Birds of the "S!aJ" Fordst. 85 



AliiKist as v(Mii;irk:i1iIc as tlio ubrniitness witli wliicli 

 tho .S77' fnr(^st lioefiiis and oiuls is its density. 



V\\\ \o\ mc l)(\!j:in at Iho hoijiniiinp:. 



SdJ forests are cfiai-aetci'istic of the sub-Mimalayan 

 tracts of the United Provinces. In oMen days the whole of 

 this teri'itory appears to have been covered hy dense jung"le. 

 Mucli of this has lieeii rcMnoved to make room for cultivation, 

 but a considerable part remains and will remain for many 

 years to come, because the Government of India now appre- 

 ciates tlie enormous value of forestry. 



In the Pilibhit district, whei^e T am serving?, there are 

 150 square miles of sal forest. 



This forest is not composed exclusively of sal trees, but 

 these constitute about two -thirds of all the trees, and the sals 

 are so imposing in appearance that the other trees seem to 

 be crowded out of sight 1 



The .<?(■/' (Shnrra rnhxs^a) is characterised by its tall 

 straight trunk, and its dark rich green undivided leaves. It 

 often happens that some short leafy branches grow out of the 

 trunk; this gives the trunks the appearance of being" fest- 

 ooned Mn'th leaves. The foliage of the sal tree, like that of the 

 palm, does no^ spread very much, hence a large number of sal 

 trees can, and in the forest actually do, grow in a very small 

 space. ' ' '" 



The ground between the trunks of the trees is over- 

 grown Avith grasses, which, when allowed full scope, T3e- 

 come large enough to cover completely an elephant and its 

 rider. In addition to this there is a good deal of scruT) and 

 undergrowth of young trees and luishes. Hence a sal forest 

 is very dense, and difTicult to penetrate. However, in the 

 Pilibhit district at short intervals there are open glades 

 known as chandirs. In these the long grasses run riot— they 

 and stunted .'^aJ scrub constitute almost the only vegetation. 



It is not known for certain how these chandars were 

 formed. Some think that they are the beds of streams that 

 used to run through the forest and have dried up or changed 

 their course. The fact that istreams still penetrate the forest 

 lends countenance to this view, but the irregular distribution of 

 tliese rhanders render its acceptance difficult. 



