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OR

ROUGH NOTES

ON

INDIAN OOLOGY AND ORNITHOLOGY.

EDITED BY

ALLAN HUME.

CALCUTTA :
PRINTED BY C, B, LEWIS, BAPTIST MISSION

1869.

TO
EK. BLYTH, Esa.
AND
Dr. T. C. JERDON,

Who, between them, have done more for Indian Ornithology,

than all other modern observers put together,
Tuts OrnitHoLocicaL Scrap Boor,
All unworthy as it is of their notice or acceptance,
Is AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED
BY
Their friend and pupil,
THE EDITOR.

me a |
eerie 4p Sid th

“

~ fom ky ‘tte iy:
Wi reseed SAL ae

ean

NOTE TO READERS AND CONTRIBUTORS.

Please address all corrections of, or additions to, the matter
of this present part, and all contributions to, or notes for, the
forthcoming parts, to me at Acra. All information will be
thankfully received ; and will be embodied in the present or
next edition, according to the time at which it may be re-
ceived ; and please remember that this is eminently a case of
Bis DAT QUI CITO DAT.

ALLAN HUME,

PREFACE.

=—-G

Tusk rough notes are merely intended as a sort of nucleus,
round which future observations, (which it is hoped that they
may somewhat tend to systematize) may, as it were, crystal-
lize. In them, I have thrown together all the information in
regard to Indian Oology and Ornithology, supplementary to
my friend Dr. Jerdon’s excellent work, that I have happened to
collect.

Much of this information is original, the result of recent
observations of my own, or of the different gentlemen who have
kindly communicated it, and whose names are duly recorded
in loco, but much has also been extracted from the pages of the
Ibis, Yarrell, Bree, Gould, &c., works with which every orni-
thologist ought to be acquainted, but which no working Indian
field naturalist, (for whose use these notes are chiefly designed),
can possibly carry about with him.

My object in now printing these avowedly miserably imper-
fect and disjointed scraps is, primarily, to enable my numer-
ous coadjutors, in different parts of India, to ascertain what
I have already on record, and what portion of the information
they may happen to possess, will help to fill in many of the
woeful blanks remaining in that record.

Hereafter* I propose, (D. V.,) torepublish thege notes in a
revised form, in which I shall embody all the additional in-

* T have not, in the present notes, offered any general remarks on oology,
nor attempted, as I shall hereafter do, to show how peculiarities, both in the
eggs themselves and in nest architecture, are reproduced, not only in repre-
sentative species, but even in representative genera, in distant portions of
the globe. I reserve these subjects for a future edition, when, with ampler

ene before me, I may hope to generalize both more usefully and more
salely, ,

formation that their circulation may elicit, and I earnestly
entreat all who can to aid me* in gathering together materials,
for areally satisfactory account of the nidificationt and eggs

of our Indian Birds.

* To enable me to select good characteristic type specimens for figuring, it
is absolutely necessary to have before one a large series of the eggs of each
species.—Moreover safe and useful generalizations can seldom be made, or
in many cases useful descriptions written from only a few specimens.—I
therefore trust that all those who have it in their power, will favour me not
only with particulars as to the nidification, but also with as many specimens as
they conveniently can of the eggs of all those species, of which the text
shows that these are still desiderata. Those disposed to assist, should address
me direct at Agra.

+ So few, even of professed ornithologists, in India, at all realize the im-
portance of oology as an element in classification, that I venture to reproduce
some pregnant remarks on this subject, which appeared in the Ibis of 1867,
from Mr. 'Tristram’s pen.

“There are two very distinct tides of sylviad immigration in Palestine,
In October and November, thousands of the hardier species pour down
into the lowlands and wadys, where they remain till February or March. Then,
for a month, the land is left almost deserted till in April and May the spring
arrivals commence, and every thicket is tenanted by species either strange
to our shores, or known only by the occasional capture of a straggler. Such
are S. Orphea, Aedon Galactodes, Hypolais Elaica and H. Upcheri.. We
were especially fortunate in our opportunities of watching the nidification
of the less known species, and I believe there is no class of birds in which
the style of architecture, with the coloration and form of the egg, casts more
light on the true grouping of species and the arrangement of genera. Pos-
sessed of a good series of the eggs of the Luscinide, we might classify the
species accordingly, and find that we had scarcely in one instance diverged
from the recognized order of our best systematists. Thus the unique egg of
Cettia Sericea separates it at once from all our other Palearctic warblers,
and points out its affinities to the long-tailed Prinia group of the Indian
region. Then the the eggs of Savi’s, and the grasshopper warbler, group
them apart and link them to the very similar eggs of the Australian Megalurus
and Calamanthus, Cisticola and Drymeca, varying, as they do still vary,
within the same limits as the oriental Prinia and Orthotomus, to which we
must admit their affinities. The egg of Aedon stands out alone, steadily de-
manding a distinct and isolated position, which all who are familiar with its
manners and note will readily grant, but approaching in habit, as in its
eges, the Indian Thainnobie.

The great group of Calamoherpe, from whatever part of the world they
come, have but one unmistakeable character of egg, sharply defined from all
the other groups. The beautiful and fragile eggs of every member of the
genus Hypolais, though each distinct in markings and in ground-colour,
from the richest salmon hue to pale ashy white, but all of a peculiar rough
texture, are a group almost as isolated and peculiar as Pycnonotus, with
no affinities approaching Phyl/opneuste. These again, though infinitely
varying within themselves, disclaim alliance with any of the other sylviads.
We then have the genus Sylvia as restricted by Bonaparte, of which our
white throat is the type, with its greenish ground colour and the spotting

1x

If I be blamed for the innumerable errors and defects cer-
tain to occur in these notes, I can only plead—

1st. That they were jotted down in those rare leisure mo-
ments, that the control of a vast public department (whose
operations extend over nearly 2,00,000 square miles, and whose
employés number nearly 14,000 officers and men), leaves me for
recreation, and :

2nd. That they contain, I believe, some little new and useful
matter which I am unwilling should be lost, and that life
being so uncertain, as it is in India, and I, having absolutely
no time to work up the materials I have collected, and separate
the wheat from the chaff, just print the whole as it is, so that,
even if J do not live to do so, others at least may hereafter
utilize whatever little good there is in it.

different in each species, while Melizophilus and Pyrrhophthalmus ave
evidently aberrant members of the same family. Next we may take the
Curruca, as restricted by Bonaparte, with the eggs always of a whitish or
brownish white ground, and the markings set each in a nimbus of fainter
colour, as in our black cap and garden warblers; while Misoria Undata, a
good genus, comes next them by its ground colour, but wants the spots.

The Redbreast, pugnacious as he always is, stands aloof from any entang-
ling alliances, and asserts an independent position as Mrythacus, which
introduces us to Mr. Gray’s sub-family of Luscinine comprising all the
remaining sylviads. Here we find a character, pervading almost the
whole sub-family, in the coloration of the eggs, which is never found‘in the
first sub-family Sylvine, viz. the blue or bluish white ground colour ; Cop-
sychus, Myiomela, Saxicola, Ruticilla, Thamnobia, and all their sub-
divisions, have this common feature. The most aberrant. are the genera
Luscinia and Cyanecula with their uniform olive green coloration, but, as
we well know, the nightingale’s egg is not unfrequently blue, and the iden-
tity of the colour in the eggs of the blue throats attests their affinity to the
nightingale. All the innumerable species of Saaicoline lay blue eges,
either plain or spotted, and frequently, as in the Turdine, we find two
closely affined species laying one a plain the other a spotted egg ; while,
occasionally, the eggs of comparatively distant members of the family are
identical, as in the case of Saaicola Cinanthe and S. [sabellina. Of the five
species of the sub-genus Dromolea, of which I have taken the eggs, four
are of the faintest bluish white with ruddy spots, and the fifth a rich blue
ground with similar spots. From these we are led on to Ruticilla, the
eggs of which are never spotted, though the ground colour varies from
pure white in the single instance of A. Tithys, to the most delicate white
with the faintest tinge in R. Moussieri, up to the very dark blue of R.
Semirufa, a bird most closely allied to &. Tithys. Finally, we have the
spotless blue of Scalia and Accentor, with which last I find much difficulty
in grouping Mr, Grays Acanthiza, or the Siwrus of the new world.”

x

Gentle reader, if these notes chance to be of the slightest
use to you, use them; if not, burn them, if it so please you, but
do not waste your time in abusing me or them, since no one
can think more poorly of them than I do myself.

ALLAN HUME.

ROUGH NOTES

dndian Oology and Ornithology.

No.* 1. Vulture Monachus, Liv.
+TuE CinEREOUS VULTURE.

I have been unable to obtain certain information as to the
breeding of this noble bird within our limits, but it most cer-
tainly does breed in the Himalayas, as I have seen a perfect
ego, which was extracted from the oviduct of a female, shot in
March, 1865, between Dalhousie and Murree. Nests are likely
to be found anywhere in precipitous places, in the Himalayas,
or perhaps in large trees, in the Sub-Himalayan ranges, west
of the Ganges. Hastwards of this, the species seems to have far
fewer representatives ; though Dr. Jerdon has seen it at Darjee-
ling, and specimens have been obtaimed in Assam and Bhotan.

The followmg particulars of its nidification, in the Pyrenees,
are derived from Dr. Bree’s work. The breeding season is not
mentioned. The bird breeds in isolated pairs, and not in society
as Pulvus (verus), Auricularis, Indicus and Bengalensis all ap-
pear to do. It builds, Dr. Bree says, among the most inacces-
sible rocks, making a large nest of branches, boughs and small
sticks.

* The numbers are those of Dr. Jerdon’s work. Although I differ widely from
him on many points of classification, I yet think it will, for obvious reasons,
be most convenient in these present notes to adopt his arrangement. Where
the scientific name, adopted by Dr. Jerdon, has been shown, by Mr. Blyth and
others, liable to supersession by some other name, on the score of the priority
of this latter, or for any other good cause ; Ihave, while retaining the NUMBER,
made the necessary alteration in the name.

+ Where, as not unfrequently happens, Dr. Jerdon departs from the pre-es-
tablished English names, calling, for instance, the ‘‘ Cinereous Vulture,” the
great brown Vulture, “the Griffon,” the Large Tawny Vulture, and the like,
T have reverted to the original English names. Where I have neglected
any corrections of the nature referred to in the present, or preceding note, I hope
my error may be pointed out to me, for rectification in forthcoming editions.

2

Tt lays, it is said, two eggs in the Pyrenees, but with us, would
probably, like other species of this family, lay normally, only
one ; just as, in another family, Cirewetus Gallicus, which in some
parts of the world always lays two, here (I speak from the
experience of over 20 nests, in several of which the egg was
nearly ready to hatch off), apparently, never lays more than one
egg. In colour, the eggs vary from a more or less pure white,
with scarcely a trace of markings, and this I take to be the normal
type, to a reddish or fulvous white, richly spotted and marked
with reddish brown, or brownish red. In shape, they are said
to be “pointed alike at both ends,” but the egg I saw, (and
Dr. Bree’s figure corresponds in shape) was a very blunt,
slightly pyriform oval, one end being decidedly smaller than
the other. In texture, they are coarse and rough; more so I
think in the specimen I saw, than those of either Bengalensis or
Calvus. The lining I omitted to notice, or, if 1 did notice it,
have now forgotten its colour; but it is probably greenish as in
other vultures. The egg figured by Dr. Bree, from 'Thienemann,
measures 3.48 by 2.75, but I should guess this to be a small
ege, as Bengalensis and Calvus, both smaller birds, often lay
larger eggs than this.

Dr. Jerdon had probably never seen much of this bird, when
he wrote his account of it. In no single specimen, of the num-
bers that I have killed (or watched with binoculars, from within
100 yards greedily devouring some carcass) were the “ bill with
the cere red mixed with ashy,” nor “the naked parts of the
neck ashy red,” nor the “legs dusky yellow.” Such may be
the colouring of individuals in confinement, but it has not been
that of any one of the fifty odd wild birds that I have closely
examined. My measurements, made in the flesh, moreover scarce-
- lyagree with his, and so for purposes of comparison I insert my
own notes taken from numerous freshly killed specimens.

Length,* 42 to 45. Expanse from 96 to 118. Wing, from 29°5
to 32; the 3rd primary the longest, the Ist from 3 to 4 shorter, and
the 2nd from °5 to 1 shorter. Tail, from vent, from 13 to 16 ; the
outer tail feathers from 1:5 to 3 shorter than the central ones.
Tarsus, 4.8 to5°5. Tibia, 8 to 8°75. Foot, greatest length, 8 to 9 ;
greatest width, 5°75 to 6°6 ; mid toe (to root of claw), 3°7 to 4:25 ;
its claw, along the curve, 1:4 to 1°75; hind toe, 1°5 to 1°9, its claw
along the curve 1:75 to nearly 2; inner toe 1°6 to 2, its claw
along the curve 1-7 to 2. Bill from gape 3°6 to 4-0 ; width at gape
2:2 to 2°5; bill straight from edge of cere to point 2°3 to 2°7; along
curve from margin of cere, 3 to 3°25; length of cere on culmen,

* All dimensions are in English inches and decimals of ditto.

3

1-16 to 128 ; height of bill at margin of cere, 1:2 to 1:3. Wings
when closed, reach to within from 1 to 4 inches of end of tail.
Lower tail coverts generally reach to within 4 or 5 inches of
end of tail, Weight from 12 Ibs to nearly 20 tbs; 14 Ibs being
the average for males, and the females being considerably heavier.
The tarsus is covered in front, and on the sides, for more than
half its length, with a dense, almost silky fur, which in one place
almost meets behind. ‘he bare portion of the tarsus and the
feet* are, in some, a clear, slightly creamy white, on others,
a pearl white, with here and there a barely perceptible pink
tinge. Scutellation reticulate, scales slightly prominent; with
commonly 5 rather large transverse scutee at the end of the
middle toe, and 4 at the ends of the others; outer and centre
toes connected by a membrane as far as the 2nd joints. Traces
of a membraneous connection between inner and mid toe. Termi-
nal pads of hinder and inner toes very large. Inner toe claw
as large and at times even slightly larger than the hind toe
claw, outer toe and claw, especially the latter, very feeble.
Irides brown, lower eyelid creamy white, (often with a faint
delicate lilac or even purplish shade) pinkish at margin, and
with a row of thick short eyelash feathers ; upper lid, and bare
eye-shelf pinkish, at times with a lilac shade. Cere, gape and base
-of lower mandible a pale mauve, at times tinged in places with
pink. Bill horny, blackish brown, darker on upper mandible and
tip of lower ditto, palest at sides of base of upper mandible, and
of lower ditto. Tongue thick and fleshy, round ended, slightly
emarginate at the tip, hastate as a whole, and fringed at the
back, not merely grooved down the centre, but the sides curving
regularly up from the middle, so as to give a semicircular sec-—
tion. The lores, cheeks, forehead, crown, occiput, chin and
throat, and a patch on the lower mandible, covered with dark
brown fur-like feathers, growing lighter towards the occiput.
This fur is sparse and rather harsh on the cheeks, chin and
throat, but very dense and soft on the upper portions of the
head. The naked skin at the back and sides of neck, and the
bare patch over the articulation of the jaws, (generally continued
as a ring upwards, behind and over the dark fur border of the
ear aperture, to within one half an inch or so of the posterior
angle of the eye,) creamy, or in some, delicate bluish white,
occasionally with a shade of pink.
The wholebody and wings are a rich, very dark, chocolate brown,
(the under surface being darker than the upper,) the quills and tail

* What does Dr. Bree mean by saying “ Feet covered with feathers above ?”
The whole of the feet and the lower portion of the tarsus, are as perfectly nude
as feet and legs can be.

A

being almost black. The feathers of the lower part of the back
and sides of the neck, are of a loose texture, elongated and of a
slightly lighter hue than the back, and form a conspicuous ruff.
Feathers of the upper breast lengthened, acutely pointed, some-
what rigid, and often with the webs a good deal separated. The
tail feathers are remarkal ly stiff, with the tips much abraded, and

naked, tipped with extremely stiff hard projecting shafts, re-
minding one much of the tail feathers of many woodpecke ars.
T do not know if the fact has been noticed, but I have repeatedly
seen this vulture use its tail for a fulcrum, much as a wood-
pecker does, tearing out the entrails of a dead camel with claws
firmly dug into, and tail hard pressed against the carcass, nay

T have seen it, when on the ground, tearing to pieces lumps of
flesh which it held down between its two feet, always as it
lifted its head, tearing away morsel by morsel, firmly pressing
its tail against the ground.

To return, the lower tail coverts are of a shghtly lighter hue
than any other part except the occiput. The first 5 quills are
strongly notched on the inner web and the 2nd to the 6th are
emarginate on the outer webs; both notches and emarginations
are very high up and near the bases of the feathers.

Dr. Jerdon says that this bird “is found, though rarely, in
the Himalayas, occasionally descending to the plains ;’’ but
this scarcely conveys a correct idea. Throughout the upper
Doab, the Punjab and Northern Rajpootana, it is found during
the cold weather ; even as low as Ktawah, I used to see at least
a dozen and shoot at least 2 or 3 (and i in Ktawah it is very
wary) every year. turther north, in the Sirsa district for in-
stance, it is one of the commonest vultures during the cold
weather, and L have seen 20 of this species with a few of the
large plains representative of Mrlvus (our Fulvescens No. 3 bis),
all Ale over @ single camel. In localities where they are plenti-
ful, they are by no means difficult to approach ; at any rate when
feeding, I have twice killed two at a shot with a single barrel of
an ordinary No. 12 fowling-piece with No. 3 loose shot, and
Mr. Parsons of Sirsa, in shooting for me, (1 happened to be on
horseback at the raoment and he on foot,) an imperial eagle
busy with a dead calf, knocked over one of these vultures with
the same shot that feed the eagle. I have never found any
difficulty in getting up to within 50 or 60 yards of them in the
upper Punjaub, when feeding on the ground; and from a dis-
tance of from 80 to 100 yards, they will let you stare at them
through binoculars as long as you like. Near Murree in October,
T saw a large group of them devouring some dead animal in a
khud (valley) below the road. I saw several at Rawulpindee

5

and at Lahore, and generally, I should say, that this species is
very nearly as common in the cold weather in the northern por-
tion of the Punjab as even Gyps Bengalensis.

The youngest birds, that I have seen, had the legs dingy
yellow, and were of a dull pale brown, the wing coverts and
scapulars centred darker, and with a sort of faint pinkish or
ruddy tint on the upper surface, very conspicuous, when rising
close in front of one along with young and adults of our Fulves-
cens (No. 3 bis). I once shot one, but was unable to preserve it,
and so can now give no exact description.

Between this, comparatively, very light plumage and the deep
chocolate brown, that at a short distance looks perfectly black,
every shade of plumage is observable.

The claws of Vultur Monachus are, on the whole, sharper than
those of any other species of Indian Vulture and contrast in
this respect strongly with those of our hills, and plains, represen-
tatives of Gyps Fulvus, (No. 3 and No. 3 bis) ; as a rule too they
are not only much sharper but considerably more powerful.

The Rev. H. B. Tristram, in his ornithology of Palestine,
(Ibis 1865) gives an interesting account of a “successful attack”
on an Kyrie of this Vulture.

“On the 27th of February, Mr. Upcher, while walking with
me from the plain of Gennesaret to Tiberias, shot a Bonelli’s
eagle under the cliffs overhanging the sea of Galilee. I saw a
vulture dash from the small cave just behind him, at the report
of the piece, but it wheeled round a corner before we had more
than a glimpse of it._ We were unable, at the time, to climb up
and examine the cave ; but returned in the afternoon, reinforeed
by Messrs. Shepherd and Bartlett to lay siege to it. We easily
mounted to a ledge about twelve feet under the cave, but no
bird appeared ; while we were talking, a sudden rush, like the
beating of the branches of a tree was heard, and a huge dark
object dashed close over our heads, at a distance of not more
than six feet. In wheeling circles it continued to return, and
swept as near to us as prudence permitted, while Mr. Shepherd
climbed up to the cavern and im a few seconds returned with
one white egg, a little larger than the ordinary run of Griffon’s,
but of exactly the same texture. It was rather soiled and
proved to be hard set. The nest was scanty, consisting chiefly of
large tufts of grass with the roots laid on the floor of the cave.
I have seen eggs stated to belong to this vulture very much
spotted and coloured with rufous, but not more so than those of
the Griffon occasionally are, but the only other egg of the species
I ever obtained (in Africa) was white, like this, and perceptibly
thicker than the Griffon’s. This eyrie near Tiberias was by no

6

means difficult of access, and was about two miles distant from
the immense colony of Griffons in the wady Hamoun.”’

The nest, however, is not always on rocks, nor does the egg
appear to be always pure white or larger than that of the Griffon,
as may be seen from the following extracts from a paper of Lord
Lilford’s, which appeared in the Jbis for 1866.

“The result this evening was, a nest with five eggs of the
blue Magpie, and an egg of the cinereous vulture, which last, the
boys assured me, they had found on the ground at a spot much
frequented by this species, which breeds in the pine-forests close
at hand, and is by far the most common vulture in the Castiles.
This egg is shghtly smaller than those of Gyps Pulvus in my
collection, and is of a uniform clouded reddish-pink colour, very
much resembling some varieties of the egg of Aquila Chrysaetus.
I have no hesitation in ascribing this egg to Vultur Monachus,
as, although I was unfortunately too late to find the eggs in situ
myself, the fragments of egg-shells found in and below several
nests of this vulture, exactly corresponded with this specimen,
and I found that Gyps Fuleus, of which species a few pairs used
in former years to nest in a range of cliffs near the village, is
now comparatively scarce in the district.”

“The nest (of Vultur Monachus) was situated at the top of one
of the tallest pines, and visible from some distance with the male
bird seated close to it. He allowed us to approach almost to the
foot of the tree, and sailed off apparently unhurt by a volley of
our four barrels. Agapo was soon up to the nest, in which was
a young bird of about the size of a Dorking-cock. A more un-
sightly specimen of the great class Aves, I never before beheld,
he was covered with brownish grey down, with a bright pink
cere and very pale yellow legs and feet ; part of the trachea of
a sheep or goat, perfectly hard and dry, completely encircled one
leg ; and altogether his appearance presented a combination of
the absurd and repulsive, almost impossible to describe. The
nest was composed of large boughs externally, and was lined
with twigs and a few fragments of wool. In the foundation of
the nest, which was unusually deep for that of a raptor, a pair
of tree creepers, (Certhia Familiaris), had established their abode,
and were rearing a family of five or six young.”

Further interesting particulars of this bird’s nidification, are
given in Mr. C. Farman’s notes on the birds of prey of central
Bulgaria, which appeared in the Jdis for 1868. He says “ In
central Bulgaria, this is by no means a common species. I have
noticed these birds only during the spring and summer, they
certainly do not remain during the winter, and they are therefore
(in some degree at least) migratory; nidification with this

7

species commences early in March, somewhat earlier than with
the Griffon Vulture, in proof of which I may state that on the
80th of April, 1865, I found three young birds in three succes-
sive nests of the first, whereas on the same day, I took several
egos of the Griffon Vulture fresh enough to be easily blown,
while in no case did I find the eggs hatched. My experience of
the following year confirmed me in this opinion, as I invariably
found the young of Vultwr Monachus a full fortnight, and in
some cases more, in advance of G'yps Fulvus. Dr. Bree (B. Hur. I.
P. 8) says of the Cinereous Vulture that “it builds among the
most inaccessible rocks.”” This, however, I have not found to
be the case, I have invariably seen the nest placed on a tree, and
generally on one of no great size. In April, 1865, as just
mentioned, I observed several nests of this bird, in the thickly
wooded country, lying to the right of the Pravidy valley, within
about three miles of the town of that name; and they were all,
without exception, placed on trees at an average height of about
twenty feet from the ground. Unfortunately I have nearly
always been too late for the eggs of this bird, and have only been
able to secure a single example; I am inclined to think that it
does not usually lay more than one, as I never found but one
young bird in a nest. It is also probable that birds of this species
return to the same nest year after year, as I found the nests of
1865 tenanted when I visited them in 1866.”

That this bird does breed in the Dhoon seems probable from
the following remarks furnished by my friend Captain Hutton :—

“ Vultur Monachus. Lin. V. Cinereus, young. Monarchus in |

Hardwicke’s Illustrations is a misprint for Monachus—OFf this \

bird, Jerdon says, ‘“ It is found, though rarely, in the Himalaya,
occasionally descending to the plains; at Mussooree about
5,500 feet of elevation it cannot be called rare, although at the
same time, it is by no means abundant.—It is seen all the year
through, coursing about in company with G. Bengalensis, G.
Fulvus and Otogyps Calvus in search of carrion, all descending
upon the same carcass.—In the Dehra Dhoon, it is not so common
as in the lower hills, but one was seen in the Eastern Dhoon, near
Hurdwar, in January, sitting on the branch of a lofty tree beside
a large nest made of dry sticks and branches of goodly size ; the
nest was rather a deep bowl, rather deeper that is, than those of
G. Bengalensis ; the sides and especially the bottom were of great
thickness and the diameter fully 23 feet. At that time the
nest was not completed within. The branches with which the
nest was constructed were not merely laid one upon another
in simple platform fashion, but were strongly interwoven like
loose basket work.—In the end of February, the spot was again

8

visited, and the nest was found to be finished ; the lining being
of somewhat finer sticks, with bits of rag and a few feathers
apparently rubbed from the body of the bird which had evidently
been sitting in it; it was, however, still empty, and no bird was
seen.—In the early part of March, the nest was again visited,
but there were neither eggs nor birds; several nests were seen
in the neighbourhood but all alike were abandoned, as the jungle
grass had been fired beneath the trees, and even the branches
of many trees had been lopped off to feed the herds of cattle.
—Although therefore we felt tolerably certain that the nest
where the bird had been seen was that of V. Monachus, yet we
have no certain proof that such was in reality the case.

No. 2. Vultur Calvus, Scop.
Tuer Inpran Kine VuLtTuRE.

Breeds from the latter end of January to the middle of
April; but, so far as my experience goes, by far the majority lay
in March. In fact,as arule, this bird hardly begins to lay
until every G. Bengalensis has hatched off.

I once found a nest with a fresh egg in November, but this
was a most exceptional case. The nest | have invariably found
on trees. Itis said, Dr. Jerdon remarks, to breed on inacessible
cliffs; but at Ajmere, where on the Taragurh hill, there are
numerous suitable precipices, many of which are occupied by
Gyps Indicus, I found a pair, the only ones I met with, breed-
ing on a large Peepul tree at the foot of the hill. As far as my
experience goes, the nests are always on large trees, commonly
on the very top of Peepul (Lieus Religiosus) and Banian (Ficus
Indicus) trees, at least 380 or 40 feet from the ground. Mr. W.
Blewitt, however, informs me that he obtained an egg of this
bird on the 20th February, from a large nest, (constructed of
Acacia twigs and lined with leaves and straw) placed on the
top of a Keekur bush (4. Arabica), in the Dhoona Beer near
Hansie, at a height of about 13 or 14 feet only, from the
eround. I have never found two pairs breeding near each
other. The tree they commonly select is one standing altoge-
ther apart, in the middle of some Dhak (Butea Frondosa) jungle,
or waste place; but I have taken their eggs from trees, belong-
ing to groups situated in cultivated land, and on the 1st March,
1867, 1 found a nest, (from which I shot the female and took
the egg,) on a Peepul tree, situated right in the centre of the
village of Deopoora, zillah Mynpooree. The nest is a huge

3

flat platform, more often oval or oblong than circular, chiefly
composed of sticks, varying from one inch to half an inch in
diameter, loosely put together, but still from their aggregate
weight and the manner in which they interlace, forming a very
solid structure. They always have a lining towards the centre,
often of numerous strips, from 6 to 10 inches long and from 1 to 3
broad, of the fan leaves of the-Toddy palm, (Borassus Plabelli-
formis), but not uncommonly of Peepul, Banyan or Neem
(Melia Azedirukhta) leaves, or of slender twigs of these trees
to which the leaves are attached.

The nest varies from 24 to 4 feet in length and breadth and
is often more than a foot in thickness. ‘Though I have no
positive proof of it, native hunters assure me that, when not
molested, they breed year after year during long periods in the
same nest, and the materials of one nest that I demolished,
weighed over 8 Indian maunds (over 6 hundred weight) and proved
to have at least 3 distinct layers and to have been used many
times. As however J know that this bird sometimes, (like Ketupa
Ceylonensis, vide infra) takes possession of old nests of Haliwtus
Leucoryphus (of which bird there were several pairs in the
neighbourhood) I cannot be certain, that these vultures had
really, as the nest seemed to indicate and the villagers declared,
bred in this same nest during many successive seasons.

They lay a single egg; I have heard it asserted that they
sometimes lay two, but of the numbers of nests that I have per-
sonally examined, I never found one that contained more than
a single eg or a single young one, and in upper India, I feel
quite sure that one isthe normal number.

The eggs, when first laid, are usually a nearly unsullied pale
greenish white, but as incubation proceeds, they become greatly
stained and discolored by the droppings of the parent bird. I
have taken only one egg at all marked, and this showed numerous
every faint dingy purplish streaks and spots, but possibly higher
coloured examples may occur.

In shape, the eggs vary from rather long ovals to nearly
spheres; but the normal type I consider to be a round oyal.

The texture is moderately fine, the shell very strong and as
a rule glossless, but I have found eggs with a faint gloss.

The egg-lining is green.

The eggs vary in size from 3°5 to 32 in length, and from 2°8
to 2°45 in breadth: of 24 eggs measured, the average length and
breadth was 3°34 and 2°6.

Mr. W. Blewitt tells me that, besides the nest already
alluded to, he found no less than 7 nests of this Vulture, in the
neighbourhood of Hansee, between the 6th and 24th March ;

10

each contained a single egg. Four of the eges were quite
fresh, two partly incubated, and one ready to hatch off, those
taken on the 22nd and 24th March, being quite fresh. ‘Two
nests were not above fourteen feet from the ground, and no
nest, (this is not a part of the country where trees run high,)
was above 26 feet from the ground. ‘I'wo were on Keekur trees,
two (the two low ones) on old Heense shrubs (Capparis Aphylla)
and three on Peepul, Burgot and Seeshum trees. ‘he nests
varied from 19 to 25 inches in diameter, and from 5 to 8
inches in thickness, and were all dense masses of thorny twigs
of the Ber (Zisyphus Jujube) Khyr (Acacia Catechu) and Keekur
(Acacia Arabica). They were lined, some thickly, some thinly,
with leaves or straw, and in one. the egg was regularly
bedded in leaves and straw. This is not altogether in accord-
ance with my own experience; but in this, as in other cases,
Mr. Blewitt sent me all the eggs, and more than one of the
parent birds, and there can be no doubt as to the accuracy of
his observations. ‘The same gentleman took a fresh egg of
this species, as late as April 13th, 1868. The nest was placed
upon a Peepul tree, at the height of about 30 feet from the
ground, measured about 16 inches in diameter by 6” in depth,
and was composed of Keekur twigs, lined with fine straw and
a few leaves. ‘This was also in the Hansee district.

About Etawah, the native fowlers call this the “ Bhaour
Gidh.” I rather suspect that these birds pair in the ai.
Just before the breeding season, a pair may be seen to tower,
and then, one apparently getting on the back of the other, both
come with plunges and flappings of the wings nearly to the
ground, when separating they sail away slowly towards some
large tree where they both rest. Mr. R. Thompson and myself
have observed something very similar in the Lammergeyer.
Perhaps this is only ante-nuptial play and is not the real con-
summation of matrimony. As regards the colour of the neck,
legs and conspicuous bare thigh patch (which last Dr. Jerdon
does not notice) I have remarked that it becomes much brighter,
and more vivid, towards the breeding season, and is always at
this time brighter in the male than in the female.

The head of the young bird (which latter has the black of
the adult everywhere replaced by a more or less dark brown)
is pretty thickly covered with down, (that of the adult is bare)
and looks almost like a miniature V. Monachus. In its oval
narines too, Ca/vus approximates to the round ones of Monachus,
so different from the slit-like nostrils of our 4 species of Gyps.
Vultur Occipitalis of 8. Africa is a sort of representative of
Calvus, but in this species, to judge from the specimen in my

ty

valued friend Colonel Tytler’s museum, (to which I owe many
opportunities of comparing foreign and Indian types,) the
adult always retains the down on the head as in Monachus. The
narines in this bird: (Occipitalis) are more oval than in Oalvus,
but all 3 species are closely related to each other, and the genus
Otogyps scarcely appears to me worthy of retention.

Gyps Indicus (verus) and Gyps Bengalensis may doubtless
give place to this bird in feeding ; but it is our bird that has to
give way, when it comes into the company, as I have so often
seen it, of V. Monachus and G'. Fulvescens (nobis, No. 3 bis).

The following are exact dimensions taken from several speci-
mens. Length, 30 to 83. Expanse, 80 to 88. Weight, 8°5 Ibs.
to 11 lbs. Wing, 22°5 to 24; the third primary is the
longest, the first is from 2 to 3 inches shorter, and the second
from 2to 4. Tail of 14 feathers, from 9°8 to 11. Tarsus, 4:3
to 4:6. The greatest length of the foot is from 7 to 8 inches,
the greatest width, 5 to 55; the mid toe from 3-4 to 3°8;
its claw along curve from 1:3 to 1:5, hind toe, 1:2 to 1-45;
its claw along curve, 1:5 to 1°68; inner toe, 1:25 to 1:6;
its claw along curve, 1°6 to 1°75. Bill, straight from edge
of cere to point, 1:9 to 2; ditto along curve, 2°3 to 2°55;
from gape, 2°6 to 3; width at gape, 1°8 to 1:95; height at
margin of cere, | to 1:1, length of cere, 0-9 to 1:15. The closed
wings fall short of the end of the tail by 2 to 3:25. The
lower tail coverts by from 3 to 5:5.

My. Salvin, I think, tells us how a young Gyps Fiul/vus devoured
a half pound pot of arsenical soap, without seeming much the
worse for its indigestible meal, the following remarks by Captain
Hutton tend to show that Vultures generally are but little liable
to injury from poisonous food. He says, ‘“ There is a curious fact
which applies not only to all these Vultures, but likewise to
Leptoptilus Javanicus our rain Adjutant, which it may be as well
to record. In order to procure good specimens of Mammalia,
I have occasionally been in the habit of placing out a carcass of
some large animal, well poisoned with Strychnia, and have thus
procured Foxes, Jackals, Leopards, Bears, Kites, Jays, Crows
and Aguila Imperialis, but never in any instance was a Vulture
or an Adjutant affected, although greedily devouring the flesh of
the poisoned carcass. The eagles ate greedily for about five
minutes, scarcely more, then they suddenly ceased, but instead
of flying off, they stood as if rooted to the ground, and then fell
prone with outstretched neck and half open wings upon the spot
where they had stood; after a few convulsive croakings and
gaspings they were dead. The Vultures after feeding, either
soared away or sat upon the neighbouring trees, yet none ever

12

fell, as did the smaller birds, nor did they appear to be in the
least affected. A medical officer at Dehra told me he had
observed the same in regard to the Adjutant above mentioned.
The natural way to account for this is, the power of such foul
feeders to resist the effects of things that would poison most
other animals ; feeding as do the vultures upon the most putrid
and disgusting substances, they may be said habitually to feed
upon poison. I found, however, that deer, such asthe Kakur and
Goral, which are any thing but foul feeders, could eat poisoned
bread without being affected by the drug, so that the matter
seems to require further investigation. Aguile Imperiales do
not touch the putrid entrails in which the vultures delight, but
confine themselves to the solid and non-poisonous flesh, so that
they might well be supposed not to possess the same power of
resisting poison rubbed into their food.”

No. 3. Gyps Fulvus, Guet.

Be (Gyps Himalayensis, nobis.)

Tue Grirron.*

The large Himalayan Vulture, which Dr. Jerdon and Mr.
Blyth identify with Fulvus of Europe and Africa, and which
I provisionally (vide infra) designate as Himalayensis, breeds in
January, February and March. The nest, a huge platform of
sticks, (at times the property in past years of some eagle or
falcon, which the early nesting vultures have seized upon, long
before the rightful owners have even begun to think of their
annual matrimonial duties,) is placed, I believe invariably, on
a rocky ledge of some bold precipice in the Himalayas, at least
3000 feet above the sea. IJ have never yet heard of their nest-
ing on trees. Though generally gregarious in their breeding
habits, large numbers rarely appear to breed together. Six is
the greatest number of nests I have yet known of, in one single
locality. In this respect, they differ from G. Indicus, of which
usually from 10 to 30 pairs breed close alongside each other.

The bird lays a single egg; as mdeed a// true Vultures here
invariably seem to do.

The eggs of this species, are larger than those of any of our
other Indian Vultures. The two I have, both of which I owe
to Captain Cock are ovals: the one a rather long, and the
other a broad oval. The texture of the shell appears coarser

* Should the Himalayan species prove distinct, it should be called the
** Himalayan Griffon.”

18

than that of the eggs of either Indicus, Fulvescens, Bengalensis,
or Calvus. The ground colour is the usual greenish or greyish
white of all the true vultures. The one ege is unspotted, the
other is richly blotched and mottled, chiefly towards the small
end, with brownish red. ‘The eges measure* 3°98 x 2°85, and
378 X 2°8. I have always myself been too late to get the
eggs, though I have often seen the empty nests, and I therefore
give Captain Cock’s interesting account of the taking of the
two eggs I have above described.

“In April, 1867, 1 was at a pic-nic in the Kumara slate
quarries (near Dhurmsala), and there noticed a nest of Gyps
Fulvus ; the old bird was sitting at the time; the nest was a
mass of sticks and dirt, placed on a shelf of rock under an
overhanging precipice. Some idea of the magnitude of the
precipice I can give you. When standing at the foot I could not
nearly fling a stone up to where the nest was, and yet it was
more than half way down from the top. I got long ropes
and hill-men, and a venturous plain’s-man ! (hill-men would not
look at it) went over. After dangling in mid air for some
time, he contrived to get hold of a creeper with his toes, and
by means of that, pulled himself on to the ledge; then creeping
along the ledge, he got to the nest, and went quite close to
it ; the vulture at last flew off, leaving a young one covered with
dingy yellow down, and looking like a huge gosling. I left the
young one, and took measures for securing the eggs in 1868. On
the 25th February, I went out, and saw that this year there were
two nests on the ledge. I then on the 28th February, got long
ropes reaching from the top of the precipice to the bottom, and
with the aid of a long bamboo with a bag at the end, we fished
the eggs out of the nests; a man having been pulled up from
below for that purpose. There was only one egg in each nest.”
Captain Cock found the birds breeding earlier in 1869 than
in the previous year. On the 20th February he found 4 nests,
one had an egg, in the other three the old birds were sitting
close. Next day, taking ropes and men, he visited the nests.
In No. 1, the egg had_ hatched off, No. 2 contained a young
one of some 5 or 6 days old, and No. 4 one fully a week old,
No. 3 alone contained an egg, and that even would have
hatched off, probably in another day, and contained a live
fully-formed chick.

It seems, even to myself, a piece of presumption on my part
to say so, but it is nevertheless, I believe, an incontestible tact,
that both Mr. Blyth and Dr. Jerdon have erred in giving us
only 3 Indian species of Gyps instead of 4, as there really are.

* A third egg since obtained in Kotegurh measured 3:83 % 2°85.

14

It does seem at first sight absurd to assert, that after all these
years, during which ornithology has been studied in India, a
species of such a genus should have escaped notice, but both
Mr. Blyth and Dr. Jerdon give us only 3 species, while clear-
ly, and unmistakeably there are 4. Our four vultures of the ~
genus Gyps are these :—

1st—-The large Pale Himalayan Bird, which is usually
identified with /ulvus, but from which, it seems to me that,
(if there be any faith in figures and descriptions) it materially
differs. This, however, will be settled when the specimens I am
sending home have been compared with Huropean examples. For
the moment I provisionally designate it as G. HimaALayvensis.*

2nd.—The large fulvous vulture of the plains which, though
smaller, approaches V. Monachus or G. Himalayensis in size, and
which I need scarcely therefore say, is not the true G. Indicus of
Scop. and Lath. (V. Tenuiceps et Tenuirostris, Hodgson.) This is
the bird which possibly Dr. Jerdon has measured as “ Gyps
fndicus, the long-billed brown Vulture,” the measurements
given by him for that bird, being much too large. The true
G. Indicus, is a bird but little exceeding G. Bengalensis in size,
though differing from it widely in structure. The large fulvous
Vulture of the plains, (which I have shot all over the N. W.
Provinces, Punjab and Rajpootana) is, as already remarked,
decidedly a somewhat smaller bird than G. Himalayensis, and
the plumage differs, toto ce/o, as I shall hereafter notice.

The bill of the plains bird is decidedly shorter and stouter
than that of its Himalayan congener. As regards the claws, when
I had only a few specimens of each before me, I thought that
those of the plains bird were decidedly less curved ; but in these,
as well as other species, the comparison of large series, shows
that the variation, in the comparative thickness, bluntness, sharp-
ness and curvature of the claws, in different examples of the
same species, is too great to render any useful generalization in
regard to them possible.

This plains bird more resembles the descriptions of the true
Fulvus, than does Himalayensis, especially in the much greater
quantity of down on the head, face and neck, but it almost en-
tirely wants the white down ruff running round the back of the
neck, the lanceolate fulvous feathers springing almost directly
out of the bare back of the neck. ‘his, however, may have
little significance, because, figures are generally taken from in-
dividuals in confinement; and birds of this family, well fed in
confinement, on good food, notoriously throw out finer ruffs, and

* Colonel Tytler tells me that he has written and talked of this as
* Simlaensis.”

15

assume in many cases a finer plumage than those in a wild
state. But altogether the bird strikes me as far more rufous
and less stoutly built, than the true Griffon, and until, by the
identification of the specimens which I send home, the matter
can be settled, I provisionally designate our bird as G. FuLvEs-
cens. This may be the bird (I have never seen the figure)
figured by Temminck (Pl. Col. 26) as G. Indicus ; but if so, the
name having been, previously, I believe, appropriated to the
species, which I shall next notice, (Gyps Indicus, Scop.) it cannot
stand. Perhaps our Bird is identical with G. Rueppelli from
Abyssinia, or G. Vulgaris of Savigny (if these be, as I believe,
synonymous); or with G. Kodbii, which, however, both Mr. Gur-
ney and Mr. Blyth, I believe, unite with true Fulvus ; or it may
be some other already known African species. In the absence
of European and African specimens to compare it with, I am
unable to decide, but so far as I can make out, it has not hither-
to been discriminated in India, as a separate species, and there-
fore, for the moment, I designate it G. FuLVEscENs.

drd.—Gyps Indicus (Verus) Scop. The real slender-billed, or
long-billed, brown Vulture, a bird with 14 rectrices it is true,
like the preceding, but little larger than, and only about the
same weight as G. Bengalensis. I cannot help thinking that
Dr. Jerdon has described the immature bird of this species, as
the young of Bengalensis. Hesays, p. 10, vol. I. “The young
is lightish brown above, the feathers centred paler, quills, tail,
and scapulars blackish brown, beneath light brown, the feathers
broadly centred with whitish.” Now this is an exact description
of the immature (I do not mean quite young, but not adult)
Gyps Indicus. ‘The young of Bengalensis, is really always a
more or less dark brown above and below, and the feathers of
the lower parts, are narrowly, and never broadly centred with
whitish.

4th.—Gyps Bengalensis, of which no more need here be
said.

I now proceed to furnish exact measurements and a detailed
description of G. Himatayensis, which, if really distinct from
Fulvus, well deserves the specific name I have proposed, | having
observed it myself in, or received specimens of it from, all parts
of the Himalayas, from Cabool to Bhootan.

Length, 46 to 49 inches. Expanse, 106 to 110 inches. Wing,
08 to dl. Tail, 15 to 17. Tarsus, 4°25 to 4:8. Mid toe, 4:3, its
claw, along curve, 1:5 to 1-9. Inner toe, 2°4; its claw, 1:51 to
1:9. Hind toe, 1°75, its claw, 1°5 to 1:9. Bill, from gape, 3:1 to
3°44; straight, from edge of cere to point, 2°15 to 2:25;
along curve, from edge of cere to point, 2°56 to 2°73; height

16

at edge of cere, ‘98 to 1-1; width at gape, 18 to 2. Length
of cere, 1:13 to 1:2; Length of Gonys, 1°25. Weight, 18 to
20 Ibs.

The legs and feet are a dingy greenish grey or white. The
claws, pale brown. ‘The biil very pale horny green ; dusky just
at tip. Cere, rather pale brown. Skin of cheeks and chin pale
brownish grey, or dove colour, with a pure blue tinge round the
lower half of the eye. The closed wings fall short of the end of
the tail, by from 3°5 to 5 inches. The lower tail coverts fall
short of ditto by about 2°8 to 4:0 inches.

The 4th primary is the longest. The first falls short of it by
from 4 to 5 inches, and the 2nd by from 1 to 2 inches. The
shortest tail feathers, (the external ones) fall short of the longest,
(the central ones) by from 1°5 to 3 inches. The adult bird has
the whole head, cheeks, chin and throat rather closely covered
with yellowish white hair-like feathers. The nape, and upper
two-thirds of the back, and sides, of the neck, are somewhat
thickly covered with yellowish white down. The basal one-
third of the back and sides of the neck were bare in all the speci-
mens I have examined, and the front of the neck sparsely stud-
ded with star-like tufts of down. The large crop patch, some
8 inches long by 6 in breadth, is densely clothed with small close-
sitting pale wood brown feathers. At the base of the back of
the neck, rising in all the instances I have seen out of the
bare skin, is a ruff of linear lanceolate feathers, about 3 inches
in length with very loose, separated, filamentous webs, of
dingy buffy white. Upper back, shorter scapulars and wing
coverts, (except the larger row), a nearly unichromous pale
brown, or whitey brown, many of the feathers inconspicuously
paler centred. Mid back pure white, but some of the feathers
with a fawn-coloured tinge. Rump and upper tail coverts,
more or less fulvous, buffy, or fawny white, (the hue seems to
vary in different individuals) some of the longer feathers, much
tinged towards the tips, with brownish fawn colour. Longer
scapulars and largest wing coverts, deep umber brown, tipped
(in the scapulars broadly) with fulvous fawn, and more or less
centred towards the tips with the same colour. Quills and tail
feathers (the secondaries a shade less deep) deep umber brown ;
freshly moulted ones having a purplish gloss, and being per-
haps best described as of a deep chocolate brown. The whole
of the lower parts, including wing lining, and lower tail coverts,
a very pale dingy brown, or fulvous white, some of the feathers
especially on the sides, with ill-defined, moderately broad, some-
what paler centres, passing imperceptibly into the tint of the
rest of the web.

17

The tarsus is clad in front, for nearly, or in some cases fully,
the upper half, with slightly fulvous white down. The whole
of the rest of the tarsus, and the back of the joint are quite bare.

In the distribution of the down on the neck, in the somewhat
elongated bill, in the paler under-parts, with (in the adult) im-
conspicuous broad paler centerings to the feathers, and in the
more pointed character of the feathers of the back, this species
approaches the true G. Indicus. As compared with the next
species, (Hulvescens apud nos) the somewhat greater size, the
sparseness and star-like character of the down tufts about the
throat and neck, the paler under surface devoid in the adult of
conspicuous narrow pale centerings to the feathers, the looser
ruff, longer upper tail coverts, more pointed back feathers, more
powerful feet, with more prominent scutze and reticulations,
serve amongst other differences to distinguish it.

The young bird differs much in its plumage from the adult.
Seen flying at a little distance, it appears of a pale bronze colour,
and on the wing, might possibly be mistaken for the young of
Monachus. When in the hand, however, there is no mistaking it.
In the arrangement of down about the neck and throat, im the
colour of the bill, bare skin and feet, and quill and tail feathers,
it exactly resembles the adult, but the prevailing hue of all the
rest of the plumage is a rich brown, very deep above, somewhat
paler below ; every feather, exceptthe greater wing-coverts and
larger scapulars, with a broad, central, yellowish brown or ful-
vous stripe. As in the adult, there is a pure white patch on the
upper back extending to the sides of the middle back, but this
is usually hidden by the scapulars. ‘The crop patch is a warm
brown, much deeper and darker than in the adult. ‘The down-
patch on either side of the crop-patch, and the downy covering
of the upper half of the tarsus, and the tibia, pure white. The
striped appearance above described, extends to the wing-lining,
and ruff of linear lanceolate feathers, at the base of the neck be-
hind.

The later secondaries are at all ages very long, and the wings
very broad. When the wings are closed in the fresh bird, the
longest primaries are surpassed by the longest secondaries.

As far as my experience goes, the feet are always dingy pearly
white or dingy greenish white, in this particular, although
in none other, approximating to V. Monachus, and differing,
apparently, from the G. Fulvus of Europe, the legs and feet of
which are given by Yarrell as lead-coloured.

Whether our Himalayan bird be really identical with the
G. Fulvus of Hurope, Africa and Palestine or not, some notes
on the nidification of this latter, which is at any rate a very

18

nearly allied species, will be interesting. Mr. O. Salvin in his
5 months’ bird-nesting in the eastern Atlas, has the following
remarks on the Griffon Vulture.

* In one instance only did we find an egg and a young one
in the same nest ; in all other cases, one egg, or one young one,
was the invariable number. The eggs appear to be laid in the
month of February, as most of the nests contained young in the
beginning of April. During the time of incubation, one of the
parent birds sits constantly, and if frightened off, returns im-
mediately. The nest is composed almost entirely of sticks,
which are used in greater or less abundance, as the situation
requires. The eggs obtaimed from wild birds, generally show
indications of natural colouring, in addition to the blood and
dirt with which they are usually stained. This colouring is
dispersed in faint spots of a reddish hue sometimes all over
the egg, but generally at the larger or smaller end. Of the
four eggs in my collection, three exhibit traces of this marking.
The eggs usually placed in collections are laid by birds kept in
confinement, and this colouring is not observable.”

The Rev. H. B. Tristram tells us that “The numbers of the
Griffon Vultures in every part of Palestine are amazing ; they
are found at all seasons of the year. I do not think that
I ever surveyed a landscape without its being enlivened by the
circling of a party of Griffons. Many colonies of eyries came
under our observation in the gorge of the wady Kelt, (the sup-
posed Cherith) near Jericho ; in the cliffs near Heshbon, under
Mount Nebo, in the ravine of the Jabbok, in a gorge near Am-
mam, the ancient Rabbah ; two large colonies inhabit wadys on
the north and east sides of Mount Carmel, whence we procured
several eggs, but the most populous of all, were the ‘ Grif-
fonries’ in the stupendous cliffs of the wady Hamam, ‘ the
Robber’s Caves’ to the south-west and in the deep glen of the

wady Leimem at the north-west of the plain of Gennesaret.
We collected about twenty eggs. In no nest did we ever find
more than a single egg, or young bird.”

Mr. Tristram further points out the interesting fact, that the
Hebrew word “ nesher” rendered in our version of the Serip-
tures “ eagles,” really, like the Arabic “ nissr,’” refers to the
Griffon Vulture, “ the most majestic of birds” he remarks “ in
action and appearance, and the type of the Assyrian deity
Nisroch. The expression “ who enlargeth thy baldness as an
eagle’s” (nesher) evidently applies only to the Griffon.”

19

No. 3 (bis). Gyps Fulvescens, (Sp. Nov.)
Tur Bay VuLTuRE.

This bird, of which a description and measurements will be
found below, breeds, as far as I yet know, in February, and the
first half of March. Its nest, a huge platform of sticks,
was placed, in the only 3 instances which I know of, near the
top of very large Peepul (Ficus Religiosa) trees. Both nests, that
I found, were solitary, as was that found by Mr. C. H. T.
Marshall. The nests are between 2°5, and 3 feet in diameter,
some 6 to 10 inches in depth, constructed of sticks and twigs,
and without any lining. The nests, that I found on the 12th
and 21st of March, contained a single young bird each. It is to
Mr. C. Marshall that I owe the only egg I possess. He says
-“the nest was found on the 14th of March on the top of a
large Peepul tree, (some 40 feet from the ground), in the Shah-
baloul gardens near Lahore. It contained a single egg nearly
ready to hatch off, the bill of the young one being actually
protruding.”

The egg is a very perfect oval, a good deal larger than that
of Calvus or Bengalensis, and the texture appears to be finer
than that of the eggs of any of our other Indian Vultures.
No positive conclusion, however, can be arrived at from the
examination of a single ege.

The egg is of the usual Vulturine type, pale bluish white,
but with a faint gloss; it is altogether unspotted, but was
extensively soiled and discoloured from the droppings of the
parent bird. It measures 3°5 xX 2°8. I have found this bird
very common throughout the Punjaub, northern Rajpootana
and the North-Western Provinces, north and west of Htawah,
and Colonel Tytler has a young bird from Oraiee. I will
now give exact measurements, and descriptions, taken from
freshly killed specimens.

Length, 41 to 47 inches. Expanse, 94 to 106 inches. Wing,
27 to 29°5; the 3rd is the longest primary ; the Ist is from 2 to 4
inches shorter, and the 2nd from 0°3 to 0°85. Tail, of 14
feathers, 12 to 13°5 inches. Tarsus, 3°88 to 4:2. Foot, mid toe,
3°75 to 4:5, its claw along curve, 13 to 1°8 ; inner toe, 1°8 to 2, its
claw, 1:6 to 1:9 ; hind toe, 1:4 to 1:65, its claw, 1°55 to 1:8. Bill
from gape, 3 to 3:2; length of cere, 1:03 to 1:13; straight,
from edge of cere to point, 1:9 to 2; along curve, from
edge of cere to point, 2°15 to 2:4; height at edge of cere,
1- to 1-1; length of gonys, 1:13. Weight, 12 to 18 tbs.

The top of the head, cheeks, chin and throat, are covered
with dingy, yellowish white, hair-like feathers, so closely set

j
—

20

upon the top of the head, chin and throat, and with such an
admixture of down, that the dark skin, which in the hill bird
(G. Himlayensis) shows so plainly through the scant covering,
is, in this species, completely hidden. The nape and the
whole of the neck, (except the back and side of the basal one
fifth or less, which are bare or nearly bare,) are closely covered
with dense, short, fur-like white, or dingy yellowish white,
down. The crop patch is about the same colour as in the hill
bird, (vide supra) but somewhat more rufous, and the whole of
the rest of the plumage is a far more rufous, and deeper fawn or
buffy brown than in G. Himalayensis. The lower plumage is
in the adult of a rich rufous brown, bay, or even dull chesnut,
conspicuously white shafted, whilst the mantle is a warm sandy
brown, unlike the colouring of any of our other Indian
Vultures. The feathers of the ruff are almost linear, (the web
not so much separated as im the hill bird,) usually of a warm
wood brown or rufous fawn, the feathers conspicuously paler
centered. In one specimen, the old female shot by Mr.
Marshall on the nest from which he took the egg, the ruff
feathers differ in being of a uniform dingy white, faintly tinged
with rufous. The upper back, the whole of the upper wing
coverts, and all but the longest scapulars are a warm, wood
brown, or brownish rufous fawn, yellower and sandier in some,
deeper and more of a bay colour in others. The secondaries,
tertials and longer scapulars umber- (but not dark umber-)
brown, the latter (v/s. the longer scapulars) more or less tipped
with the rufous or sandy colour of the upper back, which colour,
in some specimens, more or less extends to the tips and outer
webs of the tertiaries. Lower back, rump and upper tail
coverts, the same colour as the upper back, but of a considerably
lighter tint, in some mingled with brown, and in some
altogether of a pure pale bay. The primaries and tail feathers
are very dark brown, in some not so dark as the corresponding
feathers in G. Himalayensis, but mm others of an intense
chocolate brown. Lower parts a rich sandy or rufous fawn or
even a deep bay, (the tint varies in different stages of plu-
mage) each feather conspicuously paler shafted, and most of
them (in the younger birds) conspicuously, though narrowly
paler centred. The lineated appearance of the lower parts
alone, at once distinguishes this species from the preceding
one.

The feathering of the tarsus is similar to that of G. Hima-
layensis. 'This species, and not his Piwlvus, (our Himalayensis,) as
Dr. Jerdon surmises, is doubtless the one to which Adams
refers, under the name of G. Zndicus, and though his dimensions

21

slightly exceed those of any specimens I have measured,* the
differences are too small to be of much consequence.

