AY x \\ A \\ A \ \ \ \ \ . SN \\ AX \\ \ WC — . . \\ MAA LAK ~ ~~ ~ \\\ CX \ \ \ AX \\ A AX A A RN AW ANN Goruell University Library Sthaca, New York BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF HENRY W. SAGE 1891 RETURN TO ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY ITHACA, N. Y. DATE DUE D GAYLORD PRINTEDINU.S A. Cornell University Library at 691.14H92 1889 ii (iT Cornell University The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www. archive.org/details/cu31924000044994 ODELIY COMPANY ARTHUR, NINTH MARQUIS OF TWEEDDALE THE NESTS AND EGGS OF INDIAN BIRDS. BY. , ALLAN O. HUME, C.B. SECOND EDITION. EDITED BY EUGENE WILLIAM OATES, AUTHOR OF ‘A HANDBOOK TO THE BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAN,” AND OF THE PASSERES IN ‘TIE FAUNA OF BRITISH INDIA.” VOL. III. WITH FOUR PORTRAITS. LONDON: R. HW. PORTER, 18 PRINCES STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE, W, 1890. PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET. EDITOR’S NOTE. My task being completed, it is now my pleasant duty to acknowledge the kind assistance I have received in England from many friends; and I take this opportunity of including in the number those gentlemen who have also assisted me in writing the ‘Birds of India” so far as it is com- pleted. It is needless to say that at the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, I received the utmost assistance from Professor Flower and Dr. Giinther, and the latter gentleman placed every facility for work at my disposal. It was a decided improvement to work in the well-appointed room now devoted to Birds in the new Museum instead of the uncomfortable gallery at Bloomsbury where I wrote my ‘ Birds of Burmah’ in 1883; and I must admit that the way in which the enormous additions to the bird-collection during the past few years have been arranged and made available for study by my friend Mr. Bowdler Sharpe must impress everyone with admiration for his industry and powers of organization. Both from him and his colleague Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant I have always received the most friendly help on all occasions. iv EDITOR’S NOTE. To the Council of the Zoological Society of London I am indebted for the generous loan of the whole of the valuable manuscript notes of Mr. Brian Hodgson, now deposited in their Library. Among the many friends who have rendered me assistance I may specially mention Lieut. H. E. Barnes, Mr. W. T. Blanford, Colonel E. A. Butler, the Marquess Doria, Colonel H. H. Godwin-Austen, Mr. E. Hargitt, Major R. G. Wardlaw Ramsay, Count Salvadori, Mr. P. L. Sclater, Mr. H. Seebohm, Captain G. E. Shelley, and Canon Tristram. The portraits which are issued with this volume are those of the late Marquess of Tweeddale, Mr. W. E. Brooks, Mr. Bowdler Sharpe, and Mr. W. Davison, EUGENE W. OATES. London, 21st August, 1890. SYSTEMATIC INDEX, Order HALCYONES. Caprimulgus indicus, Lath. .. . Kelaarti, Bho... cee. ‘ Family ALCEDINID.E. —— albinotatus, Tick....... Subfamily ALcEpINIn.z. Jotaka, T. GS. ow... Page macrurus, Horsf. ...... Alcedo bengalensis, Gm. .... 1 andamanicus, Hume.... grandis, BLL .......... 4 atripennis, Jerd. ...... asiatica, Swains. ...... 6 unwini, Hume ........ Ceryle guttata (Vig.) ...... 6 asiaticus, Lath. ........ rudis (Zinn.)........4. 8 | —— mahrattensis, Sykes .... Pelargopsis gurial (Pears.) .. 11 | —— monticolus, Frankl. .... burmanica, Sharpe .... 12 | Lyncornis cerviniceps, Gould Subfamily DacELoninz. Family CORACIID. Ceyx tridactyla (Pall.)...... 13 Je ata : Ligleyad ee (Dian). . 15 sealer ae, ig eet occipitalis (Bl).. .... 19 cain a lia aaeihaass —-— garrula, Linn. ........ Eurystomus orientalis (Zznn.) Order CORACLA. : amily MEROPID A, Family CYPSELID®. sags. aeaeeant Nyctiornis athertoni (J. § S.) Subfamily CypseLinz. Merops viridis, Linn......... Cypselus melba (Linn.)...... 20 philippinus, Linn....... _ affinis, J. B. Grow... 21 persicus, Pall. ........ batassiensis, J. E. Gr... 25 | —— apiaster, Linn... ...... infumatus, Selater .... 27 Melittophagus quinticolor Collocalia unicolor (Jerd.) .. 28 0221/5 — linchi, Horsf. § M..... 33 —— spodiopygia (Peale) .... 36 : Macropteryx voronatus (Z%ck.) 36 Order BUCEROTES. Family CAPRIMULGIDA. Family BUCEROTID. Batrachostomus moniliger, Dichoceros bicornis (Linn.) .. BAYA soriae aiorein bas sevce vs 88 | Anthracoceros albirostris hodgsoni (G. R. Gray).. 39 CShaW). a neriainie we cae woes vi Page Ocyceros birostris (Shaw) 74 Anorrhinus tickelli (Bl) .... 76 Aceros nepalensis (Hodgs.) .. 77 Rhytidoceros undulatus (ShdW) ver rvcccee cence 80 subruficollis (Bl.)...... 81 Order PSITTACI. Family PSITTACID. Paleornis eupatrius (Linn.).. 82 torquatus (Bodd. 2: apt 85 purpureus (P. L. 8. MALY a 0 eucaciqes ese the SECS 87 cyanocephalus (Zinv.).. 88 schisticeps, Hodgs. .... 89 columboides, Vig....... 89 calthrope, Layar dad. 2 fasciatus (P. L. 8. Miill.) 90 nicobaricus, Gould 91 Loriculus yernalis (Sparrm.).. 92 Order STRIGES. Family STRIGID. Strix javanica, Gm. ........ 93 —— candida, Tich. ........ 95 Family BUBONIDAL. Ketupa ceylonensis (Gm.) 96 javanensis, Less. ...... 98 Bubo bengalensis (Frankl.).. 99 coromandus (Lath.) .... : 101 Scops pennatus, Hodgs. .... 103 spilocephalus (Blyth) .. 104 lettia, Hodgs. ........ 104 —— plumipes, Hume ...... 105 — hakkamuna (Forst.).... 105 —— malabaricus, Jerd....... 107 lempiji (Horsf.) ...... 107 Carine brama (Temm.)...... 108 Ninox scutulata (Roff.) .... 111 Glaucidium brodiei (Burton). 111 castaneonotum (Blyth). . 112 radiatum (Tick.) ...... 112 malabaricum (L7yth) 113 cuculoides (Tigers) .... 113 | Syrnium sinense ( Lath.) 1l4 ocellatum, Less... 2. 115 | Lewarense (Hodgs.).... 116 | SYSTEMATIC INDEX. Order ACCIPITRES. Family FALCONID. Subfamily AccrpiTRiInz. Page Circus wruginosus (Zinn.) .. 117 Astur palumbarius (Linn.) .. 118 trivirgatus (Tem. Janadve 119 badius (Gimel.) . 2.6.60 119 poliopsis (Hume) ...... 121 Accipiter nisus (Li). ....5 122 melanoschistus, Hume.. 123 virgatus (Reciie.)...... 124 Subfamily BuTrEoNin&. Buteo ferox (S. G. Gmel.) 125 Subfamily AQuiLinz. Gypaétus barbatus (Linn.) .. 127 Aquila chrysaétus (Linw.).... 180 —— bifasciata, J. E. Gray .. 131 vindhiana, Franklin .... 182 —— hastata (Less.) ........ 136 clanga, Pall. .......... 13 Nisaétus fasciatus (Viell.) .-. 13 pennatus (Gmel.) ...... lit Neopus malayensis (Reznw.).. 145 Spizaétus nepalensis (Zodys.). 145 cirrhatus (Gmel.) ...... 147 limnaétus (Horsf.) . 149 Circaétus gallicus (Gmel.).... 150 Spilornis cheela (Lath.) 153 melanotis (Jerd.) ...... 156 rutherfordi, Swink. .... 156 spilogaster (Blyth) 157 Butastur teesa (Frankl.) .... 158 liventer (Lemm.) ...... 161 Haliaétus leucogaster (Gmel.). 161 leucoryphus (Pall.) .... 163 Policaétus ichthyaétus( Horsf.) 167 plumbeus (Hodgs.) .... 169 Haliastur indus (Bodd.) 170 Milvus govinda, Sykes ...... 173 — affinis, Gould.......... 176 melanotis, Temm. & ISCHNEY EY sacs ansihas Saaot eas: ein ae ee 176 Elanus ceeruleus (Desf. ) » Lie Pernis ptilorhynchus (Temm.) 131 Subfamily FaLconiy.z. Microhierax ceerulescens (CLI) Sean ee are 183 fringillarius (Drap.).... 183 Falco peregrinator, Seaver... LS4 SYSTEMATIC INDEX, vil Page Falco atriceps, Hume ...... 185 jugger, J. £. Gray 186 chicquera, Daud. ...... 192 Tinnunculus alaudarius (LINDY sss descniens wee 8 eos 195 Family VULTURID&. Gyps fulvescens, Hume...... 199 himalayensis, Hume .... 200 indicus (Scop.) ......05 202 pallescens, Hume ...... 203 Pseudogyps bengalensis (Gimel.). vec cc cece eccees 205 Otogyps calvus (Scop.)....... 206 Neophron ginginianus (Zath,). 218 Order PLATALEA. Family PLATALEID A. Platalea leucorodia, Linn .... Family TANTALID.E. Tantalus leucocephalus, Forst. 220 217 Family ANASTOMATIDS, Anastomus oscitans (Bodd.)., 224 Family IBIDID.1. Ibis melanocephala (Lath.)... 226 Inocotis papillosus ( Temm.).. 228 Graptocephalus — dvisoni (Hime), sisy59 5 diene t aa ie 231 Plegadis falcinellus (Linn.) .. 231 Order HERODIONES. Family ARDEID AE. Ardea goliat, Temm......... 232 insignis, Hodgs......... 232 —— cinerea, Linn. ......+- 233 urpurea, Linn.......+. 235 Herodias alba (Zinn.) ...... 237 —— intermedia, van Hass... 240 arzetta, Linn. 0... 066 242 Demiegretta gularis (Bosc) .. 244 sacra (Gimel.) vseeecee 246 Bubulcus coromandus (Bodd.). 247 Ardeola grayi (Sykes) ...... 248 Butorides javanica (Horsf.).. 249 Ardeiralla flavicollis (Zath.).. 251 P. Ardetta cinnamomea (Gmel) . sivensis (Gnel.) ...... minuta (Linn)... 2.60. Nyctiardea nycticorax (Linn.), 2 Family CICONITD./. Leptoptilus argala (Zath.) .. 260 javanicus (Horsf) .. 264 Xenorhynchusasiaticus(Lath.). 265 Dissura episcopus (Bodid.).... 268 Order STEGANOPODES. Family PHALACROCORACID/E. Phalacrocorax carbo (Linn.) . 270 fuscicollis, Steph. ...... 272 -— pygmeus (Pall.) ...... 273 Plotus melanogaster (Penn.) . 274 Family PELECANID:. Pelecanus manillensis, Gmel. . 276 Order ANSERES. Family ANATIDAS, Subfamily Anserinz, Anser cinereus, Meyer ...... 279 —— indicus (Lath) ........ 279 Nettapus coromandelianus CGMel)) segura opines 280 Subfamily ANaTIN»/, Sarcidiornis melanonotus CRERN) sntinedis Habe 82 wens 282 Dendrocygnajavanica(Horsf.). 284 fulva (@mel.)o cc ssce nes 286 Tadorna casarca (Linn.) .... 286 Anas leucoptera (Blyth) .... 287 -— boscas, Linn. ........4. 288 peecilorhyncha (Forst.).. 289 Rhodonessa _—caryophyllacea (Lath \ens cn vues ses aeiew 290 Querquedula vibberifrons (8S. MANY: aisaastcidhonciiesapey ees 290 circia (Linn.)........5% 291 Fuligula nyroca (Giildenst.). . 292 Vili Order GAVLE. Family LARIDA. Subfamily Larinz, Page Larus brunneicephalus, Jerd.. 293 hemprichi, Bonap. .... 293 —— gelastes, Licht. ........ 294 Subfamily STERNIN-E. Sterna caspia, Pall. ........ 205 bergii, Licht. .......... 207 | anestheta, Scop......... 300 — dougalli, Mont......... 301 —— melanauchen, Temm. .. 302 —— fuliginosa, Gmel. ...... 303 anglica, Mont. ........ 304 — hybrida (Pall.) ........ 305 — seena, Sykes .......... 308 —— melanogastra, Temm. .. 310 sinensis, Gmel. ........ 312 Anous stolidus (Zinn.) ...... 315 Rhynchops albicollis, Swaivs. 316 Family GLAREOLIDE. Glareola pratincola (Zim.) .. 313 orientalis (Leach) ...... 319 —— lactea, Temm. ........ 320 Family CURSORIID.E. Cursorius coromardelicus (GINEL,). sac tinsccas haceh ene 323 gallicus (Gmel.) ...... 325 Family DROMADIDA. Dromas ardeola, Payk....... 327 Family G@2DICNEMID. (Edicnemus scolopax (5S. G. GREE) 5.653 ete 53a Lglow ati aun 331 Esacus magnirostris (Geoffr. St.-Hil.) Order LIMICOL.E. Family CHARADRIID. gialitis cantiana (Lath.) .. 337 — —— dubia (Scop.).......... 338 jerdoni (Legge) 340 SYSTEMATIC INDEX. Page Lobivanellus indicus (Bodd.).. 