1S76.] of the Gfreat Indian Desert. 91 



suckers are extremely rare. Shrikes are represented by Lanius lahtora, which 

 is common and the only species noticed amongst the sand-ldlls. Dicrurus 

 a lli rictus, the common king-crow, is found everywhere, and two hulbuls 

 (Otocompsa leucotis and Pycnonotus pwsillus) are occasionally met with, the 

 latter, contrary to what might have been expected, inhabiting the sand-hills 

 quite as often as the former, if indeed it be not the commoner form. The 

 striated babbler (Chatorhea caudata) is very abundant everywhere. Frankli- 

 nia Puchanani is not uncommon. Drymceca gracilis is v&re. Sylvia currucct 

 is frequently seen, but both S. Jerdoni and S. nana are of exceptional occur- 

 rence. The Phylloscopi are of course very rare in this treeless region. The 

 common Saxicola is 8. picata throughout the whole desert ; S. deserti is 

 not rare, but S. isabellina, so abundant in parts of Sind, keeps as usual to 

 the more fertile tracts. I saw S. chrysopygia occasionally, and it was more 

 common about the middle of March, when like other Saxicolce it was migra- 

 ting to the north. S. opisiholeuca and S. morio I only noticed about Jodh- 

 pur or between that town and Jaysalmir. Pratincola Indica (v. rubicola) 

 was occasionally seen even amongst the sand-hills, P. capratd only in the 

 more fertile tracts. Thamnobia Cambayensis was generally met with through- 

 out the region. A stray Motacilla alba or Budytes melanocephalus was 

 now and then seen near wells, and the pipits were poorly represented by the 

 occasional occurrence of Antlius campesfris and A. sordidus.* 



Larks are more abundant and the commonest species by far is the 

 finch-lark, Pyrrhulauda melanauclien (P. a finis, Blyth), the very existence 

 of which in India was scarcely known until quite recently. I was sur- 

 prised to find Mi/rafra erythroptera by no means uncommon in the Thar, 

 although it is unknown in Sind. Galerita cristata, Melanocorypha bima- 

 culata, and Calandrella brachydactyla are also found, the two latter in 

 flocks. The first is common, the other two far from rare. Passer indicus 

 occurs everywhere of course, though preferring the neighbourhood of cul- 

 tivation. O-ymnoris flavicollis is usually found where there are trees. I once 

 or twice saw PJmheriza Huttoni, but PJ. striolata is f oiind on all rocky hills. 

 Munia JSPalabarica is common. Ravens (Corvus corax) are seen everywhere, 

 the two common crows (C. Vaillanti and O. impiodicus) only about cultiva- 

 tion. Pastor roseus is occasionally common, even amongst the sand-hills, 

 but the two forms of maina (Acridotheres tristis and A. ginginianus) are 

 only seen about villages. Doves are represented by Titrtur Cambayensis 

 and T. risorius, common everywhere, whilst the common wild pigeon 

 (Coliomba intermedia) breeds in all wells. On the sand-hills I saw no sand- 

 grouse ; they onhy occur where water is procurable, but they occasionally 

 drink at wells : the only common species is Pterocles exustus, but P. arena- 



* A. Jercfani, Finsch, A. griseo-rufescens, Hume. I find Mr. Blyth was right in 

 uniting the Indian bird with the African form. 



