_Birds._--The ornithology of India, though it is not considered so rich in specimens of gorgeous and variegated plumage as that of other tropical regions, contains many splendid and curious varieties. Some are clothed in nature's gay attire, others distinguished by strength, size and fierceness. The parrot tribe is the most remarkable for beauty. Among birds of prey, four vultures are found, including the common scavengers (_Gyps indicus_ and _G. bengalensis_). The eagles comprise many species, but none to surpass the golden eagle of Europe. Of falcons, there are the peregrine (_F. peregrinus_), the _shain_ (_F. peregrinator_), and the _lagar_ (_F. jugger_), which are all trained by the natives for hawking; of hawks, the _shikara_ (_Astur badius_), the goshawk (_A. palumbarius_), and the sparrow-hawk (_Accipiter nisus_). Kingfishers of various kinds and herons are sought for their plumage. No bird is more popular with natives than the _maina_ (_Acridotheres tristis_), a member of the starling family, which lives contentedly in a cage, and can be taught to pronounce words, especially the name of the god Rama. Water-fowl are especially numerous. Of game-birds, the floriken (_Sypheotis aurita_) is valued as much for its rarity as for the delicacy of its flesh. Snipe (_Gallinago coelestis_) abound at certain seasons, in such numbers that one gun has been known to make a bag of one hundred brace in a day. Pigeons, partridges, quail, plover, duck, teal, sheldrake, widgeon--all of many varieties--complete the list of small game. The red jungle fowl (_Gallus ferrugineus_), supposed to be the ancestor of our own poultry, is not good eating; and the same may be said of the peacock (_Pavo cristatus_), except when young. The pheasant does not occur in India Proper, though a white variety is found in Burma. Reptiles.