340 atrinuchalis (Blyth) .... 344 Lobipluvia malabarica (Bedd.) 345 Hoplopterus ventralis (Wagl.) 347 Family SCOLOPACIDA. Scolopax rusticula, Zinn. .... 349 Gallinago nemoricola, Hodgs. . 350 Rhynchea capensis (Linn.) .. 850 Tringoides hypoleucus (Linn.) 352 Himantopus candidus, Bonn. . 353 Family PARRID.E. Metopidius indicus (Lath.) ., 356 Hydrophasianus chirurgus (SCOP) Hehe earereraa 358 Order GRALLZ. Family PTEROCLID. Pterocles exustus, Temm..... 361 —— fasciatus (Scop.) ...... 364 senegalus (Zinn.) ...... 366 Family TURNICID. Turnix taigoor (Sykes) ...... 367 tanki, Buch. Ham. 370 —— dussumieri, Temm. .... 371 Family GRUIDZ. Grus antigone (Zinn.) ...... 372 Order FULICARLE. Family OTIDIDA. Eupodotis edwardsi (J. £. GAY). a eeses 38 Bis a hla ED Sypheotis bengalensis (P. L. 8. MAUD Si ciath ac cbbsteioavs ate as 378 aurita (Lath.) ...... . 380 Family RALLID. Porphyrio _ poliocephalus (Lath), wacwencibebces 384 Fulica atra, Zinn. .....-.... BAG Gallicrex cinereus (Gmel.) .. 3487 » Gallinula chloropus (Linn.) .. 349 Erythra pheenicura (Penn.) ,. 891 Porzana pusilla (Pall.) ...... 395 fusca (Linn). sess eeeee 396 ! SYSTEMATIC INDEX. ix Porzana akool (Sykes) ...... 308 Rallina canningi (7ytl.) .... 398 Hypoteenidia striata (Zinn.).. 399 —— obscuriora, Hume ...... 400 Order PYGOPODES. Podiceps cristatus (Linn.) .. 401 Tachybaptes fluviatilis (CELSO secu Salaicaiars aerial ava 401 Order GALLIN. Family PHASIANIDE. Pavo cristatus, Linn......... 405 Lophophorus impeyanus (Lath.) iii s Saaaecn arent 407 Ceriornis satyra (Linn.) 409 melanocephalus (Gray) . 410 Pucrasia macrolopha (Less.). . Phasianus wallichi (Hardw.) . 412 Euplocamusalbicristatus( Vig.) 413 melanonotus, Blyth .... 415 horstieldi, G. R. Gray .. 416 lineatus (Lath.)........ 416 Gallus ferrugineus (G'mel.) .. 417 sonnerati, Temm....... 420 lafayettii, LZess......... 429 Galloperdix spadiceus (Gimel.) 428 lanulatus (Valene.) .... 425 bicalcaratus (Penn.).... 426 VOL, 111. Family TETRAONIDA. Page Tetraogallus himalayensis, G. LE GRY. sissies cheats naebracevione 426 Lerwa nivicola, Hodgs....... 428 Francolinus vulgaris (Steph.).. 428 pictus (7. § S.) vee... ee 430 — chinensis (Osb.)........ 431 Caccabis chukor (J. 7. Gray) 431 Ammoperdix bonhami (G. #. GEOY) sasces deste 5 am 2 ean 433 Ortygornis pondicerianus (Gel). a tscornias ardoossias she eck 435 gularis (Temm.) ...... 437 Perdix hodgsonie, Hodgs.... 438 Arboricola atrigularis, Blyth. , 439 rufigularis, Blyth ...... 439 intermedia, Blyth...... 440 Perdicula asiatica (Lath.).... 440 argoondah (Sykes) .... 441 Microperdix erythrorhynchus OSUMCS) putea 5 wigueersians ete 442 Coturnix communis, Bonn. ., 448 coromandelica (Gimel.).. 444 Excalfactoria chinensis (Zinn.) 448 Family MEGAPODITDZ. Megapodius nicobariensis, Blyth ERRATA IN VOL. IL. Page 67. For The Golden Wood-Chat read The Golden Bush- Robin. 68. For The Red-flanked Wood-Chat read The Red-flanked Bush-Robin, » 69. For The Blue-headed Wood-Chat read The Blue-headed Robin. », 114. After Tharrhaleus jerdoni (Brooks) read Jerdon’s Accentor. 212. For Anthus sordidus, Riipp., read Anthus cockburnie, Oates. For Anthus jerdoni (Finsch) read Anthus similis, Jerdon. ” ” ? »” WooDBURY COMPANY WILLIAM EDWIN LROOKS. WOODbURY COmrANY RICHARD BOWDLER SHARPE. WILLIAM RUXTON DAVISON. THE NESTS AND EGGS OF INDIAN BIRDS. Order HALCYONES. Family ALCEDINIDA. Subfamily ALCEDININA, Alcedo bengalensis, Gmel. The Little Indian Kingfisher. Alcedo bengalensis, Gimel., Jerd, B. Ind. i, p. 280; Hume, Rough Draft N. & £. no. 134, The breeding-season of the Little Indian Kingfisher seems to vary very materially according to locality. In Madras Davison found, as he considers, a nest in January ; in the Nilghiris and the Deccan it Jays in March. I got them in the Doon and in the Terai below Darjeeling during May, and Captain Cock obtained them in June in Cashmere. They bore a very narrow hole, rarely exceeding 2 feet in depth and often scarcely half so long, in some bank immediately overlooking water (running water by choice) at a height of from 6 inches to 5 feet above the water-level. The passage, which is barely 2 inches in diameter, terminates in a little circular domed chamber, perhaps 5 inches in diameter and 3 or 4 in height, in which the eggs, from five to seven in number, are deposited. Every nest that I have seen contained a quantity of hair-like fish-bones, and in one case the eggs reposed on a little VOL, III. 1 2 ALCEDINID.E. patch of these, but that they are there placed as a lining I can hardly credit, as in the majority of cases there are fewer bones under the eggs than elsewhere in the chamber and passage. Mr. R. Thompson tells me that “in the Bhabur and Kumaon Terai this species breeds from March to May, in long narrow holes dug out by the birds on the banks of small running streams.” Captain Hutton says :—‘ On the 14th of June we took five semitransparent fleshy-white eggs out of a hole in the bank of a stream in the Dehra Doon.” Messrs. Davidson and Wenden remark of this bird in the Deccan :—‘ Fairly common and breeds. A nest taken at Satara in June.” Writing fron Abmednugger in the Deccan, Rey. H. Bruce said :—“ March 15th, 1869. Found this day at Ruhuri two nests of Alcedo benyalensis, in one of which were six eggs and in the other five; the first nest was built in the bank of the river about 2 feet above the water; the hole was about .2 inches in diameter, dug horizontally in the sandy bank to the depth of 12 or 14 inches, and at the end of this was an excavation about 5 inches in dia- meter. The eges were laid in a hollow at the bottom of this ex- cavation ; there was a layer of fragments of fish-bones upon the earth, and the eggs were laid upon this. The other nest was not more than a foot above the water-level, but in other respects slnilar to the first. Both nests were placed directly over the water, the first over standing water aud the second over running water.” Colonel Butler writes :—‘ Belgaum, 22nd August, 1879. Four eggs about to hatch. The nest-hole was situated in a bank over- looking a small tank about 2 feet from the level of the water, and the eggs were deposited in a good-sized chamber on the bare ground without any nest, about a foot from the entrance of the hole. “On the 24th August I-observed either the same or another pair commencing a nest in another tank cloxe by—the bank in which they were boring being about 7 feet high, overlooking the water and facing a public road along which people were constantly passing to and fro the whole day. There were two spots much marked by the white droppings of the old birds, near the nest, one an old root growing out of the bank, the other a projecting clod of earth, upon one of which one or other of the birds invariably sat. Upon this date, from the actions of the birds, I came to the conclusion that they were only clearing out the hole. One of the birds, presumably the hen, sat on one of the perches outside of the nest until the other arrived, when she immediately left her perch and entered the nest-hole. After a minute or two the other bird (cock presumably) left his perch and passed the hole, uttering a short shrill twitter as he flew by, upon which the hen emerged from the hole and resumed her seat on the perch till the cock re- turned, which was usually in about four or five minutes, during which she started down occasionally into the water below to catch ALCEDO. 3 small fish. I watched this procedure for about an hour and a half, the same bird always going into the hole and coming out again as soon as the other one gave her warning of his departure. No doubt these precautions were adopted to prevent the hen bird being surprised and captured in the hole whilst excavating. On the 31st I returned to the spot about 9 a..., and found the cock bird on his usual perch guarding the nest. After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, the hen flew out of the nest-hole and took possession of the vacant perch, and the cock flew away to some swampy ground adjoining. In a few minutes the hen flew away also, but soon returned again and commenced fishing in the water below, and as she did not seem inclined to return to the nest I came to the conclusion that she had only gone on to the nest to lay, and consequently I left the tank with the intention of returning again in two or three days’ time. On the 3rd September I re- visited the place, and found the cock bird as usual on duty on his perch, and after watching him for about twenty minutes he sud- denly left his perch and entered the nest-hole, immediately after which both birds came out of the hole together and flew to their respective perches. The hen then left the tank, and the cock as soon as she had gone re-entered the nest-hole. * Satisfied at last that the birds were sitting, and that the cock had gone on to the nest to sit whilst the hen was away procuring food, I walked quietly up to the bank and put a landing-net over the hole, catching him as he flew out. I then waited for upwards of an hour, intending to catch the hen also, but as she did not re- turn, and as it was getting late in the day, I cut into the hole and secured seven beautiful fresh eggs. The nest-hole, which was about 3 feet above the level of the water, consisted of a narrow passage about 2 inches in diameter running obliquely upwards into the bank, and terminating about a foot from the entrance ina large domed chamber some 5 or 6 inches in diameter. The eggs, which were covered all over with the surrounding red soil from the birds’ feet, were almost spherical, and, when washed and blown, of the purest white and very highly glossed, and deposited on the bare ground, without even a depression to lie in and no signs whatever of a nest. “‘T fancy the Rains is the season at which they breed in this part of the country.” He adds :—* Breeds in the Eastern Narra, Sind, in holes of canal-banks. Mr. Doig took the eggs between 12th October and 2nd December.” Mr. Davison says :—‘I took the nest of this species at Ootaca- mund in the last week of March. The nest was in a clay bank of a stream about 5 feet above the surface of the water. The dia- meter of the entrance of the tunnel was about 1°75 inch, and went straight into the bank for about 2 feet, where it terminated in a small chamber 4 inches in diameter, which contained four perfectly fresh, almost round, very glossy, pinky-white eggs. There was no attempt at a lining to the chamber beyond the few . scraps of 4 ALCEDINID. small minnow-bones. I once found what may have been intended for a nest in Madras towards the latter end of January, in a well; what I