NATUEALIST IN INDIA. 169 



the light sunburnt faces and dark flashing eyes of all of them 

 were very characteristic of the race in general. 



The hamlet and ruined fort at Noushera is situated on a 

 flat almost level with the Jhelum, which here sweeps down- 

 wards at great force. Gahle-roofed houses now begin to take 

 the place of the little flat-roofed hovels, and give an almost 

 English appearance to the Cashmere landscape. 



At Noushera I met with the gray wagtail {Motacilla 

 boarula) for the first time. The leaden^ash redstart is likewise 

 common. I procured also several specimens of the yeUow-biUed 

 jay (Galocitta flamrostris), which differs from the red-billed 

 species, mentioned before, and which is plentiful in the lesser 

 ranges towards Murree, by the duller cast of plumage, the 

 bright yellow bill, and the ^ white on the hind-head being 

 narrower, and having a broad band of black below it. I shot 

 iny specimens in spring, so there could be no question as to 

 their being adult birds. Perhaps, however, the yeUow-biUed 

 jay has scarcely a claim to be considered other than a local 

 variety of the Himalayan bird. The Siskin {Garduelis 

 spinoides) is common in the forest, and generally seen in 

 flocks. The cuckoo we heard daily at that season. It is 

 common in every wood. 



Associated with the^black-crested tit (Parus melanolophus. 

 Vigors) I shot the pretty little red-headed species (P. erythro- 

 cephalus). It is a little larger than the golden-crested wren. 

 There is a genus of warblers mostly common to the Hima- 

 layas, to which the name Abrornis has been given by the 

 great Himalayan ornithologist Mr. Hodgson, who has de- 

 scribed several species, of which one or two are common in 

 the woods and forests about Cashmere ; but from the very 

 close connection of several recorded species, I have not been 

 able to identify my specimens. 



