24 FEBRUARY 1877, Page 23

The Large and Small Game of Bengal and the North-Western

Pro- vinces of India. By Captain J. H. Baldwin. (Henry S. King and Co.) —Captain Baldwin unites the charaoters of sportsman and naturalist. He seems to have shot or shot at nearly every four-footed and flying thing that is to be found in India. Mere destruction does not satisfy him. He observes their habits, classes them scientifically, &c. His drat -chapter he very rightly devotes to the "Royal Tiger," and most readers will find this the most interesting in the book. A more com- plete and graphic account of the animal it would not be possible to find, while the sport of pursuing him, whether on the elephant or on foot, is described with spirit. Captain Baldwin thinks that the accounts of his man-destroying propensities are exaggerated. "I venture to assert that for every one native killed by all wild animals put together, at least ten lose their lives from the bites of cobras and other poisonous snakes." The strength of the tiger it seems impossible to exaggerate. The author has-known an instance of one jumping across a " nullah " (he does not tell na the breadth) with a bullock in its jaws. Chapters on "The Panther," " The Leopard" (Captain Baldwin, it will be seen, differs from many authorities in separating these two classes), "The Snow Leopard or Ounce," (an animal which has never reached this Country), "The Red Lynx," "The Hunting Leopard, or Cheetah," "The Indian Black Bear," "The Himalayan Black Bear," "The Hyaena," " The Indian Wolf," "The Great Indian Rhinoceros," "The Wild Boar," and sundry kinds of deer, antelopes, goats, and sheep. Part IL deals with the birds, among which pheasants, quails, bustards, wild ducks of -many kinds may be noted. Some general notes, the results of a long and varied experience, on guns, camp equipage, &c., are added. The work is in every way above the average of sporting books. Any one may read it with interest ; those who may have the chance of such opportunities as the author has enjoyed should studfit.