supposed to be the nest was placed in a hole in the masonry lining of the well, and round the entrance of the hole was accu- mulated a rather large quantity of small partially decayed fish and fish-bones; but these had been placed there apparently not as a lining, but with the object of keeping the eggs in the hole, as it was one left when the scaffolding was removed, and consequently had a perfectly flat floor. I should, however, add that though the bird was in the hole, it contained no eggs, and may therefore have been only a resting-place.” eater: Mr. J. Darling, Junior, says:—“I found a nest of this bird at Neddiwuttum on the Nilghiris, at about 6000 feet above the sea, on the 19th April, 1870. The nest was in the bank of a large stream, about 2 feet from the water, a circular passage 4 inches in dia- meter and 2 feet deep, terminating in a chamber about 8 inches by 4, There were a few fish-bones scattered about, and plenty of decaying insects and small fish, making a fearful stench. There were six quite fresh eggs. In Wynaad they breed plentifully from March to May. I have unfortunately always got young ones down here.” Writing from Burma, Major Wardlaw Ramsay remarks :—“ I found a nest in the side of an old well in some thick jungle near Rangoon, at about 5 feet from the surface; it contained seven eggs.” Colonel Legge writes, in his ‘Birds of Ceylon’:—“ on the 18th January.” VOL, III. 7 98 BUBONIDE. The late Captain Cock wrote to me:—‘“‘In February 1875 at Sitapur I found a nest of K. ceylonensis in a hollow in the trunk of a huge mango about 9 feet from the ground. A native informed me of the nest, and on climbing the tree the bird flew off its eggs. I just satisfied myself that there were eggs, and I jumped down and knocked the old bird over as she sat on an adjacent tree. The pair of eggs, which were hard-set, were placed on a little dry mud and leaves in this hollow about a foot down.” Mr. G. Vidal tells us that in the South Konkan this Owl is “common both on the coast aud inland, wherever there are shady grovesand large trees near water. Nine nests found from January to March, all in hollows or depressions of mango-trees, one or two eggs or young birds in each. One abnorinally long egg I have measures 2°55 by 1:87.” Messrs. Davidson and Wenden write :—‘‘ On 14th February, in the Satara Districts, D. shot a hen from a nest which contained an addled egg. We have not obtained this species in the Shola- poor Districts.” Colonel W. V. Legge, writing to me of the nesting of this Owl in Ceylon, says :—‘ The Aetupa breeds with us in June, July, and August, and chooses either a hole in a large tree ora ledge of rock. The eggs are laid on the bare wood without any nest being con- structed.” Mr. J. R. Cripps, writing from Furreedpore in Eastern Bengal, says :—“TI shot an Owl in a clump of mango-trees on the out- skirts of a village. The report of the gun flushed a second bird from a large hollow in the stump of a mango-tree, and about 9 feet off the ground ; found two eggs, one just hatching off, which L left ; no lining of any kind to the hole. The villagers told me that every year a pair of this Fish-Owl lays in that hole.” Finally Mr. Oates records this note from Pegu:—“ Nest in a fork of a large tree 10 feet from the ground. Two young birds about one month old. March 31st.” The eggs are very perfect, broad ovals, white, with, in most specimens, the faintest possible creamy tinge. The shell close- grained and compact, freely pitted all over its surface, but, never- theless, more or less glossy. They seem to me undistinguishable from many of those of Bubo coromandus. In size the eggs vary from 2:29 to 2:56 inches in length and from 1:81 to 1:94 inch in breadth ; but the average of twelve eggs measured was 2°38 by 1°88 inches. Ketupa javanensis, Less. Lhe Malayan Fish-Owl. Ketupa javanensis, Less.; Hume, Cat. no. 73 bis. Major C. T. Bingham found the nest of this Owl in Tenasserim. He says :—“ On the 27th February, while wandering about in the neighdourhood of Meeawuddy on the Thoungyeen River, I started a couple of these Owls, of which I shot one, from among the BUBO, 99 branches of a large nyoungbin (Ficus, sp.?), hanging over the bank of a small choung or stream. Thinking there might be eggs, I sent a peon up, and soon heard from him that at the place where a large branch forked off, a natural depression existed, where a single large round white egg lay on a few withered twigs and feathers. The egg was quite fresh, dull chalky white in colour, and measures 2°21 inches by 1°87.” The egg is very similar to that of K. ceylonensis, but is some- what smaller. The ground white, becoming during incubation soiled and smeared with brownish stains. ‘The shell is fairly compact and hard, showing, however, here and there a great number of pit-like pores. It has little or no gloss. In shape the egg is, of course, an excessively broad or round oval, much the same at both ends. Bubo bengalensis (Frankl.). The Rock Horned Owl, Urrua bengalensis (Frankl.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 128. Ascalaphia bengalensis (Frankl.), Hume, Rough Draft N. & E. no. 69. The Rock Horned Owl breeds, as a rule, in February, March, and April, but eggs are occasionally met with both in December and January, and in the lower valleys of Gurhwal, according to Mr. R. Thompson, may be met with as late as the end of May. The birds make no nest, but merely scoop a small hollow in the earth, in which to deposit the eggs. Occasionally they will lay on the level ground under some overhanging bush or tuft of grass, but almost without exception they choose some little cave or recess in, or projecting ledge or shelf of, some rocky or earthy cliff in the neighbourhood of water. The precipitous banks of canals and rivers are perhaps their favourite breeding-places, and, as my friend Colonel G. F. L. Marshall first pointed out to me, they (in Northern India) almost invariably select a cliff-face looking westward. The normal number of the eggs is perhaps four; but I have often found three and, more than once, only two eggs much incubated. This species is very common in the Saharunpore District, especially towards the north, and from thence Colonel G. Marshall sent me the following account of its nidification :— “The Rock Horned Owl breeds from December to April, the middle of March being the best time for searching for its eggs. On one occasion only [ found the eggs on the level ground, on a plain, at the foot of a tuft of grass; on every other occasion I have found them on a ledge, in the perpendicular bank of a ravine, generally by the canal, and, without exception, on the left bank, facing the west. It lays four very round, pure white eggs, slightly hollowing the ground to receive them, but making no attempt at a nest or even a lining to the hole. I have always found the nest close to water. o 100 BUBONIDZ. “T found two fresh eggs on 16th December. 5 two fresh eggs 5, 21st March. 4% four half-fledged young ,, 26th _,, 45 two fresh eggs » 28th ,, » two young birds », ord April. re four set eggs » ord ,, four fresh eggs » 16th ,, “The birds keep close to water as a rule, and the male bird seldom wanders far when the female is sitting ; they seldom perch on trees, and, during the breeding-season, the male bird may be seen sitting on the top of the bank, somewhere near the nest, at all hours of the day. They are rather shy birds, and leave the nest at once if approached.” Captain Hutton remarks that this species is “common along the foot of the hills in the Doon; I have had the young ones in March from a hole in a steep bank of a ravine at Rajpur ; in April, also, a man brought word that he had found a nest, with nothing in it, but it was only just completed; waited for a fortnight, and sent a man to bring the eggs, but it again proved blank. The bird ascends sometimes in the summer to 5500 feet.” Captain Cock wrote long ago:—“ Coming home on the 17th March, at Dhurumsala, I took a nest of Bubo bengalensis with eggs. I shot the old bird. The nest was in a little cave in the face of a steep precipice, full of little bones of rats and mice, one or two feathers, and only a slight depression in the sandy floor. Eggs hard-set.” Dr. Jerdon says:—“I have found its nest on a well-shaded ledge on the south side of a ravine, where the light of the sun could not penetrate at that season, viz., March. It lays two or three white eggs.” Major Bingham remarks :—‘* I once found a nest of this common Owl on the 5th January in a small cave in the high bank of a nullah the other side of the Jumna from Delhi. Nest there was none ; the eggs, two in number, rested on the bare ground. The cave was about a foot deep, and overhung by a caper bush.” Mr. Benjamin Aitken writes:—‘ A pair of these birds had a nest on the bank of the river at Akola, Berar, in February, 1870 and 1871.” Messrs. Davidson and Wenden, writing of the Deccan, say :— “Common along all the brooks and rivers. Found numerous nests (facing all points of the compass) in November and December. Six was the greatest number of young or eggs observed in one nest. All the eggs, with the exception of one, which lay on a bare ledge of rock, were found in naturally formed holes in clay banks.” Mr. G. Vidal, referring to the South Konkan, writes :—“ Rather common on the rocky hill-sides overhanging the tidal creeks. Two nests were found in January, both in fissures between steep beulders on the sides of hills. In one nest there were five, and in one only two young birds. One of the nests faced due east, a BUBO. 101 fact worth mentioning, as Colonel G. F. L. Marshall has pointed out that (in Northern India) these birds almost invariably select a cliff facing westward.” Writing of Rajpootana in general, Lieut. H. E. Barnes says :— “The Rock Horned Owl breeds during March and April.” Captain Horace Terry communicates the following note :— “ About four miles from Bangalore, near the rifle-range at Hebbal are some very peculiar nullahs. They are very deep, and instead of forming a watercourse in any particular direction, wind about to such an extent as to form a perfect maze. This is a grand place for Owls, and any afterngon, wandering about there, one would be certain of seeing one or two B. bengalensis, and towards dusk of hearing what appeared to be an unlimited number. Al- though I spent a good deal of time looking for them, I found but one nest there, if nest it can be called, in December 1883. There were two eggs much incubated, and much discoloured by the red sand.” The eggs of this species appear, comparatively speaking, very uniform in size and shape. Very perfect broad ovals, white, with a faint creamy tinge; they are, but fora slight superior glossiness, scarcely distinguishable from those of Syrnium ocellatum. In texture they are finer than the eggs of B. coromandus, and for the size of the bird seem to me decidedly small. The eggs vary from 1:98 to 2°20 inches in length, and from 1:65 to 18 inch in breadth; but the average of ten eggs measured is 2-10 by 1°78 inch. Bubo coromandus (Lath.). The Dusky Horned Owl. Unua coromanda (Lath.