These form a very well-marked group of piscatorial birds, characterised
by long bills and short tails. They nest in holes in river banks.
118. _Ceryle varia_: The Indian Pied Kingfisher. (F. 1033), (J. 136),
(III.)
This bird must be familiar to every Anglo-Indian, it is the “Pied
Fish-tiger” of Sir Edwin Arnold. It is speckled black and white like a
Hamburgh fowl. It seeks its quarry by hanging in the air on rapidly
vibrating wings high above the water. Suddenly its pinions cease
quivering, and it drops like a stone into the water. Sometimes it checks
its fall before reaching the water, and flies to another part of the
_jhil_, where it again hovers.
It is impossible to mistake this bird; there is no other like it save its
larger Himalayan brother (_C. lugubris_). It has a small crest. (Illus.
B. D., p. 66; also I. F., p. 162.)
119. _Alcedo ispida_: The Common Kingfisher. (F. 1035), (J. 134), (II,
but with a very short tail.)
This bird, which is to be found in all parts of India where there is a
river, a tank, or a pool of water, is the kingfisher with which we are
familiar in England.
Its head and nape are blue with faint black cross bars. The back is
bright pale blue; the tail is dark blue; the wings greenish blue. The
sides of the head are studies in red, blue, black, and white. The chin is
whitish or cream-coloured, and the lower parts are rusty-red. The bill is
black; the feet are coral-red.
Its habit is to perch on a bough overhanging the water, or on the river
bank itself, and thence to dive obliquely into the water after its
quarry. Its flight is low, straight, and very rapid; when in motion it
continually utters a peculiar whistling scream. Its neck is very short,
and as it sits waiting for its quarry it keeps raising and lowering its
head in the most comical manner. (Illus. B. D., p. 102; also B. P., p.
144.)
120. _Halcyon smyrnensis_: The White-breasted Kingfisher. (F. 1044), (J.
129), (III.)
This beautiful bird must be familiar to every Anglo-Indian.
The head and nape are rich chocolate brown, as is the abdomen. The back,
tail, and wings are bright blue. During flight the wings display a very
conspicuous white band. The chin, throat, and breast are white. The bill
is dark red, and the feet bright red. It is impossible to mistake this
bird; a rapidly flying, bright blue bird, with white wing bars, which
emits a loud scream, is without doubt this species.
It is often found far from water, since it feeds largely on insects,
which it picks off the ground in much the same way as the roller or
so-called blue jay does.
The above three kingfishers are among the commonest birds of India. There
are several other species of more restricted distribution; but as these
are only common locally, I have not included them in this work. The
reader should experience no difficulty in identifying them with the aid
of the descriptions in the _Fauna of British India_. (Illus. B. D., p.
104; also B. P., p. 4.)
_The Hornbills_, 121 _and_ 122
These include some of the strangest forms in nature. They are often
erroneously called Toucans by Anglo-Indians. Toucans do not occur in
India. Hornbills are characterised by the enormous development of the
bill. I have elsewhere described the largest of the hornbills as follows:
_Dichoceros bicornis_ is “nearly 4½ feet in length. The body is only 14
inches long, being an insignificant part of the bird, a mere connecting
link between the massive beak and the great loosely inserted tail. The
beak is nearly a foot in length, and is rendered more conspicuous than it
would otherwise be by a structure known as a casque. This is a horny
excrescence nearly as large as the bill, which causes the bird to look as
though it were wearing a hat, which it had placed for a joke on its beak
rather than its head. The eye is red, and the upper lid is fringed with
eyelashes which add still further to the oddity of the bird’s
appearance.”
The nesting habits of these birds are curious. They nestle in holes in
trees. When the eggs are laid the hen goes into the hole, the entrance to
which is plastered up by the cock and hen until the orifice is only just
large enough to allow of the insertion of the beak. Thus the hen remains
a voluntary prisoner until the young are ready to leave the nest, the
cock bringing food to her.
The great majority of hornbills are confined to the large forests, and so
cannot be called common birds. Two of the smaller species, however, are
more widely distributed. (Illus. F. III., p. 140.)
121. _Lophoceros birostris_: The Common Grey Hornbill. (F. 1062), (J.
144), (IV, but with the tail a foot long.)
A large brownish-grey bird, darkest on the sides of the head and palest
on the lower parts. The bill, which has a small casque or excrescence on
top, is blackish and 4 inches long. It is a tree-haunting species. Its
cry is very characteristic. Its flight is laboured, consisting of
“alternate flappings and sailings,” like that of the tree-pie.
This species is common in Oudh. Blanford states that it is wanting in the
Punjab. This is not correct, as I have seen it in Lahore. I have not
observed it in the vicinity of Madras. Eha does not mention it in his
common _Birds of Bombay_, nor does it appear to be found in the
neighbourhood of Calcutta.
122. _Lophoceros griseus_: The Malabar Grey Hornbill. (F. 1063), (J.
145), (IV, but with tail 9 inches long.)
This is very like 121, but it lacks the casque. It is the common hornbill
of the West Coast.
_The Hoopoes_, 123
Hoopoes are ground-feeding birds, characterised by their long slightly
curved bill and conspicuous crest, which ordinarily projects from the
back of the head and looks like a backward continuation of the beak. When
the bird is disturbed and when it flies the crest is expanded like a fan.
Almost every lawn in India forms the feeding-ground for at least one pair
of hoopoes. Hoopoes nest in holes in trees or in the walls of buildings.
123. _Upupa indica_: The Indian Hoopoe. (F. 1067), (J. 255), (III.)
Head and body fawn-coloured. Wings and tail white with very broad black
bars. The beak is 2½ inches long, and the legs are very short. The
feathers of the crest have black tips. The note is a soft _ūk—ūk—ūk_,
rapidly repeated. (Illus. B. D., p. 140.)
_The Swifts_, 124 _and_ 125
These birds are frequently confounded with swallows (q.v.). Many species
visit India, but only two are really common birds.
124. _Cypselus affinis_: The Common Indian Swift. (F. 1073), (J. 100),
(-I.)
A blackish bird, with a white bar across the back, which flies with great
velocity; the wings form the arc of a circle as it dashes through the
air. It never perches. When it wishes to rest it repairs to its nest,
which is a saucer-shaped structure made of mud, bits of straw, feathers,
etc., usually fixed on to a wall under an eave, sometimes in a deserted
temple or mosque. (Illus. B. B., p. 35.)
125. _Tachornis batassiensis_: The Palm-swift (F. 1075), (J. 102), (-I.)
A brownish-black bird. Its habits are like those of No. 124, except that
its flight is less swift and it is rarely found away from palm trees. It
attaches its nest to the under side of a palm leaf, or a betel-nut leaf.
_The Nightjars_, 126 _and_ 127
These birds are very nocturnal in their habits, so, like the heroine of
_The Diary of a Bad Girl_, they are heard and not seen.
They are characterised by the large mouth, which enables them to secure
their insect quarry while they are on the wing. They usually lie up
during the day on the ground in some secluded spot.
126. _Caprimulgus asiaticus_: The Common Indian Nightjar, or Goatsucker.
(F. 1091), (J. 112), (+II.)
Upper parts greyish brown, lower parts reddish brown, every feather being
marked by a number of narrow blackish cross bars.
The voice of this bird must be familiar to many residents in India, it
sounds like a stone skimming over ice, and hence is known as the
ice-bird.
127. _Caprimulgus macrurus_: Horsfield’s Nightjar. (F. 1093), (J. 110),
(+III.)
A large edition of No. 126. Its _chuk, chuk, chuk_ is not unlike the
sound made by tapping a plank with a hammer.
_The Cuckoos_, 128-131
This large family falls into two classes—the parasitic and the
non-parasitic—both classes being represented in India.
The European cuckoo is very abundant in the Himalayas, but is rarely seen
or heard in the plains.
128. _Hierococcyx varius_: The Common Hawk-Cuckoo—the Brain-fever bird of
Anglo-Indians. (F. 1109), (J. 205), (-III, but with a tail 6 inches
long.)
Every Anglo-Indian is familiar with the _crescendo_ shriek—brain-fever,
_brain-fever_, BRAIN FEVER—of this bird, which is reiterated with such
“damnable persistency” at the beginning of the hot weather. This bird is
exceedingly common in the United Provinces. It is less abundant in other
parts of India. It does not appear to occur west of Umballa; I never
heard it in Madras, and it does not seem to occur in the island of
Bombay. It is impossible to miss it where it does occur. There is no
mistaking its note. It is a greyish-brown bird with whitish under parts,
each feather having darker cross bars. The bird is very hawk-like in
appearance, hence its name.
It is parasitic on “The Seven Sisters” and other kinds of babblers.
(Illus. B. C., p. 95.)
129. _Coccystes jacobinus_: The Pied-crested Cuckoo. Known to Europeans
in Upper India as the Rainy-weather Bird. (F. 1118), (J. 212), (+II, but
with a tail over 6 inches long.)
