561 

 THE BIRDS OF LAHORE AND THE VICINITY. 



BY 



A. J. CURRIE. 



It is with some diffidence that I set myself to give some account of the 

 birds found at Lahore, as I fear that the list will be found far from com- 

 plete. As I have only recently made use of a collecting gun, there are of 

 necessity several species of whose identity I am far too doubtful to 

 include them here, and others which I have included under a reservation as 

 I did not shoot the bird and so totally include the possibility of mistake, 

 though tolerably certain in my own mind of their identity. However 

 I have made it clear, whenever there is any doubt. I only hope that the 

 list may prove of use to ornithologists coming to this part of the Punjab 

 for the first time, and may stimulate them and others to fill in the numerous 

 gaps. That the avifauna of the Pvmjab has changed since the " Fauna 

 of British India " was written, I think there will be found evidence below 

 and I attribute this change in especial measure to the large increase in 

 irrigation in the Punjab in recent years. 



I have included here birds seen at Atari and Muridke as these places are 

 frequently visited by sportsmen from Lahore. 



Atari is 17 miles from Lahore to the south-west on the road to Amritsar 

 and Muridke is a corresponding distance to the north-west on the grand 

 trunk road to Rawalpindi. 



There are several jhils both at these places and on the road thereto 

 which constitutes the nearest places to Lahore where water birds may be 

 found. 



My observations extended intermittently over a period of six years. 

 , The numbering and nomenclature are those given in the " Fauna of 

 British India." 



1. The Raven — Corvus corax. 



Breeds at Lahore, Atari and Muridke in January and February and 

 most nests will be found to contain young in March. Fairly plentiful 

 everywhere and apparently resident. 

 5. The Rook — Corvus frugilegus. 



Large flocks seen at Atari during the cold weather. The only 

 recorded date is in January. 

 7. The Indian House-Crow — Corvus splcndens. 



Very common at Lahore and a permanent resident. It commences 

 to breed there in June. 

 9. The Jackdaw — Corvus monedula. 



Large flocks seen at Atari during the cold weather in company with 

 flocks of rooks. The only recorded date is in January. 

 16, The Indian Tree-pie — Dendrocitta rufa. 



A common resident. Breeds March to June, but chiefly in April 

 at Lahore. 

 81. The Indian Grey Tit — Parus atriceps. 



A cold weather visitor from October to March, but not in large numbers. 

 105. The common Babbler — Argya caudata. 



Very common permanent resident. Breeds May to September, 

 chiefly in June. 

 110. The Jungle Babbler — Craterojys canorus. 



Common resident. Starts breeding in April. 

 139. The Yellow-eyed Babbler— Pyc^or^z's sinensis. 



A common resident. I have found nests in April, May and June. 



