BIRDS.

THE following notes [The marginal numbers on the left side correspond with those found in Captain Butler's Catalogue of the Birds of the southern portion of the Bombay Presidency (1880).] on the birds of the district are contributed by Mr. J. Davidson, C. S.:

2. OTOGYPS CALVUS. (Scop.)

This is the only true vulture resident in the district, and is fairly common, a pair being found for nearly every half dozen villages. Their nests are generally on high trees in the neighbourhood of villages and contain eggs from the end of December to the beginning of March.

4. BIS-GYPS PALLESCENS. (Hume.)

5. PSEUDOGYPS BENGALENSIS. (Gmel.)

Both these vultures are seldom seen but they must often cross the district though probably at a great height as one sometimes finds one or two of them in company with the otogyps feeding on any stray carcass that has escaped the Mhars.

6. NEOPHRON GINGINIANUS. (Latham.)

Is common everywhere, breeding from February to April upon the roofs of temples and also upon trees when the roofs are not available.

11. FALCO JUGGER. (Gray.)

A permanent resident, fairly common through the dry part of the district, breeding from January to April.

16. FALCO CHIQUERA. (Daud.)

Much more common than F. jugger; a very noisy bird, breeding generally on mango trees in gardens from February to April.

17. CERCHNEIS TINNUNCULUS. (Lin.)

A common cold weather visitant.

18. CERCHNEIS NAUMANNI. (Fleisck.).

A large flock of a small kestrel, presumably this, was seen by the writer once in January; unfortunately none were shot and it may have been the eastern form C. pekinensis. (Swinh.)

23. ASTUR BADIUS. (Gmel.)

Common wherever there are gardens with mango trees, breeding in March and April.

24. ACCIPITER NISUS. (Lin.)

The English Sparrow Hawk, is a fairly common cold weather visitant.

27. AQUILA MOGILNIK. (Gm.)

The Imperial eagle is very rare; one immature specimen was shot in the rains.

28. AQUILA CLANGA. (Pall.)

Rare.

29. AQUILA VINDHIANA. (Frankl.)

The common eagle of the district, being very common everywhere but in the deep black soil part. Its nests generally built on low babhul trees may be found with eggs depending on the season from the middle of September till the end of February.

31. HIER ETUS PENNATUS. (Gmel.)

Is rare but may occasionally be found sitting on the banks of the rivers of the district. As it is little larger than a kite it is often passed over.

33. NISAETUS FASCIATUS. (Vieill.)

By no means uncommon in the district, breeding in January on high trees; the enormous size of the nest at once distinguishing its habitation from that of the 'Wokhab.'

38. CIRCAETUS GALLICUS. (Gmel.)

A not uncommon bird in the bare part of the district from September till March. It may easily be recognized from -its white breast, huge eyes, and habit of hovering like a kestrel.

39. BIS-SPILORNIS MELANOT1S. (Jerd.)

A rare visitant.

45. BUTEO FEROX, (S. G. Gmel.)

Very rare; only one specimen having been obtained.

48. BUTASTUR TEESA. (Frankl.)

Formerly very common, but since the famine it is decidedly scarcer; it breeds in the end of March and beginning of April.

51. CIRCUS MACRURUS. (S. G. Omel.)

Is very common from September till March and sometimes from the end of August.

54. CIRCUS AERUGINOSUS. (Lin.)

Also a not uncommon cold weather visitant.

55. HALIASTUR INDUS. (Bodd.)

Not common but found along the Bhima; breeds about March.

56. MILVUS GOVINDA. (Sykes.)

Common everywhere, breeding from September to March.

57. PERNIS PTILORHYNCHUS. (Tem.)

Not common in the district.

59. ELANUS CCERULEUS. (Desf.)

Was formerly far from common. Since the scarcity is the commonest bird of prey in the district; half a dozen pairs are almost certain to be seen in any morning ride. No bird's nest is easier to find than this, as while building, with eggs or young the old birds are almost always flying round the tree containing the nest chasing away other birds of prey or crows and adding stick after stick to the nest long after the eggs are laid. In spite of all this care the nest, which is generally on a low babhul tree near a water-course, is a mere platform of sticks. The birds seem to breed twice a year once in January and February and again in June and July.

