NATURALIST IN INDIA. 51 



had there one cool morning in February — ^the Surat dove 

 and Asiatic pigeon {Turtv/r suratensis et humilis) cooing over 

 head, and the " little birdies blithely singing ;" there was 

 a freshness about the scene we had not enjoyed for a long 

 time. Even its green leaves, after the desert sands, brought 

 up thoughts and associations of the haunts of earlier 

 days. 



Proceeding up the Indus, the scenery improves. As you 

 near Sehwan, high mountain-ridges are seen stretching across 

 the country in a northerly direction. The banks are covered 

 with tamarisk, or dense forest and jungle. Birds are in 

 greater plenty, and the surrounding country teems with ani- 

 mal life. Nature wears a more glowing robe. 



As the sportsman threads his way through the jungle in 

 quest of hog-deer {Hyelaphus porcinus), pigs (Sus scrofa), hares 

 (Lepus nigricoUis), or partridges (Francolinus vulgaris et 

 jponticerianus), he feels a sort of nervous twinge as he sees in 

 the mud by the side of a pond the broad rounded footprint 

 of a tiger. - There the fierce lord of the jungle has been skulk- 

 ing only a few hours previously ! Then there is excitement 

 when, suddenly emerging from the bushy labyrinth, the eye 

 of the young Indian sportsman lights upon the graceful figure 

 of the Houbara bustard (Hovhara macqueenii), feeding on the 

 tender shoots of the young barley ! The Houbara is migra- 

 tory in Scinde, and is found in the desert ; but is plentiful in 

 the cultivated districts along the banks of the river. 



The eye of the Houbara is large, clear, and prominent. 

 ' The yellow and black of the eye give a peculiarly brilliant ap- 

 pearance to the bird. Its ilesh is much esteemed as an article 

 of food. Hunting the Houbara in the open plain requires 

 great tact and dexterity. Mounted on a camel, the pursuer 



