BIRDS' NESTING m RAJPOOTAXA. 41 



devoid of markings. They measure 1*83 inches in length by about 

 1*54 in breadth* 



56. — Milvits govinda « Sykes. 

 The Pariah Kite breeds from early in September quite up to the 

 end of March. I cannot understand how this fact has escaped record, 

 but even Mr. Hume seems to think that Christmas day was an early 

 date to obtain eggs. I have found nests at Abu, Deesa, Hyderabad, 

 Mhow, Poona, Neemuch, and even at Saugor, where I am now 

 stationed, in September. The nest is usually built in a fork, but is 

 sometimes placed on a flat bough. The eggs, two in number 

 (occasionally three), are oval in shape, greyish-white in colour, more or 

 less spotted, streaked, blotched, speckled or clouded with brown and 

 purplish or reddish-brown. Some of the eggs are bright and hand- 

 somely coloured, with the markings clearly defined, but others are 

 smudgy and dingily coloured. The nests are more abundant in 

 October and Januar}' than at other times, and from this I am led to 

 believe that they have two broods in a year. The egg lining varies 

 from light to deep green, and the eggs average 2'2 inches in length by 

 about 1*78 in breadth. 



69. — Bubo bemjalensis : Frankl. 

 The Rock horned Owl breeds during March and April. It makes 

 no nest, the eggs being placed on ledges and in recesses of cliffs, 

 overlooking water. The eggs, three or four in number, are broad 

 oval in shape, and white in colour, with just a perceptible creamy 

 tinge. They average 21 inches in length by about 1*73 in breadth. 



70. — Bubo coromandus : Lath. 



The Dusky horned Owl breeds during December and January. 

 The}' build a large stick nest on trees, which they use for succes- 

 sive seasons, but occasionally they make use of an old Vulture 

 or Eagle's nest. It is usually lined with green leaves. The eggs, 

 usually two in number, vary much both in shape and size, but 

 they are generally broadish oval in shape, and average 2*33 inches 

 in length by about 1*9 in breadth. They are creamy white in colour, 

 and somewhat glossy but coarse in texture. 



76. — Carine brama : Tem. 



The Spotted Owlet breeds from the middle of February to the 

 commencement of April. It nests in holes, and it appears to be 

 a matter of indifference to it whether it be a hole in a tree, 

 a building, a well, an old hay-stack, or even in a rocky cliff. A 

 few leaves and feathers suffice for a nest. The eggs, usuallv four 



