NATURALIST -IN INDIA. 317 



panther are found along the skirts of the Himalayan chain, 

 the former increasing in numbers to the south-east and banks 

 of the Indus, especially near Kala Bagh. I have noted a fox 

 distinctly different from the Vulpes hengalensis in the ravines 

 around Peshawur, but never obtained a specimen, so as to 

 ascertain if it is the same as the one observed on the Salt 

 Mountains. 



Both the gray and red ichneumons {n. griseus et ruber) 

 are plentiful. Skins of the pine-marten (M. ahietum) are 

 imported from Afghanistan and sold in the bazaars of the 

 city, where also those of the ermine are occasionally observed. 

 Pigs abound along the sub-Himalayan valleys and in the 

 Eusofraye country. Eavine or Bennet's deer is said to be 

 plentiful. Hares (but the exact species was not determined), 

 and a very large bustard (0. nigriceps ?) the 0. macgueenii, is 

 a regular winter visitor, and the little chukore {A. honhamz), 

 is met with in suitable places. 



It was interesting to note the cold-weather arrivals. The 

 lapwing, teal, gray lag-goose, cranes, rooJcs, European jackdaws, 

 the bittern, chimney swallow, gray wagtail, either taking up 

 their residence, resting for a short time, or pushing south- 

 wards — some in long trains, as is the case with the large 

 water-birds. The rough gabbling of the geese and cranes 

 lasted often throughout the night, whilst the guttural sounds 

 of the sand-grouse were frequent; both the common and 

 large species (P. exustus etjirenarius) were often seen in flocks 

 by day, and seemed to be regular migrants. There was a 

 small thrush that evidently arrived in the gardens and 

 orchards in the cold months, and is very common. It is 9 

 inches in length, with the upper parts olive-brown ; throat 

 and front of the neck dirty-white ; the sides of the neck and 

 breast are thickly spotted with olive-brown ; belly and lower 



