Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.97

c10.97

1754.—"In the evening excursions . . . we had often observed an extraordinary species of birds, called by the natives *Argill* or *Hargill*, a native of Bengal. They would majestically stalk along before us, and at first we took them for Indians naked . . . The following are the exact marks and dimensions. . . . The wings extended 14 feet and 10 inches. From the tip of the bill to the extremity of the claw it measured 7 feet 6 inches. . . . In the craw was a Terapin or land-tortoise, 10 inches long; and a large black male cat was found entire in its stomach."—*Ives*, 183-4.