64 Mr. W. Jesse on the 



probably constantly overlooked ; but, even then, it is strange 

 that out of the numbers of holes in which I have searched 

 for, and found, nests of A. brama, I have never come across 

 that of G. radiatum. Yet Reid seems to have found a pair, 

 or more, in almost every mango-grove. 



No. 1187. Ninox scutulata. Brown Hawk-Owl. 



This is another Owl which is " common and a permanent 

 resident," according to Reid, but which I have only come 

 across once or twice at most. It is, however, quite 

 nocturnal in its habits, and probably requires to be specially 

 looked for. One that Reid shot cried like a hare. I have 

 never found its nest, nor do I know anything of its breeding 

 with us. 



No. 1189. Pandion haliaetus. Osprey. 



Machariya ; Machi-mar [H.]. 



The Osprey, though not numerous, is usually to be seen 

 on every large jheel, and Reid stated that it was common 

 on the big rivers. It departs at the approach of hot weather. 

 On one occasion I owed my evening meal to this bird. A 

 party of us were staying at Milkipur, near Fyzabad, for the 

 usual Christmas "shoot." Two of us, with our host, Mr. A. 

 C. Bryson, of the Opium Department, went away early in 

 the morning to inspect a big jheel some five miles off, but 

 the fourth, Mr. A. E. Pierpoint, remained behind at the 

 camp to write letters. By tiffin time these were finished, 

 and, having nothing to do, he picked up his gun and strolled 

 off to a jheel about half a mile away. 



The Duck and Teal kept well out of shot in the centre, 

 and, having no boat, he was unable to get on terms, and so 

 stood watching them. Suddenly an Osprey came sailing 

 over the water, and, making a plunge, rose with a " rohu " 

 some 2 lbs. or more in weight, which it proceeded to carry 

 off to a neighbouring tree. In doing so it passed Pierpoint, 

 who shot it, and bore the fish home in triumph. Need- 

 less to say we were totally unable to guess how he had 

 come by his scaly prey, when he asked us the question that 

 night at dinner. 



