74 



BIRDS AND FISHING IN HOOKHOOM VALLEY. 



the river. On the opposite side, and about a quarter of a mile, is a 

 village, which like all the rest is stockaded. Kidding is larger than 

 either Tubone or Nempean ; it is on the left bank of the Saxsai. 

 Rapids are common in the Tooroon, but are not of any severity. 



The vegetation remains in a remarkable degree similar to that of 

 Assam. The Lohit Campanula is very common in the stony beds 

 of either river. 



Brahminy Ducks seen at Nempean, and the ravenous Geese of 

 Kamroop Putar. Fished in the Tooroon, and had excellent sport, 

 killing in the afternoon twenty fishes, average weight half pound ; 

 some weighing nearly two pounds. Three species occurred, and all 

 were taken with flies ; the smallest are a good deal like the Boal of 

 Assam. The large-mouthed, trout-like Cyprinida* occurs, and to a 

 larger size than in the Noa Dihing. The third is the Chikrum 

 of the Singphos ; it is a thick, very powerful fish, a good deal resem- 

 bling the Roach : one of two pounds, measures about a foot in length. 

 Outline ovate lanceolate, head small, mouth with four filaments ; 

 eyes very large, fins reddish, first ray of the dorsal large spinous. It 

 affects deep water, particularly at the edges of the streams running 

 into such placesf. It takes a fly greedily even in quite still water ; 

 but as it has a small mouth, the smaller the flies the better. 

 Black hackle is better for it than small grey midges. On being 

 hooked it rushes off with violence, frequently leaping out of the 

 water. It is a much more game fish than the Bookhar : the largest 

 I took with flies ; with worms I took only one small one. With 

 regard to the Bookhar, it is strange if it is not found in the streams 

 running through this valley, as in the Kammaroan it occurs in 

 abundance. 



Black and white Kingfisher, Alcedo rudis, Snippets, Curlews of 

 the B. pooter, with chesnutish back occur in the valley, together 

 with Toucans : and Ravens occur as in Assam. 



At the village of Kidding there are silkworms fed. 



March 22nd. — Started at 6 p.m., reached Shelling khet on the 

 Prong Prongkha in about two hours ; it is distant about seven miles. 

 The village is now deserted. The nullah is small, with a very slow 

 stream ; direction from Kidding nearly S. E. It was at this place 

 that Bayfield got his specimen of tea, but on enquiry we found 



* Opsarius gracilus, As. Res. vol. xix. p. 419. 

 f A species of Barbel; probably B. deliciosus, As. Res xix. p. 352. 