Upper plumage glossy black, with a broad white wing-bar, and white tips
to the tail feathers. The chin, throat, and under parts are white. A
conspicuous black crest.
This species is very common “on the Bombay side.” Numbers visit Northern
India in the rains, and announce their presence by loud high-pitched
cries.
It is parasitic on various species of babblers. (Illus. B. B., p. 53.)
130. _Eudynamis honorata_: The Indian Koel, sometimes wrongly called
(e.g. in _The Common Birds of Bombay_) the Brain-fever Bird. (F. 1120),
(J. 214), (III, but with a tail 8 inches long.)
_Cock_: A glossy black bird with a green bill and crimson eye. As he
flies he looks like a slenderly built crow with an unusually long tail.
_Hen_: A brown bird, spotted and barred all over with white. Bill and eye
as in cock. This is an exceedingly noisy bird, and is most vociferous at
dawn. It has three distinct calls. The commonest is a _crescendo_: ku-il,
_ku-il_, KU-IL, whence its name. Another call is _ku-y-o_. The third is a
torrent of _kekaree, kekarees_. (Illus. B. D., pp. 218 and 220; also B.
C., p. 92.)
It is parasitic on crows.
131. _Centropus sinensis_: The Common Coucal, or Crow-Pheasant. (F.
1130), (J. 217), (-IV, but with a tail 10 inches long.)
A great black fowl with chestnut-red wings. It feeds largely on the
ground, and its long tail sometimes causes the “griff” to mistake it for
a pheasant.
Its call, which is heard at all times of the day, but more especially at
dawn, is a low, loud, sonorous _whoot, whoot, whoot_, the kind of call
that one associates with an owl.
It is not parasitic, but builds a large domed nest in the innermost
recesses of a dense thicket. (Illus. I. F., p. 80. [Illustration not a
good one.])
131a. _Taccocua leschenaulti_: The Sirkeer Cuckoo. (F. 1129), (J. 222),
(IV.)
This bird, although nowhere abundant, is widely distributed. It has the
appearance of a large long-tailed babbler, and when it runs along the
ground it looks like a mongoose. It is an earthy brown bird. The outer
tail feathers are black with white tips. The bill is cherry-red; this,
perhaps, is the reason why Indians call the bird _Jangli tota_. Like the
crow-pheasant it builds a nest.
_The Green Parrots_, 132-134
Every dweller in India must be familiar with these noisy birds, both in
the captive and the wild state. They go about in small flocks, looking
like “live emeralds in the sun,” and uttering loud screams and harsh
cries. During flight they turn from side to side “like badly balanced
arrows.” They nestle in holes in trees or buildings.
Three species are to be numbered among the common birds of India.
132. _Palæornis nepalensis_: The Alexandrine or Large Indian Paroquet.
(F. 1135), (J. 147), (+III, but with a tail over a foot long.)
A beautiful grass-green bird, with some blue in the tail and a red patch
on each shoulder. The cock has a rose-coloured collar round the back of
his neck, which is connected with the bill on each side by a black
stripe.
Found in N. and C. India. Very common in the Punjab.
133. _Palæornis torquatus_: The Rose-ringed Paroquet. (F. 1138), (J.
148), (-III, but with a tail 10 inches long.)
A small edition of No. 132, but lacks the red patch on the shoulders.
The commonest of the green parrots, and found all over the plains of
India. (Illus. B. P., p. 18; also I. F., p. 220.)
134. _Palæornis cyanocephalus_: The Western Blossom-headed Paroquet. (F.
1139), (J. 149), (II, but with a tail over 8 inches long.)
_Cock_: General colour bright grass-green. The head is red, tinged with
blue, as Blanford says, like the bloom on a plum. There is a red patch on
the shoulders, as in the case of No. 132. The median tail feathers are
pale blue.
_Hen_: Differs from the cock in that the head is duller, being of a grey
rather than a red hue.
Not found in N.W. F. P. or the Punjab. Commoner in South than in North
India.
_The Owls_, 135-139
Owls form a well-marked natural order. It is easy enough to recognise an
owl when one sees one, but not easy to say to what species it belongs,
because all owls bear a strong resemblance to one another—all are of much
the same colour—reddish brown with darker bars or drops. Moreover, they
are all creatures of the night, so, save with one exception, are not much
_en evidence_ in the daytime. This exception is that little clown, the
spotted owlet.
135. _Athene brama_: The Spotted Owlet. (F. 1180), (J. 76), (II.)
A small owl; upper plumage earthy brown or grey in colour, copiously
spotted and barred with white. Lower plumage white with dark brown spots
and cross bars.
It comes out long before sunset and pours forth a volley of chuckles and
squeaks; two of these individuals often shouting at once. When it catches
sight of a human being it stares at him with its bright golden orbs and,
as Eha observes, bows with sarcastic effect. No one who has dwelt any
length of time in India can fail to have remarked this very noisy little
owl. It nests in holes of trees or in the walls of bungalows. This is the
only owl which can be classed as a familiar bird. Three other species,
however, are often seen, namely (Illus. B. D., p. 256; also B. P., p. 94,
and B. B., p. 29):
136. _Strix flammea_: The Barn Owl or Screech Owl. (F. 1152), (J. 60),
(IV.)
This is a reddish-brown bird barred with narrow white and black bars. It
has a long heart-shaped face, which is white.
It is very nocturnal in its habits; when it does get abroad in the
daytime it is promptly mobbed by the crows. Its cry is a weird screech,
and it is regarded by the people as a bird of evil omen.
137. _Asio accipitrinus_: The Short-eared Owl. (F. 1157), (J. 68), (+IV.)
A large buff bird barred all over with dark brown. It lies up during the
day in grass, and is often flushed by sportsmen. Sometimes three or four
are flushed together. It is a winter visitor to India.
138. _Scops giu_: The Scops Owl. (F. 1173), (J. 74), (-II.)
This may be distinguished from the spotted owlet by the fact that it
possesses “horns” or ear-tufts. Like most other owls it is heard more
often than seen. Its note, which must be familiar to all who have camped
in India, is a single hoot, which is repeated monotonously at regular
intervals of about ten seconds.
139. _Glaucidium radiatum_: The Jungle Owlet. (F. 1184), (J. 78), (-II.)
This owl is very like 135 in appearance, and has a peculiar protracted
call which must be familiar to those who have camped in the U. P.
It does not appear to occur in the N.W. F. P., the Punjab, the Deccan, or
Bombay.
140. _Pandion haliaëtus_: The Osprey. (F. 1189), (J. 40), (-V.)
This looks very like a kite when seen as it perches on a stone, but is
distinguishable from the kite by the fact that its head and neck are
white, save for a broad dark band which runs from the eye down the side
of the neck.
When seeking for food, however, nothing is easier than to identify the
osprey. Like the pied kingfisher the great bird poises itself in the air
on quivering wings high above the water. Suddenly its wings close and it
drops down like a falling stone and disappears into the water with a huge
splash, to emerge a second or two later with a fish in its talons.
In the cold weather the osprey is to be seen in most places where there
are large _jhils_ or backwaters.
_The Vultures_, 141-145
These are huge birds of prey which feed exclusively on carrion. They are
distinguished by the fact that their head and neck are destitute of
feathers. A large bird of prey with bare head and neck is undoubtedly a
vulture.
Vultures, as everyone knows, stay for hours floating on outstretched
wings high up in the air, looking out for dead animals. Kites and other
birds of prey remain for long periods on the wing; they, too, can sail
and soar, but they do not literally hang in the air as the vultures do.
As these latter float in the air it will be observed that their wings
project straight out at right angles to the body. The commonest species
of vulture are:
141. _Otogyps calvus_: The Black or Pondicherry Vulture. (F. 1191), (J.
2), (+V, nearly twice the size of the kite.)
A black bird with a red head, a white waist-coat, and a white patch on
each thigh.
Rare in the Punjab and Sind.
142. _Gyps indicus_: The Indian Long-billed Vulture. (F. 1194), (J. 4),
(+V, over a yard in length.)
Uniform brownish grey; the hue varying with individuals.
Not found in Sind.
143. _Pseudogyps bengalensis_: The Indian White-backed Vulture. (F.
1196), (J. 5), (+V. Between 141 and 142 in size.)
This is the commonest vulture in India. It is very dark grey, almost
black. The naked head is rather lighter than the rest of the body. The
lower back is white, and this makes the bird easy to identify. It has
some white in the wings, and this during flight is visible as a broad
white band that runs from the body nearly to the tip of the wing. Thus
the wing from below appears to be white with very broad black edges.
(Illus. B. B., p. 9.)
144. _Neophron ginginianus_: The Smaller White Scavenger Vulture. (F.
1197), (J. 6), (V.)