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 180; Hume, Rough Draft N. & £. no. 70. The vast majority of these Dusky Horned Owls lay (in Upper India at any‘rate) in December and January, but I have found the eggs on several occasions in February and once early in March. Asa rule, they construct stick-nests (which from the same pair resorting to them for many successive seasons, and adding to them yearly, are at times enormous) in the fork of some large tree. At times they appropriate some old nest of the Tawny Eagle placed in some thick and thorny, but comparatively low, acacia tree. In most “cases, the nest contains some lining of more or less green leaves, and a few feathers or a little grass. Occasionally I have found the eggs laid in the hollow of some huge stump, or in the depression at the fork of three or more large branches, with no stick-nest, and only a few dry leaves as abed ; but out of more than thirty nests that I found one December in trees along the banks of the canal near Hansee and Hissar, all but one were regular stick structures. One nest contained no lining but a little dry earth. The great majority of the nests that I have examined contained two eggs, often much incubated, but I once found three, and have 102 BUBONIDZ. heard of four being met with. In two instances, I see by my notes that single fully incubated eggs were found. In this species I have invariably found the female sitting, but the male is always near at hand, and very commonly sitting on some branch immediately above the nest. I once shot a female sitting on a partly incubated egg, and on skinning her found a second egg in the oviduct ready for expulsion. I have repeatedly taken one perfectly fresh and one partially incubated egg out of the same nest, and it seems clear that these birds, like the Harriers and many Owls, begin to sit directly the first egg is laid. Colonel Butler writes :—‘‘ Sukkur, 24th January, 1879, a nest in the fork of a kundee-tree about 30 feet from the ground. It consisted of ordinary sticks like an old Kite’s nest, and the tree upon which it was built was bare and leafless, recalling to mind the figure of the nest of Ketupa ceylonensis in Colonel Marshall’s book on ‘ Bird’s-nesting in India.’ The tree upon which the nest was built was growing in the middle of athick group of bare thorny trees, with a clump of date-palms close by, in which the cock bird concealed himself. The hen bird sat close, allowing the boy who ascended the tree to approach within a yard of ber before she left the nest. From below she was not visible when sitting, but at a distance of 40 or 50 yards from the tree her cat-like head could be seen occasionally raised above the top of the nest. The nest contained a solitary fresh egg, and strange to say, after it was taken, the hen bird sat closely for at least a fortnight without laying again, allowing me to visit the nest frequently during that period without forsaking it.” Mr. Scrope Doig writes from Sind :— Found nests on 15th and 21st February, that contained young ones, two in each.” Mr. J. Davidson, writing of this species in Khandesh, says :-— “Probably a permanent resident, but scarce. I only came across it twice, in both cases in December, breeding.” Lieut. H. E. Barnes, writing of Rajpoctana in general, says :— “The Dusky Horned Owl breeds during December and January.” Mr. C. J. W. Taylor, writing from Manzeerabad in Mysore, re- marks :—‘‘I shot a female off her nest, a mass of sticks, laid be- tween tivo immense arms of a mango-tree ; the nest contained one hard-set egg. This was in April 1882.” Mr. J. R. Cripps writes:—* On the deserted ryot’s holding, where I found a nest of Aquila hastata, and on a tamarind-tree within 50 yards of the latter nest, was one of this Owl containing a young bird, whose quill-feathers were a couple of inches long. This tamarind-tree stood about 100 yards off the public road, and the nest was placed about 40 feet off the ground in the centre of the tree. It was a huge structure of sticks and twigs, more in fact than a man could carry; no lining, but the nest contained the remains of a young Urrua and the heads of 15 young Corvus levail- lantii, which had evidently supplied many a meal to the young monster. There were also the shells of ever so many Crows’ eggs in the nest ; the smell from all this was very offensive. The female SCOPS. 103 flew off the nest when my man went up, but I bagged the male, which was sitting on one of the side branches. In this clump of trees the natives said these birds built every year. I took the young one home, and he lived for over a month, feeding on raw- flesh. I had to come away from the factory for a few days, and the foolish servant left the room-door open, when an Imperial Eagle I had got in and tore the unfortunate Owl to pieces.” The late Mr. A. Anderson furnished me with the following note :— “‘T have acquired a pair of really well-marked eggs of the Dusky Horned Owl, which I took on the 28th of November last from an old nest of IMJycteria australis, shooting one of the parent birds off the nest. ‘“‘ The markings consist of indistinct lilac blotches, showing through the shell, as it were, on of course a pure white ground ; and they are both profusely though minutely spotted, especially at the extreme end, with brown and lilac spots (or rather specks) of various shades.” These eges measured 2°33 by 1:89 and 2°89 by 1:9. The eggs of this bird vary surprisingly in size and shape. Ty- pically they are a broad oval, comparatively very large for the size of the bird, but long, oval, pyriform, and nearly spherical varieties occur. I have taken a very great number of these eggs myself, and have extreme sizes of which the cubic contents of the one are fully double those of the other. In colour they are a decidedly creamy white, in texture often somewhat coarse, but withal more or less glossy. I have many specimens greatly exceeding in size the egg of Bubo maximus figured by Hewitson, while I have one specimen searcely exceeding the egg of S. stridula which he figures. The eggs vary from 2°2 to 2°55 inches in length, and from 1-75 to 2 inches in breadth ; but the average of fifty-six eggs measured was 2°33 by 1:89 inch. Scops pennatus, Hodgs. The Indian Scops-Oul. Ephialtes pennatus (Hodgs.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 186. Scops pennata, Hodys., Hume, Rough Draft N. § E. no. 74. Of the present species, the Indian Scops-Owl (S. pennatus) I have never yet taken the eges, but Mr. R. Thompson informs me that “they breed from March till August, in holes of trees, usually at no great height from the ground.” He adds, ‘This is a common bird in our forests (Gurhwal), but I never yet took the trouble to take their eggs. Several pairs used to breed in the Botanical Gardens at Saharunpore. A pair has been breeding for three seasons in a small tree in front of the forest Bungalow at Koted- wara. Four years ago, a young one, in the rufous phase, was brought to me in the month of July.” This species, at any rate the grey form of it, occurs throughout the well-wooded portions of India and Burma (except perhaps in the Punjab, west of the Beas, from whence I have seen no speci- mens whether from hills or plains), so that there should be no difficulty in obtaining full particulars as to its nidification. 104 BUBONID SE. Scops spilocephalus (Blyth). The Bare-foot Scops-Owt. Scops spilocephala (Blyth), Hume, Rough Draft N. & E. no. 74 bis ; Cat. 74 ter. So far as I know this species only breeds, indeed only occurs, in the Himalayas, in well-wooded valleys, at elevations of from 3000 to 6000 feet. It lays from about the middle of March to the middle of June, in holes of trees; no nest appears to be made ; the eggs, from three to five in number, are laid upon the bare wood. ; A nest of this species found near Kotegurh on the 30th April, in a hole in an ash-tree some 30 feet from the ground, contained five eggs; so very large for the size of the bird that, but for both parents being captured in the hole with them, one might have doubted their pertaining to this species. feed cpv ks Captain Hutton gives the following account of the nidification of this species (he calls it pennatus, it is true; but he has sent me beautiful specimens of the birds, which leave no doubt that the species referred to is the present one) :— “This Owl occurs on the Himalayas, in the neighbourhood of Mussoorie, at an elevation of 5000 feet, and nidificates in hollow trees, laying three pure white eggs, of a rounded form, on the rotten wood, without any preparation of a nest. Dimensions of egg, 1:19 by Linch. The nest was found on the 19th of March.” On a subsequent occasion he took a nest in April, and sent me the eges, which were considerably larger than those he first de- scribed. From Murree, Colonel C. H. T. Marshall writes :—‘‘ We found a nest containing two eggs, in a dead tree, about 15 feet from the ground, on the Ist of June, low down the hill-side ; the elevation at which the nest was found was about 6000 feet. The eggs are white, and 1:3 in length by 1:1 in breadth.” He subsequently sent me the old birds, which proved to have been correctly discriminated. The eggs are very round and perfect ovals, pure white, and not very glossy, some of them fully as large as those of S. bakkamuna (griseus, Jerd.), which is a far larger bird. The eggs vary in length from 1:19 to 1:33 inch, and in breadth Ae ae 1:13 inch ; but the average of a dozen eggs is 1:26 by 1:09 inch. Scops lettia, Hodgs. The Nepal Scops-Oul. Ephialtes lempigi (Horsf.), apud Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 188. Scops lettia, Hodgs., Hume, Rough Draft N. § E. no. 75. The only eggs that I have seen, unmistakably pertaining to the Nepal Scops-Owl, were taken the 22nd May, 1869, out of a narrow cleft (completely hidden by fa small drooping shrub) in an over- hanging precipice, in the valley of the Surjoo, between Petoragurh SCOPS. 