460 A LIST OF BIRDS OBSERVED IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD, &C. 



they were exhausted birds resting during a course of migration. 

 They were only obtained in March. 



F. atra will live in confinement, and does not appear any the 

 worse for it. I used to feed them upon soaked grain and rice ; 

 they never became tame. 



910. — Porzana bailloni, Vieill. 



These birds were abundant in September, and were easily 

 caught by hand as, instead of taking refuge in flight, they 

 would merely run to the nearest bush and hide. 



930.— Ardeola grayi, Sykes. 



Several were seen on the 1st July, and a specimen in breed- 

 ing plumage secured ; they were never afterwards met with. 



962.— Querquedula crecca, Lin. 



A few common Teal were obtained by an officer of the R. A. 

 during winter at a small pool of water not far from Chaman. 



975.— Podiceps minor, Gm. 



Numbers of the Little Grebe were seen on the 10th Septem- 

 ber, vide remark under Lobipes hyperboreus. 



987. — Sterna melanogastra, Tem. 



Only observed once hawking over a small pool of water close 

 to the Fort. It was not unco mmon in the Bolan Pass. 



Naturally the normal scarcity of water ia the neighbour- 

 hood of Chaman would prevent the list of water-birds ever 

 comparing with that of almost any part of Sindh for instance, 

 but the abnormal drought which prevailed throughout my resi- 

 dence there left scarcely a drop of water anywhere to which 

 any wild fowl could come, and hence the excessive meagreness 

 of my list where water birds are. concerned. Doubtless in sea- 

 sons of good rainfall a very large addition to the Avifauna, but 

 specially to the water birds, must occur. 



