20 THE BIRDS OF THE LUCKNOW CIVIL DIVISION.” 
to fields and open glaces, where it may be seen flying noiselessly 
along, or feeding and shuffling about with great activity on the 
ground, changing the scene of its operations every minute or 
so, while at intervals its familar call—chuk, chuk, chuk— 
slowly and monotonously repeated, “is a welcome and pleasing 
addition” (?) to the “ voices of the night.” 
112.—Caprimulgus asiaticus, Lath. 
10th January, Male.—Length,9; expanse, 1812; wing, 
6:37; tarsus, °80 ; tail, 4-40; bill, from gape, 1:46. Legs flesh 
color ; irides dark brown; bill fleshy brown. 
The Common Indian Nightjar is by no means so abundant 
here as C. albonotatus. Indeed I have rarely or never seen it’ 
except when the “ shades of evening” have so far advanced as 
to render shooting it next to impossible. It feeds, I think, by 
preference on the mud by the water’s edge of streams or jhils, 
where I have often, when waiting for geese, seen it flitting 
actively about. 
117.—Merops viridis, Zin. Native Name—Patane 
and Hurrial, 
12th January, Male—Length, 9; expanse, 11°75; wing, 
3°75 ; tail, 4°70; tarsus, 0-4; bill, from gape, 1:4. Bill black ; 
irides red ; legs and feet plumbeous grey. 
The Common Indian Bee-Hater is a permanent resident 
and very common, being equally at home in our gardens and 
in the less attractive parts of the Division, inhabiting 
even wzsar plains, where a pair or two may occasionally 
be seen seated on some low shrub. It breeds here in 
March, usually making its nest in the mud walls of 
compounds, in the banks of Hyder Ali’s canal, and in similar 
localities about ravines and rivers. It usually lays four almost 
round, white eggs; the average measurement of 13 being 
0-79 by 0°71 inches, while the largest measures 0°83 by 0°70, 
and the smallest 0°70 by 0°65. 
Towards the beginning, and again about the end of the cold 
weather, they may be seen, a little before sunset, collecting 
in great numbers on some unfrequented road or dry sandy 
Jand, where they leisurely roll about in the dust. Their sand- 
bath over, they usually take wing together, and after indulg- 
ing in a few circular and other evolutions, all the while keeping 
up an incessant chattering, they separate into small parties 
for the night. They also often indulge in a similar practice in 
the mornings, but on such occasions they collect, I think, on 
the wing or on some tree, and dispense altogether with the 
preliminary sand or dust bath. 