60. STRIX JAVANICA. (Gm)

Moderately common, breeding in January and February.

65. SYRNIUM OCELLATUM. (Less.)

Naturally rare as might be expected in such a treeless district as Sholapur, but found in several of the Barsi villages and also at Akalkot.

68. ASIO ACCIPITRINUS. (Pall.)

Very common in the cold weather among long grass, numbers being started in a beat for florican.

69. BUBO BENGALENSIS. (Frankl.)

Common along the rivers and water-courses; breeding in November and December in holes in banks.

74. SCOPS PENNATUS. (Hodgs.)

A small-eared owl identified as this is found occasionally all through the district.

76. CARINE BRAMA. (Tem.)

The "Punch and Judy Owl" is very common everywhere, breeding in hollow trees in February March and April.

81. NINOX LUGUBRIS. (Tick.)

Rare.

The small birds are fairly numerous in species but few in actual numbers, and many of the migrants merely pass through the district going and returning. The following have actually been observed:

82. HIRUNDO RUSTICA. (Lin.).

Common in the cold weather.

84. HIRUND0 FILIFERA. (Steph.)

Fairly common, breeding in the rains in wells.

85. HIRUNDO ERYTHROPYGIA. (Sykes.)

Common, breeding in old buildings everywhere.

86. HIRUNDO FLUVICOLA. (Jerd.)

Very local, the only breeding place known is under the railway bridge at the Motibag tank where there are generally some hundred nests, and eggs may almost always be found.

89. COTYLE SINENSIS. (Gray.)

Found along the rivers in the cold weather, occasionally breeds both then and in the hot weather.

90. PTYONOPROGNE CONCOLOR. (Sykes.)

Common, breeding twice a year frequently in the verandas of bungalows.

98. CYPSELLUS MELBA. (Lin.)

Has been noticed singly on one or two occasions in the end of the rains.

100. CYPSELLUS AFFINIS. (Gray.)

Abundant everywhere, breeding in the rains and probably at other seasons under almost every village gate.

102. CYPSELLUS BATASSIENSIS. (Gray.)

Naturally very rare but a flock of some twenty were continually flying round two toddy-palm trees near Karmala and probably they bred among the leaves but no one could climb the trees.

107. CAPRIMULGUS INDICUS. (Lath.)

Bare, but probably breeds.

112. CAPRIMULGUS ASIATICUS. (Lath.)

Also tolerably common in the barer parts. Breeds in June.

117. MEROPS VIRIDIS. (Lin.)

Very common everywhere, breeding in holes along the roadsides in April.

120. MEROPS PERSICUS. (Pall.)

A small flock seen near Pandharpur in October 1877.

123. CORACIAS INDICA. (Lin.)

Is very common from about the end of September till the hot weather when it leaves. It does not breed in the district.

129. HALCYON SMYRNENSIS. (Lin.)

Fairly common, breeding in banks and old wells, from April to June.

134. ALCEDO BENGALENSIS. (Gmel.)

Is not common in Sholapur. It probably does not breed in the district.

136. CERYLE RUDIS, (Lin.)

Is common along all the rivers, breeding through the rains or cold weather.

148. PALAEORNIS TORQUATUS. (Bodd.)

Swarms everywhere, breeding in holes in trees where they are to be found; when not obtainable, in holes in village walls and temples from November to February.

149. PALAEORNIS PURPUREUS. (P. L. 8. Mull.)

Is common in the gardens during the rains but leaves the district at the beginning of the cold weather and does not return till the rains are well set in.

160. PICUS MAHRATTENSIS. (Lath.)

Not common, but among the babhul trees along the rivers a few are always to be found at all seasons.

188. YUNX TORQUTLLA. (Lin.)

The wryneck is common in the cold weather.

197. XANTHOLAEMA HAEMACEPHALA (Mull.)

Is rare in the district but is a permanent resident.

199. CUCULUS CANORUS. (Lin.).

Has been noticed in the beginning of the rains.

201. CUCULUS POLIOCEPHALUS. (Lath)

Noticed in the cold weather and end of the rains.

203. CUCULUS MICROPTERUS. (Gould.)

Common in the rains.

