110 FURTHER ADDITIONS TO THE SINDH AVIFAUNA. 



Podiceps minor, Black and Grey Partridges and Hares and 

 Vulpes leucopus. 



On the morning of the 17th we strolled a few miles towards 

 a temple situate at the back of the station, and were very plea- 

 santly surprised at the marked change of aspect to that of the 

 day previous. Here were seen herds of goat and sheep browsing 

 on good pasture by the sides of the marshes formed by a natural 

 flow of water from the limestone rocks, the sources being small 

 fissures at the head of the hill in about thirteen different places. 



Two of these are caught in a eistern built near a temple situ- 

 ate on the hill for the use of devotees, whose only shelter is a 

 well-shaded Banian, (Ficus religiosa). Strolling a mile or so in this 

 piece of marsh, we got Anastomus oscitans and Tantalus leu- 

 cocephalus, neither of which seem to have been as yet recorded 

 from Sindh.* Other birds got on this morning were Pericrocotus 

 peregrinus, Silvia jerdoni, Lobivanellus indicus, and Athene 

 drama. We returned by 9, breakfasted, and left by train for 

 Kotree, where, having arrived at 4 p.m., a box was packed with 

 the collection made during the three days since our departure 

 from Kurrachee, and left for despatch to the Museum. 



On the morning of the 19th we left Kotree for Sehwan by 

 the Indus Valley Material train, making the journey in eleven 

 hours. Any one who travels on the Sind Line of Railway 

 cannot but be impressed with the monotonous aspect of the 

 dry barren country through which it passes ; one continuous 

 line of desolate sterility, but the Indus Valley Line, running as 

 it does along the river banks, would compensate the through 

 traveller ; for, as he moves onwards, leaving Kotree behind, the 

 eye is refreshed with the verdant clothing of the river banks on 

 one side with the river now and again appearing in the dis- 

 tance. On the other side pools of water by the side of the line, 

 over which the Snippets fly as the train passes, patches of 

 sprouting crops at the base of low hills, and the call of the 

 Partridges, Quail, and Grouse would tempt the traveller with 

 his gun, so long as he would only allow the range of his vision 

 within two miles. Par, far in the distance the huge gray 

 masses which appear unclothed with vegetation of any kind 

 would soon dispel the illusive dream of a fine day among the 

 Grouse, as even in November the heat among these hills is 

 very great. By far the grandest scenery, and the most strik- 

 ing, is presented from the Buggatoria Hill, about seven miles 

 from Sehwan, a huge limestone rock abutting on the Indus. 

 As we approach it, a great barrier is presented, till the train, 

 sweeping with a grand curve, brings to view a gorge cut in the 



* Mr. S. Doig has reported both, the latter aa breeding there, from the Eastern 

 Narra. 



