196 WANDERINGS OF A 



Pilgam. This may not be unlikely, considering it is a native 

 of Tibet, and skins are imported to the Punjaub from Afghan- 

 istan. We soon found out our mistake in coming so far up 

 the Duchinpara, for we had left the good shooting-ground 

 behind. The bears and deer had aU moved down the valley. 

 Accordingly, ■ retracing our steps by the left bank of the 

 Lidur, we arrived at the village of Eish Makam, after a 

 march of four hours. Every mile indicated an advance into 

 a more genial region, but the descent was very gradual. 

 That night the temperature rose from 42° to 60°, whilst 

 everything around our new halting-ground betokened the 

 appearance of summer : the chimney swallow twittered from 

 many a straw-built shed ; the villages and hamlets half-hid 

 among groves of walnut, apple, pear, apricot, almond, and 

 willow, — aU pleasing pictures of rural beauty. The blooming 

 iris decked the little village graveyard and mustjid, and 

 there, as everywhere in the valley of Cashmere, added addi- 

 tional beauty to the loveliness of many a sylvan scene. 

 There are two species of iris — a large-leaved (Iris longifolid), 

 with purple and white flowers ; and a smaller, with narrow 

 leaves {Iris TiepaleTisis). On the fine grassy glades the hoopoe 

 was seen digging its long biU into the soft turf in quest of 

 insects, and oft as its labours seemed nearly over, down 

 would pounce a Drongo shrike to secure the fruits of its toil. 

 The latter is a perfect little tyrant wherever he thinks he 

 can be so with impunity. Even the Indian jackdaw seldom 

 passes his haunts unmolested. What more pleasing sight 

 can there be than, in some delightful ^ening in summer, to 

 observe flocks of the beautiful crimson flycatcher (Pericro- 

 cotus peregrirms) pursuing their gambols around the tall 

 walnut-trees of a Cashmere hamlet ? Their soft twittering 

 notes and graceful motions have oft excited in me feelings 