212. COCCYSTES JACOBINUS. (Bodd.)

Common during the rains, and seen occasionally at other times. The writer took one of its eggs from a nest of Chatarrhaea caudata in September 1879.

214. EUDYNAMIS HONORATA. (Lin.).

The Koel is common wherever there are gardens with mango trees, and the writer has taken its eggs (in one case two from one nest) from the nests of both C. splendens and C. macrorhynchus.

217. CENTROCOCCYX RUFIPENNIS. (Ill.)

This bird is fairly common and nests as a rule during the rains. The writer has however found nests in the cold weather.

232. CINNYRIS ZEYLONICA. (Lin.)

This honeysucker is very scarce in the district. It is fairly common in Pandharpur and Sangola and the writer has once or twice noticed it in Sholapur and Karmala, but it seems to shun the eastern parts of the district. It nests early in the rains, in the cold weather, and again in the hot.

234. CINNYRIS ASIATICA. (Lath.)

This is much commoner than the last and is found all over the district: it breeds as far as can be seen only once a year in May June and July.

254. UPUPA EPOPS. (Lin.)

Is a winter visitant and probably not uncommon.

255. UPUPA CEYLONENSIS. (Reich.)

A not uncommon resident, building in holes in village walls and chavdis in April and May.

256. LANIUS LAHTORA. (Sykes.)

This is the common shrike in Sholapur, and may be found everywhere. It breeds probably twice a year once in March and again from May to July.

257. LANIUS ERYTHRONOTUS. (Vigors.)

This shrike has been only noticed in Sholapur from September to February and even then is far from common. It certainly does not breed unless in Barsi.

260. LANIUS VITTATUS. (Valence.)

This shrike is common enough during the end of the rains and cold weather but the vast majority leave in February. A few however remain all the year and may perhaps breed.

268. VOLVOCIVORA SYKESI. (Strickl.)

Passes through the district in April and October. A few seen in the winter.

276. PERICROCOTUS PERIGRINUS. (Lin.)

Is a common bird among the gardens and breeds early in the rains, generally choosing a small babhul or some milk-bush as the situation for its nest.

277. PERICROCOTUS ERYTHROPYGIUS. (Jerd.)

A small flock of these were seen by the writer once in the Sangola sub-division.

278. BUCHANGA ATRA. (Herm.)

The king crow is common everywhere, breeding in May and June.

281. BUCHANGA CAERULESCENS. (Lin.)

Once or twice noticed as a straggler in the cold weather.

288. MUSCIPETA PARADISI. (Lin.)

This bird passes through the district in the end. of the rains and again about April; the migration is most probably from west to east and not north to south.

292. LEUCOCERCA AUREOLA. (Vieill.)

293. LEUCOCERCA LEUCOGASTER. (Cuv.)

Both these little fantails are found occasionally during the cold weather, but neither remains permanently.

297. ALSEONAX LATIROSTRIS. (Raffi.)

A cold weather visitant.

301. STOPORALA MELANOPS. (Vigors.)

Also a cold weather visitant.

305. CYORNIS TICKELLI. (Blyth.)

Occasionally found through the district at all seasons.

307. CYORNIS RUFICAUDUS. (Swains.)

One specimen only procured, so evidently a mere straggler.

323. BIS-ERYTHROSTERNA PARVA. (Bechst.)

Common in the cold weather; may often be found perched on one's tent ropes,

348. PITTA BRACHYURA. (Lin.)

This beautiful bird is not rare in April or October, but the writer has never seen it except in these months.

351. CYANOCINCLUS CYANUS. (Lin.)

Common during the cold weather.

353. PETROPHILA CINCLORHYNCHA. (Vigora.)

Is not uncommon in the end of the rains but does not seem to be found at any other time.

385. PYCTORIS SINENSIS. (Gmel)

Is not common in the district and the writer has never found its nest there.

436. ARGYA MALCOLMI. (Sykes.)

This is the common large babbler in Sholapur, and is fairly common; breeding all through the rains.

438. CHATARRHAEA CAUDATA. (Dum.)

Is very common and breeds at all seasons except the actual hot weather.

462. MOLPASTES HCEMORRHOUS. (Gmel.)

This is the common bulbul at Sholapur and breeds in the rains.

