154 WANDEEINGS OF A 



this species seems subject ; also some well-marked and per- 

 manent discrepancies as to colour and size. Here, again, is a 

 species common to the three great continents of the Old 

 World, having several varieties, as its numerous synonjons 

 might indicate. European birds — viz. the cinereous godwit, 

 green sandpiper, and vrater-rail, are generally distributed 

 over the lakes and fens of the Punjaub during the winter. 

 The lark-toed and pied wagtails are plentiful ; the former is 

 usually seen perched on tufts of rush or grass in wet places. 

 The little brown-coloured lapwing (Vanellns hucurus) I did 

 not observe elsewhere ; it is certainly rare in most parts of 

 India, and most probably migratory in the Punjaub. I have 

 been informed that it is common in Afghanistan, where, ac- 

 cording to Mr. Blyth, it is known by the name of chizi. In 

 habits it more closely resembles sandpipers, frequenting the 

 margins of pools, along which it runs at great speed, A small 

 brown sand-martin was often seen during the excursion. I 

 took it at first for the bank-swaUow (H. nparid), but I am 

 doubtful if met with in KW. India. It differed also from 

 the short-tailed swallow ; and the only other small martin 

 at aU likely to agree with it is the Nepal species {Cotyle sub- 

 soccata, Hodg.),* with which I have not been able to 

 compare my specimens. We returned to Eawul Piudee by 

 a somewhat different route, more to the north and east ; the 

 weather was excessively hot until mid-day, when, for upwards 

 of a week, a thunder-storm took place almost daily at noon ; 

 always ending in a clear and briUiant afternoon, when we 

 enjoyed magnificent views of the great Himalayan chain from 

 the Bimbur Pass to Attock on the Indus. Near the vOlage of 



* Gray's Zool. Misc. 1844, p. 82. The similarity, however, is so close be- 

 tween these three, that, beyond a shade of plumage, there is no appreciable 

 distinction. 



