THE BIRDS OF THE LUCKNOW CIVIL DIVISION. 13 
57.—Pernis ptilorhynchus, Tem. 
The Crested Honey Buzzard is fairly common about Lucknow 
from August to November, probably because bee-combs then 
abound ; but is not so numerous during the colder months, a few 
only remaining throughout the year, the majority migrating 
to the hills for the hot and early portion of the rainy seasons. 
A specimen that I shot in October had evidently been feed- 
ing on honey-comb ; for, on lifting it up by the legs, the honey 
ran from its mouth in clear stream, and would probably have 
filled a tea-cup. 
These Buzzards, it should be noted, vary astoundingly in 
plumage, from light fulvous to almost black, so much so that 
it would not be an easy task to find two eXactly alike. Such, 
at any rate, is my experience. 
59.—Elanus ceruleus, Desf. Nativename—Dasunwa. 
The Black-winged Kite is a fairly common and permanent 
resident. 
On one occasion I saw the Flanus flying over the native 
city of Lucknow, evidently in a great hurry to reach “ fresh 
fields and pastures new.’ But it is in the dhak jungles, 
wherever these are interspersed with taller trees, along the 
railway, perched on telegraph posts, and about the banks of 
nullahs, where these are grassy and rugged, particularly if 
babooi trees exist, that it is chiefly found. 
In Stray Featruers, Vol. VIIL, pages 415-16, a good deal 
of information is given about the nidification of this species. 
It probably breeds twice a year, as I have shot almost nestlings 
in Janvary, while other observers state that it nidificates very 
generally from March to June. In November last I noticed a pair 
making their nest near the top of a mangoe tree, of which there 
were three in a clump ; a fortnight later I visited the spot, hoping 
to find eggs, but without success. The birds then appear to 
have forsaken the nest, for, on re-visiting the place, I found 
them busily engaged making another nest on the second tree. 
Thereupon I gave them another fortnight’s grace and then 
went for the eggs, but found none. The same thing occurred 
again; they forsook the nest and commenced to build on the 
third tree. I gave them three weeks this time, but still found no 
eggs, and on "re-visiting the place a fortnight later found they 
had decamped. I blessed those birds, I did! 
60.—Strix javanica, Gm. Native name— Ulu,* 
The Indian Screech Owl—though I have never seen it in 
the district—is pretty common about Lucknow, where it inhabits 
* Applied to Owls generally. 
