394 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
intermixed with yew, chestnut, and other forest trees. The other 
aspects are prominently clad with oaks of several species, not very ~ 
thick together, and with a grassy undergrowth. A knowledge of 
this peculiarity in the vegetation of these regions will undoubtedly 
aid a person going in for sport, the different ground and feathered 
game pretty strictly confining themselves to one or other kind of 
cover. I found this when I went after Tahr, Serow and Musk 
Deer, &c.; and Monaul, Kalij, Cheere, and other Pheasants. 
From a turn of the road near the bungalow there is a mag- 
nificent panorama of snowy mountains to the north and west, and 
from a ridge a little farther on a beautiful contrasting view of the 
valleys below, with streams like threads of silver winding through 
them. Saw some Spine-tailed Swifts flying about a cliff far below 
the road, and some common Swallows, H. rustica, at more than 
one spot to-day. The most common species in these hills is 
H. daurica, whose retort-shaped clay nest is constantly found on 
the under surface of some slab of rock, or fixed to the roof of a 
cave, or even a building. I do not think this species breeds in 
the plains. Another Swallow which also builds a retort-shaped 
nest is H. erythropygia, affixing the fabric to the concavity of some 
dome or archway by the score together; whereas H. daurica is a 
hermit in this respect, and nestles alone. 
After half an hour’s rest I took a saunter with my gun. Ina 
considerable clearing above the small group of huts which does 
duty as a bazaar, I was somewhat surprised to see a pair of 
Hoopoes, the European species, Upupa epops. I did not think 
they frequented so high an elevation. I saw lots of them at 
Koteghur, which, however, is only 5000 ft. The other species, 
U. nigripennis, I did not see, or if I did, I failed to distinguish it. 
Shot a beautiful hill Fox in the gloaming; and saw a large Owl, 
probably S. Newarense, glide out of a tree, but could not get a 
second glimpse of him. Capt. T. shot a pair of Flying Squirrels 
during his evening’s ramble, and gave them both to me in 
exchange for my Fox, a bargain he afterwards repented, as I got 
four more Foxes before my leave was up, and somehow we came 
across no more Flying Squirrels. A hill-man brought in some 
Kalij Pheasants for sale, and was glad to get rid of them here in 
place of having to trudge on to Simla with them. He arrived in 
_company with a party of a dozen paharees carrying loads of grain 
in kiltas, or long baskets strapped on their backs, and I noticed 
IP sy 
