HALIASTUR. 171 



April, according to. season and locality. Like many other species, 

 it breeds earlier in Lower Bengal than up-country. In Upper 

 India, where it is comparatively rare, it almost invariably makes 

 its nest in the neighbourhood of water, building a rather large, 

 loose, stick structure, scarcely, if at all, distinguishable from those 

 of the Common Kite (M. yovinda), high up on some large mango, 

 tamarind, or peepul tree. The nest, which is from 18 inches to 

 2 feet in diameter, and from 3 to 5 inches in depth, with a rather 

 considerable depression internally, is sometimes perfectly unlined, 

 at other times has a few green leaves laid under the eggs, as in an 

 Eagle's nest, but most commonly is more or less lined, or has the 

 materials of the inner part of the nest intermingled with pieces of 

 rag, wool, human hair, and the like. 



Most commonly only two eggs are laid, but three are by no 

 means uncommon, and one of my correspondents notes finding four 

 in one nest, a very unusual number. 



Mr. F. E. Blewitt says : "This Kite was found breeding in 

 the Simibulpore District in the latter part of January ; in the 

 Kaepore District in February, March, and April. The tallest tree 

 of a group, in the neighbourhood of a large tank or sometimes 

 near to a stream, is almost invariably selected for its nest. This 

 nest, most frequently made on one of the upper higher branches, 

 is loosely constructed of coarse twigs, having the depression in it 

 often lined with grass, leaves, or odd pieces of rags. Three is the 

 maximum number of eggs." 



Colonel Gr. F. L. Marshall says of this species : " Breeds in 

 the Saharunpoor District. I saw a female on her nest in a huge 

 dry tree in the early part of March, but as the tree was inaccessible, 

 I was obliged to leave it ; the nest was of sticks about 50 feet 

 from the ground." 



Mr. E. Thompson remarks : " At Shahgunj, Pergunnah Bhur- 

 rur, District Mirzapore, I saw on the 6th March, 1869, a pair of 

 these birds building their nest, which was placed in a mango-tope, 

 on a tall tree. There were no eggs, as the birds had not then 

 laid, but the nest was as complete as it could be. 



" The nest was like that of M. govinda and placed on a very 

 high branch." 



Dr. Jerdon tells us that " the Brahminy Kite breeds on trees in 

 February and March, making a not very large nest of sticks, 

 sometimes lined with mud, and laying generally only two eggs, 

 which are sometimes dirty white, at other times white with a few 

 rusty-brown spots. In the Carnatic it usually selects a palm-tree 

 to build in. Layard says that it makes several false nests, and 

 that whilst the female is incubating, the male generally occupies 

 one of the nests first made." 



Mr. G. Yidal records the following note from the South Kon- 

 kan : " Breeds from the middle of January to end of March. 

 Prefers cocoanut-trees on the coast, and mango-trees inland. 

 Deserts its nest on the slightest provocation." 



Messrs. Davidson and Wenden, writing from the Deccan, 



