Vol. XVIII. 



igiS 



] Hall, The Jungle and the Snows. I07 



That common mischief, the Jungle Crow (Corvus), was usefully- 

 common, each camp in turn being partially cleaned as if the bird 

 were a health department. It is to the village native a necessity. 

 We flushed Bustard Quails {Tiirnix), saw Button Quails {Turnix), 

 and secured for the pot the Grey Partridge {Francoliniis). In 

 one camp I witnessed the love combat of two males, with several 

 females standing by ; after nearly ten minutes the defeated bird 

 flew away, and, seeing strangers, the party broke up. The Common 

 Partridge {Francoliniis vulgaris) ranges between Assam and Asia 

 Minor. At one time it also could be found between Asia Minor 

 and Spain, since exterminated. It is a handsome bird, and 

 particularly confiding, eating out of one's hand on the first day. 

 The native nets it for domestication, though it offers no amuse- 

 ment as a fighting cock. It lives between seaboard and 6,000 

 feet, and is known as the Black Partridge. 



Cotiirnix, the genus of true Quails, including our Stubble-Quail, 

 has an interesting distribution, which is approximately shown 

 in map F. Hybrids between C. communis and C. japonica (i and 

 2 of the map) exist in nature where the range overlaps, making 

 the species very variable. C. novce-zealandice is almost extinct. 

 A primitive effect is given these birds by the overlapping coverts 

 hiding the tail. 



The Indian Dove {Styeptopclia), which appeared to me to be 

 the one imported into Australia, is familiar in and about villages. 

 Down a stone well, and on a 15-feet level on a ledge, I saw the 

 Blue Rock-Pigeon [Columha). Flying off and sharply past us, it 

 left its eggs exposed. I remember the railway station at Patiala 

 having 100 to 200 roosting up on the iron girders. A Pigeon 

 I believe to be S. sphenurus flew leisurely past me at g,ooo feet 

 on Kufri, a mountain preserve of H.H. the Maharajah of Patiala. 

 To protect the Pigeons and the Pheasants from the indifferent 

 sportsman, a gamekeeper is generally about the property. On a 

 fine day in spring, with the indescribable beauty of the snows, 

 it is an uncommon pleasure to move quietly among the un- 

 molested game and see it in its precious woods. One feels the 

 sanctuary is working its purpose well. If I had got further along 

 the Hindustani-Tibet road, that great far-away northern trail, 

 I should have seen the Snow-Pigeon [Columha leuconota). The 

 Magpie-Robin (Copsychus), in its black and white plumage, is 

 always within the jungle. Here I met the true Jay [Garrulus) a 

 second time, the first occasion being in Corea, when sixty, alive, in 

 a cage, were offered to me for a sum equal to one halfpenny each. 

 Now I met a Bulbul {Pycnonotus), with a black head, and a doubtful 

 Bulbul known as Jerdon chloropsis — a golden-yellow liird with a 

 musical voice. 



I saw, or bcHf\-f I did, tlu' llonex'-guidc {Itidicator xaiit/ionoliis). 

 The honey bee is numerous in the Himalaya at 5,000 feet or more. 

 Rather unwisely, we lit a fire in the neighbourhood of two swarms, 

 the wind carrying the smoke quietly up to the hives. Then it 

 was time to move on. I had no experience of the bird, but 



