in the vicinity of Calcutta. 93 



is a tremulous shrill squeal (whence the native appellation Cheele) 

 resembling that of the British kite. They subsist mainly on filth and 

 refuse, but will readily pick up a chick or wounded bird, and I once 

 knew one to kill a full-grown hen : this, however, was considered 

 rather an anomalous occurrence, and they seem to be generally on 

 excellent terms with the crows ; though I have been told, and on 

 good authority, that a kite will sometimes seize a crow, probably 

 when pressed by hunger, albeit the uproarious clamour of all the 

 crows in the neighbourhood, sure to collect on such an occasion, 

 might suffice to deter him from doing so a second time. During the 

 rainy season the kites totally leave Calcutta for three or four months, 

 not, however, for breeding, for the young have then all flown ; and 

 the Brahminee Cheels (Hal. Pondicerianus) in like manner disappear 

 from the river. 



22. Elanus melanopterus. Not uncommon. 



23. Hyptiopus (Hodgson, olim Baza, H.) lophotes', Falco lophotes, 

 Tern. ; Baza syama, Hodgson. Rare. 



24. Vultur Pondicerianus. By no means common. Like its near 

 ally, the South African V. auricularis*, with which it forms a parti- 

 cular minor group, this species is only seen singly or in pairs — never 

 in flocks. Upon one descending on a carcass, whereon a crowd of 

 the next species are gorging, these all make way for it and keep aloof 

 till it is gone (so, at least, I have repeatedly been informed), whence 

 it currently bears the name of King Vulture amongst our countrymen. 



25. V. leuconotus. The common vulture of India generally, very 

 numerous in the Gangetic Delta. 



26. Neophron percnopterus. The Rachamah, so very abundant in 

 Southern India, is here of rare occurrence. The Society's Museum 

 contains a specimen shot in the neighbourhood ; and I was told that 

 several appeared about the Botanic Garden after the hurricane of the 

 1st of June last. 



27. Strix fiammea ; Str. Javanica of Mr. Jerdon's catalogue. As 

 numerous about Calcutta as in England, and presenting no difference 

 ■whatever from the British bird. 



28. Ninox lugubris ; Strix luguhris, Tickell (Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 

 ii. 578); Ninox Nipalensis, Hodgson (Madr. Journ. No. xiv. 23). 

 Tolerably common. 



29. Athene brama; Strix brama, Temminck ; Noctua Indica, Frank- 

 lin. Common. 



30. Otus brachyotus. Common during the cool season. 



3 1 . Buceros Malabaricus. Inhabits the Soonderbuns, and may not 

 unfrequently be purchased alive of the Calcutta dealers. 



32. Upupa epops. Common in the winter months. In Southern 

 India it is replaced by the smaller and more rufous species — U. minor ; 

 but Mr. Jerdon has sent me a specimen from the Neilghierries. 



33. Merops Indicus. Extremely common, but disappears in the 

 rainy season. It breeds in the neighbourhood, as 1 have had speci- 

 mens brought me with eggs ready to lay in the month of March. 



* Proc. Zool. Soc. 1833, p. 45. 



