NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF AMBALA DISTRICT, PUNJAB. 189 



half of March. It was doubtless intending to breed there with 

 the colonies of Sterna seena. 

 15:26. The Common Cormorant — Phalacrocomx carbo. (L.) 



With the exception of a single individual seen at the Kharar 

 tank on 24th March, I only met with Cormorants at Rupar, when 

 I visited that place in December and March. There they were 

 numerous and were frequently observed fishing in the pools 

 connected with the Canal Dam across the Sutlej. 



1528*. The Little Cormorant — Phalacrocora.r javanicus (Horsf.) 



Included in Dr. Scott's list. 

 1542. The Black Ibis — Inocotis papilloms (Temm.) 



A flock of about a dozen Ibis was observed in the Ghaggar 

 Nala at Chandighar on 13th February, and a similar flock in the 

 marshes at Mubariqpur on 20th February. Single birds were 

 seen at Morinda on 11th December, and near Ambala on 15th 

 February. 



1545. The Spoonbill — Platalea leucorodia, Linn. 



A flock of large white birds seen in the distance on the sands 

 of the Ghaggar at Mubariqpur on 20th February appeared to 

 be composed of Spoonbills. 



1546. The White Stork — Ciconia alba, Bechst. 



Only observed at Morinda where I saw one on 9th December, 

 and a party of six on 12th December. 



1548. The White-necked Stork — Dissura episcopus (Bodd.) 



Observed not uncommonly throughout the winter on various 

 dates between 7th November and 26th March ; it seemed to be 

 fairly generally distributed, but was most frequently observed 

 about the stony bed of the Ghaggar river where it emerges 

 from the low hills at Chandighar : here it was frequently 

 gathered in flocks. 



1549. The Black-necked Stork — Xenorhynchus asiaticus (Lath.) 



On the evening of 3rd November at Mubariqpur I saw a flock 

 of 50 to 60 Storks (which I attributed to this species) arrive 

 flying high from an easterly direction, and after much circling 

 proceed to settle in the bed of the Ghaggar ; only some half 

 dozen individuals had touched the ground when without 

 apparent reason the flock rose again to a great pitch and 

 returned whence it had come ; on the evening of 6th November 

 but about two miles from that place I saw a party of the same 

 Storks flying in a westerly direction, as if going to roost. 



Some were seen from the train between Ambala and Jagadri 

 on 24th November. Storks attributed to this species were seen 

 on the hills at Rupar on 16th December and 20th March, at 

 Kharar on 24th March and at Chandighar on 25th March. 



1554. The Eastern Purple Heron — Ardea vianillensis (Sharpe). 



This Heron was observed to be fairly numerous about the 

 marshes and water-channels of Mubariqpur where I was there on 

 6th November and 20th February ; a few were flushed from the 

 reed-beds but the majority were found sitting on the tops of 

 trees where the long necks gave them a very curious appearance. 

 Elsewhere only two were seen, at Chamkauron 14th December. 



1555. The Common Heron — Ardea cinerea, Linn. 



" Occurs about Ambala, as I learned from the late Dr. Scott." 

 (Beavan.) 



