KOONER VALLEY. 



471 



and so securely, they may well be imagined to become ready 

 scholars. So even if the stock already existing in the robbers' sons, 

 etc., were deficient, others would be found ready to take up the 

 profession. The Kooner Dhurrah, or valley, is a very fine one, it is 

 a good instance of the peculiar kind of slope or talus, so common in 

 this country. The soil in such places being so stony as to be use- 

 less for cultivation. Low parts entering into the valley become use- 

 ful for wheat, that is, if rain falls early, these Dhurrahs are formed 

 or filled by debris from the surrounding hills, carried down by tor- 

 rents, which are constantly changing their beds, the outline of the 

 edge is circular, such as that of a sand bank at the mouth of a river, 

 the finer particles being of course carried furthest down. 



The Kooner valley may be considered as the second ; the Shaiwa 

 distinct forming the first ; it continues as far as the bend to Chugur 

 Pair ; its beginning is close to Kooner village, near the ferry where 

 the valley is much contracted. 



31st. — The beautiful Smyrna kingfisher of India, with metallic 

 plumage, chocolate-brown underneath, occurs at Kooner. 



The common kite is very expert in seizing objects with its claws 

 while flying : as is the Pondicherry falcon. They are often seen 

 about standing water, fishing I fancy with their claws for shells, etc. 

 on the surface. 



The late rain has caused a torrent down Dhurrah Bader, and the 

 fields and low grounds about Choke have been inundated ; about 

 these spots, birds have collected in numbers, the common crow 

 taking advantage of the circumstance had turned as it were, king- 

 fisher, swooping about like the kite. There were two species of 

 Laridse, neither of which I had seen before, several small Tringae, the 

 very long red shanked bird, Hematopus ? the metallic Tantalus, 

 common, jack-snipe, and hosts of Budytes, which were busily em- 

 ployed flying and flitting about after insects. Edolius occurs at 

 Kooner as well as here. The number of birds is small certainly, 

 although the trees, etc. are now in full leaf : no new birds seem to 

 have come in, except the dove, and Edolius ; neither Hsematornis 

 nor Brachypus yet observed, one or two fresh species of Alaudina, 

 and stonechats have made their appearance. It is curious that the 

 larks do not remain above a few days, none are to be seen now, that 

 the crops are barely a foot high. 



The female Monaul is going on well, though obliged to be cram- 

 med, for though it takes water voluntarily it will not take food. It is 