From the true G. Jndicus, this species differs (amongst other
things) Ist in its much greater size, often weighing fully half as
much again ; 2nd, in the bright rufous tinge of the lower parts, and
the conspicuous narrow pale centerings of the feathers there ;
8rd, in the far more rufous tint of the mantle; 4th, in the thick
whitish down covering of the nape and whole upper part of
the neck, back and front, and the comparatively greater abun-
dance of down on the rest of neck. Altogether, the bird is
infinitely more massive than Jndicus, but the feet and claws are
most conspicuously so, the latter being like those of some
giant, G. Bengalensis, immeasurably blunter and stwmpier, Qf
I may use such a word,) than those of Indicus. In several
particulars, the distribution of down on the neck, the lineation
of the lower plumage, and the greater stoutness and lesser
elongation of bill, our G. Fudvescens approximates to G. Ben-
galensis, while, as already noticed, the hill bird and the true
Indicus are in similar matters more nearly allied.

The younger birds are sandier and paler than above described,
but the older they grow, the more richly rufous they become.
With noble series’ of each of our four species of Gyps before me,
the marked distinctness of this, in India at any rate, hitherto
undescribed species, is very striking, the general colour of some
of the older birds being precisely that of the back and train of
Buphus Coromandus in breeding plumage.

In its habits and mode of feeding, it differs in no way from
Gyps Indicus and Bengalensis, with both of which, as well as
with V. Monachus, it closely associates. As far as I can yet

‘ © judge, it is essentially the Vulture of the desert. In richly

cultivated tracts, far from any sandy wastes it is rare, but in
the barer portions of the North Western Provinces and the
Punjaub, it is common, and in and on the borders of Bhawul-
poor, Bikaneer, Jodhpoor and Northern Jaipoor, it abounds.

No. 4. Gyps Indicus, (Scor.)
THE LONG BILLED VULTURE.

This bird breeds in the latter part of December, January,
and possibly the early part of February ; by the end of March
every egg has been hatched off. It always selects, as far as

* Mr. Marshall I should note, gives the length of the old female shot on

the nest as 51 inches, and the weight 19°5 lbs. I have never met with any
specimen so heavy or large as this ; but he may be right.

22

my experience goes, nearly inaccessible and precipitous cliffs
to breed on, but as I have only yet found it breeding in two
places, vis. at the Taragurh hill near Ajmere, and the Gaimookh
cliffs on Mt. Aboo, I cannot speak positively. Jerdon, however,
mentions, that the present species breeds on ‘‘ some of the cliffs
bounding the valley, in which are situated the celebrated caves
of Ajunta.”’

The nest, placed on some ledge of the cliff’s face, consists only
of coarse sticks and twigs. When the eggs are first laid, there
may be some lining of leaves, as in those of many other kinds
of vultures and eagles, but when I examined a number of the
nests, the young were all hatched, and the nest so coated with
their droppings, that it was impossible to trace any lining. ‘The
nest is nothing more than a thin, flat, irregularly circular, pad of
sticks, from 2 to 3 feet in diameter, and from 3 to 6 inches in
depth. As arule they only lay a single egg; of all the 50 odd
to which, with extreme difficulty, | made my way, not one con-
tained more than a single young one, and not one could boast even
a single addled egg. Captain Repton, Deputy Commissioner of
Ajmere, very kindly secured for me a noble series of eggs from
these very nests, ten months after I had visited them. The
egos’ normal type is a very long oval. Taken as a body, they
are very much larger than those of Oalvus or Bengalensis, and
their texture is, if anything, somewhat finer than that of either
of these two species; as a rule, they are of an unspotted, very
pale greyish or greenish white, but some are thinly spotted and
blotched with pale reddish brown, or in some cases faint
purplish brown. One only that I possess is rich/y blotched and
mottled, chiefly, however, towards the smaller end, with some-
what pale brownish and purplish red, about equally interming-
led; this is the handsomest Vulture’s egg, I have yet seen.
They vary in length from 3-9 to 3°48, and in breadth from 2°85
to 2°62, the average dimensions of 21 eggs were 3°61 X 2°72.

The breeding places of this species, (they appear always
to breed in society,) are very picturesquely situated. The
Taragurh hill which overlooks and almost overhangs the
city of Ajmere and the beautiful Ana Sagur Lake, may be about
2,900 feet high. On precipitous faces of this hill, specially
where succeeding overlapping ledges make the place as nearly
inaccessible as may be, colonies of this Vulture breed. One of
these breeding-haunts, which I minutely examined, was a cliff
face some 100 feet high by 300 wide, all broken up into irregu-
lar ledges, of which the highest overhung all the rest. In
amongst the ledges were a few dwarf banyan trees, whose long
bare roots and rootlets hung down, here and there, in dense,

4 23

grey, giant skeins; all the ledges, but the uppermost, when
looked at from below, seemed garnished with heavy white
fringes, the white droppings of the birds having run down in
close parallel lines in a wonderfully symmetrical fashion, over the
weather smoothed edges of the terraces. Seen from a distance,
the whole cliff face seemed mottled with huge patches of white-
wash. Bleached bones, and dusky quills strewed every little
plateau, and nestled in every cranny. It was on the 30th of
March, 1867 that I laid siege to this natural fortress. With the
assistance of two sporting Mahomedan faqeers, two of the best
eragsmen I ever saw, having duly removed my boots, I crept
to the lowest ledge, a work of extreme difficulty, owing to the
excessive slipperiness of the white crusted rocks. To my in-
tense disgust, a little apart from the nest, on the bare stone,
sat a huge unwieldy mass of yellow fluffy down, opening a vast
mouth and cackling and hissing at me in the most hostile
manner. ‘The unfortunate little wretch was too fat and heavy
to stand firmly on its stumpy legs, and could only stand up for
a second, stagger a few inches, and then plump down exhausted.
It was really touching to see how every moment in the midst
of its vain efforts to intimidate us, the little fellow kept looking
anxiously around and above for its parents. But it was about
10 a. M. and all the old ones were away procuring food, and during
the two hours we remained about the rocks, only one of them at
all closely approached the place, although before we left, the whole
community, I should say nearly 60 in number, had collected
in the valley, (in one side of which the cliff was situated) and
kept wheeling and circling round above their homes, but at
a distance of fully a quarter of a mile. We left the dingy little
tenant of the first nest in peace, doubtless congratulating
himself on the fact that his valorous demonstrations had driven
us away, and slowly and painfully made our way, (at what risk
I hardly care to think of now) to one after another of the nest-
filled ledges. Every where we found the nests empty, but in the
ease of about half the number, a more or less advanced young
one of from a week to a month old, was squatting on the bare
rock a few feet from the nest. ‘Those nests near which no
young one was seen, had obviously not been tenanted. At the
time I fancied that these belonged to birds that had not yet
laid, but I had the place closely watched for nearly a month
without any one of them being used, so that I presume that the
birds often find their first nest unsuitable in some way, and
construct a second, in which to incubate their egg. It could not
be, that any considerable number of the pairs were barren, for
We saw quite as many young ones as pairs of old birds, and by

24,

the time we left, (nearly 1 p. m.) I feel confident that the whole
colony must have assembled.

Other smaller colonies were subsequently visited, but not one
single egg rewarded our perseverance. ‘The Faqeers assured
me, * that the young birds were from 2 to 3 months before they
were able to leave the nest.

The following are the dimensions of this es Length, 37
to 40.—Expanse, 88 to 92. Wing, 23°50 to 22'5; the 3rd and
4th, or 4th primaries are the longest; the lst is from 2°5 to
235 shorter, and the 2nd 0°5 ‘to 1 shorter. Tail, of 14
feathers, from 10 to 11; the longest tail feathers exceeding
the shortest, by from 0°5 to 2. ‘Tarsus, from 3°5 to 4.
Foot, greatest length, 7°75 to 85; ereatest width, 6°5 to 7 ;
mid toe, 3°75 to 4:2, its claw, along curve, 1: 15 to 1:45;
hind toe, 1°25 to 1:6, its claw, along curve, 1:25 to 1°75;
inner toe, 1°55 to 1°9, its claw, along curve, 1:25 to 1°75.
Bill, straight, from edge of cere to poit, 1°68 to 1°8;
along curve, 2 to 2:25; from gape, 2°6 to 2°85; width
at gape, 1:12 to 1:32; height at margin of cere, 0°8 to
0°92; length of cere, 0°9 to 1°12.

Lower tail coverts reach to within 3 of end of tail. The
legs and feetare dusky cinereous. ‘I'he irides are brown. ‘The
weight varies from 11 to 14 Ibs.

In the perfect adult, brownish white hair-like feathers are
thinly sprinkled over the head, nape, cheeks, and throat.
The upper half of the back and sides of the neck, and whole of
the front of the neck are excessively thinly studded with small
star-like tufts of dewn. The lower half of the back, and sides,
of the neck are perfectly bare. The crop patch is closely
covered with silky, tight fitting, dark hair brown feathers.
The whole of the rest of the lower surface is a pale whity
brown, becoming almost a pure white towards the vent and
lower tail coverts. The ruff is full, soft and pure white, of
very downy feathers, the webs much disintegrated. The whole
mantle is pale earthy brown, the centres of the lesser, and all
but the tips and margins of the larger scapulars, being dark,
hair brown.

The lower back, rump and upper tail coverts white, tinged
with pale earthy brown, many of the feathers, however, espe-
cially of the longer tail coverts, being brown at the base, but
so broadly tipped and margined with the paler colour, that little
of the brown shows. The primaries and tail feathers are deep
chocolate brown. ‘The secondaries and tertiaries hair brown,
more or less suffused, on their outer webs, with pale, dingy
earthy or fulyous brown.

?
3
]

25

A quite young bird has the top and back of the head, and
upper part of the back of the neck, thickly covered with white
down. The rest of the head and neck, asin the adult. The
crop patch much lighter than in the adult, is covered with pale,
dove-coloured, brown feathers. The rest of the lower surface
is pale brown, becoming albescent towards the vent, each feather
broadly centered, (most conspicuously so, on the sides and
breast), with dingy white. The ruff, of long linear lanceo-
late feathers, is a very pale fulvous white, faintly margined with
brown. ‘The mantle, a somewhat pale hair brown, every
feather, narrowly but conspicuously, centred with fulvous white.
The quill feathers and tail feathers chocolate brown, darkest
on the primaries and rectrices. The lower back, rump, and
upper tail coverts, are nearly pure white, only a few of the
longest of the latter, being tinged with brown.

In an intermediate stage, the crop patch is intermediate in
colour, between that of the adult and of the young, as is also
the colour and character of the ruff, and indeed of the whole
plumage.

This bird differs at all ages from Bengalensis, not only in
having 14 instead of 12 rectrices, and in the greater length and
slenderness* of the bill, especially the ceral portion, but in many
other points. In colour the adults of course differ as black
from white, but even the youngest Bengalensis is every where
of a darker and dingier hue, than the young even, of Indicus.
Then the appearance of the plumage of the back differs in the
two species. In Bengalensis the feathers are more broad
and rounded, and have a more of a squamated appearance,
whilst those of Indicus are more pointed and narrower. Again,
the true Indicus differs from the young of Bengalensis in the
pale rump, (that of the latter being dark although in the adult
it is white,) in the comparative absence of pale centerings to
the feathers of the under-parts, and in such pale centerings
being in Indicus very broad and inconspicuous, while in Benga-
lensis they are narrow, almost linear and very conspicuous. Further,
there is a quantity of nearly pure white down on the nape

* T contrast the dimensions of 3 average specimens, but in these birds,
dimensions vary much in different individuals :

Gyps G. Bengalen- G. Bengalen-
Indicus. sts JY. sis adult,

Bill, from gape, ts we «294 2°63 2°69
Length of cere, Af Ge ee 73 ‘81
Length, straight, from edge of cere to

point, re 188 1:78 181
Height, at margin of cere, me 88 QA, ‘97
Length of gonys, 101 “94. ‘97

26

and upper neck of all but the quite adult Indicus, while that
on the neck of the young Bengalensis is darkish brown. The
basal half of the back of the neck of Indicus is quite bare ; in the
young Bengalensis, it is more or less covered with down ; lastly
the sides and front of the neck in Indicus, are sparsely dotted
with star-like tufts of white down, (herein much resembling
G. Himalayensis,) while these parts in the young of Bengalensis
are somewhat thickly sprinkled with double hair-like feathers,
such as in Jndicus occur only on the chin, throat, face and head.
The colour of the claws and cere is also much paler in Indicus
than in the young of Bengalensis.

The close similarity of the plumage of the young of Hima-
layensis and Indicus, is another indication of the close relation-
ship that these two species bear to each other. Both moreover
breed in rocks, (and not on trees as Mulvescens and Bengalensis
do). The plumage of the adults moreover is nearly as similar
as that of the young, and the character, extent and distribution
of the down, on the head and neck, in both, is identical.

No. 5. Gyps Bengalensis, (GMEL.)
Tue INDIAN WHITE-BACKED VULTURE

‘Breeds from the latter end of November, to the early part of
March, but the majority I think lay durmg the month of
January. The nest, as far as my personal experience goes
(and I have seen many hundreds), is always placed upon trees,
even where convenient cliffs and precipices are close at hand.
Banyan and Peepul are their favourite trees, I think, but I have
found them breeding on the Neem, Tamarind, Arjun (Terminalia
Arjiina) and others; in every case, however, on /arge trees. As a
rule they prefer to nest near each other, in the outskirts of
some populous town, like Binderabund for instance, where
ancient groves with suitable trees abound, and I have seen as
many as fifteen nests on one single Peepul tree, and as many as
a hundred on a group of trees lying within a circle of two or
three hundred yards in diameter. It is not, however, uncommon
to find a solitary nest, high up on some huge Peepul tree, standing
isolated in the midst of cultivated land or scanty jungle; but
I have an idea that these are always the nests of young birds,
and that while the clustered nests are tenanted by the same
species year after year (in one case that I know of, for certainly
the last fifty years), these solitary nests are rarely if ever re-occu-
pied by this Vulture, who, after the first year, abandons them to
other tenants. On two occasions, I have found nests of this

27

bird that I had robbed one year, occupied the next by the Grey
eagle owl, (Ascalaphia Coromanda), and once I found a lordly
king Vulture in possession of its plebeian brother’s former
residence.

The nest is a large irregular platform of sticks, sometimes
quite at the top of the tree, often wedged in a fork, averaging
probably nearly 3 feet in diameter and 6 inches in thickness,
but often far exceeding this latter dimension, especially where
a deep fork has to be filled in. Not far from Puhpoondh, I
made a man measure one in my presence, which was an irregu-
lar cone, (the apex downwards) by pushing an iron ramrod
through it, and found the depth to be 22 inches! The materials
of the nest appear to be heaped on at random, but in reality
they are so carefully overlaid, that it is very difficult to pull
out one of the sticks that compose the nest, without pulling
the whole fabric to pieces. The shape of the nest depends upon
the locality, and is more generally oblong or oval, than truly
circular. There is only a slight depression, as a rule, towards
the centre of the nest, but I found one nest near Hodul
which was a regular deep cup, in which I really think a mo-
derate-sized sheep might have been stowed away. They always
line the centre of the nest more or less with leaves, and the
peepul seems their favourite. These leaves are green and fresh
when the egg is first laid, and before you blow it, you can
pretty well guess how long the egg has lain in the nest, by the
condition of the lining leaves.

They lay normally a single egg. That 2 eggs may have been
found in one nest I will not take upon myself to deny, but I
have before me now, notes of eighty odd nests, and besides these,
J have had many others examined of which I took no note at the
time, and yet I never met with more than a single egg or a single
young one in any nest. In colour, the eggs when fresh are dull
white, with an excessively pale bluish green tinge. Asarule they
are unmarked, but at times they are a good deal tinged and
speckled, or even blotched, with darker or lighter shades of
reddish brown, most usually I think chiefly towards the large
end. The eggs of this species vary to an amazing extent;
whether in reality these eggs vary more than those of the other
Vultures, or whether it is, that the enormous series of over a
a hundred eggs, which I have myself collected, makes the varia-
tions more conspicuous, I cannot say, but the fact remains that
I have the eggs, of my own taking, of almost (for such a
bird) every conceivable size and shape. ‘The cubic contents of
one egg (the largest) is certainly 24 times that of the smallest.
One is a perfect pear, another so long an oval, as to be almost

28

cylindrical, and one or two are almost spherical; the normal type,
however, appears to be a somewhat broad oval, slightly com-
pressed or pointed towards one end. As a body, they are more
oval and less round than those of Calvus, while they are rounder
and less oval than those of Indicus. As above remarked, the ma-
jority, though often much soiled and discoloured, as incubation
proceeds, are ofthe usual pale greyish or greenish white colour, and
unspotted ; but a certain number, perhaps about 1 in 5, are more
or less speckled, spotted and blotched, always chiefly towards
one end, with pale reddish brown. One egg only, out of more
than a hundred that I have, is richly and extensively blotched
and clouded, in fact almost capped at the large end with
reddish and purplish brown. So discoloured do the eggs some-
times become before they are hatched, that I have one egg, an
addled one, staimed throughout an almost uniform earth-brown.
The texture varies a good deal, but is generally moderately fine,
a few exhibit a slight gloss, but mostly they are glossless.

The shell is very thick and strong, and, like that of most
other large bird’s eggs, (especially those of Cranesand game birds)
often has pimply lumps and crease-like folds at the small end.
The lining is a rich green. The eggs measure from 3°05 to 3°85
inches in length, and from 2°25 to 2°8 in breadth, but of 68 eggs
measured, 3°26 by 2°42 inches are the average dimensions.

Though the birds are plentiful all over the N. W. P. Rajpoo-
tana, and the major portion of the Punjab, they only affect par-
ticular localities for breeding. Where large trees abound, and
where either cattle are numerous, or a large village ensures a
continual supply of offal, their nests will generally be found,
but in treeless tracts, like much of the upper Punjab, where
eattle are few, and population scant, although the birds (whose
powers of flight are, like those of all their kindred, very great),
may themselves often be seen, you may search many hundred
square miles without meeting with a single nest.

Mr. W. Theobald makes the following note of this bird’s
breeding in the neighbourhood of Pind Dadan Khan and Katas
in the Salt Range. ‘ Lay in the Ist and 2nd weeks of March,
egos, one only, shape, ovate pyriform, size, 3°36 inches by
2°62 inches; colour, dull white. Nest, of sticks and twigs; in
large trees.”

I give exact measurements taken from several birds and
description of a fine male, which I shot on a nest on the 8th
March, thus proving that the males participate in the labour
of incubation. ‘The female in this case did not return for some
hours and when she did, she was apparently so enraged, at

29

finding her egg (which was much incubated) gone, and her
husband missing, that she tore the upper part of the nest to pieces,
scattering the sticks and leaf lining, here and there, and making
a wonderful snorting and hissing all the while. This is not
the only instance I have witnessed, of birds tearing their own
nests to pieces, in anger at the loss of their eggs, (vide Girus
Antigone, No. 833, and for a somewhat similar incident, Falco
Jugger, No. 11.)

Length, 33 to 37 inches. Expanse 83 to 88. Wing, 22 to 24;
the 3rd primary the longest, the lst about 2°5 inches, the 2nd
about 0°5, and the 4th about 0°13 shorter than the 3rd. Tail of
12 feathers ; length from vent, 9 to 11; Tarsus, (in some feathered
in front for about half its length, in some for less than 3th), 3°5
to nearly 4 inches. Foot, greatest length, 7-5 to 8-5; greatest width,
5 to 5°5; mid toe, 3°6 to 4-2; its claw, straight, 1 to 1:09, along
the curve, 1:13 to 1°31; inner toe, 1°69 to 1-9; its claw, straight
1:13, along the curve, 1:44; outer-toe, 1°88, its claw, straight 0°81,
along the curve, 1:06; hind toe, 1°38 to 1:7, its claw, straight
1:09 along the curve, 1°3 to 1:5. Bill, straight, from edge of cere
to point, 1-8 to 1:9; along curve, 2°19 to 2°31; from gape,
2°65 to 2°9; width at gape, 1-44; height, at margin of cere,
0°87 to 0°97; length of cere, 0°75 to 0°81; gonys, 0-97. Weight
9 to 13 Ibs. Wings, when closed, reach just to the end of the
tail, and the lower tail-coverts reach to within from 1°5 to 2°25
of end of ditto.

The legs and feet are nearly black, but in the live bird are
always more or less incrusted with dirt, so as to appear of a dry
mud colour, except where on the smooth surfaces of the scales,
the horny black shows through. Claws, massive and very blunt,
that of mid toe /itt/e, of hind toe we// curved, in colour blackish
horny. NScutellation, reticulate except on ridges of toes, that of
mid toe nearly all, and of other toes the terminal half or more,
with transverse scales, larger and more strongy marked as_ they
approach the claws. ‘The lateral toes are nearly equal, the outer
being only a little longer, and both are conspicuously short as
compared with the central one, outer toe claw as usual very
feeble. Irides, brown, eyelids, very pale plumbeous or greyish
white, each with a row of short black lashes. Bill, with a trace of
two festoons in edge of upper mandible ; cere, short and promi-
nent, horny black, hard, and polished like the bill itself. Greater
part of upper mandible, greyish white, with bluish grey tips, and
edges dusky. Lower mandible, dingy plumbeous at base, dusky
at tip.

The whole head, face, chin, throat and front and sides of the

30

upper two-thirds of the neck, dusky plumbeous with sparse
inconspicuous, brownish hairs, which, however, are longer, denser
and more conspicuous on the occiput. The upper half of the
back of the neck densely clad with soft, velvetty, white feathers.
Below this, a prominent white ruff on the back of the neck,
extending rather further forward towards the front of the neck
than the above mentioned white, velvetty feathers do. The base
of the neck, where it joins the back, shoulders, scapulars, tail
and upper tail coverts, primaries, and wing coverts, a dull
blackish brown. The secondaries, and tertiaries, paler and much
tinged, especially on the outer webs, with brownish grey, a trace
of which is also visible on the later primaries. The 2nd to the
7th primary, emarginate on the outer web, and the Ist to the 6th,
conspicuously notched on the inner web. The rump, and lower
back, pure white. The centre of the upper breast, and the lower
part of the front of the neck, in fact what is commonly known
in vultures as the crop patch, clad with very close, blackish
brown, furlike feathers, with a white border of long down on
either side, which extends into a sort of triangular patch at each
side, at the base of the neck, nearly in the centre of which is a
small, round, and quite bare spot, of a dull pinkish hue; sides,
lower breast, and abdomen, and longer axillaries, dark brown, or
blackish brown, each feather with a linear or narrow central
white stripe, most conspicuous towards the tips. The shorter
axillaries, and a patch in the axilla, pure white; edge of the
wing, and all the smallest of the lower wing coverts blackish
brown ; the rest of the wing lining, pure white. Thigh coverts
and lower tail coverts, very dark brown; feathers of interior of
thigh, pure white. In a younger bird, the corneous portion of
the bill was horny black, paler on the culmen, and towards the
edge of the cere. The lores and cheeks were bluish, a patch
over the eye, the chin and skin on sides of lower mandible, a
sad dove colour, or plumbeous brown. The rest of the bare skin,
dingy greenish white, here and there spotted with leaden
rown.

The Ibis (1865) notices a paper of Dr. Salvadori, the object
of which was to prove the specific distinctness of the white
backed Vultures of India and Africa. “The chief differences are

thus summarised.”’

Gyps Bengalensis. Gyps, sp.
(ex Asia). (ex Africa)
Beak, thick, yellowish, at the| Beak, compressed, elongated,

thickest part, at the tip. anne black.
General colour,black cinereous.| General colour, greyish cream.

ot

The name Gyps Africanus, is accordingly bestowed upon the
latter by the author, but it appears probable that this application
must give way to that of Moschatus, which, according to Von
Heuglin (Sitzungsb. A Kad Wien, 1856, p. 256) had been pre-
viously bestowed upon it by Duke Paul of Wurtemberg.”’
It appears to me that the so-called G., Africanus must closely
resemble, if it be not identical with, our G. Indicus.
Dr. Jerdon informs me, that he noticed our bird pairing, in
December in the Bijnour district. These birds, he tells me,
pair on trees and utter a hoarse roar at the time, which, had
he not himself watched them, he could never haye believed to
have been uttered by a bird; a sound of great volume and sui
generis.
_ here is one point about al/ these vultures in regard to

which I should be glad of information, as although I have
closely examined some hundreds of birds, I have not yet been
able to satisfy myself thoroughly on the subject. Some speci-
mens of vultures have ruffs of ong, very narrow, pointed feathers
springing out of the base of the back of the neck, others of
the same species, have ruffs of comparatively short thick down,
without a trace of a single long pointed feather. I used to
think, that these latter were signs of nonage, but I have seen
quite young birds, on two occasions, with full down ruffs, and
I have several birds manifestly adults, with the long pointed
ruff feathers. I cannot make out that it depends on sex, nor
that the change is seasonal ; but doubtless the real explanation
is well known to naturalists, although I have failed to find any
mention of it.

No. 6. Neophron Ginginianus, (LArT#.)
THE WHITE SCAVENGER VULTURE,

Breeds from the latter end of February to the end of April,
but the majority I think lay towards the end of March. They
nest indifferently, it appears to me, on rocky precipices, earthen
cliffs, parapets or cornices of buildings and large trees. I have
often found the nests in ledges of the clay cliffs of the Jum-
na, close to nests containing the young of Bonelli’s eagle,
or the Jugger Falcon. At Etawah, a pair yearly build on the
church tower, at the base of the steeple. On the rocky head-
land known as the Mata Pahar, which juts out from the southern
shore of the Sambhur lake, whose blue waters it overlooks, I
found a nest in a cleft of the rock from which I was able to
take the eggs, without leaving the pathway, and within two

32

feet of the head of the sitting bird, was a nest containing
8 eggs of Ptionoprogne Concolor. They are far from seeking
retirement. They build commonly in trees in the suburbs of
towns. Neem, Tamarind, Peepul and Burgut, alike furnishing
them with homesteads, and for several years I have noticed a
par building, on a comparatively small tree, in the centre of
the busy grain market at Etawah.

The nests are clumsy, ragged, stick structures; platforms
slightly depressed towards the centre, loosely put together and
lined with any soft substance they can most readily meet with.
Old rags are a great stand by. In many parts of the country,
way-farers as they pass particular trees, have a semi-religious
custom of tearing a strip off their clothes to hang thereon. Who
puts the first strip, and why they do it, I have never clearly been
able to ascertain, but, once a beginning is made, “ one fool makes
many” and the tree (usually a Babool) soon becomes loaded
with rags and tatters.. These are a perfect god-send to the
Neophrons of the neighbourhood, whom I have more than once
watched robbing these rural ‘“ shrines” of their trophies by the
score. Sometimes the rags of various colours are laid out neatly
in the nest, as if an attempt had been made to please the eye,
sometimes they are irregularly jumbled up with the materials
of the nest. Cotton wool, old and dirty, stolen I suspect from
the old ‘“rizais” or padded coverlids, thrown with half burnt
dead bodies into the river, occurs occasionally in great lumps in
the nest ; and I have several times found nests lined entirely
with masses of human hair, which in a country where near
relatives shave their heads as a part of the funeral ceremonies,
often les thick in the environs of villages and towns. Some-
times the birds line their nests with green leaves, much as
Hutolmaetus Bonelli and many other eagles do. In size, the nests
vary from 2 to 3 feet im diameter, and from 4 to 10 inches in
depth. Normally they lay 2 eggs, but I have repeatedly found
birds incubating a single egg, twice I have found 3 eggs in
the same nest, but, in each of these latter cases, one of the 3
eges was much smaller and feebler coloured than the other two.

In shape, size, and colour these eggs vary much. I have one
egg an excessively long pear, another for all the world like a
goose’s egg, while others again are as round as an egg of the
Honey Buzzard’s, but the normal shape is certainly a rather
broad oval, somewhat compressed towards one end. The texture
varies a good deal, in some it is coarser than that of any
Vulture’s egg, and in some there is almost a gloss, but as a rule
the eggs are dull, and of a rather coarse somewhat chalky
texture, less compact and indurated than in any of the true

rors)

vultures. They never have any rea/ gloss, but some exhibit a
sort of surface glaze which they lose “by washing ; as indeed
they are apt to do much of their richest colouring. I have
seen a very handsome, richly coloured, boldly marked, egg,
reduced, by the misguided energy of a fair advocate for soap
water, and a nail brush, to a uniform, dull dirty brown.

It cannot be too strongly impressed upon egg-collectors that,
with the exception of pure white ones, no egg should ever be
washed externally, if it can possibly be avoided. Water
removes the colour in many eggs, deadens it in most, and in all
renders it more lable to fade.

In colour, the eggs of the present species vary from pure
greyish or rufous white, with only a few minute reddish brown
specks at one end, to a uniform deep but dingy blood-red, re-
calling some of ‘the deeper coloured falcon eggs. Between
these two extremes, every varl iation in shade, extent and inten-
sity of markings is found. very possible shade of brownish
red and reddish brown is met with, and every degree of mark-
ings from a few distinct scattered specks, to streaks and blotches
nearly confluent over the greater portion of the egg’s surface or
forming a conspicuous cap at one (more commonly the larger)
extremity.

There is a common type with a pinkish white ground, minutely
freckled and speckled all over with dull brownish red, and then
richly blotched and clouded towards one end, (at which the
markings are often almost or quite confluent,) with a deep
brownish red* Other eggs are uniform pale brownish pink,
almost salmon colour, without any deeper coloured markings,
while others of the same type have the colour deepening
towards one end, or are richly and boldly, or in others feebly and
faintly blotched, streaked or clouded with a deeper shade. Some
egos when fresh are excessively handsome and are coloured
quite like a honey Buzzard’s egg: one I have which might pass,
so far as colouring goes, for the Osprey’s egg fio ured by
Hewitson, Pl. VI. i

They measure from 2°28 to 2°82 in length and from 1°8 to
2'1in breadth, but the average of 45 eggs measured was 2°6
«Es:

I have seen this species fully 8,500 feet high in the Hima-
layahs. Mr. R. Thompson says: “The Neophrons are to be
found breeding in numbers along the precipices which crown the
river Kosilla from Khyrna upwards. On the sandstone preci-
pices of the Sewaliks, and those of the Kamaon and Ghurwal
outer ranges, numberless nests may be found. One pair breeds
yearly on a precipice south-east of Nynee Tal.’

o4

Mr. W. Theobald makes the following note of this bird’s
breeding in the neighbourhood of Pind Dadan Khan and
Katas in the Salt Range. “ Lay in the 3rd week of March, eggs
two only, shape long oval, size O53 to 2°75 inches in length and
from 1°84 to 1:90 in breadth. Colour, pale brownish red, thickly
blotched with dark brownish red ; nest, a few twigs placed in
holes of cliffs and difficult to approach.” Mr. W. Blewitt records
taking some 20 nests of this species in the neighbourhood of
Hansee between the 20th of March and the end of April
1868. The nests were all on trees, Peepul, Sheeshum, Bur-
got, Neem and Keekur, none were more than 21 feet from
the ground and one was ata height of only 12 feet. They
varied from 12 to 18 inches in diameter, and from 38 to 7 inches
in thickness; some were slightly, some densely, put together,
and were composed in almost every instance of small
branches and twigs of the Ber and Keekur, both thorny trees.
One nest had no lining, the others were more or less lined with
straw, feathers, leaves, and rags, one or all, while in many
instances rags were plentifully incorporated in the body of the
structure. ‘T'wo was the number of eggs in each nest, some
of those taken at the end of April were still quite fresh.

There can be little doubt, I think, that the egg figured by
Dr. Bree as belonging to Bonelli’s eagle, was really a Neo-
phlron’s.

Dr. Jerdon says that this vulture is common in Egypt, but
Mons. Jules Verreaux long ago wrote out to Colonel ‘Tytler,
that the Egyptian species (V. Percnopterus) was distinct from
our Indian bird, which therefore stands as WV. Ginginianus ; and
Mr. Blyth remarks (Ibis, 1866), “In the gardens of the Zoo-
logical Society there were lately four white Rachamas or
Neophrons, one from Africa, and three from India. ‘They were
evidently of two distinct specific races. The African (Lev. Ois
Vafr. t. 14; Viellot gal. des ois. t. 2; Jard, and’Selb. Il. orn. pl.
23; Gould’s B. Eur. pl. 3) is larger and more robust, the tarsi
and toes conspicuously so. ‘The corneous portion of the bill is
black, and the ceral portion is of a reddish yellow, different
from the purer yellow of the cheeks; the talons also are black,
and the cuneate tail passes the tips of the closed wings by an
inch or more.

In the three Indian birds, the corneous portion of the bill is a
pure yellowish flesh colour, as are also the talons; the ceral
portion of the bill is of the same yellow as the cheeks, the
points of the closed wings just reach to the tail tip ; and a con-
spicuous fold of skin is continued from beneath the ear to the
throat underneath, which is little more than indicated in the

35

African example; moreover the throat is quite bare in the
Indian species, thinly clad with short white feathers in VY. Per-
cnopterus and with short black feathers in N. Pileatus.

The last appertains properly to the Ethiopian region (south
of the Great Desert) the second to the southern half of the
astern Atlantic region and the first to the Indian region ;
other African white Rachamahs I find to have black bills and
claws, but not any Indian; and referring to Vultur Meleagris
of Pallas, I remark, that he describes the black billed race as a
scarce bird in the T'auric Chersonesus (Crimea); while the
Indian race is that figured in the collection of drawings
presented by Mr. Hodgson to the British Museum. This bird
appears to be the Vultur Ginginianus of Latham (Ind. orni.
I. p. 7, and Gen. Hist. B. I. p. 27, pl. 5), founded on the
“ Vautour de Gingi’”’ of Sonnerat (Voy. Ind. II. p. 187).”

I think this matter requires looking into more closely. Since
I first saw Mr. Blyth’s remarks, I have procured one adult
Indian bird with the claws horny black (a peculiarity which he
describes as characteristic of NM. Percnopterus) and not at all
pale yellowish flesh colour ; also a young bird with the corneous
portion of the bill a/most black, horny black in fact. In Colonel
Tytler’s Museum, there are two birds, one adult, the other young,
also with black claws, and the young with a black bill. ‘True,
these latter are dried specimens, and the colours of these parts,
may have faded and darkened, but I hardly ean believe that
the claws have ever been “ pale yellowish flesh colour,” since the
colours of these only change to a certain extent, and not from
pale yellow to black. Observers should look closely into this
matter, and besides noting these points of colour, &c., record
exact and detailed measurements, weight, &e., of every specimen
they shoot.

Mr. Tristram, when speaking of birds mentioned in the Bible,
remarks “The Hebrew “rdcham’ (Arabic “rakhma’) is
translated ‘ Gier-eagle,’ but is the universal and exclusive name
of the Egyptian Vulture (Neophron Percnopterus) throughout
Africa and Western Asia.”

No. 7. Gypaetus Barbatus, (Lrv.)
Tue LAMMER GEYER oR BEARDED VULTURE.

This species lays in December and January, and perhaps in
the early part of February also. It breeds, in India of course,
only in the Himalayahs.

56

The nest is commonly placed in almost inaccessible situations
in the face of some bold cliff; a ledge of rock, above which some
other ledge projects, is commonly chosen.

The only eyries, I have been able to inspect, were shapeless
heaps of sticks, nearly a cart load I should say, strewed on
ledges of rock, (over a space of some three to five feet long by
2 or 3 broad), intermingled with rags, huge feathers and large
bones, and plentifully besprinkled with the droppings of the
birds. Altogether they were not dainty spots, nor, it must
be confessed, peculiarly pleasing to the olfactory nerves. I
could see no trace of there having been any lining at any time
to the nest; but I saw them, it must be remembered, in August,
September and October, months after the eggs had been hatched
and the young had flown, although the old birds still roosted
there.

Captain Cock was more fortunate, and Icannot do better I
think, than quote his account of an eyrie to which he not long
since laid successful seige. “ On the 4th December, 1868, I found
the nest of Gypaetus Barbatus, in a hollow on the face of a steep
precipice, situated in a range of hills, some six miles off the Grand
Trunk road, 2 marches from Rawulpindee on the Peshawur
side. I was out after nests, with but little hope of finding any
at that time of year, when the shikaree I had with me, told
me that some years before, when out with some sportsmen
after Ourial, they had frightened a large bird off its nest, and
he volunteered to show me where it was. We accordingly
went to a steep gorge in the hill, very narrow, but with a_tre-
mendous precipice on each side, From the top, where I was
standing, to the opposite side, might have been some ninety
yards across, and the precipice was some 180 feet in depth.
About half way down, in what seemed a sheer wall of rock, was
a hollow, some six feet in height and five feet in depth and
breadth. In this was placed the Lammergeyer’s nest.

‘The old bird was on her nest, and I looked at her for some
time with the glass; she took alarm at once, and advancing to
the edge of her nest stood up and looked at me with her neck
stretched out and head turned sideways, bringing one eye to
bear on me. She was a most noble looking bird, her large
yellow eye, setting off her appearance. _ Flinging some stones
down into the gorge to frighten her, she soon glided off her
nest, and I could see two eggs. I now sat down to recon-
noitre and plan some way of getting her eggs. By means of-a
shelf of rock I could crawl to within 15 feet of her nest, but
there it ended. I had 8 long ropes with me, but they would
only just reach down to the nest from the top; one of my

37

fellows, a young light lad of 15, offered to go over the precipice
with the rope round him. We made the rope fast to a tree
above, and the boy’s brother, a sturdy Pathan, payed out the
rope, and the young fellow went over most gallantly. Both
Lammergeyers now came flying round, but did not evince any
great courage, for after | had hurled some bits of rock at them,
the male went off altogether, and the female only hovered about
at some distance. The young Pathan now got into the nest
and walked about init. It was a large structure of sticks and
completely filled up the hollow, or cave, in which it was placed.
Tt was lined with locks of the hair of hill goats, on which the
eggs were placed; there was also one piece of cloth in the nest,
some blue cotton stuff, by which I was ,eminded of this bird’s
relationship to Neophron. ‘The eggs were set, I should think,
from 15 to 18 days.”

The only 2 eggs that I, as yet, possess of this species, I owe
to Captain Cock, and these were taken as above described. They
are excessively like one of the common types of the eggs
Neophron Ginginianus, but of course immensely larger. Both
eges are a rather broad oval, somewhat pointed towards one
end. ‘The length of the bird’s tail and wings, give it an ap-
pearance of size which would lead one to expect.avery large .
egg, and Captain Cock was disappointed at finding the eggs
s> much smaller than those of Gyps Himalayensis. ‘The fact
is, however, that Gyps Himaiayensis averages some 20 Ibs in
weight, while the Lammergeyer may average 12 or 13 Ibs; and
the eggs of this latter are fully as large as average eggs of Gyps
Bengalensis, which bird averages about the same in weight.
The texture of the 2 eggs I have, is rather coarse, but the shells
are more compact, and less chalky than those of the Neophron.

Neither of the eggs has the slightest gloss. Both have a
nearly uniform pale salmon buff ground, here and there mottled
peler. One is devoid of all markings, the other is somewhat
thinly blotched, clouded, and spotted, in all parts, with pale
reddish brown, not much darker than the ground colour.
Doubtless, to judge from the analogy of the Neophron, far more
highly coloured examples occur. ‘The colour of the shell, when
held up against the light, is pale dingy yellow, as in Neophron,
thereby further exhibiting the close affinities of these two species,
and separating them from the true Vultures, all of whose shells,
when seen against the light, are, to the best of my belief, a
more or less dark sea green.

The eggs measure 3°43 X 2°68 and 3:05 x 2°52.

It seems probable that, asin the case of the Egyptian Vulture,
two isthe number of eggs most commonly laid, and that three
may, not very unfrequently, be found.

38

At present only two distinct species of Gypactus, are com-
monly admitted; viz. G. Barbatus, of HKurope, northern and
western Africa, the Taurus, Persia, Cabool and the Himalayahs,
and G. Meridionalis from Abyssinia, Arabia and the Cape ; which
latter has the lower part of the tarsus bare. On the principle,
however, that constant differentix, even though small, constitute
a separate species, I am inclined to think that the Cabool and
Himalayan bird should be specifically separated.

Captain Hutton named the Afghan bird, so common in the
Bolan pass and at Quetta in the Shawl valley, G. Hemachalanus,
distinguishing it chiefly I believe by its dark pectoral band or
gore vet. Col. “Tytler who was with Captain Hutton m Afgha-
nistan, and who shote these birds there, assures me that “the
specimens procured at Simla and elsewhere in the Himalayahs,
both by himself and myself, have the pectoral band fully as
well marked as in the Cabool birds.

Dr. Jerdon says that our bird is said to differ from the Huropean
bird in the dark gorget, more tawny hue of the lower surface, and
in the Ist quill being 3:5 inches shorter than the 5rd ; whilst in
the Kuropean bird itis said only to be a very little shorter. I have
only seen a single specimen of the HWuropean bird, shot in 1847
in the Bernese Alps. This one has scarcely a trace of any gorget,
and has the chin, throat and sides of neck, which in our bird are
always, in the adult, (at least in all the 20 odd specimens I have
examined) a rusty red (often very bright and deep,) a pale rusty
white. The talons too appear less curved and powerful in the
European than in our bird. As regards the length of the
primaries, the Huropean bird had the first primary fully 2 2 inches
shorter than the third, while m six adult Biel an birds
the Ist primary varied from 4 to 5:75 inches shorter than the
8rd, while the 2nd, which in the Behe bird (I refer to the
single specimen that I have examined) is almost equal to the
8rd, in these Indian birds varied from 1:5 to 0°5 shorter than
this latter. Again Dr. Bree gives the length of the Huropean
bird at 4 feet 7 inches. I have as yet succeeded in obtaiming no
individual (and I have killed some superb adults) exceeding
4 feet 1 inch im length. Adult males average 44 inches, females
47 and 48.

In Europe it would seem to carry off children, and to bear
away Foxes, Lambs, and the like, but in the Himalayahs (re-
jecting good Bishop Heber’s story, which the present native
inhabitants of Almora altogether discredit), I have heard no
authenticated instance, of its carrying off anything larger than a
Marmot or a Iitten, or of its being as a rule other than a carrion or
‘offal eater. Let a cow or goat die anywhere, and the Lammer-

39

geyers are down as soon as the Vultures, and, by no means be-
have, as Dr. Bree says of the European bird, in a cowardly
fashion. On the contrary the Lammergeyer holds its own against
all comers, including a stray Adjutant or two, which are often to
be seen in the summer and autumn, even as high up in the
Himalayahs as Simla. It is only proper, however, to note here,
what Dr. Stoliczka says on this subject: “The Bearded Vulture
is common all through the Sutlej valley and through W. Tibet ;
it generally retires in winter from the northern part of W. Tibet
to the more southern hills, but permanently resides about Chini.
The Chukor, Caccabis Chukor, and other partridges are its
favourite meal. It is, however, well known, that this bearded
eagle often accepts any other refuse of bones and meat, being
very often seen near the houses of hill stations.”

“ When marching through Lahul, in 1865, the people assured
me that it very often carries off lambs and kids, and is very
bold at the time of breeding. The natives of Kulu, about
Plash and the eastern districts, prize the meat very highly,
which is not only eaten by the low class, the Kolies, but also by
the higher class the Kaists. They generally tie a Chukor, on a
short string, and stick four or five sharpened spears in the
ground crossing each other, so as partially at least to cover the
bird, and at the same time to radiate with their points in differ-
end directions. The eagle is watched from some distance and
as soon as it throws itself with its usual great force and velocity
upon the prey, it is overpowered with large clubs before it can
extricate the spears from its body.”

This account surprises me, I have always observed the Lam-
mergeyer descend very gingerly, a few feet off anything it
fancied and then walk up to its food; perhaps, when after
living game it may be less careful and sluggish.

I am not the only person who considers the popular ac-
counts of the daring and ferocity of the Lammergeyer gross
exaggerations: our two best Himalayan observers come to
precisely the same conclusion.—I will first quote what Captain
Hutton writes to me: “These birds are common in the hills,
from the Doon to the snowy range; it breeds for several
seasons together in the same nest, sometimes giving the old
nest a few repairs. ‘The spots selected at Mussooree are of
the most dangerous description, and often perfectly inac-
eessible, while even in the least dangerous spots, a man
must be lowered down over the rock by a stout rope to
ascertain if there are either eggs or young ones in the nest;
since that, being generally placed in a wide fissure in the per-

oO
pendicular face of the cliff, is not visible from above.

4.0

“One nest was found on the 30th March, and a boy was
lowered down over the rock, but found that the cleft and nest of
two years previously had been abandoned, and a new nest
had been made in another cleft lower down, and in which was
one young bird partially fledged. Not being prepared to
rob the nest at that time, the nestling was left, especially as
the old birds were near, and their movements somewhat
hreatening. On the following morning, the lad was again
persuaded to descend, and as the old birds were absent, he
secured his prize. The nest was built on a ledge of rock
within a cleft, and was composed of a thick bed of sticks, lined
with grass, old rags, bones and what appeared to have been a
portion of a sheet. There was nothing im the shape of food,
except part of the wing of some large bird.

“‘ During the present year (1869) a nest was prepared in the
very same spot, and was finished on the 24th February; on
the 10th of March it was visited, the old birds being at hand,
but no eggs were found. It was visited again once after
this and found to be deserted. Towards the end of March,
another nest was visited, but it had been blown off the rock
in a gale of wind.

“The young bird captured three or four years ago, had the
bill of a horn colour; pupil of eye black, with a broad
hazel brown iris bordered by a narrow dull red ring; down,
pale fulvous brown, the feathers on the shoulders and tail,
dark black; those of the back, buff-coloured ; top of the head,
flat and black; legs and feet dull leaden, with strong black,
and shining sharp pointed claws. A short pointed black
beard of bristles, depending from the angle beneath the lower
mandible. One of the toes of the right foot had a bunch or
tuft of feathers on it.

This individual grew up to be a fine bird, and truly astonish-
ing was it to see the quantity, and the great size of the bones it
swallowed. At last when fully fledged, as I did nct want the
bird, I gave it its liberty ; but go it would not. One night it
would roost upon the ridge of the bungalow, another night on a
neighbouring tree or outhouse ; then he took a fancy to a bazar
close at hand: there he stayed the greater part of the day
and returned home at night. Being at last driven from the
bazar, he became a kind of highwayman, sitting upon the
public roads, until some Goorkha sepoys at last seized him,
and took him to Dehra.

“Marvellous, indeed, are the stories told both by natives and
Buropeans of the destructive habits of this bird, and both ae-
counts, I fully believe, have scarcely a grain of truth in them ; all

41

all I can positively say upon the point however, is, that I have
known the bird well in its native haunts for thirty years and
more, and never once, in all that time, have I seen it
stoop to anything but a dead carcase ; as to carrying off hens,
dogs, lambs or children, I say the feat would be utterly
impossible, for the creature does not possess the strongly
curved sharp pointed claws of the Hagle, but the far straighter
and perfectly blunt talons of the Vulture. Day after day, I
have seen them sweeping by along the face of the hill like the
wandering albatross at sea, and like it, ever in search of offal,
and even that, when found, is not swept off the ground after
the manner of the kite, but the bird alights upon it, as it would
upon a bullock, and then, if the morsel is worth having, de-
vours it on the spot, and again launches itself upon its wide-
spread wings and sails away as before. ‘There is no sudden
stooping upon a living prey as with the Falcon tribe, but its
habits and manners in this respect are, as far as I have seen,
entirely Vulturine. There seems to be some difference be-
tween our bird and the Alpine one of Europe in the selection
of a breeding-place ; for, while in the Alps, the bird is said
to breed within the higher and more inaccessible mountains ;
here at Mussooree, they frequent the outer and less solitary
mountain glens, and often the immediate vicinity of a village ;
yet never do the people complain of the loss of either lambs
or fowls or attacks on children. Sometimes if a native finds that
you are anxious to obtain information, he will at once, as in other
matters, spin a yarn-clean off the reel without there being an
atom of truth in it. This, however, must be regarded simply
as one of the idiosyneracies of this intelligent people ! Not-
withstanding the weight of authority against me! I still persist
in regarding our bird as distinct from the Huropean G.
Barbatus.”

Mr. R. Thompson writes that ‘“ This species breeds from
November to February, late in which latter month the young
may sometimes be seen; it selects ledges of precipices, at
elevations of 5,000 feet and upwards. ‘The nest, a huge plat-
form, some four or five feet in diameter, is constructed of small
sticks and thick twigs, placed so as to form a footing for the
young, and is lined with pieces of cloth, rags, &e. I have fre-
quently noticed parent birds with only a single young one
following them, and I am inclined to think that they seldom
rear more.

“ T have been a close and constant observer of the habits of
these birds for the last 12 years, and I confess I never saw
the bearded Vulture attack or come down to a living animal

42

They have repeatedly sailed past close to my nets, when I have
had live fowls and pigeons picketed as lures for Hawks and
Eagles. They have passed within a few feet of these, without
once showing a desire to pick up any of the birds, and this
too on the tops of high mountains, in a perfectly wild country,
with no human habitation within miles. Surely, if the birds
had a natural desire for such food, it was temptingly laid out
for them. On the contrary, the Lammergeyer will at once
come down on a well-cleaned carcass, a heap of bones, or the
skeletons of smaller mammalia. I once killed one that was
picking up, and swallowing soup bones behind my cook-house.
I have sometimes seen them stop in their quarterings of a hill
side, and settling down, pick up a bone, swallow it, and fly off
again, recommencing their careful survey of the hill side,
doubtlessly, for more bones. At Paoree, in the interior of
Ghurwal, in the height of winter when snow lay on the ground,
I had the carcasses of several bears thrown out on a little
ridge not far from my house. Invariably after the vultures
had cleaned them, they were attacked by the Lammergeyer,
some of which I shot in the act of tugging at the tough sinews
and tendons left by the other Vultures. In Ghurwal, the
Lammergeyer is known to the natives as the Hdrrphoor, i. e.
bone-breaker. A name well borne out by a habit of the bird,
which I have verified by actual observation. It picks up a
rather large-sized bone with which it soars high up into the
air, and then by dropping it on a ledge of rock smashes it,
when it descends, picks up the fragments and swallows them.
It is only two years since I saw this again done under my
own eye at Khoorpa Tal.

“The Lammergeyer is naturally of a very shy disposition,
though when its object is to secure some tempting morsel, it
will pass within a few feet of one.

‘“‘In the commencement of the breeding season, 7. e., when
the birds first begin to pair, they may be seen swooping at
each other and turning over on their backs. Sometimes one
darts up towering to a considerable height with a graceful sweep-
ing curve, when the other comes down from a greater height, and
meets it at the apex of its ascent. So on the pair continue till lost
to sight in the azure of the sky. I have usually observed this
kind of courtship to commence after the breaking up of the rainy
season, and continue to about the end of October.

“There must be, of course, some foundation for the many
statements that have been put forth as to the rapacious character
of this bird. But this foundation, I believe, to consist in the
natives constantly attributing the depredations committed by

43

Entolmetus Bonellii, Limnetus Nipalensis, and Aquila
Chrysztus to the Lammergeyer. The first and second of these
will carry of fowls, ducks, pigeons, and other poultry readily,
and do so whenever and wherever they can get at them.
Aquila Chryszetus will kill and carry off young deer and kids,
as I have myself seen. Entolmetus Bonellii will, as readily,
knock over a young deer, full grown hare, or snap up a
monkey, as he will a duck or hen, indeed I have myself seen
them do it. In all such cases the poor Hdrrphoor is always put
forward as the guilty party by the Shikaris who, at times,
will frame the most exaggerated charges against the finest yet
most harmless of our hill birds.

“The structure of the Lammergeyer’s feet, hardly I think,
admits of its killing and carrying off living prey. I believe that
a great deal of what has been absurdly written about its depre-
dations might well be refuted by studying the anatomical struc-
ture of its feet.”

On the whole, I am at present inclined to think we ought to
separate our Indian bird asa distinct species; if so, Hutton’s
name G. Hemachalanus will I fancy stand.

Mr. Gurney says that the young birds from the Himalayahs,
have arow of small feathers running down the outer side of the
mid toe, half way down the first jomt. I have been able to
find no trace of this in any of the five this year’s birds that I
have recently examined, and I would direct the attention of
Indian observers to this alleged peculiarity.* It may prove to
have been only a monstrosity in Mr. Gurney’s specimen.

Some natives at Almora first drew my attention to the
fact. noticed’ above by Mr. Thompson that the Lammergeyer
habitually drops large bones from a considerable height,
on to the rocks, with the object, they assert, of breaking
them and getting at the marrow. I myself, on one occasion,
actually saw one of these birds drop a large shin bone of an
ox in this way ; but, whether it was my presence or what, I
cannot say, he made no attempt to follow up the operation,
but sailed straight away, having I thought at the time
merely dropped the bone, (which though fresh was quite
bare), because he found it to be clean picked. One thing is
certain, viz. that this bird sometimes devours what it has in its
claws, as it flies, much as kites will do. This I have twice
myself witnessed, and Captain Hutton has recorded the same
fact, it may be that they pick the bones as they go along, and
drop them when nothing remains on them; by no means in-
variably descending on the fragments. If, however, they only
occasionally do this, and this Mr. Thompson proves, it would

* But see Capt. Hutton’s remarks, supra.

4A,

be sufficient to account for the belief, (above noticed), which I
have found prevalent in many parts of the Himalayahs, and
which is general to this day in Hurope.

Mr. Tristram says, “ Incidentally as natural history is men-
tioned in Holy Scripture, yet even there we have ten distinct
Hebrew names for raptoral birds, several of which are at once
recognizable in the vernacular Arabic of the country. They are
first, “ peres” 7. e. ‘the breaker,’ translated in our version.
‘ Ossifrage,’ a name, admirably adapted to express the remark-
able and well-known habit of the Lammergeyer, of dropping its
prey, whether mammals, serpents, but especially tortoises, from
great heights to break their bones or shells.”

“ Although the name has been applied in modern scientific
nomenclature to one of the eagles, there can be no doubt but
that the Ossifraga of the Latin authors, and of the authorized
version, is to be identified with the Gypaete.”

In the Himalayahs, these birds are not difficult to snare. Mr.
R. Thompson mentions that he has often caught them, and
that quite recently, seeing a pair come down, to the carcase of a
cow, he went and laid a few snares round it and caught both
birds in little more than an hour.

Even if our bird be specifically different from the European
one, it is so closely allied to it, that anything in regard to the
nidification of the latter, must be interesting to us. Dr. Bree
gives us the following account:—

“'The Lammergeyer builds in places equally inaccessible to
naturalists, and bullets! Its nest is genious; the substratum
is formed of a mass of straw, fern and stalks, lymg upon a
number of sticks and branches laid cross ways one upon another.
The nest, which rests upon the under-layer, is composed of
branches woven into the shape of a wreath, and lined with
down and moss, and the contents of this part alone, would fill
the largest hay cloth. Very early in the year, the female lays
three or four large white eggs, spotted with brown, of which
only two generally are hatched. The young birds are covered
with a whitish down, and their huge ill-proportioned crops and
maws, give them an ugly and shapeless appearance.”’

I must confess that I regard the moss and down, and
wreath of branches, (why not of “roses” at once?) in the
above extract as somewhat apocryphal. I cannot say that
I have, as yet, met with any Vulturine birds of prey indulging
in this goldfinch type of architecture. I also doubt the four
eggs, although it is possible that, according to the Rev. H.
Tristram’s hypothesis (that where particular birds are very rare,
they lay more eggs than where they are common), European

45

Lammergeyers (which now alas are becoming yearly, “ few by
degrees and sorrowfully fewer’) may have taken to laying
double the number of eggs that their confreres (I ought perhaps
says conseurs) lay elsewhere.

I don’t know, by the way, that I quite understand this theory
of Mr. 'Tristram’s. Is it supposed that the poor things, viewing
sadly the approaching extinction of their long descended race,
make extra philoprogenitive exertions to avert such a catastro-
phe? or is it that the struggle for existence diminishing, the
birds get such unusual rations, that excessive fecundity is super-
induced ?

In the Eastern Atlas, one, seems the normal number of eggs
laid. Mr. Salvin tells us (Ibis, 1859), “ The first opportunity
I had of observing this finest of birds, was in the neighbourhood
of Sonk Harras in the first week in April. In a ramble in
search of a spot for our encampment we discovered an eyrie
in one of the stupendous cliffs that characterize that district.
It was quite inaccessible, and we had to bear our disappointment,
as well asa good wetting, and return to the hotel (if the house
where we put up may be designated by such a title), after an
almost fruitless day. We were not then aware that the eggs
of this species had long been hatched. It would appear that
this bird, like the Gyps Fulvus, se/dom, if ever, lays more than one
egg; no instance of more than one young has ever occurred in
the nests visited.”

Mr. Simpson, in his ornithological notes from Mesolonghi and
southern Etolia, tells us of an unsuccessful attack on a Lammer-
geyer’s nest which, on the Ist of March, contained an ego,
supposed to be near hatching.

