Diary of a J'oyagc from Karachi to Marseilles. 79 



bowed, then sharply turned with a quick strike on the one bell- 

 note; I have never seen this done before. It is wonderful how 

 he can continue the sound of the bell-notes, many times in 

 succession, with mouth wide open, and in one breath the sound 

 proceeds from his throat. 



Diary of a Voyage from Karachi to Marseilles, 1920 



By Hugh Whistler, F.Z.S. 



The following- rough account of birds noticed during the 

 course of a sea voyage from India does not lay claim to any 

 scientific or literary pretensions. It has always been my custom 

 while at sea to keep a note of all birds which come under 

 observation, and it occurs to me that possibly some of our 

 members, whom circumstances do not allow to travel, may be 

 interested to get a rough idea of what birds can be seen from the 

 deck of a liner passing along one of the ordinary sea routes. 



Where possible I have indicated the position of the ship 



at noon, and the number of miles travelled in the preceding 24 



hours. 



May 17TH. Embarked on the City of London at Kiamari 

 (Karachi) about noon. Hempriche's Gull {Larus 

 hcmprichi) in full breeding plumage was very common in 

 the harbour. A few Kites (Milviis govinda) were also 

 round the ships. 



About 4 p.m. a stream of birds, apparently Phalacro- 

 corax javanicus, in V's and lines was passing across the 

 harbour 



M.AY i8th. 22° GO X 68° 45' E. 206 miles. No birds seen, 

 though land was occasionally in sight. It is possible 

 that depth of water rather than distance from land 

 accounts for the presence or absence of birds. 



May [9TH. Reached Bombay about noon and lay out in the 

 harbour, leaving again about 6 p.m. The most common 

 bird seen was the Kite (Milvus govinda). Ihe only 

 Gulls seen were a single bird in full breeding plumage, 

 apparently Larus brunneicephalus, and a party of about 



