PREFACE. 



tion of the labours of Indian observers, which form almost 

 a specific character of some specimens of the animal in 

 Europe, may affect surprise, at my not waiting till I 

 was in a position to make the work more satisfactory and 

 complete ; but as a matter of fact, an Indian oflBcial who 

 compiles a work like the present, at odd hours snatched 

 from other duties, whilst waiting maybe for a break in the 

 weather to march, or whilst better men are busy saying 

 their prayers, cannot select his own time and place, and as 

 it is quite uncertain when I may again revisit the Presi- 

 dency Capital, where alone such a work can be got out 

 within any reasonable time, it became simply a question of 

 doing the best under the circumstances, or doing nothing, 

 and I leave it to the unbiased reader to determine whether 

 I have adopted the wiser course of the two. 



To the kind friends who have taken the trouble to aid 

 me in the present undertaking I tender my grateful 

 thanks, expressing a regret however, that the number of 

 my creditors in this respect does not bear a more 

 encouraging proportion to the numbers of educated, not 

 to say scientifically trained men, scattered either in a 

 military, medical, or administrative capacity over the 

 enormous area of our Indian Empire. My main contri- 

 butors are Col. Nelson Davies, Akyab ; Capt. William- 

 son, Tura ; Major Swiney, Palamkotta ; Dr. Hunger- 

 ford, Thaietmio ; A. Theobald, Esq., Madras ; A. 

 Hough, Esq., Mallewoon ; A. Andefsgn, Esq., Futteh- 

 gurh; J. Wood-Mason, Esq., W. T. Blanford, Esq., of 

 Calcutta, and J. Cockburn, Esq., Allahabad. 