In the Ibis for 1862, it is mentioned that Herr Meves had, by
a simple chemical test, ascertained the red colouring in this
bird’s feathers, as also the rustiness observable at times in the
feathers of the common Crane, (Gus Cinerea) to be due to a
superficial deposit of oxide of iron ; as also, that the colouring
matter on the eggs, arose from the same cause. Herr Meves
suggested, that the stain on the feathers might be owing to the
birds bathing im water containing iron in solution; but my
belief is, that the Lammergeyer is a very dirty bird, (it swarms
with vermin to such a degree, that cats and the like will seldom
touch it when dead,) and never washes! I have been watching
this bird, off and on, for the last twenty years, and I have
never yet seen it bathe ; nor have I ever yet met with any one,
amongst the numerous intelligent native sportsmen whom I
have had to do with in the Himalayahs, who has witnessed
such an operation. Certainly iron does enter into the com-

46

position of the colouring matter of the feathers, (I have tested
it myself) as also into the red colouring on Neophron’s and
kite’s eggs, but my idea is, that in both cases the iron is derived
from the blood, and not from any ferruginous streams. Many
birds, notably the grey goose and the common teal, very often
have the feathers of the lower parts strongly tinged with rusty,
and here too an oxide of iron enters into the composition of the
colouring matter. How it gets there, is a question well worthy
of investigation.

The Lammergeyer, as Mr. Brookes remarks, has a habit of
quartering the side of a hill, and working it backwards and
forwards, as steadily and regularly as a good pointer will a
turnip field, and these are the times when they can easily be
shot, since if you notice carefully how they are beating, and then
when they are away on the opposite side of the tract they are
working, sit quietly down in some bush or beside some rock, in
the line of their next tack, they will come past you unsuspi-
ciously, and often within twenty yards. They are birds that,
flying towards you, take away an incredible amount of the
heaviest shot in their deep breasts; but once on the top of Deo
Dhoura (Kumaon) coming to the edge of a little cliff which
overhung two tiny Buddhist temples, on the stone (so called)
umbrella of one of which, some twenty yards below me sat a fine
male, I knocked him over dead with a loose charge of No. 10
shot, as, altogether unaware of my presence, he sat (his back
towards me) proudly overlooking the vast valley that lay
beneath us.

T consider that in its habits, and gait, (especially in its manner
of walking about and holding its tail &c., when feeding on the
ground,) this bird is more closely allied to the Neophrons than
to any other Vulturine type. Dr. Jerdon fully concurs with
me in this matter, and had independently noted it. I may
remark that one of those shot by me at Simla had gorged
itself on human ordure.

The structure of the nest and the eggs, which, except in size,
are, as already noticed, precisely similar to those of some types
of the Neophrons, further confirms the close relationship of
these two genera.

While on the subject of affinities, I cannot help alluding to
the strong resemblance that Gypetus externally bears to
Attagen. This may be merely superficial, (and the weak, half-
webbed feet of Attagen, and slender larine (?) bill would lead us
to believe such to be the case), but still I should like to see
skeletons of the two types compared. In their method of
sailing, I must note, that on the only occasion on which I

AT

saw an Attagen (Ariel, I believe) on the wing, I fancied that
there was a strong resemblance between the two genera.

As one difference between the European and Indian bird
appears to consist in the smaller size of the latter. I give exact
measurements derived from a number of specimens procured in
various parts of the Himalayahs.

Length, from 44 to 49. Expanse, 99 to 110. Weight,
10 tbs. to 16 Ibs., average about 12 Tbs., Wing, from 30 to
34; the 3rd primary, sometimes the 2nd and 38rd, sometimes
the 4th and 3rd the longest. Ist primary from 3 to 5 shorter,
never less; 2nd primary from 1 shorter to sub-equal, 4th
at times sub-equal generally from 1 to 2, shorter. Tail
of 12 feathers. Length of tail from vent, from 21 to 25;
longest tail feathers exceed shortest by from 5 to 8. Tar-
sus 3°9 to 4°7. Foot, greatest length, from 6°8 to 8;
greatest width, from 5:2 to 6:3; mid toe froms to 3°6;
its claw, along curve, from 1 to 1°6 ; hind toe, from 1:4 to 2;
its claw along curve, from 1°45 to 2°1; inner toe from 1°5 to
2; its claw along curve, from 1°5 to 2-05. Bill straight
from edge of cere from 1:9 to 2-4. Bill, along curve from edge
of cere, from 2°5 to 3:2; from gape from 4 to 4°7; width
at gape, from 2°5 to 2°9; height at margin of cere, from 0°85
to 1; length of cere, from 1°35 to 1-6. Distance by which the
closed wings fall short of end of tail, from 4 to 6. Distance by
which lower tail coverts fall short of tail, from 8°9 to 10°5.

Of a fine adult male killed, September 3rd, the feet were
plumbeous, the claws pale greenish horny. The eyelids dark
plumbeous brown. The irides bright, very pale orange. (In
some I have found them straw-coloured, but I have never seen
them white without either a red or yellow tinge.) The bill
was bluish horny at gape, greenish horny beyond, and dusky
on point. Sclerotic membrane blood red. Above ; Lores,
nareal bristles, a patch over the eye anda line joining the
hinder portions of these patches, black. The top of the head
white, with a tinge of rufous, and a few of the feathers black.
Back of the head and neck and sides of latter pale ferruginous ;
feathers about gape whitish mixed with black ; a black stripe
from gape about 1:°5 long. Lower neck, (behind), upper back
and lesser wing coverts, a rich brown, white shafted and conspi-
cuously centered with white, or in some, fawn colour; lower back
and upper tail coverts deep brown. ‘Tail, quills, and larger
coverts, deep brown, with white shafts, many of the feathers
powdered as it were with silver grey. Scapulars dark brown,
more or less frosted with silver grey. Below; a conspicuous
tuft of black bristles, (the longest fully 1 inch in length,) on the

483

chin. General hue, bright ferruginous, richest on throat, neck,
middle of breast and abdomen, and paling, (becoming in places
almost white), on sides, flanks, vent and lower tail coverts. A. few
feathers of the throat and lower chin, dark brown. A conspi-
cuous, but somewhat imperfect, pectoral gorget, formed by many
of the feathers being broadly tipped with dark brown. Larger
axillaries dark brown, white-shafted, with a broad central
white stripe, which, in the smaller axillaries, leaves only a
very narrow brown margin. ‘Tail, beneath, deep brown, quills
greyish brown, under wing-coverts conspicuously white shafted
and with a narrow stripe on each side of the shaft also white ;
which stripe expands at the tip into a sort of spot or drop; a
small patch of rufous on the carpal joint.

The young birds are all hatched, by the 1st of April, many
by the beginning of March or even earlier, and towards the
close of August or during September, they assume their first
fresh plumage. I have seen no description of the freshly
moulted young bird, although the plumage is very charac-
teristic, and widely different from that, of any other stage of
plumage. The legs, feet, claws and bill, are much as in the
adult, but the irides are a pale yellowish brown. ‘The whole
head and neck a// round, is deep blackish brown; on the nape
and cheeks positively black, but in the lores, cheeks, forehead,
and sides of lower mandible, some tiny whitish feathers are inter-
mingled, and some of the feathers have white bases which,
showing through, give a mottled appearance to those parts.
A few of the feathers, distributed over a triangular crop patch,
are yellowish brown, tipped pale buffy yellow. The whole of
the upper back presents a mottled appearance: some of the
feathers being deep purplish brown, white shafted, some being a
rather pale clove brown, also white shafted, some being white,
and some buffy white, and some a mixture of these colours. The
lower back and upper tail coverts, a nearly uniform moderately
dark clove brown. The scapulars, quills, winglet, and greater
coverts, deep chocolate brown, with a purplish gloss, all white
shafted, the quills and tail conspicuously so. The outer webs of
many of the quills towards the base, brushed with buffy white, and
similarly, both webs of the centre tail feathers, and the. outer
webs of some of the lateral tail feathers, much streaked and
clouded with buffy white towards the bases. Lesser and
median coverts, a somewhat less deep brown than the rest of
the wings, all pale shafted ; many of them with a minute fulvous
white tipping, and three or four in each wing with broad, pure
white tips. Beneath, the whole of the breast, sides, flanks, ab-
domen, thigh coverts, and lower tail coverts, a pale somewhat clove

49

eoloured brown, contrasting strongly with the black of the
throat and neck, a few of the breast feathers tinged with a
darker brown, and broadly tipped with fulvous white ; ; several
of the flank feathers, and upper thigh coverts, broadly tipped
with pure white. The whole wing lining, a uniform, somewhat
dark brown.

No. 8. Falco Peregrinus, Get.
Tue PEREGRINE

Of the breeding of this bird in India, little is known. “ Mr.
Layard,” I quote Dr. Jerdon, “mentions the Peregrine as
breeding in Ceylon in January, and Dr. Adams says, that he
found the nest on a tree on the banks of the Indus, below
Ferozpoor, but L[imagine,” continues Dr. Jerdon, “ that in both
cases an old Laggar (fF. Jugger) has been mistaken for the
Bhyvi.” As to Ceylon, I can offer no opinion, although it is
difficult to mistake a Peregrine for a Laggar at any stage, but as
regards the Indus, I think Dr. Adams was very likely correct.
When marching between Ferozpoor and Mooltan, I saw a
trained Peregrine, which the owner assured me, had been taken
from a nest on the banks of the Indus near Leia; and I have
been informed by an officer well acquainted with our bird, that
it breeds on the banks of the Cabool and Swat rivers, close to
the Peshawur valley. I have also a nestling bird just able to
fly, shot by a native shikaree somewhere in the interior of the
Himalayahs, not far from Kotegurh ; proving that the bird does
breed in the Hills. Further observations are necessary. I
should say that our birds laid in May, or not earlier than the
later part of April, because of a fine pair that I shot early in
April at the Sambhur lake; (where there were several,) neither
ovaries, nor testicles were at all developed ; and the native sports-
men of the place assured me, that they rarely left the lake before
the middle of April. The migratory ducks leave earlier, all
had left when I was there, but Gulls, Terns and Flamingoes were
there i myriads, and these and the Peregrines all leave, I
was assured, together; and my informants, though wholly unedu-
cated were wood observers, as they pointed out, even on the
wing, the difference between Xenia Bruneicephala and Rida-
bunda ; both of which, with Chrotcocephalus Ichthyetus, were very
plentiful about the lake.

In Europe, they build on rocks and cliffs ; by preference
along the sea coast. ‘They form a large nest of sticks, and lay,

50

Yarrel says, four eggs, averaging about two inches in length, by
1:67 in breadth ; mottled all over with pale reddish brown.
Those that I have seen, varied nearly as much in depth, and
intensity of colouring, as do those of Huleo Jugger.

Although I have reasons, as above explained, for believing
that some of our birds do breed in the far North-West, and in
the Himalayahs, I yet do not doubt that the majority of them
go further north. The Peregrine is rather a northern bird, not
rare, for instance right up to the north cape, as Old Bushman
informs us; and I should guess that many of our birds breed in
the neighbourhood of the Caspian Sea.

Captain C. H. T. Marshall says, “Do you know that the Bhyri,
about the time of its migration, always sleeps facing the north ?
It sits in that direction even during the day time, if possible ;
but at night, it invariably keeps its head pointing northwards.”
I cannot say that I place much faith in this native story com-
municated by my friend Captain C. Marshall, but I am bound
to confess, that the two Peregrines that I shot at Sambhur, in
_ the dusk of the evening, on the trees where they always roosted,
certainly were sitting facing the north, although what little
wind was blowing came from the south-west.

I have (both in Col. Tytler’s museum and elsewhere,) had.
opportunities of comparing a number of Huropean and Indian
specimens, and must add my feeble testimony to Mr. Blyth’s
dictum, that they are clearly, all referrible, to one, and the same
species. I would say more. I cannot agree with Mr. Blyth,
that the adults are always distinguishable at a glance. I have
before me two adult males, one shot in England, the other near
Umballa, which are undistinguishable. I do no¢ find, after com-
paring a large series, either that the Huropean bird has always
more rufous on the lower parts than the Indian, or that the
cross bars are always much larger and stronger, or that the
breast is more conspicuously spotted : all these points vary in both
races, the two latter solely, as I believe, according to age. But
the fact I suspect is, that m Europe, Peregrines are rarely
allowed to live to any great age, being there continually shot
at, and in many places I might almost say, hunted down;
while in Asia, except by a few “ misguided Kuropeans,” Pere-
erines are never shot; and though numbers are caught for hawk-
ing purposes, they are commonly turned loose again after one, or
more years; and thus, while the large majority of Huropean
specimens exhibit more or less traces of nonage, a fair propor-
tion of our Indian specimens are of really o/d birds, in which
the whole chin, throat, and upper breast, are spotless white ; the
spots on the thigh coverts reduced to mere triangular dots ; the

51

abdomen, with only a few scattered dots here and there ; the
sides, axillaries, and wnder-wing coverts, with the markings
reduced to narrow arrow-head bars, rarely extending quite to
the margins of the webs; and with the lower tail coverts spot-
less, with only, perhaps here and there, a faint trace of where a
bar has been.

In the next younger stage, (and this is that, in which the
so-called adult birds appear to be generally shot in Wngland
and western Hurope,) the chin and throat are spotless, but the
whole breast has very narrow, linear, lanceolate, dark, central
stripes to the feathers; the abdomen is well marked with pretty
large black brown spots; the thigh coverts are barred with
narrow transverse bars, far more conspicuous and closer than
even in the axillaries of the older stage; while the sides, axilla-
ries, and under-wing coverts are firmly barred with bars, broader
and darker than in the older bird, and which moreover, extend
quite to the margins of the feathers. The lower tail coverts are
all distinctly barred, but the bars are very narrow, and in colour
they are greyish brown. In the first described stage moreover,
the head and nape are blacker, and the white markings on the
inner webs of the primaries, much broader than in the second.
From the large number of specimens, obtained in upper India,
in stages intermediate between these two, as compared with
those exactly answering these descriptions, I conclude that the
bird, probably takes a long time, perhaps many years, to pass
from one to the other. In the next younger stage, each feather of
the breast has an ovato-lanceolate, clove-brown drop near the tip.
The feathers of the whole of the abdomen, have large brown
subterminal spots, and many of them a broad bar above this.
The thigh coverts are far more broadly and decidedly barred,
than even in the last described stage, while in the sides, axilla-
ries, and lower wing coverts, (especially the two latter,) the
brown bars are as broad as the interspaces, and the lower tail
coverts are much more strongly, though not more closely barred,
than in the preceding. In both the first described stages, the
central tail feathers are slatey blue, tipped white, with a sub-
tipping and margin of blackish brown,and bars of the same colour,
or traces of them, projecting inwards, towards, but usually not
extending quite to, the centre of the feathers; but in the
youngest of the three stages, the central tail feathers are deep
brown, tipped with rufous, with well-marked transverse grey
bars, most conspicuous towards the base. Other younger stages
are well known.

I have not above alluded to the difference in the amount of
rufous, observable on the lower parts of different individuals.

52

I have come to the conclusion, that this has no necessary con-
nection, with the age of the bird; but varies, according either to
season, (in relation to the state of the reproductive organs) or
climate, (with reference to temperature and moisture) or food,
or perhaps all combined. Certain it is, that, with numerous
specimens before one, no rule about the more rufous character
of the English bird can be absolutely maintained. Col. Tytler
has an undoubted Hnglish specimen, with less rufous than any
of the numerous Indian ones, that I have seen, and I have in
my own collection an old female, shot near Lahore, fully as
rufous as any of the six Huropean birds that I have compared
it with, and more rufous than any, but-one of these. It is said
that northern specimens run larger, than those of lower lati-
tudes; but this too I question, and for facility of comparison,
T subjoin exact measurements of a fine, but not old Indian
female, which to judge from Yarrell and Old Bushman, cannot
fall far short of even Scandinavian examples.

Length, 20°25 inches. Expanse, 39. Wing, 13°25 ; (the second
and third primaries equal and longest, Ist 0°25 shorter, 4th 0°73
shorter.) Tail, 6°75 (exterior feathers 0°62 shorter than central
feather.) Tarsus, (feathered in front for nearly 1 inch) 2°12.
Foot, greatest length 4:62; greatest width 2°75; mid toe 2°06,
its claw 0°81; hind toe 1:0, its claw 0°94. Bill, straight 1:12 ;
along curve 1°37 ; from gape 1°31; width at gape 1:25 ; height at
front at edge of cere 0°5 ; length of cere 0°25. Weight, 1 ib 13 oz.

T also add a full description, as that will show exactly, the
stage of European bird with which it should be compared.
Legs and feet, pale yellowish brown. Claws black, outer toe claw
larger than mid, or interior toe claw. Inides deep brown. Bill,
pale blue at base of upper mandible, greenish at base of lower
mandible, bluish black at both tips; cere, dingy yellowish.

The whole of the top of the head, back of the neck, and
a broad patch below the eye, covering almost the whole of the
cheek, a very deep slatey blue, almost black on the cheek stripe,
the whole ofthe back of the neck, upper back scapulars, and
upper surface of the wings slatey blue, all the feathers obscurely
barred with a lighter hue, and many of them tipped and
margined somewhat paler; middle and lower back, rump and
upper tail coverts, bluish grey, conspicuously barred with broad
arrow head bars, of darker, or slatey blue. ‘ail feathers all
conspicuously tipped with white, centre tail feathers, and outer
webs of the rest dingy blue, or grey, with from seven to nine broad,
transverse, dark slatey blue bars. Inner webs of lateral tail
feathers, of a paler ground colour, contrasting more strongly
therefore, with the bars, which are similar on both webs, though

53

possibly, somewhat darker on the inner webs. Inner webs of
the quills with numerous long oval patches, or incomplete trans-
verse bars, of whiter greyish, or rufous white. Chin, throat,
upper breast, and a patch over the terminal half of the ear-
coverts, beside or behind the dark ear-patch, white with a buffy,
or even pinkish tinge, some few of the feathers having a trace
of linear, dark brown, central stripes. Lower breast, and middle of
abdomen, still more rufous, each feather having a conspicuous
subterminal transverse spot of dark brown, smaller on the upper,
larger on the lower feathers. The whole of the lining of the
wing, axillaries, sides, flanks, sides and lower part of abdomen,
thigh coverts, and lower tail coverts, white, conspicuouly barred
with dark brown, the bars being most numerous, and marked on
the axillaries and sides, and least conspicuous, on the lower tail,
and thigh coverts.

Dr. Jerdon, I may here note, informs me, that he cannot help
suspecting, that specimens shot on the eastern sea coast, are
larger, than those procured in the North West. It would be
interesting to obtain accurate measurements in the flesh, of nu-
merous specimens, from both localities.

Tyros continually complain, that they are unable, from Dr.
Jerdon’s descriptions, to discriminate our various species of
Indian falcons; I must confess that I think his descrip-
tions clear enough; but I will note a few points, by which,
independent of any detailed description, the five species may be
generally distinguished.

First, the Sacer so far exceeds all the others in size, that this
alone would be sufficient to identify it. The wings average
from 15 to 16 inches,* against 14:0 in / Jugger, and £.
Peregrinus, and 13:0 in Perigrinator and Babylonicus. ‘Then,
while the central tail feathers of Peregrinus, Perigrinator,
and Baby/onicus are all barred, (in different degrees according to
age) and those of Jugger are unbarred, those of Sacer, in most of
the specimens I have seen, are marked with rowndisht spots, (more

* These dimensions differ somewhat from Dr. Jerdon’s, I am aware he is
not likely to be wrong, dwt this much I can say, that mine are taken from
numerous specimens in the flesh, and have all been most carefully recorded.

+ Dr. Bree figures the Sacer with bars, but gives in his specific characters,
“spots white, ovoid and round on the tail.” Of more than a dozen specimens
that J have, or have seen, not one had the central feathers barred, all but one,
had round, or ovoidal spots on each web of the central feathers. That one,
a very young bird, had the central tail feathers, just like Jugger, unspotted
and unbarred. Is this really a young Sacer ¥ I think there is no doubt that
our Falcons want re-examining. I allow what I have above written to stand,
but I have since had reason to believe, that instead of five true Falcons, we have
eight in India, and that it will be necessary, carefully to re-write the diserimi-

BA

or less broad ovals on the laterals). Then again, the Sacer
never has much, and commonly shows scarcely any sign, of a
cheek stripe, while in all the others it is well marked. Further,
the Peregrine is distinguished at all times from the Jugger, by
its huge broad cheek patch, which in the Laggar is at most,
about a quarter of an inch broad, and by the entire absence of
barring on the centre tail feathersin F. Jugger, which absence
equally distinguishes this latter from both Perigrinator and
Babylonicus. From Babylonicus, both Perigrinator and Peregrinus
differ in the cheek stripe, which is narrow in the former, as in
the Jugger, but very broad and strongly marked in the two
latter; but Babylonicus, as far as my experience goes, is not of
the Jugger type of brown plumage, the old birds becoming
slatey, or greenish bdue, as do both Perigrinus and Perigrinator,*
while the oldest Jugger, is never more than slatey brown.

Then as to Perigrinator, and Peregrinus, the comparatively
rich rufous colouring at all ages, of the under parts, and the very
dark head and nape of the former, (whence, and not as Jerdon says
by corruption from Kohi, comes I believe the native name of
I€oeila, “ charcoal’’) at once separate the two species. There are
other distinguishing points, which I shall notice hereafter; but
these are sufficient, I think, to enable any one to discriminate the
five species, at present admitted.

Since the above was written, I have met with the following
remarks: As to the specific identity of all the Peregrines, (of the
northern Hemisphere at any rate,) in the Ibis for 1868. The
writer, Mr. J. H. Gurney is, I believe, unquestionably the first
living authority, in regard to raptorial birds.

“T have for many years made a point of examining, as careful-
ly as I have been able, as many specimens as possible of the
Peregrine Falcon, from all parts of both hemispheres, where that
widely-spread species occurs, and I have found myself entirely
unable to detect, any constant specific difference that may be
relied on, between the three supposed species: Fulco Peregrinus,
LF, Anatum, and EF. Nigriceps.

In this case, as in that of the Osprey, specimens from the Paci-
fic Coast, (where this Falcon ranges from Vancouver’s Island
northward, to Chili southward) appear to be ofa slightly small-
er average size, than those found in the countries of North

native points. I hope all who can, will send me Faleons. Most assuredly, two
species are now confounded under Sacer, and two under Perigrinator.

* This may be wrong, and the Shaheen, which becomes blue like a Pere-
grine, but has a black head, may be entitled to separation as £. Alriceps
(nobis) q. v.

55

America, lying towards the Atlantic Ocean; but I cannot think
that there is sufficient variation in this respect, to admit of speci-
fic separation.

South of Chili, in the southern part of Patagonia, and about the
straits of Magellan, a really distinct race does occur, closely al-
lied to F. Melanogenys of Australia, from which indeed, it only
differs in its slightly larger size. It is worthy of remark, that the
three southern races of Peregrine Falcons, viz. this Magellan race,
to which, I believe, no specific name has yet been given, /
Melanogenys of Australia, and £. Minor of South Africa, all agree
between themselves, and differ from the true £. Peregrinus in
having much narrower spaces, than occur in that bird, between the
dark, transverse, abdominal bars, which characterize the adult
plumage of all these Ialcons.”’

Although South Africa has a peculiar race of its own, (the /
Minor mentioned above) the real Peregrine occurs there also,
and undoubted specimens of this latter species, have been obtain-
ed at Natal, and at the Cape of Good Hope; eastward of India,
the true Peregrine occurs in Java, Sumatra, China, and Japan,
but only rarely, Mr. Wallace tells us, in the western islands of
the Archipelago.

No. 9. Falco Perigrinator, Sunpwat..
Tue SHAHEEN Falcon.

T have, as yet, no detailed information as to the breeding of
this species. ‘The bird most commonly known as the Shaheen,
in upper India, at any rate in the Himalayahs, is distinct, I
believe, from the true Perigrinator (Sund.), and to it I have,
provisionally, applied the name of /. Atriceps, (No. 9 (bis) q. v.).
The true Perigrinator, doubtless occurs in upper India, but its
real habitat is, I believe, Southern and Central India, Ff,
Babylonicus, Gurney, and L. Atriceps, nobis, being its representa-
tives in the North West.

Dr. Jerdon mentions, that the true Shaheen breeds on steep
and inaccessible cliffs, and that he has seen three eyries, one on
the Neilgherries, another, at the celebrated Hill fort of Antoor,.
and the third, at the great water-fall at Mhow. It lays its eggs, he
remarks, in March and April, and the young fly in May and
June, when they are caught by falconers.

The only other Indian Falcons, for which Perigrinator could
be mistaken, are Perigrinus and Atriceps, and how it may be at
once distinguished from the former of these two, I have indica-

4

56

ted when speaking of this bird. But there are other differences,
which, so far as the limited number of specimens that I have
examined, enables me to judge, are constant. In the first
place, the Shaheen is smaller, I have four average males before
me, two of each species, and I find the wings of the Peregrine,
12°25, and 12°87, while those of the Shaheen are only 11°47 and
11:64. Then not only are the head, nape and upper back al-
most black, far blacker than in any Peregrine that I have ever
seen; but the cheek stripe also is blacker, and proportionably to
the size of the bird, longer. Then, on the nape, a number,
(greater or less) of buffy patches are always seen, owing to the
feathers there, being buffy, with broad blackish tips, and the
buffy bases showing through. Lastly, the white bars on the
inner web of the first primary, are more numerots, and age for
age, narrower in Perigrinator, than in Peregrinus. Thus in two
specimens, one of each species, both males, and as I take it, of
much the same age, Perigrinator has thirteen white bars, each
averaging 0°15, on the first primary of a wing 11°47; while
Peregrinus has only eleven bars, averaging 0°23, on the first
primary of a wing measuring 12:5.

From Atriceps, to which it is more closely allied, it differs in
three important points. This latteris never quite so rufous beneath,
as Periyrinator often is. It has no separate cheek stripe, but
has this, the cheeks, ear-coverts, head and neck, black, all in one;
and whereas, the true adult Perigrinator has the rest of the
upper parts, slatey blue, almost unbarred, Africcps has them
closely and clearly barred with dusky slatey, as in Peregrinus.

I mentioned, when talking of the primary differences between
Peregrinus, and Perigrinator, the rufous tinge on the lower parts
of the latter bird, but it must not be supposed, that «// speci-
mens show this, as markedly as others. I have one specimen, an
adult too, the whole lower part of which, including chin and
throat, are a pure bright (but not deep) chestnut. On the other
hand, Col. Tytler has a fine specimen ; an undoubted Perigrina-
tor, which has the chin, throat, and neck, im front, pure
white; ear-coverts, and sides of neck, with only a,/ain¢ salmon
coloured tinge, towards the tips of the feathers; breast, some
feathers pure white, others, chiefly towards the sides, with a
decided, but not deep, salmon tinge; centre of abdomen alone,
pure salmon colour; vent feathers, yellowish, and only a very
very faint yellowish salmon tinge on sides, flanks, thigh coverts,
and lower tail coverts. But the head, nape, and upper back - of
this bird, are positively black ; there are the buffy patches on the
nape, and the numerous narrow primary bars, so the bird is an
unmistakeable Perigrinator, though, (if I exeept the salmon

o7

coloured patch, in the centre of the abdomen,) [ have seen many
Peregrines more rufous. This bird of Col. Tytler’s, in common
with most that I have seen, (but not all) has an obscure pale
frontal band.

Mr. R. Thompson sends me the following note, but I am by
no means sure, whether his remarks, and those which he quotes
from Major Radcliffe, H. M.’s 88th, really apply to this species,
or to F. Atriceps.

“In the Field newspaper of the 2nd of May, 1868, Major E. D.
Radcliffe, 88th Regiment, gives some interesting accounts of
the Shaheen and its habits. Amongst others, having described
one that had been kept, and moulted for fourteen years, flying
still in capital style, and killing vast quantities of game of a
miscellaneous description, he goes on to notice a habit of the
wild ones, of catching Bats, after having gone to roost with full
crops. This the Shaheen will often do, and I have known of an
instance, when the Falcon eat the Bat it had just caught. It was
apparently still hungry. The Shaheen is not the only bird of
prey that will do this, I have seen the Shikra, Wicronisus badius
eatch and kill Bats, sometimes eating, at other times throwing
them down dead. My Goshawks often fluttered at Bats, which
happened to pass close over where they were picketted, to enjoy
the cool of the evening.

“The Shaheen is an early bird. In the first gleam of day-
light one may just see it shoot past, like an arrow, at some un-
lucky early bird. Late in the evenings, it will often sit and
watch for returning flocks of Mynas, and Parrots, and having
selected one, will dash at it, surely nailing a victim, which it will
carry back to its perch and devour. It takes the Turtur risorius
more than any other bird, though Pigeons are not safe from it.
I once saw one dash into a vertical net set with a small quail fora
bait, it was late in the evening, and the Shaheen was on a tree
not a hundred yards from the net.

“‘ When used to take Pigeons, it becomes very destructive to
dove cots, usually selecting the highest mounted and best flyer
of the flock.

“ After a full meal in the daytime, or early morning, the Sha-
heen will retire to some tank or rivulet, and there enjoy a good
bath. It remains for hours seated on a tree, cleaning and dry-
ing its feathers after its ablutions.

“TJ have lately seen one, an adult, doing its best with a small
flock of wild Pigeons, without succeeding in striking a single
bird. I have seen this once or twice before, but the Falcons in
those instances were young birds, this one was an adult.”

L append exact dimensions of a male. Length, 14°87. Wing,

58

11:49 ; (second primary the longest, Ist 0°35 shorter, 3rd 0°5
shorter. Tail, 6; exterior tail feathers, 0-4 shorter than central
ones.) ‘Tarsus, 1°85. Foot, greatest length, 3-3; greatest width,
3°2; mid-toe, 1°7 ; its claw on curve, 0°8; hind toe, 0°75; its claw
on curve, 1*1 ; outer toe 12 ; its claw, 0°75; inner toe, 1 ; its claw,
0-87. Bill, straight from margin of cere, 0.72; on curve, from
cere, 0°87; from gape, 1:1; width at gape, 0°89; height, at
margin of cere, 0°4 ; width of cere, 0°3.

“This bird,’’ Mr. Blyth mentions, “is / Ruber Indicus (Aldro-
randi) and F. Communis indicus, Gmel. and undoubtedly /. Su/-
taneus, Hodgson. Mr. Layard obtained this species in Ceylon.”

No. 9. (bis). Falco Atriceps, Sp. Nov.
Tuer Buack Carp Fatcon.

The species to which I have provisionally given the above
name, closely resembles Perigrinator in size, flight and habits,
but is, I believe, distinct. I have as yet only obtained adults,
(one of which is now with my friend Mons. Jules Verreaux,)
and I can therefore only indicate the differences between full
grown birds of this and the preceding species. The whole head,
nape, cheek stripe, cheeks and sides of the head, are black,
forming one unbroken cap, and showing no separate cheek
stripe, as all our other Indian Falcons do. In this latter
respect, it differs from these, just as the Indian Hobby, (H.
Severus, Horsf.) does from the Huropean; the cheek stripe,
cheeks, and ear coverts being confluent or very nearly so. The
whole of the rest of the upper parts, are a clear Peregrine slatey
blue, closely and conspicuously barred, as in the Peregrine, with
dusky slatey, and differing in this respect from the adult Peri-
grinator, which has these parts nearly tree from bars. Beneath,
it is never so rufous as Perigrinator usually (but not inva-
riably) is, and it has the thigh coverts, and under wing coverts
closely, though narrowly, barred, while in the old Perigrinator,
the lower parts are nearly spotless. The bars in the inner webs
of the primaries are narrow and close, as in Perigrinator and, in
this respect, differ conspicuously from those of the Peregrine’s
wing.

Dr. Jerdon, to whom I showed specimens of this species,
entertained no doubt as to their differmg from any of the true
Perigrinator, that he had seen in Central and Southern India,
and remarked that, “if distinct, this is probably the Neela
Shaheen of native falconers, and may be identical with one of

59

Hodgson’s undescribed species; possibly his & Mierwrus, the
Javali Kooee.”

Although I have not been able to examine the specimens, I
have little doubt, that the two birds referred to by Dr. Jerdon,
(Vol. I. p. 26) as probably hybrids between the Peregrine and
the Shaheen, belong to this species.

Mr. Blyth remarks in the Ibis, “ Mr. J. H.. Gurney has called
our attention to the fact that an adult female, attributed to this ,
species, in the British Museum, believed to be from Nepaul, and
an adult male in the Norwich Museum from Northern India,
have a much lighter colouring on the under parts, than has
hitherto been figured or described as being the case in / Peri-
grinator. If it be not that this peculiarity is due to old age,
Mr. Gurney supposes the two specimens, just mentioned, may
belong to an undescribed species.” I cannot help thinking
that these birds also may belong to our new Africeps. Again,
My. Blyth says, that, 2. Sultaneus, Hodgson, is undoubtedly the
true EF. Perigrinator, “though a figure in one of his drawings
represents, I suspect, a stray individual of the Australian /
Melanogenys ; and such also may be Dr. Jerdon’s supposed hy-
brid falcons.”” I cannot doubt that Mr. Hodgson’s figure, thus
referred to, represents /. Atriceps, since this latter, though to my
notion unmistakably distinct, has a great general resemblance
to the Australian species.*

Mr. R. Thompson says, ‘I must say that I agree with Mr.
Hume, in thinking that we have another species; which he
names, in his catalogue, / Atriceps. J remember shooting an
adult male with a perfectly black head, the cheek stripe represen-
ted by a deep, dark, band, confluent with the ear coverts. By
way of illustrating this, I would recommend comparison with an
adult Lanius Nigriceps. I think the latter fully gives an idea
of the Falcon I killed, as regards the plumage of the bird’s
neck and head. In the south of the Mirzapoor district, one
swept close past me the other day, which I recognized as
identical with the black headed Perigrinator, which I shot a
few years ago.”

This species if, as I conceive, really distinct, is common in the
Hfimalayahs, more so, I believe, than any other of the genus
Fulco, as restricted in Dr. Jerdon’s work, and it is this species
I think, to which my friend Mr. Thompson refers, when he

* T have, however, only a single Australian specimen, which is not, I think,
adult, so that a further comparison may require me to modify my views,
but if Atriceps and Melanogenys should (which seems in the highest degree
improbable) prove to be identical, then the latter is no straggler to, but a com-
mon resident in, the Himalayahs.

60

remarks that it “begins to breed in March, some laying as
late as the commencement of May; during the whole breeding
season, the screaming and noise the birds make, betray the situa-
tion of the nest. This latter is usually found in lofty precipices
of the lower Himalayan ranges; it is placed on a ledge of rock,
often inside the hole left by the falling out from the softer
sandstone matrix, of a water worn boulder, or nodule of
igneous rock. I know several eyries to which the birds yearly
resort; one in the Kotree Dhoon, another in the gorge of the
Ramgunga, where it first leaves the hills, and a third close to
Kthoorpa Tal, near to and below Nynee Tal. I have noticed
the young birds following their parents late in June, and early
in July.”

To my friend, Capt. Cock of Dhurumsalla, I owe the eggs,
and an undoubted specimen of the female of this bird. He
gives a most interesting account of his operations. He found
the nest on a ledge of rock on the face of a most dangerous pre-
cipice. ‘The nest had for many years been occupied by the Black
Cap, but in 1868, one of the large Himalayan Vultures, G.
Fulvus, or if distinct, G. Himalayensis, (vide supra No. 3,) laid
there, and had to surrender its eggs to Captain Cock. This
year (1869) the Falcons again took possession, and on the 10th
of March, this gentleman again visited it. ‘‘ I went,’ he says,
“to the Falcon’s nest, and found the female sitting close: with
great difficulty I got her off by throwing stones down from above,
but even then she did not fly, but only shifted her position on
the ledge, so as to show me two eggs in the nest. I got men and
ropes, and a friend, Captain Duff, to shoot her as she left the
nest, but though I, with great difficulty, induced a man to de-
scend and take the eggs, (after I had all but gone over the preci-
pice myself, a tuft of grass, having given way under my foot at
the very verge,) the female got off scathless or but shghtly wound-
ed, owing to the height of the precipice. Captain Duff who has
a house hard by, tells me that the birds are always killing the
blue rock Pigeons under his very nose. Both birds showed
themselves, but neither came sufficiently within shot to enable
us to bag them, though we fired at the female.” On the 17th
March, he returned to the nest where the female was again
sitting, on driving her off he saw that another egg had been
laid, and he again fired at the old bird, but owing to the hazar-
dous position in which he was standing at the time, again miss-
ed her. On the 20th he revisited the eyrie. “I was sitting
under the cliff when a Lammergeyer came sailing by and the
male Falcon dashed at him, and then returned to the nest, the
female flying out in pursuit. As she returned I shot her; the

61

male then sat on the egg, (there was still only one) for some
time, when by sending a man up above, to throw down stones,
he (the Falcon not the man) flew off and I got a shot at, and
wounded him. He managed to get on to a tree over-hanging the
precipice, and though I got as near to him as I could and took
a pot shot, he was too far off, and sailed away down the khud
(valley).” Subsequently he took the third egg.

The extraordinary boldness exhibited by the female bird is
very characteristic,

The nest, as may be guessed from its age, and from having
once at least served our larger Himalayan Vulture (No. 3) as
a laying place, was a large irregular mass of sticks. Two egos
were taken the first, and one the second time, but probably the
normal number is four. I have seen two of the eggs, these are
very beautiful—broad, very perfect ovals, slightly larger than
the eggs of F. Jugger, and with shells of a somewhat finer and
closer texture than those of these latter. The ground colour
in both is a rich brick red, here and there faintly blotched and
spotted with a darker shade, and with a few bold blotches and
splashes, specks and spots of the deepest liver-colour ; strange to
say, there are one or two pure white spots on the ground
colour, and a white spot or blotch in the middle of almost every one
of the larger liver-coloured blotches. In my whole series of
Jugger’s eggs, I have none at all like these, although the eggs
of both species are emphatically of the true Falcon type. ‘The
eggs appear to me fully as big as the average run of Peregrines.

They measure 2*1in length, by 1°66 and 1°68 in breadth.
“The female measured,” (Captain Cock tells me,) “in the flesh:
Length 18. Wing 13:5. Tail 6°5. The bill was light blue,
dark at the tip ; cere and orbits light yellow; legs and feet a
rather brighter yellow; irides deep brown.

“Top, back and sides of head, nape, and upper back, very
deep blackish brown, actually black on the sides of the head. On
the nape, a few feathers dashed with fulvous red. From this
point downwards towards the tail, gradually lighter and slatey,
(slatey-b/ue I should call it) lightest on the rump and every
where barred with dusky. From the base of the tail the
slatey colour darkens, the end tipped with light rufous or fulvous,
the inner webs barred light fulvous, and the visible surface
barred like the back. The quills very dark brown, nearly
black at the tips, the inner webs barred with fulvous, and each
with a narrow fulvous edge, whiter in the secondaries and
tertiaries. Shoulders slatey, barred as in the back. Under-
neath the throat, and two long scallops into the blackish brown
sides of the neck, white changing into fulvous. The crop or

62

upper breast chestnut, spotted with dark brown; lower breast,
abdomen and lower tail coverts rufous white, or very light
rufous, barred with brown. Tibial feathers light chestnut
underneath, above darker and closely barred.” This speci-
men, though not of quite so old a bird as I have sent to Paris,
and with less b/we therefore in the mantle, is a very charac-
teristic one, the whole side of the head for nearly an inch
below the eye, embracing what in Perigrinator would be the
cheek or moustachial stripe, the cheeks, ear coverts, and sides
of the base of the skull, uniform unbroken black, confluent with,
and only slightly darker than the lores, top and back of the
head and nape.

No. 10. Falco Sacer, Scuucet.
Tur SaKER.

I have as yet been able to learn nothing certain of the breed-
ing of this noble bird within our limits. I have been assured by
natives who know it well and train it for hawking, that it
breeds in Cabool, the Huzara country, and Cashmere, but
none of the many sportsmen whom I have enquired from, and
who have spent one or more summers in Cashmere, appear to
have noticed it there. The Ameer of Cabool when recently
(March, 1869) on his visit to the Governor-General, brought
with him some well trained specimens of this species and men-
tioned, that they bred in Afghanistan, and that he was himself
acquainted with several eyries. It is this bird I believe, which
is the / Biarmicus of Vigne’s list noticed (I quote Mr. Blyth)
as being “common in the plains under the Alpine Punjaub.”
It has been repeatedly shot, as low down as Umballa and even
Dehli; while west of the Sutledge and towards the Peshawur
valley, it almost replaces Jugger, being at any rate more com-
mon there than the latter species. Babylonicus which aiso occurs
there, is far rarer, while on the other hand, this latter is more
common about, and north of Umritsur.

Of the breeding of the Sacer elsewhere, Mr. W. H. Simpson
has given an interesting acconnt in the Ibis for 1869.

* On the evening of the 29th, another fortunate discovery was
made by the same party, and this time of the nest of a bird
(f. Sacer) whose eggs it was believed were almost unknown
previously in authentic cabinets. We were strolling on a low
flat island in the Danube, the edge of which is well covered
witu tall Poplars and other trees. A nest of Milvus After had

63

occupied us for a short time; but on getting close to the river
again, in a place where the trees are very tall, and not thickly
grouped, my friend and Cicerone drew our attention to a good
sized nest which was placed about one-third of the way up a tallish
Poplar. The nest was resting upon a large branch close to the
bole of the tree, and appeared exceedingly easy of access. The
nest was not very much larger than those of the numerous
Hooded Crows we had already examined, but was deep and
comfortably lmed, appearing, however, from the outside as like
a large Crow’s nest as one bundle of sticks is like another.
The eggs, four in number, were slightly incubated. In size they
seem to be intermediate between those of the Peregrine and
Geir Falcon, being, however, longer in proportion to their
breadth. Two of them are light in colour, the other two much
darker.”

The one figured, measures 2°2 in length, by 1°6 in breadth.
An egg of this bird figured by Dr. Bree from a specimen in the
British Museum, measures 2°13 by 1:7.

Mr. C. Farman, in his notes on the birds of prey of Central
Bulgaria (Ibis 1868) gives the following valuable information
relative to this species.

“This noble Falcon, although not so plentiful as some others
of its tribe, is in this country by no means a very rare bird.
From April to October, it is pretty generally to be met with on
the barren wastes which stretch from Hasique to Kushetchen.
Whether it remains here during the winter, is a question about
which I am not absolutely decided ; but I am inclined to think
it does. Some specimens I certainly have seen during the depth
of winter ; but they seem scarcer during the severe cold which
freezes the mighty Danube.

“Tn the spring of 1865, my friend Mr. Robert Barkley, when
residing at Shitangick, in charge of the Railway works in that
district, obtained a pair of young Sakers from a nest situated
on a tree, about a quarter of a mile from the Railway works at
Shitangick. He kept these birds in confinement for several
months, and they appeared to thrive ; but, if I recollect rightly,
they ultimately succumbed to the carelessness of native servants.

“ The following year (1866) I had the good fortune to be
residing at Shitangick, and I carefully watched the habits of
this species. ‘Towards the middle of March I observed two
pair of these Falcons frequenting the neighbourhood; and at
the end of the month I found one of these pairs were repairing
the old nest from which Mr. R. Barkley, the preceding spring,
had taken the young. In the first week of April I found the
nest of the second pair at a distance of about two miles from

64:

that of the first. The nest was placed on a solitary tree in
close proximity to which, there was a little corn growing ; but
the general character of the surrounding country is that of
wild undulating moor, with a few shrubs at long intervals, and
an occasional tree or two.

“On approaching within about two hundred yards of the
place, one of the birds flew from the tree in an anxious manner,
as though leaving the nest, and I was much disappointed at
not being able to get a shot at it. However, I ascended the
tree; and when within a few feet of the nest, off flew another
bird, at which of course I was unable to shoot. I found the
nest quite finished, but no eggs init. It was about eighteen
inches in external diameter, neatly put together; and unlike
most Falcon’s nests, it was by no means flat, but, on the
contrary, was much hollowed in the middle, in the form of a
bowl; it was composed of large sticks at the base, the upper
part being made of smaller and more pliable twigs, and lined
inside with tender twigs, a little coarse grass, and a few pieces
of wool interwoven together.

“On the 12th of April I again paid a visit to this nest; but
this time I took a friend with me, being determined, if possible,
to secure one of the birds. We approached very stealthily
and quietly to within about one hundred and fifty yards of
the tree, when, as before, one of the parent birds left the tree.
Being, however, mindful of what happened on my former visit,
I kept myself in readiness for the other bird. On coming to the
foot of the tree,we stationed ourselves on either side of it, shouted
and made a great noise, but all to no purpose; no second -bird
appeared, nor could I distinguish anything like a bird on the
nest. I began to think that the birds had been too wise to
trust again to their former device ; however, to make quite sure
of the fact before ascending the tree, my friend fired, when to
-our no little surprise out flew a bird like an arrow; and as it
came my way, I had the satisfaction of bringing it down. On
ascending the tree, I found that the nest contamed two eggs,
which with the female bird I had shot, I brought away with
me, being well satisfied with the result of my morning’s walk.

“The eggs are of a slightly elongated oval form, and differ
from the generality of Falcon’s eggs in being decidedly more
pointed at the smaller end. The two eggs taken by me from the
same nest, as before described, are similar in form, but they differ
much in markings; of one, the ground colour is light red
covered all over with small spots and blotches of bright red ; the
blotches being larger and darker at the larger end; the other
egg has a ground-colour of dirty reddish white, covered with

65

small spots and rather large blotches of a dirty red, the blotches
being fewer, larger and more distinct than on the other ege.”

In the Ibis for 1864, Mr. J. H. Cochrane describes how, on
the 26th March, 1868, he obtained a nest with four eggs of a red-
headed Falcon, on the south side of the third or small pyramid
ef Ghizeh. The nest was a few feathers and still fewer sticks,
in a hollow on one of the steps, about 30 feet from the top.
He failed to procure the parent, and so remained uncertain of
the species; he figures one of the eggs so obtained, it is of
the yellow brown, Falcon type, and measures 2°17 by 1°71 in
breadth. But he obtained a second nest from a very similar
situation.

“On the 3rd April following, on my return from a fort-
night’s trip down the Rosetta branch of the Nile, the same
Bedouin whom I had asked to look out for nests for me, brought
me a fine living female, Mi/co lanarius, and three eggs, which he
had taken on the Dashoor Pyramid. The eggs were much
incubated, and I unfortunately broke one in blowing it. The
Bedouin said, he had taken the bird by throwing a cloth over
it at night, and in so doing had broken one of the eggs, which
originally had been four in number. These eggs much resemble
those before mentioned.”

He figures one of the eggs obtained in the latter nest: it is
of the clouded, brownish red, Falcon type, and measures 2°13
by 1°55.

In a later number of the Ibis, this latter egg is put down
as pertaining to #. Lanarius (verus, I conclude, for Schlegel had
long previously discriminated between this species and the
“ Sagr,”’) and the former to “ Barbarus.” Now, although the
living bird said by the Bedouin to have been captured with the
egos, is stated to be “alive in the gardens of the Zoological
Gardens,” and to be “ F. Lanarius,” I confess that I altogether
disbelieve that these eggs belonged to the two species indicated,
and entertain little doubt that they pertained to our present
bird, &. Sacer. In the first place, the size of these eggs agrees
well, with the authentic egg obtained by Mr. Simpson. In the
second, there seems an incompatibility between the size of the
supposed parents and ofthe eggs. EF. Peregrinus is a much larger
bird than 2. Lanarius, but how seldom do its eggs reach the
dimensions above given. / Jugger again, is a much larger
bird than Lanarius, but of the hundreds of its eggs that have
passed through my hands, the very largest only measured 2°15
by 1:65, and they average 2°01 by 1:57. F. Barbarus to which
curiously enough the largest egg is assigned, is the smallest of this
group of Falcons, and Mr. Salvin gives the following dimensions

66

of authentic eggs of this species taken by himself in the Eastern
Atlas: 1:91 by 1°62, 1:87 by 1:5, and 2°04 by 1:56. Again
the eggs of the Eleonora Falcon, a bird fully as long as, though
slighter built than, the true Lanner, I find figured from 1-7 to
1-85 in length, and from 1°3 to 1-4 in breadth. I submit that
Mr. Cochrane’s two nests of large eggs: Istly. Certainly belonged
to Falcons; 2ndly. Did not, as he says, belong to Peregrinus,
Perigrinator &c. which have not red or reddish heads ;* 3rdly.
Could not, on account of their size, have belonged to either Bar-
barus or Lanarius, which have red heads ; and 4thly. Did, consider-
ing the locality, most probably belong to Pulco Sacer. Lower
Egypt is quite within the range of Sacer, I have seen a specimen
shot, not far from the pyramids, and Mr. E. C. Taylor procured a
fine female near Girgeh. Itis common in northern Arabia, and
was observed by the Rev. H. Tristram once in the oak forests
of Bashan ; although, as he says, it prefers the wide plains and
deserts to the cliffs of the Jordan valley, and he adds: “ The
sheikhs of the Beni Sakk’r (sons of the Falcon) make it a point
of distinction to possess several of these birds trained for the
chase of the Gazelle, and the distinction between it and the
Lanner is well known to all the Arabs.”

In his notes on the birds observed in his first visit to Pales-
tine, the Rev. H. B. Tristram had remarked (Ibis for 1859) :

“‘On one occasion while riding with an Arab guide, I observed
a Falcon of large size rise close to us. The guide, when I point-
ed it out to him, exclaimed ‘ Tair sakgr.’ Tair, the Arabic for
‘bird’ is universally throughout North Africa and the Hast, ap-
plied to those Falcons which are capable of being trained for
hunting, ¢. e. ‘the bird,’ par excellence. Tair el Hohr, ‘the
noble bird,’ is the common appellation of the Peregrine and its
congeners. ‘ Sakqr,’ I have only heard applied to the very large
Falcons, never to the . Peregrinus or F. Punicus, both of which
are trained by the Arabs for the chase. No doubt our specific
name ‘ uleo Sacer’ is derived not from a Latin source, but
from the Arabic trivial name of the species. There seems as
yet much confusion in the nomenclature of the different larger
species or races, which to the south and east of the Mediterra-
nian take the place of the F. Greenlandicus, islandicus, and nor-
wegicus of the North. The bird which I saw was nearly as large as
aJer Falcon, and hada very bright rufous head, the light colour
extending to the back of the neck. How far F. Sacer; lanarius,
cervicalis, biarmicus, and cherrug are distinct species, and what

* Adult, but not very old Sacers, appear as they fly, and even when
sitting at no great distance, to have dingy fulvous red heads. I have repeated~
ly noticed this.

67

is the geographical range of each, seems a question well worthy
the investigation of naturalists travelling i in the Hast.”

Though “much thus indicated as requiring investigation still
remains uncertain, no doubts now exist as to the distinctness of
Sacer and Lanarius, the former of which, if I have rightly identi-
fied the bird* is fully double the weight of the latter. The
identity of Cherrug and Sacer seems scarcely now to be ques-
tioned, while the distinctness of Biarmicus and Cervicalis from
Sacer and their identity with each other is, I believe, admitted.
The plumage of our Indian Sacers, however, varies so much, that
it would be well if a series of them could be compared with a
series of the Abyssinian ones, of which unfortunately I have
never seen a specimen or even a good figure.

Mr. Blyth would place / Subniger, Gray, and probably he
thinks / Hypoleucus, Gould, (both Australian species) in what
he designates the Sakir and Lanner group, but Mr. Gurney
differs from him on this point, and altogether demurs, (as [
think with excellent reason,) to uniting F#. Sacer and F. Lanarius
in the same sub group. “ F Sacer,” he says, “ appears to me to
be referable to a small distinct section of which the other
members are F. Jugger and F. Polyagrus.”

The cere in this species is narrower on the culmen than in
either Peregrinus or Perigrinator. The “saqr” is feathered
much further down the tarsus than is the Peregrine, and this
latter again than the Shaheen. The white spots or oval bars
on the inner webs of the saqr’s primaries, are larger than in any
other Indian species, I think; occupying nearly the whole
surface, the ovals running into each other, so that the central
portions of the brown interspaces often disappear altogether.
As a rule, the 2nd quills of F. Jugger, Peregrinus, Perigrinator
and Babylonicus, are longest, and there isa notch on the inner
web of the Ist primary only. In / Sacer, the notch is more
obscure, but is present I have remarked usually, on both the
Ist and 2nd primaries, while the 3rd quill is often subequal
to the 2nd.

M. Schlegel, quoted by Dr. Bree, says that the adult Sacer
differs from all other Falcons ; its plumage, as in the young, is of
more agreeable tints, and has not transverse bands either on the
upper part of the body or on the under side. But Mr. Gurney,

* Schlegel quoted by Bree, says, ‘‘ The Sacer of the falconers, is a bird of a
figure rather Jess strong than the Lanner, and consequently it is intermediate
in this respect between this species and the Gyr Falcon.” Now the bird that
I have taken to be the Lanner is much Jess than the Sacer. Bree himself
gives the lengths of males and females of each species as follows: #. Sacer,
19 and 21 inches. 2 Lanarius 14 and 15 inches.

68

Dr. Bree tells us, remarks that there was, when he wrote, a living
specimen from Turkey in the gardens of the Zoological Society,
(London) differing from any other specimen he had seen, its
plumage being cross-barred like that of a female merlin. Mr.
Gurney later found a similar specimen in the collection of the
East India Company, with distinct brown transverse markings
all across the back, shoulders and wing coverts, and he con-
sidered that these were indications of maturity, the bird in the
Zoological Society having exhibited few if any of them when
first sent there. I have seen both barred and unbarred birds
from the North West, and I cannot help believing that there are
at least two distinct species now included, under the specific name
Sacer, one of which may prove to be the real F. Cherrug, but at
present I have not sufficient specimens to work out the question ;
and, even if I had, am not in a position to decide whether the
bird originally designated Cherrug was an example of I. Sacer,
(verus) or of the nearly allied species, which I have reason to .
believe exists.

I give a description and measurements of two young birds, a
male and a female shot in Hurriana, but whether these are true
Sakers, or whether they belong to the supposed allied species, I
am unable to determine.

The feet were grayish green, and the cere leaden green, but
in the female, which was I think rather the older bird, there
was a yellowish tinge on the feet. In both, the head was
yellowish white, (tinged in the female on the cap with rufous)
each feather with a dark central brown stripe, broadest in the
female. The general hue of the upper parts in the male was
much the same as that of the young / Jugger, but slightly
more rufous. The tail feathers had large round or oval white
spots on each web, roundest on the central feathers, and more
and more oval on the laterals as they receded from these. The
feathers of the lower back, rump and upper tail coverts were
broadly margined with yedlowish white, the tertials, later second-
aries and upper wing coverts with rufous white. ‘The scapulars
and tertials, had scarcely a trace of the rufous white spots or
blotches so conspicuous in the female, the upper wing coverts
no trace. Beneath (in the male) the brown of the lower
breast, abdomen, sides and thigh coverts and of the lower
wing coverts was pale, dull and small in extent as compared
with that of the same parts of the female. This latter was of a
deeper brown, and had a more rufous tinge everywhere, especial-
ly on the upper surface, where all the feathers, except the longest
upper tail coverts were edged with rufous, and the larger
scapulars, tertiaries, and later secondaries, as well as many of

69

the wing coverts, had conspicuous rufous white double blotches
or broad imperfect bars. In the female too, there was a trace
of a pale frontal band continued as a supercilium right round
the occiput, neither bird showed any sign of a cheek stripe.
These were the measurements. Length M, 19°81, F, 22. Wing
M, 15, F, 15-5; 2nd or 2nd and 3rd primaries the longest ; Ist
primary M, 0°85, and F, 0-7, shorter. Tail M, 9:2, F, 10°75.
Tarsus 2°13. Foot, greatest length M, 3°55, I, 3°6; greatest
width M, 3:25, F, 3°5; mid toe M, 1:9, F, 2:1; its claw, along
curve, M, 0°9, F. 0°95; hind toe M, 0°85, F, 0:95; its claw
along curve M, 1-2, F’, 1-3; inner toe M, 1°3, I, 1°35; its claw
along curve M, 1:0, F, 1:2. Bill, straight from edge of cere to
pomt, (ME 61-05, FW, 1-P; alone carve; M, 1-3, FB, b3s';
from gape M, 1:42, F, 1-45; width at gape, M, 1:2, F, 1:25;
height at margin of cere M, 0:6, F’, 0°65 ; length of cere in both
0°20.

