40 Mr, Hugh Whistler on the 



while the nests were being examined. One pair made 

 several stoops at the man as he scaled the cliflF-face, and for 

 a moment or two I feared that he was in danger of being 

 made to lose his balance ; another pair settled within a yard 

 or two of me as I approached their nest, and when I threw 

 bits of earth to drive them away, merely watched the 

 missiles, leaning to one side or the other to avoid them. 



They are accustomed to roost in large companies. During 

 the hot weather from June until October, when I had occa- 

 sion frequently to traverse the Mandra-Chakwal tonga-road 

 by night, I used to see about fifty birds sleeping in two trees 

 by the roadside, and even during the nesting-season I noted 

 evening flights of birds that were apparently making for 

 similar roosts. In the Salt Range they are very destructive 

 to the millet, cutting off and carrying away whole heads of 

 the seed. 



Corvus corone. The Carrion Crow. 



Single examples of this species were perhaps seen with 

 the other crows in the Rak on January 13 and 20. I 

 sbot the latter but failed to pick it up, so the record must 

 remain doubtful. It is, however, recorded as a fairly 

 common winter visitor to Banuu, and examples are therefore 

 likely to occur in this district. 



Corvus frugilegus. The Kook. 



An extremely numerous winter visitor to the plains about 

 Jhelum, but apparently not occurring at Cliakwal or in the 

 Salt Range except as a straggler. The first birds arrived 

 about the third week of October, and the species was 

 abundant by the end of the month, although its full 

 numbers were perhaps not attained until December. It con- 

 tinued in force throughout January, but a decrease became 

 apparent about the second week of February, and there were 



