NATURALIST IN INDIA. 195 



lar banks tend to beautify ; the latter undulating downwards 

 into the valleys with almost every variety of woodland and 

 savannah. Northwards from the village runs a glen by 

 which a pathway extends to Ladakh and Little Tibet, and 

 about three miles upwards one of the chief tributaries of the 

 Lidur is seen gushing from below a huge glacier. I followed 

 the stream to this point, in expectation of meeting bears 

 on the way ; but from the quantity of snow still cover- 

 ing the mountains and valleys, except a solitary bearded 

 vulture, there were no symptoms of animal Mfe. The mantle 

 of winter was spread over everything ; not a blade of grass 

 was above ground, neither had willow or birch ventured to 

 bud. However, a few days suffice to alter nature's aspect 

 altogether. At Pilgam the thermometer stood at 76° F. in 

 our tent on the 4th of May, and the Lidur rose rapidly from 

 the melting of snow on the surrounding mountains. The 

 bare parts became tinged with green, and the walnut- 

 trees were budding. The magical way in which vegetation 

 springs up in these regions is really wonderful In a single 

 week, from " dismal winter hoar, comes gentle spring in all 

 her ethereal mildness." I remember taking my gun one 

 evening, and as I was strolling along the banks of the Lidur, 

 came on a pretty little " dipper" (Citiclus aqiMticios) for the first 

 time since leaving Britain. This well-known tenant of the 

 mountain-streams of Great Britain and Northern Europe is 

 rather common in the secluded mountain valleys of Cash- 

 mere ; but I believe I am the first to record its presence in 

 this portion of central Asia. My specimens from Cashmere 

 resemble that met with in south-eastern Europe, and named 

 by Temminck C. melanogaster, which must now stand as 

 a local variety of the other. One of our party assured me 

 that he saw the common European squirrel in a forest near 