Dr. Jerdon in a recent note to me mentions, that the Sacer
is particularly common in the desert country. of Hurriana
and Bhuttiana, where he has seen four or five in one morning’s
ride. They are said, he adds, in these parts to feed much on
the Sandha Lizard (Uromastic Hardwickii). The old birds
that Dr. Jerdon has observed, had the heads, he tells me, nearly
pure white, the upper surface pale brown, and the lower parts
nearly devoid of markings.

The Cherrug is not only trained to capture Cranes, Bustards,
Houbara, Hares and the like, but also to attack and kill the
common Kite, Milvus Govinda, which might be thought more
than a match for it. Mr. R. Thompson sends me the fol-
lowing account of a Kite chase. ‘“ The bird mounted at a
free wild Milvus which, before the hood was removed, was
quietly sailing over a village. The hawk flew straight in
the direction of the Kite. The other seeing it coming, began
to mount in a series of graceful gyrations. On, and up, and
up, went the two birds till they appeared like small specks in the
sky. Atlastit was seen that the Falcon had the better of his long
winged quarry, he made one stoop and struck the Kite, but not
effectively, as the stroke was avoided by the latter turning over
and receiving it on his claws. ‘The chase became exciting, as
the two birds began again to mount still higher. At last we
saw that the Falcon was drawing away from the quarry. Some
said he was going for good, but the faleoner remained confident
in his bird. After gomg away a considerable distance from
his quarry and thereby acquiring, what he wanted, superior
height, the Sacer resumed the chase returning downwards like
a thunder-bolt on the Tate. Blow after blow was struck,

70

and the hopeless Kite with his merciless enemy descended
clutched fast together, their wings expanded, in wheeling
circles to the earth, where the Kite, already half dead, was soon
despatched.”

Mr. Thompson mentions a remarkable fact connected with
this Falcon. He had three of the same species out; one,
whose successful flight has been above described, the other two,
trained only to attack Herons and the like. About these latter
Falcons, the Kites troubled themselves not one whit, no, not when
they even flew near them, but almost the moment the hood of
the first was removed, every Kite anywhere near it, began to
make itself scarce. If this be correct and Mr. Thompson
vouches for it, birds must be able to read the intentions of
others in their eyes, and discover from the searching glances
that the Falcon throws around it before starting, what kind
of quarry it intends to select. The same gentleman says
(though I can obtain no confirmation of the fact elsewhere.
“Tt is admitted by most native falconers and bird-catchers
that F. Sacer breeds in the Bhoor lands, or sandy and desert
tracts of Western India. Many birds are brought at the begin-
ning of October for sale; I lately saw three at the Nawaub of
Rampore’s in Rohileund. They were purchased for fifteen
Rupees, showing thus that the birds are easily and plentifully
obtained.”

No. 11. Falco Jugger, Gray.
Tue LAGGAR.

Lays during January, February, and March, but the major-
ity appear to lay in the early part of February. 1 have never
obtained an egg earlier than the 6th January, or later than the
30th March. The situation of the nest varies, it is sometimes
on large trees, the Pepul being perhaps the favourite, and
sometimes on ledges, or in recesses of rocky or earthy clifts,
and sometimes in the face of ancient ramparts, where one or
two stones have disappeared, or on more or less inaccessible
cornices of ruined buildings. I found a nest in the exterior
walls of Togluck Shah’s grand Kgyptian-like mausoleum.
Another in one of the lateral walls of the high gate of Futteh-
poor Sikree. I have taken them times without number on
ledges of the clay cliffs of the Jumna and Chumbul in the Etawah
district, and I met with one with three full-fledged young ones on

71

the rocks of the Mata Pahar, overlooking the Sambhur lake ;
still in those parts of the country with which I am best acquain-
ted, the N. W. Provinces, Oudh, and the Punjaub, I believe the
majority breed upon trees. When built on trees, the nest is
usually a large and massive one, some 2 feet in diameter, if
circular, or if, as is more common, oblong in shape, some 2°5 feet
in length by 1°5 feet in breadth, and fully six inches in thick-
ness.* It is composed of twigs and small sticks, at times with-
out any lining, and at times lined with a little grass, or straw,
or even leaves. Occasionally the nest is very much larger than
I have described, but it will then generally be found that the
bird, instead of building a nest of its own, has taken possession
of, and repaired, one of some other bird. Near Bhureh on the
Chumbul, a pair took possession of a nest that for the two
previous years had, to my knowledge, been always occupied by
our Indian ring-tail eagle (H. ZLeucoryphus) and Mr. W.
Blewitt who took five nests of this species im January and
February, in the neighbourhood of Hansie, remarks, that in
every case, the Falcon had taken possession of, and more or less
repaired, a deserted nest of the common eagle (A. Fulvescens).
The repaired nests were all on Keekur trees (the favourite
par excellence, of A. Fulvescens) at heights of from 17 to 24 feet
from the ground. Three of these nests contained five eggs, a
very unusual number. There was no mistaking either eggs or
birds, all of which Mr. Blewitt kindly sent me.

Where the bird selects a recess or ledge in a cliff’s face for
nesting, a large nest is rarely made, a few handfuls of sticks,
just enough to prevent the eggs rolling about, with a few
feathers, accidentally or purposely intermingled, is all that is
usually met with in such situations, and I have twice taken the
eggs laid on the bare earth in a slight depression, without
one particle of stiek, grass or feather near them.

The normal number of the eggs is four ; but, while five are occa~
sionally found, the bird often sits on only three ; and once I took
two eggs, ready to hatch off, out of a very old pair’s nest, that in
former seasons had always contained the full number. In
colour, the eggs vary much, as indeed do those of all true
~ Falcons. The usual type is a reddish, brownish, or yellowish
brown ground, very thickly speckled and spotted all over, with
a darker and richer shade of the ground colour. The spots are
often more crowded at one end than the other, producing occa-

* It appears to be a general rule, with birds that build sometimes on
trees, and sometimes on rocky ledges, that their nests in the former situation
are always deeper, more cup-like and more massive, than when in the latter,

72

sionally the effect of a clouded cap; some in addition to the
multitudinous specks exhibit bold red blotches, or dark streaky
clouds, and some again are very feebly coloured, a nearly
uniform pale dingy buff, with scarcely a trace of blotches or even
specks of a darker hue. In shape, the eggs are commonly a
broad oval, slightly more pointed at one end, of a dull, gloss-
less and slightly chalky, but still compact texture. The egg
lining is white or slightly reddish white.

Elsewhere I have thus described the eggs: “A very great
variation in shape is observable in the eggs of this species.
They are all a somewhat broad, but generally very perfect
oval. In texture, they are rather fine, but at the same time (if
IT may so express it) chalky, and they are perfectly devoid of
gloss. The eggs, as a rule, are a longer oval than those of Fulco
Peregrinus, and are scarcely ever so richly coloured as the latter
often are. The coloration is of course of the true Falcon type.
Some eggs are of a nearly uniform pale dingy yellowish brown,
blanching towards one extremity or the other, indistinctly cloud-
ed, blotched or mottled with a somewhat deeper and redder brown.
Others are a nearly uniform red brown, with scarcely any traces
of distinct markings; others have a nearly pure white, reddish
white, pale dingy yellow, brownish yellow or reddish brown
ground, more or less boldly, extensively and thickly blotched
and clouded or even freckled, mottled, and streaked with more
or less bright or deep brick or blood red. As a rule, the mark-
ings are not very bold or sharply defined, in but few is there any
decided tendency towards capping at either end, and all have
a more or less freckled and dotted appearance. These eggs
fade much as time passes, but when first found many of them
are, to an oologist’s eye, perfect pictures.”

In size they vary from 2°15 to 1°85 in length, and from 1°65
to 1:48 in breadth, but of ninety-eight egos measured, the average
size was 2°01 by 1:57. I once noticed a curious trait in this bird,
somewhat similar to that related above of Gyps Bengalensis.
On the 2nd of March, 1866 near Soj in the Mynpoorie district,
T found a nest of these birds on what had been a large Peepul
tree, but which, owing to the continual cutting of its branches
for the elephants of the Chohan Rajahs of the neighbourhood,
had become a gaunt, white spectre-like thing with two or three
huge nearly bare arms, each with a dense cluster of leafy twigs
near the extremity, and smaller similar clusters at odd angles of
the branches. The tree stood solitary in the midst of a wide
tract of land overflowed during the rains, but at the time I speak
of, waste and parched, with no other vegetation for a good mile
in any direction, but patches of down-trodden, withered rush.

73

The nest was in one of the highest clusters. The male was
sitting on the broad bare bough, about 6 feet below it, tearing
a Roller (Coracias Indica) to pieces, and I may mention, that
when examined, this bird proved to have had the whole head,
neck, and upper part of the body eaten ; the wings, tail and lower
portion of the body were altogether uninjured. I shot the male,
and he fell flat on the bough. A man was sent up, who threw
the male down, still there were no signs of the female, and I called
to the man to search the nest for eggs. As he placed his hand
at the side of the nest, which he could only just reach, the
female suddenly appeared from the hollow of the nest, and stood
upon its margin. The man drew back rather startled, the
female turned towards the inside of the nest, gave a vicious
drive at it with her bill and flew off. On taking the eggs, it
appeared that she had driven her powerful bill into one of them,
making a triangular hole, each side of which, measured about
half an inch. he female must have seen her mate shot, and
have felt, perhaps from the man still coming to the nest, after
securing the male, that he intended to rob it. Did she break the
eee herself in anger? The egos were nearly ready to hatch
off. Had she perchance some glimmering idea that she might
let the chick out and thus save it? Itis impossible to say: but a
whole party of us witnessed the fact, and it seems worthy of
record. What struck me fully as much in this case was, that
though the male was in the act of tearing the Roller to pieces,
and though the whole ground, for many yards round the tree,
was strewed with feathers of Pigeons, Doves and Rollers, a pair
of Doves, (7. Risoria) had a nest with young ones, in another
leafy cluster of this same tree, and another pair were sitting
calmly on two bare sprays, not 15 feet from where the male, whom
they could not help seeing, was devouring his prey. Had the
Roller always been his prey, one might have understood their
fearlessness, but around the tree, lay the feathers of, I should
say, at least fifty individuals of their own species. That the
Faleons must designedly have spared their fellow-tenants is clear ;
the two birds, however wary and watchful, could never have built
their nest, hatched their young, and partly reared these latter in
safety, within 30 feet of the Falcons’ nest, unless these latter had
allowed them to do so absolutely without molestation ; for had
one of the pair only been once set upon or pursued, they would
assuredly have deserted the nest. The natives declared that
this pair of Doves, were left by the Falcons as decoys; and that
the other pair were strangers, who would probably soon have
fallen victims to the confidence engendered by seeing the resi-
dent birds rearing their young in security. I can really give

74

no more plausible explanation of what seems to me a very re-
markable fact. Mr. R. Thompson furnishes the following in-
teresting remarks, in regard to this species :

“This Falcon breeds on lofty trees; usually on one, with others
standing near it, in open cultivated country ; even when it is a
forest bird, it chooses such parts as are tolerably open, with wide-
ly spreading glades ; but habitually it prefers open localities.

“A nest found in open forest country, south of Lall-dang in the
Provinces of Kumaon, on the 5th February, 1868, was up to that
date unfinished, though both the Falcons were present. The
male, I observed carrying small twigs and roots to the female,
who seemed the architect. This nest was begun in a large
Semel tree (Bombax heptaphyllum) on the forked branch of one
of the principal lateral arms, and might have been 40 feet
from the ground. The nest was about 24 feet in diameter, with
the egg cavity about ten inches. The inside was lined with
small fine roots and bruised dry leaves, evidently such as had
been attached to the twigs, which composed the body and foun-
dation of the nest ; on the 27th March succeeding, the nest was
again visited. The Falcons were out at the time, it being about
the middle of the day. On aman ascending the tree, both birds
quickly appeared, and the male, which appeared an old adult,
made the first swoop at the man climbing, passing within a
few inches of his head. 'The female (which appeared not to have
east her nestling plumage) then followed, making her attacks
with more vigour and determination. We found three eggs, one
addled and two a good deal incubated.

“The eggs were dull white, closely blotched with chocolate
brown spots, very irregular in detail, coalescing in parts, and then
forming stains. One egg appearing a rufous brown with an
indistinct ground colour only visible.

“Size. Length, 2 inches; breadth, at greatest diameter, 14
inches, shaped very like one of our Indian hen’s eggs, to which it
approximates in size. /”. Jugger, within the sub-Himalayan tract,
breeds, as has been stated before, on the open dry forest lands,
skirting the lowest range of hills, and is particularly found in the
vicinity of the larger, dry, sandy beds of torrents which drain
them. In the Terai, however, where it is tolerably moist and
swampy, I have also occasionally known the birds to breed.

“In Dehra Dhoon, many years ago, a pair always nested in a
large single tree of the Udmus integrifolia (Dhoul papree or Kun-
joo of natives). Hach year saw the couple at the same tree, and
as an instance of intelligence and memory, I may mention that
when as a lad I used to take my gun and Dogs out to shoot Quail
(Coturniz communis) which abounded there in the grassy plains,

75

and later, in March and April in the wheat fields, the Falcons
always joined the party. On seeing the first Quail rise, they
would fly towards us, and hover round us, until another was
flushed, when they would both come down with one long well
directed swoop. If the Quail were taken, both would fly off with
it, if they failed they would wait for the next. When, as often
happened, the Quail seeing the Falcons above, flew for a short dis-
tance only, and then suddenly dropt; they (the Quails) were
invariably caught by the Dogs, as they would never rise a second
time after having once been stooped at by the Falcons. This
kind of sport used to last for several minutes and sometimes for
half an hour, the pair of wild Falcons hovering above us all the
time in perfect circles at a height considerably out of shot of my
gun, though for that matter, had they come ever so close, nothing
would have induced me to kill one of them. Hvery time I went
shooting, or even to exercise the Dogs, these birds invariably
appeared, and would join the party sometimes long before the
first Quail was flushed. This did not happen once or twice or
even during one or two seasons, it was regularly the case for the
four or five successive years, that I remember the birds returning
to their favourite tree.”

This curious trait indicates pretty clearly, the manner in
which the idea of training Falcons may first have arisen in the
earlier and ruder ages of the world.

Tyros are always, in India, labouring under the delusion, that
in the Laggar, in its different stages of plumage, they have
different species. Ihave had F. Jugger in one stage or another
sent me as Peregrinus, Perigrinator and Babylonicus (the latter
repeatedly). Iwill endeavour to give such a description, as shall
prevent these kind of mistakes in future.

In the young birds of the year, the whole of the upper plum-
age, except the nape and head, is a nearly uniform umber brown,
darker on the primaries, margined paler on the wing coverts
and back, and with a more or less observable tinge of bluish on
the tail feathers. In young birds, the tail feathers and coverts
are often much abraded and almost sandy in hue. ‘The fore-
head is white, the feathers black shafted, and the white is con-
tinued more or less distinctly over the eye, for the length of
about an inch and a half, as a sort of supercilium. The whole
of the top of the head and occiput, have the brown feathers
darker centered and faintly edged, with a more rufous brown.
The lores are covered with whitish hair, in some, more or less
involved in the dark stripe under the eye. Below the orbit, a
dark brown streak commences, which, when most clearly seen,
divides at the gape, and being prolonged backwards under and

76

over the ear coverts, re-unites behind the ear covert, and is con~
tinued as a broad dark ill-defined half collar round the base of
the neck. This is much more strongly marked in some birds
than in others. The ear-coverts are white, many of the feathers
dark shafted and spotted with brown or rufous brown. The
chin and throat are white or creamy white, most of the feathers
dark shafted and with a subterminal brown spot. ‘The whole
breast, abdomen, sides, flanks, thigh coverts, uniform unspotted
umber brown, some of the feathers very faintly margined paler,
and on the breast somewhat darker shafted. ‘The vent and un-
der tail-coverts white or dingy fawn, some of the latter with a
subterminal pale brown blotch. The axillaries and lower wing
coverts are mostly brown with occasional white spots or mott-
lings, in some almost wanting. The inner webs of the prima-
ries, except the terminal 2 or 3 inches, conspicuously marked
with transverse spots of white or buffy white. Tail feathers,
albescent below; all of them except the two centre ones, more or
less noticeably barred on the inner webs, towards their bases,
with white or buffy white. The thighs behind and interiorly
white.

In the adult, the white of the forehead is more conspicuous.
The supercilium less so; the whole top of the head has a rufous
east, the feathers being brown, darker shafted and broadly mar-
gined, rufous. ‘There is a blackish brown line under the eye,
but this is no longer quite continuous with the dark brown
stripe, which proceeds from the gape under the ear coverts, and
this latter again no longer (as in the young bird it often ap-
pears to do) encircles the back of the ear coverts and joins into
the dark collar. The dark brown stripe above the ear coverts
which, in the young bird, is connected with the brown at the
lower angle of the eye, in the adult no longer meets it, but
commences at the hinder angle of the eye, and then produced
backwards, widens into a broad ill-defined half collar, covering
the whole back of the neck. ‘The whole of the upper parts are
a sort of slaty brown colour, browner on the upper back and
scapulars, the feathers dark shafted and paler margined ; the
smallest coverts on the shoulder of the wings being often con-
spicuously, though very narrowly, margined with white. The
dark colour of the nape which, in some specimens, is almost
blackish brown, shades gradually into the slaty brown of the
upper back. ‘The chin, throat, cheeks and ear coverts, are
almost perfectly pure white. The whole breast is pure white,
but many of the feathers are darker shafted. The abdomen and
sides are white, dark shafted, with a few linear drops of dark
brown. Theflanks nearly unmottled brown, the thigh coverts slaty

77

brown, the feathers darker shafted, vent and lower tail coverts yel-
lowish white, some of the exterior of the latter only sparsely blotch-
ed with pale brown. The lower wing coverts and axillaries are
mingled brown and white, but whereas in the young, the brown
greatly predominated, in the adult the white is in excess. The
tail feathers are now all distinctly tipped with white, except per-
haps the two centre ones, and all the feathers, but the centre
ones, are distinctly marked on the inner webs to the very points,
by ill-defined bars of a paler hue, in most specimens, greyish
white tinged with rufous near the shaft. On the outer webs, of,
at least, the three outer tail feathers on each side, there are usually
paler spots corresponding to the bars on the inner webs. ‘The
legs and feet as well as the cere, have changed from a greenish
hue to bright yellow. The iris, which in the young is often pale
brown or brownish yellow, assumes in the adult its perfect rich
brown tint.

Between these two states of plumage every possible gradation
is observable. Gradually as the bird grows older, the white of
the forehead becomes more conspicuous and the head more rufous.
The spots on the ear coverts and throat gradually disappear,
the cheek stripe grows shorter, the breast, then the abdomen be-
come successively mottled with white, then white with conspi-
cuous drops of brown, and lastly as in the adult, almost pure
white. The upper plumage passes from a rich or umber (?)
brown to almost a slaty grey, the under wing coverts and axil-
laries become more and more barred and mottled with white,
while even the thigh coverts, participating in the general change
of hue, pass from a deep rich burnt umber to a pale greyish
brown. ‘he intensity of the colours varies much in different
individuals, some are in all stages less rufous on the head and
less slaty on the upper plumage than others, and in some the
dark colour of the base of, and back of neck is very much darker
than others of apparently the same age. With an enormous
series before me, I cannot discover any sexual difference of plu-
mage: just as many of the females as of the males have very
rufous heads; just as many are very grey; just as many have
very dark patches in the hind neck, and just as many of each
seem to be less rufous, less grey, and less dark on the neck. In
the young, the colour of the legs and feet vary, from pale plum-
beous to dull greenish grey, in the adult from full wax yellow
to a bright almost orange yellow. ‘The claws are a horny black.

The legs and feet do not appear to assume their bright yellow
hue, until almost all the brown has disappeared from the throat
and breast. ‘The cere and gape are dingy greenish grey, or at
times pale plumbeous in the young, bright yellow in the adult,

78

the orbit greenish yellow in the former, bright yellow in the
latter. In one stage, legs, feet, cere, orbits, are all pale primrose
yellow. ‘The corneous “portion of the bill varies at base from
greenish horny to greyish blue and even blue, and at tip from
dark horny blue to bluish black.

Dimensions of adults. Length M, 15 to 16:5, F, 17°5 to
19. Expanse M, 37 to 41, F, 42 to 45. Weight M, 14 to 18 oz.,
F, 24 to 260z. Wing M, 12 to 18, F, 13 to 15; 2nd primary
longest. Primaries fall short of longest, M, Ist, 0°62; 3rd, 0°44,
F, Ist, 0°75; 38rd 0°37 (about, these dimensions vary). Tail
from vent M, 7 to 8, F, 8 to 9; longest tail feathers exceed
shortest by M, 0:7 to 0°85, F, 0°75 to 0:95. Tarsus M, 1-7 to 1-9,
F,1°75 to 2; (feathered in front for from 0°85 to 1) Foot, greatest
length, M, 3°5 to 4, F, 425 to 4:5; greatest width, M,
3°25 to 3°7, F, 3°75 to 4; mid toe M, 1°6 to1°75, F, 1:9 to 2;
its claw, along curve M, 0-69 to 0°78 F, 0°8 to 1:05; hind toe M,
0:69 to 0°72, F, 0°8 to 0-9; its claw, along curve M, 0°75 to 0:9,
F, 0:9 to 1:1. Bill straight, from edge of cere, M, 0°85 to 0:98 F,
1 to 1:1; along curve M, 1-1 to 1°19, F, 1:1 to 1°25; from gape
M, 1 to 1-12, F, 1-15 to 1°37; width at gape, M, 1 to 1:12, F, 1-15 ,
to 1:22; height at margin of cere M, 0:4 to 0°5, F, 0°47 to 0°53;
Length of cere M, 0°18 to 0°22, F, 0- 2 to 0-25. Distance by which
the closed wings fall short of end of tail M, 1-1 to 1:2, F, 1:2 to
1:3; Distance by which lower tail coverts fall short of tail M, 3 to
3-4, F, 3:2 to 36.

There ought to be no confounding the Peregrine and the
Laggar after they have once been seen together, The Peregrine
isa much heavier and stouter bir d, the bill is much stronger and
stouter ; the cheek stripe of the Peregrine i is a huge broad patch,
in the Laggar, at most, a line a quar ter of an inch wide. Then
the sides, flanks, thigh coverts, and lower tail coverts of the Pere-
erine exhibit in all, except in very old birds, regular transverse
bars, and even in the oldest birds show traces of these. There
is no barring in any age on any of these parts in the Laggar.
The groundwork of the lining of the wing of the Peregrine is
white, barred with brown, whereas the ground-work of the wing
lining of the Laggar is dark wood brown, a good deal mottled
or barred with white j in the old bird. The Peregrine, as a rule,
has no white frontal band, no white superciliary stripe and no
rufous crown, asin the Laggar. Moreover the Peregrine has the
centre tail feathers barred, whereas the Laggar has no trace of
this barring ; again the whole of the upper back, scapulars and
upper surface of the wing in the Peregrine are at times some-
what obscurely, but yet manifestly, barred, but there is no
trace of such barring at any age in the Laggar. Lastly, how-

79

ever old the Laggar, the general tint of the upper surface is
brown or greyish brown, no doubt shaded with slaty in very
old birds, but still a brownish slaty, whereas the whole upper
surface of the old Peregrine is a pure slaty blue of different
shades, not a trace of brown about it. |

Generally* it may be said, that if any beginner meets in India
with a true Falcon of large size, without any markings on the
upper surface of the centre tail feathers, itis F. Jugger. If there
are markings, and these are large, round or oval spots, the bird is
F. Sacer (or a nearly allied and as yet undiscriminated species).
If the markings are bars, and the head and nape are nearly
black, the latter, with a few rufous or buffy feathers, it is Peri-
grinator, or Atriceps, the distinctions between which have already
been pointed out; while, if the head is brown, or in adults, deep
blackish slaty (Peregrinus), or rufous, (Babylonicus) ; it is Pere-
grinus if the cheek stripe is broad and massive, Babylonicus if
long and narrow.

No. 12. Falco Babylonicus, Gurney.
Tue Rep-cap FAtLcon.

I have, as yet, been unable to obtain any detailed account of
the nidification of this species. It breeds, I know, in, or close
to, the Peshawur valley, as well as in Cashmere, laying three or
four eggs in March and April, but I have hitherto failed to
procure the eggs. The type specimen of this bird, was obtained
by Capt. Irby, in October 1858, at Nawabganj, (Barabunkee)
Oudh, and is now in the Norwich Museum. In regard to this, Mr.
Sclater remarked, that Capt. Irby’s specimen, seemed to be re-
ferable to a new species of true Falcon, most nearly allied to
F. Barbarus ( Ibis, 1859, p. 184,) which is the #. Peregrinoides
of Temminck. Mr. Gurney proposed the name Babylonicus, the
first specimen of the bird having been obtained in Babylonia,
by the Euphrates Exploring Expedition. This latter bird was
in immature plumage, and was erroneously entered in the cata-
logue of the Kast India Company’s Museum, where it was deposit-
ed as F. Perigrinator. Besides these examples, there are two
adults in the Norwich Museum, one of which, is said to be from
Abyssinia. ‘The following are the dimensions given by Mr.
Sclater.

* T am now doubtful whether these discriminative points are quite con-
stant, but I let what I have written stand, for the present.

80

Locality. Length. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Mid toe.

Oudh, 17°3 13 ye sO 1:95 2°05
Babylon, 17:0 12%). 66 1:95 1:95
Abyssinia, 18-0 12° 6°50 2°00 1:95

I doubt whether these dimensions are altogether reliable, I
expect they were taken from dry skins; under any circumstances
I should suppose that all these specimens were females.

I proceed to give exact measurements, and a description (re-
corded from the specimen when fresh) of a young male, shot
by me at Suhson in the Etawah district, and I would add, that
this description, agrees very closely, with a specimen given by
Dr. Jerdon (who procured it in Cashmere,) to Col. Tytler, though
being a female, it is somewhat larger than my bird, having the
wing, 12°6, and the tail, 7 inches.

Length, 16 inches. Expanse, 38 inches. Weight, 12 ozs.
Wing, 11°87 inches; the 2nd primary the longest. Tail of 12
feathers, length from vent, 6 inches. Tarsus, (feathered for 0°5
inches, in front) 1°87 inches. Foot, greatest length, 4 inches ;
ereatest width, 3°75 inches; mid toe, 1:94, its claw, 0°73; hind
toe 0°94, its claw, 0°81. Bill, straight, 1:06; along curve, 1:25;
from gape, 1:19; width at gape, 1:19; height at front, at edge
of cere, 0°53; length of cere only, 0:27. Contents of stomach,
portions of a Turtur Cambaiensis, feathers and all.

Legs and feet, bright yellow, whitish at the joints of the reti-
culated scales of the tarsus; soles with large pads, very conspi-
cuous under second joint of middle, and exterior toe; claws, horn.
black; middle toe, very slender and elongated. Inides, dark
brown ; edges of the lids, greenish yellow, with tiny dark lashes ;
membrane of the orbits, pale greenish.

Cere, pale sea-green with only a tinge of yellow on the ridge.
Bill pale bluish green; points, and culmen, horny bluish black.

Tongue, small, thick, fleshy, obtuse ended, of nearly the same
size throughout, deeply divided by a groove down the centre.

Plumage. Forehead, buffy white, feathers dark shafted.
Line over the eye, continued round the back of the head, whi-
tish or fulvous white; feathers, dark shafted. Whole crown of
the head, brown, a few feathers in centre, towards the front, very
broadly margined, the rest very narrowly margined, with ful-
vous or buffy white. The nape below the white stripe, darkish
brown in the centre, the feathers margined with buffy white,
and with a patch of white on either side, the feathers of which
have dark spots towards the tips. The whole of the rest of the
back of the neck, upper back, scapulars, and wing coverts, a near-
ly uniform brown, with a faint tinge of slaty, and all the fea-

81

thers tipped and margined with fulvous white, very narrowly
towards the head, and more broadly towards the points of
the scapulars. The hue of the back of the neck is slightly
darker. The quills are much the same colour, but somewhat
more bluish. All the quills have a number of incomplete
bars, or oval spots, of rufous white on the inner web; the last
five primaries, the secondaries, and the tertiaries have each two
or three tiny rufous white spots, on the outer webs also; and the
ereater coverts of the secondaries, and tertiaries, have similar
small inconspicuous spots on both webs; and all the secondaries
and tertiaries, and the last few primaries, are narrowly tipped
with buify white. The rump, and lower back are a somewhat
paler, and more sandy brown, margined with pale rufous; the
upper tail coverts are a still more sandy brown, tipped and mar-
gined, with dingy white, and with one or more incomplete bars
of fulvous white. The tail feathers are brown, paler and san-
dier on the centre feathers, and darker, and more slaty on the
outer feathers, all narrowly tipped with dirty white, and all
with six or seven + inch broad transverse bars on both webs,
fulvous white on the centre feathers, and rufous white on the
exterior feathers. These bars are scarcely visible on the outer
web of the exterior feather. Chin, and upper part of throat,
pure white, a dark brown cheek stripe from under the eye,
margined with pale rufous ; ear coverts mingled pale brown and
rufous white. Hinder portion of the cheeks white, some of the
feathers tinged pale rufous; an ill-defined brown stripe (the
feathers slightly tipped with fulvous white,) running backwards
from the posterior angle of the eye, and dividing the white of
the hind cheeks, from the white of the sides of the nape. The
lower throat, and upper portion of the breast, fulvous white,
each feather dark shafted, and with a narrow somewhat pear-
shaped streak, of dark brown, towards the tip. The rest of the
breast, sides, and upper abdomen, fulvous white; each feather
with a well marked central stripe of brown, narrowest in front,
broadest towards the sides. Lower abdomen, and vent, white,
slightly tinged with fulvous, a few of the feathers dark shafted.
Lower tail coverts, (which do not reach within two inches of the
end of the tail) white, with two or three transverse, somewhat
wavy bars, of pale brown. Interior thigh coverts, white. Ex-
terior thigh coverts, white, tinged with fulvous, each feather
dark shafted, and with a central lanceolate stripe of brown. Un-
der surface of tail, and quills, greyish brown, the bars above
mentioned showing through. The lower wing coverts, all red-
dish brown, conspicuously" margined at the tip, and the longer
ones barred with somewhat fulvous white.

82

Of Col. Tytler’s female,—a slightly younger bird than mine,
I think,—I have the following note, made when I examined it.
“The back wings and scapulars are just like those of a young
Jugger, but the upper tail coverts, and the tail, have broad, buffy,
more or less imperfect bars, conspicuous on the tail. The under
parts, are dirty, buffy white, palest on the chin and throat. The
feathers of the breast, and abdomen, with imperfect irregular,
more or less broad, central stripes of dull reddish brown. The
tarsus is less feathered in front than even in Perigrinator I think,
to which bird it seems to me to approximate not a little. The head,
however, is of the Lanner type, and has a narrow, but pretty
long, and well marked cheek stripe. The head is a rather warm
red brown; forehead, and centre of head, arusty red brown. There
are a number of pale rufous white feathers at the back of the
neck. The white bars on the primaries, are broader than in
Perigrinator, about the same size as the Peregrine, but not so
broad, as the Juggers, or a fortiori, those of the Sacer. Accord-
ing to Mr. Blyth, this bird is the /. Peregrinoides of Hodgson.
(J. A. S. B. XXIV. 574,) Mr. Blyth also tells us, (Ibis, 1866,
p- 237,) that “there is a fine specimen, of an adult female, (as
adjudged) of this rare Falcon, in the Worcester Museum, alleged
to be from Java, which must needs be a mistake. Its general
colouring is very pallid, but I would refer the species to the
Peregrine sub-group, rather than to that of the Sakir, and Lan-
ner. The specimen in the Worcester Museum, is like an adult
female Peregrine, only much paler, with all the markings con-
siderably less developed ; nape, ight cimnamon rufous, marked
with dusky, the moustachial streak, small, the feathers of the
upper parts, cross banded, as in adult Peregrines. <A recent
communication from Dr. Jerdon, proves, that # Babylonicus is
not uncommon in Kashmere.” It seems possible, that two allied
species, have been confounded under this name. All the birds
that I have seen of this species, are so unmistakeably of the
Lanner type, white or pale foreheads, rufous heads, small cheek
stripes, and slaty brown or grey plumage, that I cannot under-
stand Mr. Blyth’s referring this same species, to the Peregrine
sub-group ; and I doubt the propriety of identifying the Wor-
cester Museum bird, with Babylonicus.

The adult female figured by Wolf in the Ibis, has a conspi-
cuous white frontal barid. The whole top, and back of the
head, and nape, are of a warm rufous, most of the feathers dark
shafted, and with dark central streaks, which, onthe nape, occu-
py nearly the whole surface of the feather, leaving only a nar-
row rufous margin. ‘he whole back, scapulars, wing coverts,
and tail, slaty grey, everywhere barred with dark slaty. Many

85

of the coverts and scapulars are obscurely tipped with pale
rufous, or buffy, and the tail feathers are conspicuously, but not
broadly tipped with rufous white. There is a narrow, dark
brown moustachial streak, from the gape, and a narrow dark
line under the eye, a trace of which is observable over and be-
hind the ear coverts ; cheeks, ear coverts, chin, throat, and centre
of upper breast, unspotted white; rest of lower parts, white,
slightly tinged with fulvous, each feather with a subtermural
brown, or rufous, and brown spot, small and dot-like in the cen-
tre of the lower breast and abdomen, and widening towards the
sides, flanks, and lower tail coverts, into arrow head bars, not
quite extending to the edge of the feathers. The cere, gape, and
orbits, are bright wax yellow, the base of the corneous portion
of the bill, is pale horny blue, the tips of the mandibles horny
black. The legs and feet are yellow. I take this description
from the figure—a very unsafe method in most cases—but Mr.
Wolf's figures are sw generis, unapproached and unapproachable,
to my fancy, and may, I believe, be implicitly relied on.

Since the above was written, I myself shot (on the 27th No-
vember) a fine adult female, at Stsa, in the Punjaub, of which
H proceed to give measurements and description taken in the

esh.

Dimensions. Length, 17:25. Expanse, 41. Tail, from vent,
7°25. Foot, greatest length, 4:5, greatest width 4. Wing 13 ;
wings, when closed, reach to within 1°87 of end of tail. Tarsus,
1°75. Mid toe to root of claw, 1:9. Weight 1-87ibs.

Description. The irides were deep brown. ‘The cere, gape,
and orbital skin, as well as the legs, and feet, were bright yel-
low. The claws were black, and the corneous portion of the bill
was blue, changing to horny black at the tip. The fore-
head, and the centre of the top of the head, were sandy rufous,
each feather with a dark brown shaft. The sides of the top,
and the back, of the head were a somewhat ashy or slaty brown,
the feathers more or less margined with sandy rufous. A broad,
rufous, half collar, ran round the back of the neck, a little
mottled behind the ear coverts, and again in the centre of the
back of the neck, with dusky slaty. ‘he whole mantle was
slaty grey, dark and dusky towards the base of the neck, and
paling towards the rump and upper tail coverts. Most, if not
all of the feathers were narrowly margined paler,—those to-
wards the nape, with rufous, and those lower down with greyish
white. Most of the feathers also were somewhat conspicuously
darker shafted, and a// exhibited broad, transverse, somewhat
ill-defined, dusky slaty, bands. The rump, and upper tail co-
verts were pale slaty, or french grey, with brown shafts, and

84

transverse arrow head, dusky bars. The tail feathers, were pale
slaty grey, tipped with rufous, and with numerous broad, trans-
verse, well defined, slaty brown bars, broadest towards the tips.
There was a blackish line under the eye, continued downwards
for about an inch and a quarter, as a narrow cheek stripe. ‘The
two cheek stripes nearly meet on the throat, about an inch and a
half below the base of the lower mandible. ‘The whole of the
lower parts were a rich rufous salmon colour, somewhat paler on
the chin, and centre of the throat, and deeper on the ear coverts,
sides of the neck, and centre of the abdomen. The breast, chin,
and throat were perfectly spotless, the abdomen, flanks, lower
tail coverts and tibial plumes were regularly, but rather widely
barred with slaty brown; the bars, everywhere narrow, being
nearly obsolete in the centre of the abdomen, and best marked
on the flanks. The under wing coverts, were of a pale salmon
colour, conspicuously barred with brown.

I have never seen Fulco Biarmicus, Vemm. (p. col. T. t. 324.,)
nor even Temminck’s figure, but Layard’s description and
dimensions of this species, (Birds of South Africa, No. 27) recall
to me the bird above described, and I cannot help suspecting
a possible identity. Major Hi. Delme Radcliffe, our best Indian
falconer, tells me that the back in this species becomes very pale
slaty from age, the red of the head becomes slightly paler, but
the rufous colour of the breast is maintained, or becomes deeper.
In some, he has seen the head as red as that of the 'Toorumtee
(Lithofalco Chiquera). He found it breeding near Murree.

Dr. Jerdon gives the following dimensions, of a fresh bird,
taken at Umritsur. Adult female. Length, 17, Hxpanse, 42.
wing 12. ail, 6°5. Mid toe, and claw, 2°5. He also sends
me the following brief note.

“This is the common Shahin of the Punjab faleoners. In the
cold weather it visits the plaims of the Punjab, N. W. P. and
Oudh. I have had trained ones in my possession, but found it
a very inferior bird for hawking, to Malco Perigrinator.”

I believe, we may say that the Red cap occurs throughout
Northern India, during the cold weather, as far south as (Gwa-
lior, being rare east of the Jumna, less rare between the Sut-
ledge and Jumna, and decidedly common west of the Sutledge,
specially in the Peshawur valley, and the tract west of the Indus,
and that it breeds in Cabool and Cashmere, and throughout the
southern ranges of the Himalayas, west at any rate of Dalhousi,
at heights of from four to seven thousand feet; but further m-
formation in regard to this species is much required.

85

No. 18. Hypotriorchis Subbuteo, Liv.
THe Hospy.

Of the breeding habits of this species in India, I as yet know
nothing. Although common enough in some parts of the
Himalayahs, it is a rare visitant, and then only in the cold sea-
son, to the plains, and if it breeds any where within our limits,
it will be, I apprehend, in the higher ranges of the Hills. My.
R. Thompson, writing from Kumaon, the 16th September, says,
“7 saw yesterday, our English Hobby, numbers of which visit
India during the cold weather ; every mountain top of 12,000
feet and upwards had flocks of them hunting about for insects,
last September, when I was out in the interior. I am inclined to
doubt whether the Hobby breeds any where in the Himalayahs,
south of the snowy range.”

Of the breeding of this species in England, Mr. Yarrell gives
the following particulars: “The Hobby, though a well known
bird, is not very numerous as a species. It chooses a high tree
to make its nest on, occasionally taking to the remains of one of
suitable size, that has been deserted. The female lays three or
four eggs, like those of all the true Falcons in shape and colour,
that is, of a short oval form, speckled all over with reddish
brown, on a dirty white ground; the length, 1°67 inches; the
breadth, 1°33.

Mr. Hewitson, quoting Mr. Hoy, tells us that “the Hobby is
a late breeder; seldom having eggs before the first week in June;
that it very rarely, if ever, builds its own nest, but takes posses-
sion of that of a Crow, or Magpie, preferring those which are
placed near the tops of high trees; and that, though it may be
met with, breeding in large woods, it seems to prefer isolated
eroves of fir, and other trees, situated in open country, where it
can not only pursue small birds, but readily capture coleopterous
and other insects on which it feeds very much. Mr. Hewitson,
himself, found a nest, in Norway, in the month of June, placed
upon a projecting ledge of rock, on the face of a steep precipice.
The Hobby “e tells us, lays two or three eggs.

The one he figures, has a pale salmon coloured ground, close-
ly freckled and mottled with salmon red, and measures 1:58 by
1:26. He says that the eggs are not subject to much variety,
but that specimens entirely devoid of dark markings are met
with. The eggs are usually very regularly freckled, over the
whole surface, and more nearly resemble (in colour) the eggs of
the Iceland Falcon, than those of any other species. The dark-
est varieties, he adds, are rather like some lightly coloured eggs
of the Kestrel, being, however, of a pinker hue, and without any

86

large blotches of colour. Mr. R. Thompson sends me the fol-
lowing note on this species, “In October, on the highlands,
immediately below the snow, both young and adult birds are
met with in abundance. Of the young, several that I killed,
appeared not to have long left the nest; they were hawking
about for insects, and often swept past close to where I was stand-
ing. I think they are strictly migratory, only appearing as a
rule within our territories early in October, though I have seen
a few adults at Nynee Tal as early as 15th September.

“T have been a close observer of these birds for some years now,
yet I cannot say, I ever saw one take a bird in the wild state.
Hundreds I have seen hawking about, but taking nothing but
insects. Those shot under the snows on the high bare boogiais,
had nothing but insects in their stomachs. Many, are taken in
the cold weather, in the plains, and trained to fly at the Hoopoe,
Upupa Nigripennis, affording wonderful sport; also at Dicrurus
Macrocercus which, from their undulatory flight, are very diffi-
cult for the little Falcon to strike. The Hobby is a courageous
bird, especially in self-defence. I have seen them, after being
bullied by Crows, turn on these, and strike them almost to the
ground, with repeated blows.”

This bird seems to have a very wide range. It is found
throughout Europe, in north and south Africa, (including
Egypt), Palestine, and northern China.

A male in Col. Tytler’s collection, answers Jerdon’s descrip-
tion of the adult bird well enough, but the whole upper surface
is a black brown, of much the same colour as the cheek stripe;
there appears to be a broad half collar of buffy white, the feathers
only narrowly tipped with the brown. The chin and throat are
pure white, the breast and abdomen, deep brown, the feathers,
edged with rusty white. The primaries, with a few spots, or
obsolete bars, of greyish white, very slightly tinged in some with
rufous. The tail, a warm, clove brown, the inner webs of the
laterals, with obsolete rufous bars. What is noticeable about
this bird, is, that it is neither slaty, as all adult true Hobbies
are described, nor have the feathers, the pale or ferruginous
edgings of the young; it is, I suppose, in an intermediate stage.

A very fine female that I procured at Kotegurh, which was
only 14°5 inches long, had the wing no less than 11:5, she had
the lores, narrow frontal band, and well marked supercillium,
white; the cheek stripe, (which was very broad) and a broad
patch behind, and below the eye, including the ear coverts, were
blackish brown, and the upper portion of the head and nape,
dusky slaty, each feather, rather narrowly centred with blacktsh
brown, and some few of the feathers, with a trace of excessively

87

narrow paler edgings; chin, throat, and upper breast, and sides
of the neck, prolonged behind the ear coverts, (so as almost to
meet the ends of the broad buffy half collar on the base of the
back of the neck) unspotted yellowish white. The whole of the
rest of the upper parts, slaty blue, dark, and tinged almost
blackish, immediately below the half collar, and on the lesser
wing coverts, elsewhere pale, and pure. All the feathers of
the back, and the scapulars, somewhat conspicuously darker
shafted, central tail feathers, and outer webs of laterals, paler
slaty than the rest of the upper parts, entirely unbarred or un-
spotted ; inner webs of laterals, with numerous transverse,
rufous bars; quills arather dusky slaty, on outer webs, and with
the inner ones dark brown, with numerous long oval, transverse,
imperfect, bar-like, rufous spots. Lower breast, abdomen, and
sides, a mixture of buffy, and rufous white, each feather, with
a broad dark brown central stripe. Thigh coverts, bright fer-
ruginous, a few of the feathers with dark central stripes. Low-
er tail coverts, and vent feathers, pale ferruginous. I note
that the cheek stripe is distinctly separated from the dark ear
coverts, by the white of the throat; in the next species, the
Indian Hobby, the cheek stripe and ear coverts are all in one.

No. 14. Hypotriorchis Severus, Horsr.
THe InpriAn Hospy.

That this bird breeds in India, there can, I think, be little
doubt. It is in Southern, or South Eastern Asia, the local re-
presentative of the preceding species, and not having been
observed north of the Himalayahs, must of necessity breed some-
where within our limits. As yet, I have been unable to meet
with any account of its nidification. Dr. Jerdon remarks, that
it is said to breed on trees, and this is nearly all that I know
about the matter.

A fine male, shot at Barrackpore, had the wing, 8°75 ; tail,
4:62. The upper plumage, deep brown, not a trace of slaty,
but faint traces of a rufous half collar at the back of the neck.
All the lateral tail feathers, with rufous bars, on the inner webs,
extending partially on to the outer ones, and all, but centre
feathers, tipped with rufous white, chin and throat rusty white;
rest of lower parts, deep rusty, except feathers of the lower
abdomen, vent, and under tail coverts, which are paler, and
yellower. Breast, abdomen, sides, thigh coverts, and lower tail

88

eoverts with deep brown subterminial spots, or oval drops. There
is a peculiar notch in the first quill’s inner web, about 1°25 from
the tip, which is very marked. The 2nd quill is the longest,
the Ist being 0°37 shorter, the 3rd 0°5 shorter. No such strong-
ly marked notch is observable in any of the specimens of H.
Subbuico before me, and none is noticeable in the 2nd quill in
this species. In ZL. Chequera again, the notch is of quite a
different shape, and occurs in both Ist and 2nd quills; the 3rd
quill being the longest in this latter species. Proportionally,
the wings of Severus, and Subbuteo, are much longer than those
of LZ. Chequera.

Mr. Wallace tells us that this species is found in Macassar,
Salwattee, Java, the Philippines, and most probably, occasional-
ly in every island of the Archipelago.

Just as this species is the local representative of the common
Hobby in Southern Asia, so in Southern Africa, this latter finds
its local representative in H. Cuvieri, which Mr. Gurney consi-
ders very closely allied to the present species.

Hypotriorchis Subbuteo (Linn.) Hobby.

Hypotriorchis Cuviert (A. Smith.) Cuvier’s Hobby.

These two Hobbies, though treated by Mr. Layard as belong-
ing to the same species, are unquestionably distinct: They both
occur in South Africa, but both appear to be rare in that region.

H. Cuvieri described by Sir A. Smith, in 1830, (8. African
Quarterly Journal, I. p. 392) is nearly allied to the peculiar
Hobby of South Eastern Asia, H. Severus (Horsf.), and has
been figured by Professor Schlegel (Nedeil. Tijdschr. I. p. 123,
pl. 5) under the name of Falco Boschir (ef. Ibis, 1864, p. 398).”

Myr. Blyth, in the Ibis for 1866, makes the following inter-
esting remarks, in regard to Hypotriorchis Subbuteo, and Severus.

“he erepuscular habits of the birds of this division, have
now been noticed in H. Eleonoree (Ibis, 1865, p. 333).

“ H. Severus bears just that relationship to H. Subbuteo, which
Hirundo Cahirica bears to H. Rustica, and H. Hyperythra (of
Ceylon) to H. Erythropygia, (Sykes, which is distinct from H.
Daurica.) n all of these cases, the deeper coloured bird is less
migratory, or even permanently resident. ‘The rufous-bellied
Hobby, has not been observed northward of the Himalayahs, nor
Hirundo Hyperythra out of Ceylon ; and while neither H. Rus-
tica, nor H, Rufula winters in Palestine, Mr. Tristram remarks
of H. Cahirica that a few remain on the sea coast and in the
Ghor, all the winter (P. Z. 8. 1864, p. 443). Indeed, it would
appear, that he observed them, in considerable numbers, during
the winter months. (Land of Israel pp. 105, 118). It may
be added, that Ku/co Peregrinator stands in the same relation-

89

ship to &. Peregrinus, and is likewise a more subtropical species,
with a comparatively limited range of distribution. Compare
also the African Tinnunculus Rupicolus with T. Alaudarius, and
Athene Castanotus of Ceylon with A. Radiatus.”

Dr. Stoliczka remarks, that this species “is not common in
the forest about Kotegurh, and Kooloo, and that, during the
summer, it seems to migrate further north.”

Mr. R. Thompson, however, a very accurate field naturalist,
sends me the following notes :

“These birds regularly resort to the dense forests, on the
lower ranges of Kumaon and Gurhwal, about April. In June,
I watched a-female bearing a small bird away, but could not
follow where she took it to. I inferred from this, that she must
have had a nest of fledged young ones, as there were lots of fine
trees standing close to where she passed me, and where she
might have stopped to pluck her quarry. Later observations,
confirm that the bird breeds about April, in our lofty and
dense forests. I have seen a pair constantly hovering in the
valley of Dhumola ; a place of only about 2500 feet elevation.

“T lately saw, in February last, a pair sitting on a dead tree,
in the Kumaon valley, Kotridhoon, Gurhwal. They were both
screaming as most Falcons do when pairing.”

No. 15. Lithofalco QGtsalon Get.
THE MERLIN.

Of the breeding of this species, in India, we have as yet no
detailed accounts. Dr. Jerdon, in a recent note to me, remarks
that “the Merlin is by no means rare in the plains of the Pun-
jab, during the cold weather, and I have had trained ones in my
possession. It is chiefly flown at the Hoopoe.

“One of my falconers caught one near Delhi. It is called
Regi and Retul turunti in the Punjab, and Dooreli by Hindu-
stanees, which name I have, in my work, applied to the Hobby.”

About Umritsur it is commonly captured and sold, by native
huntsmen, for a very small price. It comes down, I am in-
formed, in numbers into the Peshawur Valley, and is always to
be met with, early in the year, in the Salt Range, it is therefore
highly probable, that it breeds in Cashmere, and the neighbour-
ing regions of the Himalayahs.

Mr. Yarrell says, “ The Merlin makes its scanty nest on the
ground, laying fowr or five eggs, measuring one inch, seven

90

lines, in length, by one inch, three lines in breadth, mottled all
over with two shades of reddish brown.”

Mr. Hewitson tell us, that in England, the eggs have usual-
ly been found, deposited on the ground, chiefly upon those
extensive heathy moors, which abound towards the north. On
the continent of Kurope, however, they are known to breed on
trees; and Mr. Hewitson himself found a nest in Norway “ near
the top of a spruce fir,” which appeared to have been newly made
by the birds themselves, and not to be a repaired nest, originally
the tenement (as is so common in the case of the Hobbies) of some
other species. The nest was outwardly composed of sticks, thick-
ly lined with wool. “The Merlin,” he adds,“‘can searcely be said
to make a nest, when it deposits its eggs upon the ground, lay-
ing them either upon the bare heather, or on a small quantity
of dry grass. ‘They are four or five in number,” they seem to
be usually of a deep dingy red, “smaller, browner, and less
bright in colour”’ than those of the Kestrel,“ very closely freckled,
not spotted, and thickly sprinkled over with small black dots.”
Varieties remarkable for their deep red brown vinous colouring,
and others with pure white grounds, thickly blotched with crim-
son red, also, as he notices, occur, and I remember to have seen

‘many intermediate types of colouration, in Huropean cabinets.

The eggs are of the usual Falcon type, broad, oval, slightly
compressed towards one end, and one I have from Europe mea-
sures 1°6 by 1:25.

Of a male, shot near Hoshiarpoor ; I have the following note :

“ Comparatively short wings ; notch asin Severus, but on both,
the two first quills, asin Chiquera. ‘The 2nd and 3rd quills sub-
equal; wing,; tail5. The bird is a rich deep brown above, deepest
towards the head; the feathers of the head, having still deeper
central brown stripes; the scapulars, many of the wing coverts,
and the quills, have rich rufous brown, irregular, and imper-
fect, transverse bars, extending as spots, on to the outer webs
of the primaries. The tail, with five broad, transverse, rufous
bars; (one hidden by the upper tail coverts) tip rufous white.
An indistinct yellowish, imperfect collar round the base of the
neck. Bull, very small, and feeble, as compared with Severus,
Subbuteo, and Chiquera, which are all about equally strong.

The Merlin seems to be found all over Hurope, in Malta,
Egypt, (Lower,) Palestine, Kandehar, and, according to Mr.
Swinhoe, in Pekin, Amoy, and Foochow.

gE

No. 16. Lithofalco Chiquera Davupin.

Tue TooRuMTEE.

The Toorumtee breeds in February, March, April, and May ;
the majority, I think, laying in March. I have, as yet, obtained
no egg earlier than the loth February, or later than the 15th
of May, and all those obtained in May, were from the Punjaub,
where many birds breed later than in more southern parts of
the country.

They nest, I believe, exclusively on trees: I have seen no
record of their building on rocks, as so many of the Falcons
often do, and I once took a nest in the Siwaliks, in a Peepul
tree, at the foot of a cliff, full of ledges and boulder holes, which,
had the bird any sort of inclination for such localities, would
have been sure to have attracted it.

Where such occur, they prefer large trees, Peepul, Mango,
and ‘Tamarind, (more commonly the two latter) usually
selecting one of a small group, standing by itself. In the
Puyjaub, and Rajpootana, where large trees are scarce, their
nests may be found on mere bushes, not above 10 feet from the
ground.

The nest is generally, firmly fixed in a fork near the top of
the tree, and is typicaily a very neat, compact and characteris-
tic structure; it is usually circular, some 12 inches in diameter,
and from 6 to 9 inches in thickness, with a deep egg cavity,
some 5 to 6 inches in diameter, and from 3 to 3:5 in depth; but
1 have seen some nests comparatively thin platforms with only
a depression of 1:5 to 2 in depth, towards the centre. The lower
portion of the nest is constructed of pretty stout twigs, of various
kinds of wood, closely put together; the upper portion of finer
twigs, still more closely interwoven. The egg cavity or depres-
sion, 1s lined with fine roots, or vegetable fibre, the roots of the
Khus grass (Andropogon Muricatum,) being commonly chosen
for this purpose ; along with straw, a few feathers, and occasion-
ally a shred or two of cloth. The lining being firmly inter-
twined, with the twigs, forming the walls of the cavity.

These birds make, I think, their own nests, fresh and fresh
every year—l have repeatedly seen them building new nests, in
trees containing very nice last year’s nests of Crows and other
birds, and though I have very often looked them up again, I
have not, as yet, ever found a nest tenanted by the oorumtee
during two successive seasons. - Both sexes assist in building,
and they make no little fuss about the placing of each twig that

92

is brought up. The normal number of the eggs is four, but I have
found the female sitting on only three. Two nests, each containing
five eggs, have been reported to me, butthese are very exceptional.

The eggs vary somewhat in shape; but are generally, I think,
much like those of a common hen, though perhaps slightly
narrower. In colour, they vary from very pale yellowish brown,
with just a few reddish brown specks, to a nearly uniform dark
brownish red, obscurely mottled and blotched with a somewhat
purer and darker red; typically they may be said to have a reddish
white ground, so thickly freckled and speckled with dull brownish
red, as to have but little of the ground colour visible. Often,
they have a sort of ring of more or less feeble blotches near the
large end; and at times, a zone of rather higher colour than
the rest of the egg, near the middle. The eggs are normally
a long oval; and with the exception of shape, which is invaria-
bly less round than those of that species, the eggs of the
Toorumtee are perfect miniatures of the Jugger’s. As far as
colouring goes, every egg of the one in my collection, can be
matched by some one of the other I possess. In size and colour-
ing, they remind us nota little of the eggs of the Merlin, but, as
a rule, they are somewhat narrower than these, and a greater num-
ber of them belong to the dingy, yellowish brown, Falcon type,
and fewer to the deep red type. .

In length, they vary from 1-6, to 1°75, and in breadth, from
1:25, to 1:32, but the average of 32 eggs measured was 1°68,
by 1:27.

Me William Blewitt mentions taking several nests of this
bird, which at Hansie is known as the oo/ce (a name elsewhere
applied to the Shaheen,) in March, April, and May. The nests
were placed on Peepul and Jhand trees, at heights of from 10 to
24 feet from the ground ; were most of them scantily and loose-
ly, but one or two densely and compactly, constructed of fine
Babool (A. Arabica) and other twigs, lined with fine straw, fea-
thers, and a few rags; and measured from 8 to 10 inches in
diameter, with a cavity from 2 to 3 inches deep. None con-
tained more than four, and one had only three much incubated
egos.

Mr. R. Thompson communicates the following note in re-
gard to this species.

“‘T do not remember ever seeing the Toorumtee circling aloft
or sailing like Fulco Perigrinator or Jugger. It invariably flies
rapidly, in a direct horizontal line, and with very frequent flap-
pings of its wings. The young birds are out of the nest in
June; in Gurhwal I have never seen one earlier. The Too-
rumtee is very courageous, as remarked by Jerdon, but it does

93

not, as he seems to think, confine its attacks to small birds. I
have frequently seen it take Mynas, Starlings, Quails, and the
smaller Doves. I once saw one strike a Pigeon, killing it on the
spot, with the first blow. I have trained this species to be
thrown from the hand, at Quails, and Partridges. The bird
readily learns the lesson, and makes a good bag. The Quail,
or Partridge is allowed a good start, the Toorumtee being held
up, so as to eye the receding bird, and then thrown in the di-
rection of the latter, with some force, shooting off at once, more
like a dart than anything else, at the quarry, which it rarely
misses. I have been told, that this bird affords peculiar sport,
with Turtur Suratensis, striking at the quarry, several times, and
even often losing it altogether, owing partly to the softness of
the Dove’s feathers, which give way at the least touch, and part-
ly toits rapid dodging flight.”’

