it begins to get too warm to 

 live in tents, and the hot winds from the north-west impart an 

 appearance of arid sterility to the scene. This, the winter 

 time for the vegetation, is marked by all the trees and shrubs 

 losing their leaves; the jungles, dense and almost impervious 

 before, are now laid under contribution to supply the famous 

 " Tusseh" silk, the cocoons of which, in the absence of foliage, 

 are easily seen hanging to the boughs of the trees. The wild 

 animals, deprived of their usual cover, retreat to the hills and 

 caves amongst the rocks. Birds are at this period very scarce ; 

 and for a space of about three weeks the whole aspect of nature 

 seems changed. Winter in look, but more than summer in heat, 

 with but scanty shade for one^s tent, it would be unbearable if 

 prolonged for any length of time. A change, however, soon 

 comes, the all-devouring element of fire sweeps through the 

 jungles, and leaves them black and scorched ; a heavy thunder- 

 storm generally succeeds, and the first intimation of spring is the 

 bright scarlet blossom of the pullas {Butea frondosa) and other 

 trees, whose gorgeous hues, unrelieved by foliage (which does not 



* Vide ' Memorandum on the Geological Structure and Mineral Re- 

 sources of the Singbhoom Divu,' by Capt. Haughton, J. A. .S, No. 2 of 

 1854. 



