684 Note on the smelting of the Iron Ore of Burdwan. [August, 



We have the pleasure to send you samples of the Ore before and 

 after calcination, also of the Iron produced, and of the Lime-stone used 

 in the experiment. — The latter was procured by us from Sylhet and 

 is of excellent quality. 



We are, Sir, &c. &c. 

 20th Sept. 1839. JESSOP & CO. 



P. S The following are the quantities of the materials expended ; — 



Ore 1220 lbs. Coke 1278 lbs. Lime-stone 744 lbs— The experiment 

 occupied about twenty-three hours. 



Art. VII. — Note on the habits of the Coel, and on the discovery of 



Isinglass. — By Major Daa^idson. 



To the Secretary to the Asiatic Society. 



Sir, — Happening to stand in the veranda of my bungalow, a few 

 days ago, I heard a loud chattering noise on the lawn ; believing that 

 a young crow had fallen from its nest I advanced to put it out of the 

 reach of harm. Instead of a crow I was much astonished to find that 

 an old crow was feeding a young bird of a dark brown colour, trans- 

 versely striped with cinereous bars. On asking its name of a native 

 who also saw it, he replied that it was a young Coel. I approached it 

 within a few yards and saw it receive food from the crow's bill, in the 

 usual supplicating posture, with extended wings, and body slightly 

 quivering. The native informed me that the Coel never made a nest, 

 but always took possession of that of a crow, by whose incubation, its 

 eggs were hatched; and also, that the crow invariably continued to 

 feed its adopted nestling, until it could shift for itself. From having 

 seen this I can have no doubt of its truth. A few days ago the neigh- 

 bouring mango topes, resounded with the plaintive notes of the Coel, 

 but at present they are not to be heard from which I am inclined 

 to believe, that like the Cuckoo it is a bird of passage. It is a curious 

 coincidence that they should both rear their young by practising a 

 similar imposition on other birds. Is this common to the genus ? 



Observing in your 87th number that Mr. M'Clelland states, that 

 " The very valuable production, Isinglass, has been recently found 

 " to be yielded by one of the fishes of the Hoogly." 



I beg to mention that on the 18th of June, 1820, while residing at 

 Sooltanpoor, Oude, in a bungalow on the banks of the Goomty, I ad- 

 dressed a letter to that eminent naturalist the late Major General 

 Hardwicke, acquainting him that I was in the habit of opening every 



