ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM COCOAWATTE ESTATE. 285 



Veiy briefly speaking, this tract of land consists in the higher parts 

 of jungle and tea estates ; then of undulating patna-land and rocky 

 hills covered with Maana-grass, and intersected with jungle dells 

 wherever there is a stream ; and lower down of blocks of forest 

 dotted with numerous Kurrakan clearings, large sheets of '' lantana " 

 scrub, extensive paddy-fields, and native gardens. 



One thing I must remark on is the extraordinary destruction 

 of small birds' eggs which goes on in the jungles. In two cases 

 out of three, a nest left with eggs is empty when revisited next day, 

 and many a good egg I have lost by waiting to secure a complete 

 clutch. The chief offenders appear to me to be squirrels and lizards, 

 and probably jungle-cats, the black kite-eagle, the rat-snake, and 

 the little nocturnal loris do their share of nest-rifling as well. 



Nor do the birds fare much better on the open patnas, as the natives 

 always burn these off in the dry weather (just the breeding season) to 

 produce a supply of young grass for their cattle, and among the nest 

 and young of such species as Francolinus pictus, Perdicula asiatica, 

 Turnix taigoor, Drymmca insularis, D. valida, etc.^ these extensive 

 fires must work inestimable havoc. 



I will now proceed with my notes on the different species of birds 

 observed ; it must be remembered that I have only been a year ia the 

 district, and my list must of necessity be far from complete. 



1. Circus ceruginosus, Linn., the Marsh Harrier. — Common about 

 the paddy land at Madigama (1,000 feet.) in N.-E. monsoon. 



2. Circus macrurus, Gmel., the Pale Harrier. — Common all over 

 the district in N.-E. monsoon. Young birds far outnumber adults. 



3. Astur trivirgatus, Temm., the Crested Goshawk. — Net very 

 common as far as I know. I have only killed a few specimens. 



4. Astui' badius, Gmel., the Indian Goshawk. — I found four nes's 

 this season ; from one I secured a clutch of three fresh eggs on April 

 SOth; another nest found in May contained three eggs on the point of 

 hatching and useless ; the third contained three youngsters in down • 

 the fourth nest was inaccessible. 



5. Neopus malayensisj Temm., the Black Kite-Eagle. — There are 

 generally one or two of these fine birds sailing about the hills here but 

 I do not know where they breed- One I killed contained the remains 

 of a bat. 



