NATUEALIST IN INDIA. 147 



place and lasted for nearly half-an-hour. Many of the hail- 

 stones were as large as sparrows' eggs. 



The geological formations and mineral features of the salt 

 range are undoubtedly very interesting, but there was no time 

 to examine them with care. Above the village of Kotela 

 I wandered over a rugged steep composed of limestone, pick- 

 ing up fossils at almost every step, chiefly bivalve and large 

 spiral univalve shells, Terebratula, and several species 

 of Oalerites and other Echiuodermata, until attracted by a 

 lake on which a flock of flamingoes were resting ; their tall 

 gaunt forms looked like balls of pink and white suspended 

 over the shallow waters ; each bird had its head under its 

 wing, and was supported on one leg. I rudely disturbed their 

 slumbers, for, resting my rifle on the waU of an enclosure 

 overlooking the lake, I fixed into the denser part of the flock, 

 and when the frightened host had fled, and the ball had skip- 

 ped and bounded far beyond, one small pink and white object 

 floated alone on the placid surface, but it was unfortunately 

 borne by the gentle breeze into deeper waters from beyond our 

 reach. The average length of many specimens procured in 

 the flesh was 5 feet 7^ inches from the biU to the extremity 

 of the middle toe, and between the tips of the wings 5 feet 

 10 inches. Weight about 5 pounds. 



A smaller race is sometimes met with in separate flocks. 

 The plumage varies with age and sex. The young are dark on 

 the back, and pink on the wings, with the rest of the body 

 nearly pure white. The female is a delicate pink all over ; 

 the plumage of the male is brightest during the breeding 

 season. 



Behind the village of Kotela a mountain rises, perhaps 

 one of the highest of the range ; its summit is clothed with the 

 long-leaved pine (Finus longifoUa) and other plants which 