468. IORA TIPHIA. (Lin.)

This bird in the Zeylonica type is common and breeds in the rains generally in a milkbush hedge, but occasionally on small babhul trees and at times in gardens.

470. ORIOLUS KUNDOO. (Sykes.)

Common, breeding in June and July.

475. COPSYCHUS-SAULARIS. (Lin.)

Is a rare bird in the district and generally found singly. It does not seem to breed within the limits of the district.

479. THAMNOBIA FULICATA. (Lin.)

Is very common everywhere; the specimens however are hardly typical " fulicata," there being a brownish tinge on the back. It breeds abundantly about houses from April to July.

481. PRATINCOLA CAPRATA. (Lin.)

Moderately common but most of the birds leave the district in the hot weather. The only nest taken in Sholapur was in July.

483. PRATINCOLA INDICUS. (Blyth.)

Very common in winter.

497. RUTICILLA RUFIVENTRIS. (Vieill.)

Also common in the cold weather.

507. LARVIVORA SUPERCILIARIS. (Jerd.)

Not uncommon in the end of the rains and beginning of the cold weather.

530. ORTHOTOMUS SUTORIUS. (Forst.)

The tailor bird is fairly common, breeding in the early rains.

534. PRINIA SOCIALIS. (Sykes.)

This tailor bird which however does not sew its nest into a leaf as an orthodox tailor bird ought to do, is not nearly so common as the last. It also breeds in the rains.

539. CISTICOLA CURSITANS. (Frankl.)

Common in the grass kurans and generally on waste lands. It breeds in the rains.

543. DRYMCECA INORNATA. (Sykes.)

This is the common plainly plumaged warbler, found everywhere in the district. August and September are the two months it breeds in and its nest is generally suspended from some low branch between two fields; its eggs, blue marked with claret patches and lines, are about the prettiest eggs ever known.

553. HYPOLAIS RAMA. (Sykes.)

Not uncommon.

581. SYLVIA JERDONI. (Blyth.)

Common in the cold weather.

589. MOTACILLA MADERASPATENSIS. (Gm.)

Common and a very familiar bird; a pair breeding every year in one of the boats in the boat-house on the Motibag tank. It generally breeds again during the end of the cold weather.

591. MOTACILLA DUKHUNENSIS. (Sykes.)

A winter visitant but not at all uncommon at that season.

593. BUDYTES CINEREOCAPILLA. (Savi.)

594. BUDYTES CITREOLA. (Pallas.)

Both birds are fairly common during the cold weather and latter end of the rains but are only winter migrants.

596. PIPASTES MACULATUS, (Hodgs.)

Rather rare, but noticed several times during the winter.

600. CORYDALLA RUFULA. (Vieill.)

Very common in the cold weather. Does not however as far as has been noticed ever remain and breed in this district.

660. CORVUS MACRORHYNCHUS. (Wagler.)

The large black crow is common everywhere, breeding generally in the end of the hot weather but sometimes at the very beginning of the rains. It is not generally as familiar as the gray crow but it occasionally builds on small trees in large towns in the same way.

663. CORVUS SPLENDENS. (Vieill.)

The gray crow is very common everywhere, breeding from May to July.

684. ACRIDOTHERES TRISTIS. (Lin.)

The common maina is plentiful everywhere and breeds in this district only during the end of the hot weather and the rains.

687. STURNIA PAGODARUM, (Gmel.)

The blackcrested starling is a rarish bird in the district, and although it has been seen nearly every month it does not seem to breed there.

690. PASTOR ROSEUS. (Lin.)

The jvari bird. This bird is very common from the end of the rains till the jvari fields are cut in February. The birds roost and spend the middle of the day in the babhul groves along the water-courses and sally out from them into the jvari to which they do a great deal of damage. They are difficult to drive off if babhuls are near to which they can fly for shelter, and this is one of the reasons why the plantation of such groves by the forest department is so unpopular in the Deccan.

694. PLOCEUS PHILIPPINUS. (Lin.)

The weaver bird is very common and its nests' may be found hanging from the babhul trees along almost all the water-courses and above old wells; the eggs are laid in July and August.

