86 WANDEKINGS OF A 



wild apple (the Feronia elepTiantwm), abundaut in the lesser 

 ranges. This fruit often rots on the trees, and when in that 

 condition affords the means of subsistence to many other 

 birds, especially the crested bulbul, and the various sorts of 

 parrakeets. On the southern ranges of Cashmere there is a 

 species of jay very closely allied to the above. It will be 

 noticed hereafter. 



Besides the wandering pie (Dendrocitta rufa), its ally the 

 red-vented pie (D. sinensis) affects the same situations, and 

 although not so domestic in habits, and less often met with 

 in the neighbourhood of dwellings, is plentiful in copses and 

 jungles. In habits it is similar to its congener, and feeds like- 

 wise on insects and fruit. 



Although the common European jay has been shot on the 

 mountains of Afghanistan, I have never heard of it being 

 met with on the "Western Himalayas. It is evidently replaced 

 there by a common species, called the black-throated jay 

 {Oarrulus lanceolatits, Vig.) 



I killed on the river a large black-headed kingfisher, 

 which was unfortunately carried away by the current before 

 I could note further particulars than that it was of large size, 

 a general ash colour, with a black hood.* 



On the 11th of March, after a long day's journey, we 

 gained a high ridge, overlooking a beautiful valley teeming 

 with rich fields of spring wheat and barley. The hum of bees 

 among the fiowers of the mulberry and apricot, in the quiet 

 stillness of a delightful evening, added to the cooling sensa- 

 tions of a bathe in the neighbouring brook, and a sumptuous 

 repast, formed of the partridges and pheasants, made us feel 

 a rare degree of contentment and repose, for we had rambled 

 aU day over the grassy hill-sides, pursuing the black partridges 

 * Probably the large black and white kingfisher {CeryU guttata). 



