BIRDS OF THE PLAINS 



is ^indeed great, but not so great as is 

 generally supposed. 



A complete list of British birds comprises some four 

 hundred species ; of these nearly one-half occur in India. 

 But a list of British species is apt to be a misleading 

 document. You may keep a sharp look-out in England 

 for a lifetime without ever setting eyes on many of the 

 so-called British birds. Every feathered thing that has 

 been blown by contrary winds, or whose dead body has 

 been washed by the waves, on to the shores of Albion 

 has been appropriated as a British species. This sounds 

 very hospitable. Unfortunately the hospitality is of 

 a dubious nature, seeing that every casual bird visitor 

 promptly falls a victim to the gun of some self-styled 

 naturalist. Having slaughtered his " feathered friend " 

 the aforesaid naturalist proceeds to boast in the press of 

 his exploit. 



I do not deem it correct to speak of these occasional 

 visitors as British birds. On the other hand, I think 

 we may legitimately call the birds we see constantly in 

 England, at certain or all seasons of the year, English 

 birds. Of these many are also found in India. More 

 of them occur in the Punjab than in any other part of 

 the country because of our long cold weather, and 

 because, as the crow flies, if not as the sahib travels, the 

 Punjab is nearer England than is any other province. 



The ubiquitous sparrow first demands our attention. 

 This much-abused little bird is, thanks to his " push," 

 quite as much at home in the " Gorgeous East " as he 

 is in England. He is certainly not quite so abundant 

 out here; the crows and spotted owlets take care of 



