158 



MANUAL OF TTIK NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



CHAP. VIII, Cervulus aureus. 

 PART I. Memimna Indica. 



Zoology. 



The Ixih-faced or Barliing-Deer. 

 The Mo2(,se-Deer. 



FAMILY BOVID^. 



Heraitragus hylocrius. The N'llacjiri Wild Goat. 

 Gaveeus gaurus. The Gaur or Bison. 



Birds. 



—Birds of 

 prey. 



-Owls. 



BIRDS. 



The avi-fauiia of the Nilagiris is fairly represented in the 

 Madras Museum, one of the taxidermists having made collections 

 there during two successive years, and a large number was 

 collected by me in 1877. Comparatively few bii'ds are seen 

 on the slopes and ravines on the higher ranges of the hills, 

 but they become more numerous, both as to individuals and 

 species, at elevations of from two to four thousand feet, that is 

 to say where cover and food are most abundant. During the 

 more rainy months of the south-west monsoon the majority of 

 birds migrate to the eastern side of the range, where there is 

 less rain and more sunshine. One of the most interesting birds 

 found on the hills is the migratory wood-cock, and it is curious 

 to notice the punctuality with which it annually appears, notwith- 

 standing the systematic manner in which the bird is persecuted 

 and shot down. Indeed there can be no doubt that if the wood- 

 cock had been a permanent resident, it would long ere now have 

 been exterminated or frightened away from its haunts, but, 

 being a pilgrim and stranger, it comes back yearly, all unconscious 

 of, or forgetting the risks it will run, and the deadly gaps that 

 will be made in its ranks. A list will be found farther on of 

 the chief birds known to frequent the Nilagiris, the nomencla- 

 ture and classification being those of Jerdon. This list contains 

 species, and the order which first requires notice is that of 

 the Raptores, or birds of prey. The most remarkable of these, as 

 to size, are the long-billed brown vulture, and scavenger vulture, 

 which are not uncommon, and ai'e said to breed on the hills. Of 

 hawks there is a goodly number including the kestril, two falcons, 

 two goshawks and two sparrow hawks. There is no true eagle, 

 but one kite-eagle, one hawk-eagle, and a serpent-eagle occur. 



Owls. — This group of birds is well represented, no lessj 

 than eight species of owls being found on the Nilagiris. Of 

 these the most remarkable is the brown wood-owl, which is 

 regarded by Natives, both in India and Ceylon, with superstitious 

 dread. It is purely a nocturnal bird, and its dismal yell is no 

 doubt the reason for its being regarded with such fear. Most 

 owls are more or less disliked by natives except the little spotted 



