BIRDS COLLECTED IN BENGAL. 215 



F. peregrinus, Tunst. (Peregrine Falcon). — I once saw this 

 bird at Dalsingh Serai in January, 1901. It was hovering over 

 an oat-field. 



F. peregrinator, Sundev. (Shahin Falcon). — Mr. Inglis writes : 

 " On the 22nd of December, 1899, I saw a Falcon sitting on a 

 pepul tree near Hattiahi ; it appeared to be this species. A Falcon 

 with very dark-coloured back flew past the Nashar bungalow; it 

 was flying very fast and low. I couldn't see its lower plumage, 

 but, on account of the very dark colour above, I think it was this 

 species." 



Msalon chicquera, Daud. (Red-headed Merlin). — Rare. I have 

 a single male in my collection. 



Tinnuncuius alaudarius, Gmel. (Kestrel). — A very common 

 cold weather visitor, arriving in October. 



Accipiter virgatus, Reinw. (Besra Sparrow-Hawk). — Very 

 common. One specimen I saw had the head white, though the 

 rest of the plumage was of the normal colour. 



A. nisus, Linn. (Sparrow-Hawk). — I once shot a specimen 

 of this bird in March, 1898. I never came across another. 



Astur badius, Gmel. (Shikra). — Very common, and much 

 prized by native birdcatchers for the purpose of hawking. It 

 breeds in April. 



Pernis cristatus, Cuv. (Crested Honey-Buzzard). — Fairly com- 

 mon in well-wooded parts of the district. In June, 1901, I took 

 a nest containing two young. Whilst the boy whom I sent up to 

 take the nest was bringing down the young ones, the old bird 

 kept swooping round his head, uttering a low kind of whistle. 



(To be continued.) 