699. AMADINA PUNCTULATA. (Lin.)

Is very rare in the district. A pair was only noticed on one occasion and that was during the rains.

703. AMADINA MALABARICA. (Lin.)

Is excessively common, making its round grass nest at all seasons in the nearest thorny bush. The young cling to the nest long after they are able to fly.

706. PASSER INDICUS. (Jerd. and Selby.)

The Indian sparrow is as much a nuisance here as everywhere else

711. GYMNORIS FLAVICOLLIS. (Frankl.)

Is decidedly a rare bird in the district. The writer obtained one nest on the banks of the Bhima in April 1877, and the bird has been seen on a few other occasions.

721. EUSPIZA MELANOCEPHALA. (Scop.) .

Is a common winter visitant joining with the weaver birds in plundering the corn fields.

722. EUSPIZA LUTEOLA. (Sparrm.)

Noticed on one or two occasions but it is not nearly as common as the last.

756 MIRAFRA ERYTHROPTERA. (Jerd.)

This lark is very common in the northern and western parts of the district but is found nearly everywhere. It is one of the species that has increased in numbers since the scarcity. It is a permanent resident and breeds. Its nests are found well concealed and very difficult to discover.

758 AMMOMANES PHCENICURA. (Frankl.)

The redtailed flnchlark is the commonest lark in the ploughed fields, and may be seen everywhere. Its nest is more like a robin's than a lark's and is placed on the sides of banks and tufts of grass.

760. PYRRHULAUDA GRISEA. (Scop.)

The blackbreasted finchlark called erroneously by many sportsmen the ortolan, abounds everywhere and seems to breed at all seasons.

765. SPIZALAUDA DEVA. (Sykes.)

This bird is very numerous but does not breed till the middle of the rains. Its slight crest and reddish plumage at once distinguish it from any of the other Sholapur larks.

The Sholapur district, though a bare waterless country is fairly rich in waders, and there are a good many game birds, doves, and wild fowl. They include the following species:

773. CROCOPUS CHLORIGASTER, (Blyth.)

The green pigeon is a very rare bird and the writer has only twice observed it, once in the Sholapur head-quarter station and again out in the Barsi sub-division.

788. COLUMBA INTERMEDIA. (Strickl.)

The ordinary wild pigeon is very common in the district, and simply swarms in the numerous wells in the Madha and Sangola sub-divisions, and any number can' be shot or snared for pigeon shooting in some places. The villagers however dislike their being snared or netted and encourage them by building their wells with holes specially constructed for the pigeons to nest in.

794. TURTUR SENEGALENSIS. (Lin.)

This is the commonest dove of the district, feeding in the villages and along the roads, and breeding at all seasons. Its favourite nestling place is a prickly pear bush but it is not particular.

795. TURTUR SURATENSIS. (Gmel.)

This dove' needs a damper climate than Sholapur and is accordingly only found there during the rains. Even at that season it is very local.

796. TURTUR RISORIUS. (Lin.)

The large gray ringdove is common all through the district and breeds, probably at all seasons.

797. TURTUR TRANQUEBARICUS. (Herm.)

This little dove though local is not uncommon. It appears however only to breed during the rains.

800. PTEROCLES FASCIATUS. (Scop.)

The painted sand grouse is common in the Atpadi state on. the borders of Sangola and is occasionally found in the Sangola sub-division itself. The writer has also noticed it in Karmala. It is probably found also in the east of Barsi.

802. PTEROCLES EXUSTUS. (Tem.)

The common sand grouse is abundant everywhere in the district, breeding during the hot and cold weather as a rule. The young birds give capital sport in the rains, and are very good eating.

803. PAVO CRISTATUS. (Lin.)

There are no truly wild peafowl in the district, but there are numbers at Akalkot and at most of the villages in the Karmala sub-division where there is much garden land. They breed in September and October and appear to lay only three or four eggs in this district.

819. FRANCOLINUS PICTUS. (Jerd. and Selby.)

The painted partridge is fairly common in Barsi, Karmala, and the north and east of Sholapur, and the writer has once shot it in Sangola but in no other part of the district. It appears to breed only once a year in September.

822. ORTYGORNIS PONDICERIANUS. (Gmel.)

The gray partridge is much commoner than the painted and is generally distributed over the whole district. It appears to reed twice a year, once at some time between February and May and again in the rains.