105 and Almora, in Kumaon. They were described as laid on a few small sticks, or twigs, amongst which a few feathers were inter- spersed. In all other instances in which I have myself found, or have known of the finding of, the eggs of any species of Scops- Owl in India, they have been in hollows of trees ; but both parent birds were sent mein this instance with the eggs, and I had no reason for doubting my collector’s good faith, who, although a native, is a tolerable ornithologist, and, so far as my experience goes, very careful and reliable. The eges, three in number, were very spherical in shape, pure white and very glossy, and varied from 1°33 to 1:38 inch in length, and from 1:18 to 1:2 inch in breadth. Two other eggs, purporting to belong to this species, were sent me from near Darjeeling. I cannot vouch for their authenticity. They measured 1:28 and 1:3 inch respectively in length, and 1:14 and 1°15 inch in breadth. This species extends to Burma. Mr. Oates writes from Pegu :— “ March 24th. This bird selects a small hole in medium-sized trees. Two nests, each with three young birds,‘varying in age from a fortnight to three weeks.” Scops plumipes, Hume. The Plume-foot Scops-Owl. Scops plumipes, Hume; Hume, Rough Draft N. S E. no. 75 bis, Four eggs of this species, the Plume-foot Scops-Owl, together with the female bird, were sent me from Kotegurh, where the latter had been captured on the eggs, in a hole inatree. The eggs were taken on the 13th of May and were partly incubated. They are intermediate in size between those of Carine brama and Glaucidium cuculoides, but they are more spherical than either. They are of course pure white and slightly glossy. They do not appear to be quite as large as some of those of S. bakkamuna that I possess, In size they vary from 1-26 to 1:28 inch in length, and from 1-1 to 1-5 inch in breadth. Scops bakkamuna (Forst.). Forster’s Scops-Owl. Scops bakhamuna (Forst.), Hume, Rough Draft N. § LE. no. 75 ter, Forster’s Scops-Owl (S. griseus, Jerd.), by far the commonest species of this genus in India, is widely distributed through the Punjaub, the North-Western Provinces, Rajpootana, the Central Provinces, Oudh, and Ceylon. Throughout these provinces it breeds; as a rule, being confined to the plains and the lower ranges that intersect these, but occurring occasionally in the Hima- layas also to an elevation of say 6000 feet. I have received speci- mens (in many cases with the eggs also) from Dera Ghazee Khan, Hansee, the Doon, Almora, Bareilly, Etawah, Jhansee, Saugor, Mount Aboo, Raepore, Sumbulpore, and intermediate localities, and lately from Ceylon. This species lays from the middle of January to the beginning of April, invariably, as I believe, in holes 106 BUBONID. in trees, which it commonly lines, more or less, with leaves and grass. Four is the normal number of the eggs, but five are occasionally met with, and three fully incubated eggs or newly hatched young ones are often found. Although I have taken the eggs of this species several times, I have, I regret to say, only one note on the subject :—“ Puhpoondh (Zillah Etawah), March 10th, 1867. I caught a female Scops griseus to-day on her nest, at least on one egg in a hole in a mango- tree, which also contained about a dozen dry leaves and a few feathers, whether blown in by accident or placed there by the bird Icannot say. The little animal bit and scratched so vigorously that I had to use a cloth to get her out; she fought so valiantly for her penates that I was sorry to sacrifice her, but it was important to preserve her skin to prevent future doubts as to the species to which the egg really belongs. She contained another fully developed egg, which my stuffer stupidly broke in skinning her. The egg was quite fresh ; it looked a large egg as compared with those of Carine brama (though it is shorter than some of these latter), owing to its great width. It is pure white, without any tinge, either. of blue or cream-colour, fine in texture, and almost as glossy as a Dove’s egg. It measures 1:25 by 1:15 inch.” Mr. W. Blewitt found two nests, both in sheeshum-trees on the canal-bank near Hansi. Both nests were in holes, the one con- tained one, the other two fresh eggs, a bed of leaves and straw being placed under the eggs. The nests were found on the 25th March and 2nd April. The next year he procured at least a dozen more nests between the 18th January and the 2nd April, in the trees that fringe the Hansi and Hissar subdivisions of the canal. Colonel Butler writes :—“ At Hydrabad, Sind, on the 10th April, 1878, I found a nest of this Scops-Owl in a hole of a large tree about 40 feet from the ground. A young bird, about 10 or 12 days old, was lying at the foot of the tree alive, but with its head much bruised by the fall. How it got there I don’t know, but I fancy it must have been taken out of the nest’ by Crows and dropped there, as there were several Crows in the tree when I found the nest, and one of the parent birds (the female), which flew out of the tree when I threw up a stone, seemed much excited. I sent a boy up the tree to examine the nest, but it was empty, so I shot the two old birds. I found the cock bird with some difficulty, as he was sitting asleep on another tree about 50 yards off, looking for all the world like an old decayed stump, and it was not until after a long search that I discovered him. From the size of the nestling the eggs had evidently been laid early in March.” Colonel Legge, writing from Ceylon, says:—* In the southern parts of the island this Scops-Owl breeds in February and March. It nestles in hollow trees or in holes made by Woodpeckers in palms. A nest found at Oodogamma during my stay at Galle was placed in the hollow between the frond and the trunk of a Kitool SCOPS. 107 palm (Caryota urens), A few leaves or grass-stalks usually line the hole in which the eggs are deposited.” The eggs are pure white, glossy, and very spherical as a rule, though they vary a good deal in shape, some being slightly elon- gated and some slightly pyriform. In size they vary greatly ; in length from 1:13 to 1:38 inch, and in breadth from 0-95 to 1-18: but the average of forty-eight eggs is 1:25 by 1:05 inch, or precisely the same as the average of Carine brama., Scops malabaricus, Jerd. Jerdon’s Scops-Owl. Scops malabaricus, Jerd., Hume, Cat. no. 75 quat. Mr. G. Vidal remarks :—“ The Malabar Scops is common in the north of the Ratnagiri district, but less so, as far as my present experience goes, in the south. It is entirely nocturnal, but its low, subdued call after nightfall easily betrays its haunts. I have found it in holes of trees, in houses, and in nooks in dry wells. “ All the nests, six in number, I have found were got in January and February, in holes of mango- and jack-trees. Three appears to be the maximum number of eggs. In two instances two hard- set eggs were found. None of the nests contained any lining but rotten touchwood. One nest within ten feet of the ground con- tained three hard-set eggs, on which the female was sitting. The male, who was caught in a similar hole in an adjoining tree, made no attempt whatever to claw or bite, but submitted to his fate with great meekness. The eggs are in shape and size almost exactly similar to those of Carine brama, but they are decidedly more glossy and have a more creamy tinge. The average dimensions of seven eggs measured were 1°34 by 1:13.” The eggs of all these Scops-Owls are undistinguishable. With a large series, one finds that in one species they average a little larger, and in another a little smaller, but single eggs of few of them are recognizably distinct. Those of the present species are the usual pure white, fairly glossy, very broad ovals. Scops lempiji (Horsf.). Horsfield’s Scops-Owl. Scops lempiji (Jorsf.), Hume, Cat. no. 75 quint. Major C. T. Bingham thus writes of this Owl in Tenasserim :— “Common in the Thoungyeen valley. I have myself neither seen nor heard it anywhere else. “ The call of this bird is peculiar for a Scops,—it is a long rolling hur-r-r-r, continued for minutes together. On the 11th March a Karen, who had been marking down nests for me in the Meplay valley, took me to a tree on the bank of the choung, and showed mea hole in the branch of a large pyma-tree (Lagerstremia flos- regine), in which he said a small Owl had its nest with three eggs, 108 BUBONIDE. On his ascending the tree a female of the above species flew out, which I shot. In ten minutes he brought me down three round white glossless eggs perfectly fresh, which he said were laid on the bare wood in a natural hollow in the branch. The hole was about three feet from the base of the branch on the underside, and about fifteen to twenty feet above the ground. “T found a second nest in the hollow of a dead thingan-tree (Hopea odorata) near the bank of the Mekhnay stream, a feeder of the Meplay, on the 30th of the same month. The eggs, four in number, were similar, and like the others laid on the wood with no pretence to a nest. The seven eggs taken vary from 1:15 to 1-29 in length, and 1-07 to 1:12 in breadth.” The eggs of all these Scops-Owls are alike. Major Bingham has sent me a series of the eggs of this species. They are very broad ovals, some almost spherical, pure white, the shell very smooth and soft to the touch, but, though some of the eggs were quite fresh, with in no case more than a very faint gloss. Carine brama (Temm.). The Spotted Owlet. Athene brama (Temm.), Jerd. B. Ind.i, p.141; Hume, Rough Draft N. & E. no. 76. The Spotted Owlet breeds in February, March, and April; but the great majority of the birds lay in March. Holes in old trees (scantily lined with a few dry leaves and feathers, decayed wood, or a little grass) are their favourite laying places ; but holes in old buildings and clefts in rocks are some- times resorted to. I remember Mr. Brooks telling me that in his office at Etawah two Rollers (C. indica) had chosen a hole, or rather spot, to build in, on the top of the central wall of a gable roof, just under the main longitudinal beam. Two of these Owlets came and determined to breed there, and after a couple of days’ fighting and screeching, &c., the Owls took possession of the Rollers’ comfortable nest and there laid. The Rollers went round the corner of the same house, chose a new hole, built a new nest, and bred there. Generally, when met with out of holes in trees, their nests are more substantial than when in the latter; and in such cases I suspect the nests are more often theirs by right of con- quest than by construction. . Mr. W. Blewitt writes:— “I took four nests of this bird be- tween the 16th and 21st March. Two contained three, and two four eggs, one set of the latter only being at all incubated. The nests were in decayed hollows of sheeshun, jamun (Hugeniwn jam- bolanum), and neem trees; the eggs were in each case more or less bedded in dry leaves, or feathers, or both.” On another occasion he wrote :—“I found several nests of this species near Hansie in the latter half of April. They were in holes of peepul and siris trees, and each contained three eggs laid upon a few blades of straw with a few dry leaves or feathers.” CARINE. 