«9G J0VR:SAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY. Vol. XXVIII. 
small marked passage passed through from the middle of September imtil the 
middle of October, and apparently returned about the middle of February : they 
became abundant by the end of that month, decreased by the end of March, and 
only a few remained as late as April. 
Common Mynah. — Acridotheres tristis (L). 
Observed commonly throughout my stay in Srinagar and ail along the road on 
both joumej’s. 
The Golden Oriole. — Oriolus oriolus Icundoo, Sykes. 
The Golden Oriole is only a summer visitor to Srinagar and was not observed 
rmtil April 20th after which it quickly became abundant. Several of last year’s 
nests were noted in the trees about the European qxiarter. 
The Rufous-backed shrike. — Laniiis schach erythronotus (Vig.) 
The Rufous backed shrike is certainly one of the commonest and most charac- 
teristic birds of Srinagar ; it is found everywhere, in the fields and orchards, 
in gardens and villages, and particularly in the poplars that thickly border all the 
roads, while individuals visit the reeds-beds of the Dhal lake. It occurs of course 
in the Munee hills and I presume also in all the hiUs between Kohala and Bara- 
muUah, but their numbers there do not strike one in the same way as after 
Baramullah is left and the poplars start with a Shrike to every couple of hundred 
yards or so. On my first arrival the birds did not apjrear to be paired but courting 
commenced with the first fine weather and nidification was in full swing by the 
end of April though I did not actually obtain any eggs before my departure. Like 
many of the genus this Shrike is a great mimic and songster. 
The Short-billed Minivet — Pericrocotus hrevirostris (Vig.) . 
Observed in small numbers, at first in parties and latterly singl}^ or in paii-s, 
throughout my stay in Srinagar. 
The Cashmere Red -breasted Flycatcher — Muscicapa parvahyperythm (Cab.). 
This Flycatcher was first observed on April 14th on which date two specimens 
were obtained in a willow grove by the Dhal lake. For the rest of the month it 
was observed in small numbers about gardens and orchards, although only males 
were seen. After May 1st no individual was seen imtil May 10th on which date a 
female was shot and a second seen. One or two individuals were seen from the 
motor during the first stages of the journey down on May 12th. The behaviour 
and habits are similar to those of M. parva parva in the plains, but the upward 
jerk of the tail is more noticeable owing to the greater length of the feathers. 
The call note is indistinguishable from that of M. superciliaris. 
Seven males preserved yield the following measurements : — bill from skull 
12’5-13‘5 ; wing 65 ’5 — 69‘5; tail 49 — 54; tarsus 17' 5 — 19. The 
only female obtained measures: — bill from skull 13'5 mm. ; wing 67 '5; tail 
50- 5; tarsus 18 ‘5. All the above had the organs shghtly developed and were 
somewhat fat. The colour of the soft parts was as follows : — ^iris dark brown ; 
mouth 5 'eUow ; bill yellow, upper mandible brown (males), dark brown, basal half 
of lower mandible yellowish (female) ; legs sooty brown, soles dull oUve (males), 
black (female). 
The White-eyebrowed Blue Flycatcher — Muscicapa, superciliaris Jerd. 
First observed on April 17th when a male was feeding about the rocks of the 
summit of the Takht-i-Suhman. After this it became fairly common and remained 
so until my departure on May 12th, being often found in company with the 
last species. It was I presume on migration. 
The Rufous-tailed Flycatcher — Alseonax ruficaudu^s (Swains). 
A single individual was seen in an orchard on May 1st. 
The Slaty-blue Flycatcher — Muscicapa tricolor (Hodgs.). 
A female was shot in a grove of fruit trees on May 10th where it was hawking 
about the boughs in company with M. superciliaris and M. hypenjthra. 
