BREEDING SEASONS. 7 



in any one month is twenty-eight, and that month is November ; and 

 further research will probably show that this number is under the 

 mark. In May four hundred kinds of birds are known to breed, and 

 the number is probably little short of five hundred. Of the twelve 

 hundred or so species found in this country, the breeding of about 

 six hundred has already been ascertained, of the remainder many are 

 migratory and do not breed in this country at all, but there still 

 remains a wide field for discovery, the great bar to further progress 

 being the deadly character of some parts of the country at certain 

 seasons of the year. The great majority of the birds, the breeding of 

 which is yet unknown, frequent swamps or dense forests, and probably 

 breed at seasons of the year when exploration is not only attended with 

 extreme discomfort, but with serious risk of life. Some few kinds, such as 

 hawk owls (Ninox) and some of the goat suckers ( CaprimulgidoB) and 

 others, though they breed in accessible and healthy localities, escape 

 observation by their shy and retiring habits. 



In every part of India the vultures and many of the large eagles 

 breed during the cold season, the most notable exception is the breeding 

 of the Indian tawny eagle (A. vindhyana\ the spotted eagle (A, ncevia), 

 and the loner-legged eagle (A. hastata) in the height of the hot weather 

 in moist localities, such as Saharunpoor, the Terais, and Calcutta, but in 

 other parts these species too conform to the general rule. Many of 

 the owls, especially the large ones, breed in the winter, and almost all the 

 others breed in the early spring. The water birds breed during the 

 rainy season. In July and August, in the country affected by the south- 

 west monsoon, and in December in those parts of the south-east 

 coast which are under the influence of the north-east monsoon. In 

 some places the herons are known to breed in the spring, this has 

 been ascertained in Oudh and also at Saugor, but it is unusual. The 

 small warblers also of all kinds breed chiefly, though not without exception, 

 during the rainy season. For the rest the season varies with locality. 



In the Himalayas the chief season is April, May, and June, but 

 many eggs may be found in February and March ; and also in July. 

 All the finches breed late, chiefly in July in the higher ranges. From 

 August to November birds'* nesting does not repay the labor and fatigue 

 of walking in the hills, few, if any, eggs are to be found, and only definite 

 search after particular kinds, which there may be good reason to believe 

 are then breeding, should be made. In December and January the 

 big vultures and eagles have eggs, and their eyries should be sought for. 