109 Writing from Sambhur, Mr. R. M. Adam remarks :—“ This bird is very common. A pair have their nest in the thatch of my house, “On one or two occasions I have shot one of the pair, and oe a mate occupying its place within the next two or three ays.” They lay four or five eggs, most commonly the former. Mr. G. Reid obtained eggs of this species at Lucknow on the 24th March. Major Bingham writes :—“ This Owlet breeds at Allahabad in Vebruary, March, and April, and at Delhi in March and April. I have taken eggs from the thatch of houses, from holes in trees, and from holes in ruins. Nest there is none, but the holes are lined with feathers, grass, and leaves. I have taken as many as five eggs out of one hole, but I think three is the ordinary number laid.” Writing of Rajpootana in general, Lieut. H. E. Barnes says :-— “ The Spotted Owlet breeds from the middle of February to the com- mencement of April.” Mr. Scrope Doig writes from Sind:—‘ Got nests between 25th March and 6th April, greatest number of eggs in one nest was four, Nests situated in holes in old decayed trees.” Colonel Butler sends the following note :—‘‘ The Spotted Owlet breeds in the neighbourhood of Deesa in February and March. I found a nest on the 21st February, 1876, containing three fresh eggs. It was placed at the top of a pillar supporting the veran- dah of a bungalow. 1 found another nest in the hole of a tree about ten feet from the ground on the 25th February, containing also three fresh eggs ; another nest in the hole of a tree on the 26th February, containing four slightly incubated eggs. Two old birds flew out of the hole, and when I looked in I saw the hen bird sit- ting, and had to poke her with a stick before she would leave her eggs. The man who pointed the nest out to me, told me that when he tapped the tree the day before three old birds flew out (in what capacity was No. 3 acting?). In each case the nest consisted of an accumulation of dry sticks, felt, feathers, and other materials, formed into a thick pad with a broad depression in the centre for the eggs. Both of the parent birds seem to co-operate in nidifi- cation, evincing great anxiety if the nest is approached. The cock bird is usually in the same hole as the nest, or close at hand keep- ing guard whilst the hen is setting. I have eggs from the Deccan taken on the 7th and 22nd February. “TJ examined a hole under the eaves of a house in Belgaum, frequented by a pair of these birds, on the 7th March 1880, and found a single fresh egg. I caught the old bird on the nest, and after holding her for a few seconds put her back on the nest. Ou the 11th inst. I revisited the nest, and as before found the old female sulking up in a corner of the hole close to the eggs, which had increased to two. There was no sign of a nest, the eggs rest- ing simply in a shallow saucer-like depression, scratched out of the mortar by the old birds. Had she been disposed to do so, the bird 110 BUBONIDZ. I caught could have easily escaped on both occasions, but I suppose the attachment for her eggs induced her to remain by them. A friend of mine this year found a nest in the hole of a tree occupied by a pair of these birds, containing two eggs of the Owlet and one of a Paroquet, P. torquatus, and as a portion of the remains of a paroquet were also found in the hole, it is assumed that the Owlets attacked the paroquet and killed her on the nest, and after the dark deed took possession of the nest for themselves. All three eggs were fresh, as also the remains of the Paroquet.” Writing from the Deccan, Messrs. Davidson and Wenden remark :—‘‘ Very common. Breeds January to middle of March. Generally lays four to five eggs, but D. noticed three birds sitting on two eggs in one hole!” Mr. G. Vidal says :—“ Rare to the north of the tract, but com- paratively common to the south about Vengorla. “Two nests found in January and February, one in an ain tree (Terminalia glabra), and one in a cocoanut tree ; in one four hard- set eggs, and in the other two fresh eggs. Two other nests in February, with in each three fresh eggs.” Mr. Benjamin “Aitken writes :—‘‘In the first week of March 1869, four eggs were taken from a nest in a mango-tree; a month after there were three more eggs in the hole. This was in Akola, Berar. In November 1871, at Poona, a pair of Carine bruma held tenacious possession of a hole under the roof of an old house, but it was impossible, from the position of the hole, to ascertain if there was a nest.” Writing of Manzeerabad in Mysore, Mr. C. J. W. Taylor remarks that this Owlet is “very common. Breeding in April. Eggs taken on the Ist and 27th April, 1883.” Typically the eggs of Carine brama are oval. In some cases, broad and approaching the normal Owl shape, but more commonly only a moderately broal oval, differing little in colour, size, and texture from those of some of our Green Pigeons, and some of the smaller specimens positively undistinguishable from large eggs of Turtur risoria. The eggs are when blown a beautifully pure white; but until blown have, when quite fresh, a beautiful pink tinge; and when a good deal incubated, are an opaque marble-white. Most of them are of a close, uniform, satiny texture, but a good many are thickly covered in part or whole with minute pimples, if I may use the word, white, but, owing to the shell there being thicker, of a rather deader white than the ground. The eges vary from 1:15 to 1-45 inch in length, and from 0:93 to 1:1 inch in breadth ; but the average of fifty-four eggs measured was 1:25 by 1:04 inch. NINOX.—GLAUOCIDIUM. 111 Ninox scutulata (Raffl.). The Brown Hawk-Oul. Ninox scutellatus (Raff.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 147. Mr. Hart, who kindly sent me an egg of this species from Ceylon, writes :—“ This egg was on an irregular bed of dried leaves in a hollow of a dead cocoanut-tree, at a height of about 25 feet from the soil. This spot seemed to be an old abandoned garden.” The egg is of the usual type, pure white, with a fine compact but scarcely glossy shell, and in shape uearly spherical. It measures 1:45 by 1:27 inch. Colonel Legge remarks in his ‘ Birds of Ceylon’ :—‘ A nest, containing one nestling, was found by Mr. MacVicar in April 1873 near Bopé. It was situated in a hole in a mango-tree, about 15 feet from the ground; at the bottom of the cavity there were no materials, the chick reposing simply on the dead wood of the tree.” Glaucidium brodiei (Burton). The Collared Pigmy Outlet. Glaucidium brodiei (Burt.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 146. Teenioptynx brodiei (Burt.), Hume, Rough Draft N. § E. no. 80. The Collared Pigmy Owlet breeds, so far as we yet know, only in the Himalayas, the Khasia Hills, and the long range that runs down from these towards the Malay Peninsula. It lays in May and June, in hollows of trees. It makes little or no nest, though a hole I examined in July, containing four young ones, seemed to have been sparsely lined with feathers. The eggs are doubtless four in number, nearly rouud and pure white, but I have never yet myself obtained any. The following is Captain Hutton’s account of its nidification :— “ It lays its eggs in hollow trees without any preparation of a nest. On the 11th May, 1848, I found three young ones and an egg just ready to hatch in a hole of a wild cherry tree. ‘The egg was nearly round and pure white ; but being broken, I could take no measure- ment of it. The young ones were clothed in a soft and pure white down. The old female remained in the hole while we cut into the tree, and allowed herself to be captured.” Mr. R. Thompson writes :—‘‘ This species breeds from May to July, generally in holes in oak trees. I have usually met this bird with three young ones. In September the young are quite fledged.” Writing from Murree, Colonel Marshall says:—“ We were unable to find the eggs of this species, but on the 22nd of June we secured three full-fledged young ones in a hole in a dead tree. We managed to rear these until about the middle of October, when they died suddenly, I fear, from too high feeding. The nest was at an elevation of between 5000 and 6000 feet.” 112 BUBONIDE. Glaucidium castaneonotum (Blyth). The Chestnut-backed Owlet. Glaucidium castaneonotum (Bl.), Hume, Cat. no. 78 bis. Colonel W. V. Legge, writing to me from Ceylon on the nesting of this Owl, says :— “T have lately had the eggs of an Owl sent me from the Colombo Museum for examination. They were taken from a hole in a cocoanut-tree in the Western Province by the taxidermist, who is well acquainted with our Chestnut-backed Owl. He identified the bird, and therefore I think I may describe the eggs as bond fide those of our handsome little Owl. They were taken in July. In shape they are ovals, equally rounded at both ends. They differ much in size, one having an axis of 1:41 and a diameter of 1:15, the other measuring 1°34 by 1:08 only.” Glaucidium radiatum (Tick.). The Jungle Owl. Athene radiata (Tick.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 143; Hume, Rough Draft N. § E. no. 77. The Jungle Owlet is confined to the more jungly and forest-clad tracts of both the plains and the lower hills. It breeds in the early part of the hot weather, laying in April and May, in holes in trees. Though I have twice found nests containing young ones, I have never myself taken the eggs. Mr. R. Thompson, writing from Gurhwal, says :—“ This species breeds in May and June in holes in small trees. It is very common in all the warmer valleys. Young birds are quite fledged in June; from three to four young ones at a time.” Mr. J. Cockburn writes from Allahabad :—‘ A clutch of three eggs of this Owl were taken by me on the 21st March out of a hole ina horseradish tree in my garden, into which I had frequently seen the bird enter. The eggs are thinner, smaller, and more transparent (with, when fresh, a pinky look) than those of Carine brama. The bird is common in this, the old side of the Canton- ments ; it has a rather pleasing cry, not unlike the distant call of the Sarus Crane, which it occasionally utters in the daytime.” Colonel Butler remarks :—< Mr. J. Davidson sent me two eggs taken at Akrani, Khandesh, 17th and 19th April, 1881, respectively.” Mr. J. Darling, junior, says :—“ I found a nest of this bird on the 12th March, 1870, at Coonoor ; it was about 20 feet from the ground, ina hole in the trunk of a tree, in a rather open jungle. The hole was about 6 inches in diameter and 28 deep ; there was no nest, and the eggs, two in number, were laid on some soft wood-scrapings.” Mr. Iver Macpherson, writing from Mysore, says:—‘‘19th March, 1880. Ina hole of a decayed and dry tree, some 12 feet from the GLAUCIDIUM. 