I remember once, after robbing a nest of this species, to have
seen the parent birds fall foul of all the Crows in the neighbour-
hood, in the most surprising manner ; the strangest thing being,
that the Crows submitted very tamely, (only seeking refuge in
flight) to the most vindictive buffets from the little Falcons. Mr.
Brookes tells me that ona similar occasion, he witnessed a
similar scene. Whether the Toorumtees conceived that the
Crows, whose egg-stealing propensities all birds seem well aware
of, had some hand in the robbery of their penates, or whether
being afraid to attack us, they, on the Hindustani principle of
“ Koomhar pur bus na chulla, gudhe ka kan ametha,’* flew at
the Crows whom they did feel equal to thrashing, I cannot pre-
tend to decide. I have twice found portions of a Squirrel in the
stomachs of these birds.

Mr. Gurney has the following note in the Ibis for 1868, on
the nearly allied Chequera Rufficollis (Swains) of South Africa.

“Vierthaler, who met with this species, somewhat plentifully,
in Sennaar, states, (Wannannia, 1852, Pt. IL. pp. 48, 49) that it
usually perches, and always breeds on the Dhelleb Dolleb, or
Debbel Palm, (Borassus ethiopicus) and Dr. von Heughlin,
who also observed this Falcon on the upper part of the Blue
Nile, refers to its preference for this tree. (Ibis, 1860, p. 409.)
Both Vierthaler (Joe. cit.) and his companion, Dr. A. EK. Brehm
(J. I. C. 1858, p. 408,) remark, that Colwmba Guinea algo
selects the same species of Palm for its nest, and that a pair of

* This proverb is a very characteristic Indian one, it means—* He was
not man enough to punch the potter’s head, so contented himself with wrench-
ing the ear of the potter’s donkey ;” a true picture of the manner in which
natives so often revenge themselves on the helpless dependents of enemies
they are afraid to attack.

94

these Falcons, and a pair of Guinea Pigeons, frequently have
their nests on the same tree, and live as neighbours in apparent
amity ; both species were found thus in Sennaar in the month
of January, 1851.

According to the account given by Sir Andrew Smith in the
South African Quarterly Journal, (Vol. I. No. April, June, 1830,
pp. 233-235) both the manner, and the season of breeding adopt-
ed by this Falcon, in South Africa, somewhat differs from its
habits in these respects, as observed in Sennaar.

His account of its nidification in South Africa, is as fol-
lows :—

“Specimens of this Hawk, are not unfrequently found, along
the Western Coast, and I have also met with some, about the
Langikloof, at least three hundred miles to the eastward of
Cape Town. In these situations, it is often seen resorting in
the evenings, to the Poplar, and other trees in the vicinity of
farm houses, and upon such also it often builds its nest. The
latter is constructed externally of dry twigs, and within, of hair
and feathers, and in it are deposited from three to four eggs,
during the months of August and September. I think that
Bonaparte was fully justified in assigning this species, and its
Indian congener Lulco Chiquera, (Daud) to the separate genus
which he instituted (Rev. Zool. 1854, p. 535) under the title
of Chiquera, as they appear to me to form a group generically
distinct, both from the typical Falcons, and also from the
various genera most nearly allied to the genus Falco.”

In connection with this note, I would remark, first, that a
native once brought me a nest, with four eggs belonging to the
Toorumtee, which he declared that he had found in the crown
of a Borassus flabelliformis, our toddy Palm, which he had as-
cended to search for nests of the Palm swift. This was in
Bhowgaon in the Mynpooree district, where these trees are very
common. At the time, I utterly disbelieved the story, but now
I think that it may have been true, especially as he had no
earthly object in deceiving me. LHven if true, the bird here
very rarely chooses this situation, most probably because the
majority of these Palms, are with us, regularly tapped year by
year, and no birds will build where they are liable to distur-
bance, day by day, throughout the breeding season. It will be
seen, that Sir Andrew Smith’s account of the breeding of the
African species, agrees well enough with the habits of our bird.
Secondly, I would note, that I fully concur with Mr. Gurney,
that the Hobbies, Merlins, and Toorumtees, all require generic
separation, indeed the latter differ more from the two former,
than these two do inter se; but I have been compelled to retain

95

the name Lithofalco Chiquera, from ignorance (Valde deflendus,)
of the specific name proposed for owr Chiguera. I append exact
measurements, and a full description, (taken from the freshly
killed bird) of a fine adult female.

Dimensions. Length, 13°5. Expanse, 27:25. Weight, 8°5 oz.
Wing, 8°62; the 3rd primary the longest; Ist, 0-94shorter; 2nd,
0:19; 4th, 0°56. Tail from vent, 6:13 ; exterior tail feather, 0°75 ;
shorter than central ones. Tarsus, feathered in front, for half an
inch, 1°63. Foot, greatest length, 3-15; greatest width, 2:8; mid
toe, 1°56; its claw along curve, 0°63; hind toe, 0°63; its claw
along curve, 0°69. Bill straight, 0°75; along curve, nearly 1.
From gape, 0°88; width at gape, 0°88; height at front, at
margin of cere, 0°34; length of cere, 0°19. Wings when closed
reach to within 2°25 of end of tail,

Description. Legs and feet, pure, slightly orange, yellow;
claws black ; toes, long and slender, with pads, especially of pe-
nultimate jomt, much developed. Scutze of tarsus, reticulate ;
those of front, comparatively large; three or four scutz at base of
tarsus, over foot ; and those of upper surface of toes ; transverse ;
claws, fine and very sharp ; the inner edge of mid claws, slightly
dilated.

Trides, rather light brown. Orbits, yellow, brightest at the
angles of the eye. Bill, greenish yellow, at base; bluish black
at tips. ‘Tongue, rather short, narrow compared with gape;
nearly square-ended ; emarginate at tip.

Plumage. A narrow band across forehead; not quite pure
white. Lores dingy white, but with a dark brown line, run-
ning through them, and under the eye as far as the cheek
stripe; and over the eye, as a narrow supercilium; and for a
little distance behind the eye as an ill-defined patch, of dark
brown, mingled with chestnut. The whole of the top, and
back of the head, and sides and back of upper neck; a rich deep
chestnut. Lower neck behind, upper back, and scapulars, a
pure, uniform, pale, slaty blue, or blue grey, the shafts of the
feathers being darker. The lower back, and rump similar, but
slightly paler, except at the very tips of the feathers. Upper
tail coverts similar, until separately examined, when they prove
to be much paler, (almost white at the base) than at the tips
and white 3, 4, or 5 arrowhead, transverse, darker bars, which
though, (with the exception of the terminal one, which is faint,)
well marked, are concealed by the over-lapping of the feathers.
The tail feathers are the same colour as the back, (the central
ones being rather more dingy and the exterior ones, whiter)
with greenish white tips, an inch and a half subterminal black
band and above this about five somewhat imperfect, narrow,

96

blackish, transverse bars, feeble on the central feathers, and
outer webs of the rest, and well marked on theinner webs. The
lesser wing coverts are the same colour as the scapulars, but the
darker shafts are perhaps slightly more conspicuous, and
there is a tinge of chestnut along the upper margin of the wing.
The greater coverts of secondaries and tertiaries are perhaps a
slightly dingier blue, with narrow, not sharply defined, trans-
verse, blackish brown bars. ‘The winglet, and primary greater
coverts, are similar, but the blue is dingier, the brown though
paler, of greater extent, covering in some, nearly the whole
inner webs. The first five primaries are brown; with numerous
parallel, whitish, long oval, transverse spots, or incomplete
bars, from the base, to near the tip. ‘The secondaries are
blue on the outer, white or nearly so on the inner webs,
with numerous transverse brown bars; narrow on the outer
but wider on the inner webs. The last five primaries
are intermediate in character, between the first five, and
the secondaries. The 2nd and 3rd primaries are emarginate,
the former noteably so on the outer web; and the Ist and 2nd
are conspicuously notched on the inner webs, near the points.
The chin and upper part of the throat, are pure white. From
the gape, there is a chestnut cheek stripe, or moustache, about
3th of an inch long. Between this and the chestnut of the
sides of the back of the head, and back of the neck, there is a
broad white band coming down from the eye. The lower part
of the throat, and the uppermost portion of the breast is white,
the feathers having each a single linear, central, subterminal,
browner spot, or speck it should perhaps be called.

The whole of the rest of the lower parts, including axillaries,
wing lining, thigh, and lower tail coverts, a bluish white, with
numerous close narrowish, greyish, brown bars ; most conspicu-
ous on sides, axillaries, larger lower wing coverts and thigh
coverts, and feeble and more or less obsolete, on abdomen, vent,
and lower tail coverts. ‘The bars of the body feathers, specially
on the middle of breast and abdomen, have a point developed
downwards at the shaft, having a tendency in fact to become
arrowhead bars as they are often called.

No. 17. Tinnunculus Alaudarius, Briss.

Tue KesrreL orn WINDHOVER.

The Kestrel with us breeds in April, May and June; as far
as I am yet aware, it breeds in India, only in the Himalayahs

97

and the Dhoon; natives informed me that they had seen its
nest in the Salt Range of the Punjaub near Pind Dadun Khan.

In the Himalayahs, it almost invariably breeds on rocky ledges,
or small holes, in cliffs. I know no well recorded instance of
its nest having been found on trees in India. “The nest is
round, oblong, or semicircular, according to the shape of the
site chosen, and is a thicker or thinner platform from 12 to 20
inches in diameter and 2 to 6 in thickness, made of small twigs,
in which grass roots, rags and, as Mr. R. Thompson informs
me, at times strips of cloth, a yard and a half in length, are in-
eorporated, and serve as lining.

The eggs are normally five in number, I believe, but two nests
taken near Kotegurh, contained only four each, in both eases,
considerably incubated. The eggs resemble those of the preced-
ing species, but are slightly broader, and less uniform in their
colour. In shape, they are broad ovals, more or less pointed or
compressed towards one end. ‘The ground colour is a darker
or lighter brick or blood red, blotched, or mottled and freckled
with a deeper shade of the same colour, the blotches being in
some eges strongly defined, and well marked, and the whole tint
of the egg being, in one specimen that I have seen, browner and
yellower than 1 have above described. The eggs are glossless,
and the shell though fine and compact, has the sort of chalky
texture, noticed in the eggs of £. Jugger and L. Chiquera. The
egos vary from 1°63 to 1:75 in length, and from 1:28 to 1°35 in
breadth, the average of eight eggs measured, being 1°68 by 1:31.

Although I have no record of the birds actually breeding in
the plains, I shot a female in the Htawah district, late in March,
which was one of a pair, that I saw frequenting a cleft in the clay
cliffs of the Chumbul, near Oodee. The oviduct of this bird
contained a white egg, the size of a Dove’s, and when, on seeing
this, | next day examined the cleft, I found that it contained a
new, nearly finished nest, such as a Kestrel would build. The
native fowlers, however, by no means despicable observers,
assured me positively that this bird never breeds in the district,
so I hardly know what to think; especially as on another
occasion (11th February, 1867) L shot a young male at the mouth
of a similar cleft in the clay cliffs of the Jumna, below Sheregurh,
in which was a new nest, apparently ready to lay in. Perhaps
these birds search clefts like these for the young of other birds,
but the stomachs of those I have killed, have generally contained
insects, bees, black ants, beetles, and the like.

Captain Hutton remarks (in Hpist.) “The Kestrel is very
common, both in the outer hills and the Doon; at Mussoorie
I have known it to breed upon a lofty ledge of rocks above the
Superintendent’s oftices.”’ .

98

Mr. W. Theobald makes the following remark on the
breeding of this bird in the valley of Kashmir. ‘“ Lays in the
3rd week of April; eggs six in number, blunt ovate pyriform ;
measuring from 1°51 to 1°68 inches in length, and from 1°22 to
1°27 in. in breadth. Colour, pale reddish brown, freckled and
blotched with brownish red. Nest, hole in serai wall of
Thanna, south of Buranegala, Shahabad, and valley generally.”

It will be observed that his dimensions are smaller than
those of the eggs that I have measured ; and that he found the
nest on a building. |

Dr. F. Stoliczka remarks that “ Tinnunculus Alaudarius is
common all through the N. W. Himalaya, on the. southern
side as well asin W. Tibet. I found this common Huropean
Hawk breeding near Chini in narrow crevices of rocks. The
eggs are dirty white, mottled and irregularly spotted with
reddish brown. The young birds vary extremely in colour of
their plumage; but the old ones are in every way identical
with those from Europe.”

Since the above was written, Capt. Cock has sent me the
following : “ Tinnunculus Alaudarius. This bird remains with us
all the year round, although it retires higher up the mountain
during the month of May. I noticed a pair of birds about a
precipice some two or three times, and concluded that they built
there. On the 27th of May, I went with a rope and found that
there were three young ones only a few days old, in a niche in the
precipice that was overhung with grass, rendering the entrance
to the nest difficult to be seen. ‘This nest was on the mountains
at a height of 7,000 feet above the sea level, and I doubt their
breeding lower down, though an officer assured me he saw a
Kestrel breeding on a cliff on the banks of the Beas in Febru-
ary. I found another nest at about 8000 feet elevation on the
27th of May with one egg in it, I had watched the birds pair-
ing some days before, and with the help of a rope managed to
secure the solitary egg. On the 5th of June I sent up a party
who got three more eges out of this same nest.—T'wo of the eggs,
the largest and smallest measured 1°55 by 1:16 and 1°35 by 1-14.”

Mr. R. Thompson sends me the following,“ The Kestrel breeds
in this country, preferring the shelving of a rock to any other
situation. I have seen the nest and young on the precipices
of the Sewaliks. A dozen nests might be pointed out on the
precipices overhanging the Kossilla river between Khyrna and
the Lat bridge. In the valley here noted, it may be seen -
breeding in company with the Neophron.”

“ At Pocree in the interior of Ghurwal, a Kestrel carried off a
large piece of apugree belonging to one of my Shikarees and took

99

it off to its nest, whence it was recovered by the fellow letting
himself down by a rope. I was witness to the whole
transaction. At Nynee Tal, two pairs breed early—one on
the western precipices, the other on the south-eastern, not far
from where I live.”

Mr. Brookes writes to me that “the Kestrel is tolerably
common in Kumaon. I saw a young bird taken from a nest
near Almorah. The colours of the adult male do not appear
to be so pure as those of the English bird. The grey of the
head is darker, I think, and the chestnut of the back more
dingy.”

Dr. Jerdon tells me that “he has seen this bird breeding
everywhere in the interior of the Himalayas, at heights of
from 8000 to 10,000 feet, in May, June and July.” (?)

Out of India Mr. Swinhoe remarks that this bird is “ resident
all the year at Amoy, and several pairs build on the Amoy
rocks.”

In Palestine (vide Ibis, 1865) Mr. Tristram writes—“ The
Kestrel is excessively common in every part of the country
throughout the year, up to the confines of the southern desert.
In the Ghor and in the eastern forests, among the.ruins of
Amman and Gerash, in the desolate gorges of the Dead Sea,
among the luxuriant gardens of the coast, and in the sacred
recesses of the mosques of Omar and Hebron, it equally abounds.
It is generally gregarious, ten or twenty pairs breeding in the
same ruins, and rearing their young about the end of March.
It often buildsits nest in the recesses of the caves which are
occupied by the Griffons, and is the only bird which the Hagles
appear to permit to live in close proximity to them. At
Amman, too, it builds in the ruins im company with the
Jackdaws; and in several places, as at Lydda and Nazareth,
large colonies are mixed indiscriminately with those of the
lesser Kestrel. The number of nests we came across without
searching for them, was enormous.”

It is found throughout Hurope, in Siberia, in northern and
possibly central Africa, but, in the south of that continent,
seems to be replaced by the brighter coloured T. Rupicolus.

As regards its nidification in England, Mr. Yarrell says, “ In
spring the Kestrel frequently takes possession of the nest of a
Crow or a Magpie, in which to deposit its eggs. Sometimes
these birds build in high rocks, or on old towers, and among the
ruins of buildings, laying four and occasionally five eggs, about
one inch seven lines long, by one inch three lines across,
mottled all over with dark reddish brown, and sometimes with
blotches of reddish brown upon a pale reddish white ground.

100

The fifth ege has been known to weigh several grains less than
either of those previously deposited and it has also less colouring
matter spread over the shell than the others; both effects
probably occasioned by the constitutional exhaustion the bird
has sustained in her previous efforts. The young are hatched
about the end of April, or the beginning of May, and are
covered for some time with a yellowish white down.”

In Scotland where the physical contour of the country more
nearly resembles that of the tract within which in India our
Kestrels breed, Macgillivray (I quote from Hewitson) says that
“ twenty nests of this species might be pointed out on rocks, for
one in a tree.’’ Hewitson adds that he is inclined to believe
that the true Falcons very rarely make a nest for themselves,
and I have no doubt that if observation be directed to this
matter, it will be found that in the Himalayas, as elsewhere,
the Kestrel often borrows or steals a nest originally belonging
to some other bird.

Mr. Blyth (Ibis, 1866) has the following remarks—“ There
is a Tenasserim (Siamese province) Kestrel to which attention
should be directed—Z. Saturatus, Blyth (J. A. 8. B. XXX VIL.
p- 277) an adult female received from Yé is noticed in my
catalogue of the birds in the Calcutta Museum (No. 69) as
perhaps the female of a distinct race, remarkable for the
great development of the black markings of its plumage. <A
young female of the same race was subsequently obtained in
which the cap is fuscous, with scarcely any indication of rufous
margining the feathers. The fuscous colour also predominating
over the rufous upon the whole upper plumage, and on the tail
the rufous bands are narrower than the black bands. An adult
male Kestrel, from the vicinity of Moulmain (though rather
deeper coloured than usual) differed in no respect from the
common J’. Alaudarius, or perhaps, though less probably, the
adult male of JZ. Saturatus may prove to be less strongly
distinguished, as indeed is exemplified by 7. Japonicus (Faun.
Japon. Tab. 1 and 1b.) 7. Satwratus is quite distinct from
T. Molliccensis (Hombr. et Jacq. voyage au Péle Sud ; Ois. tab.
1 and 2).”

With reference to the deeper coloured example from Moul-
main I may remark, that the Southern Indian specimens in my
museum, are markedly of a far deeper hue than any of the large
series obtained by me in various parts of upper India. I cannot
learn that the bird breeds in Southern India, but the intensity
of the rufous colouring, recalling that of 7. Rupicolus or even
the American Pecilornis Sparverius would from analogy lead us
to suspect, a local southern race, and this should be carefully
investigated by observers in Southern India.

101

' To Dr. Jerdon’s description of the adult male, we must add;
that the tail is tipped with white, the breadth of the tipping
increasing from the centre to the exterior feathers; the black
band mentioned by him being a subterminal one; all but the
two centre tail feathers have at times linear black brown spots
on the inner webs; as for the quills, they are often narrowly
edged and tipped with white, and the spots on their inner webs
are generally more or less rufous. The cere and orbits are
bright yellow, the legs and feet bright orange yellow. ‘The bill
yellowish at the base; bluish black on culmen and at tips. The
claws horny black ; the irides brown.

The young male is not, as Jerdon would lead one to suppose,
exactly like-the female; it is always in the first place more
rufous I think, and there are minor differences difficult to ex-
press perhaps, but very perceptible to the practised eye. I sub-
join accurate measurements and a detailed description of the
young male.

Dimensions. Length, 14. Expanse, 30. Weight, 7 ozs.
Wing, 9°8; the 2nd and 38rd primaries equal, and the long-
est; Ist 1:0 shorter; 4th, 0°8 shorter. Tail from vent, 7:5;
exterior tail feathers 1°3 shorter than centre ones. ‘T'arsus,
(feathered in front for 0°5), 1:53. Foot, greatest length, 2°35 ;
greatest width, 2°35; mid toe, 1:1; its claws straight, 0°44;
hind toe, 0°5 ; its claws straight, 0°5. Bull, straight, 0°69 ; along
curve, 0°88; from gape, 0°85; width at gape, 0°76; height at
front at margin of cere, 0°32; cere, only 0°19. Lower tail
eoverts reach within about 3°38 of end of centre tail feathers.
Wings, when closed, reach to within about 2 inches of the end
of the centre tail feathers.

Description. Legs and feet yellow, feet slender, claws black,
centre and outer toes connected by a membrane as far as the
first joints.

Orbits, yellowish green. JIrides, brown.

Cere and gape, yellow or pale or greenish yellow. Bill, pale
greenish or bluish green at margin of the cere and base of lower
mandible, pale blue beyond, deepening almost to blue black at
the tips. ‘Tongue, short, rather broad, thin and membraneous
towards the tip which is slightly divided.

Plumage. Feathers of forehead, rufous white, feathers, dark
shafted. Feathers of the top and back of head and nape, a
somewhat vinous rufous, each with a narrow central dark brown
stripe. ‘The whole of the base of the back of the neck, the
upper back, scapulars and upper wing coverts, except the greater
coverts of the primaries, vinous rufous, all the feathers with
conspicuous broad bars of dark brown, the bar nearest the tip,

102

especially on the lesser wing coverts, being somewhat triangular
in shape. Winglet, dark brown, narrowly margined with rufous
on the outer web, and with spots or incomplete transverse bars
of the same on both webs. Greater coverts of the primaries,
dark brown (with a trace of or in some a well-marked paler
tipping), paler towards the margins of the interior webs, and
with a few blotches of the same warm rufous hue as characterizes
the wing coverts on the outer webs and broad bars of the same,
more or less incomplete on the inner webs. Primaries dark
brown on the outer webs (which have an excessively narrow paler
or pale rufous edging, and are unspotted, with the exception of
three or four rufous spots, on those of the last two or three), and
inner webs: brown at the tips, white at the base; the termediate
portions being partly white and partly brown, a set of brown teeth
or scallops of brown, running out from the shaft towards the mar-
gin, and a set of similar white teeth or scallops running out
alternately with them from the margin towards the shaft. The
tips of the white scallops deeply tinged with rufous, where they
approach the shaft. Im some of the primaries before the regular
scallops commence, there are near the tip in the inner webs
one or more oval rufous spots. ‘The secondaries are a lighter
brown, narrowly but distinctly tipped with rufous, or in some
dingy, white, and barred transversely with broad rufous bars,
which pale and become almost or quite pure white towards the
margins of the inner webs, and this more so towards the bases,
where on the inner webs, these is scarcely any rufous and less
so towards the tips where there is scarcely any white. It is to be
noted that in the earlier secondaries, the brown and in the latter
the rufous and white predominate. The tertials connect the
scapulars and secondaries and resemble both; but are more
uniformly rufous and brown, and have less (if any) white on the
inner webs than the later secondaries. Lower back, rump and
upper tail coverts grey, with a vinous or pinkish tinge, regularly
barred with pretty broad bars of brown. In some, the lower
back and rump are uniform with upper back and scapulars, only
slightly paler; while the upper tail coverts are fulvous white
but barred as usual. The tail feathers are a vinous rufous, tipped
with white most broadly so in the exterior, least broadly so, on
the centre ones, and with a broad subterminal band of blackish
brown usually narrower on the 2nd exterior feather, and much
narrower on the exterior feathers. Above the subterminal band,
each feather is conspicuously barred with transverse dark brown
bars, somewhat irregular; those on the two webs, not exactly
coinciding at the shaft, and somewhat incomplete, as not extend-
ing quite to the margin. The exterior feather often has a narrow

ag

103

and obscure white margin to the outer web, and a trace of this
is also at times visible on the 2nd exterior, while all but the
centre feathers are more or less whitish towards the margins of
the inner webs.

The lores are white, thickly overlaid by fine, dark brown,
hair-like feathers. There isa trace of a narrow brown stripe over
the back of eye and ear-coverts ; ear-coverts lax, mingled white
(with or without a faint rufous tinge) brown or dusky ; a brown
cheek stripe, not very conspicuous, from the eye, past the gape,
on either sides of the upper throat, with commonly a branch from
the base of the lower mandible just below the gape.. Chin white
Upper throat unspotted rufous white, or pure white; sides of
neck below ear coverts, front of neck, breast and upper abdo-
men, pale rufous or nearly pure white, most of the feathers with
narrow central dark brown stripes, most conspicuous on sides of
neck and body (where the stripes are dilated towards the tips
of the feathers into broadish blotches) and least so on the upper
abdomen, where they become mere specks at the tips of dark
shafted feathers. Lower abdomen, vent, lower tail, and thigh
coverts white or very pale rufous white, dingy about lower tail
coverts and vent, at times with two or three minute dark brown
specks on the thigh coverts. Axillaries white, barred with
brown ; lesser lower wing coverts pure white, with tiny oval sub-
terminal spots of dark brown. Larger lower wing coverts also
pure white, with subterminal heart-shaped spots of dark brown,
and most of them, chiefly those of the secondaries however, with
more or less incomplete bars of a somewhat lighter brown. On
the under surfaces of the quills and tail feathers, the markings
described on the upper surfaces show through.

No. 18. HKrythropus Cenchris, Naumany.
Tue Lesser Kestrret.

Dr. Jerdon tells us that he found this Falcon breeding on
cliffs of the Neilgherries in May and June, and I regret to say
a this is the extent of my information as to its breeeding in

ndia.

In Greece, Sicily, Palestine, &c., it breeds gregariously, laying
three, four, or occasionally five eggs, in clefts of rocks or ruins, or
even under the tiles of houses. It makes, it would seem, but little
or no nest. Degland, quoted by Bree, says that “the eggs
are three or four in number ; very short, smaller than those of the
Kestrel : of a reddish white, with a great number of little points

104

and fly spots of a brick red mingled together and mixed with
small brown spots.” The egg figured by Bree measures,
according to the drawing, 1-42 by 1:17, and is like a light-
coloured variety of common Kestrel eggs. I am rather
suspicious of Dr. Bree’s eggs generally, the simple faith with
which he accepts, as authentic, Continental eggs with positively
no pedigree, being more remarkable than reassuring ; but this
egg is so common now in Hurope, that I suppose he may here
be trusted.

Mr. Tristram in the Ibis for 1859 told us, that this species
was “ eregarious about the ruins in the plain districts. About
fifteen or twenty pairs were building their nests in and about
the beautiful tower of Ramleh (Arimathea) in company with
a still larger number of the common Kestrel, and flew screaming
round me, as I climbed the still perfect staircase of the tower.”

In the Ibis for 1865, he gives a full account of its nidification
in Palestine. He says, ‘“ It breeds, so far as we have observed,
invariably in communities, usually in narrow fissures of the
rocks or in the crevices of ruins, not generally in very inacces-
sible situations, but always in so narrow a cleft, and at such a
depth in, that the eggs are hard to extract. I never found
a colony without many of the common Kestrel breeding in the
same place. The largest rookeries of this bird we met with,
were in the towns of Lydda and Ramleh, and in the top of an
old quarried cave (perfectly protected by prickly fern) im the
town of Nazareth. Although the two species are so closely allied,
there can be no difficulty in discriminating the eggs; and we
found that the Arab boys knew the difference between the two
species at once, calling one the black nailed and the other the
white nailed ‘ bashik.’”’

Mr. Simpson in his notes on the birds of western Greece has
the following interesting remarks on this species. ‘ Towards
the middle of March, the little Kestrel (2%/co Cenchris) begims
to arrive, and presently takes up its abode, often in considerable
numbers, in the villages and ruins upon the plains.

“¢ Whilst the common Kestrel, which occurs all the year round,
dwells in the rocks and remote ruins, breeding generally in
single pairs, this species prefers more inhabited places and, like
the Swallow, trusts to mankind. In eastern Greece, one of its
favorite localities is the renowned ruin, which crowns the
Acropolis Rock at Athens. Most of the villages in the marshy
plain near Mesolonghi have their colony of # Cenchris and
notably those in the neighbourhood of the Phidaris, where the
insects abound on which they feed. Hach of the favoured villages
will have from half a dozen to a dozen pairs. They breed

105

generally, under the tiles of a house sometimes in a position
where it is no easy matter to introduce the hand. There is
no regular nest, but the eggs (four and rarely five, is the comple-
ment) are placed in a depression upon the bare wall amongst
bits of lime mixed with the hard parts of coleopterous insects.
Incubation commences about the middle of May, and if the eggs
are removed, they speedily lay again; the second time mostly
three eggs. In size, the egg is considerably smaller than that of
the common Kestrel; but it appears subject to pretty much
the same varieties of colour, being on the whole perhaps some-
what lighter.”

This species seems to have avery wide range; it is found
throughout the south and south-east of Europe, the north of
Africa, Ezypt and Abyssinia, and probably all over Africa, as
Layard notes it from the Cape. I have seen a specimen shot
near Umballa; and Col. Tytler tells me, he killed one near
Delhi. It is not uncommon in the rainy season in Bengal, and
seems to reside permanently in the hilly tracts of Southern
India. It does not appear to go much further east, as Wallace
does not include it in the birds of the Malay Archipelago, nor
do I find it noticed from Japan or China. In Australia, it
seems to be represented by EF. Cenchroides, (Vig. et Horsf.)

My friend. Mr. Carter of Coimbatoor, sends me the following
detailed measurements of an adult female, shot near Conoor.

Dimensions—Length, 13. Expanse, 28°5. Weight, 6-44
ozs. Wing, 9°75; the 2nd and 3rd primaries sub-equal; 2nd
the longest. Tail from vent, 6°75. Tarsus, 1°81. Foot, greatest
length, 2°5 ; greatest width, 2°38; mid toe, 1:13 ; its claw, straight,
0-44; hind toe, 0°5 ; its claw, straight, 0°5. Bill, straight, 0°69;
along curve, 0°75; from gape, 0°88; width at gape, 0°88 ; height
at front, 0-5.

He notes that the bill is plumbeous, black at the tips, and
that the specimen measured had eaten nothing but locusts.

Dr. Jerdon’s deseription of the male is not quite satisfactory ;
he tells us, that the wing coverts are a fine blue grey, and im-
mediately afterwards that they are vinaceous red; quite true
so far as it goes, but without explanation, not unlikely to per-
plex atyro. An adult male before me has the lores, forehead,
crown, occiput, nape, cheeks, ear coverts and generally the sides
of the head and neck, a pure bluish ashy. Back, scapulars and
lesser and median wing coverts, a deep red. Primaries and
secondaries blackish brown, some of the hinder ones tinged
ashy and more or less paler tipped. Tertiaries more or less
ashy, margined rufous. Larger wing coverts tinged ashy.
Rump and upper tail coverts, ashy blue; tail feathers tipped

106

white, with a black subterminal band, broadest on the median,
and narrowest on the external feathers; the rest of the tail
nearly concolorous with the rump, but slightly darker. Chin
and throat white faintly tinged with rufous. Lower tail coverts
nearly pure white, rest of lower parts of body a delicate vinace-
ous red, the feathers with small brownish black spots and central
streaks, smallest on the breast, most conspicuous on the sides
and fianks. The beak, pale plumbeous, darker at the tips, and
the claws, apparently ye//ow. From the ticket on the specimen,
it appears that the wings, when closed, reached quite to the end
of the tail and that cere, orbits, legs and feet were bright yellow.

No. 19. Erythropus Vespertinus, Liv.
Tuer Inerian Fatcon, Latu.

Of the nidification of this bird in India, which in most parts
of the country is rare, or at any rate owing to its crepuscular
habits, difficult to procure, (so much so, that I have never yet
seen a specimen) nothing is known; nay, up to this time it is
uncertain whether the bird that occurs in India, and has hitherto
generally been referred to this species, really belongs to it, or to
a nearly allied form L. Amurensis, of which more anon.

In regard to the true Vespertinus, Mr. Yarrell tell us, that
“MM. Viellot in the Paune Francaise, says, that it builds in the
hollows of trees, or takes to the nest of the Magpie, sometimes
in companies like Rooks, and that it flies and hawks for its prey
only in the evening.”

Mr. Hewitson, on Mr. Cochrane’s authority, states, that in
Hungary, this species “ arrives about the middle of April and
have laid their eggs early in May. They make no nest for
themselves, but after a fight with the lawful owners, take pos-
session of those of the Crow, Rook, or Magpie, altering or repair-
ing them, according to their own taste. The eggs are sometimes
six in number, but most commonly four or five; at times as
many as six or seven pairs breed in a single tree. “The eggs,”
Mr. Hewitson remarks, “most nearly resemble those of the
Kestrel, being, however, for the most part considerably less ; like
the eggs of that bird, they are sometimes finely freckled
throughout,” and sometimes with more or less conspicuous
blotches and spots of a darker hue. ‘They are of course of the
regular Falcon type, and so far as variation of colour goes, my
description of the eggs of F. Jugger (q. v.) will, I faney, apply
more or less to those of the present and other kindred species ;

107

according to Mr. Hewitson’s figures, the eggs measure 1:48
and 1°59 by 1:2.

Of its breeding about Talien bay, N. China, Mr. Swinhoe
had a note in the Ibis for 1861, he said—* This handsome little
bird-slayer was not unfrequently met with flying along over-
head or hovering, poised in air. Judging from the contents of
the stomachs of two I procured, I should say it committed
considerable havoc among the Larks and other field birds. It
certainly caused considerable consternation whenever it appeared
among them. I had an opportunity of observing the nest of
this species twice ; one was placed amongst the topmost boughs
of a willow, the other in the leafy foliage of some umbrageous
tree. The nests are large and round, and built of sticks;
resembling somewhat those of the Magpie. When the old
birds visited the nest, the young set up a chattering cry.” It
seems probable, however, that the bird here referred to, is Z.
Amurensis and not Erythropus (verus).

Mr. Blyth, in commenting on Dr. Jerdon’s work remarked
“the rufous plumage of the adult female of this species, was un-
known to Dr. Jerdon. In confinement, this species and _Z.
Cenchris do not thrive upon meat, but must be fed on a mixed
diet, like that commonly given to small insectivorous birds. Dr.
Jerdon, it will be observed, agrees with me in referring F.
Cenchris and FE. Vespertinus to the same minimum division. I
cannot help thinking, that all naturalists who are familiar with
the living birds, must needs be of the same opinion. These two
little white clawed Kestrelets only visit lower Bengal during the
rainy season (so far as I have observed), and the same remark
apples to Baza Lophotes.”’ The editor of the Ibis in a note to
this, pointed out that it would be interesting to ascertain whe-
ther the Indian bird was true Vespertinus, the Western form, or
Amurensis, the Hastern form, with light coloured under surface
to the wings.

The history of this so-called Hastern form is this : Van Rodde,
in the 2nd volume of his Reisen in suden von ost Siberien, men-
tioned that the red-footed Hobbies from Hastern Siberia, had the
under surface of the wings either entirely white, or white barred
with grey, instead of the uniform deep tint which is found in
Kuropean examples, and he proposed to distinguish them as
var. Amurensis.

This same species, next turned up in South Africa, and the
following note by Mr. Gurney (Ibis, 1868) contains much inter-
esting matter in regard to the two species.

“ Krythropus Amurensis (Radde,) Falco Vespertinus, var. Amu-
rensis, Kadde, Reisen II. p. 102 tab. I. fig. 2 ; bis, 1866, p. 119 ;

108

Eastern red-footed Hobby. Iris hazel; eyelids and bare skin,
orange ; bill, dark orange; black at the tip ; tarsi and feet, dark
orange.

Numbers of these pretty Falcons may be seen during the sum-
mer months about the open downs in the neighbourhood of
Maritzburg; but are not, so far as I know, found there in
winter.

They hunt in company, sometimes as many as twenty to-
gether, well scanning the ground for grasshoppers, and other
insects, of which their food seems almost entirely to consist ; they
do not generally remain long on the wing, alighting on any low
plant, ant-heap, or on the level ground; in twos and threes.
They are not particularly shy; one may get within fifty yards
of them without much difficulty. They seem to prefer marshy
ground to hunt over.

The very curious circumstance of the occurrence in south-
eastern Africa of this species, which had previously been known
only as an inhabitant of Amuria and of Northern China, has
been already mentioned in the Ibis (/oc. cit.) where a brief refer-
ence to the specimens sent from Natal by Mr. Ayre was made.

These specimens were three in number, two males and one
female, all, I believe, adult. I have also received from my friend,
Mr. Anderson, an adult male obtained at the Kuysna, on the
south-eastern coast of the colony of the Cape of Good Hope;
and I have had the opportunity of examining a female specimen
in the British Museum, procured in South Atrica by Mr. Charles
Livingstone, and believed to have been obtained near the River
Shire.

The examples from South-east Africa appear to me to be
specifically identical with specimens of both sexes in the Nor-
wich Museum obtained in Northern China, consisting of a male
and female from Yoon Ying, near Pekin, and of two males from
the neighbourhood of alien Bay.

The question whether the red-footed Hobby of India, belongs
to the present species, or to its Western congener, Hvythropus
Vespertinus, 1s one which, in the absence of Indian specimens,
T am unable to decide, and to which I would beg the attention
of ornithologists resident in that country* (Ibis, 1866, p. 119).

With regard to the distribution of H. Amurensis in south
Africa, I may add that Mr. Anderson informs me, that he has
obtained one example in Damara Land; where, however, LH.

* Since the above was written, Mr. G. R. Gray has been good enough to
tell me of a specimen in the British Museum brought from Nepal, which I
agree with him in considering an immature female of #. Amurensis.

109

Vespertinus is the common species, and is indeed so numerous,
that in a letter, dated 16th February, 1866, Mr. Anderson writes
to me, that it appears during the wet season in incredible num-
bers : they then come, not by thousands, but literally by tens of
thousands.

Of the specific distinction between HH. Amurensis and £.
Vespertinus { cannot entertain the slightest doubt. The adult
male of the former differs from that of the latter, in having the
under wing coverts of a pure white, instead of a slaty black, as
well as in the slightly darker colouring of its upper parts. ‘The
female of #. Amurensis differs from the female of the other
species, in the absence of rufous colouring on the head, neck and
under parts, except the thighs and under tail coverts, which
are rufous in it, as in the female of 4. Vespertinus, and
also excepting avery slight rufous tinge on the sides of
the neck and throat, and on the under wing coverts, near
the carpal joint. ‘The plumage of all the under parts in
the female of #, Amurensis, excepting that of the throat (which
is pure white) the thighs and the under tail coverts, is strongly
marked with ovate and sagittate spots of dark slaty black on a
white ground; which markings assume a transverse form on
the under wing-coverts and lower flank feathers, and produce
a general appearance of the under parts considerably resembling
the front view of the adult common Hobby (ypotriorchis
Subbuteo).”

I have been unable to ascertain to which form our Indian
species belongs, perhaps both forms occur. It isto be hoped
that some of my numerous coadjutors will make a point of
securing good specimens. ‘They seem tolerably common in some
localities. Mr. R. Thompson writing from [cumaon, says—

“¢ Whilst up under the snow line in the month of September,
I observed large parties of these birds hovering about catching
insects, and occasionally alighting on the ledges of rock. Hight
to twenty birds have been seen together hovering about like
swallows. In October last year, I saw several hovering over the
Nynee Tal valley, and remember later, seemg one down in the

lains.”’
Per contra, Dr. Stoliczka writing from the Hills north and east
of Simla, tells us, that this species is rarely seen in the interior
of the Himalayas, and then only in the lower Hills.

There is this, however, to be said ; Yarrell informs us, that this
species ‘‘is a native of Russia, Poland, and Austria from whence
it passes southward” and westward to the shores and islands of
the Mediterranean. It undoubtedly occurs in Turkey in Asia,
Palestine and northern Africa, and at least as far south on that

110

continent as Damara Land. But I can hear nothing of its
having been found in Mesopotamia, Persia, Cabool, or Kashmir
and even westward of the Ganges, it seems very rare. At
Darjecling, at certain seasons, I am assured that it is common ;
Mr. Thompson tells us the same from Kumaon; in lower
Bengal too it is reported plentiful during the rains. The bird
is strictly migratory with us, coming in during and after the
rains, when insect-life most abounds, and I apprehend, that it is
chiefly eastward of the Ganges where vegetation is more luxuri-
ant, and where the plains below the Hills afford a better supply of
insect food than the comparatively arid tracts of the North West
Presidencies, and the Punjaub, that the great mass of the birds
eross the Snowy Range. Should such be the case, there is an addi-
tional probability in favour of our bird proving to be Amurensis.

Dr. Jerdon’s descriptions of this bird are rather meagre, and I
therefore proceed to quote Mr. Yarrell’s, which appear unusually
full and satisfactory.

“ After their first change, the plumage of the males is much
more uniform than that ofthe females. In the adult male, the
base of the beak is yellowish white, the other part, dark horn
colour; the cere and eyelids, reddish orange; the irides, dark
brown; the head, neck, beak, upper surface of the wings and
tail, the throat, breast, and belly, of a uniform dark lead colour ;
the thighs, vent, and under tail coverts, deep ferruginous ; the
legs and toes, reddish flesh colour; the claw, yellowish white,
with dusky tips. The whole length of the bird eleven inches.

“The plumage of the young males, before their first change,
is similar to that of young females, which will hereafter be
described. At their first change, they become of a uniform
pearl grey; the thighs and flanks, ferruginous ; beak, cere, eyes,
legs, toes, and claws, as inthe old male. The vignette is taken
from a young male bird, that has nearly completed his first
change, but still retains a portion of the barred appearance of
his first livery on the outer or distal part of the wing, on the
lower part of the beak and the tail feathers, the central pair
only of which are as yet mottled.

“The adult female has the beak, cere, irides, legs, &e., as
in the male; the head and back of the neck reddish brown ; the
eye surrounded with dusky feathers almost black ; the whole
of the back, wing coverts, and tail feathers, blackish grey,
barred transversely with bluish black; upper surface of the
wing-primaries, uniform dusky black. The chin and throat
nearly white; breast and all the under surface of the body,
pale rufous, with dark reddish brown longitudinal streaks ;
the thighs and their long feathers plain rufous ; under wing cov-

111

erts rufous, with transverse bars of dark brown; under surface
of the wing primaries, blackish grey, with numerous transverse
bars of bluish grey; under surface of the tail feathers bluish
grey, with nine or ten transverse bars of bluish black; the bars
increasing a little in breadth as they approach the tip.

“Young females have the top of the head reddish brown with
dusky streaks; the eyes encircled with black, with a small
black pointed moustache descending from the anterior part of
the eye; ear coverts white; upper surface of the body, dark
brown, the feathers ending with reddish brown; wing prima-
ries, dusky black; the inner edges and tips, buffy white; the
tail feathers, dark brown with numerous transverse bars of
reddish brown; throat, white: sides of the neck, the breast,
and all the under surface of the body, pale, reddish white, with
brown longitudinal streaks and patches on the breast; the
thighs and their long feathers, uniform pale ferruginous ; beak,
cere, irides, &c., as in the adult female.”

No. 20. Hierax Eutolmus, Hopesoy.
Tur Rep* Leccep FaAtconet.

Nothing is known of the breeding of this species. Mr. Blyth
‘says, that an account of the habits of the nearly allied black
legged Falconet (H. Fringillarius) is given in the Proceedings
of the Zoological Society for 1863, p. 206, but of our Indian
species, [ have failed to find any record.

It is not, I think uncommon, anywhere in the Himalayas
east of the Ganges. I have shot it low down at Jewlee in August,
and at the height of nearly 9000 feet, on the Takhil at the end
of October. The first I shot, I took as it passed me, from its
flight and glossy black, white and rufous plumage, to be some
sort of Swallow, and so did the native with me; but on its falling
to my shot, and his going to pick it up, he rapidly changed his
opinion, the fierce little creature having buried its talons and
the point of its beak in his hand, inflicting wounds quite surpris-
ing, when the size of the bird, scarcely so large as a Skylark, is
considered.

* Three species of this genus may well be separated by the colour of their
tibial plumes. The present which has these red, under the name above
given. H. Fringillarius, Drapiez. (H. Malayensis, Strickland and Falco
Cerulescens, Viellot) as the black legged, and H. Melanoleucus, Blyth,
(of which I have only seen a drawing) as the white legged Falconets.
Mr. Blyth pointed out this distinction long ago.

112

Mr. R. Thompson remarks—“ I have observed these birds
make their appearance in our Gurhwal forests in March. I
have never found a nest, nor do I know when they breed.

“‘ They are quick and lively in their motions, hawking insects
with swallow-like agility, and after a long flight, betaking
themselves to a tree, always getting on some high dead branch.

“ Their flight is rapid, direct, and made with frequent flappings
of the wing, like the Sand Martins. On one occasion at Almor-
ah, one passed close to where I was standing ; it was, I think
during the month of October.”

I believe this species to be migratory, spending the warmer
portion of the year, from March to November, in well-wooded
portions of the hilly country; between 2500 and 9000 feet
altitude. They must therefore breed with us, and their first
nest is a prize that I hope yet to see secured ; but where do they
spend the winter? As yet no one seems to have seen them in
the plains or even in the Terai, and it seems pretty certain that
they are not permanent residents in our territories. Do they
recross the snow (as the red-footed Hobby seems to do) when
the cold weather begins to set in? and if so, where do they go ?
Where, in the barren steppes of Central Asia, can they find food ?
(to judge from the specimens that I have killed, they are entire-
ly insectivorous) or do they work eastward towards the provinces
that form the head-quarters of the genus, which is essentially
a south-eastern* type ?

No. 21. Astur Palumbarius, Liv.
Ture GosHAWK.

The Goshawk breeds in India, so far as I have been able to
ascertain, only in the higher regions of the Himalayas, in the
immediate neighbourhood of the snows. A pair of very young
birds were brought late in July, while I was at Simla, for the
Rajah of Putialla from near the Chor, and the Shikaree asserted,
that he had taken them out of a nest, placed near the top
of some kind of Fir or Pine tree.

Mr. R. Thompson, an enthusiastic faleoner by the way, tells
me that “they breed from March to June, building on trees, a

* There are Hieraa Sericeus (Kittle) from the Philippine Islands and
China. H. Fringillarius (Drapiez) from Malay (extending, Blyth says,
sparingly into the southern Tenasserim provinces, where it meets Huéol-
mus) Malacca, Sumatra, Borneo and Java, ZZ. Melanolewcus from Assam,
and if distinct, H. Hrythrogenys (Vigors), from the Philippines.

113

large circular nest of coarse twigs, in which they lay three or four
nearly pure white eggs. They confine themselves peculiarly
to the interior of the deep precipitous woody valleys, lying
close to the snowy peaks. They usually, I am told, select a tree
of the Birch, Anus Boojputtia, or one of Cupressus Tomentosa
to build their nests on.

“ During this period, the birds are very daring, and will readily
attack a man, attempting to climb up to the nest. In these
woods, the Moonal Pheasant is very abundant, and no doubt
affords capital quarry for these Hawks.”

Of the Goshawk in Europe, Mr. Hewitson, quoting Mr. Hay,
says that it “ builds its own nest, and if undisturbed in its posses-
sion, will frequently occupy it for several years, making the
necessary repairs. It is placed in some high tree on the out-
skirts of the forest, and is rarely found in the interior, except in
those parts which are open and free from timber. The eggs are
three or four, and are frequently hatched by the middle of
May; they are, for the most part, spotless, but are sometimes
indistinctly marked with brown.” The one he figures is a
delicate bluish white, like that of MMicronisus Badius, and
measures 2°17 by 1°72.

Mr. Yarrell tells us that “the eggs of the Goshawk are rare,
the few that I have seen were in size and colour, 2°19 in length
by 1:69 in breadth, of a pale bluish white, without any spots
or streaks.”

Compare the above with what Gould tells us of the nearly
allied Astur Approximans of Australia.

“Tts nest is usually built on a large swamp-oak (Casuarina)
growing on the side of a brook, but I have occasionally met
with it on the gum trees (Hucalypti) in the forest, at a consider-
able distance from water ; it is of a large size, and is composed
of sticks, and lined with gum leaves. ‘he eggs are generally
three in number, of a bluish white, smeared over with blotches
of brownish buff; they are one inch and ten lines long, by one
inch and five lines broad. The nesting season commences in
August and continues till November.”

KXaup separates this species under Uraspiza, and the eggs,
as above described, appear to differ from the typical Astur egg,
but I have to note that the man who brought the young birds
from near the Chor, affirmed that he had looked down into the
nest, from the distance of a few yards, when it contained eggs,
and that these latter were blotched with brown like those of a
kite (IM. Govinda), except that the brown was lighter and more
earthy.

ee Jerdon lately mentioned to me (in epist.) that “ the

114

Goshawk is occasionally taken in the plains of the Punjab
during the cold weather. I saw,” he adds, “a pair in July
1864, that evidently had their nest in a wood in the Asrang
valley above Chini, about 12000 feet high.”

My friend, Mr. Thompson, sends me the following account of
hawking with the Goshawk in the forests of Gurhwal and the
Terai.

“Several are caught on the high peaks of Josheemat, Tomy-
naut, Tuppobund, &c. during October and November, when it
would appear that the birds leave their snow-girt valleys, and
betake themselves to others lower down, and free from snow.
The trap consists of vertical nets six feet high, of stout thread
enclosing three sides of asquare and open at top. In the centre,
a Pigeon is tied to the end of a small stick, which again is fasten-
ed by the other end to a peg in the ground; two other pegs,
one on each side of this first peg are driven in, and from these,
fine strings are carried to the point of the stick to which the
Pigeon is fastened. These strings assist in keeping the stick in
its place, when the man pulls another string, by which the stick
is alternately raised, and then suddenly allowed to fall, thereby
giving that fluttering motion to the Pigeon’s wings which best
serves to attract the Hawk. The trapper hides under some
bushes, and as his trap is usually set on the very summit of the
ridge or peak, can keep a good look out for any bird approach-
ing, when he sees one he begins to pull at his Pigeon and
watches with keen anxiety every movement of the Goshawk.
The latter, as a rule, the instant he sees the Pigeon, dashes at it
either from one of the enclosed sides, or through the open one,
and striking against the net is enveloped in it. The nets, I
should note, are supported on four slender posts firmly driven
into the ground one at each corner of the square, and to these
the nets are loosely hung by fine threads, or hairs from a cow’s
tail !

“The price of a young female varies from Rs. 40 to 60. Birds
of first, second and third plumage, are valued at considerably less,
not even a fourth of what a young bird will fetch. The males
are of proportionately less value. Nearly all of the birds caught
in British and foreign Gurhwal are taken to the Punjab, a tew
only finding their way down to Rohileund. |

“ Despite of all that is said about short wing Hawks, this bird
is capable of attaining a high degree of efficiency as a bold and
rapid flyer,” a fagless worker, and affording decidedly the best

* As instances :—I have taken Coturnia Communis in the middle of April
with my Goshawks flying straight off the fist at the Quail. My Goshawks
have ee at Partridge and Quail 800 to 1,000 yards from where they were
slipped.

115

sport that can be had in a forest country. When first put to
the quarry, they fly with outspread wings, with a listless slow
motion like that of a great Owl, admirably described in Sir John
Sebwright’s little pamphlet on hawking, but by every day prac-
tice, and constant flying at the black Partridge, high feeding,
and carefully training it to become familiar with men, dogs, and
all other objects, likely to frighten it, it becomes in about two or
three months perfect at its work. The docility of the bird in
the hands of a good trainer, is wonderful. Its intelligence 1s
almost equal to that of the dogs. Ihave had them (and it must
be said that the natives of India are the only people who seem
to understand rightly the training of this bird) so docile and
intelligent, that by the mere putting out of my hand, the birds
have flown from the falconer’s fists and settled on mine whilst
seated on an elephant; and this, because I was in the habit of
receiving the birds on my fists to fly at blacks.* Other birds
have shown equal intelligence ; one I lately had, used to be un-
leashed at my tent door, would fly to the nearest tree, and as the
party set out through forest and glade, would fly from tree to
tree, and thus keep on, quite up to the beaters and dogs, never
lagging behind till a bird was flushed, but always sufficiently
forward to receive the quarry as it rose. This was the best bird
I ever had at taking black Partridge, which it always caught on
the wing.

“Tt was a beautiful sight to see ‘ Sultana’ shoot out of a tree
like a cannon shot, at a Partridge just flushed, often striking it
before it knew where it was. Sometimes, however, there would
be a race—Partridge ahead, Sultana immediately behind, each
straining every nerve, the Partridge must go on, it dare not
. settle in the grass, for todo this it must slacken its pace, each
moment bringing the Hawk closer to it, till at last it is clutched.
This, over a fine spread of grass, without much interruption to
the view, is a splendid sight! Another fine flight often to be
witnessed with these birds, is the taking the Francolin in tall
heavy grass. A line of elephants are beating up the game.
The flushed Partridge rising out of the grass towers straight up;
the Hawk is slipped, and follows horizontally the direction of the
other, until it sees it descending, when, springing up almost per-
pendicularly, the Hawk seizes the quarry.

“The Goshawks I have had, after a preliminary education of
Partridge hunting, have generally been put at Jungle Fowl,
Kalleege Pheasant, Hares, and Peacocks. At all of which

* T hasten to explain that Mr. Thompson means black Partridges and not
m ee of our English philanthropists (?) would certainly conclude, natives
of India,

116

they have done well. I have taken a dozen Jungle Fowl in a
couple of hours with them, using dogs to flush the birds. ‘They
have also killed Peacocks in a single flight, and Hares without
ever having been booted. I have also taken Teal and Ducks in
woody swamps, by appearing at the water from a point whence
a distant view could be had of the Water-fowl. The Hawk, on
being shown the Ducks, would fly at once to the tree nearest to
them, and there wait inambush. The beaters were then sent
to flush the Fowl, one of which the Hawk caught in the air as
the flock rose, almost perpendicularly, out of the water.”

No. 22. Lophospiza Trivirgatus, Rernw.
Tur Crestep GosHAWK.

While the common Goshawk is a true Paleearctic type, never I
believe finding its way far south of 30° North Latitude, the Crest-
ed Goshawk belongs essentially to the middle Paleetropical or
Indian Region, and while unknown north and west of Delhi, is
found throughout Southern India and Ceylon, in Assam, Bur-
mah, Java, Borneo, Sumatra and the Philippine Islands, For-
mosa, and probably Southern China generally.

IT know nothing of the nidification of the species beyond
what Layard, quoted by Jerdon, says, of its breeding on rocks
in Ceylon. It is common enough on the Neilgheries, and it is
to be hoped that some of my correspondents there, will make it
a special study.

Swinhoe has the following note (Ibis, 1866) on ‘a fine fe-
male” killed in Formosa. ‘“ Length, 16°25 inches; wing, 9
inches ; tail, 76 inches. First quill, 1-5 inches shorter than the
third, which is 0°3 inch shorter than the fourth and fifth, the
longest in the wing. The second to the fifth quills indented on the
inner web, the first less sinuated. ‘T'ail of twelve, nearly equal
feathers, rectrices barred, the outer pair with only one faint
bar near the base, and an indistinct one near the tip. Legs
yellow. Claws black. Tarsi about 2°75 inches long, feathered
for about 1°75 inches down the front; middle toe without the
claw, about 1°62 inches ; claw of outer toe, about the same size as
that of the middle toe, inner toe, shorter than the outer, with
the claw nearly as large as that on hind toe.”

Wallace in the Ibis for 1868, gives the “ bill black, base, lead
colour; iris and cere, orange yellow; cheeks and orbits olive ;
feet yellow. Length 15 inches.”

ALY

No. 23. Micronisus Badius, Gms.
Tue SHIKRA.

The Shikra lays in April and May, building for itself a
moderately sized nest on trees, large and lofty ones being, as
far as my experience in the plains goes, always selected.
Writing from Gurhwal, Mr. Thompson says—“ This is a regular
breeder in our forests, and always chooses trees standing on the
edges of streams or stagnant pools. ‘The birds are very fond
of frogs, which they are constantly stooping at. They are
noisy, and quarrelsome, if any large bird approaches their nest.”

The nest is usually placed in a fork high up, and near the top
of the tree. Itis but loosely built of twigs, and smaller sticks
lined with fine grass roots, is much smaller and less compact
than those of the Toorumtee, (Lithofalco Chicquera) often are,
and may average about ten inches in diameter.