This familiar creature I have named “The ugliest bird in the world.” I
reproduce the description of the bird from _Bombay Ducks_: “There is no
other creature like unto it. It is about the size of a kite. Its plumage
is dirty white, except the tips of the wings, which are shabby black. The
neck is covered with feathers, which stick out like the back hairs of a
schoolboy. These are, if possible, rather dirtier-looking than the rest
of the plumage, and frequently assume a rusty hue. Its bill is yellow, so
are its naked face and its legs. As ‘Eha’ remarks: ‘It does not stand
upright like the true vultures, but carries its body like a duck and
steps like a recruit.’ . . . It is a good flier, and when seen on the
wing looks quite a respectable bird. The under parts of its wings appear
pure white in the sunlight, and the black border gives them a finish.”
Young scavenger vultures are sooty brown when they leave the nest and
look like a different species.
This creature feeds on human ordure and haunts the neighbourhood of
latrines. It is known to Thomas Atkins as the Shawk. It is also called
Pharaoh’s Chicken. (Illus. B. D., pp. 278 and 280.)
In the Punjab it is replaced by a species which resembles it in all
characters, differing only in being a little larger. This species is:
145. _Neophron percnopterus_: The Egyptian Vulture, or Large White
Scavenger Vulture. (F. 1198), (J. 6), (+V.)
_The Birds of Prey_, 146-162
This large family is composed of birds which bear so strong a family
likeness that it is almost impossible to describe them in such a way as
to enable the reader to identify them at sight. As with the owls, birds
of prey are easily recognised as such, but to name any particular species
baffles even professed ornithologists. To try to make out the raptores by
their colour is, to use the words of Eha, “at the best a short road to
despair. Naturalists learn to recognise them as David’s watchman
recognised the courier who brought tidings of the victory over Absalom.
‘His running is like the running of Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok.’ Every
bird of prey has its own character, some trick of flight, something in
its figure and proportions which serves to distinguish it decisively.”
What precisely this something is I am not in most cases able to state. I
trust that before long Mr. C. H. Donald, or some other Indian falconer,
will give us a little handbook on the birds of prey of this country. For
my part I am able merely to attempt a description of two or three of the
very commonest forms.
146. _Aquila vindhiana_: The Indian Tawny Eagle. (F. 1203), (J. 29),
(+V.)
In colouring this bird is very like the common kite, but has not so long
a tail; and its legs are feathered right down to the toe—this is the
sign-manual of all the true eagles. A bird that looks like a kite with
feathered legs is probably a tawny eagle—the commonest eagle in India,
abundant everywhere save on the Malabar coast.
147. _Butastur teesa_: The White-eyed Buzzard. (F. 1220), (J. 48), (IV.)
This bird of prey is about the size of the common house crow. Eha writes,
“A Buzzard’s idea of life is to sit upon a pole, or on top of a small
tree commanding a good expanse of grass land, and to watch for a field
mouse, or a lizard, or even a fat grasshopper. If you see a biggish,
untidy hawk, of a sandy brown colour, more or less dashed with whitish,
spending the morning in this way, you may put it down as _Butastur
teesa_.” The sign-manual of this common bird is its white eye, and if you
cannot get near enough to make this out with the aid of field glasses,
you may still identify this species by the conspicuous white patch on the
nape of the neck.
Very common in N. India; rare in the south.
148. _Haliaëtus leucoryphus_: Pallas’s Fishing Eagle. (F. 1223), (J. 42),
(+V; nearly half as big again as the kite.)
A large brown bird with whitish forehead, chin, and throat, and a broad
white band (4 inches wide) across the tail, about three inches from the
tip. This is the sign-manual of this species, and on this account Jerdon
calls it “The Ring-tailed Fish Eagle.”
Not found in S. India.
“All the fish-eagles,” writes C. H. Donald in _The Indian Field_, “have
loud resonant calls, anything but melodious, and each and all seem to
love hearing their own voices. _H. leucoryphus_ in the plains of the
Punjab may often be heard long before he is seen, particularly when
soaring, and though he himself may only appear a wee speck in the
heavens, his call will be distinctly heard.”
This bird frequents rivers and marshes, and is an inland rather than a
seashore bird.
149. _Haliaëtus leucogaster_: The White-bellied Sea-Eagle. (F. 1224), (J.
43), (V. a little larger than the kite.)
Head, neck, lower parts, and nearly the whole of the tail white; other
parts dark grey or brown. Jerdon calls this species the Grey-backed
Sea-Eagle. This species is very seldom seen inland, and is easily
distinguished from Nos. 148 and 150 by having the lower parts white
instead of brown.
Col. Cunningham describes this species as “one of the most splendid of
large raptorial birds, owing to the brilliant contrast of the snowy
whiteness of the head and under surface, with the deep ashy tints of the
wings and back. There are few more striking objects than one of them as
he sits on a bare branch overhanging a tidal channel, glancing around
with his bold black eyes, and with all his beautiful plumage gleaming in
the bright sunlight.”
This is a very noisy species, especially at the breeding season.
150. _Haliaëtus albicilla_: The White-tailed Sea-Eagle. (F. 1225), (+V;
half as big again as a kite.)
A large brown bird with a white tail, of which the middle feathers are
considerably longer than the outer ones. By this character and by its
loud cries may this bird be identified. It is only a winter visitor to
India—to the Punjab, Sind, and the U. P.
151. _Haliastur indus_: The Brahminy Kite. (F. 1228), (J. 55), (-V.)
Of all the birds of prey this is perhaps the easiest to identify in its
adult state. The head, neck, breast, and upper abdomen are white, the
shaft of each white feather being black. The remainder of the plumage is
a rich chestnut, almost maroon.
The young are very like the common kite in appearance, but may be
distinguished when on the wing by the fact that the tail of the Brahminy
is always rounded, while that of the kite is more or less forked.
This species is rare in the Punjab, common everywhere else. In Madras it
sometimes swoops down and carries off a snipe that has been shot by a
sportsman. Its cry is a peculiar squeaking wail. (Illus. B. D., p. 190.)
152. _Milvus govinda_: The Common Pariah Kite. (F. 1229), (J. 56), (V.)
Description of this ubiquitous bird is unnecessary. His long tail,
slightly forked at the tip, suffices to distinguish him at a glance from
all other raptorial birds. (Illus. B. D., p. 182; also B. P., p. 148.)
153. _Circus macrurus_: The Pale Harrier. (F. 1233), (J. 51), (+IV.)
154. _Circus cineraceus_: Montagu’s Harrier. (F. 1234), (J. 52), (+IV.)
155. _Circus cyaneus_: The Hen Harrier. (F. 1235), (J. 50), (-V.)
156. _Circus melanoleucus_: The Pied Harrier. (F. 1236), (J. 53), (+IV.)
157. _Circus æruginosus_: The Marsh Harrier. (F. 1237), (J. 54), (-V.)
I shall not attempt to describe these birds, as, although it may be
possible to tell the male birds apart, the hens are so alike that to
distinguish them is no easy matter. The ordinary man will doubtless be
satisfied to call them all harriers.
Harriers are cold-weather visitors to India. They are striking-looking
birds with long wings. They fly low, only a few inches above the level of
the ground, ever on the look out for a lizard, a mouse, an insect, or
even a small bird. They are larger than crows and smaller than kites.
They hunt over fields and marshes, and are not seen in towns, but those
who shoot must be familiar with them. (Illus. B. B., p. 15.)
158. _Astur badius_: The Shikra. (F. 1244), (J. 23), (+III.)
This is one of the most familiar birds of prey. It is considerably
smaller than the common house crow. Its upper plumage is ashy grey. The
tail is of the same hue, but with broad black cross bars. The breast is
pale rust colour, with a number of thin wavy white cross bars. The eye is
bright yellow, as is the cere or base of the beak. It is very like the
Brain-fever Bird in appearance. It often hunts for its quarry in the
neighbourhood of trees. Its method is to make a short quick dash. Natives
of India very frequently train this bird to hawk quail and mynas. Its
note is a sharp double whistle.
159. _Accipiter nisus_: The Sparrow-Hawk. (F. 1247), (J. 24), (+III.)
This species, which is a cold-weather visitor to India, is very like No.
158 in habits and appearance. It is, however, characterised by having
long legs. It is bolder and swifter in its movements. (Illus. B. D., p.
84; also B. B., p. 21.)
160. _Falco jugger_: The Laggar Falcon. (F. 1257), (J. 11), (+III.)
Several species of falcon occur in India. This one is, I think, the
commonest.
It is a brownish bird barred and spotted all over with white. It looks
like a large sparrow-hawk with long pointed wings. But it does not make
one dash at its prey after the manner of the sparrow-hawk; it is a strong
flier and settles down to a long chase in the open country. Its eyes are
dark. Natives call falcons dark-eyed hawks, and sparrow-hawks light-eyed
hawks.
161. _Æsalon chicquera_: The Turumti, or Red-headed Merlin. (F. 1264),
(J. 16), (+III.)
