1855.] Notes 011 Northern Cachar. 597 



guish. Prawns and crabs, also exist, as well as turtles and tortoises, 

 some of very large size, and otters. I have seen frogs of many kinds 

 including the flying-frog and the tree-frog. The gosamp, the arma- 

 dillo, the chamelion and lizards of great variety both in size and 

 colour are to be found in most parts. 



Snakes of an iufinite number of kinds, from the huge boa to those 

 not larger than a small earth-worm, are found in the jungles — some 

 of these possess great beauty, and I am certain many are not 

 classified. Scorpions exist, but are scarce ; centipedes are plenti- 

 ful. Earth-worms, leeches, snails, slugs of several varieties, and 

 caterpillars of every size and colour, are common. 



Of birds, the vulture and kite are but rarely seen, nor are 

 ravens and crows common. But eagles build their nests on the 

 crags, and there are many species of hawks. I have seen no less 

 than three kinds of toucans, and they are numerous. Peacocks 

 and wild cocks crow throughout the country, and there are several 

 kinds of pheasauts, and partridges, pigeons and doves. Wild fowl, 

 geese and ducks, teel and snipe, water-hens, &c. frequent the jheels 

 to the north in their season, but are not found on the higher levels 

 at any time. Jays and king-crows, parrots, parroquets and lutkuns 

 are common, and their feathers are much prized as ornaments by 

 the rude inhabitants ; mangoe-birds, and many other kinds which 

 I cannot distinguish, are to be met with in the woods ; yet this is 

 the department in Natural History in which North Cachar is most 

 deficient. A day's journey may be travelled in the forests, without 

 once hearing a note or seeing a bird. 



Butterflies and moths of every colour and size abound, likewise 

 insects of all sorts. Wasps, bees, beetles, bugs, fleas and lice are 

 more than common. The blue-beetle, whose wings are considered 

 so ornamental, is very plentiful. Plies, from the large wood-fly that 

 makes a noise like a frog, including the dragon-fly, and the ele- 

 phant-fly which draws blood by a bite, to the smallest gnat, are 

 inconveniently abundant, as are mosquitoes and sand-flies — also 

 pipsas. 



The animals domesticated by the inhabitants are methins, buffa- 

 loes, cows, goats, and pigs, together with the common domestic 

 fowl. Other animals have been brought up from the plains how- 



