Habitat of Himalayan Birds 



feet means a considerable change in the flora. 

 Above the sal belt come several species of 

 tropical evergreen trees, among the stems and 

 branches of which great creepers entangle them- 

 selves in fantastic figures. At elevations of 

 4000 feet the long-leaved pine {^Pinus longifolia) 

 appears. From 5000 to 10,000 feet, several 

 species of evergreen oaks abound. Above 6000 

 feet are to be seen the rhododendron, the 

 deodar and other hill cypresses, and the beauti- 

 ful horse-chestnut. On the lower slopes the 

 undergrowth is composed largely of begonias 

 and berberry. Higher up maidenhair and 

 other ferns abound, and the trunks of the oaks 

 and rhododendrons are festooned with hanging 

 moss. 



Between elevations of 10,000 and 12,000 feet 

 the silver fir is the commonest tree. Above 

 12,000 feet the firs become stunted and dwarfed, 

 on account of the low temperatures that pre- 

 vail, and juniper and birch are the characteristic 

 trees. 



There are spots in the Himalayas, at heights 



varying from 10,000 to 12,000 feet, where 



wild raspberries grow, and the yellow colt's- 



foot, the dandelion, the blue gentian, the 



Michaelmas daisy, the purple columbine, the 



17 B 



