MAMMALS COLLECTED IN BENGAL. 99 



animals. They do considerable damage to fruit and vegetables. 

 One ate a whole row of pineapples in a garden which I knew. I 

 had some young a few weeks old brought to me at Dalsingh Serai 

 in July, 1901. Young Porcupines, when roasted, are considered 

 great delicacies by some people, but I never could make up my 

 mind to eat one myself. 



Lepus ruficaudatus, Geoffr. (Common Indian Hare). — I found 

 this species fairly common at Hattowrie in fields of young sugar 

 cane, and have had young brought to me at Dalsingh Serai, 

 which I tried to rear, but they always died after a few days. 



Bos gaurus, Ham. Smith (Gaur). — Mr. Inglis had a young 

 bull brought to him, which was caught in the Madubani Sub- 

 Division. 



Boselaphus tragocamelus, Pall. (Nilgai). — The Nilgai are not 

 uncommon in certain parts of the district. I once saw a young 

 tame male. A curious fact about this one was, that it had a 

 great liking for the smell of cigar smoke, which, if blown into its 

 face, it would eagerly sniff up. It would also eat cigars and paper 

 if offered to it. 



Cervus axis, Erxl. (Spotted Deer). — An occasional visitor to 

 the wilder parts of the district. 



Sus cristatus,Wagn. (Indian Wild Boar). — Abundant wherever 

 there is any heavy jungle. A number were nearly always to be 

 found in some large grass jungle near Hattowrie. They are very 

 fond of wallowing in mud, and such places where they have 

 been are often met with. They come into gardens occasionally 

 to eat the vegetables. Pig-sticking is a favourite sport with 

 Europeans in this district. 



Platanista gangetica, Lebeck. (Gangetic Dolphin). — I have 

 occasionally seen this species on the Keray River, near Hat- 

 towrie. 



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