Major C. H. T. Marshall on the Birds of Chamba. 405 



Ravi at an elevation of 3300 feet. In January and February 

 it is the resort of a great number of birds driven from the 

 uplands by stress of Tveather. Thrushes, Finches, Warblers, 

 and Bulbuls flock in hundreds in the gardens^ and out in the 

 fields may be found swarms of Snow-, Wood-^ and Rock- 

 Pigeons. Of the 265 species I have observed, one seems to 

 be new, and there are several genera which have not yet been 

 noticed so far north-west as this, such as Tarsiger, Ixulus, 

 and others. Again, Turdus ruficollis and Ruticilla erythro- 

 gastra have never, I believe, been recorded as having occurred 

 at so low an elevation as 3000 feet. 



1. VuLTUR MONACHUS. " Kala-gid.^' 



I have frequently seen these huge Vultures floating up and 

 down the valley in the winter and spring, never more than 

 two at a time. Search has been made in vain for their 

 breeding-haunts. The hill- men declare that it does breed 

 on precipitous cliffs further inland than Chamba, but they 

 have never succeeded in bringing me an egg. Mr. Hume 

 says that an egg was extracted from the oviduct of a female 

 between this and Murree; I have therefore still hopes of 

 learning more about its nidification. 



2. Otogyps calvus. 



The King Vulture is an occasional visitor. He comes 

 flying up the Ravi from the plains every now and again in 

 search of food, but never seems to remain long or to go 

 further inland. This species does not breed within Chamba 

 limits. 



^ter. Gyps HiMALAYANUs. " Burra-gid.^' 



The Himalayan Griflbn is not common, but is to be found 

 in suitable localities throughout the mountains of Chamba. 

 I have seen them soaring over the snowy range towards the 

 Pangi valley. They breed on lofty and generally inaccessible 

 cliff's in January and February. The late Major Cock (the 

 best birds'-nester in India) found their eggs near Dharrasala, 

 which is on the borders of this State. As far as I can ascer- 

 tain, they do not breed on the other side of the eternal 

 snows. 



