NATUKAIIST IN INDIA. 137 



together. Its habits are like those of the British magpie. 

 The pied stonechat (Saxicola picata) was common. The 

 Indian robin, so generally distributed over most parts of Hin- 

 dostan, is seen here in almost every village and field. 

 Although differing altogether in the colour of its plumage 

 from the European robin, there is a great similarity in their 

 habits. It frisks before the door and picks up the crumbs, 

 jerking its tail as it hops along. How often have associations 

 of home been brought to mind by seeing this pretty little 

 warbler pursuing its gambols before the door of an Eastern 

 bungalow ! Although its song is far from unmusical, it wants 

 the melody of the northern bird. 



The Indian porcupine {Eystrix leucurus) is found among 

 the low scrub and bush. As an article of food, its flesh 

 is much sought after by Europeans as weU. as natives. 



The Salt Eange extends from the Himalayas across the 

 Punjaub in about a straight line to the Suliman Mountains on 

 their west flank, and is composed of low hills intersected by 

 narrow ravines or prominent ridges, for the most part devoid 

 of vegetation. Limestones, saliferous red and gray sandstones, 

 would appear to form the chief geological formations which, 

 according to Professor Fleming, belong to the carboniferous 

 period.* The plateaus, excepting where extensive denudation 

 has taken place, are covered with rounded pebbles, mostly 

 formed from the breaking up of the limestone beds. Salt is 

 found in veins in various situations, more especially among 

 the sandstone and marl beds in the neighbourhood of KuUer 

 Kahar, where there are extensive salt-mines. The barren and 

 sun-burnt appearance of these mountains strikes the tra- 

 veller ; indeed it is chiefly on that account that they become 

 a safe retreat to the wild sheep, for, except in the cultivated 

 * Quart. Jam: Geol. Soc. 1853 and 1862 :'also Jour. As. Soc. Ben: 1853, etc. 



