Birds of Kattiaivar, Western India. 399 



currence in a treeless district near the shores of the Gulf of 

 Kuchh. My surprise, however, was still greater on succes- 

 sively encountering in the most unlikely -looking places ex- 

 amples of Palaornis rosa, Buchanga carulescens, Copsychus 

 saularis, Cyornis jerdoni, C. tickellia (so-called) , Graucalus 

 macei, and Zoster ops palpebrosus, while my feelings amounted 

 to consternation at sight of Crocopus phoenicopterus on a pee- 

 pul-tree in the dreary salt-districts of the east. It was im- 

 possible to reconcile fhe occurrence of such forms with the 

 physical features of the country, as known to me ; and a solu- 

 tion of the problem was anxiously looked for. In course of 

 time an opportunity offered for a short trip ; and I at once set 

 my face toward the south, marching hurriedly to where, on 

 clear days, the peeks of the Geernar loomed faint and blue on 

 the horizon. I spent two days on that wonderful hill ; and 

 then tearing myself reluctantly from a contemplation of 

 ancient palaces, Buddhist temples, and 2000-years-old in- 

 scriptions, all speaking silently of creeds, dynasties, and races 

 long past away, I pushed on and wandered for three days in 

 the forests of the Geer, returning from my trip with but few 

 birds actually added to my collection, but with the mystery 

 of the Malabar forms explained. 



Any one who has travelled westwards from the plains of the 

 Deccan will be able to recall the changes which occur in the 

 aspect of the country as the Ghauts are approached — how the 

 black cotton-soil becomes a loam, getting lighter in quality 

 and colour as the surface of the country rises — how trees 

 gradually appear, at first stunted and dotted about on low 

 hills and then more numerously, until the traveller finds 

 himself at last riding through a hilly woody country over a 

 laterite soil, the soft red dust of which, stirred up by his pro- 

 gress, floats round him and settles on the bushes on either 

 side of the track. Very similar was the approach to the Geer ; 

 in a ride of a few miles I seemed to have passed from Katti- 

 awar to the Mawul country bordering the Ghauts or to parts 

 of the Konkan. Even the trees helped to complete the illusion ; 

 for, with the exception of one or two strange forms numerous 

 enough to be a feature in the scene, the bulk of the trees in 



sek. in. — vol. in 



