Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057345).pdf/162

 154 KHE proximity to the great breeding grounds accoss the Himalayas, a large portion of the migratory army of birds prolong their stay here on their arrival and departure from and to their breeding grounds. I have noticed many of the waders putting on their summer plumage and pairing before leaving the province, showing that they were not far from their homes. The province therefore offers equal attractions both to the ornithologist and the sportsman, and I trust those attractions may never lessen, which in some species they assuredly will, if game laws are not introduced for their protection ; quail, partridges, florican, jungle fowl, spotted-bill duck, and others being snared and shot by both natives and Europeans with a total disregard of season. I will exonerate the former on the plea of ignorance, and because the purchase of quail, &c. (which often lay their eggs in the baskets they are brought in) by Europeans, who should know better, is an encouragement to a practice that should be discountenanced. It will go on till no game remains in the province, and then, when too late, the legislature may step in. Any old sportsman will bear me out in this. The partridges, florican, and quail that used to be in certain district ten years ago, where now you won't find one, where are they? I believe that the great bustard is nearly extinct now, but very few remain. The migratory birds of course are safe, as their breeding grounds are away in places beyond the reach of biped foes, so there is no proba- bility of their number lessening; but I trust for all this that something be done throughout India for the protection of the game birds, I will now commence with the raptores or birds of prey : ORDER RAPTORES. Otogyps calvus Black vulture. Gyps bengalensis White-backed vulture. Neophron ginginianus White scavenger vulture. Falco peregrinus Peregrine falcon. » peregrinator Shahin falcon. » jugger Laggar falcon. babylonicus Recl-headed lanner. Rypotriorchis subbuteo Hobby. chicquera Turumti. Tinnunculus alaudarius Kestril, Erythropus vespertinus Red-leggedkestril. Micronisus badius Shikra Accipiter risus Basha. virgatus Besta. Aquila imperialis Imperial eagle. Spotted eagle. vindhiana Wokhab or tawny eagle. hastata Long-legged eagle. pennata Dwarf eagle. Nisactus Bonelli Crestless hawk eagle. Circaetus gallicus Serpent eagle. Spilornis cheela Crested serpent eagle. Pandion haliatus Osprey. Pokiocetus ichthyætus White-tailed eagle, Halictus leucorrhyphus Ring-tailed eagle. Buteo canescens Long-legged buzzard. Pokornus teesa White-eyed buzzard or teesa. Circus Swainsoni Pale harrier, cineracens Montague's harrier. 」 44 novia > 39 99 1. B. 4 .. >