246 Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds 



180. BoTAURUS STELLARis. (Commou Bittern.) 



. Common in the cold season on the large rushy jheels. 



181. PORPHYRIO POLIOCEPHALUS. 



Very common, especially on rushy jheels and those where 

 bushes grow in the water. This bird can bite very sharply, as I 

 know from personal experience. 



183. PORZANA PHCENICURA. 



Very common throughout the year ; frequenting small ponds 

 and swamps near villages. 



183. PoRZANA MARUETTA. (Spotted Crake.) 

 Common in rushy swamps during the cold season. 



184. Gallinula chloropus. (Waterhen.) 

 Common. 



185. PuLiCA atra. (Common Coot.) 



Found in great numbers on the large jheels in the cold 

 season. I saw one on the lake at Nynee Tal, Kumaon, about 

 the 1st of June, 1859. 



186. Larus ridibundus. (Black-headed Gull.) 

 Frequently seen in the cold season, but never in summer 



plumage. 



187. Larus miiNutus. (Little Gull.) 



I killed a specimen of this Gull in its winter dress in January 

 1859, near Jehangirabad; it was exceedingly tame, allowing me 

 to approach within two or three yards. 



188. Rhynchops albicollis. (" Scissors-bill.") 

 Common in the cold season in the vicinity of the Gogra and 



Choka, on the sand-banks of which rivers large flocks are seen 

 sitting in the daytime. I think this bird must feed at night, as 

 I never saw it doing so till just towards dusk, when it was often 

 to be seen skimming along close to the water, every now and then 

 dipping in its curiously constructed beak. 



189. Hydrochelidon indica. (Whiskered Tern.) 

 Common in the cold season. 



190. Sterna hirundo. (Common Tern.) 

 Occasionally seen. 



