38 WANDERINGS OF A 



The striated babbler (Malacocircus candatus) is known by 

 the light brown striae on its back — slower parts dirty-white. It 

 is less in size than the pale-eared babbler (M.malcolmi), likewise 

 found here. The habits of the two are similar, frequenting 

 hedges and close cover, where they are usually seen in flocks. 



The white-eared bulbul (Botocompsa leucotis) is not, I 

 believe, found in the Deccan, although plentiful in this 

 country and the Punjaub. 



The short-toed or serpent-eagle (Circcetus gallicus) is often 

 seen soaring over dwellings, but more frequently perched on 

 a tree-top in the centre of a field, watching for its favourite 

 prey ; it lives principally on reptUes. I killed one whose 

 stomach coritained many small frogs. At a distance this 

 bird might be mistaken for the common buzzard {Buteo vul- 

 garis). It is, however, easily distinguished by the rufous 

 white of the lower parts, with brown streaks. The total 

 length is about 2 feet. 



In Scinde (as in all desert countries) ants abound. The 

 white ant (Termites), so plentifully distributed over Hindoo- 

 stan, does not seem to be common at Kurrachee ; at least 

 I did not observe the sugar-loaf nests so characteristic of its 

 presence. 



There are many other species which make their nests in 

 the open plains — entering by numerous holes in the surface 

 of the sand. In some places the ground is literally riddled with 

 these apertures. The large black species seen at Poonah is by 

 far the most common. One day, during a ramble in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Kurrachee, I observed a string of these ants ex- 

 tending from their nest across a plain for more than a quarter 

 of a mile in the direction of an out-house or barn. Instead 

 of carrying their eggs, these industrious little travellers were 

 employed in stocking up supplies for future use. In the 



