434 Mr. H. Whistler on the [Ibis, 



2 April. Again about 2.30 p.m. a large nmviber of Cranes 

 were seen circling over until joined by following 

 parties, when all started off in the same direc- 

 tion. They were very noisy and flying fast at 

 a great height. 



3, 4, 5 April. Small parties were seen at different times 

 following the same line bnt flying rather lower. 



7 April. Two flocks seen in the evening following the same 

 route, but flying more in a skein of long lines. 



Next spring I was naturally on the look-out for a similar 

 migration, but was disappointed ; only a few flocks were 

 seen flying north-east on 27 and 29 March and 1 April. 



It is probable that their route for some reason had shifted 

 farther west, for Mr. A. A. Phillips, I S.R., wrote to me 

 from Kundian (Mianwali District) on 27 March, 1919, as 

 follows : — 



"Just a line to give you a note ?'^the C'ranes on migration 

 here at present. I have noticed a number about lately, bnt did 

 not really observe them until the 23i'd of March. That day we 

 had a strong south wind. Flock after flock came flying low 

 from the desert here, where they had apparently been feed- 

 ing on the gram. On reaching the neighbourhood of my 

 bungalow they started rising, and wheeled right over the 

 bungalow to 1000 ft. or so elevation and then headed off due 

 north. This went on all the morning. Since then we have 

 had north winds, and I have not seen any migrating. I think 

 those I saw on the 23rd March were mostly Common Cranes. 

 Since then I have seen a good number from mv bungalow 

 out in the desert, and on the 25th of March C. and I wont out 

 after them. They were a sight worth seeing and hearing. 

 There seemed to l)e vast divisions of them about, but we only 

 shikared one division : while they were feeding on the 

 ground there was a broatl band of them for about 1^ miles. 

 When alarmed they bunched together and looked just like a 

 white pebble beach about 100 by 500 j^ds. in extent, and 

 when they rose the noise was just like the roaring of the sea. 

 We shot three, which were all Demoiselles. The vast majority 

 of those we saw were Demoiselles, but I saw a few Common 

 Cranes also. I have not been out again since, but I have not 



