794 



BIRD NOTES FROM THE CAMPBELLPUR-ATTOCK 



DISTRICT, WESTERN PUNJAB. 



By 



A. E. Jones, m.b.o.u. 



The following notes were made during a stay of fourteen weeks in 

 the cold season, 1918-19. 



For the most part the country in the district under notice consists 

 of a bare undulating sandy plain, intersected towards the South by 

 steep nullahs which drain into the Haro River, beyond which are the 

 low hills known as the " Kala Chitta Rsserve " rising to a height qf 

 some 2,000 feet above sea level. On the West at Attock the Indus 

 runs between almost barren hills before it emerges once more in to 

 flat country where it is, some miles lower down, joined by the Haro 

 River, the junction of the two rivers being some 14 miles from 

 Campbellpur. 



Very few trees exist on this plain and these most along the roads an d 

 round the villages. These are principally " Sheeshum," " Keeknr," 

 and Mulberry. On the " Kala Chitta Reserve" hills, however, there 

 is plenty of scrub interspersed with numerous stunted Keekur and 

 Mimosa trees. As a consequence this portion of the district best pays 

 investigation, from an ornithological point of view. 



The list contains the names of some few species the respective distri- 

 bution of which are but imperfectly loiown. A great many interesting 

 additions would doubtless be made by the bird man fortunate enough 

 to be in those parts during the height of the migration seasons. 



The nomenclature is that adopted by Oates and Blanford in the 

 " Fauna of India " volumes, and the serial numbers are those of the 

 species in that work. 



The few instances where trinomials have been used will, I hope, as 

 in the case of Emberiza cia par, denote the race (or races) met with. 

 1. Corvus corax laurencei, Hume. — The Raven. 



Abundant everywhere. Nesting operations commenced about 

 the beginning of February and most nests were placed in small 

 niches or on narrow ledges of the steep cliffs of the River Haro ; 

 one, however, was built on the girders of the iron bridge which 

 carries the railway to Kohat. The bridge here is about SO feet 

 above the level (winter) of the river. One nest contained six eggs 

 on 2.5th February 1919. 



4. Corvus macrorJiyuchus , Wagler. — The Jungle Crow. 



By no means common in the neighbourhood of Campbellpur ; 

 at Attock, however, where the country is hilly, and in the " Kala 

 Chitta Reserve " it was noticed on most days, usually singly, but 

 if- food was at hand, sometimes as many as four or five might be 

 seen at a carcass. 



5. Corvus frugilegus, Linn. — The Rook. 



Yery common near Cantonments. Apparently roosting places 

 were some distance away for I never saw any signs of their congrega- 

 ting towards evening. 