827. PERDICULA ARGOONDA. (Sykes.)

The rock bush quail is very common all through the district and breeds in the rains and sometimes as late as November.

828. MICROPERDIX ERYTHRORHYNCHUS. (Sykes.)

The writer has never himself seen this bird but has heard of a specimen being found near Sholapur itself.

829. COTURNIX COMMUNIS. (Bonn.)

The gray quail though rather local is found in considerable number all through the district from September till April. It does not breed in the district.

830. COTURNIX COROMANDELICA. (Gmel.)

The rain quail is much commoner than its larger relative, and is found equally all over the district wherever there is shelter for it. It breeds abundantly among the bajri fields in the rains from August to November depending on the season.

832. TURNIX TAIGOOR. (Sykes.)

This quail is not common but is widely distributed and breeds also in the rains.

835. TURNIX DUSSUMIERI. (Tem.)

The little button quail is much more common and is really plentiful in the large grass kurans. It is very difficult to flush and this makes people think it rare. It also breeds in the rains.

836. EUPODOTIS EDWARDSI. (Gray.)

The Indian bustard is fairly common in Karmala and generally scattered through the other parts of the district. It is one of. the birds that has appeared in greater numbers since the famine. It is a partial migrant coming to breed in the rains and mostly leaving in the hot weather.

839. SYPHEOTIDES AURITA. (Latham.)

The florican is found through the grass preserves of the district. Except in the Sholapur sub-division and Akalkot it is scarce, and even in these sub-divisions it appears to be diminishing in numbers. It breeds in the end of the rains, the young often not being hatched till the beginning of November. It ought therefore hardly to be shot before the first of December.

840. CURSORIUS COROMANDELICUS. (Gmel.)

This bird is common on all the bare waste land and among the ploughed fields. It lays its much streaked eggs on the bare ground in the hot weather.

842. GLAREOLA ORIENTALIS. (Leach.)

843. GLAREOLA LACTEA. (Tem.)

Both the swallow plovers are found though sparingly in the cold weather along the Bhima.

845. CHARADRIUS FULVUS. (Gm.)

The Indian golden plover is very rare, and the writer has only noticed odd birds on the banks of the Ekruk tank.

850. AEGIALITIS JERDONI. (Legge.)

This is the common ringed plover found in pairs along all the water-courses. It breeds at all seasons except the rains but nests are very difficult to find.

852. CHETTUSIA GREGARIA. (Pall.)

A fairly common winter visitant.

855. LOBIVANELLUS INDICUS. (Bodd.)

The redwattled lapwing is common everywhere and breeds in the hot weather.

856. L0BIPLTUVIA MALABARICA. (Bodd.)

The yellow-wattled lapwing, essentially a bird shunning cultivation, is less common but is fairly distributed over the district. It breeds on bare ground from May to July.

858. AESACUS RECURVIROSTRIS. (Cuvier.)

The big river plover is found among stones on the Bhima and Nira rivers but is very scarce. It probably breeds.

859. AEDICNEMUS SCOLOPAX (S. G. Gmel.)

The stone-plover is fairly common among scrub forest wherever that exists, and breeds in the hot weather in the district.

866. ANTHROPOIDES VIRGO. (Lin.)

The kullum of sportsmen is very plentiful in the district but appears more wary here than any place else the writer has been stationed in. Large flocks may be found on the banks of the Ekruk tank and they will there allow a sailing boat to pass within long shot if the sportsmen are concealed.

870. GALLINAGO STHENURA. (Kuhl.)

871. GALLINAGO CCELESTIS. (Frenz.)

Both these snipes are found in the district wherever there is suitable ground for them. Rice being hardly cultivated in the district and there being no marsh, the places where they are to be had are few in number. When the Ekruk tank was first made there was capital shooting for a year or two behind the dam. The leakage has however stopped and with it the snipe shooting. Eight or nine brace however are occasionally got in the watercourse which runs through the Sholapur camp. A bag of snipe in the district generally contains both kinds in about equal proportion.

872. GALLINAGO GALLINULA. (Lin.)

The jack snipe is commoner than either of the others in this district as it is found along all the water-courses with grassy banks, but not in sufficient numbers to be worth pursuing for sport.

