362 



THE BIRDS OP THE MADHUBANI SUBDIVISION OF THE DAR- 



BHANGA DISTRICT, TIRHUT, WITH NOTES ON SPECIES 



NOTICED ELSEWHERE IN THE DISTRICT. 



By C, M, Inglis. 



Part III. 



{Continued from page 139.) 



(99) Anthus TRiviALls. — The Tree Pipit 



Oates, No. 840 ; Hume, No, 597. 



I have a coupl'^ of skias, browner oa the back than those usually got here 



of maculatus. I sent one to Mr, Baker, but he identifies it as maculatus, so 



probably the other one is also of that species ; if this proves to be the case 



then trimalis mint be eliminated from our list. I forgot to mention that 



during the cold weather swarms of wagtails stay the night in the sugar-cane. 



The usual native name for all pipits is Bagheyri. 



(100) A. MACULATUS.— The Indian Tree Pipit. 



Oates, No. 841 ; Hume, No. 596. 



Yery common during the cold weather in all mango groves. They arrive 



later than the wagtails. Most of the birds sold as ortolans daring that period 



belong to this species. Native fowlers called Mir-shikars snare them with 



bird lime smeared on a thin pliant fork of bamboo. This fork is placed on 



the end of a bamboo rod, several of these rods being jointed together like a 



fishing rod. The man carries a screen of leaves which he holds in front of 



him. °When within striking distance he pushes forward his rod very gently 



till be gets close up to the bird and then with a sudden jerk he has caught it. 



He leaves it struggling to get away and pushes forward another rod and snares 



a second bird oat of the number that always come round the one that was 



caught first. He then draws in the first rod, pulls out the primaries of 



one win- and places the captive in a basket. I have seen over half a dozen 



pipits caught in this way at one place before the fowler had to change his 



quarters. Native name according to Mir-shikars Musrenchi bagheyn. 



(101) A. RicHARDi — Richard's Pipit. 



Oates, No. 845 ; Hume, No. 599. 



This species is also I think a cold weather visitant. Mr. Scroopo also 



believes he has seen it. 



(102) A. RUFULUS.— The Indian Pipit. 

 Oates, No. 847 ; Hume, No. 600. 

 Very common and breeds from February to June. A nest containing 

 3 young was taken on the 28th February ; this is the earliest date I have 

 recorded Three is the full complement of eggs, four being seldom found. 

 Most egga are to be got in April and June. I had a peculiarly coloured skm, 

 it was cream colour. I sent it to Mr. Scroope and he says it must be alusus 

 nature, and that he ^ould call it a nearly albino Indian Pipit. I have mwUid 

 the tipeoimen, 



