Killed By Poisonous Snakes

[Froni the Pall Mali Gazotte.] A resolution of the Government of ludia, dated Simia, Nov. 16, on the results of the mea sures adopted to extermínate "wild animáis and venomous sDnkes in British India, in 1876, says: Last year 21,000 persons and 48,000 liead of" cattle were destroyed by wild animáis and venomous snakes; 22,357 wild animáis and 270,185 venomous snakes were killed, and 120,015 rs. had been expended in rewards. This year 19,273 persons and 54,830 head of Oattle have so perished; 212,371 snakes and 23,459 wild animáis have been killed, and 124,574 rs. have been expended in rewards. In Madras, Bengal, and in the Northwestern provincea and Oudh, the numbers of persons killed by wild animáis and by snakes were considerably less in 1876 than in 1875. In the other provinces the figures do not exhibit any great variations, except in the Central provinces, where the deaths rose from 617 in 1775 to 1,098 in 1876. The Ohief Oommissioner states that no new or special measures have been adopted for the extermination of wild animáis and snakes, but there is no explanation of the greater mortality sliown in his returns. As regards the loss of cattle, the figures of the year seem unsatisfactory. "Wliile Madras and Bombay sho-n fewer cattle killed, Bengal, the Northwestern provinces and Oudh, the Punjab, the Central provinces and British Burmah show materially iarger numbers. It is also probable that even the figures now reported are only approximate to the truth, as the agency for reporting the mortality caused to men and cattle is still imperfect, though more perfect than it used to be. The unfavorable figures testify possibly to better reporting, and not to really greater mortality. As regards rewards paid for the destruction of wild animáis (including snakes), more was paid in Madras, Bombay, Bengal, the Northwestern provinces and Oudh, the Central provinces and Biïtish Burmah, and less in the Bunjab and in Assam. The Government of India trust that in future years the returns may be more accurate and may be reviewed by the local governments which submit them, and that the measures reported may be more efiective. Appended to this resolution is the following "statement showing the results of the measures adopted in British India with the view of exterminatiug wild animáis and venomous snakes during the year 1876:" Number of persons killed by elephants, 52; tigers, 917; leopards, 156; bears, 123; wolves, 887; hyenas, 49; other animáis, 143; snakes, 15,946; total killed, 19,273. Number of cattle killed bj elephants, 3; tigers, 13,116; leopards, 15,373; bears, 410; wolves, 12,448; hyenas, 2,039; other animáis, 4,573; snakes, 6,480; total killed, 54,830. Number of animáis and snakes destroyed: Elephants, 4; tigers, 1,693; leopards, 3,763; bears, 1,362; wolves, 5,976; hyenas, 1,585; other animáis, 8,053; snakes, 212,371; total number, excluding snakes, destroyed, 23,459.