Page:Stray feathers. Journal of ornithology for India and its dependencies (IA strayfeathersjou11873hume).pdf/113

 Contributions to

the Ornithology of India.

Sindh, No. II.

In the previous number I gave a very brief resume of the my trip to Sindh;, and an equally brief sketch of the more prominent physical features of the province.

I omitted to notice that^, although I failed to secure specimens, I ascertained the occurrence^ as occasional and probably seasonal visitants to the hills dividing Sindh from Khelat^ of a jay, presumably^, from the description I received, G. melanocephalus. Gene, and of a huge black wood-pecker, with a crimson head, which can scarcely be other than JDryocopus martius, Linn.

To these, I have now to add Oriolus galbula, Linn., of which an undoubted specimen (wing all but 6 inches long, small bill, not a trace of black behind the eye) has been sent me from Sindh, since our last number appeared, by Mr, James, c. s.

I have no doubt that the further investigation of the Avifauna of this province (which I have set on foot and which my present crude and imperfect notes are mainly intended to facilitate) will result in the identification of numerous other western forms and confirm my view that, ornithologically at any rate, Sindh is more closely allied with Asia Minor, North- Western Arabia, and North-Eastern Africa, than with any other province ornithological results of of India, it having, as my friend Dr. Stoliczka^s recent valuable paper sufficiently shows, but little in common even with Cutch.

I now propose in view to showing more clearly when, how, and under what circumstances the various species I shall have later to enumerate, were met with, to reproduce my rough diary of our jaunt which, though necessarily without the slightest j)retensions to literary merit, will, I hope, possess a certain interest alike for naturalists and sportsmen.

The accompanying sketch map, for which I am indebted to the kindness of Colonel Thuillier, c.s.i., in which the tracts explored are colored pink, will show clearly what portions of the country how much I was covered in our tour were worked, as also, alas compelled to leave untouched. As a rule we had three guns out daily, at times six, divided into parties some miles apart ; and on two occasions. Dr. Day, the Inspector General of Fisheries, while inspecting fisheries and investigating the piscifauna of localities which I never managed to reach, collected vigorously for me, recording dates, sexes, and such likes particulars, as only a naturalist, himself in former days an ornithologist, could or would have done. !