NATUEALIST IN INDIA. 243 



scenery in the eastern portion of the valley of Cashmere. 

 The mountain pipit {Eeterura sylvana), so plentiful on the 

 Dugshai hills, was common among the grassy slopes below 

 Nobug. The more I observed the habits of this little bird 

 the more I was persuaded of its affinities to the titlarks. The 

 wire-tailed swallow, Indian roUer, and paradise flycatcher 

 were all common. We turned out of our way to visit the 

 celebrated sacred spring of Sondi Breri, which at that season, 

 and for some weeks later, is said to ebb and flow three times 

 a-day, but after waiting for some time, and not witnessing the 

 phenomenon, we started off in quest of birds. Bernier and 

 Vigne are undoubtedly correct in attributing the above to the 

 melting of snow on the heights, and to some peculiarity in 

 the construction of the channel of communication between the . 

 well and the melting-points, as the appearance ceases towards 

 the end of July, when the snow on the neighbouring ranges 

 has entirely disappeared. The well is situated in the lime- 

 stone, and is fully 7 or 8 feet in depth by about double that in 

 breadth. No doubt the noble springs of Ver Nag, Koker 

 Nag, Atsibul, in the neighbourhood, are owing in part to the 

 melting snow passing down fissures. Whilst waiting for the 

 waters of Sondi Breri to flow, I shot a pretty blue warbler in 

 the thicket of bush which covers the country around. The 

 species I subsequently discovered to be the blue larvivora 

 (LarvivoTa cyanea) ; it is by no means uncommon in Cashmere, 

 although I never before or subsequently met with it on the 

 lesser ranges. A restless little creature, incessantly hunting 

 after larvae and insects, it is about the size of the chiff-chaff : 

 the upper parts are blue ; a white streak passes over the eye ; 

 the cheeks are blue-black ; lower parts are bright rufous ; vent 

 white ; legs pale-brown and slender. 



From Islamabad we proceeded to Kannibal, on the right 



