NATURALIST IN INDIA. 73 



close and oppressive. Such a state of matters may last for 

 hours, or be broken by bUnks of sunshine. Again, the thunder- 

 storms which often burst with terrific violence on the Hima- 

 layan stations come most usually from the heated plains below. 

 It was on the 17th of April that we experienced one of the 

 most severe hurricanes that had taken place for many years. 

 During the first part of the day, and until 3 P.M., it continued 

 to blow a strong breeze from the direction of the low lands, 

 over which heavy dark masses of cloud lay pUed up. These 

 began moving towards us, and gradually swept over the inter- 

 vening range, curling and seething as they rushed noiselessly 

 down the mountain-sides into the great valleys below, and 

 ascended the ridge on which we were located, where they were 

 preceded by a fierce wind and illuminated by occasional flashes 

 of lightning. At length the mass rose up and enveloped the 

 mountain-top in a dismal gloom almost like twilight, raia 

 falling all the time in torrents, and the thunder rolling peal 

 after peal; whilst now and then a powerful gust of wind 

 cleared the mountain-top for a few moments, until the bright- 

 ness was again dispelled by a fresh mass of dense cloud, so 

 that the sun shone through it with a glare like the light 

 produced by looking through coloured glass. Suddenly the 

 vapour-clouds passed away, and we could see them moving 

 northwards towards the great central snow-range. 



The European woodcock is met with occasionally during 

 the winter months on the Lower Himalayas. As many as four 

 to six couples may be occasionally procured in one day. The 

 species is not plentiful, however, anywhere. 



In the lonely glen, by the side of the mountain-torrent, 

 where the pine grows taU and dense, and the sun's rays seldom 

 penetrate, may be found the great snipe {Gallinago solitaria), 

 from the lower to the upper ranges of the forest region. 



