Birds oj the Jhchon iJialrict. 
309 
These smaller Eagles are difficult to identify, but the bird 
obtained appears to be the smaller Indian Spotted Eagle, 
Aqwila hastata (Less). 
A single Pied Bush Chat {['ridixvola rapnild) not'Ml 
— this species is very scarce at present for some reason . 
Fcniis cristatus,, Ketupa z< yloxinnis, and a pair of 
Aslur hadius noted. 
.June (). — l;3 eggs of tlic Large Pied A\'agtail (Mntucilhi iiiadcrafijHtt- 
ensis found in a nest building in a blocked watershoot 
on the roof of the Hansi rest-house. This is the only species 
of Wagtail which breeds in the plains and in this part of 
the Punjab the species is not uncommon, although I found 
it suiliciently scarce in Jhelum and l{awal Pindi ilistriets. 
Eeturned to Hissar where I saw the first Pied Crested 
Cuckoo {Coccystcs jacohinus) of the season. 
June 7. — I saw a common Woodshrike (T cphrodornis potidicerianus) 
attacking a Squirrel most viciously at the end of a bough 
of a Shisham tree. The bird's nest, of course, proved to 
be near by but when examined it was empty, and tlie nest 
vanished soon afterwards . These birds make beautiful little 
cup nests, placed in the forks of branches, but they can 
only bring off a brood in the most favourable circumstances 
as the nests get blown down in dust storms . Since arriving 
here I have found 4 nests, and all Jiave been destroyed 
before 1 was able to secure any eggs. The great numbers 
of Squirrels here must destroy many eggs of all kiads. 
Three incubated eggs of the Common Roller (Coracins 
indica) found in a hole in a Kikur tree. There was no 
nest. A male Small Minivet (Fericrocotus peregrinus) 
noted. 
Left by the night train for Sirsa. 
June 8. — At Sirsa. Two partly built nests, of the Indian Wren- 
Warbler {Prinia inornata) found, one in a bush, and one 
attached to some spear grass. The Weavers {Plocain baya) 
arc also beginning to build their curious retort shaped nests. 
A nest of the Common Babbler {Argya caudata) 
with 4 eggs found in a low thorn bush . 
2 Sarus Cranes {Grus antigone), a Black -winged Kite 
(Elanus cacrulcus) and some Ravens noted. 
Crested Larks {Galtrita cristata) are not uncommon 
here . I have not yet seen them in Hissar itself . 
June 9. — At Sirsa. The Brown Eock Chat (Ccrcomela fuxr.a) noted 
in the city. Some Night Herons seen in the evening. 
June 11. — Took 2 hard set eggs from a nest of the Indian Golden Oriole 
{Oriolus oriolus kiindoo) placed at the end of a bough at 
the top of a Kikur tree. The nest is represented in the 
accompanying illustration. In the same tree a King Crow 
{Dicrurus atcr) had a nest with 2 incubated eggs, Three 
