246 
Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds 
180. Botaurus stellaris. (Common Bittern.) 
Common in the cold season on the large rushy jheels. 
181. PORPHYRIO POLIOCEPHALUS. 
Very common, especially on rushy jheels and those where 
bushes grow in the water. This bird can bite very sharply, as I 
know from personal experience. 
182. PoRZANA PHfENICURA. 
Very common throughout the year; frequenting small ponds 
and swamps near villages. 
183. Porzana maruetta. (Spotted Crake.) 
Common in rushy swamps during the cold season. 
184. Gallinula chloropus. (Waterhen.) 
Common. 
185. Pulica atra. (Common Coot.) 
Found in great numbers on the large jheels in the cold 
season. I saw one on the lake at Nynee Tal, Kumaon, about 
the 1st of June, 1859. 
186. Larus ridibundus. (Black-headed Gull.) 
Frequently seen in the cold season, but never in summer 
plumage. 34nJ\ (Qli'u 
187. Larus minutus. (Little Gull.) 
I killed a specimen of this Gull in its winter dress in January 
1859, near Jehangirabad; it was exceedingly tame, allowing me 
to approach within two or three yards. 
188. Bhynchops albicollis. (“Scissors-bill”) 
Common in the cold season in the vicinity of the Gogra and 
Choka, on the sand-banks of which rivers large flocks are seen 
sitting in the daytime. I think this bird must feed at night, as 
I never saw it doing so till just towards dusk, when it was often 
to be seen skimming along close to the water, every now and then 
dipping in its curiously constructed beak. 
189. Hydrochelidon indica. (Whiskered Tern.) 
Common in the cold season. 
190. Sterna hirundo. (Common Tern.) 
Occasionally seen. 
