ASSAM, SYLHET AND CACHAR. 13 



51.— Circus macrurus, S. G. Gm. 



Just inside Manipur territory, in the Jhiri valley, I obtained 

 one specimen of the Pale-chested Harrier, but this was the 

 only specimen I saw, and I do not think it extends to the 

 basin of Manipur, 



I have a specimen from N,-E. Cachar, but I cannot find 

 that it has been recorded from any other locality in Assam, 

 Sylhet or Cachar, though I should expect it to occur in all. 



This species occurs in Arakan, and is not uncommon in 

 Southern Pegu, but I do not know of its occurrence elsewhere 

 in British Burmah, and we never saw it in any part of 

 Tenasserim. 



52. — Circus cineraceus, Mont. 



I never met with this species in Manipur, nor is it recorded 

 I think from anywhere in Sylhet or Cachar, but it occurs in 

 the Assam valley. 



[Fairly common in the Dibrugarh district during the cold 

 season, when it is to be found in the treeless tracts of grass 

 jungle.— J. R. C] 



53. — Circus melanoleucus, Penn, 



Common in the basin of Manipur, especially in the southern 

 half, during February, March and the first half of April. 

 Quite at the end of May I saw two specimens between 

 Manipur and Bishnoopur, so that I conclude that some few 

 at any rate breed here as they do in Upper Assam. 



On the outer hills immediately overlooking the basin they 

 range up to nearly 4,000 feet, but only as stragglers, and I 

 never saw them really inside the hills, except in the Kopum 

 Thall, a small basin in the Western hills, a miniature of the 

 Manipur basin, where also it was common. 



Of course rice fields and stubbles are its favorite haunts, 

 but one often sees it working about the margins of j heels or 

 over these if they are much overgrown with weed. 



Though common they were excessively shy and wary, and 

 although I often tried to shoot them I only got four from 

 first to last. 



This species is common throughout Assam right up to 

 Sadiya, Sylhet and Cachar. It occurs also in suitable local- 

 ities throughout British Burmah. 



[Circus melanoleucus y Gmel. — Very common all over the 

 Dibrugarh district, where they breed. One shot on the 20th 

 of July turned out to be a ? in the male plumage, vide 

 S. F., X, 327. They feed on birds and eggs as well as mice 

 and insects. In the Julpigooree district I once shot a c? with 



