John Gordon Dalgliesh

“ I have often noticed mixed flocks, consisting of this bird, Acridotheres tristis, Sturnopastor contra, and Corvus splendens.
Sturnia malabarica, Gmel. (Grey-headed Mynah) .—Common, and breeds in the district. The nest is made in the hole of a tree. Four, I think, is the full complement of eggs. These birds are very fond of the fruit of the pepul tree (Ficus religiosa) . They are gregarious in their habits, keeping to themselves, and not mixing much with other birds. ”

“ DARBHANGA DISTRICT, TIRHOOT, BENGAL.
By Gordon Dalgliesh.
The country does not require much description, in most parts being almost flat. Small woods, mostly formed of mango trees, are plentifully scattered over the plains. Rice is largely grown, besides other crops, as maize, wheat, and oats. Here and there are large sheets of water, which in winter abound with all kinds of water-fowl. ”

“ They begin to arrive very early, as in the year 1900 I saw a big flock on August 20th at Dalsingh Serai. I have never found this species shy unless they have been shot over a good deal. They seem to have no favourite haunts, and are found alike in both deep and shallow water. They are good divers when wounded, and I have always found the female better at concealing herself than the male. ”

“ The male bird was most attentive to the female during the period of incubation, always keeping close to her, and feeding her with small fish and aquatic insects. The young, when first hatched, are pretty little creatures, covered with greyish down striped with black. I once surprised a party of these birds, consisting of one old one and five young. ”

“ Inglis's collectors shot one specimen in immature plumage.
Athene brama, Temm. (Spotted Owlet) .—This little Owl is very common, and several pairs are nearly always to be found in any large tree. They are very quarrelsome, always fighting among themselves, and making a considerable noise both day and night. I once watched the courtship of a pair of them. During this time the male bird was most attentive to the female, and kept feeding her on large beetles. ”

“ On examining a Hawfinch's nest found on May 20th, the lining was found to be composed entirely of pigs' bristles. In suitable spots these birds are quite common, and several pairs may be found breeding within a space of a few hundred yards. They are, however, exceedingly shy, and forsake their nests very readily if eggs have not been laid. Deserted nests are at once dismantled, and the lining frequently removed, probably to help in the construction of another nest. ”

“ R. indicus (Indian Water-Rail) .—A Rail, which I think was this species, was seen by me on a small pond near Bunhar Factory, Samastipur, in February, 1899. I fired at it, but it was only wounded, and escaped by diving; and, though I had men searching for a long time, they failed to find it.
Amaurornis phœnicurus, Penn. (White-breasted Water-hen) .—Very common. Found by nearly every piece of water. It is an exceedingly noisy bird, and its loud harsh cry is heard both day and night. ”

“ A nest found at Dalsingh Serai on June 23rd, 1901, contained three half-fledged young and one addled egg. The nest was in the hole of a mango tree a few feet from the ground.
Acridotheres tristis, Linn. (Common Mynah) .—Exceedingly common, and breeds almost everywhere. I have found their nests in holes of trees, under the thatch of houses, holes in walls, and in pigeon-cotes. They begin to lay in May. Five is the full complement of eggs. A curious pied variety of this bird was shot by Mr. C.M. Inglis at Jainagar. An albino was seen by my brother at Dalsingh Serai. ”

“ Breeds in April and May.
Haliaëtus leucoryphus, Pall. (Pallas's Fishing Eagle) .—Fairly common. It breeds in November, making a large nest of sticks at the top of some lofty tree.
Polioaëtus ichthyaëtus, Horsf. (Large Grey-headed Fishing Eagle) .—Very common. These Eagles are a great nuisance to one when out shooting duck, as any bird that happens to fall dead some way from the boat is at once seized and carried off. They breed in November, December, and January. Two is the full complement of eggs. ”

