7276 Natural-History Notes from Bengal. 



him out and brought him in an earthen pot, called a gumla, in front 

 of the house; I then called ray friend * Boots' (the mongoose), and it 

 was very interesting to see the snake with his hood expanded standing 

 erect on his tail watching the movements of ' Boots,' who took it rather 

 easily for some time, but he knew what he was about, and when he 

 did spring the snake was as dead as a stone, for ' Boots ' had fixed 

 him by the back of the neck, quite close to the head. It is wonderful 

 that these little creatures never miss their aim. The house was over- 

 run with rats before he came, but now there is not one to be seen. 1 

 have lots of things for you ; no end of bottles full of sweet little snakes 

 and beetles ; for all the curious little things I catch I keep in good 

 spirits. I have bagged no less than fifty flying foxes. I have killed bats 

 of all sizes, from the flying fox down to the size of a humble bee." 

 ****** 

 " In answer to your questions, 1st. I have not seen any pheasants, 

 as I am a great way from the hills. I read your note signed ' Ram- 

 rod,' in the ' Field ' newspaper, on the introduction of foreign game. 

 2nd. I have killed large game, as my last letter shows how I slew a 

 tiger-cat, leopard and brace of fine boars, on foot in the jungle. 3rd. I 

 have seen a great number of mango birds ; they are very common in 

 this district, although not in other parts of Lower Bengal. 4th. I have 

 not, I am sorry to say, skinned any birds as yet, having only shot them 

 for their feathers or for the table ; the reason is that the weather has 

 been so fearfully hot ; but in the cold weather I intend making a good 

 collection of bird-skins, and will send them to you ; the principal 

 shall be owls, hawks, eagles, &c. 5th. I have taken great notice of 

 the habits of the birds, &c., that I happened to see, and you shall 

 have these notes. The numbering system that you recommend is just 

 the thing for me, as I do not know the names of half the things I kill. 

 6th. I have studied the habits of the cobra di capello snake closely, 

 and shall give you a few remarks after finishing the answer to the 

 question concerning the habits of the snake bird. These birds 

 are mostly found in pretty good numbers in the large unfrequented 

 inland lakes, and when in the water all the body is hidden from view, 

 only the head and neck being visible. They so resemble a snake when 

 in the water that the most practised eye would be deceived at the 

 distance of fifty yards. The neck is long, as is also the head and 

 beak, and the neck has a most graceful motion when the bird is 

 swimming. They are great divers, and will remain under water for 

 the space of a minute and a half, and during that time will swim a 

 very considerable distance. They are clumsy at rising, but when once 



