Birds of the Jhelion District. 
129 
(Archa cinerca), a Great ^^■hite Egret (Htrodias alba), 
and a party of Reed Buntings (Embcriza schocnichis) 
were noted. I shot a Yellow -headed Wagtail {MolaciUd 
rUrcola) — the first noted since June last. 
A single Quail Hushed in some wheat. A small num- 
ber began to arrive about the middle of the month and 
the (^uail -catchers started operations, but not until next 
month will the birds become numerous. 
A siiigli' Swift (Cypscbts ajfinis) seen, also two Bay- 
back d Shrikes (Liniiits ritfufiis). 
Feb. 5. — Sohawa. A flock of Striated Buntings (Emhcriza .iliiulataj 
noted. Visited the ponds where I saw a single Teal and a 
Full Snip:'. Indian Little Grebe.? {Podicipes alhipcrniin) 
and Coots (Fulica a Ira) are fairly numerous and resident 
here . 
Feb. 6. — Sohawa. A spring of five or six Common Teal on the ponds, 
the drakes in full plumage. 
Eeturned to hea,dquarf ers to find my compound full of 
Himalayan Black Bulbuls {Hypsipctcs psaroidcs) which 
remained about for the rest of this month . During the 
summer the species is one of the most familiar birds of 
the Himalayan Hill Stations, its noisy calls being heard all 
day long. The species is very sociable and entirely arboreal, 
usually frequenting the tops of the highest trees. The 
food appears to consist chiefly of fruit, and I noticed that 
the berries of a Drake tree in my compound were soon 
devoured . 
Feb. 7. — Five Black Vultures (ViiJtar iiionachus) seen ; this flue 
species has been noted here on several occasions during the 
winter, being met with for the first time on 17th November. 
A King Vulture seen . 
In the Eak I flushed an immature Merlin (Falco 
acsalon^, which was at once chased by a King Crow 
(Dicrurus atrr) — a good example of the pugnacity for 
which the latter is noted ! 
A great increase noted in the numbers of Mi'rula 
atrigularis which is now very common both in the Rak, 
and in the compounds of Civil Lines Rooks and Jackdaws 
continue numerous ; but Starlings have certainly decreased in 
numbers . 
A number of Reed Buntings noted in the same place 
as given in last month's diary. 
Feb. 8. — Spent the day on the river, covering the same stretch of 
water as referred to in last month's diary. There were 
great numbers of Duck about, of which the majority were 
Mallard, but Teal, Pintail, Shovellers, and Tufted Duck 
