96 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



The European Harrier has only been found as a winter visitant 

 in India in Bootan, Nepal, Kumaon, and the North-western Him- 

 alayas, perhaps extending to the plains in the Punjab only. 



51. Circus Swainsonii, A. Smith. 



Illust. S. African Zool., pi. 43, 44— Bltth, Cat. 90— HoRSF., 

 Cat. 30— C. pallidus. Sykes, Cat. 15— Jerdon, Cat. 23 — C. Albes- 

 cens, Lesson — C. dalmaticus, Rupp. — Falco herbsecola, Tickell — ■ 

 Dastmal, H. vulgo Girgut Mar. i. e. Lizard-killer — Fattai, H. of 

 some — Telia chapa gedda, Tel. ; also Pilli gedda, Tel — Puna prandu, 

 Tarn., the two last names meaning Cat kite — Golpuli of the 

 Yerklees — Tera of Dirajat — Pandouvi, Beng. 



The Pale Harrier, 



Descr. — Male, above pale grey; wings and back darker; be- 

 neath greyish white; rump white, banded with greyish; tail- 

 feathers, except the two centre ones, banded grey and white; 3rd, 

 4th, and 5th quills dusky. 



Length 18 to 19 inches; wing 13^ to 14; tail 9^. 

 The female is brown above, the featliers of the head and neck 

 edged with rufous ; beneath, dark ochraceous, with brown streaks, 

 continued on to the lower tail coverts; upper tail coverts banded 

 whitish brown ; tail, with the centre feathers, greyish, the outer 

 ones pale rufous, all with dark bands. 



Length 20 to 21 inches; wing 14^; tail 10; tarsus not quite 3; 

 mid-toe and claw If. 



This species differs from the common Harrier chiefly in the 

 paler plumage, the white throat and breast, and in the banded rump. 

 It has also a shorter tarsus. The wings reach to less than 1 inch 

 from the end of the tail. 



This Harrier is exceedingly abundant throughout all India, 

 coming in at the beginning of the cold season, September to 

 October, and disappearing in March or April for the purpose of 

 breeding. Burgess speaks of his having heard that they some- 

 times breed in this country, and got some eggs wlaich were 

 said to be those of this species ; but I have no doubt that 

 he was misled, and that the eggs were probably those of Elanus 



