NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF AM BALA DISTRICT, PUNJAB. 18i 



1223 Pallas' Fishing Eagle — Haliaetns leucori/phus (Pall.). 



Observed on the Ghaggar at Mubariqpur on 19th February, 

 and at Rupar on 20th March. I also found a pair nesting in 

 a large Peepul tree at Rupar on the 18th December, and 

 ascertained that the nest contained two eggs, one addled, and 

 one hard-set. 



1228 The Brahminy Kite — Haliastur Indus (Bodd.). 



I saw what was perhaps an immature specimen of this kite 

 about the Canal headworks at Rupar on 20th March. 



1229* The Common Pariah Kite — Milvus govinda, Sykes. 



Abundant and resident occurring as high as Kasauli. Pair- 

 ing started in January and February and there were eggs in the 

 majority of nests by the end of the latter month. Beavan 

 merely states that the Kite is less common at Ambala than in 

 Bengal. 



1232*. The Black-winged Kite — Elanus cceruleus (Desf.). 



Although Beavan says " They were particularly abundant in 

 the jungles to the south of Ambala in November 1866, and 



might frequently be seen hovering like a Kestrel a freshly 



kiUed specimen at Babyn, near Ambala," I only observed a 

 single example. This was near Jagadri on 30th November. 



1233*. The Pale Harrier — Circus macrurus (S. G. Gmel.), 



A few Harriers seen on different dates between 2nd Novem- 

 ber and 25th March were attributed to this species, but no 

 specimens were collected. 



1237. The Marsh Harrier — Circus ceruginosus (L.). 



A winter visitor in fair numbers ; it w as common in the 

 Chamkaur marsh when I was there on 13th and 14th December, 

 but was also generally distributed in the district. 



1239*. The Long-legged Buzzard— Buteo fero.v (S. G. Gmel.). 



" I killed a fine specimen of the female of this species at 

 Ambala on November 5th, 1866". (Beavan.) 



A winter visitor ; a few were met with on various dates 

 between 13th November and 4th March, almost all of the dark 

 form. A live specimen was brought to me which I kept for 

 about a week and then released ; it seemed fairly gentle an^l 

 tame in disposition. 



1244. The Shikra— ^s^wr badius (Gmel.). 



Common, generally dispersed and resident. I saw what wa- 

 either this or the next species up in Kasauli in the seconi 

 week of March. 



1247. The Sparrow-hawk — Accipiter 7iisus (Linn.). 



A winter visitor in small numbers ; observed on a few occji- 

 sions in November and December. I observed one soaring over 

 a valley on the road ppto Kasauli on 5th March. 



1248. The Besra Sparrow-hawk — Accipiter virgatus (Reinw.). 



An old female obtained at Ambala is mentioned by Hume in 

 his " Scrap book," p. 185. 



1249*. The Crested Honey Buzzard — Pernis cristatus (Cuv.). 



Observed on the following occasions : — 27th October, 16th 

 November and 1 9th November, at Ambala ; 20th March near 

 Karali ; and 25th March between Kharar and Mani Majra. 

 The bird observed on 16th November, came up with one or two 



