136 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXVII. 



The under parts of the young plumage are white 

 with brown centres to the feathers, the upper 

 breast being much more marked than the abdomen, 

 and the marking practically disappearing at the 

 lower tail-coverts. 



The breast of an old bird becomes almost rusty 

 red, beautifully pencilled and barred, and the upper 

 surface is almost uniformly ashy grey throughout. 



" Bill bkiish dusky at the tip ; cere bright yellow ; 

 irides yellow, becoming dee]3 orange in old birds ; 

 legs and feet yellow." (Blanford.) 

 MeasurciKents. Length of females about 14; tail 7 ; wing 8'25 \ 



tarsus '2 ; bill from gape 0'8. Males — the length 

 is about 12'5 ; wing 7. (Blanford.) 

 Habits, etc. The Shikra is a common feature of almost every 



grove and garden in the Punjab. It ascends far up 

 into the Himalayas, but I do not think they are even 

 locally migratory, as I have known couples to breed 

 in the plains, year after year in the same spot. It 

 lives on lizards, mice and small birds in its wild 

 state and I have seen this species eating a frog. 



This without exception, is the most easily tamed 

 and trained bird of all hawks and falcons and won- 

 derfully hardy. With care and trouble it is 

 possible to hunt this bird within 10 days of its 

 capture, and I have had one coming to the hand on 

 the third day. 



The Shikra might often be seen soaring high up 

 in the heavens and has the same habit as the rest 

 of the true hawks of flapping vigorously after 

 accomplishing a few circles on steady wings. The 

 long tail and short rounded Avings show him to be 

 a hawk at once, but the Shikra and the Sparrow- 

 Hawk are not easily separated unless they pass 

 very near. 



During the breeding season the Shikra is very 

 noisy and its call of two notes, " titu titu" can be 

 heard all over the place and at this season it 

 assumes a most extraordinary flight at times. 



The wings, slightly bent, are held far above the 

 level of the back and it progresses in a succession 

 of very slow deliberate beats. 



This species must prey a good deal on the Indian 

 Babbler the " Seven Sister" of the European, in this 

 country, as every Shikra is anxious to get at them 

 as soon as he hears them, but easy though they must 

 be to catch, the Shikra has his work cut out to retain 

 its quarry. The moment one is caught, the remain- 

 der of the flock rush to the rescue of their '' Sis- 

 ter." With feathers flufted out and wings drooping 

 and tail spread the entire sisterhood come to the 

 attack and the Shikra is struck from every side 

 of the compass atone and the same time. I have 

 had a tame Shikra knocked clean over on to his 

 back and made to release bis hold and seek shelter 

 from the infuriated mob. If he can take his prey 



