134 
Birdfi of the Jhclum District. 
Eagle -Owl sitting in the same tree — its sol(>uin face ap- 
parently annoyed the Falcon I 
A parly of Striated Swuliows seen in the evening. 
Feb. 22nd.— Travelled from Alandra to Chakvval, 37 miles by tonga. 
Large floeks of Skylarks and Short -toed Larks in the fields 
all along the road. The Indian King Dove {Turfnr 
risoriu.s) was ako very numerous in floeks along the roa l. 
Two Black -bellied Sand -grouse (Ptcroclcs antniriii.s) 
noted. Also two wandering Tree Pies n I rod ltd mfi). 
The only ones that I have seen m the district except in the 
Salt Eange. A flock of Small Minivets {Pcricrocofa/i 
percgrinus) . 
"i^rd. — C'hakwal. A Kestrel ana a \A all Creeper noted. 
1 was searching a small stretch of cliPfs by a dry 
water -course, when 1 noted a pair of Eavens settle on an 
outstanding corner . Arriving at the spot I saw^ the nest on 
a ledge near the top of the cliff, and the female flew off. 
These cliffs are of very hard earth, which sufl'ers greatly 
in the rains, large masses being undermined and falling, and 
great holes being formed, un; il the outline of the cliff be- 
comes most broken and fantastic. I was able to climb up 
sufficiently near to stand a few feet below the nest, to the 
great displeasure of the Eavens, who were very bold and 
noisy, coming within a fev.- feet of me and perching at 
the top of the cliff above my head. They werp quit^; calm 
and collected, in spite of their excitement, for when 1 
threw bits of earth at them, they would wait and sec 
whether they were going to hit them or not, before con- 
descending to move. When one saw that the aim was bad 
and that the missile would pass a little wide, it Viould sit 
firm, merch' stretching to one side or thp other-— the coolest 
behaviour 1 have seen in any bird . 
The last few feet baffled me, for I could touch the 
nest but not feel inside ; and the rotten nature of the face 
of the cliff, rendered more dangerous by the rain of (hi' 
night before, made mc unwilling to run further risks. 
However. I went round to the top of the cliff, but found 
it was not possible to see clearly into the nest, though I 
could see something black, which might be a young bird — 
a most probable guess considering the behaviour of the 
old birds. Xext morning I sent the men with the ladder 
to the spot in the faint hope of eggs — for hitherto I have 
always been too late and only found young birds- — and to 
my great surprise they returned with four fresh eggs. 
WTiile I was on the top of the cliff some dozen or so 
other Eavens passed over, but they took no notice of the 
