NATDKALIST IN INDIA. 219 



mou species. Every grove has its song-thrush {Turdm 

 unicolor). The chimney-swallow and hoopoe are' seen at 

 almost every turn. The hoopoe is more frequently seen on 

 trees than on the ground. The swallow differs in no respect 

 from the English bird, and it is noteable that I did not ob- 

 serve any with the deep rufous on the belly which charac- 

 terises the Egyptian variety called Eirundo rustica orientalis. 

 The gray titmouse, like the greater tit of the north, is seen 

 cUmbiug along the eaves of straw-roofed houses or suspended 

 from the points of twigs. The yellow lark-toed wagtail is 

 common on damp and marshy places ; its habits are similar 

 to the true MotacUlse, but its flight is not so powerful : it 

 perches securely on the tufty tops of the reeds and grass by 

 means of its long hind-claw. On our way we gathered a 

 species of yellow rose growing by the road-sides, and observed 

 again the two irises in abundance. Although the weather 

 continued rainy, we determined on pushing across the northern 

 Pinjal iato the Wurdwun valley in quest of brown bears 

 and ibex. The former were said to be so numerous that one 

 European kQled no less than thirty in the course of a few 

 weeks. Accordingly we repaired with all possible speed to 

 Islamabad, and set to work to reduce our camp to the smallest 

 possible dimensions, as from reports it seemed that a fresh 

 faU of snow on the pass would render it necessary to march 

 as light as possible. 



The fine grassy plain around the city has a peculiar Eng- 

 lish appearance, especially when its lawns are covered with 

 herds of cattle. On the Veshau river, creels are placed in the 

 rapids for the purpose of catching carp. I killed a specimen 

 of the brown water-dipper ; its European congener, however, 

 does hot seem to love the little mountain streams of the sur- 

 rounding ranges. The red poppy was blooming in great 