Head and a stripe on the cheek chestnut. Back and tail grey barred with
dark brown; under parts whitish with black streaks and bars.
This species lives largely on small birds and often hunts in couples.
162. _Tinnunculus alaudaris_: The Kestrel; the English “Windhover.” (F.
1265), (J. 17), (+III.)
Head, neck, and tail grey, back and wings brick-red. Lower parts
cream-coloured spotted with brown. The red back makes the bird easy to
identify, as does its method of hunting its quarry. It flies over the
open country, and every now and then hovers on rapidly vibrating wings
over some spot where it thinks it espies some lizard or other animal. If
there is an animal there it drops quietly on it, otherwise it passes on
and hovers elsewhere.
It is a winter visitor to the plains of India.
_The Green Pigeons_, 163-164
These beautiful birds are strictly arboreal. They go about in small
companies, but so closely do they assimilate in colour to their leafy
surroundings that it is difficult to make them out. They feed exclusively
on fruit.
163. _Crocopus phœnicopterus_: The Bengal Green Pigeon. (F. 1271), (J.
772), (+III.)
A bright yellowish-green bird. Head, lower breast, and tail dove colour.
Some lilac and a yellow bar on the wing. Legs orange-yellow.
Found in the Eastern Punjab, U. P., and Bengal. In the Punjab, U. P., and
the whole of the peninsula of India is found the next species.
164. _Crocopus chlorogaster_: The Southern Green Pigeon. (F. 1272), (J.
773), (+II.)
This is so like No. 163 that it seems scarcely deserving of specific
rank. It differs only in having the lower breast green instead of grey.
165. _Columba intermedia_: The Indian Blue Rock Pigeon. (F. 1292), (J.
788), (+III.)
This familiar bird scarcely needs description. It is the common
_Kabutar_. It is a bluish-grey bird (light slate colour) with two broad
black bars across the wing. The tip of the tail is black; legs red.
Found all over India. In the Punjab this species meets an allied
form—_Columba livia_—which is distinguished by the fact that its lower
back is white instead of slaty grey.
_The Doves_, 166-169
Every one is well acquainted with these familiar birds, so that a general
description of them is unnecessary. The four species most commonly seen
in India are:
166. _Turtur suratensis_: The Spotted Dove. (F. 1307), (J. 795), (III.)
A reddish-grey bird. The sides of the neck are black with a number of
small white spots. The two median pairs of tail feathers are brown, and
the others black with white tips.
Its note is a plaintive _cūkoo-coo-coo_. Like the other three species of
dove this species is widely distributed, but is very capricious in its
distribution.
It is very common in Calcutta, Madras, Travancore, Tirhoot, and Lucknow,
but does not occur at Lahore, Bombay, or in the Deccan.
It is easily distinguished from the other doves by its black tippet.
(Illus. F. IV., p. 1; also B. C., p. 123, and B. D., p. 8.)
167. _Turtur cambayensis_: The Little Brown Dove. (F. 1309), (J. 794),
(-III; midway between the bulbul and myna in size.)
This pretty little dove often nests in the verandah, building on the
rolled-up _chiks_.
Eha thus describes it: “Of an earthy brown colour, passing into slaty
grey on the wings and tail, and tinged on the head, neck, and breast with
that tender tint peculiar to doves, which the natural history books call
‘vinaceous,’ like a faded claret stain on the tablecloth. On each side of
the neck there is a miniature chessboard in red and black. The feet are
red.” Its call is composed of quite a little tune—a soft, subdued,
musical _cuk-cuk-coo-coo-coo_.
This dove is capriciously distributed. It is common in the Punjab, U. P.,
Deccan, Bombay, but absent in Lower Bengal and the Malabar coast.
168. _Turtur risorius_: The Indian Ring Dove. (F. 1310), (J. 796),
(+III.)
This bird is a light French grey. It is distinguishable from Nos. 166 and
167 by its paler hue and by the possession of a black collar with a
narrow white border round the back of the neck. Its note is a _ku-ku—kū_.
It is common in the Punjab, U. P., and the Deccan. It is found in Assam
and S. India on the East, but not on the West Coast, nor in Lower Bengal.
169. _Œnopopelia tranquebarica_: The Red Turtle Dove. (F. 1311), (J.
797), (II.)
This is the smallest of the doves, and is not nearly so abundant as the
other three species. In the U. P. it is a permanent resident, but in the
Punjab merely a summer emigrant. It certainly is not common in most parts
of South India. It is remarkable in that the cock and hen differ in
appearance.
The cock is a rust-coloured bird with a black collar round the back of
his neck, and reddish wings.
The hen lacks the red on the wing.
The note is harsh and sepulchral, more like a grunt than a _coo_. The
legs are not red as in the other common doves.
_The Sand Grouse_
This family seems to form a connecting link between the pigeons and the
gallinaceous birds. They are characterised by having feathered legs. They
are coloured so as to assimilate closely to their sandy surroundings.
They are game birds. The reader is therefore referred to Marshall and
Hume’s standard book, in which there are coloured plates of the various
species. The order is treated of on pp. 53-63 of Vol. IV. of the Bird
Volumes of _The Fauna of British India_ series. (Illus. I. G. I., pp. 43,
47, 53, 57, 59, 65, 69, 77.)
170. _Pavo cristatus_: The Common Peafowl. (F. 1324), (J. 803), (+V, with
a long train in the cock.)
Description of this familiar bird is unnecessary, but it and its loud
call, like the _miau_ of a cat, are known to all men.
_The Quails_
These, being game birds, do not come within the scope of the present
work. The reader is referred to Hume and Marshall and the Bird Volumes of
_The Fauna of British India_ series for accounts of them. Since, however,
one sometimes, in the course of a walk in the cold weather, puts up a
common quail, I will briefly describe the bird. As you walk along you
suddenly hear a rustling noise almost at your feet, and before you can
say “Jack Robinson” a small brown bird has arisen with a flutter and
dashed off a few inches over the tops of the heads of corn in the
adjacent field. After a flight of twenty or thirty yards the bird drops
into the corn—that is all you are likely to see of the quail unless you
shoot it or net it.
171. _Coturnix communis_: The Common or Grey Quail. (F. 1355), (J. 829),
(+II, but with a very short tail.)
A brown bird much spotted and barred with black, having some white
streaks along the length of the back. Short legs.
A winter visitor to India. (Illus. I. G. II., p. 133.)
_The Partridges_
These are game birds, and so lie outside the scope of this book. I will,
however, describe briefly two common species, whose calls are to be
numbered among the commonest sounds heard in the jungle.
172. _Francolinus vulgaris_: The Black Partridge, or Common Francolin.
(F. 1372), (J. 818), (+III.)
The cock is a handsome black bird, with everywhere narrow bars of white
or grey. The sides of the head are white, and there is a broad chestnut
collar all round the neck.
The hen is reddish brown in most places where the cock is black.
Its cry is a curious harsh crow, so high-pitched as to be inaudible to
some human beings. Indian Muhammedans declare that the bird calls
“_Sub-hān, teri kudrat_.” Blanford syllabises it as, “_Juk-juk,
tee-tee-tur_.”
It is found in N. India, most abundantly in the U. P. (Illus. I. G. II.,
p. 9.)
173. _Francolinus pondicerianus_: The Grey Partridge. (F. 1375), (J.
822), (+III.)
A greyish-brown bird marked all over with thin white or buff cross bars.
The loud call of this bird must be familiar to most Anglo-Indians. It is
uttered early in the morning and again at sunset. Blanford describes it
as “beginning with two or three single harsh notes, and continuing with a
succession of trisyllabic, shrill, ringing cries.” Jerdon says of this
species: “Its call is a peculiar loud shrill cry, and has, not unaptly,
been compared to the word _Pateela-pateela-pateela_, quickly repeated,
but preceded by a single note uttered two or three times, each time with
a higher intonation, till it gets, as it were, the key-note of its call.”
This species runs very fast, and does not, as a rule, take to its wings
unless flushed. (I. G. II. p. 51, but plate not a good one.)
_The Rails_, 174-176
174. _Amaurornis phœnicurus_: The White-breasted Water-hen. (F. 1401),
(J. 907), (+II.)
A dark slaty-grey bird, almost black, with a white face, throat, and
breast. The under parts of the tail, which is carried almost erect, are
chestnut red. Wherever there is a pond having near it some bamboos or
rushes there is one likely to see a water-hen. It is a great skulker, and
always makes for cover the moment it thinks it is being watched. “It is,”
as Blanford remarks, “an excessively noisy bird; its loud, hoarse,
reiterated call, predominating in the evening and morning over the cries
of the other waders and the ducks in the village tank, must be familiar
to most people in India.” (Illus. B. B., p. 173.)
175. _Porphyrio poliocephalus_: The Purple Moorhen, or Purple Coot. (F.
1404), (J. 902), (IV.)
