20 NOTES ON THE AVIFAUNA OF MOUNT ABOO 
901.—Hydrophasianus chirurgus, Scop. 
The Pheasant-tailed Jacana is common, being found on most 
of the tanks throughout the plains during the cold weather. 
I saw a specimen that was shot in the bed of a river near 
Deesa in the hot weather in the summer plumage, however 
this was an exceptional case, as they nearly all leave this part 
of the country at the end of the cold weather. 
[Not uncommon in suitable localities throughout the entire 
region.—A. O. H.] 
902.—Porphyrio poliocephalus, Lath. 
The Purple Coot, though uncommon in most parts, is very 
plentiful on some of the tanks overgrown with weeds, lotus 
leaves and dense beds of bulrushes. 
In such localities I found the bird tolerably tame, and saw 
them in dozens sitting on the top of the bulrushes, allowing one 
often to pass within easy shot of them without flymg down. 
When walking, they have a habit of jerking their tails like the 
Common Waterhen (G. chloropus, L), and from the row they 
make in the rushes cackling and chasing each other through 
the water I fancy they are very pugnacious. 
I remember seeing one once take refuge in a babool tree after 
being driven out of a thick bed of rushes. No sooner had he 
settled than an eagle (Aquila vindhiana) descended into the tree 
and seized him. The poor Coot cried out piteously making a 
noise very like the cries of a domestic fowl when caught to be 
killed. After waiting a few seconds I approached the tree and the 
eagle flew off dropping the Coot on the ground as it left the tree. 
The Coot was in a dying state when I picked it up with a deep 
wound in the breast inflicted by the eagle’s claws. I fancy 
that the Tawny Hagle seldom attacks a living bird of this size 
unless wounded? Perhaps on account of its heavy laboured 
flight it thought the Coot was wounded. 
[Common in Sindh and Kattiawar, less so in Cutch where 
there are not many localities suited to it, and very rare in 
Jodhpoor. Adam never got it near Sambhur, and I know only 
one tank in Jodhpoor where it occurs.—A. O. H.] 
903.—Fulica atra, Lin. 
The Bald Coot abounds on every tank of any size throughout 
the country in the cold weather. 
[Has been once seen on the lake at Aboo. Common through- 
out the entire region.—A. O. H. | 
905.—Gallinula chloropus, Zin. 
The Water Hen is not common. I have met with it occa- 
sionally in the tanks between Deesa and Ahmedabad. 
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