1922.] Birds of Jliang District. 431 



easily distinguisbaLle from the calls of the various otlior 

 species which breed in the same area. 



Twelve eggs taken yield the following measurements : — 

 Lennth 29"5 to 32'5 mm., breadth 22 to 24 mm. : average 

 measurement 30*8 x 23 mm. 



Sterna melanogaster Temm. (1 skin.) 



The Black-bellied Tern breeds fairly commonly on the 

 river sand-banks from March mitil May ; it nests both in 

 company with the colonies of other Terns and also solitarily. 

 It is a resident species and, like the other Terns, wanders a 

 good deal out of the breeding-season. Birds in the white- 

 bellied stage of plumage were only observed in September. 



Sterna seena Sykes. 



Breeds commonly on the river sand-banks about May and 

 June, and is a resident species, wandering out of the breed- 

 ing-season along the canals and to any patch of water. Tliis 

 Tern may often be seen travelling high in the air overland. 



Eynchops albicollis Swains. 



The Scissorbill breeds on the river sand-banks from April 

 to June, in company with the colonies of Terns. It is appa- 

 rently a summer visitor only, as I have not seen it before 

 24 March or later than G October, 1919. 



Houbara imdulata macqueeni (Gray & Hardw.). (1 skin.) 

 The Houbara Bustard is a common winter visitor to the 

 district, which is in parts peculiarly adapted to its habits. 

 It frequents three types of ground. Firsth', portions of the 

 riverain area, as about Ahmevl[)ur, where patches of cultiva- 

 tion, both wheat and })ulses, alternate w ith stretches of sand 

 and thickets of tamarisk scrub. Secondly, it is to be found 

 in the " Budh " or ancient river-courses which crop up here 

 and there in the district, as at Mochiwala ; these are sandy 

 areas, used for grazing camels, studded fairly thickly M'ith 

 stunted Jal-trees and thorny bushes, and usually surrounded 

 by cultivation. Thirdly, and most commonly, it is to be 

 found in the wide semi-desert plains, as those of Shorkot 



