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, kingfisher, swooping about like the kite.  There were two species of Laridae, 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 employed 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 Haematornis 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 crammed, for though it takes water voluntarily it will not take food.  It is a very domestic bird, and fond of notice, its voice on such occasions is pleasing, on some others very harsh and hawk or eagle-like.  Its manners are curious, depressing its tail, and arching its neck, and pecking at imaginary objects in a curious way.  From the expressive manner in which it looks up at sunset on surrounding objects, especially trees, it is obviously accustomed to roost.

April 1st.—­Pushut Fort.

4th.—­Weather unsettled:  a slight rumbling sound of an earthquake was felt yesterday evening, the atmosphere at the time being very close:  this was succeeded by a squall.  Strong winds are prevalent, generally easterly:  clear sunshine is evidently of rare continuance at Pushut:  little snow remains except towards Bharawul.

I was much struck this morning with the entire disappearance of a green mantle of Confervoid scum from the surface of a foul pool close to my quarters.  Yesterday the pool was quite green, now there is no green, nor any traces of the scum except such portion as was not in the water but round the margins.

6th.—­Proceeded to Chugur-Serai, which place was reached after marching 3 h. 10 m. at three miles an hour.  Ocharrye one of the peaks near this is deep in snow; it is much higher than Speencas.  The season here is now nearly as forward as it is at Kooner, although on my last visit sixteen days ago, it was fifteen days behind, but the narrowness of the valley must increase the heat much.