9 
32 NOTES ON THE AVIFAUNA OF MOUNT ABOO 
984.—Hydrochelidon indica, Steph. 
The Whiskered or Small Marsh Tern is also common in the 
same localities as the last during the cold weather. 
985.—Sterna seena, Sykes. 
The Large River Tern is not uncommon, occurring in most of 
the marshes in the rains and during the cold weather. In the 
change from summer to winter plumage the bill becomes dusky 
brown at the tip for about half an inch. 
[All these four species, 980, 983, 984, and 985, are more or 
less common, the former 3 during the cold season only, in suit- 
table localities throughout the entire region. It is curious that 
the last has never yet been obtained near Sambhur.—A. O. H.] 
965.—Rhynchops albicollis, Swarns, 
The Indian Skimmer is rare. I have not'met with it myself. 
but as Dr. Newman shot three or four specimens on the lake 
at Mount Aboo a year or two ago, I consider that I am justified 
in including the species in my list. 
[The occurrence of this species at the little Lake at Aboo, is 
so utterly abnormal that I suspect some mistake. The Skim- 
mer is a river bird pur et simple. Never in 25 years experi- 
ence of Indian Lakes and Swamps, have I seen a specimen on 
any of these and it never ascends rivers to any considerable 
elevation above the sea. In Sindh it is tolerably common in 
the Indus. It is not recorded nor have I seen it from any part 
of Jodhpoor, Cutch, or Kattiawar.—A. O. H.] 
1001.—Pelecanus onocrotatus, Lin. 
The European Pelican occurs in immense flocks on some of 
the tanks during the cold weather and the amount of fish they 
consume is almost incredible. Upon several occasions I have 
seen a flock form liné on the bank of a small piece of water 
and swim across in this formation about a yard apart with their 
heads under water, fishing in the most regular and systematic 
style. On reaching the opposite bank they would waddle out 
of the water and either remain to plume themselves and digest 
their meal or take wing and fly to another tank. I have never 
seen them fishing in very deep water, they usually select a 
piece sufficiently deep to swim in, and so that they can touch 
the bottom with their bills when fishing with their heads under 
water. 
[I obtained this species in Sindh, (where however P. erispus 
Bruch, is much commoner) and Mr. Adam captured a ae 
at the Lake, but I have not yet seen or heard of it (though it 
probably occurs in all of them) from any other part of J odhpoor 
from Cutch, or Kattiawar. Sa 
