Notes on the Birds of the Sambhur Lake Sf its viciniti/. 40S 



981. — Larus ridibundus, L. 



Very plentiful during the cold weather and up to the begin- 

 ning of the hot weather. 



1 have a fine male in full summer plumage which was shot 

 15th March 1873. Length, 17-5; expanse, 37-7; tail, from 

 vent, 4-7. 



983.— Sterna nilotica, Blasselq. 



Common during the cold weather. I have a female, shot 3rd 

 September 1870, without a single streak in the head feathers • 

 all the feathers of the occiput and nape are very pale light-grey. 



984.— Sterna hybrida, Fallas. 



The small marsh tern is very common about the lake during, 

 the cold weather ; wheu the brine becomes dense, it takes to the 

 fresh- water ponds. I have birds in a variety of plumage, shot 

 on 31st April, one in full summer dress, others with grey and 

 white feathers on the breast, and one with about half an inch 

 of white on the forehead and no grey on the breast. The legs 

 of this latter bird are very dails in color, while the legs of the 

 others are very dull-red. 



1001.— Pelicanus onocrotalus, L. 



I have only obtained one specimen of a pelican. At different 

 times I have seen flocks flying overhead, but I have never 

 seen a flock settled about the neighbourhood. The bird I 

 captured had met with an accident of some sort and could not 

 fly, and it was captured alive. 



1005." Graculus carbo, L, 



The large cormorant is rare. I once saw a party of about 

 ten, and succeeded in securing a pair.. The male, shot 30th 

 March 1871, had the white hair-like feathers on the neck 

 which Jerdon mentions. 



1007.— Graculus melanognathus, Brandt. 



This species is not common, but small parties are now and then 

 seen about the ponds. 



1008.— Plotus melanogaster, Fenn. 



I have only observed this bird on one occasion at Sambhur, 

 21st June 1873. The specimen obtained was a male. The 



