1162 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXL 



vets, Shrikes, Kingcrows, Sunbirds, Pipits, all were plentiful, while Peafowl 

 and Red Jungle Fowl were seen in greater numbers than elsewhere. In the 

 course of our rambles we came across a large flock of Jungle Fowl in an 

 open glade. We did not get a shot but we noticed that near the place 

 where the fowls were, there was a sort of ' machan.' This we ftiade use of 

 the next day and at precisely the same time the birds came out, but they 

 were out of range though moving towards us. A cock bird came well 

 within range, but we wanted a hen, so we waited, but some cattle passing 

 through the glade drove the birds away. We waited, nevertheless, in the 

 hope that they may appear again, and as it got dusk, the Nightjars began 

 to utter their cries and the air was alive with them. From their sizes 

 they appeared to belong to three different species. One that flew close 

 to us was shot and turned out to be Horsfield's Nightjar (C. macrurus). 

 Among other birds collected here were the White-browed Blue Fly- 

 catcher, the Pigmy Woodpecker, the White-eyed Buzzard-Eagle, the Pale 

 Harrier, the Common Snipe, the Western Blossom-headed Parakeet and 

 the Large Indian Parakeet. 



A Crested Serpent' Eagle (Spilornis cheela) was also shot by mistake. If 

 there is an eagle that baulks the collector it is this species. He has many 

 phases of coloration and I have got him in every phase in the Nagpur 

 Museum, so do not wish to have anything more to do with him; yet he 

 will come in my way. If I see an eagle the identity of which is iincertain 

 and shoot it accordingly, it is bound to be a Cheela. On the other hand if 

 I spare a bird thinking it to be a Cheela, it is bound to turn out some- 

 thing else. Parakeets of three species were very plentiful all over the 

 district ; these were the Rose-ringed Parakeet, the Western Blossom- 

 headed Parakeet and the Large Indian Parakeet, but the Blossom-headed 

 Parakeet far outnumbered the other two. Of Doves five species were 

 noticed, namely the Spotted Dove, Ring Dove, Little Brown Dove, Rufous 

 Turtle Dove and the Red Turtle Dove. The Spotted Dove far outnvmiber- 

 ed the others at Pipartola and Somnapur ; while at Baihar, Muki and on 

 the plateau the Ring Dove predominated and at Paraswara the Rufous- 

 Turtle Dove was seen in greater numbers than elsewhere. The Rufous- 

 backed Shrike appears to be the common Shrike of the district for we 

 noticed him everywhere ; the Bay-backed Shrike was only seen in numbers 

 between Pipartola and Balighat. 



From Somnapur we moved on to Muki via Baihar. The country between 

 Baihar and Muki is not hilly, nor are the forests dense. Two large 

 streams were crossed, the Tonaur near Baihar and the Banjar near Muki. 

 Black Buck, Green Pigeons and a few Harriers were about, the only things 

 seen on the road. From Muki we journeyed on towards the Topla plateau 

 and after ascending the ghaut the country gradually opened out into an 

 undulating plain almost devoid of trees. A Crested Hawk-Eagle was shot 