113 ground, found three hard-set eggs of this sinall Owlet. Shot the bird as it flew out. “20th March. Observed one of these Owlets fly out of a hole in a large tree some 20 feet up. Sent up a Cooroobor to inspect, who reported only one egg, which I left. “ Returned again on the 22nd, the bird was at home, but had laid no more eggs, so I took the one, which proved to be very hard-set.” The eggs are pure white, smooth and satiny to the touch, but with scarcely any gloss. They are very broad ovals as a rule, though some slightly more elongated varieties are met with, and they vary from 1-2 to 1-31 in length and from 1-0 to 1:11 in width. Glaucidium malabaricum (Blyth). The Malabar Qulet, Athene malabarica, Blyth, Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 144. Glaucidium malabaricum (Bl.), Hume, Cat, no. 78. All I know of the nidification of the Malabar Owletis contained in the following note by Mr. G. Vidal. He writes from the South Konkan :—“ Rather common through- out the district in well-wooded parts. Calls loudly by day as well as night. I have seen one, in the full blaze of the sun, make a sudden dash out of a tree at a Phylloscopus I had shot, and which was fluttering slowly to the ground. ‘“‘My shikaree brought me two fresh eggs with the parent birds on the 14th April. “Dr. Armstrong also got a nest in March with three eggs, scarcely distinguishable, as far as I could judge, from those of Carine brama, in size, shape, tone, or texture.” Glaucidium cuculoides (Vigors). The Barred Owlet. Athene cuculoides (Vig.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 146; Hume, Rough Draft N. & FE. no. 79. The Barred Owlet Jays from March to May; its eggs, four in number, are always deposited in some hollow or hole in a tree, without any nest or at most a mere apology for one in the shape of a few dead leaves or a little touchwood. Captain Hutton says :—“I have found the nest of this species in the neighbourhood of Mussoorie, at elevations of between 5000 and 6000 feet. The eggs, three (or four) in number, round and pure white, are deposited in holes in trees, without nest.” Major Cock, writing from Dhurumsala, says :—‘ I found their nests on three occasions, always in hollow trees. On two occasions there were four eggs in each nest, and the other time four young ones. Nests in hollow hill-oaks some 20 to 30 feet from the ground. There was no lining to the nest, just a few dead leaves that might have been in the hollow accidentally. Eggs on each occasion varied VOL, III. 8 114 BUBONIDA. in shape; but each nest of eggs retained its own characteristics : thus in one the eggs were all more spherical, in the other more oval.” Mr. R. Thompson, writing from Gurhwal, says that this species ‘breeds in May and June, in holes in large trees. It is quite as common as G. radiatum in these forests, but has not the active sanguinary habits of the other. Many breed in the oak and fir woods above Khboorpatal. I had the young brought me once in June some three years ago.” From Sikhim Mr. Gammie writes:—‘‘On the 9th May I took three fresh eggs out of the hole of a dead tree, some twenty feet up, at the elevation of 2000 feet above the sea. It stood in the middle of a thick patch of living trees. The only nesting-material was a few’ot the soft rotten chips which may have been accidentally left inside.” Major C. T. Bingham, writing from Tenasserim, remarks :— “ The first nest I found of this species was at Meeawuddy on the 12th April; it was placed in the hollow of a small pynkado tree (Xylia dolabriformis), and contained three fresh eggs lying ona few chips of decayed wood, leaves, and feathers. I did not clearly see the bird as it left the nest nor was I able to secure it. “Subsequently, on the 23rd of the same month, a Karen led me to a nest-hole of this bird, placed in the hollow of the stump of a teak that had been felled years ago; this was on the Meplay choung. In this case I secured the female alive and two fresh eggs out of four, two breaking in the scuffle with the hen; lining of the nest- hole similar to the first. “ Again, on the 2nd May at Pynekyoon on the Hlinebooey, I found two eggs and two young ones in the hollow of a dead cocoa- nut tree. No semblance of lining or nest was there, but balls of the bird’s dejecta lay with the eggs and young ones. One egg was quite fresh, the other slightly sat upon. “The six eggs from the three nests measure respectively :— 1:38 x 1:19, 1°30 1:18, 1:33 x 1:17, 1:30 x 1:15, 1:33 x 1:16, and 130x118.” | The eggs which, as might be expected, are pure white and glossy, are rather large for tbe size of the bird. In shape they vary from almost perfect spheres to broad ovals. The eggs that I have measured varied from 1°38 to 1:48 inch in length, and from 1-17 to 1:24 in breadth ; the average of twelve eggs being 1-41 by 1°19 inch. Syrnium sinense (Lath.). Lhe Malayan Wood-Owl. Syrnium seloputo (Horsf.), Hume, Cat. no. 65 bis. Mr. Oates writes of this species from Pegu:—‘“TI have not been fortunate enough to get the eggs of this species, but I have twice found the young birds. The eggs appear to be laid on the bare wood in the fork of a large peepul-tree at no great distance from SYRNIUM. 115 the ground. A young bird, about one month old, and just able to fly, was taken on the 20th April, and another one rather younger on the 24th March. Eggs should, therefore, be looked for at the end of February and the commencement of March.” Syrnium ocellatum, Less. The Mottled Wood-Owl. Syrnium sinense (Lath.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 128. Bulaca ocellata (Less.), Hume, Rough Draft N. § E. no. 66. The Mottled Wood-Ow] lays in the plains vf the North-Western Provinces and the Punjab, in February and March, but I have a note of the eggs having been taken in the Doon early in April. In the Central Provinces it lays from November to January. Its eggs are deposited at heights of from 8 to 25 feet from the ground, in some large cavity, or in the depression at the fork of two or more huge branches, of some old peepul or mango tree. There is no nest, so to speak, but a little dry touch-wood, a few dead leaves, or a little earth covering the floor, if I may so call it, of the nesting-place, forms a scanty bed for the eggs. Ihave more than once shot the male sitting on the eggs. Mr. W. Blewitt writes :—‘ I found a nest near Hansie in a hollow of a peepul-tree about 19 feet from the ground, on the 16th of March. The nest-hole, which was lined with leaves, contained two partially incubated eggs.” Mr. Brooks says that on the 3rd of March 1867 he “took a pair of eggs out of a nest in a mango-tree. The nest was in the fork of two huge branches about 20 feet from the ground. There was a little earth and a few dry mango-leaves. The eggs were pure white and very round.” Writing from Raepore (Central Provinces), Mr. F. R. Blewitt remarks :—‘“ This Owl certainly breeds from November to January. On the 5th December, 1870, I secured for the first and last time the eggs of this species in the Toomgaon (Raepore Districts) open forest. Ata height of some 12 feet from the ground, the trunk of a kaim tree (Nauclea parviflora) had divided into two branches, and in the open cavity between these two, which was nearly 2 feet deep, were deposited three fresh eggs, on some loose dry touch- wood and earth. I have occasionally met with this Owl, but only in the Raepore, and not in the Sumbulpore, District. Mango topes are its favourite haunts, though an occasional pair may be met with in open forest.” Two is the ordinary number of eggs laid ; indeed there were two eggs (in three instances more or less incubated) in every one of the seven nests of which I have notes. The late Major Cock wrote to me:—‘ I took this bird’s eggs upon the 20th Marcb, 1875, at Sitapurin Oudh. I had been look- ing about for Ketupa ceylonensis, some pairs of which were always found there, when I saw in the fork of a mango about 15 feet up what I took to be the wing of some dead bird. Looking closer [ could not make it out exactly, so I pitched a stone up z but as it 8 116 BUBONIDE. did not move I sent a man up to throw it down, when a bird flew off the tree, and I saw it was Syrnium ocellatum. The man said there were eggs, so up I went, and saw two lovely fresh eggs lying in a hollow between the forks of some boughs, upon some dead leaves ; leaving the eggs I sent my men away, and sat down some 20 yards off behind a tree; the old bird soon returned, and as she flew into her nest I shot her. These are the first and only eggs I have ever taken of this bird. The eggs are white, a blunt pyriform oval, and of delicate texture ; the two eggs are similar in size and shape.” Messrs. Davidson and Wenden remark of this Owl in the Deccan :—“ Observed and shot at Barsee, in May. D. has also seen it at Akulkote. It is very common in Satara, where a nest with one fresh egg was taken on 8th February, and another nearly perfect egg was taken out of the female.” And Mr. J. Davidson, writing of Western Khandesh, says of this species :—‘‘It breeds in December as a rule, but I obtained eggs at Bhadgaum as late as February.” Mr. G. Vidal, writing from the South Konkan, says :—“ Three nests were found in January with two young birds or eggs in each, all in hollows of mango-trees.” The eggs of this species are generally a very round oval, white, with, in many instances, a very delicate creamy tinge. From the eggs of Bubo bengalensis it is scarcely possible to separate them ; although B. bengalensis is a considerably larger bird, its eggs, as regards size, shape, and texture, seem almost identical with those of the present species. All that I can say, with an ample series of both before me, is that, as a body, the eggs of B. bengalensis are a mere trifle larger, and have more gloss than those of Syrnium ocellatum. For the size of the bird, the eggs of the present species are somewhat large. In length they vary from 1°86 to 2-1 inches, and in breadth from 1°6 to 1°75 inch; but the average of thirteen eggs measured was 1°99 by 1°67 inch. Syrnium newarense (Hodgs.). The Brown Wood-Ouwl. Syrnium newarense (Hodgs.