NATURALIST IN INDIA. 275 



no attempt at privacy, and, judging from the number of sleep- 

 ing-mats observed in those we inspected, crowding appeared 

 to be excessive, yet they seemed a hardy-looking people. 

 As usual, however, the blear eyes of the old, and inflamed con- 

 dition of others, showed that ophthalmia prevailed. I saw no 

 goitre anywhere in Ladakh, although it is prevalent among 

 the natives of the ranges which border the Indian plains. 

 The women were exceedingly ugly, and among all the squaM- 

 looking children about their various encampments I could 

 not discover one with even the slightest approach to good 

 looks. The raven was stalking unconcernedly about the tents, 

 and so tame as to approach and feed on the refuse of our 

 dinners. I found the pied wagtail, and once saw an individual 

 of the gray sort (Motacilla hoarula). The red-fronted finch, also 

 the mountain-finch (Montifringilla adamsz), kestrel, black- 

 throated wheatear, alpine chough, and chuckore, were met with 

 in about the same numbers on the plains of Eupshoo as on the 

 less-elevated districts we had left. Several fresh and salt water 

 lakes were passed, around the borders of which were quantities 

 of borax, crystallised and in powder ; the latter is often borne 

 aloft for several hundred feet by whirlwinds, which are very 

 common around the lakes and sides of the plains. One lake, 

 called Tooskee, was covered with Brahminy ducks (Anas 

 rutila) and their broods, the latter being almost fully fledged. 

 Jul^ 24. — On the plain near the lake a herd of kiangs or 

 wild asses (A. hemionvs) were feeding. On our approach they 

 scampered off to a safe distance, and, turning, gazed at us in- 

 tently until we again advanced, when, wheeling off at a trot, 

 they kept halting occasionally, and, turning towards us, ad- 

 vanced a few steps on each occasion as if for the purpose of 

 reconnoitring. We attempted to get within range, but the 

 want of cover, intense heat, and reflection from the plain, to- 



