12 THE BIRDS OF THE LUCKNOW CIVIL DIVISION. 
thev often do, they devour it in the presence of almost every 
duck on the jhil, by selecting for their repast, either a ridge on 
its banks or a mud eminence in the water itself. Thus seated 
and engaged, it is not an unusual thing to see a dozen or so 
after sportsmen have been their rounds: it is, therefore, not 
surprising that wild fowl should dread them and look upon all 
their actions with suspicion, especially as they immediately 
seize upon any disabled bird that a flock, on taking wing, leave 
behind them. I have never, however, seen the Marsh Harrier 
“strike home,” when the bird was of any size and in possession 
of all its powers. 
55.—Haliastur indus, Bodd. Native name— 
Bahmini Chil. 
The Maroon-backed or Brahminy Kite isa common and _ per- 
manent resident, rarely seen in the dry season at any distance from 
water, but universally spread over the Division during, and for a 
while after, the rains. Itis generally found in pairs, and is very 
fond of crabs, judging from the accumulated remains of these 
occasionally seen on the ground beneath some of its favorite 
perches on the Goomti. Though it breeds in the Division, 
I have never been fortunate enough to discover its nest, though 
I have had its eggs brought to me in March. 
56.—Milvus govinda, Sykes. Native name— Chil. 
The Common Kite is everywhere abundant. It breeds from 
November to the end of April, making its nest of sticks 
indiscriminately on trees, mosques, minarets, old buildings, &c., 
and usually lays from two to three ergs of a dirty or greenish 
white, spotted or blotched with brown of various shades, rarely 
two alike, and some very beautifully marked indeed, 
Average measurement of 12 eggs 2:17 by 1:26 inches. 
Measurement of largest ego ... 2°25 ,, 1:29 ,, 
Meesurement of smallest egg... 2°12 ,, 1:22 ,, 
Though it is scarcely safe to generalize from a couple of 
instances, it 1s worth recording that on two occasions eggs 
were again laid in nests from which I had seen incubated eggs 
taken about a month previously. 
Though Kites actually swarm in Lucknow I have looked in 
vain for Milvus major, Hume; M. melanotis, Tem. and Schl? 
In the jungle, too, where I was most likely to find it, my 
searches have been equally fruitless; but then, I was probably 
too particular in expecting to find a Kite with a “huge pure 
white wing-patch,” though I have seen some old govindas 
that might pass muster if one was not over-particular about 
the patch being pure white. 
