मृगपक्षी-शास्त्र (हंसदेव - १३वीं शती का अमर भारतीय वन्यजीव, पक्षी एवं प्राणि-विज्ञान)

Note.
IN the 13th Century A.D. Zoology or the Science of animals
and birds, was first composed so extensively, in India by the famous
Jain Poet, Hamsadeva in Sanskrit Language comprising nearly 1700
Slokas in Anushtup metre. Before this, this kind of work could never
be found in India as far as I have seen, save “Varahamihira” in which
such, description given, is not so extensively as this, but very briefly
in respect of all animate objects, as well,a few of the inan'mate objects--
Mountains and the like— I think, it is not out of place and exagge-
ration if I am permitted to say-that a few authors of the Western
Countries—Messrs A.D. Imms, M.A., D. Sc., and Alexander Macalis-
ter, M.D., and others, have fully described the natural qualities etc.,
fo Lions and a few other animals; but, none of them have given age
limit of animals and birds. It is, therefore, very gratifying to say that
Hamsadeva has given age limit to all animals and birds even to hen
and other smaller birds. It is also complimentary to note with un-
bounded joy that this Zoology is an asset to India—in which country
this work and myself are born—nay, it is a gem to be adorned by the
other parts of the world. The opportunity given to the said Jain
Poet for writing this Science is very well described in pages 1 and 2
of this work.
The original work was about to disappear from this world; when
Pandit Sreeman Vijayaraghavachariar (Epigraphist,) who has the
broad mindedness to see its translation and original text published
broad-cast in India and other parts of the world, saved it from its
death and supplied copies of the original text (in manuscript) to
His Highness The Maharaja of Travancore for the use of the State
Museum and to Dr. Caseywood of McGill University of Montreal city