MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 826 



water, really more mud than water and did not appear to be suffering from 

 any shot or other wound, though he was rather thin. This is very late 

 indeed for him to have been here and why he should have settled on this 

 tiny piece of watery mud I do not know. 



Baghownie Fxy, Laheria Sarai, P.O., CHAS. M. INGLIS. 



16th May 1916. 



No. XIV.— THE LATE STAY OF THE SHELDKAKE {T. COh'NUTA) 

 IN THE DARBHANGA DISTRICT, BEHAR. 



Since recording the bird got bj^ me on the 12th of this month, I 

 happened to be looking through my notes on birds and find that I recorded 

 a Sheldrake being brought to me on the 11th May 1903, or within a day 

 thirteen j^ears ago. It would thus appear that these birds are very late 

 stayers at least in this district. The former record is in Vol. XV, page 350. 

 of this Journal. 



Baghownie Ety, Laheria Sarai, P.O., CHAS. M. INCLIS. 



16^// Mai/ 1916. 



^o, XV.— NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 



I send a few notes on the Birds of Mesopotamia, which I trust will 

 prove of interest. These are compiled from records I have kept during 

 some years residence in Basrah, and from two trips I made to Ahwaz and 

 Shuster in April 1908 and May 1913. 



I have not included in this list certain birds which I have not identified, 

 but mention a few of them briefly here. Near Shuster in May 1913, I found 

 quite a number of large Reed Warblers, and one nest half built, possiblj'^ 

 these were the Clamorous Reed Warbler. Many birds probabl}^ Willow 

 Warblers are seen at Basrah in the spring, also Wagtails but I am not 

 sure whether Blue headed or Black headed. I have taken Larks' eggs 

 at Basrah, where Larks are very common, but I cannot say for certain what 

 species. I noticed many small Owls between Ahwaz and Shuster, also in 

 April 1908 I found the nest witli young at Ahwaz of a very large species 

 of Owl, possibly Eagle Owl. Harriers, Buzzards and larger birds of prey 

 are vei-y common in winter. Pelicans are often seen in winter on the 

 river, and wild fowl and the Sandpiper tribe are very numerous during the 

 winter months. 



With regard to mammals I have occasionally found Hedgehogs at Basrah. 

 which from the description in Mr. Kinnear's notes on the animals of 

 Mesopotamia, I should think would be the Syrian Hedgehog. Wild cats are 

 found at Ahwaz. Mungooses are very common at Basrah. The Hysena 

 has also been found near Basrah, and the Porcupine at Ahwaz. 



I send you under separate cover the rough skin of some sort of Shrike 

 which I shot here on 15th April last. I have not noticed this species before 

 in Basrah, and I should be very glad if you would kindly let me know 

 what it is." 



Raven, Corvus cora.r laurencii. In April 1908 I observed a pair at Ahwaz, 

 also found the nest just ready for eggs. 



Persian Hooded Crow, C. capellanus. Resident at Basrah where it breeds 

 in palm trees. 5 eggs, 4th March 1913, 4 eggs, 7th March 1913, also breeds 

 near Ahwaz. 



L. nubiciis, the masked shrike- 



