618 Dr. C. B. Ticehurst on [Ibis, 



they fly ofif in unmixed flocks, and the vast flights of Pastors 

 and Starlings from the Sewage Farm across the city to the 

 engine sheds of Karachi Cantonment Station, where they 

 roost, was one of the ornithological sights of Karachi. The 

 Pastor is, I think, in Sind a bird beneficial to agriculture. 

 1 saw no damage done by them ; on the other hand, they 

 must eat an enormous number of harmful insects. In the 

 " Report on the food of the Jowari-bird " (as it is called in 

 some parts) J. Bombay N, H. S. ix. p. Q^^ it is stated : — " The 

 locusts in Sind in 1889-90 were reported to have been exter- 

 minated by Jowari-birds, which did not attempt to eat the 

 locusts but snipped them in two and left them (!) .... The 

 Deputy (Commissioner of Thar and Pashar reports (Dec. 21, 

 1891) that the Jowari-birds have materially assisted in 

 clearing the district of locusts." 



The juvenile plumage is moulted entirely, beginning with 

 the wings and tail at the end of August, followed by the 

 body in September and October ; in colour the sexes are 

 alike. For plumages see Pract. Hdbk. pp. 37-8, which 

 account I can confirm. The brownish winter bill turns to 

 pink in spring, and the base of the lower numdible to black ; 

 this part in the young bird is yellowish. The mouth of the 

 adult male is dark plum-colour, greenish at the front of the 

 palate ; in the female these parts are duller. 



Eleven males : wing 125-136 ; bill 21-2G mm. Seven 

 females : wing 122-129 ; bill 23-24 mm. 



Sturnus vulgaris poltaratskii Finsch. " Karo Whaheo." 

 A common but local winter visitor to Sind. Hume says 

 he met with it in large flocks everywhere except in the most 

 barren parts of the country. I think one might go even 

 further than that and say that the Starling is only met with 

 on permanently damp ground, that is, irrigated agricultural 

 fields and the grassy edges of jheels, canals, etc. At Karachi 

 it is the latest of all the winter visitors to arrive, very 

 regularly during the last days of October and the first week 

 of November. Great numbers haunt the Sewage Farm 

 there all the winter, feeding on flooded-out insects in fields 



