J 76 Notes on Moor croft's Travels in Ladakh, [No. 147. 



ally appears in search of food. The feathered tribes are numerous, but 

 the soaring eagle, the Piara of the pheasant kinds, and the king of 

 birds as he is called, need only be particularly mentioned. Nu- 

 merous flowers enable the industrious bee to lay in a goodly store of 

 honey. 



In Upper Kunawar, the animal kingdom is less rich and varied, but 

 the ibex and wild sheep baffle the impatient and wearied sportsman, 

 and the hair of a blueish tinge betokens an arctic climate. The bur- 

 rowing rat, a few jackalls, and perhaps foxes, an occasional leopard 

 of a pale colour, and the brighter spotted, lynx-like, cat, complete the 

 list of resident animals. Packs of wild dogs sometimes show them- 

 selves, but the Keang, or wild ass of the rocky desert, is found only to 

 the northward of the British possessions. The birds are almost con- 

 fined to crows and ravens, the sparrows, and two beautiful varieties of 

 the red-breast, to pale blue and white pigeons, to the gigantic partridge 

 dwelling near the snow, and the red-legged francoline of delicious 

 flavour. Occasionally, a black plumed eagle may be seem swooping 

 on his prey, a few hawks show themselves, and the ripening crops 

 bring to each village some of the pigeons and doves of India ; while 

 the wild-duck is sometimes met winging its way from that country to 

 the lakes of Tibet. A few snakes, lizards, and scorpions almost com- 

 prise the reptile kingdom. The insects are more various ; but beetles, 

 moths and butterflies, grasshoppers, spiders, and a diminutive gnat or 

 musquito, added to the ubiquitous house fly, the indefatigable ants, and 

 the numerous parasites, need only be alluded to. Of fish it may be 

 said, speaking generally, that there are none in the remotest parts of 

 Kunawar, and yet a few must exist, as an otter is sometimes met with. 

 The mysterious gangball, or snow fish, with four short legs and a 

 human face, may be in fact as in description, a fabled animal ; but it is 

 talked of, and it is said to dwell only about the limits of the snow. 

 Of domestic animals, it is sufficient to mention the shawl-wool goat, 

 and the yak or grunting ox. The under-clothing of the goat, how- 

 ever, is much inferior to the " pushm" of more northerly tracts, and 

 the hybrid produce of the yak is of more value, both for transport and 

 the dairy than the genuine animal itself. The people have horses, 

 asses, black cattle, sheep, dogs and cats ; but there are no domestic 

 fowls in these districts. 



