LUCKNOW CIVIL DIVISION. 453 
contains four specimens—all purchased locally—so that we 
may conclude that it is a rare cold-weather visitor.* » 
899.—Recurvirostra avocetta, Lin. 
The Avocet is a fairly common cold-weather visitor. It is 
usually met with singly or in pairs, and is equally good at 
either wading or swimming. It seems to prefer long narrow 
jhils to broad and deep ones; at any rate it 1s on the former 
that I most often notice it when in the field. 
911.—Porzana fusca, Lin. 
The Ruddy Rail is not common, and is only a cold-weather 
visitor. Only once have I seen it strictly within the 
limits of the division. On the occasion referred to I was snipe- 
shooting in the Unao District, when it rose out of the reeds 
almost at my feet, at a moment when my gun was empty. 
It flew across the jhil, and being unable to follow I did not 
get it. I am confident, however, that it was the Ruddy Rail, 
as I have frequently before both seen and shot the bird in 
Kumaon. 
914.—Rallus indicus, Bly. 
The Indian Water Rail, though not particularly abundant, 
may be found on almost all large rush or weed-covered jhils, 
but only, I think, in the cold weather; in this, however, 
I may be mistaken. 
931.—Butorides javanica, Hors/. 
The Little Green Heron is not very common, but may be 
met with here and there in suitable localities all over the 
division. Along the banks of the Goomti it is not uncom- 
mon, particularly where the river is margined with babul and 
other bushes. On the 1st July I took a nest and two eggs from 
a babul tree overhanging that river; the eggs were pale green, 
very much like those of Ardeola grayi in color, and measured 
1:64 and 1°58 inches in length. 
979.—Larus ichthyaetus, Pall. 
The Great Black-headed Gull is by no means common ; 
but during the very coldest weather, and in localities where 
jhils are numerous, one or two may be met with, though it is a 
very difficult matter to geta shot at them, as they keep well 
to the centre of the jhil when flying or swimming. When the 
weather has been, for some days previous, cold and stormy, 
this species, like the Smew, generally makes its appearance. 
* It is not a visitor—merely a through passer, in spring and autumn, on its 
way to and fro between the sea coast and its breeding haunts,—ED., S. F. 
