Birds of the Jhelum TDistrict. 
203 
Sandpipers, one Green Sandpiper, a Redshank or two, an 
occasional odd bird and a small party ur two of Green - 
shanks, and two small flights of Stints. Two other parties 
birds in the number of Little Egrets {Hcrodias garzctta) 
which had arrived in their summer quarters, and with 
them were several Great White Egrets (Hcrodias alba) 
and Common Herons {Ardca cincr(a) doubtless only passing 
through. With one partj' of Herons was a single Pelican 
Ibis or Painted Stork (Pseudotantalus Imconephalus ), a 
flock of six Black Ibis (Inocotis papillosus) came circling 
down out of the sky to settle with a 'good deal of clamour 
on some gaunt thorn trees . 
On the way to the river in the morning the following 
interesting birds were noted : A King Vulture, two Black 
^'ultures (Vultur monachus), a Sparrowhawk (adult female \ 
a pair of Lugger Falcons, and a number of White-capped 
Buntings (Emberiza stcwarti) which must have been on 
migration, as I have not seen fliem as low as this before. 
On a .roadside tree a male Eed-heatled Merlin (Acsalo7i 
chicqucra) was noted feeding on a small bird, and in- 
vestigation disclosed the fact that the female was sitting 
in a new but empty nest fairly high up in a neighbour- 
ing thorn tree . Both birds hung about most persistently 
so I iad the nest examined again on the 24th April, when 
it contained four eggs . 
April 11. — The first Keel Cuckoo (Endynamis honorafa) of the season 
heard in the compound where it was calling '"Ko-el," and 
"Who are you?" This common species is parasitic on the 
House Crow (Corvus splendens) . Last year in one Crow's 
nest I found three Koel's eggs, and no Crows. In these 
parts the species is a summer visitor only ; the majority 
leave in September, but a few stay over into the first week 
of October . 
There are at present a number of Willow Wrens a- 
bout on migration ; the commonest is the Siberian Chiff- 
chaff (Phylloscopus tristis), but I have obtained the 
Large Crowned Willow Wren (P. occipitalis) and a 
third species which is probably referable to the Green 
Willow Wren (P. viridanns) . 
April 12. — Two Storks were seen by the Eak, which can hardly have 
been anything but the White-necked Stork (Dissura cpis- 
copus) — a rarity in these parts. 
A fine pair of Crested Honey Buzzards (Fcrnis cris' 
tahis) passed by my bungalow. Several Herons were 
noted sitting on the sandbanks by the river, and with 
them was a bird which was probably the Pelican -Ibis note.l 
on the 10th April. 
A-pril 13. — This month has seen the passing through of large numbers 