A beautiful purple-blue bird with very long red legs. The bill is red, as
is a square shield which the bird carries on its forehead. It has a white
patch under its tail. It is impossible to mistake this bird. There is
none other like unto it in India. One frequently comes across it when out
shooting.
176. _Fulica atra_: The Coot. (F. 1405), (J. 903), (IV.)
This is the most duck-like of all the rails, and indeed is very
frequently shot and eaten as a duck by inexperienced sportsmen. However,
its shining black plumage and its white bill and shield on the forehead
serve to differentiate it from all Indian ducks. Moreover, when disturbed
on the water, it experiences some difficulty in starting to fly. It runs
along the surface of the water for a few feet with vigorous flappings of
the wings and much splashing before it succeeds in lifting itself out of
the water. It does not usually keep in flocks as ducks do. It breeds in
India. It does not swim so high in the water as a duck. Its feet are not
webbed, but its toes are pinnate, i.e. provided with flattened membranes
which assist it in swimming. Its bill is not so flat as that of a duck.
_The Cranes_, 177-179
Cranes are large, tall, long-shanked birds which have a loud,
trumpet-like call. The three common Indian species are chiefly grey in
colour. They never perch in trees, but rest and nest on the ground. When
they fly they carry the neck and feet stretched out straight. When they
fly in company the flight takes a V-shaped form, like that of a flight of
geese.
177. _Grus communis_: The Common Crane. (F. 1407), (J. 865), (+V; about
twice the size of a kite.)
This bird is the _coolung_ of sportsmen. Its general colour is dark
French grey. Its head is almost devoid of feathers, and there is a
square, dark red patch of skin across the back of the head. It has a
broad white band running down each side of the long neck. Its legs are
black.
It is a winter visitor to India. It is fairly common in N. India, but
rare in the south.
It is usually seen in flocks, which spend the middle of the day on
sandbanks in the middle of rivers. (Illus. I. G. III., p. 21.)
178. _Grus antigone_: The Sarus. (F. 1409), (J. 863), (+V. This is the
largest of the Indian cranes, and stands nearly as high as a human
being.)
Its general hue is French grey. Its head is devoid of feathers. Its
throat and a ring round the nape are black. Its head and neck are red.
Its legs are dull red.
It is the most familiar of the Indian cranes. It is usually seen in
pairs. It does not soar high in the air, like the other two species. It
is a permanent resident, but does not appear to occur south of the
Godaveri.
It is far more confidential than the other species of crane, and will
sometimes allow a human being to approach within thirty yards of it.
(Illus. I. G. III., p. 1, but plate is not good.)
179. _Anthropoides virgo_: The Demoiselle Crane. (F. 1411), (J. 866),
(+V. The smallest of the cranes.)
This bird is sometimes wrongly called _coolung_ by sportsmen; the
Hindustani name for it is _Karkarra_.
A light grey bird, with a black face and neck and some black in the
wings. Behind the eye is a streak of white feathers which ends in a long
graceful white plume. Its note is harsher and less trumpet-like than
those of the other cranes.
It is a winter visitor to India. It is very common in the Deccan,
Guzerat, and Kattiwar; less common in other parts of N. India, and rare
in Lower Bengal and S. India. Its habits are like those of No. 177.
(Illus. F. IV., p. 184; also I. G. III., p. 31.)
_The Bustards_
These come within the category of “game birds,” and so none of them are
treated of in this book. (Illus. I. G. I., pp. 1, 3, 7, 18.)
180. _Œdicnemus scolopax_: The Stone-Curlew, or Stone-Plover, or
Thick-knee. (F. 1418), (J. 859), (+IV.)
This bird is very like a bustard, and is known to Anglo-Indian sportsmen
as the _Bustard-Florican_. It is an ashy-brown bird, each feather having
a blackish streak down the shaft. Its wings and tail have some black and
white bars, which are conspicuous when the bird flies. The bill, eyes,
and feet are yellow. Its wild-sounding cry, which is often heard at
night, is like that of the curlew.
It frequents dry, open, stony country.
_The Jaçanas, 181 and 182_
These remarkable birds have very long toes, which enable them to run
about on the large floating leaves of water plants.
181. _Metopidius indicus_: The Bronze-winged Jaçana. (F. 1428), (J. 900),
(-IV.)
Head, neck, and breast a beautiful glossy black. A conspicuous white
eyebrow. There is some black in the wings, but the general hue of these
is a metallic greenish bronze. The lower back and tail are chestnut red.
Rare in Western India; common in the east.
“They present,” writes Cunningham, “an odd appearance on the wing, owing
to the disproportionate size of their feet, which becomes particularly
conspicuous when the legs are dropped just before the bird pitches on the
surface of the weeds and expands its toes, which have been gathered up
into a bundle during flight.”
182. _Hydrophasianus chirurgus_: The Pheasant-tailed Jaçana. (F. 1429),
(J. 901), (IV, but with a tail a foot in length in the breeding season.)
_Winter plumage_: Upper parts brown, with a conspicuous white eyebrow and
a yellow band down each side of the neck. Wings black and white. Lower
parts white with a black gorget across the breast. Tail feathers white,
except the two median ones, which are brown.
_Breeding plumage_: A long black pheasant-like tail is assumed, and the
other parts are black, save the head, throat, and wings, which are white,
and the back of the neck, which is golden yellow. This Jaçana looks in
breeding plumage (i.e. in the summer) rather like a silver pheasant, and,
indeed, Europeans call it the water-pheasant. It is a beautiful creature
in its summer splendour. Finn says that it is to his mind “the most
beautiful of all our smaller aquatic birds, and hardly equalled in this
respect by any bird whatever.”
Its peculiar wailing cry has been likened to the mew of a kitten.
_The Lapwings_, 183 _and_ 184
183. _Sarcogrammus indicus_: The Red-wattled Lapwing. (F. 1431), (J.
855), (+IV.)
This is the familiar “Did-you-do-it.”
Head, neck, and upper breast black. There is a broad white band running
from the eye down the whole length of the neck. The back and wings are
bronzy brown, black, and white, the white being arranged so as to form a
conspicuous bar during flight. Lower parts are white, as is the tail,
except for a black band which runs across it near the tip. The bill is
reddish, and there is in front of the eye a conspicuous crimson wattle.
The legs are bright yellow.
This noisy bird is known to all residents in India. Its noisy call, “Did
he do it? Pity to do it,” is one of the most familiar sounds of the
Indian country-side. (Illus. B. B., p. 161.)
In Burma it is replaced by an allied species—_Sarcogrammus
atrinuchalis_—the Burmese Wattled Lapwing.
184. _Sarciophorus malabaricus_: The Yellow-wattled Lapwing. (F. 1433),
(J. 856), (-IV.)
This is very like the last species, the chief difference being that the
conspicuous wattle is yellow instead of crimson and the white line runs
round the back of the head from eye to eye, instead of down the neck. Its
cry is like that of No. 183, but not so harsh and with a note less.
This species is widely distributed, but not usually so common as the
last. It is said not to occur in Upper Sind or the Western Punjab. It
certainly does not occur in the neighbourhood of Lahore.
184a. _Hoplopterus ventralis_: The Spur-winged Plover. (F. 1435), (J.
857), (IV.)
Wings and tail marked like those of the red-wattled lapwing. The head and
recumbent crest are black. No wattle. Its call is very like that of the
yellow-wattled lapwing. This bird is very common on the Ganges. Not found
in the Bombay Presidency, nor in Madras south of the Godaveri.
_The Plovers_, 185 _and_ 186
The ringed plovers are small “snippets” which haunt the seashore and the
sandbanks of rivers. They go about in small flocks. Numbers of them are
to be seen on the muddy edges of the Coum at Madras, but they have to be
looked for, since from a little distance they assimilate closely to the
hue of the mudbanks on which they disport themselves. They are not much
bigger than sparrows, but are pretty little birds. Two species are
common.
185. _Ægialitis alexandrina_: The Kentish Plover. (F. 1446), (J. 848),
(I.)
Upper parts brown, lower parts white. The brown of the upper parts is
broken by a white forehead, eyebrow, and collar. The under surface of the
wing is white, so that as a flock of this species or the next two species
fly they look now brown, now white, according as the brown or white
surface of the wing is presented to the observer.
This species is seen chiefly in winter and on the sea-coast.
186. _Ægialitis dubia_: The Little Ringed Plover. (F. 1447), (J. 850),
(I.)
This is very like No. 185 in appearance, but may be easily distinguished
from it by having a black band across the throat. Legs yellow.
This species is not confined to the sea-coast. Like most of its tribe it
has a plaintive whistle.
187. _Himantopus candidus_: The Black-winged Stilt, or Long-legs. (F.
1451), (J. 898), (-IV.)
_Male_: A white bird with glossy black back and wings.
_Female_: White with brown back and wings.
This species is characterised by very long red legs. Its bill is nearly
three inches long.
It is found in marshes and tanks.
188. _Recurvirostra avocetta_: The Avocet. (F. 1452), (J. 899), (IV.)
