212 A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 



asserted that this must have been the case ; one author, indeed, 

 has speculated ou the probable appearance of the valley when it 

 was covered by a lake, with the knolls of Simbunath and Pash- 

 pati peeping as small islands above the surface of the waters. 

 But Mr. Medlicott, the only authority on such matters who 

 has written on the Geology of Nepal, is by no means satisfied 

 that the deposits in the valley are really lacustrine. In his 

 very interesting " Note on the Geology of Nepal," published 

 in the records of the Geological Survey of India, No. 4 of 1875, 

 Mr. Medlicott arrives at the conclusion that the valley is a true 

 rock basin, but that, while the deposits which it contains are 

 on the whole analogous to the Karewahs of Kashmir (which, 

 I apprehend, are admittedly lacustrine), there is not sufficient 

 evidence to settle the question of their alluvial or lacustrine 

 origin. He points out that the beds of peat and the layers 

 of blue-grey clay, before mentioned, rather point to an allu- 

 vial formation; and justly remarks that there is now no lake 

 in the valley, however small, to suggest a once more extensive 

 one. Although there is no sort of lake in the place, there are 

 a few artificial tanks in the valley, none of which, however, 

 are of any considerable size. 



The climate of the valley is, on the whole, very fine. The 

 highest temperature in the shade is probably not over 90°, 

 and the minimum, imder like conditions, not lower than 25°. 

 The average mean temperature is said to be about 60° ; and 

 the average annual rainfall is about 58 inches. 



Owing to the manner in which the valley is sheltered by its 

 belt of hills, storms of wind are not at all frequent ; but they 

 occasionally occur, and do some damage by uprooting large 

 trees, &c. The prevailing winds are from the west and north- 

 west during the winter and hot weather, and from the 

 south-east during the rains. Thunderstorms, accompanied by 

 hail, are rather common at certain seasons ; and lightning 

 often does damage to buildings and causes some loss of life. 



The hot weather lasts from the middle of April to the middle 

 of June ; the maximum temperature in the shade being in 

 April about 84°, in May 90° and in June 85°. During this 

 season the heat is not oppressive, gentle westerly winds usually 

 prevail, and punkahs are never required. 



The rainy season sets in about the middle of June and lasts 

 until the first week of October. The rains are usually ushered 

 in with a few sharp thunderstorms, and during their prevalence 

 the usual winds which blow are from the south-east ; the 

 greatest rainfall occurs in August. 



In July, August and September the highest temperature 

 reached in the shade is about 87°, 86'' and 84° respectively ; 