The greatest number of eggs I have ever taken in a nest was
four, but I am inclined to thik that the generality only lay
three. ‘The eggs do not vary much in shape. They are a little
shorter and stouter than those of Z. Chicquera. They are oval
or somewhat pyriform, a rather longer egg in proportion to its
breadth than one expects to find in this class of bird. They
belong to the Goshawk and not to the Sparrow Hawk type.
Smooth, fine, glossless shells, of a pure, delicate, pale bluish white,
as a rule absolutely devoid of markings ; at most, thinly sprin-
kled all over with very faint grayish specks and spots, thus
differing widely from the apparently closely allied A. Wisus,
whose eggs are often richly, and always, I believe, more or less
marked.

In size the eggs vary, from 1°5 to 1°63 in length and from 1:2
to 1:26 in breadth, but the average of a dozen egos was 1°55 xX
1:24. These little Hawks take, I should say, a full month in
preparing their nest, only putting on two or three twigs a day
which they place and replace, as if they were very particular,
and had a great eye for a handsome nest, whereas, after all their
fuss and bother, the nest is a loose ragged looking affair, that no
respectable Crow even, would condescend to lay in. I can never
help thinking of the Public Works Department, when I see these
Shikras busy building. All the fuss they make about scientific
training, and elaborate plans, estimates, budgets and what not,
and how after all, the result of their labours, is only some hide-
ous, straight up and down, blank wall, barn-like, mud and plas-
ter affair, with which no respectable, unscientific native would
haye ventured to disfigure the face of the earth.

118

M. Badius, Brachydactylus, Sphenurus, are said by Bree to be
very close to each other. Length of wing and tail; length and
thickness of tarsus ; and length of mid toe, and proportions of
primaries are what chiefly assist in discriminating these nearly
allied species. Plumage, owing to its extreme variability in this
family, going for little. I have recorded carefully the measure-
ments of ten males and ten females of this species, and subjoin
the result which may be useful for comparison with those of
nearly allied races.

Wing F. 7:9 to 8:3; M. 6:8 to 7:3. Tail F. 6°8 to 7-2; M. 55
to 5:9. Tarsus F. 1:9 to 2:0; M.1°8 to 1:9; mid toe to root of
claw F. 1:25 to 1-4; M. 1:06 to 1:15. Circumference of tarsus,
at middle F. 0°65 to 0°73; M. 0°6 to 0°65;

2

1st primary shorter than the 4th by F. 2°5 to 2°7 M. 2°88 to 2°55
2nd do. do. F. 0-9 to 1:0 M. 0°84 to 0°9
ord do. do. F. 0°12t00°25M. 0:05 to 0°15
5th do. do. F. 0:2to 0:25 M. 0°12 to 0°15

In reading remarks in regard to the various species of Acci-
piters, I often see stress laid on the absence or presence of bars
on central, or outer feathers, and on the showing through or the
contrary, of these bars, on the under surfaces, especially of the
outer feathers. This class of characters appears to me of but
little value, depending, as I believe them to do, mainly upon
age. I have kept numbers of M. Badius for years at a time,
rearing them from the nest, and from the following notes drawn
up, when I had peculiar opportunities of watching the changes,
it will be seen, that in this species at any rate, the presence or
absence of bars on any part of the tail, is simply worthless as a
specific character.

The young Shikras have (with the subnoted exception) ad/
the tail feathers barred on both webs, with normally six bars in
the female, and five in the male (though this difference is not
invariable) including one near the base, hidden by the upper
tail coverts, always feeble and sometimes wanting. The outer
web, of the outer feather, on each side, commonly (even in very
young birds) shows only a terminal and none of the other bars.

At this stage, the bars show through on the under surface of
all the feathers.

Even in the quite young birds, the bars on the inner webs of the
outer feathers, are less than half the breadth of those on the
other feathers, and are not unfrequently much more numerous.
As they get older, the birds begin to lose all but the terminal
bar on the centre tail feathers, the other bars turn into spots ;
then these disappear and only lighter and darker alternate patches

119

on the shafts indicate where the bars once were, and then these
also disappear, and leave the central feathers of a pure grey
brown, or perhaps, I should say, brownish dove-colour in the
females, and french grey in the males, narrowly tipped with
white, and with one moderately broad subterminal deep brown
bar, which itself soon disappears in the males, and even in the
females, as time runs on, becomes more feeble, and more of a
spot, and in one old female I now have, has entirely disappeared.
Simultaneously, the bars on the inner web of the outer tail
feather on each side, begin to show less and less on the under
surface, from which after a time they altogether disappear, and
having during this process, grown feeble on the upper surface
too, go on fading and fading, tall at last they disappear there
sO.

The lateral tail feathers share in the change ; those immediate-
ly next the central ones, lose all bars on their outer webs, except
the terminal one, which is much reduced ; while in the next two,
on either side, the bars on the outer webs become very faint, and
though this seems exceptional in the females, I have a specimen
in which a// the lateral tail feathers have lost @// the bars except
the terminal one from their outer webs, and in the old males
this seems the rule ; even the terminal bar in these latter, becom-
ing feeble and ill-defined.

Besides the minor differences poimted out in the foregoing,
between the sexes and the important one of size, it should be
noted that while the old male, becomes a sort of hoary ashy blue
on the back and scapulars, the females seem never to become
more than a pale brownish ashy ; moreover, the rufous brown of
the breast and upper abdomen is deeper in the adult female
than im the male, and there is more of if.

The changes above described, do not always take place at the
same period; specimens may be met with, with the back and
scapulars ashy, and yet with bars on all the tail feathers, white
at other times, quite brown birds that show still, here and there,
faint traces of rufous margins to the back plumage, will be found
to have lost most of the tail bars.

Tn almost every case, the chin and throat are white and free
from longitudinal sfrie, but have a conspicuous dark central
stripe. I had, however, an adult female with plenty of these
stn, and in old males, the central stripe often grows very faint,
and has entirely disappeared in one specimen in my museum.
The length of wing, tarsus and mid toe, varies a good deal, as
will have been seen; the thickness of the tarsus even, is not in-
variable, and the more I study this group, the more doubiful do
I feel of the value of most of the characters relied on as specific,

120

and on the strength of which species are at times instituted
from a single specimen.

Even the colour of the iris is not invariable. Usually the
irides of the adults are bright yellow, but both Mr. Brookes
(who first pointed this out to me) and myself, have repeatedly
shot specimens, in which the iris was the brightest ruby red,
much the same colour as that of H/anus Melanopterus usually is.
Bree, by the way, figures the iris of this latter as bright yellow,
and having shot numbers, and always found the iris bright red,
I conceived this to be a simple mistake ; but Mr. Brookes assures
me, that he has met with specimens, in which the inides really
were yellow, though this, in India at least, is most exceptional.

I carefully compared a young bird, in Col. Tytler’s museum,
sent by Layard from the Cape, ticketed: ‘A. Zachiro, young
male; Damara Land,” with a series of young male Badius,
and I was utterly unable to see how they could be separated ;
compared with some specimens, the tarsus was a trifle slenderer
and the wings longer, but with others again, the bird was
absolutely identical. Perhaps the difference is clearer in the
adult or possibly (a good number of the birds sent by him are
clearly wrongly named) Layard may have sent one of his old
Indian birds by mistake, but if no error has been committed,
the resemblance between the young of these two species, is most
remarkable ; so far as plumage and such dimensions as can be
ascertained in the dry skin go, they seem positively identical.

Accurate and detailed measurements and descriptions taken
from the flesh are often useful for comparison, and I therefore
subjoin such, of a nearly fully adult male, killed on the 10th
of March,

Dimensions. Length, 12°13. Expanse, 23. Weight, 4°75 oz.
Wing, 6°88; the 4th primary the longest ; Ist, 2°38 ; 2nd, 0°88 ;
3rd, 0:07; 5th, 0°13 shorter. Tail, from vent, 5°88 ; exterior tail
feathers, 0°5 shorter than central ones. Tarsus, 1°88 ; feathered in
front for 0°56. Foot, greatest length, 2°63 ; greatest width, 2°13 ;
mid toe, 1:06; its claw, 0°47 ; hind toe, 0°59 ; its claw, 0°56. Bill,
straight, 0°72; along curve, 0°81; from gape, 0°78; width at
gape, 0°63; height at front at margin of cere, 0°31; length of
cere, 0°25. Wings when closed reach to within 3 inches of end
of tail. Lower tail coverts, 2°88 of ditto.

Description. Legs and feet, rather dingy greenish yellow,
scutellation on front of tarsus and toes transverse, rather feeble ;
on sides and back of tarsus, obscure. Toes slender, 2nd
joint-pad of mid and outer toes, well developed. Claws, slender,
sharp-pointed, pretty well curved, black ; inner edge of mid toe,
claw scarcely perceptibly dilated.

121

Trides, yellow. Bill, blackish horny; blue at gape, base of
lower, and sides of upper, mandible.

Tongue small, somewhat fleshy bluish and lke lower
mandible, dusky at tip; obtuse ended, with a conspicuous
depression down the centre.

Plumage. The lores, cheeks, chin and throat, slightly
greyish white. The ear coverts having the faintest possible
shade of fulvous, and the chin and throat having just the trace
of a central dark line.

The whole top and back of the head, a pale rather brownish
slaty, paler just at the forehead and immediately above the
eyes. Sides of the neck, behind the ear coverts, pale fulvous, or
faintly reddish brown, nearly meeting on the nape; the whole of
the base of the neck in front, and at sides, the breast, sides, and
upper abdomen, white, with numerous, close, regular, narrow,
transverse bars of the same pale faintly reddish brown, closer
on the upper breast, and wider apart, and slightly feebler lower
down. ‘The base of the neck behind, shoulders, scapulars, back,
rump, tail feathers, and their coverts, and whole upper surface
of the wings, generally slaty. The first five primaries being
dusky at the tips, and all the primaries, winglet, and anterior
portion of wing, being a shade darker. In the basal portion of
the scapulars probably more than half the feathers are white,
though this, owing to the over-lapping of the feathers is little
seen; about half the imterior webs of all the quills (except the
first four primaries in which the white only begins above the
notches) white, all, with several incomplete moderately broad
transverse dark bars in the inner webs, which are faintly visible
even on the dusky tips of the early primaries. ‘The central
tail feathers have darker patches on their shafts, corresponding
with the transyerse bars on the lateral feathers, but no bars,
narrow white tips, or subterminal dark bands. The lateral tail
feathers all with narrow white tips and an oblique patch of
white on the inner webs on the basal halves, and the rest of the
inner webs rather lighter than the outer. All the lateral
feathers but the outermost with a pretty broad subterminal
dark band, and four somewhat narrower similar dark transverse
bands, traceable on both webs but much more conspicuous on
the inner. The exterior tail feathers are browner and less slaty
than the rest of the tail, have no subterminal band, and seven or
eight narrow, brownish, transverse bands on the inner web only.
The lower part of abdomen, vent, thigh coverts, flanks, and lower
tail coverts, pure white. The lower surface of the tail, greyish
white, the broad blackish bars of the four lateral feathers on
each side showing through conspicuously, and the narrow bars

122

of the outermost pair being faintly visible. The lesser and
median lower wing coverts are very pale fulvous, or creamy
white, with a tinge of fawn. The larger lower coverts, are
nearly pure white with a few imperfect faint, narrow, grey
bars. ‘The under surface of the quills is nearly pure white,
greyish at the tips of all but the earlier primaries, which are
dusky, and all with the incomplete bars on the inner webs,
showing through; strongly on the earlier primaries, and very
feebly on the later secondaries.

Norre.—There is another nearly allied species, Micronisus
Brevipes, in regard to which the following remarks appeared in
the [bis for 1865 :—

“Dr. Kruper has made another valuable discovery also relat-
ing to a rare and hitherto somewhat obscure European bird of
prey. In the ‘Bulletin’ of the Moscow Society of Naturalists
for 1850 (ii pp. 234-239) M. N. Severzow described, under the
name of Astus Brevipes, a new species of Sparrow Hawk of which
he had obtained three examples from the Government of Voroney
in Southern Russia; and Herr Seidensacher has communicated
to the Vienna Transactions (the paper beimg reprinted in the
Journal fiir Ornithologie, p. 464) the intelligence that in May
1864, Dr. Kruper found a nest with four eggs of this little-
known bird near Smyrna. Dr. Sclater kindly informs us that,
when he was at Vienna last autumn, he became aware that
Astur Brevipes was no other than the Accipiter Gurneyi, founded
on examples received from Beyrout (Ibis, 1859, p. 390) and
described and well-figured by Dr. Bree (B. Eur. LV. p. 158)
of which mention has before been made in this Journal (Lbis,
1863, p. 463) and Mr. Gurney has written to us to corroborate
this identification. But what is still more interesting, Mr.
Gurney finds that the ‘specimens obtained in Galilee by Mr.
Tristram, and supposed by him (P. Z. 8S. 1864, p. 429) to be
the A. Sphenurus of Ruppell, also belong to this species. ‘This
discovery was made just in time to insert the right specific name
in the paper on the Ornithology of Palestine’ printed in our pre-
sent number (supra p. 260) though not soon enough to admit
of Mr. Tristram’s there giving an explanation of the facts of the
case. ‘The species, however, as we are informed by Mr. Gurney,
should be referred to the genus Micronisus, and accordingly will
take its place as Micronisus Brevipes (Severzow). All we at pre-
sent know of its history, may be condensed into these few words,
that it occurs in Southern Russia from April to August, and
probably breeds there, as it certainly does in Asia Minor, and.
that it has been met with once in Greece and several times in
Syria, Herr Seidensacher considers Iicronisus Brevipes to he

123

identical with the Indian IM. Badius, and it is probably the spe-
cies referred to under this last name in Professor Blasius’s List
ofthe birds of Europe, p. 4; but Mr. Gurney is very confident
that the two birds, though nearly allied, are quite distinct.”
Mr. Bree’s dimensions and descriptions are as follows :—
Length. Carpus to Tarsus. Tail. Middle

tip of wing. Toe.
“1. Asia, male adult, Lau-
retta, Beyrout, 14:2 routs) cB Os 1°4
2.* Syria, female adult,
Verreaux, 14°5 9°6 Or 1 Oi¢ 1°4
3. Young female, Lauret-
ta, Beyrout, 155 0-9 Ce OF 1-4
4. Young male, Lauretta,
Beyrout, 13°3 8:3 T'8 65 2

“Description. The adult male has the upper plumage dark
slaty brown, with some white spots on the nape and upper tail
coverts. Primaries nearly black, and barred with lighter black
on the basal half beneath. Below, the general tint is rufous,
lighter on the croup ; the chin and sides of the head are slaty,
light slate colour; the rest of the body, thighs and under wing
coverts barred with ferruginous and silvery gray; under tail
coverts white. ‘T'ail above, dark slaty brown, below lighter ; the
two central feathers, both above and below, being rare colorous;
the others silvery gray, broadly barred through the feathers
with black. Beak, black; tarsi and toes yellow; claws black.

“The female has the upper plumage lighter than that of the
male, and the upper tail feathers have traces of black bands,
while all the under ones are barred through. Primaries nearly
black, barred on their inner webs with white, the whole length
of the feather, chin and sides of the head grey with light brown
bars and spots. ‘The rest of the body, under wing coverts and
thighs barred with haix brown and silvery grey; under tail
coverts white, slightly barred with brown. Beak black; tarsi _
and toes yellow.

“ Young birds of the year have the head prettily striped longi-
tudinally with rich brown of two shades and white. The
upper plumage rich dark brown; the edges of the primaries,
wing and upper tail coverts bordered with fawn colour. The
chin is white with a few longitudinal dark streaks; the crops
and chest broadly marked with brown and white longitudinal

* This female, it will be observed, is shorter than the male, though
otherwise larger. This depends entirely upon the mode in which the skin

has been prepared.

124

spots, which assume a crescentic shape and lighter colour on the
abdomen, thighs, and under tail coverts; under wing coverts
above fawn colour, below cream colour, barred with grey and
brown on all the feathers, less distinct on the two above and
below ; beak horn colour; tarsi and feet yellow.”

Mr. Bree further adds: “In addition to the measurements,
the male adult Levant Sparrow Hawk differs from that of A.
Nisus. 1st. In the darker upper plumage. 2nd. In the closer
barring of the under plumage. 37d. In the under wing coverts
being lighter rufous, and less barred, and by the deep black un-
colorous primaries beneath, those of A. Nisws being barred to the
end. 4th. By the two first under tail feathers bemg uncolorous
grey, while those of Visws are strongly barred. dth. By the
primaries being black brown and uncolorous above, while those
of Nisus are lighter and distinctly barred, and 6th. The cheeks of
the Levant Sparrow Hawk are slight grey, while those of Visus
are rufous.”

en

No. 24. Accipiter Nisus, Liv.
Tue Sparrow Hawk.

A Sparrow Hawk, but whether the present or the next species,
IT am unable to decide, breeds commonly enough in woody
valleys in the interior of the Himalayas. I have repeatedly
seen their nests and once (in May) took one about two marches
on the Mussourie side of Gungootree, containing four bluish
white, red blotched eggs exactly like, it seemed to me, the
Sparrow Hawk’s eggs I had so often taken as a boy at home.
Unfortunately I was then a mere sportsman, and troubled my-
self little about anything but game, and therefore neither shot
the parent nor preserved the eggs.

Capt. Thompson of Simla, (not Mr. R. Thompson of Gurh-
wal) assures me, that two pairs of the true Sparrow Hawk, breed
yearly in Anandale, just below Simla, laying in May and June.

Of the breeding of this species in England Mr. Yarrell tells
us that ‘the Sparrow Hawk generally takes possession of some
old or deserted nest in a tree, most frequently that of the Crow,
in which the female deposits four or five eggs, each about one
inch seven lines long, by one inch four lines broad, of a pale
bluish white, blotched and spotted with dark red brown. ‘The
young are covered with a delicate and pure white down, and
are abundantly supplied with food.”

125 fey

Mr. Hewitson tells us that the eggs of this species may
sometimes be found upon the ledge of some lofty cliff, but are
more frequently to be met with in trees, for the most part occu-
pying the usurped nest of a Crow or Magpie. Occasionally it
would seem to make its own nest in low trees or thorn bushes,
a flat shallow structure, composed of slender twigs similar to
that of the Ring Dove, but larger. “The eggs of the Sparrow
Hawk, although usually very readily distinguished from those
of any other species, are subject to varieties, which sometimes
rather resemble those of the Kestrel, but are never marked with
the same rich crimson colouring. ‘There are some specimens on
which all the markings are very obscure and indistinct ; and
others on which all the dark blotches of colour are at the smaller
instead of the larger end. I know of no egg which is so subject
to this variety. Mr. Walter’s collection contains one that is
white, except a few black dots ; another that is pointed at the
small end like the egg of a Wader.”’ The eggs he figures are very
broad ovals, measuring 1-5 & 1°3, and 1°02 & 1:26, a whitish
ground, profusely blotched and spotted, with different shades, of
brownish red and reddish brown, very similar to well marked
eggs of our common Kite (I. Govinda).

Compare in regard to the breeding of this species, what Gould
tells us of Accipiter Torquatus a nearly allied Australian form.
“'The breeding season lasts from August to November, and the
nest, which is rather a large structure, composed of sticks and
lined with fibrous roots and a few leaves of the gum tree, is
usually placed in the fork of a Swamp Oak (Casuarina) or other
trees growing on the banks of creeks and rivers, but is occasion-
ally to be met with in the depths of the forests. The eggs are
generally three in number, of a bluish white, in some instances
stained and smeared over with blotches of buff; in others, I have
observed square-formed spots and a few hair-like streaks of deep
brown; their medium length is one inch and six lines by one
inch and two lines in breadth.”

As regards the Sparrow Hawk commonly flown by native
falconers, (whether the present or the next species I cannot say)
Mr. R. Thompson writes as follows:

“Though a highly prized bird by the natives for its speed
and courage, it does not really come up to the Besra, (Accipiter
Virgatus) even for courage ; its powers of endurance are much
less and it is less easily reclaimed. Many birds appear regular-
ly at Nynee Tal évery year about October. I have had several
specimens alive, sent in to me from the interior where they have
been caught in traps set for the Goshawk, having readily flown
at the live Pigeon bait. Itisa delicate and difficult bird to

126

keep. And with all its boasted speed, is but second to the
Besra for every kind of hard field or wood work. What the
Besra would do at the first throw, the other could not do till
the quarry was exhausted. To hunt with the Basha, requires a
deal of tact, you must not throw it whilst the wind is high, you
must keep well within the proximity of woods and trees, and
not baulk it with birds larger than it can afford to strike and
clutch.”

One thing is to be said, native faleconers generally over-do
the training of this bird, and make it too delicate—probably if
more hardily reared and trained, it would do better, and turn
out as tough and useful in its way as its larger relative, the
Goshawk. Descriptions of the Huropean Sparrow Hawk vary
a good deal. It is very essential to have as minute a record as
possible of the plumage &c., of these various <Accipiters and I
shall quote one or two descriptions of this present species from
English works, the more so that this will help to show the dis-
tinctness of the species I shall next have to deal with.

Mr. Yarrell says, “The adult male measures about twelve
inches in length; the beak blue, lightest at the base; the cere
greenish yellow, the irides yellow; the top of the head, nape of
the neck, back, wings, and wing coverts, rich dark brown, in
very old males with a tinge of bluish grey ; feathers of the tail
greyish brown, with three conspicuous transverse bands of dark
brown ; the chin, cheeks, throat, breast, belly, thighs, and under
tail coverts, rufous with numerous transverse bars of darker rufous
brown, legs and toes, long, slender, and yellow; the claws curved,
sharp and black.

«The female is generally three inches longer than the male ;
the beak, bluish horn colour ; cere yellowish, the irides yellow ;
the top of the head, upper part of the neck, back, wing, and
tail coverts, brown, the base of many of the feathers white,
which extending beyond the edge of the feather immediately
above it, causes a white spot or mark ; primaries and tail fea-
thers light brown, barred transversely with darker brown ;
under surface of the neck, body, wing coverts, and thighs,
greyish white, barred transversely with brown; under surface
of the wing and tail feathers of the same colour, but the hght
and dark bars much broader ; the first six wing primaries emar-
ginated ; the fourth and fifth quill feathers equal, and the long-
est, the first quill feather the shortest ; the legs and toes yellow ;
the claws long, curved, sharp, and black.

«The young male Sparrow Hawk resembles the female ; but
the brown feathers of the back and the wing coverts are edged

127

with reddish brown; feathers of the tail reddish brown, parti-
cularly toward the base, with three conspicuous dark brown
transverse bands. In other particulars like the female, and
both have a collar formed by a mixture of white and brown,
which extends from the sides of the neck to the nape.”

From the Naturalist’s Library, I quote the following—

“‘'The male has the upper plumage of an uniform pale black-
ish grey ; tip of the tail and nuchal collar white; quills clove
brown, darkest at the tips, with clouded bars on their inner
webs. ‘T'ail with a dark bar after the white tip, shading up-
wards, and three bars afterwards indistinct above, decidedly
marked beneath. Auriculars, buff orange, darker along the
shafts. ‘Throat and chin pale ochraceous, with dark shafts ;
breast, belly, vent, and thighs, ochraceous; shafts dark, and
thickly marked with reddish buff orange ; in the centre of the
belly tinted with brown, under tail coverts white. Length
above twelve inches; from shoulders to tip of fifth quill, eight
and a quarter.

“The female, with the upper parts clove brown, darkest on the
crown, and sometimes tinted with rufous; on the tips of the
auriculars, above the eyes, and on the hind head, the tips of the
feathers only are dark, and the light bases appearing, produce a
pale line above the eyes, and a variegation with white on the
hind head; the quills and tail are barred with narrow darker
bands, conspicuous on the under surface of both. The under-
parts are of a delicate yellowish white, on the throat and neck
streaked with clove brown, sometimes tinted with rufous, and
on the other parts, except the lower tail coverts, barred with
the same colour, which also runs to a point on the apical bands,
and sometimes along the shafts ; at times these bars are much
darker than at others, and shew beautifully and distinctly
on the pure white breast; feet and legs gamboge yellow;
irides rich safron yellow. Length from 14 to 15 inches;
one shot this morning (in November, 1836) 14 inches 3
quarters; expanse of wing 24 or 25 inches. In a young
female before us, the upper parts are nearly yellowish brown,
tinted with grey, and have the edge of each feather ochra-
ceous ; on the head and back of the neck darker, and edged
with rufous. The lower parts yellowish white, on the breast,
a yellowish brown streak along the shaft of the feather, which,
on the lower part of the breast, or on the belly, stretched out
at the base to a bar, and produced an appearance at once both
barred and streaked. On the thighs and vent, the distribution
is in bars of a brownish tint. In the young Goshawk, the breast
marking is all longitudinal bars, here it assumes somewhat that

128

of the adult bird, in both the colouring of the markings in the
young is brown, the adults a rich black.”

No. 24 (dis). Accipiter Melaschistos, Sp. Nov.
Tur Dove Hawk.

Under the above name, I venture to draw attention to what I
believe to be a perfectly distinct species, although hitherto con-
founded with the true Nisus.

The chief distinctive features are, its greater size, and the
much greater intensity of the colour of the upper plumage, espe-
cially in the female.

When at Simla I examined the numerous specimens of A.
Nisus from France and England in Col. Tytler’s museum ; of
these, the wings and tails measured as follows :

Females. Wings 9°25—9°62. Tails 7°75 to 7°88.

Males. » 8 13—8-38. 5, 6°55 to 6°88.

And these measurements are much the same as those given
by European authors.

Of all these birds, none of the females are ashy above, several
are apparently quite adult, but all are brown above ; a drab brown,
rufous drab brown, clove brown, or what you will, dusky at
times on the head, but still brown, and this seems to be insisted
on by all the English describers whom I have quoted. Now
the females of my new (?) species, have in the first place the
wings 10°12, 10°25, 10°5, and the tails 8°25, 8-4, 8°5. They
are very much darker than any of the Kuropean specimens, and
of a wholly different shade ; it can hardly be called brown at all,
a sort of blackish slaty, or in some, inky olivaceous, especially
on the head and nape (it is paler elsewhere) which reminds one
of the same parts of #. Perigrinator or Atriceps. The bill ap-
pears far more powerful, the tooth or festoon larger and more
conspicuous, the bars of wing and tail broader and stronger, the
bars on the lower surface broader and more decided, being as
broad as the white interspaces. I am aware that these char-
acters are not absolute, that in this genus, all these points vary
widely, in individuals of the same species, but taken altogether,
these differences give the bird a distinctive character.

Bree’s figure of the male A. Brivipes (A. Gurneyi, Bree. Vol.
TV. p. 185) would do well enough for our females, but the
difference of size is irreconcileable ; he gives the following dimen-
sions for that species.

129

Length. Wing. Tarsus. Tail.

Adult male, 14-2 85 1:8 7:0
Young male, 13°3 8:3 18 6°5
Adult female, 14°5 9°3 2:0 70
Young female, 15°5 9-0 hes 70

The same dimensions for two of our birds are:

Length. Wing. Tarsus. Tail.

Young male, 15°75 9°75 2°25 8°5

Adult female, 16°5 10°5 Oa Sv,

The primaries of our bird moreover are strongly marked
instead of being unicolorous, as he says. As for there being no
marks on the outer laterals, whichif I understand him rightly,
he rather insists on, this I take it, is pretty often in this family
dependent on age, the marks are very faint in one Huropean
Visus before me, they wholly disappear in the old Badius, and
are disappearing in one Me/aschistos. Setting the minor points
aside, the left hand drawing in his plate (the male) though
scarcely dark enough, especially about the upper parts, and the
description so far as colour goes, would answer well enough for
our female, though the bill, as figured, is neither long enough,
nor powerful enough, nor the tooth strong enough.

I think it will be admitted that this species is distinct from
Nisus. Unfortunately I have not long enough discriminated
this species to have a good series. The only specimens I know,
are a pair (female adult, male in second plumage) sent by me
to my friend Mons. Jules Verreaux at Paris, a young male and
second plumage female, now in my museum, and two old birds
both probably females in Col. 'Tytler’s.

I proceed to give a description of these latter, sex not ascer-
tained, but from the length of the wings, 10°25 and 10-5, proba-
bly females.

The head, nape, and upper back, deep blackish, olivaceous ~
brown, with even a tinge of slaty on the head and nape, where
there are traces of a white patch owing to the bases of the fea-
thers showing through. The scapulars, slightly less deep,
blackish brown. Lower back, rump, and upper tail coverts,
somewhat slaty brown. Upper wing coverts, and quills hair
brown. The secondaries, and some of the primaries, with
traces of darker bars on the outer webs. Tail, greyish brown,
or brownish slaty with five broad transverse dark brown bars ;
the upper bar‘hidden by the upper tail coverts. ‘The subtermi-
nal bar broadest; a narrow white tipping, most conspicuous on
the centre feathers. The lores white, a trace of a whitish streak
behind the eye, cheeks rufous white, the feathers with dark

130

brown linear central stripes. The ear coverts rufous, with dark
central stripes and the longer feathers tipped blackish brown.
A black line immediately under the eye running over the ear
coverts and lost in the dark tips of these. Chin, and throat,
rufous white, most rufous towards the sides of the neck, and
each feather with a dark shaft, or narrow dark central stripe.
The whole of the breast, abdomen, sides, thigh coverts, axilla-
ries, and lining of the wing, white ; conspicuously, closely and
broadly barred with dark brown; many of the feathers with
a rufous tinge towards the tips, and some of them especially in
the flanks, with rufous more or less taking the place of the
brown bar. The lower tail coverts nearest the vent, narrowly
barred with paler brown; the longer tail coverts pure white.
A conspicuous patch of rusty or pale chestnut on the sides,
Inner webs of the primaries strongly barred white, or greyish
white, and dark brown; the bars perpendicular or nearly so to
the shaft, and not slanting as in the Huropean specimens of
Nisus that I have examined; the whole barring of the under
surface is much closer and more conspicuous than in any of the
nine specimens of Visws from Hurope, with which I have com-
pared it, the bars being in one quite as broad, and in the other,
nearly as broad as the white interspaces. The feet are larger;
the hind toe and claw, and inner toe and claw, conspicuously
so. ‘The wings appear to be more pointed and much larger than
in any of the apparently adult Huropean specimens (females)
from France, and from England with which I compared them.
Of the second plumage male, which I sent to Mons. Verreaux
I have no detailed notes, but the whole upper plumage, had a
dark olivaceous tint, unlike anything I have ever seen in
Nisus.

The female in second plumage, a small bird comparatively,
measured. Length, 16:5. Wing, 10°12. Tail, 8-6. Expanse, 0°31.
Tarsus, 2°5. Mid toe to root of claw, 1:8. The upper parts are
grey brown, darker and more slaty about the head, nape and
upper back, whitish about the forehead, over the eye, and with
a mottled white patch (owing to the white bases of the feathers
showing through) on the nape. The scapulars, lesser wing
coverts, upper tail coverts and most of the feathers of the back,
with darker shafts, and the longest upper tail coverts tipped
white and with a dark subterminal band. ‘Tail, a sort of dove
colour slightly paler on the lateral feathers, tipped white and
with five broad transverse dark brown bands (one hidden by
the upper tail coverts) on both webs of all the feathers, except
in the outer web, of one of the exterior laterals, from which the
bars have nearly disappeared. ‘The chin, throat, and sides of

131

neck yellowish white, tinged rufous towards the sides, all the
feathers dark shafted. Lores and ear coverts whitish, the latter
dark shafted, tinged rufous towards the tips, and the hinder-
most ones tipped blackish brown. A blackish brown line
through the lores, (where it is very narrow,) running under the
eyes, (where it is about 0°15 wide,) and joining into the dark
tips of the hinder ear coverts. The whole breast, abdomen and
lower parts generally, fulvous white, regularly barred transverse-
ly with mingled dark brown and rufous, the bars on the breast
being as broad as the interspaces and diminishing in width as
they recede from the breast, till those on the tibial plumes, are
only half as wide, and those on the lower tail coverts only
average one-fourth as wide as the interspaces. There is a regu-
larity, straightness, and closeness in the barrings of the lower
parts, unlike any of the Huropean WVisus, that I have been able to
compare them with and unlike the figures in Yarrell and in the
Naturalist’s library.

The sides are much tinged with rufous, which there nearly
wholly displaces the brown.

Then there is the young male in first plumage (sex ascertain-
ed by dissection) shot by my friend, Capt. Marshall, R. E., at
Solon on 30th September, and measured by him in the flesh.

Dimensions. Length, 15°75. Hxpanse, 29°75. Wing, 9°75.
Tarsus, 2°25. Mid toe to root of claw, 1:75. Foot, greatest
length, 3°25; width, 2°8. Tail from vent, 8°5. Closed wings
fall 3°8 short of end of tail.

Description. Irides, bright yellow. Legs and feet, dingy
yellow. Upper plumage, umber brown, edged rufous and cen-
tered darker (almost black) on head and nape. Upper tail
coverts (a trifle paler than the back,) dark shafted. Tail a drab
brown narrowly white tipped, with five moderately broad, dark
brown transverse bars, on both webs of all the feathers, except
the outer webs of the external laterals, where they are indistinct,
though not altogether wanting, one of the five bars being high
up and hidden by the upper tail coverts. Forehead whitish, a
conspicuous yellowish white band, feathers brown shafted, run-
ning backwards from top of the eye, over ear coverts, fully 1 inch
long. Lores dingy white, a trace of a dark line through them
to the eye-line under the eye, and terminal halves of ear coverts,
reddish or umber brown, rest of ear coverts, whole chin, throat
and sides of neck, pale fulvyous, with conspicuous, very narrow,
central stripes to feathers. Breast and upper abdomen pale
buffy with numerous conspicuous narrow transverse arrow-head
bars, the central portion of the bar bright rufous, the lateral
portions dark brown; these bars are much the shape that sea-

152

gulls are often represented in pictures, the head and body por-
tion of the bar (if I may so express myself,) beimg rufous and
the wings dark brown. ‘The sides are very rufous. ‘he lower
abdomen and tibial plumes are buffy white with still narrower
transverse arrow head brown bars. The lower tail coverts,
yellowish white, each faintly tipped rufous. This is a veritable
young bird, the rufous edgings to the whole upper plumage
shows this, but how different it is to a young of the veritable
Nisus sent me from Kumaon by my friend, Mr. R. Thomp-
son. In this, the central tail. feathers have four, the ex-
ternal laterals six instead of five throughout, as in this. The
chin, throat, and breast are white with huge, central, longitudi-
nal, umber brown streaks, the abdomen and tibial plumes have
very broad, transverse, rufous brown bars, and the lower tail
coverts, truly cordate brown spots. ‘The wing measures 7°6 ;
the tail, 6:4; the tarsus, 2°2 ; the mid toe without the claw, 1°45.

I cannot doubt the distinctness of the species, and though I
am fully conscious that more specimens are required to enable
us to characterize it as it should be done, I think the best way
to ensure the matters being cleared up, is to insert this notice,
imperfect as it is. I call this the Dove Hawk, because both
specimens that I shot, had killed Doves (7. Rupicola) ; the one
struck a Dove before my eyes, at the back of Jacko (Simla) and
fell to my shot at the same moment, the other was perched on a
bare branch, between Simla and Kalka, devouring a Dove,
when I killed it. This may be accidental but I mention it,
because I doubt whether the true Wisws (especially the male as
one of mine was) would strike so large a bird.

The only specimens that I know of were shot, more or less in
the interior of the Himalayas. I know nothing as yet of its
nidification or breeding habits.

No. 25. Accipiter Virgatus, Term.
Tue Besra.

Of the nidification of this species nothing seems known, Mr.
R. Thompson is confident that they breed from March to May,
in the Gurhwal forests, he says,—‘t I have never found the nest
of this bird though it breeds in our forests. I haye seen, caught,
and shot the young birds during the rainy season : conclusive
evidence, I should think, of their breeding with us.’ Dr. Jer-
don’s descriptions do not fully apply to many specimens I
possess, all of which I believe to belong to this species.

133

First, there is a young female. Length, 13°5. Wing, 81.
Tail, 6-5. Tarsus, 0°2. Mid toe to root of claw, 1'4. Circumfer-
ence of middle of tarsus, 0°5, (the same as in others of this
species), WVisws and Melaschistos have it from 0°6 to 0:75. The
head, nape, mantle and upper tail coverts are umber brown, very
dark on nape and upper back, all the feathers narrowly margin-
ed rufous. The tail rather pale brown, narrowly tipped with
fulvous white, with six moderately broad transverse dark brown
bars, on both webs of the ten central tail feathers, and seven on .
the interior webs only, of the external laterals one bar in each
ease hidden under the upper tail coverts. Behind the eye a
. broad white streak, the feathers centered dark brown, the whole
of the chin, throat, cheeks, and ear coverts (except the tips of
the hindermost of the latter which are rufous brown) white,
each feather with a very narrow central stripe’ of dark brown,
growing slightly broader as the feathers approach the breast.
Breast, upper abdomen and sides, white; all the feathers with
transverse, somewhat arrow head bars, rufous in the centre and
brown laterally. Lower abdomen and tibial plumes, with nar-
rower, cuspidate, transverse brown bars, and lower tail coverts
with similar bars, but fainter, smaller and wider apart. This
bird is very like Visws, but the dimensions, size of bill, very
slender tarsus and toes, prevent our referring it to that species.
It was a female, ascertained by dissection, killed at Lahore. It
eannot be WVisoides, for the throat is conspicuously streaked like
Nisus, and has no central stripe. I believe it to be Virgatus.
If it be not identical (which J feel sure it is) it might stand as
A. Micronisus. I have another young female, from Gurhwal, the
skin measures—Wing, 8°05. ‘Tail, 6-42. Tarsus, 2°05. Mid
toe to root of claw, 1:5. Cireumference of tarsus, 0°5. This bird
is a rather darker brown above, the bars below are rather broader
and more rufous, and the ten central tail feathers have only five
and the external lateral six bars, (one of each as in the former
case hidden under the upper tail coverts) but in every other
respect, this bird precisely resembles the preceding.

Then I have a very young male from Darjeeling. Length,
11:5. Wing, 6°35. Tail, 5-5. “Tarsus, 1:9. Mid toe, 1°35. Cir-
cumference of tarsus, 0°42. This above is like the preceding but
more rufous, and the ten centre feathers have only four, and the
external laterals six bars, extending to both webs on all the
feathers, the bars being broader than in the preceding. Below
the chin, throat, ear coverts, breast, abdomen and tibial plumes,
are white, here and there slightly tinged fulvous, each feather
with a broad central stripe of dark, more or less rufous brown,
smaller actually of course on the throat where the feathers are

154

smaller, and larger on the breast, &c., where these are larger,
but relatively much the same size. On the lower abdomen and.
tibial plumes, however, they become very drop-like. The lower
tail coverts white, some faintly tinged fulvous towards the tips.

Another male, certainly not adult, but yet not very young
from Murree, measured—Length 11:25. Expanse, 0:20. Wing,
6:5. Tail, 5-25. Tarsus, 1:9. Mid toe, 1:3. Circumference of tarsus,
0:5. Wings, when closed, reached to within 1°75 of end of tail.
Tt has the head, nape, back, mantle and upper tail coverts
dusky cyaneous, darkest on the head—the kind of colour you
may make by mixing indigo and Indian ink—a narrow barely
perceptible white streak behind the eye, and the usual white
mottling on the nape. Tail slaty grey, brownish on external
laterals, with seven narrow transverse bars on the inner webs of
these latter, and four broad, blackish bars on both webs of the
other ten feathers, ear coverts and sides of the neck, dusky, thes
former with traces of rufous strize, the latter tinged cyaneous,
chin and throat white, tinged fulvous towards the sides, with
no strie, but one central well-defined, blackish stripe. The
breast quite deep ferruginous at the sides, the central portion,
having the feathers a mixture of blackish, deep ferruginous and
white, the blackish portion, a stripe more or less. wide, lying
on the shaft the ferruginous surrounding this and extending
quite to the point, and the lateral margins being white, sides,
flanks, and upper abdomen ferruginous imperfectly barred with
white, the white not quite meeting at the shaft. The lower
abdomen white, barred with paler ferruginous and near the
vent, with slightly rufous grey. Tibial plumes, white, very
closely barred with grey, slightly suffused with rusty. Lower
tail coverts pure white.

The streakless white, central striped throat reminds one of
“ Gularis,”’ but this is unmistakably of the same species as the
preceding (though differing toto cw/o in plumage) and as the
adult female from Simla, which I will next describe.

This measures in the dry skin—Wing, 8:1. Tail, 0°7. Tarsus,
2:05. Mid toe, 1-45. Cireumference of tarsus, 0°5. The upper
plumage closely resembles the preceding, but is somewhat paler
and more slaty. The tail is slightly browner and is narrowly
but conspicuously white tipped, with four bars on both webs of
the ten central, and five on the inner webs of the two external
feathers; the bars faint, and but little darker than the rest of
the feather, on both webs of the central and the outer webs of
the next three laterals on either side. The chin and throat are
streakless white, slightly tinged with rufous, and no trace of any
central stripe. ‘The ear coverts, sides of neck, breast, abdomen

135

and sides, bright ferruginous, the breast chiefly the centre, very
narrowly and sparsely, and the abdomen and sides, regularly,
closely and moderately, broadly barred with white. The vent
and lower tail coverts pure white. The tibial plumes barred.
rufous white, and pale ferruginous.

There is yet another type of female, query, the oldest of all,
I have no specimen by me ; but quote my notes made when I had
one. ‘‘ Female. Umballa. Wing, 8°5. Tail, 65. Whole upper
plumage a delicate, uniform, rather dark, french grey, white
half collar (mottled) on nape. No trace of bars, except a
dusky subterminal spot, on central, or outer webs of lateral tail
. feathers. Chin and throat white, no trace of strizs or central
stripe. Sides of head and ear coverts tinged ferruginous, breast,
abdomen and flanks, feathers tipped and barred, rather widely
apart with pale rufous.” I have been thus minute in these
descriptions, in order to show how many usually deemed diag-
nostic points. Number, size and position of tail bands, character
of throat markings and indeed of the plumage generally vary in
different individuals of this species.

In all humility, I often wonder how many of the Accipiters of
the Malay Archipelago, and is not their name legion ? would
lose their present supposed specific character if really large
series, such as I am endeavouring to collect of all Indian birds,
were available.

The shape of the tail is insisted on! Here before me lie a
long row of A. Virgatus; some with slightly rounded, some
with absolutely square, some with slightly forked tails.

In the face of the doubts I entertain, as to how far many of these
small Accipiters have been rightly identified, I can say little,
about the real distribution of A. Virgatus, but I may mention
that Mr. Wallace gives it from Malacca, Timor, Java, and
Sumatra. Noting, that the bill is black, lead colour at base,
iris and cere yellow. Feet pale orange yellow. Birds killed
by Myr. C. H.'T. Marshall at Lahore and by myself in Kumaon,
had the irides deep orange yellow.

There is a nearly allied species, A. Gularis, Schlegel, A. Ni-
soides, Blyth, that has of late years been the bugbear of all Indian
ornithologists. I don’t believe that any specimen has been pro-
cured in India (if even the species is a good one, and even that
may admit of doubts) but every one is always writing that they
have got it, and being told by others to whom they send the speci-
mens, that their birds are Virgatus or Nisus. Dr. Jerdon first
noticed a little Hawk known to native faleoners as the Khandesra,
and surmised that it was probably Blyth’s A. Nisoides. Now we
have all heard of the Khandesra, or as I believe it is more correctly

136

ealled, the Khand Besra, but no one can ever get it, it is a perfect
Mrs. Harris amongst birds, and I myself greatly incline to Betsy
Prig’s belief that “ there never was no sich” bird “ at all.”—To
return, Mr. Blyth commenting on Dr. Jerdon’s work remarked,

that the Khandesra Hawk was “ probably A. Wisoides, nobis (J.
A.S. B. 1845, XVI. p. 727, X XI. p. 359; ex Sumatra. A. Frin-
gillarius, var. Vigors, appendix to memoir of Sir TI. 8. Raffles,
p. 549 and A. Gu/aris, Schlegel, Faun. Japon, Aves. 1850, t. 2.)

Professor Schlegel mentions a specimen of NV. Gularis from
Nepal. Dr. Jerdon writes that A. Nisoides is not rare in the
interior of the Himalaya; but two examples received from him
possibly intended for this (though I can hardly comprehend his
making such a mistake) are decidedly A. Virgatus. In the
report on Japanese ornithology accompanying the narrative of
Commodore Perry’s expedition, it is stated of A. Gudaris, that the
young bird is darker above than represented in the figure of the
adult male, in the plate in ‘ Mauna Japonica and has the
transverse bars on the under parts, much less regular and light-
er coloured than in the figure of the female in the same plate.”

Dr. Jerdon had clearly got hold of A. Virgatus. Imuch
suspect the expedition had got hold of another form of this pro-
tean species, similar to the nearly adult male that I have above
described.

My friend, Mr. R. Thompson, sent me an interesting note
about this supposed species, which I reproduce as showing that
possibly, the same birds in different stages of plumage and at
different ages may affect different localities, and even appear to
fly more or less briskly.

“‘T have observed what I believe to be another species or
variety of the Accipiter Virgatus. Ihave had the dark plumag-
ed one and trained it: but the ight plumaged one is a larger
bird with the tarsi less smooth, more robust, and toes shorter
than the true Besra. I have got some specimens and would
like you to look them up. I believe it is the Khandbesra men-
tioned in Jerdon, page 54, Vol. I. I have met the dark plumag-
ed ones, male and female, usually on the skirts of dense forests,
and observed their flight which is more feeble, with a broader
and more ample expanse of wing, than the lighter coloured
variety, which is met with in lofty dense forests and has a flight
similar to the Shikra. That is, with sudden and rapid_ stoops,
with an active manner of sitting suddenly in a tree when you
expected the bird to shoot past it. Its motions im the tree are
restless, jerking from branch to branch. Sometimes I have
found them very timid, at others quite bold, and will let you ap-
proach within a few paces.”’

137

The Khand Besras, duly arrived.—They turned out to be
female Virgatus, one in the stage I first deseribed and the other
similar, but the whole plumage, very much paler, faded and
abraded, with the throat rusty white without a central stripe,
and only a very few of the feathers with dark shafts, the barring
of the under parts, feebler, wider apart, much less regular, paler
and yellower, often incomplete, and in the breast, especially at
the tips, having a cordate tendency.

No one who knows Mr. Thompson, will doubt that he has
accurately described a real difference in the haunts and habits of
the birds in their two stages, measurements show that structu-
ral differences do not exist; but no one I think, after looking
through the series now before me, can doubt that these are true
Virgatus.

Mr. Blyth in commenting upon Dr. Jerdon, added in a note,
“My original description of 4. Misotdes may here be quoted.
‘Presumed female in mature plumage, differmg only from that
of Nisus in its much inferior size, being smaller than the male
of that species, and in having the throat streak-less white, except
a narrow median dark line. ‘The usual lateral lines occur, but
not conspicuously, which are observable in various species of
Hawks, Hagles, &e. Length of wing, 7°25. Tail, 5:5. Tarsus,
1:75. Mid toe and claw, 1°5.’ ”

Now I note here that in the specimens that I have of Virga-
tus, the wing varies from 6°35 to 8'1. The tail from 5:5 to 677 ;
the tarsus from 1°85 to 2:1, and the mid toe and claw from 1°6
to 1:85. There is nothing here very irreconcilable. Mr. Blyth
goes on: “I have seen three nearly similar specimens of this
Sparrow Hawk, all received from Malacca, and it is much more
closely akin to Visus than Virgatus. No trace of ferruginous
colouring underneath was observable in any of the three.
They were of the size of the male of A. Nisus or somewhat
smaller with the plumage of the non-rufous adult female of that
species, combined with the trilineated throat of Virgatus ; the
affinity I repeat being much closer to the former species than
to the latter.” Now the whole of this is verbatim applicable to
a female before me, closely resembling the first described by
me, having lost the rufous edgings to the feathers, except that
it has not the central stripe, but each feather of the whole throat
has a dark shaft, or very narrow dark shaft stripe. As for the
‘“‘trilineated throat” of Virgatus, the adults have not a trace of
it, and out of nineteen specimens of all ages, only three show it
distinctly.

Dr. Stoliezka next thought that Ae had obtained a specimen
of A. Gularis, which he described at length. I shali not

138

quote his description, for it refers very obviously to a young
male Visus, pur et simple. It appears to be the dimensions which
misled him these he gives, as wing, 8. Tail, 5°75. ‘Tarsus,
2°13. Mid toe, 1°63; and he adds that these dimensions are evi-
dently intermediate between those of Visuws and Nisoides. This
however is a mistake. The wings of a number of male Wisus,
European specimens, varied from 8-13 to 8°38. An Indian
specimen has the wing, 7°6, and he himself sent home a speci-
men (according to Von. Pelzeln. Ibis, 1868) with the wing
7°25. The tailsof the European birds varied from 6°55 to
6°88, that of the Indian bird is 6°4; the tarsus of this latter 1s
2°2, and its mid toe to root of claw, 1°45; so that his dimen-
sions, though small, are not sufficiently so to induce doubts of
the specimen being a WVisus, while the plumage he has so ac-
curately described, is unmistakably that of a young, but not very
young, bird of that species. Von Pelzeln came to the same
conclusion ; ; he says ‘‘ One individual, evidently a male, is ticket-
ed Accipiter Nisoides, Blyth (A. Gularis, Schlegel;) but in my
opinion all the examples belong to the true A. Wisus.”

In the same paper in the Asiatic Society’s Journal, in which
he described the young JVisus, he added the following valuable
remarks about the type specimens of A. Nisoides.

“On comparing Mr. Blyth’s originals in the Indian Museum,
I found that one of the three originals is lost, the other two
very much resemble in the upper dark brown colouring our
specimen, and one of them has some of the tips of the scapulars
and tertiaries distinctly tipped with rufous brown. ‘The cross
bars below are, however, ochreous yellow, only with a slight fer-
ruginous tint on the sides of the breast, but not nearly to the
extent described in our specimen. ‘This cannot be, however,
of very great 1mportance, for the same colour is very variable in
A. Nisus. The throat is white, and so far as the feathers are pre-
served, they present a fow dark streaks about the middie, though
on this point neither of the specimens is quite perfect, and it is
only to be regretted that such valuable originals were not bet-
ter cared for. The measurements given by. Mr, Blyth are, wing
7% imches; tail 53 inches. The two respective specimens in the
Indian Museum have the wings 7$ and 7?; and the tail 5
and 52 inches. Mr. Blyth supposed the specimens to :
females, but they could with as much reason be regarded
males. Still it cannot be questioned that the typical specimens
referred to, are remarkably small as compared with usual speci-
mens of A. Nisus. I found this difference especially apparent
after having a short time previously procured in the lower hills
several speciinens of the last species. The claws appear remark-

159

ably strong, compared with the size of the bird, and the general
deep brown colour is always very conspicuous, when compared
with the ashy hue of A. Nisus; still I think it wants further
proof, until the species is firmly established.

Mr. Blyth in his commentary (Ibis, 1866, p. 239) says, “ Dr.
Jerdon writes word, that A. Wisoides is not rare in the interior
of the Himalaya,” and it is not unlikely that Dr. Jerdon observ-
ed it in the same portion of the hills, where my specimen was
procured, for he visited the Sutlej valley in 1864. The species
eannot be easily mistaken for 4. Virgatus, which is compara-
‘tively very common and much larger.”’

The passages italicized, seem to me to point to these specimens
being Virgatus after all, and in regard to Dr. Stoliczka’s con-
cluding sentence, I can only say that I have above given maxima
and minima dimensions, derived from a large series, and that
these sufficiently prove that Virgatus is not only, not much
larger, but often not at all larger.

1 hope having said this much, that our numerous observers
will thoroughly work the question out. NV. Gularis, Schlegel, Ja-
pan, may be a good species, but Schlegel’s Nipal specimen
renders this dubious. In the distinctness of A. Virgatus and A.
Nisoides, Blyth, I confess that I have at present no great belief.

No. 26. Aquila Chryseztus, Liv.
THE GoLpEN HAGLeE.

As to the breeding of this noble bird within our limits, I have
no information. During all the many trips that I have myself
made in the interior of the Himalayas, and in all the collec-
tions of Himalayan birds that I have examined, I have never
seen a specimen. Livery so called Golden Eagle, which has as
yet been sent me, has proved to be A. Imperialis, in the dark
third stage of plumage. Capt. Cock and others feel sure that they
have seen it, but none of them seem as yet to have bagged one.
Mr. Hodgson, I am told, sent specimens from Nepal; but I
have been unable to learn whether they were shot there or
brought in from Thibet.

As far as I yet know, this bird is of such excessive rarity in
the Himalayas, south of the snows, as scarcely to deserve a
place in our list. Mr. R. Thompson says—“‘I have seen a
large Eagle very similar in size to the adult A. Chrysetus, but
of a dark brown colour with two large moon-shaped whitish
spots on each wing, near the base of the primaries; also with
the tail white, rmged with a band of dark brown. These 1 think

140

must be the young of A. Chrysetus. They were observed close
under the snow line.” A supposed A. Chrysetus, however, sent
me by Mr. Thompson proved to be a huge female Imperialis.

Dr. Stoliczka tells us that this species “is often seen about
Kotegurh and further east,” but although I have at Kotegurh
a regular establishment for shooting and preserving birds,—from
whom I have received more than one thousand specimens,—who
have special injunctions to shoot alllarge Kaglesand who havesent
me several A. Imperialis, I have as yet received no example of
this species; and that although I have tried to stimulate my men
by promises of large rewards should they secure a specimen, they
say that there is no species, but the one sent, A. Imperialis.

Of the breeding of the Golden Eagle in Europe, Mr. Yarrell
says, “The Golden Eagle makes a flattened platform nest, or
rather, a collection of strong sticks, on high and inaccessible
rocks, occupying a space of several square feet. The female
bird which is considerably larger than the male, lays two and
sometimes three eggs, towards the end of the month of March
or the beginning of April. If the eggs are removed, it is said
that the bird does not lay any more that season. The egg is
about three inches long, by two inches and five lines broad, of a
dirty white colour, slightly mottled nearly all over with pale
reddish brown. Incubation with the Golden Eagle, according
to Mr. Mudie, lasts thirty days, and the young Eaglets are at
first covered with greyish white down.”

Mr. Hewitson, quoting chiefly from Mr. Wolley, tells us, that
the Golden Eagle begins to breed in March or early in April,
and will return to the same eyrie for many successive years.
It makes a nest of great size composed of sticks, (or in Shet-
land, where it would be difficult to find sticks, of long rope-like
pieces of seaweed) lined with roots, dry grass, heather, moss,
fern or other vegetable, not animal, materials. The nests, though
usually on rocky ledges of precipices, are by no means always
in inaccessible places, but may often be climbed to, from above
or below without ropes and with little difficulty. The usual
number of eggs is two, but three are sometimes found in the
same nest; they are laid at intervals of several days. The hen
sits very close after she begins to lay, so that the first egg is
ready to hatch before the second.

The eggs are broad, very perfect ovals; slightly compressed
towards one end; they vary very much in colour, some being
as above described by Mr. Yarrell; some having reddish white
grounds, richly blotched and spotted, or thickly mottled, streak-
ed, and clouded with varying shades of red, and reddish brown ;
a few are pure white, (then hardly distinguishable from the sea

141

Eagle’s) ; one egg is described as mottled closely throughout with
ochreous brown, but the ordinary type Mr. Hewitson seems to
consider to be a closely mottled, dingy reddish ground with
more or less deep red, specks, spots, and small blotches. Three
eggs figured by this gentleman, measure according to his figures
(usually very exact) 3 & 2°35, 3°13 & 2°38, 2°95 x 2°35.

To Dr. Jerdon’s range of this species, we must add N. W.
Africa. Col. Drummond Hay, I think, mentioned it as being
found in Tangiers, and Mr. Tyrwhitt in the Ibis for 1867 re-
marks, that “it breeds at Tetuan, though not in great numbers.”
Mr. Tristram found it throughout the Barbary provinces, chief-
ly in the various dayats, or unimproveable oases, where it was
breeding on Terebinth trees (Pistacia Atlantica,) making a huge
platform of sticks on the topmost boughs. In one dayat in
particular, that of Terebinet, a day’s journey north of Berragan
in the Nizab, the birds were almost gregarious, no less than
seven pairs having their nests in one wood, described as “ extend-
ing over many acres.”

I append measurements and a description of a magnificent
young female, shot in the south of France, and now in Col.
Tytler’s collection, in what is known in England as the ring-tail
stage of plumage.

Dimensions. Length, 41.(?) Wing, 27°63. Tail, 16-25.
Tarsus, 4°38. Mid toe (to root of claw), 0.3. Inner toe, 1°94.
Hind toe, 1°81. The two latter, with the tarsus, enormously

stout.
Mid toe claw. Outer toe claw. Inner toe claw. Hind toe claw.

