THE BIRDS OF TRAVANCORE. 071 



cotta in the low country near Quilon. also in March. It was hovering 

 like a Kestril, stooped and came feet foremost to the ground. I shot it 

 as it rose and found a lizard in its claws. 



(221) Circus macrurus. — The Pale Harrier. 

 Stanford, No. 1233 ; Jerdon, No. 51. 

 A winter visitor both to the low country and the hills from November 

 to February. I have shot it in paddy fields round Trevandrum and in 

 grass land on the High Range at 6,000 feet. 



(222) Circus cineraceus. — Montagu's Harrier. 

 Blanford, No. 1234 ; Jerdon, No. 52. 



Like the last, Montagu's Harrier may be found in winter both in the 

 hills and on the plains. It arrives however about a month later. 



(223) Circus melanoleucus. — The Pied Harrier. 

 Blanford, No. 1236 ; Jerdon, No. 53. 



This is an occasional visitor and not so common as the last two. It 

 frequents the low country as well as the hills. It stays later than they 

 do as I have seen specimens in the beginning of April. 



(221) Circus ^ruginosus.— The Marsh Harrier. 

 Blanford, No. 1237 ; Jerdon, No. 54. 

 This is the commonest of the Harriers, and like the rest a winter visitor. 

 It frequents paddy fields in the low country from October to April, but 

 docs not ascend the hills. 



(225) Buteo desertorum. — The Common Buzzard. 

 Blanford, No. 1241 ; Jerdon, No. 47. 

 I have often seen these birds on the grass land at Ponmudi, but the 

 Museum possesses no specimen. Mr. F. W. Bourdillon says of it: — 

 " A winter visitor, seems to be not uncommon during December, January 

 and February, preferring high open country, where two or three may ho 

 soon steadily quartering the ground and occasionally .pouncing on seme 

 mouse or lizard. I have seen them perch both on trees and on stones, 

 and once saw one as low as 2,000 feet elevation, where it was beating 

 backwards and forwards over a field of young coffee." 

 (226) Astur badius.— The Shikar. 

 Blanford, No. 1244 ; Jerdon, No. 23. 

 A resident, and very common in the low country and at the foot of 

 the hills. It occasionally ascends them, but only where there is open 

 land. " Breeds profusely in the plains from March to June, in this 

 respect differing from other birds of prey which have finished breeding 