This elegant bird is characterised by a very long bill, which is curved
_upwards_ towards the end. It is a very easy bird to identify. Its body
is about the size of that of the crow. It is a white bird with a number
of black markings. The black markings are on top of the head, back of the
neck, the shoulders, and the wings. The beak is black and the long legs
are dark grey.
Wherever there is shallow water there may the avocet be found wading in
winter, for it is only a winter visitor to India. It does not appear to
be very common anywhere.
_The Curlews_, 189 _and_ 190
189. _Numenius arquata_: The Curlew. (F. 1454), (J. 877), (V.)
This well-known bird is about the size of a kite, and except for the
white chin and throat its colouring is rather like that of the kite. But
here all resemblance to the kite ceases. The curlew is a long-shanked
wading bird, with a curved bill half a foot in length, the curve in this
case being downwards instead of upwards as in the avocet. It has a wild,
plaintive cry.
It is a winter visitor to India.
190. _Numenius phæopus_: The Whimbrel. (F. 1455), (J. 878), (+IV; about
midway between the crow and the kite.)
This is a small edition of the curlew, but differs from it in having a
white band along the middle of the head. Its curved bill is only a little
over three inches long. It is less abundant than the curlew, and perhaps
scarcely deserves a place among the common birds of India.
191. _Limosa belgica_: The Black-tailed Godwit. (F. 1456), (J. 875),
(-V.)
A brown bird with white chin, throat, and abdomen, and some white in the
wings. The base of the tail is white and the remainder black. The bill is
about four inches long, and straight. The legs are long.
A winter visitor to India; common in the north and rare in the south.
Blanford states that it is often sold in the Calcutta bazaar as woodcock,
but Finn states that this is not in accordance with his experience.
(Illus. I. G. III., p. 409.)
_The Sandpipers_, 192-195
These birds constitute the “snippets” of Anglo-Indian, that is to say,
birds that try to be snipe.
These are all greenish-brown birds with light under parts. They have
fairly long bills, but not so long as that of any of the species of
snipe. They are often seen feeding—a statement which cannot be made
regarding the snipe. If you see a snipe-like bird feeding, you may be
perfectly sure that it is not a snipe. It is a sandpiper of sorts, but it
is not by any means easy to say which of the many sandpipers without
shooting it. Descriptions of the common species of sandpiper follow:—
192. _Totanus hypoleucus_: The Common Sandpiper. (F. 1460), (J. 893),
(+II, but with a very short tail, so that it actually measures less than
a bulbul.)
It is a greenish-brown bird with white under parts. Its legs are not long
for a wader; its bill is about an inch long. It goes about in ones or
twos (never in flocks), picking up insects on the water’s edge. When
disturbed it flies away, and then its wings, which are pointed, show a
very narrow white band. By this you may recognise the species. It flies
low, and as Eha remarks, with its wings bent like a bow. When it settles
down it wags its apology for a tail in wagtail-like manner. (Illus. B.
B., p. 168.)
193. _Totanus glareola_: The Wood Sandpiper, or Spotted Sandpiper. (F.
1461), (J. 891), (+II, but with a very short tail.)
The upper plumage of this is dark brown spotted with white. The abdomen
is white, as is also the tail.
The habits of this species are very like those of the snipe, so that the
sportsman out shooting constantly puts up the bird, but it can be
distinguished from the snipe, because instead of emitting the sharp
“_psip_” of the snipe on rising, it utters a shrill note. Moreover, it is
a much smaller bird than even the Jack-snipe.
194. _Totanus ochropus_: The Green Sandpiper. (F. 1462), (J. 892), (+II,
but with a short tail.)
This bird is very like the last species, except that it is larger and
less conspicuously spotted, and has more white in the tail. It is
distinguishable from the snipe, alongside of which it is often found, by
its “shrill piping note,” which it utters on the wing, and its white
tail, which is conspicuous as it flies away.
A winter visitor; commoner in N. India than in the south.
Among the sandpipers that visit India during the winter in large numbers
are (1) _Totanus glottis_: The Greenshank. (F. 1466), (J. 894), (-IV) and
(2) _Totanus calidris_: The Redshank. (F. 1464), (J. 897), (+III). The
greenshank may be recognised by its large size and the redshank by the
red legs, which are not so extravagantly long as those of the stilt
(187).
195. _Tringa minuta_: The Little Stint. (F. 1471), (J. 884), (+I, but
with a short tail.)
Upper parts dingy brown, with white forehead and under parts.
“If,” writes Eha, “you see a hundred dingy little birds, about the size
of sparrows, all feeding together knee-deep in water, you may safely put
them down as stints.”
A winter visitor to India; common on the coasts.
_The Snipes_
These being game birds are not dealt with in this volume. It must suffice
that all four species—The Common, Full, or Fantail Snipe (_Gallinago
cœlestis_), The Pintail (_G. stenura_), The Little Jack-Snipe (_G.
gallinula_), and The Painted Snipe (_Rostratula capensis_), who is not a
true snipe, all lie up closely in marshy ground or paddy fields in the
daytime, and are not likely to be seen by the naturalist unless he is
prepared to wade and flush them.
When flushed the first three go off at a great pace, either uttering no
call or a short, sharp “_psip_.” The flight of the last species is
comparatively feeble. (Illus. I. G. III., pp. 339, 359, etc.)
_The Gulls_, 196-199
Gulls are very familiar birds to every one who has performed the journey
from England to India. The beautiful flight and the loud screams of these
kites of the sea are indelibly impressed upon the memory of most
Anglo-Indians.
These magnificent fliers are able to keep pace with the steamer for hours
at a time without putting forth any effort. They saunter through the air
in the wake of the ship, and when anything edible is thrown overboard
they drop down and pick it off the water (they can swim like ducks), and
having devoured what there is to be eaten, they fly on after the ship,
and catch up in a few seconds.
They are largely scavengers. At sea-coast stations no sight is more
familiar than that of a number of crows and gulls squabbling over the
little fish, etc., that the fishermen throw away when overhauling their
nets on the seashore. (Illus. B. D., p. 272; also B. B., p. 190.)
The four commonest gulls in India are:
196. _Larus ridibundus_: The Laughing Gull. (F. 1490), (J. 891), (IV.)
A white bird with grey shoulders and some black in the wings. In summer
the head and neck become brown and in winter traces of this usually
remain. The bill and legs are red.
A winter visitor to India.
197. _Larus brunneicephalus_: The Brown-headed Gull. (F. 1491), (J. 980),
(+IV.)
This bird is very like the last at all seasons, so that it is scarcely
possible to distinguish them on the wing.
198. _Larus affinis_: The Dark-backed Herring-Gull. (F. 1494), (J. 978),
(V.)
This bird is distinguished from Nos. 196 and 197 by the fact that its
wings and shoulders are slate-grey instead of pale grey, and its legs are
yellow. It is a much larger bird than the above two species.
It is said to be very common at Karachi. It is found on other parts of
the West Coast, but apparently not on the East Coast.
199. _Larus cachinans_: The Yellow-legged Herring-Gull. (F. 1495), (V.)
This is very like No. 198, except that its shoulders are of a lighter
shade of grey. It has yellow legs.
This gull is often seen on the rivers and large _jhils_ of Northern India
in winter.
_The Terns_, 200-205
These beautiful birds have been aptly termed the swallows of the sea, for
like swallows they are birds of powerful flight, and remain for long
periods on the wing. But they are not confined to the sea. In India,
wherever there are rivers, _jhils_, or ponds there are terns to be found.
Their prevailing colour is white, and most of them have some black in
their plumage.
To repeat what I said in _Bombay Ducks_: “No one can fail to recognise a
tern. If you see a slenderly-built bird of whitish tinge, with long
swallow-like wings and forked tail, a bird which sails along easily over
water, sometimes diving for a fish, more frequently picking something off
the surface of the water, you may set that bird down as a tern.” (Illus.
B. D., p. 270.)
200. _Hydrochelidon hybrida_: The Whiskered Tern, or the Small Marsh
Tern. (F. 1496), (J. 984), (+II.)
_Winter plumage_: A white bird with grey back, wings, and tail. Some
black on the nape of the neck and a black streak behind the eye. Bill,
legs, and toes dull red.
_Summer plumage_: The whole of the upper part of the head is black. The
abdomen becomes dark grey, so that at this season the whiskered tern is
liable to be confounded with the black-bellied tern (204). The tail,
however, of the whiskered species is not so deeply forked.
Very common in N. India. An inland bird found on marshes, rivers, tanks,
and paddy fields.
201. _Hydroprogne caspia_: The Caspian Tern. (F. 1498), (J. 982), (+IV.)
This is the largest of the terns. It is a white bird save for the fact
that there is a good deal of black in the head. Its wings are pearl grey.
Its bill is bright red. Its legs are black. Its tail is not very deeply
forked. It goes about in pairs. It is local in its distribution.