873. RHYNCHAEA BENGALENSIS. (Lin.)

Painted snipes are found here and there through the district; they are nowhere common; they probably breed.

877. NUMENIUS LINEATUS. (Cuv.)

The curlew is a rare winter visitant to Sholapur.

880. MACHETES PUGNAX. (Lin.)

The ruff is one of the earliest visitants to the district but is very local.

882. TRINGA SUBARQUATA (Guld.) CURLEW STINT.

884. TRINGA MINUTA (Leisl.) LITTLE STINT.

891. ACTITIS GLAREOLA (Lin.) SPOTTED SANDPIPER.

892. ACTITIS OCHROPUS (Lin.) GREEN SANDPIPER.

893. TRINGOIDES HYPOLEUCUS (Lin.) COMMON SANDPIPER.

894. TOTANUS GLOTTIS (Lin.) GREENSHANK.

895. TOTANUS STAGNATILIS (Buhst.) LITTLE GREENSHANK.

897. TOTANUS CALIDRIS (Lin.) REDSHANK.

All these sandpipers are found in more or less abundance during the cold weather, the commonest being perhaps the green and common sandpipers.

898. HIMANTOPUS CANDIDUS. (Bonn.)

The blackwinged stilt is fairly common in the cold weather, leaving however early in the season.

901. HYDROPHASIANUS CHIRURGUS. (Scop.)

Is a scarce bird but a few may generally be seen about the Moti tank. It is believed to breed.

902. PORPHYRIO POLIOCEPHALUS. (Lath.)

The purple coot is a rare visitant, but it is seen several times.

903. FULICA ATRA. (Lin.)

The common bald coot is plentiful during the cold weather on all the tanks. It does not breed in the district.

905. GALLINULA CHLOROPUS. (Lin.)

The water-hen is rare in the district; two or three pair breed every rains behind the dam of the Pandharpur tank.

907. ERYTHRA PHAENICURA. (Penn.)

The whitebreasted water-hen is more common, or at all events being much more noisy attracts greater notice. It also breeds in the rains.

909. PORZANA MARUETTA. (Leach.)

The spotted crake is not uncommon in the end of the rains and the cold weather wherever there is any moist cover for it.

915. LEPTOPTILUS ARGALUS. (Lath.)

This adjutant is very rare, but the writer has noticed it feeding with vultures on carrion several times.

917. XENORHYNCHUS ASIATICUS. (Lath.)

The writer has noticed this stork on one or two occasions.

918. CICONIA NIGRA. (Lin.)

The writer has noticed this stork as moderately common in the early winter along the Man river but in no other part of the district.

920. DISSURA EPISCOPA. (Bodd.)

This stork is fairly common and is the only permanent resident among the storks. It breeds in December and January.

923. ARDEA CINEREA (Lin.) COMMON HERON.

924. ARDEA PURPUREA (Lin.) PURPLE HERON.

Both the herons are found in the district but the purple heron is much the scarcest. Neither breed in the district, though Ardea cinerea may always be found singly.

925. HERODIAS TORRA. (Buch. Ham.)

926. HERODIAS INTERMEDIA. (Hass.)

927. HERODIAS GARZETTA. (Lin.)

All three white egrets are found in the district in the cold weather. The garzetta remains and breeds in March and ApriL

929. BUBULCUS COROMANDUS. (Bodd.)

Is common in the district and breeds in several places in March April and May.

930. ARDEOLA GRAYI. (Sykes.)

This pond heron is the commonest of the family but leaves in the end of the hot weather.

931. BUTORIDES JAVANICA. (Horsf.)

The green bittern is rare in the district and the writer has never noticed it except in the cold weather. It does not appear to breed.

934. ARDETTA SINENSIS. (Gmel.)

A single specimen obtained.

937. NYCTICORAX GRISEUS. (Lin.)

This bird is moderately common but leaves the district for two or three months in the beginning of the rains.

938. TANTALUS LEUCOCEPHALUS. (Gmelin.)

Moderately common along the rivers and certainly used to breed near the Bhima, the tree however having been blown down, the birds deserted the place.

