The Baloot is the next most common tree, but I fancy it does not extend beyond 7,500 feet; this is in general use for firewood, many of the trees, especially below, are much damaged, and on these the leaves are generally very thorny.  Next is the Zaitoon, but it is not common in this direction, although common a mile to the south on the ridge first ascended.  The soil is now saturated with snow water, and appears good and plentiful.  The want of soil is another reason why the lower ranges are so barren, but this is just the contrary of what would be expected.

In spite of the beauty and fineness of these forests, there is still the Khorassan paucity of forms.  Many herbaceous plants are doubtless hid under the snow, but few shrubs were to be seen:  the Mespilus of Tazeen being the most common at 6,000 to 7,000 feet, a Thymus, Labiata, Olea fragrans, Ocymoidea, two or three Crucifera; Sedum pictum observed, and Melanthaceae which has fragrant flowers, is very common.  The rocks are covered with mosses, Grimmia pulvinaloides, every where in profusion.  New forms consist of a fine Tortula and an Anictangioid, with leaves white, and membranous from the middle upwards.

Birds, a black and white Erythaca, eyes fuscous-brown; the wood pigeon; a jay, which is a beautiful bird, irides light brown; a small woodpecker, with a greenish subcrest; the Parus; a thrush not obtained; Parus caerulens; a pretty red-crowned small Fringilla, eyes light brown; common crow, chakor, bearded vulture; a wren, not obtained, with irides light brown, but with exactly the manners of Troglodytis.  Chamaerops, Maizurrye used for netting ropes for bedsteads, Viscum of Baloot, used for food of domestic animals.

Wild goats, sheep, an ass-like animal (Goomasht), and a fox which is handsome, of large size, and common.

8th.—­Returned.

The Kafirs have a game exactly the same as the English leap-frog, called by them Shutruck.  They were very much astonished at my understanding it.  They are miserable marksmen, and were even at small distances unable to strike a large object, as for instance a hat at twenty yards, although offered a handsome reward; nor can they shoot at all at long distances.  They are in this respect quite below Khasyas and Booteas.

[Ridge near Loongurze:  m466.jpg]

March 9th.—­Yesterday evening a female of Lophophorus, was brought in, and a beautiful pheasant, having claret-coloured neck.  Body otherwise fuscous and blackish-brown, having a blackish-green head, white cheeks and fine transverse crest, as large as a middle-sized fowl.  Apparently a new subgenus of Phasianus.

11th.—­Swallows have now come in here.  They are apparently a different species from the Pushut kind.

12th.—­The large-headed lark has also come in, so that there is a difference of twelve or fourteen days between this part of the country and Pushut, where it was first seen, although this is only 500 feet higher, and about thirteen miles farther north.