96 
Egret Farming in Sind. 
The young hybrid was fed by its parents for a long 
time after it coutd provide for itself, and it developed into a 
strong, healthy bird. 
I recently compared the hybrid with the hen Grey 
Finch. There is very little difference in the colouring of the 
upper surface, but the under surface of the young hybrid is 
much paler, and shows a good deal of white, especially on the 
throat and abdomen. 
The members of the genus Spermophila, do not appear 
to get their full adult plumage for a considerable time, at least 
not in their first year, and I still have hope that the hybrid 
will prove to be a male, especially as the light areas on its 
under surface correspond roughly with the pattern of the 
White-throat. 
The old birds are still in fine condition, and I am 
looking forward to further success with them during the coming 
season. 
♦ 
Egret Farming in Sind. 
Reprinted from " The Journal of the Bombay Natural History 
Society," by kind permission of the Author, G. Birch, Esq. 
In connection with the " plumage question " at present so much 
to the fore it will perhaps cause no little surprise to many to hear 
that the Little Egret (Hirodias garzetta) is now being bred and reared 
with marked success in captivity and on an extensive scale in many 
parts of Sind, and that the Mirbahars (the generic term by which the 
fisher -folk of the inland waters of the Province are known) are building 
up a lucrative trade in osprey feathers plucked from the plumage of 
these birds, in the same way as feathers are plucked from the Ostrich. 
During the course of residence on duty in the village of Ber 
in the Kamber Taluka of the Larkana District the writer spent somfe 
considerable time in investigating personally the modus operandi of the 
breeders, and has thought it worth while to record the results of his 
investigations, as the Egret or White Heron is regarded popularly as 
requiring most protection by the state against the depredations of man 
in the pursuit of the beautiful osprey plumes, now so valuable a com- 
moditj- in the world of fashion. 
The village of Ber is situated on the edge of the Chango Lake 
or dhand in the Larkana District. 
At a distance of about three hundred yards from the village, 
and practically on the edge of the water, a colony of Mirbahars num- 
l)ering some 200 men, women, and children, have their abode in reed 
huts A feature which attracted the writer's attention, since hjs last 
