Lieut. Burgess 07i the Habits of Indian Birds. 379 



comb, these birds spread their tail, and with it drive off tlie bees be- 

 fore attacking it. This was told me by a villager in a portion of 

 thickly-wooded country where these birds are common. 



Genus Buteo. 



BuTEO Teesa, Gray. 



This is one of the comniouest Hawks in the Deccan. Its plain- 

 tive cry may be heard in almost every tope of trees. It is easily 

 distinguished by its white throat and silvery-white eyes. Dr. Jer- 

 don, in his 'Catalogue of Birds of India,' says : "It frequents topes 

 as well as open country, where it may be seen seated on low trees 

 and bushes, an ant-hill, or the banks of rivers, whence it pounces 

 on mice, lizards, small snakes, and various large insects and their 

 larvae." In the stomach of oife of these birds I found a small snake 

 entire, said to be of a very venomous kind, and a large locust ; in 

 that of another the remains of a full-grown rock quail. I am not 

 aware whether the eye of all or most of the Falconidce is strengthened 

 by a ring of bony plates, as is the eye of the Golden Eagle, but it is 

 the case in this bird. The Teesa breeds during the months of March, 

 April and May. The nest is composed of sticks laid on the forked 

 branches of the babool, mango and other trees. It sometimes con- 

 tains as many as four eggs, \^^ inch in length and l^inch in breadth, 

 white, spotted and dashed with brown. 



I am very much inclined to think that the Teesa migrates during 

 the monsoon, and returns to the Deccan about September, as I used 

 not to hear its peculiar cry from the end of May to the middle of that 

 month. Mr. Elliot, in his notes, mentions that Circus cyaneus and 

 Faico pe>-effrinus aho migrate during the hot season and monsoon. 

 I never noticed any of the Harriers about until September or October. 

 The name of the Teesa in ^Mharata is 'Surudmar,' and in Hindoostani, 

 • Girgootmar,' meaning in both languages, I believe, ' the destroyer 

 of lizards.' This name also applies, or is applied, to the Kestril Black- 

 wing (Elanus melanopteriis), and Harriers. 



The eggs sent with the others, I believe are those of one of the 

 Harrier family, but of which I am unable to say. Most probably 

 they belong to Circus cyaneus or Circus Montagui, as these are the 

 most common. Circus cyaneus (C. pallidus, Sykes) is exceedingly 

 common in the Deccan. In the grass lauds amongst the hills, where 

 quails abound, I have observed these birds beating particular spots 

 of ground in the most regular manner, and when shooting, have 

 found such spots to yield the best sport. I was told by a gentleman 

 of the Civil Service, an ardent sportsman, that when shooting near 

 Belgaum, many of the quails have been carried off by the Harriers 

 before the beaters had time to secure them. They will fly over a plot 

 of grass land, scanning every foot of it, and in the most careful 

 manner beat the hedges and strips of bush and grass between the 

 fields. They feed on lizards, mice, and small birds. I have been told 

 that these birds remain to breed in the Deccan. 



