NATURALIST IN INDIA. 21 



sides of the animal's neck were deep wounds caused by the 

 tiger's teeth, and on the shoulder a long gash, where the claw 

 had ploughed through the skin; the whole of the flesh on the 

 belly and flanks was torn away, the stomach and entrails lying 

 on the ground, where we could see distinct traces of a scuffle, 

 and the footprints of a very large tiger. Pitching our tent 

 within range, we sat up that night, expecting to get a shot at 

 the marauder, as the moon was shiaing brightly ; but after a 

 fruitless vigU, and growing drowsy, I went to bed, and had 

 scarcely been asleep an hour when, my servant called me to 

 say the tiger had arrived, and was carrying off the carcase. 

 It was too late, however, as we were just in time to see him 

 disappear in the cover with his prey. The following morning 

 all that remained of the bullock was the skuU, and a few 

 pieces of the larger bones. A week afterwards I heard that 

 the same tiger had killed another bullock near a village some 

 ten miles distant. 



The kestrel {Tinnunculus alaudariu^, and also the 

 sparrow-hawk (Accipiter virgatus), are common. The former 

 may be observed hovering over the plains, and at dusk, not 

 unfrequently in numbers, perched on stones and tufts of 

 grass. Both prey extensively on mice, lizards, and beetles. 

 The latter hawk is trained for quail-hunting. The broad- 

 tailed flycatcher {BMpidura fuscoventris) is plentiful in gar- 

 dens and wooded localities. It is not shy, and for its size 

 bold and fearless, and wiU attack birds much larger than 

 itself. The song of the male consists of a few loud and 

 pleasing notes, uttered while the little creature is dancing 

 along the branch with tail and wings expanded like a fan. 



The common kingfisher (Alcedo hengalensis, Gmel.), the 

 black and white species {Ceryle rvdis), and the Indian king- 

 fisher {Halcyon fuscm, Bodd.), are often observed. The 