939. PLATALEA LEUCORODIA. (Lin.)

Fairly common; breeding in April and May.

940. ANASTOMUS OSCITANS. {Bodd.)

Not uncommon in the cold weather along a large river.

941. IBIS MELANOCEPHALA. (Lath.)

It is not at all uncommon all the cold weather but apparently leaves the district in the rains.

942. INOCOTIS PAPILLOSUS. (Tem.)

The king-curlew is common and breeds twice a year in the hot weather and the end of the rains.

943. FALCINELLUS IGNEUS. (S. G. Gmel.)

The glossy ibis is very rare and the writer has only seen it on one or two occasions.

944. PHAENICOPTERUS ANTIQUORUM. (Tem.)

The flamingo is very rare but small flocks occasionally turn up in the cold weather.

950. SARCIDIORNIS MELANONOTUS. (Penn.)

The 'nukhta' is not common in the district but the writer has seen it once or twice in the cold weather.

951. NETTOPUS COROMANDELIANUS. (Gmel.)

Cotton teal are also rare. Three or four, pairs stayed a week or two on the Moti tank in July 1874 but they were so much persecuted that they did not stay more.

952. DENDROCYGNA JAVANICA. (Horsf.)

The whistling teal is a very rare duck, one or two small flocks may be found on the head of the Ekruk tank in December and January, but as a rule they shun open country.

954. CASARCA RUTILA. (Pall.)

The ruddy shieldrake or brahmani duck is common on all the large rivers during the cold weather and frequently stays till April.

957. SPATULA CLYPEATA. (Lin.)

The shoveller is probably the earliest migratory duck (not teal) that appears at the end of the rains, and is found in pairs generally; as they cling to the rushy edges of the tanks, they are comparatively easy to shoot.

959. ANAS PCECILORHYNCHA. (Frost.)

Is not a common duck in the district. It occurs occasionally in the rains, so probably is a permanent resident and breeds.

961. CHAULELASMUS STREPERUS. (Lin.)

This and the widgeon are the two commonest of the larger ducks. Immense flocks sometimes collect on the Bhima flying up the smaller rivers at night and returning in the morning. Three or more may generally be got by starting at daybreak and walking along the bed of one of these streams as they fly down at only a moderate height.

962. DAFILA ACUTA. (Lin.)

The pintail is not a common duck in Sholapur, but a few are always got.

963. MARECA PENELOPE. (Lin.)

Widgeon are very plentiful, and are often found in company with gadwall.

964. QUERQUEDULA CRECOA. (Lin.)

The greenwinged teal is the commonest by far of all the wild fowl. Enormous flocks haunt the Ekruk tank and smaller flocks are found wherever there is water for them,

965. QUERQUEDULA CIRCIA. (Lin.)

The bluewinged teal is less common than the greenwinged, but is generally found in company with it. It stays much later than any other of the migratory duck. The writer has frequently shot it late in April and once in May.

968. FULIGULA FERINA. (Lin,)

Is found on all the tanks but is rated uncommon on the whole.

969. FULIGULA NYROCA. (Guld.)

The white-eyed duck is also not at all common.

971. FULIGULA CRISTATA. (Lin.)

The tufted duck is common in the winter.

975. PODICEPS MINOR. (Gmel.)

The "dabchick" is common in the few tanks wherever there are reeds. It breeds in the rains.

983. STERNA ANGLICA. (Mont.)

984. HYDROCHELIDON HYBRIDA. (Pall.)

Both these terns are found occasionally along the rivers.

987. STERNA MELANOGASTRA. (Tem.)

This is the common tern in the district and a few pairs breed in the hot weather in the sand along the rivers.

995. RHYNCHOPS ALBICOLLIS. (Swains.)

A rare winter visitant.

1004. PELECANUS PHILIPPENSIS. (Gmel.)

A single pelican believed to be of this species was seen by the writer on the Pandharpur tank.

1007. PHALACROCORAX PYGMCEUS. (Pall.)

The little cormorant swarms in the cold weather in places along the Bhima. It does not appear however to remain and breed.

1008. PLOTUS MELANOGASTER. (Penn.)

The Indian snakebird is moderately common. The writer has seen it at all seasons but never seen a nest in the Sholapur district.