1922.] the Birds of Sind. 613 



even of the Ptmjab. It may no doubt be easily overlooked 

 from its close resemblance in the field to brevirodris. 



Pericrocotus peregrinus pallidus Baker. 



Tlic Wanderin;^- Minivet is resident and fairly common 

 wherever, even in the more desert parts, sufficient trees for 

 its requirements are found. It is principally a bird of 

 the acacia " babool " though also met -with in other trees, 

 as well as in man 00 and guava plantations. It is rather 

 a local bird, and one may wander some time through 

 groves and forest without coming across one ; but when met 

 with in winter it is always in a small party of six to eight 

 individuals, and at such times I have ahvays noted that 

 females predominate to the extent of about four to one male, 

 unless it be that these birds do not acquire adult male 

 plumage in the first year, but of this I have never seen 

 any proof. The flocks keep rather to the sunny aspect of 

 the tree-tops, whence they sally out at times to take 

 insect prey in flycatcher-fashion, while in the breeding- 

 season the male may be frequently seen perched on the tip- 

 top ere he launches forth in his display flight. I never was 

 able to find the nest of tliis bird, but I believe it breeds in 

 April and May : thus one obtained on 15 May was in breeding 

 condition, while one on 26 May had commenced its post- 

 nuptial moult. 



Hume, fifty years ago, remarked on the paleness of Sind 

 birds, as did also Gates in the 'Fauna.' In the Bull. B. 0. 0. 

 xl. ]). 115, Mr. Stuart Baker has separated the Sind bird as 

 pallidus. There are two males and six birds in female dress 

 in the British Museum, and these I have examined together 

 with my series of two males and three females. I must say 

 at once that the type of ^yallidus is an abnormally pale bird; 

 but Mr. Baker has complicated the separation of what I 

 l)elieve to be an excellent racial form by fixing the type- 

 locality of I\ p. peregrhws as Ambala. Now, wherever 

 Linnjcus obtained his S|)ecimen from, and it seems certain 

 fiom his description (see also ' Stray Feathers,' v. p. 181) that 

 it came from northern India, it almost certainly never came 

 from anywhere in the Punjab. According to a map of 