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 122; Hume, Rough Draft N. § E. no. 64. The Brown Wood-Owl of the Himalayas, so far as I yet know, Jaysin May. Ihave only seen one nest, which was in a deep, wooded, precipitous little valley or khud, at the back of Mahasoo (near Simla). Contrary to what might have been expected, it was placed on a shelf projecting from the face of a low precipice ; immediately above it projected a large point of rock, from which depended a perfect curtain of bushes, which reached the tops of the trees growing at the foot of the precipice. The nest, the Paharees said (I could not get up to it myself), was composed of sticks, with a few feathers intermingled ; it was completely hidden from sight by the bushes and rocks above and below, and contained, on the 6th of June, three very young birds. CIRCUS. 117 The female was fired at, but not obtained at the time; weeks afterwards, her remains were found, hanging in the moss and ferns of a tree, some distance down the valley, utterly rotten and spoiled. The male brought the young ones up, and, on the 10th of October, I shot him and one of the young ones, then as nearly full- grown as might be. I am indebted to the late Mr. Mandelli for an egg of this species which was accompanied by the following note :—* On the 5th of March one of my shikarees brought in a Brown Wood-Owl, which he had shot in Native Sikhim the previous day. On examining the poor bird it proved to be still living, and on his placing his foot on the breast to give its coup de grdce, this egg was expelled.” The egg is pure white, of a very broad oval, almost subspherical in shape, and has a very fine, but only faintly glossy, shell. It measures 2°07 by 1°76 inches. Order ACCIPITRES. Family FALCONID. Subfamily ACCIPITRIN A. Circus eruginosus (Linn.). The Marsh-Harrier, Circus eruginosus (Linn.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 99; Hume, Rough Draft N. § E. no. 54. Two eggs, said to belong to the Marsh-Harrier, were brought me from Southern India by Mr. Davison ; they were given him by Mr. Rhodes Morgan of the Forest Department, who vouched for their authenticity. They were a rather broad, very regular oval, quite devoid of any gloss. The ground-colour is white, and both have a good number of markings—in the one minute specks and spots chiefly at one end, the other with numerous pretty large blotches and irregular smears ; in both cases very pale brown. This second egg is very much more profusely marked than any European specimen I have yet seen, and the ground-colour lacks the faint greenish or bluish-green tint that one is accustomed to. They are said to have been found in the Kurnool District on the banks of the Kistna. They measure 1:82 by 1:49 inch, and 1°89 by 1-58 ineh. 118 FALCONIDA, It seems probable that this species breeds in the plains of India in suitable localities. In the jheel-studded tract of country lying partly in the Mynpooree and partly in the Etawah District, I, many years ago, shot a large adult and saw several others quite at the close of May. An unusually heavy rainfall had filled all the lakes, or, as we should call them in Norfolk, broads, to overflowing, and the unsettled state of the country had, in a great measure, prevented the customary agricultural drain on them, and many of them, commonly dry at this season, were still extensive sheets of water. I can scarcely doubt that these birds bred there that year. In Oudh, native fowlers informed me that they bred in swampy grounds, Trans-Gogra. Mr. F. R. Blewitt, writing from Jhansie, in the neighbourhood of which there are several considerable lakes, says that he has procured the Marsh-Harrier there throughout the hot weather and rains. Astur palumbarius (Linn.). The Goshawk. Astur palumbarius (Zinn.), Jerd. B. Ind.i, p. 45; Hume, Rough Draft N. & E. no. 21. The Goshawk breeds in India, so far as I have been able to ascertain, only in the higher regions of the Himalayas, in the immediate neighbourhood of the snows. Two eggs of this species which I possess were found in a nest about 40 feet from the ground, in a deodar-tree in Bussahir, on the 15th of April, at an elevation of about 9000 feet. They are short, broad ovals, slightly compressed towards one end, glossless, of a greyish-white colour. They were much incubated, and one of them is a great deal mottled and spotted with faint brown stains, whether natural or the result of dirt during incubation, I do not know. Held up against the light, the shells are a bright sea- green. These eggs were taken by a native, whom I have always found reliable in the matter of eggs, and brought to me along with one of the parent birds, the female. Ihave myself no doubts as to their authenticity. : They measure 2°2 by 1-78 inch and 2:1 by 1-7 inch. A pair of very young birds were brought late in July, while I was at Simla, for the Rajah of Putialla, from near the Chor, and the shikaree asserted that he had taken them out of a nest placed near the top of some kind of fir or pine tree. Mr. R. Thompson, an enthusiastic faleconer by the way, tells me that “they breed from March to June, building on trees a large circular nest of coarse twigs, in which they lay three or four nearly pure white eggs. They confine themselves peculiarly to the interior of the deep, precipitous, woody valleys, lying close to the snowy peaks. They usually, I am told, select a birch-tree, Alnus boojputtia, or Cupressus tomentosa, to build their nests on. “ During this period the birds are very daring, and will readily ASTUR. 119 attack a man attempting to climb up to the nest. In these woods the Moonal Pheasant is very abundant, and no doubt affords capital quarry for these Hawks.” Astur trivirgatus (Temm.). The Crested Goshawk. Astur trivirgatus (Temm.), Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 47; Hume, Cat. no, 22. Mr. Mandelli’s people found a nest of this species below Man- tchu in Native Sikhim, on the 2nd of May, 1876. The nest was a large mass of small sticks placed about 40 feet from the ground on a high tree. It contained two fresh eggs. The eggs were perfect and regular ovals. The shell full of pores and glossless like a Goshawk’s. Held up against the light, it was the usual green. The ground-colour of the egg is a pale greenish white, but the greater part of the egg has been very much soiled and discoloured either in the nest or owing to the eggs not having been blown till they were rotten. The eggs measure 2:0 in length by 1°54 in breadth. Mr. T. Fulton Bourdillon, writing from Mynall in 8. Travan- core, says:— A nest with two nearly-fledged birds, taken 14th April, The nest was placed in a tree at a distance of 30 or 40 feet from the ground. It was loosely constructed and lined with leaves which must have been fresh when the eggs were laid.” Astur badius (Gmel.). he Shikra. Micronisus badius (Gim.), Jerd. B. Ind.i, p.48; Hume, Rough Draft N. & £E. no, 23. The Shikra breeds pretty well all over the plains of India, and in the Himalayas up to a height of 5000 feet, or possibly more. I found a nest with young ones many years ago at the back of Landour at fully this elevation ; and writing from Murree, Colonel C. H. T. Marshall remarks :—‘“ On May 18th I took a nest belong- ing to this species, containing two bluish-white eggs, from the top of a bigh pine-tree.” The Shikra lays in April and May, and in the Central Provinces in June also, building for itself a moderately-sized nest on trees, large and lofty ones being, as far as my experience in the plains goes, always selected. ’ Writing from Gurhwal, Mr. Thompson says :—“ This is a regular breeder in our forests, and always chooses trees standing on the edges of streams or stagnant pools. The birds are very fond of frogs, which they are constantly stooping at. They are noisy and quarrelsome, if any large bird approaches their nest.” The nest is usually placed in a fork high up, and near the top of the tree. It is but loosely built of twigs and smaller sticks, lined with fine grass-roots; is much smaller and less compact than 120 FALCONID®. those of the Toorumtee (Falco chicquera) often are, and may average about 10 inches in diameter. These little Hawks take, I should say, a full month in preparing their nest, only putting on two or three twigs a day, which they place and replace, as if they were very particular and had a great eye for a handsome nest; whereas, after all their fuss and bother, the nest is a loose ragged-looking affair, that no respectable Crow even would condescend to lay in. The greatest number of eggs I have taken in a nest was four ; but I am inclined to think that the generality only lay three. In Sind, Mr. Scrope Doig tells us, he “found nests of this bird on the 22nd and 29th of April, each containing three eggs. Nests situated high up in kundy trees growing in the middle of dense thick tamarisk jungle.” Colonel Butler writes :—I found a Shikra’s nest at Deesa on the 24th May, 1876, containing three young birds almost ready to fly. I should say they were about six weeks old, in which case the eggs were laid probably about the last week in March. The nest looked much like an old Crow’s nest, and was built upon a tree growing in one of the compounds in the camp, about 30 feet from the ground. “Mr. J. Davidson sent me some eggs taken at Akrani, Khan- desh, 16th April.” The late Mr. A. Anderson had the following note in the P. Z. 8.:— “In modification of my former experience, I have now to record the occurrence of a slightly marked egg from a clutch of three. Five out of six nests which were taken in my presence this last summer were built on the parasitical shrub (Loranthus globosus ?) which grows to such perfection on mango-trees. The branches of this so-called mistletoe radiate sidewards and upwards to a con- siderable height above the parent tree, from a large excrescence or knob, thus forming, as it were, the outer structure of a ready-made nest. Viewed from below the nest looks about the size of what the common Crow would build; but on examining one I had cut down (the parasitical plant was four feet above the tree), it was clear that the nest itself was particularly small, and so clumsily made as to fall to pieces on being removed from the knob which supported it. A better situation for a nest than the centre of a clump of this parasite could hardly be conceived.” He subsequently wrote :—“ By the eggs of this Shikra being ‘slightly marked,’ of course it must be understood that the colouring-matter consists of very minute specks of reddish brown, and that it in no way approaches to the richly-marked eggs of the European species, Accipiter nisus;