SOME BIRDS OF LUDRIANA DISTRICT, PUNJAB. 593 



1169. The Dusky Eagle-Owl — Bubo coromandus (Lath.). 

 — sp ? Scops Owl — Scops sp. ? 



Some species of Scojis Owl was heard calling at night in 

 August and September. 



1180. The Spotted Owlet— ^^^me bmyna (Temm.). 



1189. The Osprey — Pandion halia'etus (L.). 



On 20th September I came upon a fine Osprey eating something 

 on the summit of a Kikur tree near the Budhan Nala which was 

 then in flood ; I could not see what the booty was, but below on 

 the ground was an indeterminate mass of entrails, apparently of 

 a large frog. When disturbed the bird flew away across the floods, 

 occasionally approaching the surface of the water and ploughing 

 it with his outstreched talons for 5 or 6 yards at a stretch. 



Two more Ospreys were reported to me on 28th September, 

 and on 4th October I saw in the distance what was almost cer- 

 tainly a bird of the same species, 



1191. The King Vulture — Otogyps calvus (Scop.). 



1196. The Indian White-backed Vulture — Pseudoyyps l/enyalensis (Gm.). 



1198. The Egyptian Vulture — Neophron percnopterus (L.). 



1203. The Indian Tawny Eagle — Aquila vindkiana, Frankl. 



Not uncommon during my stay in the district ; a nest with 

 a single egg, apparently unfertile, was found near the Budhan 

 Nala on 29th June, which is an unusuUy late date for this species 

 to be breeding. 



1207. Bonelli's Eagle — Hieraetus faseiatus (Vieill.). 



1220. The White-eyed Buzzard-Eagle — Butastur teesa (Frankl.). 



1223. Pallas' Fishing Eagle — Halicetus leucoryphus (Pall ). 



1228. The Brahminy Kite — Haliaetur indus (Bodd.). 



The Brahminy Kite was first seen on 6th July, when a single 

 individual was catching flying ants in my compound ; after this 

 the species became common and many were seen, both adults and 

 immature birds, in August and September ; there were still 

 some about when I left the district on 9th October. 



The meadows and floods of the Budhan Nala were the favourite 

 haunt of the species. 



1229. The Common Pariah Kite — Milrus govinda, Sykes. 

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

 1237. The March Harrier — Circus oeruginosus (L.). 



A very ragged individual of this species was occasionally seen 

 about the Budhan Nala in June and July. The retiirn migration 

 of this species, however, did not commence properly until Sep- 

 tember, although a single individual was also seen on 30th 

 August. There were a fair number about in September. 

 1244. The Shikra — Astur badius (Gmel.). 

 1249. The crested Honey-Buzzard — Pemis cristatus (Cuv.). 



A nest containing two well marked eggs was found in the rail- 

 way bunds at Ladhowal on 3rd July ; the female sat closely , 

 but the eggs appeared to be unfertile. The nest was situated 

 in a large Shisham tree, one of a clump of trees on a bund 

 surrounded by reeds and water. 



A Honey Buzzard was seen at Ludhiana on 10th August, and 

 perhaps another on 25th September, 

 1257. The Lugger Falcon — Faleo jugyer, Gray. 

 1265. The YLestrel—Tinninculus alaudanus (Gmel.). 



This winter visitor was first observed on the 19th September, 

 and another was seen on the 29th of the month. 



