200 
■Birds of the Jhelum District. 
characteristics and note it is somewhat reminiscent of the 
Jiouse Sparrow, except that it is almost entirely arboreal. 
The eggs are similar to the heavily marked brown type 
of the more familiar bird ; the nest is built in holes, usually 
of trees. 1 have noticed this species feeding freely in 
company with the Purple Honeysucker {AnirJmerf.hra nsi- 
atica), at the white flowers of a coarse shrub which is 
common on bare stony ground . 
A ~nest with three eggs of the Bay -backed ."^hrikc 
{Laiiius viifatns), found in a thorn bush — the fir.st of the 
season. A Blue-throat (Luscinia siiccica) seen. 
April 3. — Went on the river, which had risen greatly ; there were 
manj' Waders about, evidently birds passing through on 
migration. These included large numbers of Stints (probably 
both Tringa minuta and T. tanmincki), and a fair num- 
ber of Redshanks and Greenshanks. I secured a couple of 
specimens, in the handsome breeding plumage, of the Green 
Sandpiper from a small flock. The presence of flocks of 
this species on the river sand banks is a sure proof that 
migration is in progress. Normally it is found singly 
in pools and marshes, and but rarely on the sand banks. 
Two Little Terns (Sterna iiMiuta) were first noted this 
year. Seven Shovellers (including two drakes in full 
plumage) and a spring of Teal were also on migration. A 
. single Ruddy Sheldrake and five birds that were either 
of the same species or else some kind of Goose were seen. 
On the golf course a party of Ashy -crowned Pinch - 
larks (Pyrrhidauda grisca) were noted — these were also 
on migration . 
Night Herons heard calling after dark . 
April 4. — The first Cuckoo (Cucutus canorus) heard in the Rak. 
A Gull-billed Tern {Sterna angliea) observed beating 
up and down over the fields of growing wheat which it quar- 
tered almost as regularly as a Harrier. I did not sec it 
catch anything, so do not know what it was looking for. 
In the compound I had a momentarj' glimpse of a 
Dove that was almost certainly Turtur fcrrago. However, 
I saw no more though one would expect to find the species 
on migration now. 
A Common Kingfisher (Alccdo ispida) was frequenting 
the river bank where it was overgrown by the jungle of 
the Rak. 
Night Herons squawking again after dark. 
Short-billed Minivet (Pcricrocotns hrcvirostris) seen 
for the last time this cold weather. 
April 5. — Last date on which the Indian Grey Tit (Paras itii-jcp-s) 
was noted. I went out after Quail, but in spite of call 
