Birds of the Indian Hills 



Thus the birds of the Himalayas inhabit a 

 country in every respect unlike the plains of 

 India. They dwell in a different environment, 

 are subjected to a different climate, and feed 

 upon different food. It is therefore not sur- 

 prising that the two avifaunas should exhibit 

 great divergence. Nevertheless few people 

 who have not actually been in both localities 

 are able to realise the startlingly abrupt trans- 

 formation of the bird- fa una seen by one who 

 passes from the plains to the hills. 



The 5 -mile journey from Raj pur to Mus- 

 soorie transports the traveller from one bird- 

 realm to another. 



The caw of the house-crow is replaced by 

 the deeper note of the corby. Instead of the 

 crescendo shriek of the koel, the pleasing double 

 note of the European cuckoo meets the ear. 

 For the eternal coo-coo-coo-coo of the little brown 

 dove, the melodious kokla-kokla of the hill 

 green-pigeon is substituted. The harsh cries 

 of the rose-ringed paroquets give place to the 

 softer call of the slaty-headed species. The 

 monotonous tonk-tonk-tonk of the coppersmith 

 and the kutur-kutur-kutur of the green barbet 

 are no more heard ; in their stead the curious 



calls of the great Himalayan barbet resound 



26 



