Page:Stray feathers. Journal of ornithology for India and its dependencies (IA strayfeathersjou11873hume).pdf/387



As the study of local avifaunas is of considerable importance to ornithologists, I purpose to record the birds which I have obtained, or observed, during my residence at Sumbhur, extending over a period of three years.

My very limited knowledge of ornithology prevents me from attempting to add any information of importance to that science : all that I attempt is to note the birds which I have seen or obtained here, and in a few cases to record something as to their habits and nidification.

Altogether 1 have noted the occurrence of 244 species; the number belonging to each order being as follows:

Raptores Insessores ... Fissirostres Scansores Tenuirostres Dentirostres Conirósties Gemitores Rasores Grallatoros... Netzstores

Until quite recently, little was known, and much less recorded, concerning this famous salt source. To illustrate this statement, I may mention that a member of Dr. Fawcett's committee, who lately made a hurried visit to the lake, remarked at dinner: "Well, it is strange how things will happen. About six weeks ago I was examining an old Indian, of some forty years' service, and amongst other questions I asked if a large salt lake did not exist somewhere in Central India, and he replied, 'very passibly there may be such a lake, but I have never heard of it,' and now," said the M. P., “here I am drinking sinkin on its edge."

The Sambhur Lake is situated in N. lat. 26° 58' and E. long. 75° 5'. All around, but principally to the west, are low-lying hills, which form a part of the Aravalli range, which runs in a north-westerly direction through Rajputana. To the north-west is a sandy tract called the Great Desert, with Sinde on its western, and the Punjab on its northern and western boundary. Taking the village of Dodo, 42 miles from Jeypur, in the