100 WANDERINGS OF A 



soaring at great heights, I observed in their company a very large 

 thick-billed heron-like bird which I supposed was the adjutant 

 {Ardea argala). It disappeared before the rains set in. 



The cinnamon-coloured sparrow {Passer cinnamomeus) is 

 often seen among the pine-woods of Kussoulee, and in the 

 jungles along the lower hiUs. — The gaura finch (Melophus me- 

 lanicterus) frequents fields and cultivated localities. — The com- 

 mon house-martin of the Neilgherries and Southern India is 

 identical with Chelidon wrliea of Europe. On the Lower 

 Himalayas and Cashmere ranges a bird appears in spring very 

 closely allied to the above, but all I have shot (amounting to 

 three) differed in one or two particulars, — chiefly in being 

 smaller ; the axillary feathers were hrovm instead of grayish- 

 white, and their tails were even. Mr. Gould has named it 

 the Chelidon cashmeriemis* This martin migrates to the 

 the Punjaub during winter. 



The golden stachyris {Stachyris chrysed) is a little wren- 

 like warbler usually seen among the foliage of fruit-trees, 

 about the size of a willow-wren ; iris is red. — The verditer fly- 

 catcher {Niltava melanops) appears in .spring, and is one of the 

 most common flycatchers. Its habits .and haunts are similar 

 to the most typical species, perching on prominent situations, 

 from whence it makes excursions in quest of insects. The 

 luteous-coloured finch (Leiothrix luteus) is common in the 

 valleys about Dugshai. I have seen it in the plains in 

 winter. 



The blue rock-thrush {Petrocincla cyaimd). This is the P. 

 pandoo of Colonel Sykes, and may be said to be universally 

 distributed over South-eastern Europe and the temperate and 

 torrid parts of Asia. By some it is supposed to be the bird 

 alluded to in Scripture, " the sparrow that sitteth alone upon 



- Proc. Z. S. 1858, p. 356. 



