NOTEfi ON THE JilRl)^ OF AM BALA DUSTltlCT, PU^SJAB. 071 



colouring acconling to the time of the year, probably putting 

 on the black head as the breeding season approaches.* [That 

 this view of the case is correct, there is probably little doubt vf. 

 Von der Miihle. Monoge. Eur. Sylv. p. 48. Editor. " Ibis"]. 



The specimens just mentioned (A. and B.). . . .were moulting, 

 the tail not being fully developed, but the white outer feathers 

 beginning to show in it. 



A specimen (C), killed 27th October, was beginning to get a 

 black head. It also was moulting, and was the first 1 had 

 come across with any trace of the black plumage. Irides grey, 



A fourth specimen (D.), killed on November 12th, had a fully 

 developed black head, audits colour altogether of a brighter and 

 purer hue than the specimens above-mentioned, one of which 

 was a female ; but the sexes of the others were not ascertained." 



402* The Indian Lesser Whitethroat — 6>//rz« afpnis (Blyth.) 

 Beavan has the following note about this species : — 

 " A bird found very abundantly throughout the station of 

 Ambala in the cold weather appears to be referable to this 

 species. (Lord Walden, however, suspects it to be identical 

 with the Common SVhitethroat of England (.S'. einerea), as Dr. 

 Jerdon formerly it. See, however, Mr. Blyth's remarks on this 



point (Ibis, 1867. p. 28.) My specimens agree fairly in 



their measurements with the dimensions given by Dr. Jerdon, 

 except in length, since none of mine exceed /j'O. It seems 

 probable that Col. Tytler is mistaken in referring the Ambala 

 bird to this species instead of to S. curnica with the description 

 of which it agrees equally well." 



1 found this Whitethroat to be a most abundant and generally 

 distributed winter visitor to all the plains portions of the district. 

 It had already arrived when I reached Ambala on 23rd October 

 and there were r.till many about when I left on the 20th of 

 April. 



The note is a slightly harsh chipping one, but about February 

 the birds seemed to become rather silent until the end of March 

 when I first heard the short but pleasant song. The species is 

 usually solitary in habits but 1 came across a party, perhaps 

 migrating, on 6th April. On 11th February I found two preparing 

 to roost in a kikur bush ; they were sitting side by side close 

 together in love bird fashion. 



407, The Siberian Chiftchaff — F/ii/l/oscopics tnsfis, Blyth. 



" Procured at Ambala, 2yrd October 1866." (Beavan.) 

 Found to be common during November when I met with it at 

 •Jagadri and Bilaspur as well as at Ambala, After that I did 

 not note it until 2oth January after which date it was observed 

 occasionally at Ambala, Rupar and Chandighar until 3rd April, 

 than which I have no later record. 



408. The Olivaceous Willow- Warbler — Phylloscopus indicus (.Jerd.)^ 



First observed at Chandighar on 26th March when it was very 

 common on migration. Here I made the following note on its 

 habits : — " Seoms to combine the habits of a willow wren and an 

 accentor ; found commonly, often 2 or 3 together, in small 

 bushes or wandering about on the ground at their bases, both 

 about cultivation, or on the stony bush clad hill sides behind 



• Beavan's own specimens shew that this view is wronf? : the colonration of the 

 head is a question of sex and age. 



