40 WANDERINGS OF A 



plumage common to many birds of desert countries. The 

 feathers appear as if they had been tipped with a sandy- 

 white, or isabel-colour, obscuring more or less the darker 

 shades beneath. 



They run with great agility along the level plains. In this 

 respect there is no bird can beat the Coromandel courier 

 (Cursorius isdbellinus). Flocks of these plover-like birds are 

 often seen on the sandy wastes of Kurrachee and Lower 

 Scinde. They are not easily observed, in consequence of the 

 similarity of their plumage to surrounding objects. Locusts 

 seem to be their principal food, and on these they feed 

 sumptuously, for sometimes clouds of these insects scour 

 across the country. The flesh of the courier is well-flavoured, 

 pale, and delicate. They are easUy shot, and as many as four 

 or six may be killed at one time, in consequence of their 

 crowding together when feeding on the plain. 



The whimbrel (JVumenitcs jpTweopus) and curlew {N. 

 arquata) are both found in the harbour ; and associated with 

 these birds, may often be observed a large pied species of 

 plover. The flamingo {Phomicopterus roseus) is often seen in 

 flocks upon the coast. 



The jackal (Canis aurem) is seldom visible during the 

 day. At night packs of these animals prowl about the 

 station, and at early morning may be observed skulking 

 across the plains in the direction of their caves iri ravines. 

 Their wailing tjry is very discordant. Often, in a dark night, 

 the traveller is suddenly startled by the bark of a jackal — 

 another at a short distance replies, and soon he is surrounded 

 by ten or twenty — whose bowlings are sometimes mingled 

 with the hoarse bark of the hyena {Hycena striata). Like the 

 other, the hyena hunts at night, and is equally partial to 

 carrion and putridity. 