“ A cock Pied Flycatcher was seen in the Callow Wood, near Ashburne, on May 4th, by Mrs. Henniker; and on May 7th a Cuckoo's egg was found in a Hedge-Sparrow's nest—rather an early date for a Cuckoo to lay in this district. Another Cuckoo's egg, found near Dovedale on May 31st, was laid in a forsaken nest of the Blackbird, which contained a single egg. A third, also laid in a Blackbird's nest near Ashburne, hatched out successfully, and the young Cuckoo expelled the Blackbird's eggs. Grasshopper-Warblers were even more numerous than in 1901. ”

“ A small flock was seen at Dalsingh Serai in January, 1900. I bought off a native fowler a fine male in November, 1900, and shot another at Dalsingh Serai in January, 1901, out of a small flock. Mr. F. Finn, in his book, 'How to know the Indian Ducks,' says: "A male's eyes have been observed to change colour from red to yellow when it was handled." This was the case with the first specimen I procured. On July 9th, 1901. a native fowler brought me in a Pochard in female garb, which on being dissected turned out to be a male. ”

“ Oates, in his book on the 'Game Birds of India,' mentions Tirhoot as one place where this Duck is to be found. I never came across it myself, but Mr. Inglis writes me: "The man who brought me Duck and Teal described a bird, evidently this species, that was snared."
Casarca rutila, Pall. (Ruddy Sheldrake) .—A common cold weather migrant, often staying on well into summer. They are, I have always found, extremely wary birds. Their flesh is not fit for the table, being very fishy in flavour. ”

“ The Redshanks did not return to the meadow near Norbury where they nested in 1901, but two pairs were reported to me as nesting near Uttoxeter, on the Staffordshire side of the Dove; and Canon Molineux tells me that he found a pair breeding in marshy ground not far from Staveley; so that this species is beginning to establish itself in the north-east as well as the south-west of the county.
Both cock and hen birds were roosting in a Long-tailed Tit's nest at seven p.m. ”

“ This species is very wary and difficult to approach, and is the first Duck on the water to take alarm. It does not dive when wounded (at least, this is my experience) , as most Ducks do, but tries to reach cover if there be any near. ”

“ They are the best birds I know at running, and are very difficult to flush, reminding one of the English Corn-Crake in this respect. They are very fair eating if hung for a day or two. One bird I shot had a number of large black ants in the crop.
F. pondicerianus, Gmel. (Grey Partridge) .—A rather scarce bird, and I have only shot it twice.
Turnix dussumieri, Temm. (Little Button-Quail) .—Mr. Inglis informs me that he had a pair of this species snared at Jainagar. ”

“ Excalfactoria chinensis, Linn. (Blue-breasted Quail) .—I once saw a small Quail which I took to be this species at Dalsingh Serai Mr. Inglis records having seen another at Hattowrie Factory, Darbhanga.
Coturnix communis, Bonn. (Common Quail) .—Common in February and March, though the year (1901) was remarkable for its scarcity of Quail. I never saw a single specimen, neither were any brought me by native fowlers. Some are probably resident. Mr. Inglis procured one egg laid by a captive bird. ”

“ Haliastur Indus, Bodd. (Brahminy Kite) .—Abundant everywhere. It nests in February, March, and April. The cry of this Kite resembles the bleating of a sheep.
Milvus govinda, Sykes (Common Pariah Kite) .—Very common. ”

“ Larus ichthyaëtus (Great Black-headed Gull) .—I saw this bird twice, but was unable to shoot it.
L. brunneicephalus (Brown-headed Gull) .—Mr. Inglis obtained one specimen of this bird in the distict.
Hydrochelidon hybrida, Pall. (Whiskered Tern) .—A common resident. Mr. Inglis found a colony of these birds breeding, and gave a very interesting account of it in the Bombay Natural History Society's Journal.
H. leucoptera, Meisn. & Schinz. (White-winged Black Tern) . I shot a bird which I identified as this species, but unfortunately lost the skin. ”

“ The nest contained eleven eggs, slightly incubated, and the head of one of the birds could be seen through the entrance-hole. The number of eggs in the Grey Wagtail's nest appears sometimes not to exceed three. A nest at Norbury contained three hard-sat eggs, and another at Repton three young birds. ”

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1940, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 83 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works. ”