NATURALIST IN INDIA. Ill 



nishes several very closely-allied forms. Moving noiselessly up 

 the trunks of the pines a creeper {Certhia Mmalayana) is re- 

 cognised. Differing only in very slight degree from the British 

 Bird ; and seen sporting from the extremity of one spreading 

 bough to another, in true flycatcher style, is the restless little 

 speckled flycatcher (Hemicheledon fuliginosa). The nutcracker 

 (Nucifraga hemispila) is oftener heard than seen ; its harsh 

 call resounds through the forest, and awakes the echoes of the 

 glen. It is a solitary bird, and delights to lurk among the 

 tops of the forest-trees. 



The adult plach pheasant (males in particular) are very 

 wild and wary. We shot many females and yearling birds, 

 but only succeeded in procui'ing three specimens of old males, 

 I shot a pied variety of the monal, with white feathers among 

 the wing-coverts. A few seemingly adult male birds retained 

 the brown-coloured feathers of the first year among the gaudy 

 blue wing-coverts, but the young of both sexes showed no 

 disposition to change their sombre garb. I conclude, there- 

 fore, they retain the plumage of the female until the second 

 year. Many of the two sorts were seen feeding on the wild 

 currant and gooseberry. One morning we happened to get 

 into a narrow defile leading towards the summit of the moun- 

 tain, profusely covered with ferns, balsams, dwarf-bamboo 

 jungle, and long dank vegetation, through which we could 

 scarcely pick our way, much less see the great numbers of 

 monal pheasants which were continually rising around us. I 

 had just discharged my gun at a flock of upwards of twenty 

 monal which rose in front of us, when within one hundred yards 

 were two black bears {Ursus tibetanus) ascending a service-tree 

 in quest of fruit ; but they caught sight of us, and were off 

 long before we could draw shot and load with ball. My 

 companion, in spite of the uncertain footing and obstacles, 



