the Birds of Central India. 55 



very handsome; they are somewhat chalky in texture, greyisli 

 white in colour, richly blotched and clouded with deep 

 brownish red. They vary much in size, shape, and colours. 

 The average is 2"6 in length by about 2 in breadth. 



7. Falco peregrinator, Sund. 



A jjair of Shahin Falcons frequented the waterfalls near 

 Mhow during the cold season of 1881. Jerdon, in his 

 ' Birds of India/ vol. i. p. "27 , mentions an eyrie at this very 

 waterfall. 



8. Falco juggur, J. E. Gr. 



(^ . Length \7 7o inches, expanse 39, wing 12*4, tail 7*4, 

 tarsus 1"8. $ . Length 18 inches, expanse 43'5, wing 13'75, 

 tail 8"3, tarsus J "8. 



The Laggar Falcon is very common, and is a permanent 

 resident, breeding during the first three months of the year, 

 most of them laying in February. The nest is found in a 

 variety of situations — a hole in the face of an old building or 

 tree, a ledge on a rocky cliff, a fork in a lofty tree, and some- 

 times they appropriate an old crowds nest. The eggs, three or 

 four in number, are oval in shajie, of a fine but chalky texture, 

 reddish or yellowish white in colour, so closely freckled and 

 stippled with reddish brown as to leave little or none of the 

 ground-colour visible. At such times the egg, unless looked 

 at closely, appears to be of a uniform brick-red. Sometimes 

 tlie colour is whiter, and the egg blotched_, clouded, or capped 

 with reddish brown, not, however, very distinct. They are 

 sometimes very beautiful; measurements 2 by 1*55 in. 



9. Falco chicquera, Daud. 



Length 13 inches, expanse 27'2, Aving 8'5, tail 6. 



Tlie Turumti is not u.ncommon, and occurs throughout the 

 district ; it is a permanent resident, and breeds during Feb- 

 ruary and March. It frequents open country in the vicinity 

 of cultivation. The nests are often found within village 

 enclosures. They prefer rather high trees, such as tamarind 

 or peepul, and in a fork near the top they construct rather a 

 neat cup-shaped nest of twigs, lined with grass-roots. It 

 would be rather a difficult nest to find, were it not for the 



