MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 591 



open Down named " Burhel tola " 15,000 feet, but could not make it, on 

 account of the storms that came up every afternoon and covered the Eange 

 with mist and sleet. 



On the way up many flocks of sheep and goats were met, being brought 

 down by the shepherds, which foreshadowed the result, as they stay up in 

 the high feeding grounds as long as they possibly can, the grass being most 

 excellent and the growth of heavy wool being accelerated by the cold. The 

 rough stone huts and fierce Tibetian dogs keeping off snow leopards and 

 bears. However a shepherd was heard on the opposite hill side shouting to 

 his companion in a great state, that a Bear had just killed a sheep. At the 

 highest camp Quarie 13,000 feet, the snow could be seen being blown ofi' 

 the cornices of the three peaks or tridents of " Trisul " and several snow 

 avalanches were watched. This southern side of the mountain was found 

 impracticable by Dr. Longstaff and he ultimately ascended from the 

 northern side. 



At 14,000 feet after leaving the Quarie Camp for Beddinge, two 

 wild-dogs Ci/on dukhunensis were seen. These pests are now very numerous 

 in Gharvval and Kumaon, and Rs. 30 is being offered as a reward for a 

 single animal. Below the Quarie Camp near the edge of the forest the 

 shikari came upon some dung of the Musk-deer " Kastura " and handed 

 some to the coolies who at once rubbed it in their hands at the same time 

 smelling it with intense pleasure. They all then sat down and proceeded to 

 mix some with tobacco which they smoked. 



Locusts, Acridium peregrinum, have been very bad in Kumaon and Gharwal 

 this year and a large flight was seen just below Wan in Gharwal at 8,000 

 feet, while 3 were observed flying over " Quarie " at 13,000 feet. The cold 

 of the early morning seemed to paralyse them but they revived about 

 11 o'clock and flew ofi'. The writsr noticed that Tahr (Hej/iitragus 

 jemlaicus) unlike Markhor, Ibex and wild sheep have not good sight 

 and did not easily pick him up either when below or on the same 

 level. 



It is supposed that the nature of the precipitous ground they live in is 

 their protection. Mr. Norman Troup, the veteran planter and shikari of 

 " Kaumoan " told the writer that on two occasions he had seen leopards 

 chasing Tahr, on one of these occasions the animal was a snow-leopard (i^e/is 

 undo) and on the other the ordinary hill panther (Felis pardus). On both 

 occasions they missed their quarry. The snow leopard made a rush down a 

 very steep declivity, but the Tahr, a young animal, jinked to one side and 

 the leopard overshot his mark badly and went on. Mr. Troup added however 

 that on one occasion he found the fresh remains of a Tahr killed by a 

 panther. Still it is thought that the nature of the ground is as before stated 

 their best protection. The shikari scouted the idea that wild dogs or 

 panthers killed any but very young ones. 



Moonal pheasant were very plentiful and "planed" down into the 

 valleys on being flushed from every crag above the forest limit ; each cock 

 being invariably accompanied by two hen birds. Whole farm-yards of the 

 '■' Kalij " pheasants were seen in the lower ranges 7,000' to 5,000' and the 

 sexes seemed to be in the same proportion. On one occasion three cocks and 

 three hens were seen all together. 



At Gwaldom Tea Estate the record "Jerai" head 46i inches was 

 examined (see Rowland Ward's Records of Big Game). It is not however 

 a pretty head and Mr. Nash has a much better example of the ''Jerai" 

 antlers though they have not the length of the record pair. The pony, the 

 writer used, got so fat on the grass and leaves of the Fotentilla fragaria or 

 fruitless strawberry up at the Quarie Camp that in passing on a narrow 

 ledge he threw up his heels and kicked the writer but did no damage. The 



