114 Contributions to the Ornitliology of India, 8fc. 



wicki, CJiatarrhaa caudata, francolins and grey partridg-e, some 

 houbara^ Dendrocitta rufa, several small flocks of sparrows, in 

 which a ^QVf Fasser salicarius were inter ming-led, a few Saxicola 

 picata (but no other wheatears) kites and neophrons, common 

 crows, and a few ravens. A few Burnesia gracilis, and a party 

 of Acridotheres ginginianus. 



nth. — To Tug-wanee, 16 miles. The country still much the 

 same. For part of the distance the road led over vast plains, like 

 the oosur tracts of the N. W. Provinces, very sparsely studded 

 with the wild caper, Capparis spinosa, a kind of acacia, and tama- 

 risk. For part of the distance, there were dense thickets of high 

 tamarisk trees, through miles of which we wandered carefully 

 »■" searching for birds. Veiy few species were to be seen. Buteoferox 

 I J I*' was the only bird of prey. Otocompsa leticotis and Lanius isahel- 

 h:}'\.,'-' Units were very common. Paloeornis torqiuda a few flocks, 

 ^y'' Pratlncolaindica'imficaprata, Phyllopseuste negleeta, Collyrio la- 

 thora and HardwicJci, Chatarrhcea caudata, Acridotheres tristis, Rtiti- 

 cilla riifiventris in the Phanictir aides stage, Fericrocotus eryihro- 

 pygins and Thamnohia, probably camhaiensis, but showing a 

 decided , approach to ftdicata, Turtur risorius and camiayensis, 

 Saxicola capistrata vel picata. 



\%th. — To Hussen-ke-Ghurree. The country just the same 

 as before, but the bare plains, the '' phut^'' as it is here cal- 

 led, predominating. The birds similar to those of the preced- 

 ing day, with flocks of starlings such as I have noticed on 

 previous days, though I have forgotten to note them. I also 

 noticed several Saxicola Kingi. Then amongst the trees here, 

 I got two Ficiis scindeanus, both females. In the fields were 

 numerous large crested larks, of which I shot several, Q. cristata / 

 we also shot some pigeons, C. intermedins. There were enor- 

 mous flocks of crows and parakeets which came to settle on 

 the siris [Acacia sirissd) trees here. 



V^th. — Rode into Jacobabad. The country slightly more cul- 

 tivated than what we have hitherto traversed, but still retaining 

 its character of boundless waste plains— here almost bare, here 

 thickly wooded with tamarisk bushes and trees. The new 

 feature in the march was that the road crossed two belts of bare 

 shifting sand-hills, and in the neighbourhood of these, I saw and 

 shot for the first time Alaemon desertoricm. This bird, at a little 

 distance, looks very white. It runs rapidly on the sand back- 

 wards and forwards, then stands quite erect, looking at one, then 

 again runs away, turns and runs back — is apparently not shy. 

 When at length it takes flight, the two white bars on the wing 

 (so happily described by the name " bifascia.ta") are very conspi- 

 cuous. The feet and legs are china-white, exactly similar to 



