264 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 90 



journey. Dating from the 'eleventh century these Jain tem- 

 ples are said to be unsurpassed for the delicacy and beauty 

 of their carvings. This statement is easily creditable for 

 there seems to be scarcely a square foot of the marble sur- 

 face that is not most elaborately carved. Bi-rds, beasts, fruit, 

 flowers, and human figures are the decorative units in a great 

 variety of design ; each pillar and ceiling differing in design 

 from its neighbors. This mountain has been a sacred place 

 for ages, and mention of it is made by Pliny, and other an- 

 cient writers. 



The village of Mount Abu, having a population of about 

 five thousand, is situated at an elevation of nearly a mile 

 above sea level, and contains the count-ry home of several 

 Maharajahs and other potentates. This restful spot is in de- 

 lightful contrast with the places of the plains : the bracing 

 air is not ladened with the odor of burning manure, used by 

 the natives for fuel : the screaming of Kites and cawing of 

 Crows are not incessantly in one's ears ; and there does not 

 appear such abject poverty and squalor. The b'-rds both in 

 numbers of individuals and of species exceeded those seen 

 elsewhere. Many of the Flycatchers and Warblers were 

 seen in no other place. There were about twenty of these 

 species for which I never found the names. A few of them 

 were of brilliant plumage. A bird that held my attention 

 because of its sprightly behavicr was the White-spotted Fan- 

 tail Flycatcher (Rhipidura pectoralis), another attracting the 

 eye by its fine color and dashing appearance was the South- 

 ern Yellow Tit (Machlolophits haplonotus). On the road up 

 to the village the Indian Grey Titmouse (Par us africeps) was 

 seen, and in several places the Indian Grey Shrike {Laniiis 

 lahtora) was passed. Near the village is a small lake w-he-re 

 birds were abundant. Two visits were made to it, and on 

 both occasions a pair of Red-wattled Lapwings {Scarcograi)i- 

 mus indicus) was seen close at hand, and at a greater dis- 

 tance were shore-birds, ducks, birds of the Cormorant fam- 

 ilv, which probably were Shags, and Coots. It always did 



