1872.] F. Stoliezka — Mammals and Birds inlialiting Kachh. 219 



cens and Buteo ferox are to be seen almost everywhere ; many others are 

 more local. 



Perhaps a better general idea of the character of the vertebrate fauna 

 might be formed, when we inquire what the country is capable of support- 

 ing all the year round, and at the same time exclude those animals, the 

 existence of which mainly, or entirely, depends upon the presence of man 

 and his habitations. 



Among the mammals we find the Rodents most prevalent, — Oerhillus 

 eri/flirourus, Sciurus palmarum, Lepus rujicaudus, — the first being by far the 

 most common, and next come the Indian antelope and gazelle ; thus all 

 vegetable feeders. 



If we exclude from the 160 species of birds, which I obtained, the so- 

 called camp-followers, we find that about half the remainder are migratory, 

 therefore merely winter visitors. And although some of the migratory birds 

 may in a favourable hot season remain in the country, others which are gen- 

 erally considered as permanent settlers often partially migrate to more suit- 

 able localities hi India. Among these I may mention for instance Geryle, 

 Pratincola, Coracias, Ptionoprogne, Capriimdgus, Citrinella. Therefore, in 

 an ordinary summer season I certainly do not expect that more than about 

 one hundred species of birds are to be met with in Kachh, really a very small 

 number, when compared with what one is used to observe on a similarly 

 large area hi many other parts of India. 



Of Reptilia and Amphibia I have observed thirty species ; and, 

 although this number is decidedly larger during the rains, not more than 

 half a dozen of them are really of common occurrence. (Comp. Proc. A. S. 

 B., May, 1872, p. 71). 



The fresh-water fishes, which I collected, belong, according to Dr. Day, 

 to eighteen species ; there is only one Siluroid among them, most of the 

 others belong to the Cyprinidce, and one is a Cyprinodon, the first species 

 of the genus known in Indian fresh-waters. However small the number may 

 appear to be, I almost doubt if it could be much increased ; for where 

 rivers are almost unknown, and where half of the tanks are liable to disap- 

 pear for several months during each year, and where besides such a number of 

 skilful fishers* are eagerly employed during a time when the water is lowest, 

 fish have not much chance to prosper. 



* About forty species of Grallatores and Natatores. 



29 



