194 Mr. W. Jesse — Birds'' -nesting 



Kite, Indian Roller, and Spotted Owlet, nesting witliin a 

 few feet of each other on the same mango. 



In my own bungalow and on the trees immediately around 

 it, none of which were more than 50 yards away, the follow- 

 ing species bred this year : — House- Kite [Milvus govinda) , 

 Jungle-Crow (Corvus culminatus), House-Crow (C impu- 

 dicus), Indian Tree-Pie (Dendrocitta rufa), Indian Hoopoe 

 [Upupa nigripennis) , Purple Honeysucker [Arachnechthra 

 asiatica), House-Sparrow [Passer domesticus) , Bengal Bab- 

 bler [Crateropus canorus), Brown-backed Robin [Thamnobia 

 cambaiensis) , Golden Oriole [Oriulus kundoo), Common 

 Mynah [Acridotheres tristis) , Common Drongo or "King- 

 Crow''' {Dicrurus ater), Indian White-eye {Zosterops palpe- 

 brosus), and Speckled Turtledove [Turtur suratensis). 



In addition to these a Neophron usually builds on my 

 roof, but did not do so this year, as repairs were being 

 executed. Why birds, often with such opposite habits as the 

 Kite and the Roller, should breed near each other, puzzles 

 me. The only reason I can assign for it is that they think 

 that there is safety in numbers. 



On my nesting excursions I have never got much help 

 from the native, and sometimes very much the reverse. 

 On one occasion, when taking a Vulture's nest, I was badly 

 assaulted, and had great difficulty in getting away. The 

 people are very ignorant and prejudiced, and it is often 

 very difficult to persuade them that you mean no harm. I 

 am always particularly careful not to offend their sensibilities, 

 but unfortunately collisions between villagers and Europeans 

 frequently occur, sometimes the one, sometimes the other 

 being in fault, and the best thing is to keep clear of native 

 dwellings altogether. 



In the accompanying list will be found a summary of the 

 nests and eggs obtained this year, I have also added the 

 native (Lucknow) names for as many species as I have been 

 able to obtain. 