Length along curve, 1°81 1:31 2°44 2°75
Circumference at base, 1°13 0°88 15 1:53

Bill along curve, from edge of cere, 2; from gape, 2°75.
Height at edge of cere, 1. Width at gape, 1:94 (7) Length
of cere, 0°91.

Description. The bird is rich purplish brown, the feathers of
the occiput and nape, narrowly pointed and tipped with rufous
fawn. Scapulars and secondaries much darker, the coverts light-
er, primaries almost black. Basal half of the tail pure white,
(hence the English name of ring-tail) then a broad, irregular,
mottled grey band and the rest nearly black. All but the first
three primaries have much white at the base. Underneath,
the same purple brown, much variegated, especially on the
breast, and lower tail coverts with white, all the feathers being
pure white at the base.

‘he enormous strength of the tarsi, feet, and claws, distin-
guish it at once from the finest Imperiadis, but the bill is not, it
seems to me, proportionally stronger.

142

No. 27. Aquila Imperialis, Brcusr.
Tue ImperraL HAGte.

The majority of the Imperial Eagles, that visit Upper India
in such great numbers during the cold season, leave us early
in March. A very few remain to breed in the Upper Punjaub,
and possibly in the Dhoon ; the rest breed in the Himalayas, and
not improbably, some of them even further north and west.

As yet, I have no particulars of their nidification in the hills,
I have myself only found them breeding in the Upper Punjaub,
and there only on three occasions. They lay (in the plains) in
February and March, and possibly April; building a large
stick platform, on, or near the tops of trees; Peepul trees, in all
the instances in which I found the nests; but also at times, like
the Tawny Eagle, on Babool and other thorny trees. The
nests that I saw, were from 2 feet to 2°5, in diameter, some 6 to
8 inches thick, composed of rather small sticks and lined with a
few green leaves. One nest contained two hard set, another three
fresh eggs, and the third only one, but from accounts received
from Mr. W. Blewitt and others, two appears the normal number.

Mr. Blewitt took a nest of this species near Hansie, in the
Dhana Beer (a sort of preserved wilderness) on the 22nd Febru-
ary, 1868. The female, shot on the nest, was sent to me, an
old, unmistakeable, black Jmperialis, with conspicuous white
scapular patches, and yellowish head and nape. Mr. Blewitt
describes the nest as very dense and compact, 7 inches thick, by
18 only, in diameter; composed entirely of Keekur (Acacia
Arabica) twigs and without dining. The nest was placed like
that of A. Fulvescens, on the top of a Keekur tree ; some 18 feet
from the ground and contained two fresh eggs.

The eggs of this eagle vary much, in size, and shape. I
have one nearly as large as any one of the Golden Hagle’s,
figured by Hewitson, but most of them, are little, if anything,
above the size of an average Fulvescens.

They have the usual pale, greyish white ground, unspotted
in most ; faintly spotted, and streaked with very pale brown, in
others; and in one, richly blotched with purplish brown. They
seem normally of a somewhat broad oval, but one or two are
a good deal lengthened ; and one which is considerably larger
than the figure in Bree, which I took early in February; (a
solitary egg ina huge nest) is absolutely pyriform. Placing
together specimens of Limperialis, Nevia, Fulvescens, Bonelli, Gal-
licus, and Leucoryphus, I am unable, so far as texture goes, to
point out any certain difference. ‘There is scarcely any gloss

143

on any of the eggs of these various species, but on a few of the
Fulvescens, there 1s a slight trace of this.

In size, the eggs vary from 3, to 2°6 in length; and from 2°15
to 1:95, in breadth, but the average of nine eggs measured, was
2°77 X 2:09.

The figure of this bird’s egg, in Bree, measures 2°88 x 2°05.
The egg is represented as white, clouded with pale dingy yel-
low, over the greater portion of the surface.

Of its breeding elsewhere, Mr. Tristram gives us several
notices. In Northern Africa he remarks—‘‘ This rare and
magnificent bird appears to prefer the forests to the clifis, for
the purpose of nidification. It occurs very sparingly in Algeria,
but is well known to the Arabs, as distinct from the Golden
Eagle. The eggs, seem scarcely ever to have any but the
faintest clouding, or a few obsolete spots.”

Again, in his notes on the Holy Land, he tells us: “ This
truly imperial bird, is more abundant in Palestine, than in any
country which I have visited. It may be said (in summer at
least) in great measure, to replace the Golden Hagle of Europe.
There is a beauty, and majesty in its movements, and in its
greater fearlessness of man, when in search of food, which at
once attracts one; while the very distinct white scapulars, and
the light head, show conspicuously on the wing. Unlike the
Golden Hagle, it was as common at one time of the year as
another, though we never took a nest.”

To Mr. W. H. Simpson, we owe the following account (vide
Ibis, 1860) of the nidification of this species on the banks of the
Danube—

“Late in the afternoon of the 26th of April last, having
driven across the treeless plain of the Dobrudska, I descended
from the open plateau, which, in the part now alluded to, has
a breadth of about forty miles, upon one of the small valleys
communicating with the Danube. Our attention was imme-
diately drawn to a large nest, that completely filled the boll of
one of the aforesaid pollards. It was not very conspicuously
apparent, as the branches, now thickening and becoming greener
every day, formed a sort of leafy screen round the nest, which
would have been well concealed a fortnight later. The nest
was of a good size, its exterior circumference being, at a guess,
15 feet; the interior was slightly depressed, but only enough to
keep the eggs (two in number) from rolling out. It was lined
with wool, which rested upon an immense circular platform of
sticks, entirely filling up the boll of the pollard, from which,
the young willow branches sprang upwards in a circle, all round
the nest. By this means the entire structure was enclosed in a

144

sort of arbour, which would sereen the birds from the wind and
sun, and. from general observation. The eggs, which were
slightly incubated, resemble each other considerably ; measuring
about 2°09 in. by 2°3 in. and being of a uniform dull white
colour, with frequent marks and scratches, and occasionally
larger blotches of pale brownish grey.”

An extra tropical species, this bird occurs throughout the old
world, north of the tropic of Cancer, (Swinhoe obtained it at
Takow, Formosa,* and I have seen a specimen said to have been
lailled near Muscat, and have one from near Kcurrachee) ; northward
it extends as far as 42° north latitude towards the west of the
continent, and probably as far as 50° north longitude on the east ;
Radde at any rate, got it in Tarei-nos. According to Radde, I
note, this species (if I understand him corr ectly) occupies a
broad zone ; reaching to, and even passing southwards of the
10° north latitude; but though stragglers may occur further
south, especially where mountain chains, or high tablelands
run southwards, out-licrs in tropical regions of cooler climes, the
Imperial Eagle, is I think, essentially a bird of the temperate
zone, and the ‘Tropic of Cancer may be most properly assumed
as its southern boundary.

North of this, throughout Northern Africa right up to the
shores (if [ may so speak) of the great Sahara, throughout the
whole of Southern Kurope, Syria, Persia, Northern Arabia, the
basins of the Black and Caspian Seas, the Caucasus, the southern
ranges of the Oural, and Altai Mountains, Tartary, China, the
Himalayas, the highlands of Central, and the plains of Upper
India, (and nowhere more common than in these latter), this
species is found, and though not entirely migratory, always
most numerous southwards, in the winter, and least so in the
summer,

Much has been written about the daring and fierceness of
this species: I can only say that, in India, (where possibly the
climate is subversive of courage), I have never seen the slightest
indications of these qualities, | have driven the female off hard
set eggs, and plundered the nest before the eyes of the pair,

* Vide Ibis, 1867.

“The other day, half-way up Apis Hill, on a white patch caused by a heavy
landslip, I observed what I took to be a black tree stump ; but a shining
white spot on it excited my wonderment. As we ascended the mass of
coralliferous debris, the stump-like object took wing, and slowly flapped away
amid the hoots and grunts of several monkeys that were sporting on the hill
side. I then saw that it was an adult Imperial Eagle (Aguila heliaca,) the
white spot being one of the conspicuous shoulder patches this bird carries in
the mature plumage.”

145

without either flapping a pinion, even to defend, what even a
little shrike will swoop at once to save. I have seen a couple
of Crows, thrash one of them soundly ; and, whether it be that
familiarity breeds contempt, I am bound to record, that after
having seen many hundreds and shot, I dare say, a good hun-
dred myself (I killed seven one morning in the Etawah district)
I look upon the “ Konigs adler’ as no better than a great hulk-
ing late. Asa rule, this species is, with us, an ignoble feeder.
JI have generally found them gorged with carrion; after a good
meal they will sit stupidly on a tree, or any little mud _ pillar,
and permit you to walk within thirty yards of them ; but before
feeding, they are somewhat wary, and can by no means always
be secured, even when seen sitting. On more than one occa-
sion, I have found desert Rats (Gerbillus Erythrourus) in their
crops, and I once shot one of a pair, which were busy on the
line of Rail, at Etawah, devouring a Bandicoot Rat, (Mus Ban-
dicota,) which some passing train had cut in two. Occasionally,
but rarely, I found that they had eaten Quails, and other birds !
Once I shot a male, which was dancing about on the ground in
such an astounding fashion, that I killed it to see what the matter
was. The bird proved to have been choking, it had swallowed
a whole, dry, shin bone and foot of an Antelope; the bone ap-
parently could not be got down altogether, and in trying to
void it, the sharp points of the hoof, had stuck into the back of
the roof of the mouth.

I noticed above that this species only breed in the Plains of
India, in the far North West; but I once had reason to think
that occasional stragglers, may nest lower down country, even
in the plains. On the 5th of February, 1867, my head stuffer
at Ktawah returned with a male Imperial Eagle, and an egg,
(white, a rather dull coarse texture, with barely perceptible,
faint, yellowish, streaks and spots, and a few tiny darker specks)
measuring 2°63 x 2:06, which he professed to have obtained as
follows. He saw a female /mperialis, sitting on a nest on a
large Peepul tree, as he approached, she flew off, he fired at her,
but failed to bring her down. He then hid at the foot of the
tree and waited. After some time, the male returned, and find-
ing the nest empty, settled on it, when he shot him. The nest,
which I afterwards examined, was some two feet in diameter,
lined with leaves, and the feathers of wild Geese, and Ducks;
my reasons for somewhat doubting this account are; ist, My
stuffer’s general want of veracity; 2nd, Our never having met
with any other examples of this species, breeding so low down ;
3rd, My finding, when | visited the nest fifteen days later, a Snake
Hagle (Circatus Gallicus) sitting near it. At the same time it

146

must be noted, that I was then particularly anxious to find a
Snake Hagle’s nest, none of which I had then taken, and that
it is very improbable that had my stuffer found a nest of that
bird, he would knowingly have represented it as belonging to
any other; he might make a mistake, but, born and bred a fowler,
he very rarely blundered, though he often lied. On the whole,
the balance of probabilities were in favour of the authenticity of
the egg, which, however, in common with all other suspected
specimens, I long ago threw away.

In the High Table Land of Southern India, and the Niel-
gherries, this Hagle doubtless breeds, Jerdon mentions haying
seen a nest in a lofty tree in the Dekhan; but of its nidification
there, I have received no detailed account.

These Eagles, like Fudvescens, can run very well; I have par-
ticularly noted this on many occasions. In one place Ts say, “ This
was a winged bird, and several times ran from twenty to thirt
yards with very great rapidity and cleverness, and but for the
fact of its having dropped in a newly ploughed* field, and
there having been rain during the night, would have given a
great chase; as it was, the soft clods tripped it up every twenty
or thirty yards, giving it heavy falls.”

Captain Hutton sends me the following note on this species:

“his is a common bird about Mussooree, and in the Dhoon,
from October to near the rainy season. The young (A. bifus-
ciata ?) is by far the handsomer bird of the two, and likewise
hereabouts the most common; in October we have sometimes
seen as many as fifty together, sailing leisurely in a widespread
flock, if such it can be called, and coming from the west, leay-
ing individuals at intervals along the line of march. These
appear to be all in the plumage of J. bifasciata, and judging
from the few adults procurable here, they may almost be called
rare. Ifa carcase be exposed as a bait, it will not lie long
without a visit from five or six of them (4. bifasciata) ; and
strychnine, rubbed into gashes in the thighs of the bait, is sure
to secure some of them. I do not think they breed here.

The changes of plumage in this species are so great, and
hitherto appear to have been so imperfectly described, that it
is necessary to particularize them, in some detail. When I s say
that the changes of plumage are very great, it is under the
assumption that all the different forms observed are really
stages of one and the same species ; but of this there is, as yet,
apparently no entirely conclusive proof.

* These, with us in India, are not like ploughed fields at home. Here ridge
and furrow fogether barely exceed 5 inches, as a rule.

147

Very few of this species remain in the plains of India during
the summer, and these few only in the extrenre North West.

The specimens usually seen in museums, and all those con-
tained in my own collection, (with the exception of two old
birds killed from the nest) have been obtained in November,
December, January, or February; hence the connecting links
between the various stages, the changes from one to the other
of which, probably take place during the summer, are alto-
gether wanting.

There are four very distinct stages of plumage, each of which
is represented in my collection by from ten to twelve specimens,
and of each stage there are specimens, killed, from early in
November, to the beginning of March, and that, without the
latest killed specimens of any stage, exhibiting any marked ap-
proach to the plumage of any other stage. In fact, during
these winter months, the plumage of each stage appears to
remain nearly stationary. There are variations in each, but
these cannot in any way be chronologically connected; for in-
stance, one bird of a particular stage will be observed in some
respect to approximate to the plumage of some other stage;
while other birds belonging to the first mentioned stage, killed
both earlier and later than the individual specimen referred to,
less nearly approximate to the said other stage.

One thing is certain, namely, that if all these four forms are
really, as seems probable, stages of one and the same species,
they each represent a year, in the bird’s growth; but till speci-
mens are obtained, killed during the summer months, or until
young ones are brought up in captivity, and the changes of
their plumage carefully noted, I do not see how these matters
can be definitely settled.

From certain indications, observable in some of my birds, I
think I know which are the third and fourth stages; but in
regard to the other two, I am somewhat doubtful which is the
earlier.

I will briefly describe them in the order in which I believe
they should be placed.

Ist. The general character of this stage is lineated. The .
under parts, with broader, or narrower pale centres to the fea-
thers, and the upper parts, with pale central stripes. What I
take to be the earliest form of this stage has the head and nape,
brown ; the feathers tipped, and margined, with pale yellowish
brown. The upper back scapulars, and lesser wing coverts,
darker brown, most of them showing faint traces of paler cen-
tres, and tips; and some faintly margined slightly paler.

The lower back is buffy, a patch on the rump being mottled

148

with brown. The upper tail coverts, fulvous white. The tail
feathers, pale wood brown, much abraded, with dirty fulvous
tips, and showing, towards the bases, traces of a mottled paler,
and darker barring. ‘The primary quills are dark brown, al-
most black. The secondaries and tertiaries paler, and dingier
brown, with a mere trace of a fulvous white tipping, but the
tertiaries are a good deal mottled with fulvous white. The
median, and greater wing coverts are, here and there, tipped
with fulvous white, but many are not so. The chin, throat,
sides of the neck, breast, and abdomen, are pale buffy brown.
The feathers margined with darker brown, which latter, however,
is very narrow, and almost wanting on most of the throat fea-
thers, while it occupies the greater portion of the feathers on
the lower breast, and abdomen. The tibial plumes, vent, and
lower tail coverts are dingy reddish buff; the lesser and me-
dian lower wing coverts, are reddish buff, more or less centred
with brown, and the greater lower wing coverts, are mingled
white and blackish brown. The lineation of the lower surface,
is more obscure and ill-defined than in what I take to be later
forms of this same stage. In the next form of this stage, every
feather of the head, nape, and upper back, is brown ; (a sort of
hair brown,) darker than in the form above described, witha
conspicuous narrow, fulvous, central stripe. All the wing
coverts, and scapulars, are tipped with fulvous, or fulvous white,
the lesser ones, narrowly, in fact with a mere spot at the tip;
the larger ones, more broadly. The rump, back, and upper
tail coverts, are as above described ; but the tail is a dingy, wood
brown, without any trace of bars, and broadly tipped with ful-
vous white.

The secondaries are conspicuously tipped with white, or ful-
vous white. The chin, throat, and ear coverts are unstreaked
fulvous ; the breast, and upper two thirds of the abdomen, are
a warm, somewhat purplish brown, with conspicuous, well de-
fined, narrow, central, fulvous stripes. The lesser, and median
lower wing coverts, are more mingled with brown, than in the
specimen above described, and the larger lower coverts are grey-
ish white, mottled with blackish brown, and the axillaries,
which in the form first described, were reddish buff, mottled
_ with brown, are in this one, similar to the feathers of the breast.
In another form of this stage, the head, and back resemble the
form first described ; the tail, and wings, the second; while the
chin, throat and ear coverts are very pale buff, and the breast,
and abdomon, are of the same colour; each feather narrowly
margined with the warm purplish brown ;—noticed as the pre-
vailing colour of these feathers, in the second form.

149

{ believe, that the last described bird is the nearest approach
I possess to the second stage, and that the change to it, would
be accomplished by the central stripes disappearing from the
upper surface; and in the lower surface, gradually extending
over the whole feather.

Specimens in this stage vary greatly, independent of the
points noted above ; in the colour of the thighs, vent, and lower
tail coverts, (which in some are nearly white, in others rufous
buff,) and in the extent and purity of the white, or fulvous white
tipping, to the tail and secondaries. ‘The difficulty is, that these
various differences do not go together. If the birds be arranged
in a series, with reference to the comparative width of the cen-
tral stripes of the breast feathers, which width varies, as above
noticed, from less than one-fifth to nearly four-fifths of the total
width of the feathers; and then turned back upwards, no corre-
sponding progression in the lineation of the upper surface is
observable, and in order to obtain a regular series, according to
the amount and extent of the lineations of the upper feathers,
a totally different arrangement will be necessary. Adopting
either of these arrangements, we shall still have no regular pro-
gression in the extent, or purity of the white tipping of the tail,
or secondaries ; or in the colour of the lower abdomen, vent, and
leg feathers.

Two birds, whose heads, necks, and upper backs correspond,
differ entirely where the lower plumage, or perhaps tail feathers
are concerned, and vice versd. It is clear therefore, that what-
ever be the general sequence of changes, some birds change first
below, others above; some earlier on the heads, and others on
the tails; thus rendering the determination of the compara-
tive priority of the various forms, doubly difficult.

2nd. The leading character of this second stage, is to have
two conspicuous white, or fulvous white, wing bands; one of
these at any rate, exists, more or less perceptibly in the first
stage, the pale tippings of the tertiaries,- and secondaries being
generally present, and in some specimens there being traces of
the second band, formed by pale tips to the greater wing coverts ;
but in the first stage, these bands (even where both exist, which
they rarely do,) are very inconspicuous. In the second stage,
they are strongly marked, and are the first features that attract
attention. In this second stage, the whole of the head, neck,
chin, throat, back, lesser scapulars, lesser wing coverts, breast,
abdomen, sides, leg feathers, axillaries, wing lining, except the
greater lower wing coverts, are a nearly uniform brown. The
upper tail coverts are clear, slightly yellowish white, the tail

150

dark brown, more or less conspicuously tipped with fulyous
white, and with, or without, narrow, transverse, irregular, grey
bands. 'The quills, and greater wing coverts, are dark brown ;
the latter with the secondaries and tertiaries, broadly tipped
with fulvous white; the greater lower wing coverts are pure
white, or white mingled with brown, slightly darker than the
rest of the wing lining.

The specimens in this stage, vary greatly in the prevailing
shade of brown, some are very pale, almost whity brown; others
moderately pale hair brown; some are entirely destitute of bars
on the tail; others, exhibit them conspicuously ; and in the
specimens before me, the very lightest bird, and one of the
darkest, have no bars whatsoever on the tail. The lower tail
coverts, in almost all the specimens, are white, or slightly
fulvous white; but in one specimen, they are mottled with the
same brown as the rest of the lower parts. .

In some, the pale tippings to the tail feathers, are obsolete,
in others, conspicuous. The lesser, and median lower wing
coverts, in one or two specimens, are narrowly tipped with
white; generally, they are of the same uniform brown, as the
breast, abdomen, etc. In both these forms, the lower surface
of the primaries, are but faintly mottled with greyish white.

One specimen alone seems changing to the third form; in
this the wing bands have nearly disappeared, the tail feathers
show the irregular, narrow bars, more strongly than in any of
the others; the whole of the brown is darker, the pale tipping
of the tail, is almost obsolete; many of the median lower wing
coverts, are rufous buff, and the longer scapulars, and a few of
the feathers of the back are a deep chocolate brown.

The 38rd stage is characteristically of a dark hair, or even at
times, umber brown, darkest above, and chocolate brown, on
the scapulars, with no pale bands on the wings, or tips to the
tail feathers, and with numerous, narrow, transverse, irregular,
grey bars on the latter; and with much brown, mingled with
the lower tail coverts.

Some specimens shew traces of the wing bars, characteristic
of the preceding stage, but more of them shew a few reddish
buff feathers on the nape, and pale margins to the lesser wing
coverts, obviously incipient changes towards the perfect adult.

A good many, which I suppose to be those nearest to the
second form, besides showing traces of the wing bars, have all
the feathers of the lower abdomen, narrowly tipped with ding
fulvous white.

‘Those again which appear to lead to the perfect stage, have the
upper tail coverts dark brown, only slightly tipped with white.

K

151

That this is really the 3rd stage, there can be little doubt ;
but even here the changes are most confusing, because, one
bird for instance, having a most conspicuous orange buff patch
on the nape, has the whole of the upper tail coverts, a clear
fulvous white, as in the second stage; while another, though
of a deeper brown, shews no trace of buff upon the nape, and
has the upper tail coverts, uniform blackish brown, as in the
adult.

The wing lining, also varies very much in this stage. In
some, and these by no means the most advanced, it is alto-
gether deep brown, as in the perfect adult, while in others, by
no means the least advanced, it is a rufous buff, or a rufous
buff mingled with dark brown. Im one, and that a bird
shewing the incipient orange buff head, they are precisely as
in the second stage, the lesser and median lower wing coverts
being uniform pale hair brown, and the larger lower wing
caverts white.

The 4th stage is well known. The whole head, nape, cheeks,
ear coverts, and sides of the neck, buff or orange buff, the
back, scapnlars, (except a few which are pure white) upper tail
coverts, wing coverts, primaries and secondaries, chin, throat,
breast, andiowien) leg feathiane, sides, axillaries, and wing lining,
deep blackish brown. ‘The lesser wing coverts margined, and”
and the upper tail coverts tipped, with fulvous white. The
lower tail coverts, white, and a good deal of white mottling
about the tertiaries, which area pale brown. The tail, gray;
with a very broad terminal black band, occupying fully two-
fifths of its visible surface, and above this, a number of more or
less broad, irregular mottled, and imperfect transverse dark,
brown bands, which sometimes do, and sometimes do not,
coincide exactly at the shaft.

This is what I take to be the perfect adult. In less advan-
ced examples of this stage, the forehead, and more or less of the
crown are blackish brown. The feathers of the chin, and
throat, as well as the upper breast, are margined, more or less
bro oadly with the same orange buff as the head and nape.

The axillaries, and lower wing coverts, are more or less
mottled with rufous, the lower tail coverts with rufous brown ;
and the ground colour of the tail, above the black tip, is pale
yellowish stone colour rather than grey. The upper tail
coverts likewise are paler brown, and more broadly tipped with
fulvous white. In this stage too, the changes are not syn-
chronous ; birds most advanced about the head, being often least
so about the tails ; those most advanced on the upper, least so
on the under surface, and vice versa.

152

The amount of white on the scapulars too, varies greatly.
Some have only a single feather, others nearly the whole sca-
pulars white, and I have some specimens, perfect adults, as
regards the plumage on every other point, but exhibiting no
trace whatsoever of white on the scapulars.

Although individuals of each stage differ, as above indicated,
very greatly inter se, still the examples of each stage, taken as
a body, are sharply separated from those of every other stage;
and connecting links, between the four stages, are greatly
needed. At present, we have four types; Ist, the striped ;
2nd, the uniform pale brown, with double wing bands; 3rd,
the uniform dark brown, without wing bands; 4th, the black-
ish brown with orange buff head, and nape; but no really
intermediate forms, such as are absolutely necessary, to enable
us to compile a correct history of the various changes of plumage.

In Europe, the changes of plumage seem even less known
than here. In the [bis for October, 18638, the Rev. Mr. Smith,
in his note on the birds of Portugal remarks :

“T entertain considerable doubts whether the only specimen
of this bird in the Museum of Lisbon is a genuine Imperial
Eagle, inasmuch as there is not a single trace of white on the
scapulary, feathers; and though Professor du Bocage, whose
attention I called to the fact, accounted for it, by declaring the
bird in question to be immature, I cannot find that this dis-
tinctive characteristic of the species is ever wholly absent,
though doubtless it is more conspicuous in adult birds.”

To this latter sentence, the editor appends the remarks,
“Tt has usually been supposed that the contrary was the case !”
Now my review of the bird’s various stages of plumage, shows
pretty clearly; Ist, that at any rate until its fourth year, this
species never shows any white on the scapulars, and 2nd, that
it is the fully adult, and these only, that exhibit this specific
character. To assist comparison, I subjoin further on, detailed
measurements and descriptions, taken frem fresh birds, in
different stages of plumage. I shall be anxious to learn, whether
Huropean Museums contain specimens of the European Impe-
rial Eagle, in all the four above described stages. Here and
there a bird in each stage, seems to present some connecting
link, with some other stage; but these links, except between
the 38rd and 4th stages, are very weak, and my only good
reason for believing that all four belong to one and the same
species, is, that after ¢xamining nearly a hundred freshly killed
specimens in one stage or another, I have been unable to detect
any structural difference ; the dimensions vary, in the same sex,
very widely ; but the differences are as great between examples

153

of the same stage, as between those of different stages. The
bills are longer, broader, or higher, nostrils larger, or rounder,
feet more powerful, claws more curved, or the reverse ; but of
each such variation, as many examples are found in the speci-
mens of any one stage, as of any other; and hence my difficulty
in believing that these are not all one and the same species.
I may add, that in each stage I have males and females in
precisely similar plumage, and that I am unable to discover
any constant difference, except that of size, between the sexes.

Radde, in Vol. IL. of his travels in South East Siberia,
(page 81,) seems to have got hold of very erroneous notions
about this species. He says ‘According to S’ewerzoff’s inves-
tigations, the white scapulars ought to appear after the first
moult, in the females of this species, while in the males, these
are not assumed until after the second moult; and then he
goes on to say, referring to an Orenburgh specimen, (which he
takes to be in first plumage, changing to second ; but which I
gather to be really third changing to fourth) exhibiting one
white scapular feather, that this decidedly confirms S’ewerzofl’s
views and contradicts Nauman Junior’s statements ; who holds
that the adult plumage is usually not assumed till the fourth
moult in the bird’s sixth year.

I had never seen Radde’s work, when I wrote the above
descriptions of the four stages; but it will be seen, that accor-
ding to my own original observations, Nauman Junior is right,
and Radde and his friend S’ewerzoff altogether wrong, so far
as our Indian race is concerned. But here the question arises,
is the Indian bird really identical with that of the South of
Kurope, North Africa, Palestine, and the Caucasus ?

In the case of A. Nevioides, and A. Fulvescens one distin-
guishing feature is said to be, that the changes of plumage are
much greater and more numerous in the latter, than in the
former; can any similar difference exist between the Huropean
and Asiatic race of the “ Konigadler,”’ as Radde designates it ?
Radde and Eversmann I see, (as 1 have myself noticed)
correctly point out, that the number of the transverse scute on
the ends of the toes is variable, and affords no real specific
character.

Radde further infers that while A. Chrysetus avoids the
treeless steppes, preferring the wooded country, A. Imperialis is
of extreme rarity in the forest-clad hills, which the former
affects. It is doubtful whether this distinction generally holds

ood.

The following are the results of a large number of measure-
ments recorded from freshly killed specimens :—

154

Male. Female.
From | To {| From| To
Length, +3 a Le ... | 285 | 30° | 30:0 | 32°63
Expanse, oa ces Shc | 69°0 | 76°0 | 70:0 | 85:0
Wing, re ie cme ... | 20°75) 23:0 | 23°0 | 24:5
Tail, sss s. bee | 106 | 1356 f 1200 1aG
Tarsus, id ake ax ace 3°38} 4:0 3°75| 4°06
Foot, greatest length, ... obs 5% 5'25| °6:0 6:0 6°63
= 3 width, ... ves we 4°25) 50 50 5°75
Mid toe, a a ay, con dog le eeCe, pelOel woe Gane ees
Its claw, along curve, ... as ww] 2°25) SR a Gaede
Hind toe, re ase nic Arse 10 S| [eS AOYe} esi
Its claw, along curve, ... a 7 163) | 1-75) 8 U88i0 Bs
Bill, including cere, straight, from forehead
to point, ... ae e Be 2:03 | 9 Ol ol ee Lol eee
Bill, including cere along curve from forehead
to point, ... “A a wee ly SD ails Sek ea
Bill, from gape, “eg Spc wet BLS Gs Fb) * als
Width, at gape, fe bon a ah 2:25, 2°19) 2°44
Height of bill at margin of cere, ... oe | OBL O97) O94). 1:0
Length of cere on culmen, a3 dag 0°63; O81] 0°75) 0°88
Distance by which other primaries fall) {Ist 4:0) 4°75) 50| 57
short of 4th or 5th whichever i 2nd15} 2:0 15 2-0
longest, ... tes oe ... J |8rd025| 05 0°44) 0°75
Distance by which closed wings fall short
of end of tail, ae Ba sae 0-2 225) 02 2°75
Distance by which lower tail coverts, do., ... 40, 50 5:0 6°0
Weight (in lbs.) Sit ae woe | ee 625) 875

I now proceed to give full descriptions of the bird in various
stages.

Ist. What I take to be the earliest form of the First, or
lineated stage.

Male. Shot, January 7th.

Description. Legs and feet, pale slightly greenish yellow,* four
transverse scute (the 4th in one or two, partially divided) at the
ends of all the toes, but the exterior, where there are only three ;
claws black.

Trides pale yellow, here and there, with a tinge of brownish ;
bare shelf above eye, pale greenish grey ; margins of lids very
pale yellowish, lids greyish white.

* Dr. Bree lays stress upon the number of transverse sewf@ on the ends of
the toes; it will he seen from this and subsequent descriptions that this is
variable in the extreme, even in the two feet of the same bird, and can there-
fore, in no way be relied upon, as a specific character.

155

Cere and gape, pale greenish, yellower on culmen: upper
mandible at margin of cere, and basal half of lower mandible,
very pale blue ; tips of mandibles, bluish horny black.

Tongue, rather thick and fleshy ; entire, oval at tip, of nearly
uniform width, which is very small as compared with that of
the gape.

Plumage. Lores, whitish, densely clothed with tiny white
feathers, having greatly elongated, naked, black, or dark brown,

_bristle-like shafts. A trace of a dark brown stripe, over the
eye, continued backwards over the ear coverts. Forehead, top
and back of the head, and nape, the feathers white at the
base, umber brown in the middle, and pale fulvous brown at the
tips; the white bases do not show through, and immediately
over the eye streak, the feathers so overlap, as to show little,
but the pale fulvous brown; all the feathers of the head are
very narrow ; and sharp pointed, and more and more elongated
as they approach the nape. The ear coverts, and cheeks,
fulvous brown. ‘The chin, and throat, and upper part of the
neck in front, pale fulvous brown, with here and there faint
traces of a darker edging. ‘The feathers of the back, sides of
the neck, lower neck in front, breast, and upper abdomen,
fulvous brown, pale brown, or in some feathers, almost white,
broadly and conspicuously edged with dark umber brown. All
these, except those of the abdomen, very pointed, and narrow ;
feathers of the upper back, of a similar character, a lighter
central streak, and a dark margin ; but the shade of both centre
and margin darker than in the case of the feathers previously
mentioned. ‘The lower back, rump, and upper tail coverts,
palish umber brown, of various shades, each feather very
broadly tipped with fulvous white, pure white, or pale rufous,
the shade varying in different feathers. The scapulars, and
lesser, and median wing coverts, a mixture of several shades of
brown, some of the long est exterior scapulars almost black, but
the general character of most of the feathers, is to have a paler
tipping, or a pale patch at the tips; a few of the median and
lesser coverts near the carpal joint, tipped, and margined
towards the tip, with pure white. The bird obviously chang-
ing its plumage, and the old and new feathers amongst the
winglets, greater coverts, and quills, contrasting strongly ; the
former being a sort of dingy deep olive brown, the latter almost
black. The greater coverts of the last few primaries, and first
few secondaries, conspicuously margined towards the tip with
white. The first six primaries conspicuously emarginate on the
inner webs, the points below these emarginations almost black ;

above this, the inner web is mottled, or obscurely barred with

156

grey, or greyish brown. In the succeeding primaries, and
secondaries, there is a trace of mottling, and incomplete barring
(very distinct in the new, and less so on the old feathers) on
both webs. The new secondaries are almost perfectly black,
narrowly margined at the tip with white, and with about seven
trausverse irregular, and ill-defined bars of grey, or brownish
grey, across both webs; but not reaching quite to the margin
of either. The old secondaries are a sort of umber, or dark,
dirty olive brown, obscurely barred, and mottled with a paler
shade, and with traces of a pale tippmg. ‘The tertials are
brown, obscurely mottled and barred with a darker shade of
brown, and grey, and broadly tipped with white, and fulvous
white. The tail feathers are of several shades of brown ; from
sandy, to almost black; none of the feathers very new, but
some much older, and more abraded than others, and these are
the lightest. All have a pale tipping, and the central ones
which are very old, and abraded, seem to have had pale
margins ; and all show traces of six or seven transverse bars, (on
both webs in most of them,) of pale fulvous, in the case of the
lighter; and brownish grey, in that of the darker ones. The
lower abdomen, vent, and lower tail coverts are nearly uniform
pale fulvous, and though here and there, a few feathers show
traces of a darker brown, these parts contrast strongly, with
the broadly dark margined feathers of the breast and upper
abdomen. Avxillaries, and wing lining, except larger lower
coverts, a mixture of brown, and pale rufous ; the former pre-
dominating in the axillaries; greater lower coverts, brown,
greyish brown, and greyish white.

2nd. What I take to be a more advanced form of the First,
or lineated stage.

Female. Shot, 22nd February.

Description. The feet, and upper surface of toes, a pale wax
yellow, feet as usual, dirty and dingy; claws, horn black ;
seutze, small, convex, hexagonal, or nearly circular, with four
large, thick, transverse ones at the tip of each toe. Inner edge
of mid claw, a little dilated.

Trides very clear, and pale brown ; edges of lids, wax yellow ;
eye shelf, greyish white, with a faint yellowish tinge.

Cere, wax yellow, with a faint tinge of green near the margin
of the cere, at commissure ; base of both mandibles, bluish grey,
the rest of the bill horny brown, and blackish.

Plumage. The lores, point of chin, and the points of the tongues
of feathers, which run down each side of the lower mandible,
clad with tiny white feathers, with greatly elongated bristie-like,

157

naked, black shafts. Forehead, top and back of the head, the
feathers a sort of wood brown, tipped and centred towards the tips,
with a pale sandy, or whity brown ; chin, throat, and cheeks in-
cluding ear coverts, about the same colour as the tippings of the
feathers of the head, with traces of a darker tint on cheeks.
The neck, all round, shoulders, scapulars (all but the few long-
est) upper half of back, breast, abdomen, sides, axillaries, and
the lesser, and median lower wing coverts, all with pale central
stripes, (which are narrower, and more fulvous above; and
broader and more nearly pure white below) and darker margins,
which above are a sort of wood brown, and below more of an
umber brown. The few longer scapulars, are a dark umber
brown, with a central whitish spot at the tips. The lower half
of the back, rump, and upper tail coverts, are white ; the feathers
more or less broadly margined towards the tips, with ‘wood
brown, or buffy. The longest tail coverts are nearly pure
white. Tail, uniform, rather rusty, wood brown ; the tips much
abraded, and with a terminal fulvous white band, which, when
the ~feathers were fresh, must have been one inch in width.
The lesser, and median (upper) wing coverts are brown, paler
towards the centres ; the median, with white spots on the tips at
the shafts, most conspicuous towards the carpal joint, and most of
the rest of the coverts, with more or less traces of such central
terminal spots. Feathers under the winglet white, mingled with
buffy ; winglet, primary, and greater coverts, dark brown tipped
with white; secondary, and tertiary greater coverts, also conspi-
cuously tipped white ; but of a lighter brown hue, changing gra-
dually as they recede into the brown of the median and lesser
coyerts. ‘The first six primaries conspicuously notched on the
inner web, and the second to sixth inclusive, conspicuously, and
the first shghtly, emarginate, on outer web. Beyond the notch-
es and the emarginations (which are very high up, that of
the 2nd being hidden by the greater coverts), the first six pri-
maries are nearly black; above the emarginations, the outer
webs are a deep brown, and above the notches the inner webs
are greyish brown; with broad, incomplete, ill-defined grey
transverse bars. The seventh is a deep brown, with the basal two-
thirds of the inner web, as in preceding; all seven have the merest
trace ofa pale tip. The last three primaries and all the seconda-
ries, are broadly tipped with white. The last three primaries
are a lighter brown than any of the preceding feathers, or
than the secondaries; and are much silvered over with grey,
the tenth being almost pure grey. The secondaries are a deep
umber brown, but with some traces of grey mottling on the
outer, and inner webs of the earlier ones, and the same is ob-

158

servable on the tertiaries. Below, it remains to notice that the
pale, or whitish central stripes become so broad towards the
lower part of the abdomen, that the feathers there are nearly
unmixed fulvous white. The feathers immediately below the
vent, and the lower tail coverts, are white; but some of the
largest of the latter have a buffy tinge. The thigh coverts are
a dingy white tinged on the upper portion with pale rufous.
The tarsus feathers, are a dirty white. The larger lower wing
coverts, are mottled greyish brown, and greyish white.

Of a third bird in this stage, I find noted, that the feet have
four large scales, at points of mid toes, and three on all the
others; that the irides were very pale yellowish brown; the
margins of the lids dusky; the eye shelf yellowish; the cere
and gape wax yellow ; the base of both mandibles greyish blue,
and their tips horny black.

ord. What I consider a good typical specimen of the second,
or twin barred light brown stage. Male shot, January 4th.

Description. Legs and feet a pure, deep, somewhat orange
yellow. Scute, reticulate, with four large scutz at the end of
the mid toe, and three at the end of the others. Claws,
black, inner edge of claw of centre toe dilated. Other claws,
with a somewhat sharp cutting edge beneath, on both sides.

Trides, dark brown; the membrane of the bare shelf over-
hanging the eye, dingy greenish ; lower eyelid, pale greenish
white, sparsely feathered with whitish down.

Bill, horn black ; cere, gape, and base of lower mandible,
rich, somewhat deep yellow.

Plumage. ‘The whole of the lores pale brown, thickly cover-
ed with long, soft, blackish brown bristles, one set of which,
curve outwards, and upwards, towards the nostrils and forehead,
and the other set of which, go straight down over the commvis-
sure; there are few bristles also on the tip of the chin, and on
each side of the lower mandible, about half way between the
gape, andthe tip. A narrow, indistinct, dark brown eye streak
above the bare projecting shelf, from the forehead continued
backwards over the ear coverts. The whole of the front, and
top, and back of the head, pure brown; the feathers white at
their bases but this not showing through. The feathers lan-
ceolate, and the shafts somewhat darker; on some few, there is
the faintest trace of a paler tipping. ‘The nape, and upper part
of the back of the neck, of the same colour, but paler tipped ;
the feathers long and pointed. Lower part of the back of the
neck, back, rump, scapulars, (except a few of the longest) and
whole of the lesser and median wing coverts (except a few of
the longest of those of the primaries,) a slightly lighter brown,

—

ii

159

than the crown, and very broadly and ill-definedly tipped with-
a slightly paler shade of brown, which owing to the over-lap-
ping of the feathers, is for the most part, the only colour seen.
The longest of the scapulars, a deep umber brown; in some
lights, almost black. Upper tail coverts white, with a slight
tinge of rufous, or fulvous. Tail feathers, blackish brown,
obscurely mottled in places, with a lighter brown, and narrow-
ly tipped with dingy white ; their shafts white at the base,
brownish for the terminal half. The coverts under the winglet
a mixture of white, pale brown, and rufous white ; the winglet
itself, blackish brown, narrowly tipped with rufous white, and
tinged on the edge of exterior web with brown. The primaries
and greater coverts, very dark brown, tipped with fulvous white;
the first seven primaries nearly black, all but the first emargi-
nate, and strongly tinged on the outer web above the emargi-
nation, with grey, or grayish brown ; the first six conspicuously
notched on the inner webs, and mottled with greyish above the
notches ; the last three primaries are mottled brown and gray,
the outer webs being almost entirely gray ; the first narrowly,
the second less narrowly, and the third broadly tipped with
rufous white. The secondaries dark brown, all conspicuously,
and broadly tipped with rufous white, and obscurely barred
with a darker brown. ‘The tertials similar, but their general
hue is lighter. ‘The whole of the greater coverts of the seconda-
ries, as well as of the last three primaries dark brown, conspi-
cuously and broadly tipped with rufous wlrite, and as is often the
case with the secondaries themselves, and the primaries greater
coverts, with a sort of greyish patch on the brown above the
tipping. The tips of the median coverts, of the primaries, and
some few of the first secondaries, pale rufous white. The entire
under surface of the body, throat, neck, ear coverts, axillaries
and lesser lower wing coverts, uniform pale brown, much the
same colour as the upper parts; but many of the feathers espe-
cially of the breast, and abdomen, very faintly margined with
a slightly darker tint; vent feathers, and lower tail coverts,
fulvous white. Greater lower*wing coverts, white with a faint
rufous tinge. The wings when closed, reach as far as the end
of the exterior tail feathers, which are 12th shorter than the
centre ones.

4th. <A fairly typical specimen of the third, or barless dark
brown stage. Female. Shot, January 17th.

Description. Legs, feet rather dingy wax yellow; claws,
black ; feet, with convex reticulated scales; mid toe of left foot,
with three large transverse scute, all above being reticulated ;
mid toe of right foot, with five transverse scute ; inner toe of left

160

foot, with three and what would have been a fourth had it not
been divided down the centre ; inner toe of right foot, and hind
toes of both feet, with four, outer toes of both feet with three
transverse scutee. Irides, brown ; edge of lower lid, plumbeous ;
of upper lid, yellowish ; bare shelf above the eye, dingy, pale,
slightly greenish yellow; lower lid, greyish white, sparsely
clothed with brownish white down. Cere, gape, and base of
lower mandible, full butter-cup yellow, but with a tinge of
green, near the nostrils, and on lower mandible. Bill, pale,
bluish grey at junction of cere, and near base of lower mandible,
bluish horny beyond.

Plumage. Lores greyish white, thickly clad with tiny down-
like feathers, with elongated naked dark brown shafts, looking
like fine bristles. There is a small patch of similar feathers at
the tip of the chin, and at the point of the sort of tongue of
feathers, which runs down the basal half of the sides of the
lower mandible. The forehead, and front of the top of the
head, umber brown, only one or two feathers of a slightly
lighter hue. The feathers of the occiput, and nape, of the
same umber brown, elongated and narrow pointed; and all
conspicuously tipped and margined towards the tips, with a
pale, somewhat fulvous brown, which colour, owing to the
over-lapping of the feathers, perhaps predominates. ‘The whole
of the back of the neck, upper back, scapulars, and lesser and
median wing coverts, a mixture of paler and darker brown,
some feathers being of the one colour and some of the other, the
dark being most numerous on the upper back, and back of neck,
and least so, on the lesser wing coverts. The longer scapulars
are almost all of the darker hue: (the darkest hue is not nearly
so dark, as that of the adult Imperialis, but the lighter is darker
than that of the Bifasciata, my 2nd, stage).

The middle back is chiefly of the paler hue, one of the feathers
being nearly wholly greyish white, and three others tipped
with the same. The lower back, and rump, are uniform dark
brown. ‘The upper tail coverts, are a somewhat fulvous white,
broadly tipped, and irregularly barred, with palish fulvous
brown. The tail feathers, are a mixture of new and old; the
former darker, and more umber, the latter somewhat more
sandy ; all with traces of five or six irregular, ill-defined, wavy,
transverse, greyish bars, conspicuous on the new feathers, and
least visible on the outer webs of all the feathers new and
old. The winglet, and all the greater coverts, are very dark
brown, except the last two or three of the greater coverts of
the primaries, which are paler brown. ‘The inner webs of all
these feathers, are more or less mottled, or obscurely barred

161

with grey. The coverts below the winglet, are mostly a lighter
brown. The first six primaries, of which all but the first are
conspicuously emarginate on the outer web, are all black, or
blackish brown, below the emarginations ; but, except the two
first, the rest are a paler brownish on the outer web, above the
emarginations. All six are notched on the inner web, (the
sixth least manifestly so), all are blackish brown on the inner
webs below the notches, and all are much mottled, or obscurely
though broadly barred, with greyish on the inner web above
the notches. ‘The last four primaries, are not quite alike in the
two wings, all have dark tips, longest in the seventh, shortest
in the tenth; but the outer webs above this, are three of them
grey and one somewhat fulvous brown, in one wing; and two of
them grey and two fulvous brown in the other ; the grey showing
traces of incomplete, broad, brownish bars, and the inner webs
of all, being of a somewhat lighter brown, lightest in the tenth,
broadly but incompletely barred throughout with grey. The
secondaries are dark brown, but of somewhat varying shades, all
with ill-defined, broad, grey bars on the inner webs, and traces
of the same, in a good light, on the outer webs of some.

The tertials are similarly barred, but are a (somewhat)
lighter and more sandy brown than the secondaries. The
whole of the chin, throat, sides of the neck, and ear coverts,
are a nearly uniform and rather dark umber brown. The
feathers of the chin, and part of the throat, are rather scanty,
and show the white of their bases through, more or less. The
whole of the breast, abdomen, sides, and thigh coverts, are a
warm, but light umber brown, a shade darker than the light
colour of the upper parts, mingled with dark feathers, of the
same shade as the darker colour of the back, &c. The dark
feathers are most numerous on the breast, and amongst the
longer thigh coverts. The axillaries, and the whole of the
wing lining, except the lower greater coverts, (which are a
greyish brown, many of them more or less barred in both webs
with greyish white), are a rich umber brown, intermediate
between the two shades of the lower parts. ‘The vent feathers,
and those of the lower tail coverts, are a lighter brown, and
their whitish basal portions, show through, more or less.

Of the 4th stage, well known in Europe; I think it un-
necessary to give a detailed description; but I note that Dr.
Bree’s figure, is very defective, insomuch as the whole inter-
scapulary region, by him shown as a yellowish brown, little
darker than the head and nape, is really, an intense, almost
black brown, and this too is the colour of the lesser, and median
wing coverts, and leg plumes, given in his plate as a rich red-

162

dish brown. I add, that I never yet saw a specimen with such
huge white scapular patches, as he represents.

Since the above was written, the following remarks on the
nidification of this species by Mr. C. Farman, have appeared in
the Ibis for 1869.

“ Of all the Hagles to be met with in this country, this is by
far the most common, and it breeds in great numbers in all
parts of Central Bulgaria.

“‘ Nidification commences at the end of March or beginning of
April, the 8th of April being the earliest date at which I have
found the eggs (some thirty of which I have taken). I have,
however, taken fresh eggs of this bird as late as the first week
in May. Its favourite place for building its eyrie is on an iso-
lated tree, or where the trees are scattered about at some dis-
tance from one another, or a clump of two or three, at the most,
standing alone in the open country, but where there is little or
no cultivation.

“he nest is little more than a large flat platform of coarse
sticks, about three feet six inches in diameter and piled up to the
height of eighteen inches or two feet, but in some old nests much
higher. The interior is slightly concave, and lined with a few
smaller twigs and a little dry grass, wool, pieces of old rag, or
any other small rubbish that comes within their ken; in most
instances, however, the lining is very scanty.

“The number of eggs in a nest is generally two, sometimes
three, never more, and not unfrequently only one.

“The Imperial Eagle, always a shy bird and difficult to ap-
proach, is ever more so during the breeding season ; the male
bird is always on the watch, either flying in graceful circles at
some height above and about the nest, or seated on some neigh-
bouring tree, whence, on the slightest appearance of danger, he
comes swooping down towards his eyrie, uttering a hoarse
croaking noise, as a warning to the female, who instantly leaves
the nest and joins her partner in his circling evolutions high up
above their eyrie.”’

No. 28. Aquila Neevia, Gmet.
Tue Sporrep EAGue.

The Spotted Eagle breeds commonly throughout the Oude
and Rohileund Terai, the Dhoon and the northern portion of
the Saharunpoor district, (and probably in many other suit-

1638

able localities) but I have never myself had the good fortune to
see or take anest. My friend, Capt. Marshall, R. E., furnishes
me with the following note on the nidification of this species.

* Builds in the Saharunpoor district in the end of May and
beginning of June. The nest is commenced about the end of
April and the young are hatched by the middle of June.

“The nest is placed ina fork near the top ofa large tree,
about thirty-five or forty feet from the ground. All that I
have found, have been in the line of trees along the bank of
the Eastern Jumna Canal, on the outside ones farthest from
the water, and always in Sheesum trees. I found four nests,
one with young (on the 10th June) and three with eggs on the
22nd of May and 8rd and 11th of June. All the eggs were
hard set. ‘The nest is a large circular platform-like structure
of sticks, with a few dead leaves in the egg receptacle, but no
other lining. I noticed no remains of food in any of them.
The diameter of the whole nest was about twenty inches, and the
interior depth about two inches. I have never found more
than one egg in any nest; the egg now before me is a perfect,
but very blunt oval ; of a slightly yellowish white ground, some-
what profusely spotted and blotched with rather faint yellowish
brown, and a pale washed-out purplish brown, which latter
colour greatly predominates; the egg is absolutely glossless.”’

An egg which I owe to Capt. Marshall’s kindness, is a broad
oval in shape, and has a greyish white ground, richly blotched
and spotted with pale purple. ‘This egg is somewhat larger in
every way than that figured by Mr. Hewitson ; it has no gloss,
and when held up against the light, the shell, as in all these
Eagles, is a bright sea-green.

This egg and the one above described by Capt. Marshall,
measure respectively 2°7 & 2:2 and 2°5 x 1:96.

The egg figured by Mr. Hewitson from Mr. Wolley’s collec-
tion, measures 2°44 by 2-02.

Without pretending to dogmatize in regard to a matter
which I have not by any means fully investigated, I am
inclined to think, that the changes of plumage in this species,
have not yet been satisfactorily determined.

There are two supposed races of this bird, one the western,
or smaller form, A. Nevia, Gmel. and the other the eastern
and robuster form, A. Clanga, Pallas. Now whether this latter
be really a form of Nevia, or whether as I suspect, it really
represents the second stage of A. Imperialis (q. v.) it seems
certain to me that our bird is the feebler or eastern form, the
true Nevia of most EKuropean authors.

Further on I shall give exact, and more or less detailed,

164

measurements, and descriptions taken from eleven fresh speci-
mens of this species, but 1 wish first to premise that, accord-
ing to my views, this Hagle has three well marked stages of
plumage.

1st. The buffy, or buffy fulvous.

2nd. The purple brown, white spotted.

3rd. The uniform deep brown stage.

In all these stages, where the sexes have been ascertained,
this species can at once be separated, by its much smaller size,
from, A. Imperialis, while from A. Fulvescens, it may be dis-
tinguished ; first, by its invariably barless tail; secondly by its
more silky, and soft plumage, and thirdly by its rounder
nostrils.

The utmost confusion seems to prevail amongst some, at
least, of the continental ornithologists as to this, and kindred
species. adde, I find, boldly uniting A. Nevia, A. Nevioides,
A. Clanga, A. Bifasciata, and A. Fulvescens. The best of it is,
that the measurements and descriptions (such as they are) that
he gives, clearly prove to me that with one exception, his
supposed Nevias are all forms of A. Impertalis, more or less
intermediate, (because killed in April and May) between the
four stages described by me when dealing with that species.

That Bifasciata is a form of Imperialis is I think certain.

That Nevia is utterly distinct from Nevioides and Fulvescens
is equally certain.

That Fulvescens, Fusca, and Punctata, are one and the same,
is beyond doubt; but whether these are, or are not, distinct
from Nevioides is yet doubtful, though I incline to believe
them so.

That our common upper Indian Spotted Hagle is identical
with that of western and southern Hurope, the true Vevia,.
figured by Yarrel, the detailed dimensions and descriptions
given further on, will, I believe, sufficiently establish.

Whether A. Clanga is a true species, or whether Pallas like
Radde, ignorant of the four-fold change of plumage in
A. Imperialis, obtained specimens of this latter, between the Ist
and 2nd, and 2nd and 3rd stages, and to these gave the name
of Clanga, I cannot decide, but I am strongly disposed to think
that this is the real origin of the supposed more robust form of
A. Nevia.

The absolutely unbarred tail, is at all ages, characteristic of
the Spotted Eagle ; I can show a sequence of some forty odd
birds, from the pale buff, to the deepest umber or liver brown,
not one of which exhibits a trace of barring on the tail ; while
per contra, I can show a still larger series of Fudvescens, every

165

bird in which (except three in which the tails are terribly
abraded and bleached), shows unmistakable barrings on the
centre tail feathers. Besides this, the difference in the texture
of the plumage, (that of Mulvescens being comparatively stiff,
harsh, and thin, that of Nevia, soft, silky, and dense) in the
strength of the bills, feet and legs, and in the shape of the
nostrils, suffice to separate these two species conclusively. Both
go through, it is true, not very dissimilar changes of plumage,
and individuals of both races may be found so similar in gene-
ral appearance, that even good figures of them might wholly
fail to prove them different, but a mere glance at the tails, the
first touch almost of the plumage, or a comparison of the bills,
nostrils and feet (supposing the sexes to be known) would
unmistakably show how distinct they were.

Nevia, with us, at any rate, is a bird frequenting moist
localities. Where large jheels abound, or where canal irrigation
is extensively resorted to, there Vevia (in upper India at any
rate) is very common, but in the dry sandy plains, which
occupy so vast a portion of the surface of Continental India,
this species is extremely rare.

A remarkable fact as to change of geographic distribution,
resulting from modification of the physical aspect of a country
by human industry, came under my own notice in connection with
this species. The Etawah District between Cawnpore and Agra,
belonged essentially to the dry sandy class. For years I shot
through this district without ever obtaining a single specimen of
the Spotted Eagle. After a time the Ganges Canal, with innu-
merable, minor channels was opened out through the district.
Huge tracts came under irrigation. A year or two passed
away, when suddenly one day, shooting with Mr. Brookes,
along the canal, we found the Spotted Eagle common. Subse-
quently, numerous specimens were obtained at various localities
in the district in the neighbourhood of the canal. I thought
I might possibly have overlooked this species in past years; but
this seemed unlikely, because winter and summer I daily had
one or two men out shooting, and even had I always passed it
over, one or other of them must have killed it. However, this
matter was set at rest, by several Aheriahs, (native hunters and
bird-catchers by caste), spontaneously pointing out this bird to
me, as having only appeared in the district during the last two
years. ‘This species has always been plentiful in the Dhoon
and the northern portion of the Suharunpoor District, in which
the Ganges Canal has its origin, and there can be little doubt
that as the canal, year by year, was opened out further and
further, developing tracts suited to their tastes, the Spotted

166

Eagles (whose favourite food with us is unquestionably* frogs,)
rapidly followed its course.

This bird, generally sits in a very slouching kite-like fashion,
across a branch, half way up a tree. Fu/vescens, on the other
hand, more commonly sits bolt upright, in the centre of the very
top of a tree; so that, when looking from a distance, you see his
head and half his body, against the clear sky above the very top
of the tree, while when close to the tree, you cannot see him at
all. Imperiatlis too, often adopts a similar position.

If Clanga be a true species, and not a form of Imperialis, as I
cannot help suspecting, it is curious that the true Vevia should
occur in India and western Europe and Clanga in Palestine.
Mr. Tristram (Ibis, 1865) tells us, that the Spotted Hagle is
“much more common in winter than in summer on the plains.
We observed it only two or three times in the Lebanon in
spring. Mr. Gurney has pronounced a specimen I showed to
him, to belong to the large form described by Pallas as Aguila
Clanga. I found one nest in a tree, between Nazareth and
Caiffa.”’

