238 
Birds of the Jheluvi District. 
also two Golden Orioles {Oriolus kundoo), and a Red- 
headed Merlin. 
May 6. — The usual Koel {Eudynatnis honorata) calling. There are 
not many about, but I generally hear one every morning. 
Left in evening for Bhiwani city . 
Maj- 8. — At Bhiwani, oppressive heat, followed by heavy dust-storm 
and rain. 
A few Wart-headed Ibis {Inocotis papillosus) noted 
flighting in the evening, and I was informed that they 
pass along the same line every night. 
May 10. — Bhiwani. While engaged in inspecting the Police Station, 
I noted a dull brown bird about the size of a Wryneck, 
which was perching on a long pole that was leaning against 
the roof ; at intervals it kept on disappearing into one of 
the outhouses as if there was some strong attraction with- 
in . Accordingly when my work was over I looked into 
the building to find, as I expected, that the bird was a 
Brown Eock Chat (Ccrcomela fusca,) and that it had a 
nest on a shelf in the building. The nest was a neat 
cup, but very slightly put together, of fine grass and 
a few feathers and bits of cotton, heaped round with 
pieces of dry earth ana plaster ; it was sparsely lined 
with horse hairs. There were three eggs of a beautiful 
pale bluish green colour, speckled and spotted, most heavily 
on the cap, with various shades of reddish-brown and lilac- 
brown. This species is usually quoted as one of the 
familiar birds of the plains, but this is the first district 
in which I have met it. 
In the evening a Snake-bird or Darter (Vlotus tncl- 
anogastcr) flew past the bungalow. 
May ) 2.- -Returned to Hissar by train. Found a nest of the Large 
Grey Babbler (Argya malcolmi) placed about 15 feet from 
the ground in the end of a bough of a large Kikur tree ; 
the nest was a flimsy construction of grass, and contained 
two fresh eggs. This fine babbler is chiefly remarkable 
for its extraordinary voice which recalls the squeak fav- 
oured by the Punch and Judy man. When a dozen of them 
are shrieking in concert the effect is must amusing. The 
species does not occur as far north as Jhelum, but I have 
found it common in the Ferozepore district. 
A BlacK-winged Kite, a pair of King Vultures, and 
a pair of Lugger Falcons noted . 
May 13.— A pair of Red-wattled Lapwings (Sarcogratntiius indicus) have 
three eggs in a corner of a ploughed field just by my 
bungalow ; the eggs are laid in a trampled hollow between 
the clods of earth and there is no semblance 'of a nest. 
The eggs are lying just anyhow, and not in the " points 
inward " position which one is accustomed to associate with 
