^irds of the Jhelwm District. 
241 
strong contrast to the acres of sandy jungle which surround 
the place ; here were a large number of Night Herons and 
Pond Herons {Ardcola grayi). 
May 23.— From Kanian to Sirsa by road in Vhc early morning when 
numbers of Sand-Grouse (Ptcroclunts exustus) were to 
be seen flying about, in parties of three and four . 
An Eagle or two and a Eaveu noted : also a Lugger 
Falcon, and a Shikra . 
May 24. — Several White-necked Storks (Dissura cpi&copus) about; one 
pair had apparently commenced to builcl a n'est on a Shisham 
tree, 
The lovely Wire-tailed Swallow (Hintndo smithii) 
seen ; it is not very numerou.s here owing to the dry 
character of the country', but a few were seen throughout 
the month on various dates. 
Made the acquaintance of the Red -winged Bush -lark 
{Miia/'ra crythroptera) which, when disturbed on the' ground 
flew up to the top of a small tree and started singing 
there. The bird when shot proved to be a malej 
May 25. — Found two nests of a Green Pigeon placed about twentj' 
feet from the ground in some Kikur trees adjoining a large 
Banyan tree, the two nests were in adjoining trees and were 
both of the usual type, a scanty platform with a slight 
hollow in the middle, made of twigs and grass. The nests 
contained two eggs apiece and the birds sat very close . 
One bird, whose egg hatched soon after I had taken it 
(the second was addled), refused to move even when small 
pieces of earth came rattling about her ears. Unfortunately 
I failed to secure one of the birds then and the Crows 
took the second clutch which I left with a View to obtain- 
ing a bird later on, so the exact species remains slightly 
doubtful. It is, however, most probably the Southern 
Green Pigeon (Crocopus chlorigastcr ), whose eggs have been 
taken in some numbers at Hansie, fifteen miles away. 
Twelve Black Ibis seen, feeding in a field. 
May 26. — At the Cattle Farm Bungalow I saw numbers of Dusky 
Crag Martins {Ptyayioprogne concolor) flying about, accom- 
panied by one or two Striated Swallows. They will doubt- 
'i less nest in some of the innumerable empty rooms or vaults 
that lie under the Bungalow which is really a portion of 
Feroz Shah's Palace, some six hundred years old. It is 
pitiful to see how these tiny Swallows suffer "Irom the 
heat. They settle on the walls and verandahs, wherever 
there is a little shade, and sit there with mouths wide open, 
/ and wings held well away from the body. So great is their 
distress that they allow one to approacl) within a yard or 
two before taking flight. 
I drove round a portioD of the Cattle Farm and 
