346 Mr. W. Jesse — Birds' -nesting 



Among the various species which I found breeding this 

 year, besides those mentioned^ the eggs of the following 

 have not been previously recoi'ded from the Luckuow 

 District itself : — Indian Pipit (Anthus rufulus) ; Crested 

 Lark [Galerita cristata) ; Bronze-winged Jacana [Metopidius 

 indicus) ; and Blue Heron {Ardea cinerea). 



Of course I do not pretend for a moment that there is 

 anything out of the way in taking the eggs of these birds ; 

 only, as I cannot find any note to the effect that others have 

 met with them in this particular district, I think it worth 

 while to mention it. 



Having thus prefaced my remarks, I will give some notes 

 on the more interesting species, eggs of which I have taken 

 during the past twelve mouths. 



Haliastur INDUS. Braliuiiiiy Kite. 



Hind. \_Lucknow'] : Maochli-Khata. 



Though this bird was known to breed in the " Division," 

 I could find no authentic record of its nest being taken here. 

 Reid, in 'Stray Feathers,' says that he had had the eggs 

 brought him in March, but does not give any further parti- 

 culars. I was therefore much interested when I received 

 information which led me on April 16th to a nest that had 

 been found. It was situated about three-quarters way up a 

 mango-tree. One bird was seated on it, the other standing 

 by its side. The nest contained one chick and one stale e^^^, 

 which was brought down in triumph. All the time that I 

 was near the old birds flew round in evident agitation, quite 

 close to my head ; but I did not shoot them, as I was 

 leaving the young one, aud, moreover, the maroon-coloured 

 body with white head and shoulders cannot be mistaken. 

 The nest was a small platform of sticks, lined with mud, 

 with which the e^^, originally an unspotted greyish white, 

 was covered. 



Dendrocitta rufa. Indian Tree-pie. 

 Hind. [Lucknow] : Mootri. 



This very common bird lays eggs, as many of the Pas- 

 serine birds do, of two distinct types: (a) pink or white 



