The necessity of following their favourite quarry may account for the migratory habits of some birds of prey, but it does not apply to all.  Thus, the osprey, which feeds almost exclusively on fish, is merely a winter visitor to India.  Again, there is the kestrel.  This preys on non-migratory rats and mice, nevertheless it leaves the plains in the hot weather and goes to the Himalayas to breed.  All the species of birds of prey cited above as migratory begin to arrive in the plains of India in September.  The merlins come only into the Punjab, but most of the other raptores spread over the whole of India.

The various species of harrier make their appearance in September.  These are birds that cannot fail to attract attention.  They usually fly slowly a few feet above the surface of the earth so that they can drop suddenly on their quarry.  They squat on the ground when resting, but their wings are long and their bodies light, so that they do not need much rest.  Those who shoot duck have occasion often to say hard things of the marsh-harrier and the peregrine falcon, because these birds are apt to come as unbidden guests to the shoot and carry off wounded duck and teal before the shikari has time to retrieve them.

Of the migratory birds of prey the kestrel is perhaps the first to arrive; the osprey and the peregrine falcon are among the last.

Very few observations of the comings and the goings of the various raptorial birds have been recorded; in the present state of our knowledge it is not possible to compile an accurate table showing the usual order in which the various species appear.  This is a subject to which those persons who dwell permanently in one place might with advantage direct their attention.

As regards nesting operations September is not a month of activity.

On the 15th the close season for game birds ends in the Government forests; and by that date the great majority of them have reared up their broods.  Grey partridge’s eggs, it is true, have been taken in September; but as we have seen, grey partridges, like doves and kites, can scarcely be said to have a breeding season; they lay eggs whenever it seemeth good to them.

A few belated peafowl may still be found with eggs, but these are exceptions.  Most of the hens are strutting about proudly, accompanied by their chicks, while the cocks are shedding their trains.  Other species of which the eggs may be found in the present month are the white-throated munia, the common and the large grey babblers, and, of course, the various species of dove.

Before the last day of August all the young mynas have emerged from the egg, and throughout the first half of September numbers of them are to be seen following their parents and clamouring for food.  Most of the koels have departed, but some individuals belonging to the rising generation remind us that they are still with us by emitting sounds which are very fair imitations of the “sqwaking” of young crows.