It is common at Madras, and it is said to be particularly common in Sind.
I have never seen it in the Punjab. Eha does not mention it as one of the
birds of Bombay.
202. _Sterna angelica_: The Gull-billed Tern. (F. 1499), (J. 983), (+III,
with a longish tail.)
Printer’s devils are particularly spiteful to this bird. In _The Common
Birds of Bombay_ they have mutilated its name into “gull-gilled.” In
_Bombay Ducks_ it appears as the “gull-bird tern.”
It is the least beautiful of the terns, being more heavily built than
most of them.
In winter it is a white bird with grey wings and some black in the head.
In summer its head is jet black. The bill, legs, and feet are black. Its
tail is not very deeply forked.
It is found both inland and on the coast.
203. _Sterna seena_: The Indian River Tern. (F. 1503), (J. 985), (+III,
with a long, deeply forked tail.)
This is the common tern of N. India, and frequents all the large rivers.
Its head and nape are deep black. The upper plumage French grey. Lower
plumage very pale grey. Chin white, and a white patch on each cheek. Bill
bright deep yellow. Legs red. This bird moults about Christmas time, and
for a few weeks after the moult there is much white in the head, but this
soon disappears.
204. _Sterna melanogaster_: The Black-bellied Tern. (F. 1504), (J. 987),
(-III, but with a long, deeply forked tail.)
Head black (with some white after the moult at Christmas), _abdomen
black_. Cheek, chin-throat, and wing lining white. Rest of plum, age
grey, paler on the tail than on the back. Bill orange-yellow; legs and
feet dull red.
One of the commonest of the terns, especially inland.
205. _Sterna minuta_: The Little Tern. (F. 1510), (J. 988), (-II.)
A tern not much bigger than a sparrow, with a white forehead and black
head, white cheeks and lower parts, grey wings, dark red bill and legs,
is probably this species.
It is fairly common in N. India; rare in the south.
206. _Rhynchops albicollis_: The Indian Skimmer, or Scissors-bill. (F.
1517), (J. 995), (-IV.)
A long-winged, tern-like bird, which flies about in little flocks a few
inches above the surface of the water, with white forehead, tail, and
lower parts, and a white collar round the neck; rest of upper plumage
dark brown. Bill deep red; legs bright red. (Illus. F. IV., p. 296.)
_The Pelicans_, 207 _and_ 208
Description of these well-known birds is superfluous, as every one knows
what they look like.
Four species are found in India, but they can scarcely be described as
common birds. Two species, however, are fairly abundant on the big
_jhils_ of Northern India.
207. _Pelicanus crispus_: The Dalmatian Pelican. (F. 1522), (+V; a large
bird as big as a swan.)
The beak is one and a half feet in length. A white bird with some black
in the wings. Bill dark grey.
Winter visitor to U. P. and Sind. (Illus. F. IV., p. 331.)
208. _Pelicanus philippensis_: The Spotted-billed or Grey Pelican. (F.
1523), (J. 1004), (+V; much smaller than 207.)
This may be distinguished by the curious dark spots and markings on its
pinkish yellow bill. (Illus. B. P., frontispiece.)
_The Cormorants_, 209-211
These are large black birds, which live largely on the water, and catch
fish by diving. When not fishing they have the habit of standing on top
of a post with wings outspread and then look rather like a church
lectern.
Three species occur in India:
209. _Phalacrocorax carbo_: The Large Cormorant. (F. 1526), (J. 1005),
(+V.)
210. _Phalacrocorax fuscicollis_: The Indian Shag. (F. 1527), (J. 1006),
(+V, but smaller than 209.)
211. _Phalacrocorax javanicus_: The Little Cormorant. (F. 1528), (J.
1007), (IV.)
All three have similar habits, the last being the only common member of
the genus. No. 210 has no white throat. Nos. 209 and 211 have a white
throat, but can be readily distinguished by the fact that No. 209 is one
foot longer than No. 211.
_The Ibises_, 212-214
Ibises are birds about the size of a common fowl, but having a long
curved bill like that of the curlew. As Finn has pointed out, “Ibises fly
like storks with the neck outstretched, but with a quicker stroke of the
wings and frequent intervals of sailing with the pinions held level, so
that they are easily distinguished from other waders when on the wing.”
They usually occur in small flocks.
212. _Ibis melanocephala_: The White Ibis. (F. 1541), (J. 941), (+V.)
The bald head and neck are black, as are the long bill and legs. The rest
of the plumage is white.
213. _Inocotis papillosus_: The Black Ibis. (F. 1542), (J. 942), (+V.)
The Black Curlew, or King Curlew, or King Ibis of Anglo-Indians.
In this species the head only, and not the neck as in No. 212, is devoid
of feathers. The skin is black, but the back of the head is covered with
little red warts. The plumage is glossy black, save for a small white
patch on the wing. The bill, which is nearly six inches long, is dull
dark green. Legs bright red.
214. _Plegadis falcinellus_: The Glossy Ibis. (F. 1544), (J. 943), (+V.)
In this species only the front of the face is devoid of feathers. A
chestnut bird with head, wings, and tail dark brown with a green gloss.
215. _Platalea leucorodia_: The Spoonbill. (F. 1545), (J. 939), (+V.)
A large white bird with a crest in the breeding season. The long bill,
which is flat and expanded at the end like a spoon, is black, as are the
long legs. It is impossible to mistake spoonbills. There are no other
birds like them. They are found in small flocks on sandbanks, etc., at
the water’s edge.
_The Storks_, 216-221
Every one is familiar with the appearance of the common stork. The
leading features of the stork family are their large size, their long
legs, neck, and bill, and their perching habits. In this last respect
they differ from cranes, which never perch in trees. During flight their
long necks are stretched out forwards, and their long legs stretched out
backwards. They fly by a slow, steady flapping of the wings, but often
sail on outstretched wings like vultures. Their nests are in India, huge
platforms of sticks built in trees.
216. _Ciconia alba_: The White Stork. (F. 1546), (J. 919), (+V; 3½ feet
long.)
A white bird with some black in the wings. Bill and legs bright red.
A winter visitor, common in North India.
217. _Dissura episcopus_: The White-necked Stork, or the Beefsteak Bird.
(F. 1548), (J. 920), (+V; 3 feet long.)
A black bird, except for the neck and lower abdomen and feathers under
the tail, which are white. Bill black; legs dull red.
Not found in Punjab or Sind.
218. _Xenorhynchus asiaticus_: The Black-necked Stork. Sportsmen call
this bird the Australian Stork. (F. 1549), (J. 917), (+V; 4½ feet long.)
Beak, head, neck, and shoulders black; wings black and white. Rest of
plumage white; legs bright red.
219. _Leptopilus dubius_: The Adjutant. (F. 1550), (J. 915), (+V; 5 feet
long.)
This huge bird is characterised by an enormous beak, over a foot in
length, and a head devoid of feathers. From its neck hangs a pouch. There
is a ruff of white feathers round the neck. The lower parts are white.
The wings are partly dark slaty grey and partly French grey. The bill is
dirty pink, and the legs dirty greyish white.
Not found in S. India. (Illus. B. P., pp. 28 and 34; also I. F., p. 232.)
220. _Pseudotantalus leucocephalus_: The Painted Stork. The Pelican Ibis
of old writers. (F. 1552), (J. 938), (+V; 3½ feet long.)
This is a stork which is trying to turn into an ibis; its bill, which is
ten inches long, having a marked downward curve. It is a white bird with
a black band across the breast. The wings are mainly black, but some of
the feathers are pink with white borders.
The front of the head is devoid of feathers and is orange-yellow, as is
the bill. The legs are brown.
Not found in the Punjab; very common in the Deccan. (Its head is figured
in Vol. IV., p. 376 of F.)
221. _Anastomus oscitans_: The Open-Bill. The Shell Ibis of the older
writers. (F. 1553), (J. 940), (+V; nearly 3 feet long.)
This bird is distinguished from all others by the fact that the mandibles
do not meet in the middle; indeed the beak looks as though it had become
distorted owing to the attempts of the bird to crack a very hard nut!
(The head is figured on p. 378, F. IV.) It is a greyish white bird with
black shoulders, wings, and tail. The bill is light horn colour, and the
legs dirty pink.
To my mind this bird looks like a white stork that sadly needs a wash and
brush up and its beak put straight!
Found only in N. India. Abundant in Oudh and Bengal.
_The Herons_, 222-225
Herons are wading birds with long, sharp, stiletto-like bills and
telescopic necks. It is their habit to stand motionless in shallow water
with the head almost buried on the shoulders. When a victim shows itself,
out shoots the neck of the fisher, and woe betide his victim! On the wing
herons are easily identified by their large size, the steady flapping of
their wings, and the fact that they fly with the neck drawn in and the
legs projecting behind beyond the tail. A great many species of heron
occur in India, but only four are commonly seen by the average observer.
