76 Mr. W. Jesse on the 



found it nesting in ;i mango in November, and I flushed a 

 bird off an empty nest in a palm in early June. All the 

 eggs in my collection are from Guzerat, and 1 have seen none 

 from this part of India. 



No. 1233. Circus macrurus. Pale Harrier. 



A very common winter visitor. It Hies low, gliding some- 

 times slowly, sometimes swiftly, over the fields, and it is 

 astonishing to see how suddenly it stops itself dead with a 

 quick turn, and drops instantly on its prey. 



No. 1234. Circus cineracetjs. Montagu's Harrier. 



According to Captain Irby, this Harrier is "found in the 

 same localities as the Pale Harrier, and is perhaps more 

 numerous.'' Reid, however, never got it, and I have only 

 one skin, of an example ( $ ) which 1 shot during the cold 

 weather of 1898. 



No. 1236. Circus melanoleucus. Pied Harrier. 



The same authority (Captain Irby) gives this species as 

 bring "very abundant near the rivers Chowka and Gogra, 

 on the plains covered with thick grass about two feet high. 

 1 have never seen it far away from grass-jungle, where it 

 appears to replace the preceding species and the Pale Harrier, 

 although they are now and then seen there also." 



If Captain Irby's account is correct, it is strange that 

 neither Reid nor I have ever met with it. 



No. 1237. Circus .eruginosus. Marsh-Harrier. 



Kutar [II.]. 



The Marsh- Harrier is very abundant during the cold 

 weather, and I have once or twice seen it during the hot 

 season and " rains. 1 ' For this reason I am inclined to 

 believe, with Reid, that a few pairs breed in the moister parts 

 of Oudh. The chirri-mars declare they do, making their 

 nests on the ground in some marshy spot. Their chief food 

 consists of frogs, snakes, and other reptiles, but rats, mic \ 

 and birds are equally prized. Out shooting they are a perfect 

 nuisance to the sportsman. They will beat up and down over 

 the "■' snipey ;; bits, putting up bird after bird for no reason, as 



