NOTHS ON THE ^IRDS OI AM BAZA DISTRICT, PUNJAB. 177 



1082. The Himalayan Swiftlet— CoZZocatZta fusciphaga, Thumb. 



On 13th February I found a number of these Swifts flying low 

 over the Ghaggar Nala at Chandighar just at the entrance to 

 the hills. 



1091.* The Common Indian Nightjar — Capnmulgus asiaticus, Lath. 



On the nights of 25th and 26th March when in camp at 

 Chandighar I heard the call of this Nightjar after dark, and I 

 also heard it on the early morning of 26th March. The call 

 imitates very exactly the sound made by a stone as it bimips 

 rapidly over ice, when thrown along the surface. 



1109. The Common Hawk Cuckoo — Hierococcyx varius (Vahl.) 



I first heard this fine Cuckoo calling on 19th February, but 

 did not hear it again until Ist March, after which date it 

 seemed to become common and uttered freely both the " brain 

 fever " note and the whirring ascending trill ; on some occasions 

 it was heard after dark. It occurred at Morinda, Rupar, 

 Kharar, and Chandighar, in addition to Ambala. 



1120. The Indian Koel — EudgnamiH honorata (Linn.) 



The first Koel of the summer was heard calling at Ambala on 

 11th April; and after that I heard a few more before my de- 

 parture on 20th April, but up to that date the majority had 

 clearly not arrived. 



1129. The Sirkeer Cuckoo — Taccocua leschenaidti, Less. 



I shot a female of this curious Cuckoo in the garden of the 

 rest-house at Kharar on 20th December. 



Beavan observes : " This species was apparently procured by 

 the late Dr. Scott at Ambala, as it is included in the list of the 

 birds sent thence by him to the Montrose Museum." * 



One was shot by my Father at Kalka on 25th January 1887. 



1130. The Common Coucal — Centropus sinensis (Steph.) 



Generally distributed in small numbers and doubtless'resident. 



1135. The Large Indian Paroquet — Palceornis nepalensis, Hodgs. 



With the exception of two individuals seen at Kharar on 24th 

 March, I only observed this species at Chandighar ; there I 

 saw one or two flocks on 13th February and some odd birds on 

 26th and 27th March. Beavan states : " Noticed by the late 

 Dr. Scott as abundant at Ambala in August 1867, but a merely 

 temporary visitor at that Station, and apparently arriving 

 there just after the young birds of the year are flown. Most 

 specimens are then in bad plumage." 



1138. The Rose-ringed Paroquet — Palceornis torquatus (Bodd.) 



Beavan found this Paroquet to be " excessively abundant 

 about gardens at Ambala in the cold weather, and in March I 

 saw one or two pairs breeding there " — a .description with which 

 no later observer will quarrel. It is of course resident, and I 

 doubt whether it ever reaches as high as Kasauli. 



1139. The Western Blossom-headed Paroquet — Palceornis cyanocepha- 



lus (L.) 

 Not uncommon and generally distributed. Attention is 

 usually drawn to this Paroquet by its call which is uttered in 

 flight and is easily distinguishable from that of the last two 



111 the printed catalog-ue the only Ibcality jziven in " Siwaliks. 



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