Habitat of Himalayan Birds 



to gaze upon a white billowy sea studded with 

 rocky islets. 



From the Dhakuri pass the path descends 

 about 2000 feet, and then follows the valley of 

 the Pindari river. The scenery here is magnifi- 

 cent. Unlike that of the Sarju, this valley is 

 narrow. It is not much cultivated ; amaran- 

 thus is almost the only crop grown. The 

 villages are few and the huts which constitute 

 them are rudely constructed. The cliffs are 

 very high, and rise almost perpendicularly, like 

 giant walls, so that the numerous feeders of 

 the river take the form of cascades, in many of 

 which the water falls without interruption for 

 a distance of over iooo feet. 



The Kuphini river joins the Pindar 8 miles 

 from its source. Beyond the junction the path 

 to the glacier crosses to the left bank of the 

 Pindar, and then the ascent becomes steep. 

 During the ascent the character of the flora 

 changes. Trees become fewer and flowers 

 more numerous ; yellow colt's-foot, dande- 

 lions, gentians, Michaelmas daisies, columbines, 

 centaurias, anemones, and edelweiss grow in 

 profusion. Choughs, monal pheasants, and 

 snow-pigeons are the characteristic birds of 

 this region. 



25 



