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A NOTE ON SOME BIRDS OF THE GUJRANWALA 

 DISTRICT, PUNJAB. 



BY 



Hugh Whistler, M.B.O.U. 



Glujranwala is the headquarters of a District of that name situated 

 in the Lahore Division of the Punjab. 



On the north-east it is bordered for some 80 miles by the River 

 Chenab, which separates it from the Gujrat and Shahpur disti-icts. 

 On the south-east it is divided from the Lahore District by the 

 River Ravi. Geographically as well as physically it lies between 

 the fertile submontane district of Sialkot on the East and the 

 desert of Jhang on the West. 



I was posted there from the 26th of March until the 14th of 

 October, 1915. I spent as much of my leisure as possible in that 

 period in collecting and observing the birds in the area round 

 Gujranwala. The notes that were then made are here set on record 

 to be available for those who, at any time, may desire to make a 

 complete list of the birds of the district. I have also incorporated a 

 few observations made during a short visit in the last week of 

 December 1913. 



As some excuse for their incompleteness, it may be mentioned 

 that I had hardly any opportunity of moving about the district, and 

 with the exception of two periods of casual leave to the Hills, and 

 a few days on tour, I remained continuously in Gujranwala itself. 

 This is not a profitable field. Gujranwala is famous for its gardens, 

 but the country round is a flat featureless plain of cultivation. On 

 one side runs the main canal, and the plantations along its banks 

 were attractive to migrants, and proved one of my best hunting 

 grounds. 



From its position near the Hills, which are visible under favour- 

 able conditions, with regard to the north-west corner of the 

 Punjab, Gujranwala may be looked on as well situated for the 

 observation of migration ; a longer acquaintance with the district 

 and more opportunities for moving about and collecting might be 

 expected to produce good results. 



The famous duck jheel of Hafizabad lies within the district, but I 

 had not a chance to visit it. 



The order and nomenclature here adopted is that of Blanford and 

 Oates in the four Volumes of Birds, " Fauna of British India" 

 Series. 



1. The Raven — Corvus corax , L. 



The Raven was common during my stay in the district both in 

 Headquartes at Gujranwala, and at such places as Hafizabad, 



