BIRDS AND QUADRUPEDS. 



467 



\Sth. — Unsettled weather. Heavy thunderstorm in the evening 

 with clouds over the western range. 



14th. — Beautifully clear, a genuine spring beauty on all sides. 



The common Maina of these parts is a gregarious bird, which 

 feeds generally on the ground, but is rarely associated with cattle, to 

 which the Indian species are so addicted : this is an intelligent bird, 

 although from its nature not unnecessarily shy. 



It is fond of singing ; its notes are very varied, but not very musical, 

 including all sorts of intonations. 



While so employed, the bird every now and then bobs his head 

 suddenly down three or four times, much for the same purpose per- 

 haps, as our public singers in the production of certain notes. I 

 do not know whether these actions of the bird are really associated 

 with particular notes, although they generally seem to accompany 

 certain very flat and very base notes, not unlike the clerk of a coach- 

 man. 



The snow is rapidly disappearing, rain having a most powerful 

 effect even at the summit of the pine ridges : it is fast melting, and no 

 new snow has fallen, although it has been raining occasionally during 

 the last three days, and the sun has been altogether obscured. 



Generally on the high Kuttoor range, fresh snow has fallen, a proof 

 of the great height of that range. 



Two species of Corydalis, the first Iris and Colchicum I had 

 found in Kaffiristan. Corydalis is another analogy with the genuine 

 Himalayan Flora. 



Jackals were heard here for the first time, although they were heard 

 many days ago at Pushut. 



loth. — The antilopoid animal called Suja, has horns both on the 

 male and female, it occurs in small herds fifteen to twenty in the wood- 

 ed mountains, its hair is of the same structure as in the Moschiferus 

 antilope ; colour brown. Height to the shoulder two feet six inches ; 

 its height does not increase or decrease perceptibly behind ; length of 

 neck seven inches. Length of back from root of tail to nape of neck 

 two feet eight inches. 



The Lophophorus is called Moorghi Zureem, it is a very gorgeous- 

 ly coloured bird, but of heavy make ; the tail is always carried erect. 

 Length of body two feet one inch ; the girth of the body at the 

 shoulder including wings, seventeen to eighteen inches. Length of 

 neck from commencement of the crest to the base of the under man- 

 dible, five to six inches. 



