MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 829 



^Voodcock, Scolvpa.v rusticola. Occasionally seen near Basrali in winter. 

 Shot 2, 21st December 1907, one 15th January 1911, one 17th January 

 1909, and one 9th February 1908. 



White-winged Black Tern, Hijdrocliclidon leucaptcra. Occasionally seea 

 at Basrah, observed a pair 8th June 1909, so probably breeds there. 



Common Tern, Sterna Jiuviatilis. Breeds near Basrah early June. 



Lesser Tern, S. saundersi. (?) do. do. 



Common Cormorant. VhaJacrooora.r carho. Not uncommon at Basrah in 

 winter. 



Pygmy Cormorant, P. pyymceu^. On May 15th, 1 received a large number 

 of eggs of this species, which had been taken in the marshes north of 

 Kurna. 



African Darter, Flutus rufus. Together with the eggs of the preceding 

 species, were a large number of Darter's eggs taken from the same locality. 



White Stork, Ciconea alba. Not uncommon at Basrah in winter, but does 

 not stay to breed, breeds at Sinister and Baghdad. 



Little Bittern, Ardetta viinuta. Not uncommon at Basrah, I have taken 

 eggs on 8th, 14th and 18th May, 7tli and 14th June. 



Bittern, Botauris ><tellann. Not unconnnon at Basrah in winter in suit- 

 able localities. 



Flamingo, Pltcenicopterus roseus. Have seen this species in the marshes 

 near Basrah. 



Ruddy Sheldrake, Camraa. rutila. In April 1908, I observed several of 

 these birds on the Gargar River, where they w^ere breeding, j'oung being 

 seen the previous year on the water about the beginning of June. At the 

 end of May 1913 no trace of this species was observed in that locality, and 

 from enquiries made from natives I gathered thej^ had not been seen there 

 during the. two preceding years. 



Mallard, Anas boscas. Common near Basrah in winter. 



Gadwall, A. strepara. Common near Basrah in Avinter. 



Common Teal, Nettion crecca. do. do. 



Wigeon, Mareca penelope. Winter, Basrah. 



Pintail, Dafila acuta. do. 



Shoveler, Spatula clypeata. Occasionally shot in winter near Basrah. 



Pochard, Nyroca ferina. do. do. 



Red-crested Pochard, Netta ruflna. Common near Basrah in winter. 



Tufted Duck, Nyroca fuligula. do. 



Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus. Occasionally seen in winter 

 near Basrah. 



Indian Little Grebe, P. albipennis. Resident at Basrah. On 9th June 

 1908 I found six nests containing 6, 5, 5, 4, 4, and 3 eggs respectively, 

 these were all within an area of a few hundred square yards. 



Basrah, ISth July 1916. A. G. TOMLINSON. 



No. XVI.— BIRDS' NESTING ROUND FEROZEPORE. 



Possibly my experience round Ferozepore may prove interesting to some 

 ornithologists and useful to others. I have not taken the nests of the 

 species written about, myself, and it must not be assumed that countless 

 other birds do not breed here as well. 



The Striated Babbler, Argya earlii. This bird is pretty fairly common 

 anywhere near irrigation canals, rivers or in the neighbourhood of water, 

 where sarkari grass is to be found. It haunts such localities and nests in 

 the tussocks. The nest is a neat tidy cup, well finished off, and concealed 



