NATURALIST IN INDIA. 261 



constitution. I scarcely tMnk there are sufficient grounds to 

 consider this species distinct from 0. corax, the differences in 

 what Mr. Hodgson calls this variety (C. tihetanvs) being only 

 in a somewhat larger size, the wing measuring 18^ inches, taO. 

 11 1, and the biU to gape 3 inches. The common sparrow of 

 Ladakh differs in no respect from P. domestica. The pied and 

 gray wagtails, hoopoe, brown mountain finch {M. nemoricola) 

 — ^perhaps the gelinok of Moorcroft — ^and blue rock-pigeon, 

 were observed in the valley of the Dras associated with a flock 

 of the latter. I observed what I took to be a pied variety, but 

 Mr. F. Moore, of .the Pndian Museum, London, has since 

 proved it to be the Columba rupestris of Pallas.* It is easily 

 recognised from the other, and its congener, the C. leuconota, 

 by the white band across the middle of the tail and the bluish- 

 white of the belly and lower parts. 



The long-billed variety of the blue thrush is common 

 among the rocks ; it would seem this is a permanent race of 

 Fetrocincla cyanea, and peculiar to the more northern regions, 

 inasmuch as all I procured in Ladakh and Cashmere belonged 

 to the above variety. The song-lark (A. arvensis) follows up 

 the valleys to the Hmits of verdure. I saw one at Dras, but 

 not subsequently. I do not think it visits Ladakh. 



Our next day's march was to the village of Kirboo, about 

 eighteen English miles. On the roadside, near Dras river, 

 were two erect stone pillars, with figures and characters, 

 apparently Chinese ; but we afterwards discovered that both 

 were Buddhist. The scenery, as usual, was exceedingly wild, 

 the mountains being perfectly bare, and with steep sides. 

 The Dras river, a powerful stream, was seen dashing furi- 

 ously through a narrow channel, more or less choked up 



* See Proc. Zool. Soc. of London, and Pallas' Zoogr. Russo-Asiat. p. 560, 

 plate 35. 