222. _Ardea cinerea_: The Common Heron. This is the familiar heron of
England. (F. 1555), (J. 923), (+V; a little over a yard long.)
An ashy-grey bird with some white on the head. From the back of the head
some black plumes hang. Lower parts white. Bill dark yellow. Legs dirty
green.
Usually a solitary bird.
223. _Bubulcus coromandus_: The Cattle Egret. (F. 1562), (J. 929), (+IV.)
A pure white bird with a yellow bill and black legs. In the breeding
season some yellow plumes grow from the back of the head.
This is a sociable species. These birds frequently accompany cattle,
which serve as efficient beaters. The quadrupeds put up grasshoppers,
etc., which the egrets seize. The birds sometimes perch on the backs of
cattle.
There are three larger species of egret which are also white; these
belong to the genus _Herodias_, but these are scarcely common birds. A
large white egret with the bill black is one of these species. (Illus. B.
D., p. 240.)
224. _Ardeola grayi_: The Pond Heron. This is the ubiquitous Paddy Bird.
(F. 1565), (J. 930), (+IV.)
This bird, which may be seen squatting at the margin of every tank and
every village pond, looks greenish brown—much the colour of its muddy
surroundings. But startle it and it opens out milk-white wings on which
it flies away with steady flappings. It is impossible to mistake a paddy
bird. It sits all brown and flies all white. Close inspection shows that
every feather has the shaft of a colour different from the web. (Illus.
B. D., p. 236; also B. P., p. 114; also B. P., p. 178.)
225. _Nycticorax griseus_: The Night Heron. (F. 1568), (J. 937), (V.)
A large dusky-coloured bird which is seen flapping its way along about
sunset with loud raucous cries that sound like “_wāk_” is the night
heron.
The head, nape, back, and shoulders are black. Forehead, cheek, breast,
and lower parts white. Remainder of plumage ashy grey. Eyes bright red.
Some of the feathers of the back of the neck are white and are lengthened
to form plumes. (Illus. B. D., pp. 232 and 238.)
225a. _Butorides javanica_: The Little Green Heron. (F. 1567), (J. 931),
(+IV.)
A small skulking heron of greenish plumage, with long black crest and a
black line from the base of the bill running backwards below the eye.
226. _Phœnicopterus roseus_: The Common Flamingo. (F. 1575), (J. 944),
(+V; nearly 4½ feet long.)
These beautiful birds occur in flocks in shallow lakes. They are white
with a pink tinge. The wings are white, black, and cerise. The long legs
are deep pink. The curious beak is bent in the middle to form an obtuse
angle. (The beak is figured on p. 408 of Vol. IV. of O. and B. B.)
_The Geese_, 227 _and_ 228
As geese are game birds they do not come strictly within the scope of
this book. However, as these birds are much _en evidence_ in Upper India
in the cold weather, I will briefly describe the two common species.
In the U. P. during the winter months no sight is more common than that
of a V-shaped flock of geese cleaving its way through the air on
quivering wings. The birds, as they fly, utter a curious cackle easy to
recognise, but difficult to describe. This call is often heard at night.
When riding in the early morning one often surprises a flock of geese
feeding in some field. They pass the day on a sandbank in some large
river, most of the flock asleep on one leg with heads tucked under the
wing, but one or two birds are invariably posted as sentinels.
227. _Anser ferus_: The Grey-lag Goose. (F. 1579), (J. 945), (V.)
Upper parts brown, the shoulders having a number of narrow pale cross
bars. Lower parts pale grey. Bill, legs, and feet are a dirty pink
colour.
Not found in S. India. (Illus. I. G. III., p. 55.)
228. _Anser indicus_: The Barred-headed Goose. (F. 1583), (J. 949), (-V.)
This species is distinguished from the other by its yellow bill and feet,
and the fact that its head is white with two conspicuous broad black
cross bars, from which the bird derives its name. Its general colour is
more grey than that of the last species.
Rare in S. India. (Illus. I. D., p. 84; also I. G. III., p. 81.)
_The Ducks_, 229 _and_ 230
These being game birds do not come within the scope of this work. Two
species, however, which are commonly seen are not usually shot by
sportsmen on account of their indifferent flavour. These I describe.
229. _Casarca rutila_: The Ruddy Sheldrake, or Brahminy Duck. (F. 1588),
(J. 954), (-V.)
This is a curious pale ruddy-brown bird, whitish on the head. Tail and
wings black. Bill, legs, and feet blackish.
This handsome duck is a winter visitor to India. It is very abundant in
N. India, less abundant in S. India, not being found at all on the
Malabar coast. It invariably goes about in pairs, which dwell in rivers
rather than in tanks. They are wary birds and a great nuisance to
sportsmen, since they warn other water-fowl of danger. “It is difficult,”
writes Blanford, “so long as one is on an Indian river to get out of
sight of these birds or out of hearing of their peculiar clanging
bi-syllabic call or alarm cry, which is uttered frequently on the
smallest excuse.” The cry is like a soft “_chakwa_,” hence the Hindustani
name of the bird. (Illus. I. D., p. 114; also I. G. III., p. 123.)
230. _Spatula clypeata_: The Shoveller. (F. 1602), (J. 957), (-V.)
This handsome duck, although it occurs in _jhils_, is pre-eminently a
village duck. If there be any considerable piece of stagnant water near a
village in N. India, there are likely to be some shoveller ducks on
this—in winter, for they are only winter visitors to India. This species
is distinguishable from other ducks by its great flat bill being much
broader at the tip than at the base. It has a peculiar habit of swimming
in circles with its bill resting on the surface of the water.
_Cock, after February_: Head and upper neck glossy green. Lower neck and
breast white. Abdomen chestnut. Rest of body brown with a green patch or
speculum in the wing.
_Cock before February, and Hen_: Reddish brown with a lighter-coloured
border to many of the feathers. (Illus. I. D., p. 196; also I. G. III.,
p. 141.)
231. _Podicipes albipennis_: The Indian Little Grebe, or Dabchick. (F.
1617), (J. 975), (+II.)
This is one of the most aquatic birds in existence. It rarely walks on
_terra firma_, and never takes to flight from the water. When alarmed it
seeks safety by diving. Writing of this bird, Eha says, “I do not know
how to describe it better than to say that you might take it for a small
chicken without a tail. Its colour is dark glossy brown on the upper
parts, with some rich chestnut on the sides of the neck. Young birds are
lighter.” (Illus. B. B., p. 184.)
THE END
INDEX TO DESCRIPTIVE LIST
A
Adjutant, 220
B
Babblers, 95
Barbets, 157
Bee-eaters, 160
Bulbuls, 99
Bunting, 139
Bustards, 199
Buzzards, 180
C
Cranes, 197
Crows, 93
Cormorants, 216
Cuckoos, 169
Cuckoo-shrikes, 115
Curlews, 205
Chats, 126
D
Doves, 189
Drongos, 105
Ducks, 226
E
Eagles, 180
Egret, 222
F
Falcons, 186
Finches, 136
Flycatchers, 122
G
Geese, 224
Godwit, 206
Gulls, 209
H
Harriers, 184
Hawks, 186
Hornbills, 164
Hoopoe, 166
Herons, 221
I
Ibises, 217
Iora, 99
J
Jaçanas, 200
K
Kingfishers, 161
Kites, 184
L
Lapwings, 201
Larks, 148
M
Martins, 142
Merlin, 187
Minivets, 113
Munias, 133
Mynas, 119
N
Nightjars, 168
Nuthatches, 104
O
Orioles, 116
Owls, 174
Osprey, 176
P
Parrots, 172
Partridges, 193
Pipits, 147
Pitta, 154
Pelicans, 215
Plovers, 203
Pigeons, 188
Q
Quails, 192
R
Rails, 195
Redstart, 128
Robins, 126
Roller, 159
S
Sandpipers, 206
Sand Grouse, 191
Shrikes, 111
Sparrows, 138
Spoonbill, 218
Starling, 118
Stint, 208
Stork, 218
Sunbirds, 151
Swallows, 141
Swifts, 167
T
Terns, 211
V
Vultures, 177
W
Wagtails, 144
Warblers, 107
Weaver-birds, 131
Woodpeckers, 155
_BY THE SAME AUTHOR_
BOMBAY DUCKS: An Account of some of the Everyday Birds and Beasts found
in a Naturalist’s El Dorado. With numerous Illustrations
reproduced from Photographs by Captain Fayrer, I.M.S. Demy 8vo.
BIRDS OF THE PLAINS. With numerous Illustrations. Demy 8vo.
_IN COLLABORATION WITH FRANK FINN_
THE MAKING OF SPECIES. With 15 Illustrations. Demy 8vo.
Transcriber’s Notes
--Retained publisher information from the printed copy (the electronic
edition is in the public domain in the country of publication).
--Corrected some palpable typos.
--Moved promotional material to the end of the book.
--In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by
_underscores_.