MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 639 



made me keep a look-out for more. I had my ej-es on the flock sufficiently long 

 to be able to comit the birds. I may have missed two or three, but I estimated 

 that the flock consisted of thirty-three individuals. There were, in addition, 

 two pairs which kept to themselves, and were quite apart from the rest. Is 

 this not rather large number ? Text-Books tell us that large flocks are rare. 



The ducks were all concentrated in a field which was mider Mater in most 

 parts, and which did not appear to me to have had anything growing in it. 

 The field must have measured approximately 60 yards each way and was divid- 

 ed about midway by a low bund. Most of the birds were standing on the centre 

 bund or were paddling about in the water: a few were standing on the other 

 bunds. I noticed several males but I cannot say whether this sex was in excess 

 of the other or vice versa. 



S. BASIL-EDWARDES. 

 Simla, 

 lOth September 1920. 



No. XVII.— INSECTS LIVING IN THE SNOW AT U,000 FEET. 



Capt. Budden's plea for articles of a less scientific and more popular nature 

 ?nd the favourable reception of the suggestion in your editorial (Vol. XXVII, 

 pari I (encourages me to send you some " Ornithological and Entomological 

 Observations" made by me when crossing the Sach Pass in Chamba State 

 between the Ravi and Upper Chenab valleys. To avoid disappointment by 

 anyone who should read this article with the idea of improving his knowledge 

 of birds and insects I may say right here that I know very little about insects 

 and my knowledge of birds is almost confined to the recognition of certain 

 species which can be shot and eaten. 



After making one attempt to cross the Sach Pass on the 24th May and having 

 to turn back as the coolies would not go on, 3 inches of snow having fallen at 

 10,500 ft. during the night, I made the second attemiDt crossing on the 2nd June. 

 Between these dates snow had fallen almost every day and I came on to fresh 

 snow at about 11,000 ft. lying of course on the deep accumulation of the winter. 

 The fresh snow becariie steadilj' deeper and at the top of the pass (14,328 ft.) 

 was at least 2 feet and may have been much more. At about 11,000 to 12,000 ft. 

 there were a number of small birds (species and genus not noted) hopping about 

 in the snow and occasionally making short flights. At first I thought they, like 

 myself, were crossing the pass and were having a rest on the way but this was 

 obviously not the case. It seemed more likely that they had come up from 

 warmer regions and appeared to be enjoying themselves in the snow. They 

 looked as if they were picking up things and eating them or pretending to do 

 so though I could see nothing edible lying about. Their behaviour was to me 

 quite unintelligible and where thej^ put up for the night a complete mystery 

 as there was nothing but snow for much more than a mile going straight down the 

 hill and though there were rocks showing through they were very few and far 

 between. Pondering over the problem I went on and soon noticed a fair quan- 

 tity of insect debris — wings of moths and half eaten pieces of beetles lying about. 

 This at first seemed to clear away my difficulties as to what the birds were doing 

 but on a little consideration it left them unsolved. I was close enough to the 

 birds to have seen them with a moth in their beaks and a beetle would have had 

 to be properly carved to get rid of the elytra and other indigestible portions and 

 I had seen no operations of this natm-e. Moreover the birds seemed to be find- 

 ing lots to pick up whereas I could see nothing but remains of previous meals. 

 It was a long way to the top so I continued the ascent and soon noticed what 

 looked like Puhx irritans hoppmg about on the snow. As the Sach Pass is much 



