362 Notes on the Birds of the Sambhiir Lake 8f its vicimti/. 



direction of Ajmere^ the lake is 16 miles distant in a nexvly 

 northern direction. The surrounding country is arid and sterile 

 to a degree. 



Approaching Sambhur from the south, the country is sparsely 

 cultivated, owing to the scarcity of water, while close to Sam- 

 bhur there are a series of sand dunes covered with a stunted 

 vegetation, and beyond, close to the lake edge and parallel to 

 the town, is a fine belt of trees, with here and there a mass of 

 green foliage belonging to a tope, or garden, or one of the 

 numerous wells. 



The soil in this neighbourhood is exceedingly fertile, and 

 when favorable rainfalls occur, or when water can be had for 

 irrigation, splendid crops are obtained ; but an adequate supply 

 of water is rarely obtained, the average rainfall here being 

 about 12 inches, while further west, in Marwar, or the region of 

 death, little or no rain ever falls, and water for irrigation is some- 

 times only obtained at a depth of over 800 feet from the sur- 

 face. 



The open wells in use about Sambhur for irrigation are ex- 

 cavations made in the fields about 30 or 40 feet in diameter and 

 20 feet deep. The sides of these are densely clothed with a 

 species of willow, tiger and sarpat grass, %cq., and are the 

 favorite haunts of numerous birds. 



In the hot season, as a rule, the lake contains no water, but 

 presents a mass of dazzling I'oseate white efilorescence caused 

 by the crystallization of the salt ; here and there this monotony 

 is relieved by patches of brine in course of evaporation. Leav- 

 ing out the icebergs, and adding the fact of the thermometer 

 being well over 130° in the sun^s rays, and a fairly respectable 

 hot west wind blowing, its appearance always reminds me of 

 the pictures in Dr. Hay's " Open Polar Seas.'"' 



In the rains all this is changed, and the scene of utter deso- 

 lation is transformed into one of great beauty. The clear 

 atmosphere lights up and tints with purple and violet the 

 distant low-lying ranges of hills, the sandy wastes are covered 

 wjth verdure, and the lake-bed is converted into a wide expanse of 

 water 20 miles in length by about 5 in breadth. To enhance 

 all this, there are the riny-crested waves rippling along, and the 

 whole surface teeming with bird-life. 



Dense masses of flamingoes are to be seen everywhere swim- 

 ming or wading in the lake-bed, flying overhead, bearing 

 '^tlie rich hues of all glorious things,"' or stalking sedately along 

 the edge in search of food. This latter process is a wonderful 

 sight. Long lines of big and little birds, of all shades of plum- 

 age, from the gorgeous rose-colored adult to the dingy brown- 



