NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF THANDIANI. 285 



the Kala Pani stream flows. To include more of the range of hills 

 on which Thandiani stands would be unduly stretching the bird area 

 which could be legitimately called Thandiani. I must acknowledge 

 my indebtedness to a simple list of the birds of the Murree hills and 

 the Galis given me by a friend who compiled it from " Birds nesting 

 in the Murree Hills and Gallies ' by Colonel Rattray published in 

 Vol. XVI, Nos. 3 and 4 of this Journal, which aided me considerably 

 in my identifications. I made no collection and am averse to collect- 

 ing birds, unless with some special object, in the breeding season. 

 None of my identifications therefore were from skins. My notes only 

 cover a period extending from 20th May to 10th July, but it is just 

 in this short period that birds are best observed. The numbers and 

 nomenclature are in accordance with the " Fauna of British India." 



(4). Corvus macrorhynchus. — The Jungle Crow is a common summer visitor 

 and breeds freely along the Thandiani ridge. The nest is generally built in a 

 pine tree at a considerable height from the ground and is of the usual crow 

 type. I did not take any eggs, but was informed by hillmen that the young 

 are hatched about the middle of June. The depredations committed by these 

 crows on the eggs and young of smaller birds are extensive and a large part 

 of their daily food in the breeding season is thus obtained. Amusing gurgles 

 and croaks are indulged in by the jungle crow as he sits in the heat of the day 

 on a shady bough, which make one think that he would be easy to train to 

 talk. In the winter he migrates far into the plains. 



(13). Urocissa flavirostrls. — The Yellow-billed Blue Magpie is often seen and 

 heard in the dense forests along the ridge. Fledglings, being fed by their 

 parents, are to be seen from the beginning of June. The habits of this magpie 

 are no exception to those of the rest of the family and it lives in the breeding 

 season by harrying the nests of other birds. 



(24). Garrulus lanceolatus. — It is not difficult to observe the Black-throated 

 Jay in the forests between 6,000 and 8,000 feet. Eggs freshly taken were 

 shown me in the middle of June. The note is harsh and jay-like. 



(26). Garrulus bispecularis. — The Himalayan Jay is rather rare and I only 

 once set eyes on a pair. In a tree they remind one very much of the British 

 Jay. They breed at about 7,000 feet and the eggs are very similar to those of 

 the last species. 



(28). Nuclfraga mullipunctata. — For about ten days in the middle of June 

 the harsh chatter of the larger spotted Nutcracker was constantly heard towards 

 evening. Though rather shy I once got a close view of this bird by concealing 

 myself in bushes on the side of a hill, the bird being very high up in a pine, 

 the top of which was level with me. I am inclined to believe they had just 

 arrived at this time and subsequently started nesting operations somewhere on 

 the hill. I did not find a nest. 



