511 



Indus are as hot as the banks of any river in India or elsewhere. 

 That the temperate latitudes of Central Asia form their summer 

 retreats, I think cannot be doubted. I spent the greater part of 

 three years on the north-west frontier of the Punjab, and one year 

 very near the Khyber Pass, besides visiting the lakes of Cashmere 

 and Tibet, which afforded me good opportunities of observing the 

 habits of these interesting wanderers. The Bar- headed Goose 

 (Bernicla Indica), so plentiful in the Punjab, can be seen in vast 

 flocks passing over Pesbawur in a southerly direction. I have seen 

 lines of these birds of a mile in length ; and often, at night, their 

 rough gabblings can be distinctly heard. It seems, during their 

 migrations, they fly all night, and rest on the banks of rivers or 

 lakes during the heat of the day. The immense flocks of Cranes 

 (Grus cinerea), seen likewise at this season steering their course 

 southwards, explains the direction of their migrations ; the same 

 remark is applicable to the Mallard, Teal, Gargany, and Shovellers. 

 The Ferruginous Duck (A. rutild) and Anser albifrons appear on 

 the marshes and rivers of the N.W. frontier towards the end of 

 November. In my journal I find the following remarks : — " De- 

 cember 11th, Rawul Pindee. — Shot three Grey Geese {A. albifrons) 

 on a marsh in this neighbourhood : they had evidently just arrived ; 

 for they were very thin, and could not fly any distance. The Lap- 

 wing {V. cristatus) has been seen in the marshes for some time, 

 generally in small flocks. The Pin-tail, Castaneous and Red-crested 

 Duck (Fuligula rufna), are arriving daily." 



The Greater Sand-grouse (Pterocles arenarius) migrates probably 

 to Afghanistan or Persia during summer ; for when at Peshawur I 

 saw large flocks constantly flying southward at the commencement 

 of winter. The Rook comes certainly from the west, for reasons 

 mentioned elsewhere ; and the European Jackdaw, Chimney-swallow, 

 and Sand-marten from Cashmere. The Turdus atrogularis, so com- 

 mon in the gardens and orchards around Peshawur during winter, 

 is evidently a migratory bird ; but its summer habitat may not be 

 very far across the neighbouring mountains, as I found it at all 

 seasons on the Himalayas at elevations of 8000 or 9000 feet above 

 the level of the sea. 



Regarding Cashmere, there is perhaps no place in the world 

 where wild fowl are more abundant during the winter months. The 

 magnificent "Waller Lake and every pond are literally crawling with 

 Ducks, &c. ; the inhabitants kill and destroy them without mercy ; 

 the bazars of the cities are filled with game at this season. A fine 

 goose can be purchased for about twopence English : but nearly all 

 take their departure before the end of x\pril ; and, except a few 

 stragglers and residents, the "Waller Lake in May presents an im- 

 mense pond whose placid waters the fairy-like Tern is seldom seen 

 to ruffle. I found the Anas rutila breeding among the rocks sur- 

 rounding the fresh- and salt-water lakes of Ladakh, and the Ber- 

 nicla indica and Anser albifrons were seen in great numbers in 

 June and July on the Chimmauraree Lake. These lakes are about 

 as far north as it is safe at present for Europeans to travel. The 



