NOri:S ON A COLLECTING TRIP IN THE BALAGRAT. 1163 



near the ghaut and further on large numbers of Coursers were seen and a 

 few secured. 



Parsatola was reached at about 2 p. m. Here we were in an open plain 

 covered with spear grass. Cattle rearing seemed to be the chief occupa- 

 tion of the people, for large herds were seen in all directions. Black Buck 

 and Nilghai were plentiful and the latter might have afforded some excel- 

 lent runs for a mounted spearman, for the country was suitable in every 

 way. Foxes and Hares were also found and I was told that a Cheeta in- 

 habited the place. The first thing seen next morning was a Fox, it was 

 eventually shot and turned out to be the Common Indian Fox ( Vulpes 

 benffcdensis). 



On the 22nd nothing in particular was shot, some Black Ibis, Stone- 

 Curlews and a small dark-coloured species of Quail were seen. Attempts 

 were made to shoot some Saruses, but without success, and I had to 

 content myself with a Rufous Fantail-Warbler {Cisticola cursitans). 



We returned from Parsatola on the 23rd, shooting some Green Pigeons on 

 the way, but they turned out to be the ordinary ones (Croeopus chlurofjaster). 

 As we neared the hills Nilghai were very plentiful, and a bull which 

 appeared to have a good pair of horns was shot, but they only taped 7*5 

 and 8 inches. Towards Baihar flocks of peafowl were seen and at dusk a 

 Four-horned Antelope was shot on the roadside. It was not a perfect 

 specimen, the anterior horns were mere knobs and the posterior ones 

 measured 2-8 inches. At Baihar a large Bandicoot Rat {Nesocia bandicota) 

 was picked up on the road. It measured about 1 foot 9 inches. From 

 Baihar to Paraswara the country is more or less open except near Sita- 

 dongra where ibis hilly. Jheels were. visited on the way but only Teal of 

 the ordinary kind [Nettium crecca) were seen on the first two. The next 

 one seemed more interesting, two White-necked Storks, a Painted Stork 

 and some Herons were in evidence at one end and a flock of White Ibises 

 and an Open-bill at the other. On my approach they all made themselves 

 scarce, but the White-necked Storks were the last to leave and as they 

 rose one was bagged. Further on we came across more White-necked 

 Storks in a ditch on the road side and here they took no notice of us, 

 though we were only a few yards from them. The next jheel contained a 

 flock of Ibises and some Herons. A shot ab the Ibises proved a failure but 

 a large flock of Teal rose out of the rushes and among them were two ducks* 

 of a larger kind, the second barrel discharged into them only resulted in 

 bringing a Teal to the ground. An Egret, probably of the lesser or larger 

 species, was also shot at and fell to the ground, apparently stunned for 

 when the peon went to pick it up it recovered and flew off". 



At Paraswara we found Saruses very plentiful, but they were very shy 

 and always flew off before we got within range. 



On 'the 27th I visited a jheel about 3 miles from the bungalow. Four 



