DECEMBER. 
By this time in Upper India the season for eggs of the large birds of 
prey has fairly commenced. In the extreme south and east coast, the 
water-birds that are monsoon breeders, such as egrets, pond herons, cur- 
lews, &e., are all breeding ; and everywhere throughout the plains, the 
eges of the ring-tailed fishing eagle and of the ring dove may be taken. 
In the Hrmatayas, eges of the bearded vulture have been taken; 
while the roe vultures, black eagles, Nepal hawk eagles, and Himalayan 
jishing eagles are all building. 
In the Punsas, the pale long-billed vulture, the white-backed vulture, 
the ring-tailed fishing eagle, the striated bush babbler, the raven, and 
the common sandgrouse all have eggs. 
In the Nortnu-West Provinces, the white-backed vulture, Bonelli’s 
eagle, the ring-tailed fishing eagle and rock-horned ow], the dusky-horned 
owl, the brown fish owl, the hoopoe, the pin-tailed munia, and the black- 
necked stork have all got eggs. The pale long-billed vulture, the dusky 
sand martin, and the turtle doves are building. 
In Beneat, the ring-tailed fishing eagle and white-bellied sea eagle, 
the common kite, the brown fish owl, the Indian sand martin, and the 
ring doves have all got eggs. 
In Crntrat Inpia, eggs of the pale long-billed vulture, the Indian 
tawny eagle, the ring-tailed fishing eagle, the black-winged kite, the 
screech owl, the mottled wood owl, the Indian amadavat, the green ama- 
davat, and Sykes’s turtle dove have all been taken ; and among the birds 
that commence pairing and building in this month may be mentioned 
the shaheen falcon, the bar-tailed fishing eagle (possibly, but this requires 
confirmation), the dusky crag martin, the white-backed munia, and the 
ruddy turtle dove. 
In Soutuern Inp1a, egos of the white-bellied sea eagle, the common 
kite, the southern golden-backed woodpecker, the amethyst-rumped 
honeysucker, the jungle babbler, the Indian pied wagtail, the Indian 
amadavat, the black-bellied finch lark, the ring dove, the grey jungle fowl, 
the white-necked stork, the egrets, pond herons, king curlews, and all of 
the resident water-birds may be taken; and watch should be kept on the 
white scavenger vultures, shaheen falcons, bar-tailed fishing eagles, purple 
honeysuckers, Nilgiri flowerpeckers, red-billed bush quail, and Indian snake 
birds, which are known to commence building in the course of the month. 
