94 

 FURTHER NOTES ON BIRDS ABOUT SIMLA. 



BY 



Hugh Whistler, f.z.s., m.b.o.u. 



In Volume XXVI of the Journal, pages 770-775, I recorded a 

 -short series of observations made out at Pagoo near Simla in 1918, 

 Tinder the impression that it would be a long time before I should 

 again have an opportunity of visiting that locality. The unexpect- 

 ed however always happens and the end of October 1919 found 

 me under orders to spend a month's leave in Simla to recover from 

 the effect of illness. This gave me an excellent opportunity of 

 increasing and supplementing the observations of the previous 

 year, more specially as I reached Simla on November 2nd Mdiereas 

 the previous visit had ended on October 31st. From the 2nd to 

 the 1 3th November I was in Simla itself and thereby limited in 

 my field for observation to occasional expeditions to neighbouring 

 hillsides. The period from 13th to 23rd November was spent 

 -at Fagoo with 'I ally collecting and observation, and on the 27th 

 November I finally left Simla for the plains. As many very in- 

 teresting species were met with, and a series of over a hundred 

 skins was collected, it appears desirable to set these notes on record. 

 With them have been incorporated the results of a short period 

 rspent at Fagoo by Captain Claud Ticehurst, R.A.M.C, from the 

 15th to the 21st October. The original intention was for us both 

 to have been there together, but this plan unfortunately was upset 

 by various causes. It will be seen that the list now given includes 

 7 species which do not appear in the list of birds of the Simla Hills 

 by Mr. A. E. Jones (Jour. B. N. H. S., Vol. XXVI, 601) and fur- 

 ther work in these parts will certainly bring more additions to 

 light. The field is very great and many species are exceedingly 

 local and capricious in their distribution. 



In the case of certain of the more interesting specimens obtained 

 I have appended a few notes on measurements, etc., etc. The mea- 

 surements have been taken in accordance with the methods used 

 in the " Practical Hand-book of British Birds " (Witherby^. I feel 

 that some apology is required for the changes in nomenclature, 

 not only as compared with the Fauna, but even with my previous 

 note, I can however only iirge that it is inevitable that these notes 

 should reflect the general instability of ornythological nomencla- 

 ture, annoying at the moment, but intended ultimately to secure a 

 -general uniformity. 



The Jungle Crow, Cioides intermedius, Adams. 



Abundant iu all the places visited as before. 



The Himalayan Nut-cracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes hemispila, Vig, 