I now give, in a tabular form, exact measurements of eleven
specimens. ‘These are not perhaps well chosen, but they are
all I have by me, and they were all recorded from the fresh
bird, with the utmost care.

As in the case with Imperialis, so here, one of my reasons for
believing in the specific identity of all the various forms here-
after to be described, (and the dimensions of whose representa-
tives, I am now about to give) is the close structural resemblance
of all these latter in every minute detail.

* T have unfortunately not preserved a record of the contents of the
stomachs in more than thirteen cases. In eleven of these “ Frogs and Toads,
chiefly small” are recorded. One I shot in the act of eating part of the liver
of an Antelope we had killed, and one had eaten a Rat.

167

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168

Description. I first take No. 1 male, as fairly typical of the
first stage of plumage.

Feet, pale dingy yellow; claws, darkish brown ; iris, pale yel-
lowish broWn. ‘The whole lower mandible and basal half of
upper mandible, greyish white, with a tinge of blue; tip of
upper mandible, horny brown ; cere and gape, pale dingy yellow.

Plumage. The whole head, throat, neck all round, breast,
sides, abdomen, and thigh coverts, a pure buff. Most of the
feathers, darker shafted, and those of the top of the head conspi-
cuously so; a narrow dusky, ill-defined supercilium running
backwards over and behind the ear coverts. Upper back and
scapulars, light brown, the longest of the latter only somewhat
darker, and all but these broadly margined with fulvous white,
and with the margins much abraded. ‘The middle of the back,
buff, the bases of the feathers, white, and showing through. ‘The
feathers of the rump, light brown, broadly margined with buffy
white and white. ‘I'he upper tail coverts pure white. The tail
brown, paler towards the tips, the margins of which are almost
white. The lesser and median coverts, light brown each broad-
ly margined with buff towards the base, and white towards the
tip.

"The greater coverts, except those of the first three or four
primaries, a rather darker brown than the median, margined
towards the tips with white, and those of the last three prima-
ries margined with white the whole way up the outer webs.
The first seven primaries as in the adult; but the outer webs
above the emarginations a redder brown. The last three pri-
maries not only tipped with white, but with a broad white
margin all the way up the outer web. ‘The winglet, the greater
coverts of the first three primaries and the secondaries a rich
umber brown, showing in some lights a purple gloss; the
secondaries narrowly tipped with white. The axillaries, and
the whole of the lower lesser wing coverts and median coverts,
except just at the carpal joint, a warmer buff than even the
breast ; a sort of rufous salmon colour, I might almost call it;
feathers below the vent, and lower tail coverts a slightly buffy
white; (as in the adult) longest thigh coverts, and tarsus fea-
thers, dirty fulvous, or buffy white.

Next as typical of the second stage, I take No. 4 a female, shot
at Rahun, I’ebruary 20th, (the male above described, was shot
at the same place, on the same date, in company with this very
female).

Description. Feet, pale wax yellow ; claws, black above, horny
brown beneath, scutw@ reticulate, inconspicuous, 5-4 well marked
transverse scute at the ends of the mid toes, and 4-3 at the ends

169

of the others, inner edge of mid claw a little dilated. Ivides, a
rather light brown. Eye shelf and edges of lids plumbeous,
lower lid nearly white, with a few tiny tufts of down. Bill,
bluish grey at base of both mandibles, and horny black at tips,
cere and gape pale wax yellow.

Plumage. The skin of the lores pale bluish, pretty thickly
set with tiny pale brown feathers, the dark naked prolonged
shafts of which at front curl upwards and outwards towards the
nostrils and forehead like soft bristles. Forehead, top, and back
of the head, a rather light umber brown, the feathers specially of
the hind head, very narrow, sharp pointed, and paling towards
the tip. From the gape, under the eye and over the ear coverts,
a patch of brown lighter than the top of the head. Below this
from the side of the lower mandible a slightly darker band, than
either the above mentioned ear patch, or the throat, which latter
with the chin, is about the same colour as the ear patch, but
looks lighter, as the feathers are rather sparsely set, and allow
the white bases to show through a good deal. The neck all
round, upper back, scapulars, and lesser wing coverts an uniform
rich umber brown, a shade darker than the top of the head; a
few of the longer scapulars have a central fulvous white spot
on the tips, two or three of the median scapulars on one side have
a trace of the same kind of spot. Lower back and rump the
same rich umber brown, but each feather with a conspicuous
somewhat pear-shaped, brownish or fulvous white spot at the
tip. The upper tail coverts slightly-fulvous white. The tail
feathers nearly uniform blackish brown, the shafts of the basal
one-third white, or whitish. Near the tips, the colour fades to a
sort of sandy brown, and there is a trace of a pale tipping. The
median and greater coverts much the same colour as the lesser
coverts, but all the greater coverts, except the first three or four
(which with the winglet are a rather darker brown still) con-
spicuously tipped with fulvous white, and all the longest, and
a few of the other median coverts with central, fulvous white
spots at the tips. The secondary greater coverts are conspi-
cuously mucronate, and abraded at the tips. The second to the
sixth primaries are emarginate on the outer webs, the emargi-
nations being high up, in the second hidden by the coverts.
The first to the fifth are strongly notched on the inner webs,
the notches being almost equally high up. The first six
primaries are blackish brown below the emarginations and
notches ; above they are umber brown on the outer web, and
greyish, mottled with brown, on the inner web. The rest of
the primaries and secondaries are tipped inconspicuously with
brownish white, have the outer webs umber brown, and the

170

inner pale greyish brown, with numerous close, rather narrow,
ill-defined, brown transverse bars. The whole upper surface
has, in a good light, a certain purplish gloss. Breast, sides and
upper abdomen, the same rich umber brown as the neck, but
each feather with a narrow, paler, somewhat sandy, central
streak, these becoming larger and more conspicuous as the
feathers recede from the neck; on the lower abdomen, the
central streak occupies nearly the whole feather, and the
feathers immediately above the vent, are wholly of this sandy
brown hue. The thigh coverts are the same rich deep umber,
but the longest are tipped with fulvous white, and those above
them have central fulvous white spots at the tips. The whole
of the feathers below the vent, and lower tail coverts, rather
dirty, or slightly fulvous white. The lesser and median lower
wing coverts the same rich umber brown, a few of the latter
over the first few primaries with terminal fulvous spots. The
larger lower wing coverts greyish brown, faintly and irregularly
mottled, with greyish white. ‘Tarsus a paler brown than the
thigh coverts, mottled behind with dingy white, and with the
terminal feathers in front of the same colour.

I next take No. 11, a female, as typical of the third or wniform
deep brown stage. Shot on 27th December.

Description. Feet bright orange yellow. Ivrides deep brown.
Cere and gape, orange yellow. Bill, blue dusky at tips.
Tongue rather long and narrow, of nearly equal width through-
out, obtuse ended, with conspicuous central groove.

Plumage. The whole bird a nearly uniform rich umber, or
deep liver brown, the quills and tail feathers almost black, and
these and the longer scapulars with a perceptible purple gloss.
A narrow white tipping to the longest upper tail coverts, and
a few of the feathers near the vent, a little mottled with white ;
no trace of white tipping or mottling to any other portion of
the plumage. The bases of all the feathers are white, but the
bird is so well feathered that these nowhere show through.
The brown of the head, neck and throat is slightly paler than
that of the rest of the body, and the feathers of both head and
nape have traces of slightly paler brown, narrow central stripes.
A few of the lesser and median wing coverts, old abraded
feathers, are a somewhat paler brown. I have another bird
before me very similar to this one, except that the whole
plumage is a still darker brown, there is no admixture of paler
feathers in the wing coverts, the faintly paler centres of the
hackles are almost wanting and the tarsal feathers are pwie
white. This I take to be the oldest form. I have seen and pre-
served several such, but have unfortunately failed to record

Lee

measurements from the fresh bird in any of these. As far as
can be ascertained from the skins, they correspond precisely
with the dimensions above recorded.

In the second stage considerable variations occur. Of No. 10,
a bulky looking female shot near Juggernathpoor in March,
and which is decidedly in younger plumage than the one which
I have described as typical, I have the following note :—

The whole bird is a lighter and duller brown, and its spots are
a duller fawn or dingier fulvous white than those of the No. 4
type. ‘There is no purple gloss. The chin is darker and more
the colour of the front and top of the head, where there is little
trace of the pale tippings. On the other hand, the pale brown
tippings are more conspicuous on the feathers of the hind head
and upper part of the neck. The breast, abdomen and sides
are nearly uniform dull pale wood brown, with only here and
there faint traces of the rich dark umber brown margins so
characteristic of this stage. The longer thigh coverts again,
are almost wholly dingy fulvous white, with only a mottling of
dingy umber brown on the basal halves. Lastly, the rump is
mostly a dingy fulvous, the feathers only having narrow dingy
umber brown margins, which do not extend to the tips. The
bird, though much nearest to No. 4, appears intermediate
between it and No. 1.

Of another, I say, No. 5, female resembled No. 4 closely,
but there was a much richer purple gloss on the whole upper
surface, which also was somewhat darker ; the ear patch was not
so light, the spots on the scapulars and lower back and rump
were larger and more conspicuous, and in the case of the
scapulars far more numerous. The upper back and base of the
neck behind, of uniform colour in the first, have in this speci-
men terminal, central buffy spots. The pale tippings to the
feathers of the head were far more conspicuous, every one of the
median wing coverts had its terminal spot, and most of the
lesser have also a minute buffy white linear spot, or speck at
the tip. There was somewhat less white about the upper tail
coverts. Below, the surface generally darker and the central
streaks lighter and far more strongly marked. A patch of
feathers on the breast, a sandy brown, (though not so pale
as the central streaks of the lower feathers) only narrowly
margined with the deep umber brown. There was rather more
white about the tarsus above the foot. The pale tipping of the
tail feathers was also more conspicuous.

No. 3 male, was an older bird, intermediate between the second
and third stages, ‘not a speck or spot on back of neck, wpper
back, shoulders, lesser and median wing coverts, except at the

172

very tips of the longest of the latter. None of the quills, except
the last three primaries with more than the faintest trace of pale
tippings, only a few minute specks on the scapulars. Scarcely any
pale centering to the breast feathers, and far less of this on the
abdomen than in any of the preceding’ (viz. Nos. 2, 4,5—10).

Further I may add that No. 2 male, and No. 6 female, were
identical in plumage with No. 4, though No. 2 was smaller and
No. 6 a little larger. No. 7, a female, the smallest obtained, was
much the same type as No. 5 as regards the amount of spotting ;
in other respects differed from Nos. 2, 4 and 6, but little. The
longer thigh coverts were, however, almost wholly fulvous white,
the spots being so large as to occupy nearly the whole surface
of the feathers. Nos. 8 and 9 were between No. 7 and Nos.
2, 4 and 6) the throats and breasts being perhaps a purer and
darker brown.

In all the specimens of the first and second stages of plumage
that I have examined, the ovaries and testicles have been so
little developed, as to render the discrimination of the sexes, a
matter requiring cae and a magnifying glass. In all speci-
mens of the third stage of plumage, they have been well
developed.

I think I ought to note, that my valued friend, Mr. Brookes,
differs from me as to the first stage described, really pertaining
to this species. He believes it to be distinct. For my part, the
exact structural correspondence, the possession of more or less
intermediate forms, and the fact that in a part of the country
where the Spotted Eagle is common, these pale buff birds were
pointed out by native fowlers, as the young of the species,
incline me to the opinion already expressed of the specific
identity of the two forms.

Mr. C. Farman, in the Ibis for 1869 gives the following
pas in regard to the nidification of the Spotted Eagle in

ulgaria,

* In the spring of 1865, I observed a nest of this bird placed
on an Ash tree overhanging the stream at the southern entrance
of the Pravidy valley: it was more neatly put together than
most of the Eagles’ nests, and was warmly and softly lined with
the blossoms of the Ash tree; it contained one young bird just
hatched, and two eggs already cracked by the young birds
within. On the edge of the nest were the two fore legs of a
Leveret.”

175

No. 29. Aquila Fulvescens. Gray.

Tae Inpran Tawny HAcue.

This species breeds in different parts of upper India, from
the middle of November to the middle of June, but the great
majority I think, lay in January. Out of one hundred and
fifty-nine eggs of which I have a record, eighty-three were
taken in January, thirty-eight in December, twenty-eight
in February, the rest in November, March, April and June.
Only one in this latter month, and none at all in May. The
very hot dry weather puts a stop to the laying of most species.
The nest is always, as far as my experience goes, placed on
trees. I have never met with one placed on rocky ledges,
although I have found them on trees at the foot of, or near to
precipices, which contained apparently most “ eligible sites.”

They build a large flat nest of sticks between two and three
and a half feet in diameter, and from four inches to one foot in
thickness, according to situation. The nests are generally lined
with green leaves, sometimes with straw or grass intermingled
with a few feathers, and sometimes have no lining at all. They
are generally placed at the very top of the tree, and though I
have found them occasionally on Peepul and Tamarind trees,
the great majority were on moderate sized, but dense, Babool
trees, standing apart in the midst of fields or low jungles.

The normal number of eggs seems to be two, but it is by
no means uncommon to find three. The eggs of this species
appear to me, to vary prodigiously in size and shape; but it is
not improbable, as already remarked, when treating of Gyps
Bengalensis, that this excessive apparent variation, is due to the
enormous series I have before me. I have taken more than a
hundred of this bird’s eggs myself, and from first to last, have
had more than double this number sent me by other observers.
Normally this bird’s egg is a somewhat broad oval, slightly
pointed towards one end, and answering both in size and shape
very well to Dr. Bree’s figure of the Tawny Eagle’s egg ; very
often, however, the eggs are somewhat smaller than this, and
occasionally a great deal larger; some are very long and
pointed. A pair which I took in the Goorgaon district, (shoot-
ing the old bird) are fully as broad as the egg in Bree’s figure,
and as long as his figure of the Lammergeyer’s egg; so that
they appear a long and narrow egg; the cubic contents of
these must be fully twice that of some of the smaller speci-
mens; they each contained a fully developed chick, ready to
hatch off. A few of the eggs are nearly spherical, but the
broad oval greatly predominates. The ground colour of the

174

egos is the usual greyish white, unspotted in about half the
specimens and exhibiting more or less conspicuous markings in
others. Of the markings, the most common are a few large
blotches and splashes of yellowish brown accompanied by pretty
numerous specks or spots of the same colour, distributed pretty
evenly, over the whole egg. In some, the blotches are more
extensive and numerous, and exhibit a tendency to cluster
towards one end more than the other, and the colour becomes
a reddish brown or in some a purplish brown, while in others
all three colours are mingled. In no egg that I possess is more
than one-third of the surface covered with markings, and as a
rule, even the richest coloured eggs (and these are compara-
tively rare) have not above a seventh or eighth of the surface
of the egg covered with markings.

Elsewhere I have remarked, “The eggs vary extraordi-
narily both in size and shape from a very long oval, much
pointed at one end, to almost a sphere; but the ordinary type,
is a rather broad oval, slightly narrower at one end. In colour,
they are most commonly white, with a very faint tinge of bluish
green ; but many of them are more or less streaked, spotted, or
blotched, with different shades of brown, or reddish brown, and
occasionally purple of varying intensity, and here and there,
one may be found richly marked with sharply defined spots
and blotches of bright, though slightly brownish, red. Many
of the eggs, when taken from the nest, have a faint gloss on
them ; but they lose this by washing, and the eggs become so
soiled during incubation, that it usually 7s necessary to wash
them. The texture is generally close and compact, the egg
lining is a pure sea-green.”

In size the eggs vary from 2°35 to 3°25 in length and from
18 to 2°25 in breadth; but the average of one huudred and
fifty-nine eggs measured, was 2°63 by 2°11.

Mr. Wilham Blewitt remarks, that he found great numbers of
the nests of this bird, in the neighbourhood of Hansie, during
January, February, March, and April 1868. None contained
more than two eggs, and many of these latter were considerably
incubated. ‘The nests were without exception in dense Keekur
trees (Acacia Arabica) at heights of from sixteen to twenty-four
feet from the ground. The nests, sometimes loosely and at others
densely constructed, were composed of twigs and small branches
of Keekur, Ber (Z. Jujube) and similar thorny trees ; more than
one had a thin lining of grass or leaves, but the majority
had no lining. In diameter (excluding straggling ends) the
nests varied from sixteen inches to nearly two feet, and in depth
from barely four to nearly nine inches.

175

During the latter part of 1868, great scarcity prevailed in
Hansie and the whole neighbouring country, owing to the
failure of the rains. Fodder, especially, was unprocurable, and
throughout vast tracts, all the Babool, Ber, and Peepul trees
were entirely denuded of their foliage, in order to feed the
cattle. The result has been that A. Fulvescens has entirely
deserted the neighbourhood, and where in 1868, with but little
trouble Mr. Blewitt met with scores of nests, he has this year
only succeeded in finding two !

My friend, Mr. G. F. L. Marshall, R. E., writing of this
species, says, “ Very common in the Saharunpoor District. Is
said to catch fish by all the natives; but I do not believe it.
The native name is Machopa, or Machoka. It builds on trees,
a nest of sticks, and lays two white eggs, sometimes pure,
sometimes blotched with dusky and brownish. It commences
building in the end of March, but the eggs are not laid, till the
end of May; and I have taken fresh eggs up to the middle of
June, and at Shamlee, in the Mozuffernugger District, I took
five nests early in June, all with fresh eggs.”

It is a curious fact, that in many parts of the country, the
natives believe that the “ Rugguwr,”’ as they usually designate
it, catches fish. I have examined the stomachs of probably
some fifty specimens, but though I have often found them full
of small frogs, I have never detected any remains of fish.

Most birds when they have eggs, even before they begin
to sit, watch their nests closely. I have, however, repeatedly
found nests of this Hagle, containing one or more eggs, with no
parent bird any where near. I have several notes of this, I
quote one.

“On the Western Jumna Canal, near Hissar, on the 15th
December, I found a large nest on the top of a Babool tree.
The nest seemed rather fresh and therefore, though there was
no bird near, [ sent up a man to examine it. It proved to
contain two large eggs. Whilst the man was near the nest, no
bird made its appearance, only after we had waited about a
quarter of an hour, a large Fu/vescens in dark plumage, soared
slowly past, at a great height over head. This was about
2 o’clock in the afternoon. We did not touch the eggs, called
the man down, and withdrew to watch the nest; hiding
ourselves carefully some little distance off. It was not till the
sun was setting that this same Fwlvescens suddenly made its
appearance, and descended to the nest, where it was shot. It
was a female, and from first to last, we saw nothing of the
male.”

The plumage of the young is very pale. I find a note of one

176

we met with “ February 18th, 1867, a fine young one in a nest,
a nice plump little white woolly chap, as Brookes said, for all
the world like a well-washed poodle dog !”’

Great differences of opinion exist, as to the identity or other-
wise, of this species and NMwvioides ; and as to the changes of
plumage, whether the dark, or the light birds are the oldest, &e.

As regards its identity with NVevioides, Mr. Blyth says,
“This species is united with the African A. Nevioides by Mr.
G. R. Gray (B. M. Cat. B. Nepal, 2nd Hdition) ; but it is a
considerably smaller bird, and varies much more in its colour-
ing. I have had many alive, three or four of them together ;
but never saw any approaching the size of the three fine
specimens of dA. Nevioides, at present in the Zoological
Gardens.”

I am not in a position to decide this point, but I subjoin a
number of accurate measurements from the fresh bird, which
will facilitate the decision of this question elsewhere.

As regards changes of plumage. The young one in the nest
is yellowish white, and the young of the first year are little else
but whity brown. In the second stage, early in their 2nd year,
they become wood brown, and in this stage are found breeding
although rare/y. In an intermediate stage, as I take it, late in
the 2nd, or early in the 3rd year, they are about half wood
brown, and half deep brown, and in the last or third stage, as I
take it, by the beginning of the 4th year (or the end of the 3rd)
they are throughout, deep umber, or in some, liver brown;
which is perhaps not so dark in the first year it is assumed, as
it becomes later. In both the intermediate and third stages, they
are commonly found breeding, but according to my notes, out
of every ten breeding birds, about one is in the second plumage,
three in the intermediate, and six in the more or less dark garb.
In all stages, there is a more or less apparent transverse barring
in the central tail feathers, often mottled, irregular and ill-
defined, but still distinctly visible in all but three of the enor-
mous series in my museum; and in these three, the feathers in
question are so abraded and bleached, that they very probably
may have originally exhibited the bars.

I regret extremely, that most of my notes* on this species
have been lost, and that I have now at hand, full details of
only four specimens.

* I take this opportunity of again remarking, that one of my chief
reasons for printing these crude, ill-digested notes, is my inability to find
time to arrange them properly, and my fear, that if I delay putting them on
permanent record, they may be lost altogether. In May 1857, I had com-

177

i 2 3 4,

Male. | Female. | Female. | Female.

LCN OR Ree. oa hy eae one 24-0 28°0 27:0 27:0
EGON os orci Racy eter sneromeaass fb 000s 60:0 67:0 69°0 67:0
Werehti Gar fis) 20.08.68. Beer ey Lae on oss 4:6 4:0 4:06
NV ORE RPO ere Sos PES ee soe 18:0 21:0 19°5 195
Which primary longest, ............ 5th 5th [4th & 5th 4th & 5th
Ist Primary falls short of longest by ile eae vata 4°75 4°78
7 ae = pV Dchaks (ote Waites 1-75 15
ord A STE Mcafee co ecu ge, leacmee es 0°75 0°6
Length of tail from VONU neon aren 10-0 11°25 10:0 10:0
Tarsus, Le eR RA ene BE teh stb 2°75 3°25 3°31 3°25
Foot, greatest length, ...........0.5. 50 6:0 5°75 55
. width, Paeten Saleen e's 4°38 50 50 4°63
Mid toe to root of claw, pee eae 2:0 2°5 2-5 2°38
Tts'claw along curve, ....s0.c.seness 1:25 1°38 1:25 1:25
Hind toe to root of Clanwaxaseseae ace 1:0 1:13 1:13 1:06
Its claw along curve,............0000+ 15 1-75 1°75 15
Bill, including cere from forehead
straight to point, ...,.0:...0sece0e 15 18 2°0 2:0
esd RODD CULVE 55-54) 60s sevieseas 2A, 2 56 2°63 2°63
BA OMY SAPS, ¢....is.eksons Sdepine asec 2-25 2°5 2°56 2°56
BH WLU OY) REL OADEs sez sccnce sees vscs 2°13 2°25 2'0 2°06
» height at margin of cere, ...... bare Ae ER, 0°75 078
Were eneih, OMCHIMNEN. secskddsd lh. «caved il) ae fe. 0:75 O81

Besides this, the great majority of my specimens have
recorded on their tickets, certain leading measurements, taken
from the fresh bird, before skinning, (along with date, place,
colours of soft parts, contents of stomach, and sex,).and from
these I transcribe a number of measurements.

pleted a work on Indian ornithology, very inferior to Dr. Jerdon’s sub-
sequently published one, and therefore on this account not to be regretted ;
but still containing much that his volumes do not supply about the Birds of
the Punjaub and the N. W. Provinces, and the first work of its kind. The
fair copy, en route to the printer, was destroyed, with the rest of the contents
of the mail bags, by rebels; while the original notes, with my vast col-
lections, including nearly 2000 species of Asiatic and Australian birds were
burnt a few weeks later at Etawah by mutineers. I see nothing improbable
in the recurrence of an equally serious cataclysm, in the event of England’s
becoming involved in a general European war,

178

Wings when
closed reached

Length. |Expanse.| Wing. | Tail. |to within how bil
much of end | ™ “8:
| of tail.

Male Ist, ...|| 25°25 66°5 20°4 | 10°25 05 4:0
Hy eh eee 65:0 20°0 10°0 AEROS 30
oy mdek a BO 640. FO IO Yl) ee 275
Mr paulo ccah aO 64:0 7 a a Fey ia 30
re EE ech; Oreo 64°25 19% | 11:0 1°75 30

Female Ist,...) 27°5 69:0 21°4 | 12°0 15 4:5
Bons) ae Oo 70°0 B13: | 1E0 1:25 475
ReOrls cal. 20 0 73°0 21°75 | 12:0 1:55 45
Pa atBs cel aaee 70°5 21:0 | 115 1°75 45
Ps Sothe sls, 2e8 73°25 22-0" (ais 05 4:5
Obs ak) aiieo 69°25 20°75 | 11°5 2°13 45
eorTthsch 2S 69°5 26 ETS 2:0 50

I have selected these, as small, large, and average exam-
ples out of over forty ticketed birds, and this set of measure-
ments, with the more detailed ones given above, ought to
enable European naturalists to decide, whether there is really,
in point of size, any great difference between A. Nevioides and
A. Fulvescens. ,

The female No. 3 (killed near Etawah, January 4th) of
which I have above given detai/ed measurements, was a charac-
teristic enough example of a bird changing from what I
consider the second, into the third stage; as I have it by me, I
give an exact description of this specimen.

Description. Legs and feet, dirty greenish white; claws,
black ; feet and toes, with reticulate scales, but with five large
transverse scute atthe tip of the middle, and hind toe, and four
at the tips of each of the lateral ones.

Trides, brown; edges of lids, bluish; orbits, bluish white,
sparsely feathered with white down; membrane of bare eye-
shelf, pale bluish grey.

Cere and gape, dirty cream colour, bluish about nostrils; up-
per mandible, at junction with cere, and lower mandible except at
the tip, pale bluish grey; tips of both black.

Tongue, thick, fleshy, entire, slightly bilobed, of nearly uni-
form width throughout, very narrow in proportion to width of

ape.
E Eiweeee Lores, greyish white, densely clothed with long,
fine, dark brown, hair-like feathers. A patch on the forehead,

ea

on each side, dark brown, the feathers narrowly edged with pale
brown. ‘The whole of the rest of the top of the head a sandy
brown, mingled or mottled with a somewhat darker hue. Fea-
thers of the nape, and upper hind neck, much elongated, lanceo-
late, and mingled fulvous white, and pale brown. Base of the
neck behind, and upper back, somewhat light umber brown,
each feather tipped and margined with whitish brown. Lower
back, pale brown, the white bases of the feathers showing
through in places; rump, a rather darker brown. Upper tail
coverts, ighter again, and whitish towards the tips. Scapulars
mingled three shades of brown, from very dark to light fulvous
brown. ‘Tail feathers dingy greyish brown, tipped paler ; very
narrowly, and closely but obscurely, barred with very dark
brown. Lower wing coverts, pale whitey brown, irregularly
blotched with patches of rich dark brown. The median wing
coverts pale brown, tipped and margined still lighter. Coverts
under winglet, mingled white, fulvous and brown. Wing-
let very dark brown, the interior feather whitish on the inner
web ; greater coverts of primaries brown, those of the first few
primaries very dark brown, especially on the outer webs, and
scarcely perceptibly tipped with white. Those of the later
primaries a lighter brown and conspicuously tipped with white ;
and all of them with a good deal of greyish white on the
inner web, which, however, is not visible without raising the
feathers. Greater coverts of secondaries brown, some darker
and some lighter, but all much darker than the median co-
verts. All of them with a good deal of greyish white on the
inner web, and many of them more or less noticeably tipped
with white. The primaries beyond the emarginations, which
are conspicuous from 2nd to 7th, nearly black. Above the
emarginations, the general colour is a lighter brown, barred,
and freckled with greyish white, obscurely on the outer, and
conspicuously on the inner web. The last three primaries, how-
ever, have the ground colour grey, with dark brown, wavy, trans-
verse bers on both webs. ‘The secondaries dark brown on the
outer web, tipped greyish ; and with a number of large trans-
verse oval spots or incomplete bars of grey, on the inner webs.
Below the gape, and behind the eye, a brown patch. Chin
and centre of upper part of throat, darkish brown, the sides
being pale fulvous brown. Lower part of throat and neck
in front, dark brown, each feather with a narrow, central,
fulvous white streak. Sides of neck, pale fulvous brown,
with a few dark feathers intermingled. Breast, abdomen, sides,
thigh coverts, and axillaries, dingy fulvous brown, some feathers
rather darker than others ; vent feathers, and lower tail coverts,

180

white, tipped with fulvous; some almost entirely licht fulvous.
Lesser lower wing coverts, pale fulvous brown with, here and
there, asingle, very dark feather. Greater lower wing coverts,
brownish grey. first five or six .primaries, conspicuously
notched on inner web. ‘These, above the notches, and the rest
of the quills throughout their whole lengths, have the lower
surfaces obscurely barred greyish white and blackish brown.
A faint trace of similar barring observable on the lower surface
of tail feathers. The wings extend to tips of exterior tail
feathers, which are 14 inch shorter than central ones.

Of the female, No. 4, shot on the same date, in nearly the
full adult plumage, I have the following note :

“‘ Almost exactly the same size as preceding and with the lores,
quills and tail feathers much the same, though the latter were
somewhat darker, but the whole of the rest of the plumage was a
nearly uniform umber brown, darkest on rump, some of the
largest scapulars, eye streak, and breast, and palest, on middle
of back, upper and lower tail coverts, and lesser and median wing
coverts (the former of which have a trace of sandy). ‘There is
some white about the chin, throat, and vent, owing to the bases
of the feathers showing through. The feathers of the top of the
head very narrowly, and inconspicuously margined paler, and
the elongated lanceolate ones of the nape, and back of neck, with
tiny, inconspicuous paler tips.”

No. 30. Aquila Hastata. Less.

Tuer Lone-Leccep HAGLE.

I know nothing of the nidification of this Eagle, nay more,
I am sorry to say, I know nothing of the bird itself. To the
best of my belief, this species does not occur in Upper India,
and I do not think that I have ever seen an wndoubted example
of it.

Col. Tytler has a specimen, (male) shot near Jessore, which
he calls Hastata, and which he assured me, both Mr. Blyth and
Dr. Jerdon had seen, and named, as Hastata. It is vastly like
A. Fulvescens, a pretty uniform dingy, slightly rufous brown,
throughout. Longer scapulars, secondaries, and tail, a deep
purplish chocolate brown; primaries, almost black at the tips ;
longer upper tail coverts, and lower tail coverts yellowish white ;
a few of the tibial plumes with terminal fawn coloured dots.
In a very strong light, a faint trace of lighter bars is discern-
able on some of the lateral tail feathers. None of the feathers of

181

the upper plumage are tipped with white. The upper tail
coverts are not barred with white, though the longest are yellow-
ish white. There is scarcely a trace of obsolete barring; no
white tip to the tail, though of some feathers, the abraded terminal
one-eighth is slightly paler. There is not a trace of pale fawn,
or of any bar, on either breast, abdomen, feathers of the leg,
under wing coverts, or under tail coverts. There are no spots
on the wings, and no pale tippings to the tertiaries. It is
therefore not the adult Hastata of Jerdon, and still less the
young. The beak is feebler, the tarsi slenderer, and longer
than in Fulvescens, and this seems the only point in which
it resembles Hastata. 'The following are the dimensions taken
from the skin. Length, 24. Tail, 10. Wing, 18°75. Cere, 0°63.
Bill, along curve from margin of cere to tip, 1°5 scant ; from
gape, 2°25 ; width at gape, 1°81; height at margin of cere, 0°63.
Tarsus, 3°63. Mid toe, 2; its claw, 1:06; hind toe, 1:09; its
claw, 1°25 full.

Mr. Blyth remarks, (Ibis, 1866) “ This species is well figured
by Mr. Hodgson, as I pointed out to Mr. G. R. Gray, who
does not include it in the second edition of his Catalogue of
that gentleman’s collection. I have had many fresh specimens
of all ages, and could always easily distinguish it from <A.
Clanga. Though nearly of the same linear dimensions, it is
considerably less robust, with smaller bill, and feet; and there
is a recognizable difference in the plumage in all its phases;
while in its habits, it partakes (in a prominent degree) of the
nest-plundering propensities of Neopus Malaiensis.”

I should like to see a good series of this, to me, somewhat
doubtful species. As regards the lesser robustness, and smaller
bill, and feet, these can scarcely be relied on, when we have to
deal with a species so excessively variable in these respects, as
is A. Nevia. Ido not for one moment presume to assert, that
Hastata is not a good species, but I am sure, that the majority
of the specimens that bear the title are Nevius, pur et simple.
This was the case with several supposed Hastatas sent me from
Lower Bengal. Moreover, the only specimen I could find* in

* It must not be supposed, that this is any reflection on Mr. Blyth.
This gentleman made the Calcutta Museum, and for some twenty years his
talents shed a lustre on the Asiatic Society, which its then members did but
little to merit. From the day he left Calcutta, the Museum has been dis-
gracefully neglected ; numbers of specimens, as far as I could judge, in the
confused state in which the whole collection was when I visited it in 1868,
have had their tickets changed, or have disappeared altogether ; and it in no
way follows, that the misnamed specimen that I saw, was one of Mr, Blyth’s

182

the Asiatic Society’s Museum ticketed Hastata was unmis-
takeably Nwvia.

No. 31. Hieraetus Pennatus. GMEL.
THE Boorep KaAGtLe.

' Of the nidification of this species in India, we know but
little, and yet it is by no means an uncommon bird, in
Upper India at any rate. Mr. Brookes says, “I have seen
several at a time near Chunar in company with Milvus Govinda,
they were seated on the ground during the heat of the day,
near a shallow tank in which they had been bathing ; allowing
me to go within twenty yards of them as they did, I could easily
distinguish them from the IGtes.”

Mr. R. Thompson writes: “I have commonly met with
these birds in Gurhwal and Kumaon. The young are distin-
guished by having a deal of white underneath. I once saw one
dash into a tree in which a number of Parrakeets were assembled
and catch and kill one. I have also seen them fly down to a
Rat, and try and catch it on the ground.”

T have shot them myself, in the Goorgaon district and near
Umritsur in the Punjaub.

Of their breeding elsewhere,I have seen but few detailed
accounts. Lord Lilford has the following note on their nidifi-
cation in Spain.

“A little further on in the forest, we found a large nest on
the lower branch of a Pine. Manuel crept cautiously up
towards it, and shot a fine female Booted Hagle as she dashed off.
He then made a cache with Pine boughs within shot of the nest,
and in about half an hour another shot proclaimed to us that
the male bird also had fallen. The nest contained two eggs ;

Hastatas. Wet us hope, that under the new regime, this noble collection
may be restored to something like its former condition.

Talking of Mr. Blyth’s great services in the cause of science, during his
twenty years’ slavery (for it was little else) in Calcutta, one cannot help feel-
ing, that there is a sort of retributive justice, even in this world. The pompous
Jacks in office, who alternately neglected, and attempted to patronize Mr.
Blyth, (whose invaluable services they pretended to remunerate by a pittance
less than they would have presumed to offer to their French cooks) are now
either dead, or dragging out their crotchety existence in some old-Indian-
peopled watering-place ; in either case, unknown and unhonoured ; while the
name of Blyth, the naturalist, is known, and respected by men of science
throughout the civilized globe.

183

this appears to be the invariable number laid by this Eagle,
which is one of the most common of the raptorial family in this
district, arriving about the end of April, and remaining in the
country till October. The nests, of which we found several,
were generally placed on the lowest branches of a tall Pine, at
their junction with the main trunk, and were built of sticks, but
inside invariably contained fresh twigs with the green leaves
adhering to them. ‘This Hagle has a shrill piercing scream,
different from that of any other raptorial bird with which I am
acquainted.”

In Spain they appear to lay in the latter part of April, May
and June. Two of Lord Lilford’s eggs, figured in the Ibis,
have greyish white grounds; the one has only the faintest trace
here and there of pale yellowish clouds, the other is more richly
streaked, clouded and blotched with a dull ferruginous red.
The former is a rather perfect broad oval measuring 2°05 by
1:7; the other, a large egg, still a broad oval, but somewhat
pointed and compressed towards one end, measures 2°25 by
1:83.

Of the breeding of a very nearly allied (if really distinct)
species, H. Morphnoides in Australia, Mr. Gould gives the fol-
lowing account :—

“J was led to the discovery of the bird by finding its nest,
containing a single egg, upon which it had been sitting for
some time. The nest was of a large size, and was placed close
to the bole, about one-fourth of the height from the top of one
of the highest gum-trees ; the egg was bluish white with very
faint traces of brown blotchings ; two inches and two lines long,
by one inch and nine lines broad. Very recently I have
received a second specimen of the egg of this species which,
although very similar to the one above described, differs in
being more extensively blotched with yellowish brown and pale
purple, the latter hue appearing as if beneath the surtace of the
shell.”

As to the distinctness of H. Morphnoides, the nidification and
eggs of which are, it will have been observed, similar in many
respects to those of H. Pennatus, Mr. Blyth had the following
remarks in the Ibis for 1867 :—

“T have already remarked (Ibis, 1866, p. 241) that a rudi-
mentary crest is always observable in Indian specimens, at least
I found it soin all which I obtained in Bengal, in one which
I shot near Moulmein, and in one or two South Indian speci-
mens received from Dr. Jerdon ; but I cannot perceive a trace of
rudimentary crest in two mounted Nepal specimens in the
British Museum, received from Mr. Hodgson. The rudimen-

184:

tary crest referred to, resembles that of Spizaetus Limnaetus of
Bengal, and also of many Bengal examples of Pernis Cristatus,
and as the subcrested Hieractus averages a rather larger size
than the European H. Pennatus, I do not think that it can be
distinguished from the Australian H. Morphnoides, Gould. Mr.
Swinhoe’s crested specimen of Poliornis Poliogenys (Ibis, 1864,
p- £29) should here be borne in mind. Mr. H. H. Dresser agrees
with me in the opinion, that the white-breasted specimens of
Hf. Pennatus are adults, asin Eutolmaetus Boneillii ; whereas in
Spisaetus Limnaetus and S. Cirrhatus, the white-breasted birds
are the young.”’

As regards the second point raised by Mr. Blyth, viz. as to
whether the dark plumage is that of the adult or young, I think
further investigation is necessary. Mr. Tayler, in his notes on
the Birds of Egypt, which appeared in the Ibis for 1867, has
the following remarks in regard to this species :—

“This pretty little Eagle, which is by no means common in
Egypt, is subject to considerable variation in colour, for’a speci-
men shot by one of our party, which showed no sign of imma-
turity, was of a uniform dark brown.”

This statement I can confirm, from a careful examination of a
specimen in the dark plumage, now in Col. Tytler’s museum,
which is, I consider, manifestly an old bird. A female, ap-
parently an old one, shot from the nest and off the egg which
I shall notice later, was also of an uniform dark brown colour.

I subjoin detailed measurements and description, taken from
the fresh bird, of a male whichI shotin the Goorgaon district on ,
the 12th December. In company with this bird were three
others; two in the dark plumage which seemed to me to take
the lead and be the old birds, and the other similar to this one.

Dimensions. Length, 18°75. Hxpanse, 49. Weight, 1-75ibs.
Wing, 15; the 4th primary the longest, Ist, 4:53; 2nd, 1°85;
ord, 0°45 shorter. Length oftail from vent, 8°25; the longest
tail feathers exceeds shortest by 0°25. ‘Tarsus, 2°3. Foot, great-
est length, 3°48; greatest width, 3°5; mid toe, 1°38; its claw,
straight, 0°8; hind toe, 0°78; its claw, straight, 0-1; immer toe,
0-9 ; its claw, straight, 0-9. Bull, straight from edge of cere,
0°88; along curve, 1:05; from gape, 1-4; width at gape, 1-1;
height at front at margin of cere, 0:5; length of cere, 0°45 ;
Wings when closed reach to within 1 of end of tail. Distance
by which lower tail coverts fall short of end of tail, 3°43.

Description. ‘Legs and feet, pale wax yellow. Inides, some-
what pale brown. Bill, bluish black at tip, pale blue at base.
Cere and gape, bright wax yellow. lLores and forehead, pale
buffy white, a very narrow blackish streak, running at the lower

185

border of the lores, between the lores and the eyes, and over
the eyes, and a somewhat similar stripe running immediately
under the eye. Cheeks and ear coverts, dull rufous, the feathers
with narrow central blackish brown streaks. Crown, occiput,
nape, sides and back of neck, pale rufous buff, the feathers centered
with umber brown, broadly on the centre of the crown and occi-
put, where there is atrace of a rudimentary crest; and narrowly
elsewhere, and most of the feathers paling off at their margins.

Upper back and inter-scapulary regions, rather pale umber
brown. Mid back, a pale wood brown ; middle of rump, umber
brown ; sides of rump and upper tail coverts, buffy, or rufous
white. Scapulars, mingled fulvous white and pale wood brown ;
a few of the longest scapulars only being a rich umber brown.
Lesser wing coverts, a rather rufous umber brown, the feathers
conspicuously darker centered; median wing coverts, wood
brown, broadly margined with fulvous white ; secondary greater
wing coverts, a rather pale umber brown, very narrowly tipped
with fulvous white. Secondaries a deep umber brown, narrow-
ly tipped with fulvous white ; primaries and their greater coverts,
very deep umber brown ; some of the hinder primaries somewhat
lighter brown, and narrowly margined towards the tips with
fulvous white. ‘Tertiaries, pale wood brown, exterior webs
nearly entirely buffy white. ‘ail feathers, pale dingy umber
brown, very narrowly tipped with fulvous white, and with traces
of a terminal and three or four other, darker, transverse bands.
Chin, throat, breast, and whole lower parts, fulvous or buffy
white, palest on the leg feathers, lower tail coverts, and wing
lining. ‘The feathers of the chin, throat, and sides of the breast
more rufous, and with long, narrow, central, dark brown streaks,
broadest on the sides of the breast. Avxillaries, wing lining,
and sides, white, mostly with dark shafts, and with irregularly
shaped, more or less cordate, spots, on the shaft near the tip.
Some of the axillaries have three or four such spots along the
shaft. The lower surtace of the earlier primaries, is a peculiarly
glossy bronze brown; the first five have most conspicuous notches
on the inner webs, and the second to the sixth have well marked
emarginations on the outer web.

In examining this bird, one is impressed by the fact, that all
the light wood brown feathers of the seapulars, and wing co-
verts, are old and abraded ones, whilst all the deeper coloured
ones, are new.

So far as this and another similar example, now before me, go,
I should be inclined to say, that the dark brown form was the
older one. Of this darker form, Col. Tytler has a specimen,
killed at Umballa, a female, and to my notion clearly an old

186

bird. The dimensions of this specimen, taken from the skin, are
as follow. Length, 21-5. Tail, 9°25. Wing, 15°88. Cere on cul-
men, 0°56. Bill from edge of cere to point along curve, 1°13 ;
from gape, 1°5; height at margin of cere, 0°53. Targus, 2°25.
Mid toe, to root of claw, 1°88; its claw along curve, 1:06; inner
toe, 1-0 ; its claw along curve, 1°34; hind toe, 0°88 ; its claw along
curve, 1:47.

Description. The head and neck are dingy brown with dark
shafts and traces of dark central streaks, the rest of the upper
surface is a dull brown, (except the longer upper tail coverts
which are white) ; the upper back, longer scapulars and seconda-
ries (which are narrowly tipped yellowish white) being darker
than the rest; tertials and lesser and median coverts paler, and
tail, (also narrowly tipped yellowish white) with all but the
uropygials (and even on these a trace of the same is discernable)
exhibiting obscure, irregular, clouded bars of a darker colour.
Beneath, a more rufous brown, slightly paler on vent and lower
tail coverts ; tibial plumes and the feathers of the throat, breast,
abdomen and sides, darker shafted. Lower surface of tail, grey-
ish white, with the brown bars showing through more or less,
on all but the outer laterals. Traces of banding on the inner
webs of all the primaries above the notch.

I can see no trace of a rudimentary crest, no superciliary
stripe, no band from the angle of the mouth, no dark central
stripe to the chin. ‘

Mr. Layard, who gives this species from South Africa, says,
“The only specimen I have seen is a young bird shot by Mr.
Jackson at Nel’s Port. Itis entirely of a dark brown colour,
in some places inclining to black. He tells me he was attracted
to it by its peculiar cry.”

The shrill note of this Hagle, which has, as noticed by Lord
Lilford, a peculiar intensity of character, was what first drew my
attention to the bird which I shot in the Goorgaon district and
have above described.

Mr. Blyth tells us, that this species occurs in the Indo-Chi-
nese sub-region. Mr. Wallace does not include it in the ap-
tores of the Malay Archipelago.

Since the major portion of the above was written, my collec-
tor, Mr. Theobald, found a nest of H. Pennatus on the 21st
February, 1869, at Hurroor in the district of Salem and from
it shot the old brown birds, above noticed. ‘The nest,’’ he
says, “was on the branch of a high Banyan tree (Ficus Indica,)
about forty or fifty feet from the ground. It consisted of dry
twigs, and was in shape a circular platform, with a slight depres-
sion in the centre, devoid of lining.” The eggs were two in

—

187 -

number, only one of which reached me in safety. This one is a
very broad oval, almost exactly the same size as the one figured
by Mr. Bree. The ground is a dead white, devoid of gloss and
pretty thickly blotched and streaked throughout with reddish
brown. The egg reminds one much of some of the richer co-
loured eggs of Milvus Govinda, but the markings are smaller,
and the shell when held up against the light is a very pale sea-
green, much lighter than in any of the numerous specimens of
M. Govinda that I have yet examined. It measures 2°13 by
Lee:

Mr. Howard Saunders, in the Ibis for April, 1869, gives us
some further particulars of the nidification of this species in
Spain. He says, ‘“ The Coto del Rey, which we first entered, is
principally covered with serub and small timber, mingled with
clumps of large size, generally in a ring with a marshy clearing
STIG COMUEOS LMI IR. Elaice e's Walaa e+ HI a MSU I cautiously
crept round to the front, and stood out to give myself as fair a
shot as possible. Off went the bird, and down came a very old
female Booted Hagle (Aguila pennata,) just as I expected. The
nest was lined with green boughs, and contained two eggs, very
hard set. This was on the Ist of May.”

No. 32. Neopus Malaiensis, Reiyw.

Tue Buack Kitrr Bacue.

This is another species, in regard to whose nidification we
are profoundly ignorant. ‘The structure of this bird is very
peculiar, and its eggs would materially aid in elucidating its
true affinities.

I have seen it in the Himalayas as far west as Simlah, and
have shot it, not far from, but several thousand feet below, Nynee
Tal. Itis doubtful whether it breeds westwards of Nepal.
Mr. R. Thompson, writing from Kumaon, says: “They appear
to come into the lower spurs of the Himalayas about the mid-
dle of September, and to stay with us till about April, when
they disappear; where they go to, I can’t say, but they are
not to be found during the summer either on the frontier, or
in the interior of the Himalayas here, as far as I am aware.”

Tam by no means sure that Mr. Thompson is right; I believe
I have seen it in Kumaon in June, and I certainly saw one
near Simlah in the middle of July ; it is to be hoped that orni-
thologists in the Himalayas will watch this bird a little more
closely.

188

There has been a rather amusing difference of opinion about a
supposed young bird of this species. Dr. Stoliezka shot a young
Eagle, at Rogi near Chini. Capt. Beavan and Col. Tytler who
saw it, pronounced it to be a young Neopus, and Capt. Beavan
thus announced the fact in the Ibis :—

“Perhaps the best thing he has, or at least the greatest
novelty to me, is a young Meopus Malaieisis, Reimwardt, in a
phase of plumage, never before I-believe recorded. Beneath,
entirely dark brown, like the under parts of Wilvus Govinda,
each feather black shafted; the top of the head rufous, (the
feathers also black shafted) a conspicuous shoulder spot of a
pure white; primaries of wings, black ; secondaries and tertiaries,
dark brown, their coverts being broadly margined with ashy
grey; tail, the same. ‘The upper back is dark brown, with
here and there a purplish gloss; legs, dark yellow, with black
claws; bill, horny; cere, yellow. ‘This specimen cannot have
long left the nest, judging from the but partial development
of the tail.”

Dr. Stoliczka, per contra, affirms, that this bird is a young
Pennatus; he says, “ The only species which I have obtained
in the beginning of August, 1866, in a forest near Chini, was a
young specimen of what I believe to be Aguila Pennata, Gmel.
(Jerd. Vol. I. p. 63.) The specimen is only about three-fourths
grown; in colouring it exactly agrees with the old bird, except
that the inner webs of the tail feathers are not barred ; a white
shoulder tuft is distinctly traceable. Dr. Jerdon says, that the
young bird of A. Pennata is white beneath. This makes the

question of the identity of our bird doubtful, although, as I ~

have said, there is no difference in its colouring from that of an
old A. Pennata. The specimen is not a young Weopus, which
always has the beak in proportion somewhat more slender.”
Von Pelzeln, (Ibis, 1868) confirms Dr. Stoliczka’s view,
remarking that the plumage is very like that of a young 4A.
Pennata shot in Lower Austria. Whichever is right, what
strikes one is, that both parties dwell on the plumage, whereas
the structure of V. Malaiensis is so peculiar, that a single glance
at the feet would have settled the matter conclusively. The
inner toe in this species is nearly as long and much thicker
than the mid toe, while its claw is considerably larger than that
of even the hind toe; moreover, the claws are not merely, as
Dr. Jerdon describes them, ‘ moderately curved.” They are
so little curved that, for the claws of an Eagle, one might desig-
nate them as almost straight. I cannot conceive how Hieratus
Pennatus and Neopus Malaiensis could possibly be confounded
at any stage of their existence; I shrewdly suspect that even

=

189

chicks, extracted from eggs nearly ready to hatch off, would be
at once distinguishable by their characteristic feet.

Besides India, Burmah and Malayana proper, Wallace notes
the occurrence of this species in Java, Sumatra, Celebes and
Ternate; but it must be rare in the Archipelag 0, as our author,
himself, has never met with it there.

I subjoin dimensions of a female. Length, 31:5. Expanse,
75°0. Wing, 25°5; the 6th primary the longest, the Ist, 8:4;
the 2nd, 3 92 ; the drd, 1°55; the 4th, 0°8; and the 5th, 0-3
shorter. Length of tail, Ld: 79 ; the longest tail ‘feather, 0-75 lon-
ger than the shortest. Tarsus, 3-62, Length of foot, 6-3 ; greatest
width, 5:2; mid toe to root of claw, 1°87; its claw along curve,
1:25 ; hind toe, 1°4; its claw along curve, 1°63; inner toe, 1°63 ;
its claw along curve, 1°78. Bill, straight from margin ofcere, 1°15 ;
along curve from margin of cere, 1°37 ; from gape, 2; width at
gape, 1:6; height at front at margin of cere, 0°6 ; length of cere,
0°58 ; distance by which the lower tail coverts fall short of end
of tail, 6°2 ; weight 4 Ibs.

Of a male (from askin). Length, 27:0. Wing, 21:75. Tail,
13°38. Tarsus, 3°25. Mid toe to root of claw, 1°69 ; its claw along
curve, 1; inner toe, 1:44; its claw along curve, 1° 56 ; hind foe,
1-25 ; its claw along curve, 1°38. Bull, along curve from margin
of cere to point, 1:19; from gape, 2; height of bill at margin of
cere, 0°55 ; length of cere, 0°5.

No. 33. Hutolmaetus Bonellii. Tremm.*
BoneEwui’s HAGE.

This Hagle, in the plains of India, lays in the latter half of
December and in January; but in the Himalayas, it lays, I
believe, in April and May. The nest is usually placed on
ledges of precipitous earthen or rocky cliffs, and in the plains
I think preferentially in the immediate neighbourhood of some
large river or jheel. I have repeatedly seen their nests in the
high clay cliffs of the Jumna and Chumbal in the Etawah
districts, and I found a pair breeding in the ruined and
eyclopean walls of the ancient Togluckabad, south of Delhi.
Occasionally, however, they build on trees; and I found a nest

* Tt seems probable that Vieillot’s specific name, Fuasciatus, has the pri-
ority, but I have not the necessary works by me to enable me to decide this
point.

190

containing a single egg in a large Peepul tree near Bhurtpore.
The nest (as I said before, commonly placed on some conve-
nient ledge or suitable recess in the cliff’s face) is very large,
from four to six feet in diameter, and is composed of thickish and
moderate-sized sticks, varying from 1°5 to 0°5 in diameter.
The nest itself varies in thickness from a few inches to a couple
of feet, and being always finished off to a level ; when placed,
as often happens, on a more or less shelving declivity, is much
thicker exteriorly than interiorly. In the nests that I have
examined, branches and twigs of various kinds of thorny
Acacias were the chief materials used. In no nest that I have
seen, not even in that one mentioned as found on a Peepul
tree, was there any very perceptible depression in the interior
of the nest. In the centre of the platform, a circular space, of some
eighteen inches in diameter, is commonly smoothed over with a
thin layer of green twigs; and in the centre of this again, a
smaller space of perhaps one foot in diameter is carefully carpeted
with green leaves, those of the Neem, Peepul, Peeloo, and
other trees being apparently indifferently made use of.

Normally, they lay two eggs, but I have once found three in
a nest, and on two occasions have known of a single, much
incubated egg being met with.

I have not seen many eggs of this species. All I have seen
were oval, varying slightly in size and in the comparative
length of the minor axis. Many are unspotted, the rest are
more or less faintly blotched, streaked, or spotted with pale
yellowish or reddish brown. I have never seen a richly coloured
egg of this species. ‘The ground colour is that of all Hagles of
this type, a pale greyish or bluish white, often becoming, during
the course of incubation, much soiled and discoloured.

Tn size they vary from 2°56 to 3 in length and from 1°95 to
2:22 in breadth, but the average of nine eggs was 2°83 by 2:1.

My friend, Mr. Brookes, whom I first put up to the breeding
places of this bird in the Htawah district, and who has since
taken many eggs there, I believe, writes, (this has since appeared
in the Ibis) :—

“The eggs were usually two, but in two instances only one.
Two were white, unmarked, but all the others sparingly
blotched and spotted with bright reddish brown, and sometimes
intermixed with blotches of light reddish grey. The largest
egg measures 2°96 inches by 2:16 inches, and the smallest
2°79 inches by 2°04 inches. .I have a pair of eggs out of the
same nest, one plain white, the other well marked.”

Capt. Hutton, writing from Mussooree, says “ Hutolnaetus
Bonellii remains here all the year, breeding in places similar

uiell

Lor

to those selected by G. Barbatus, but although we have several
times found the nests, we never could get at them. It stoops
to fowls and is destructive to the larger game birds.”

Mr. R. Thompson has the following note in regard to this
species in Kumaon and Gurhwal. “I have never been up to
examine the nests of these birds, because they are always placed
on the most inaccessible precipices, but I can vouch for the
time of their breeding, viz. from April to June. I had a nest
for several years in view, but never could get at it; it was on a
steep precipice and none would volunteer to assist me. That the
birds had their nests there, was more than established, because
during other periods of the year, the pair used to carry off my
poultry and eat it wherever they found a place suitable ; but in the
breeding season they always carried their plunder to the nest.

“One year [ caught the young birds, two in number, the
first in July, and the second in August.

“JT have subsequently caught young nestling birds at Nynee
Tal along with the old ones, thus taking the whole family.
This was in the month of August.

“In February last, I saw a pair apparently courting, which
flew to and out of a large nest placed in a tree in the forest, at
a place called Bunderjewrah, eight miles east of Ramnuggur.”’

Hlsewhere (in the Ibis) I have thus described the taking of a
nest of this species.

“ About a mile above the confluence of the clear blue waters
of the Chumbal and the muddy stream of the Jumna, in a
range of bold perpendicular clay cliffs, that rise more than a
hundred feet above the cold weather level of the former river,
I took my first nest of Bonelli’s Hagle. In the rainy season,
water trickling from above, had, in a way trickling water often
does, worn a deep recess imtd'the face of the cliff, about one-
third of the way down. Above and below, it had merely
broadly groved the surface, but here, finding a softer bed I
suppose, it had worn in a recess some five feet high and three
feet deep and broad. The bottom of this recess sloped down-
wards, but the birds, by using branches with large twiggy
extremities, had built up a level platform that projected some
two feet beyond the face of the cliff. It was a great mass of
sticks, fully half a ton in weight, and on this platform (with
only her head visible from where we stood at the water’s edge)
an old female Hagle sat in state. This was on Christmas day !
It is not many holidays a really working official gets in India,
or at least can afford to give himself, and part of mine are
generally spent in the open air, gun in hand.

“At the foot of the cliffs is a talus of rough blocks of clay,

192

that it will take many a flood yet to amalgamate, and up this
I crept until I was only about sixty feet below the nest. Here,
however, I could see nothing of the bird, I shouted and kicked
the cliff, the men below screamed, threw fragments of kunker
(one of which very nearly blinded me) and by various signs
attempted to indicate to Mrs. Bonelli that a change of locality
was desirable. Serenely sublime in the discharge of her mater-
nal duties, that lady took no notice whatsoever of the uproar
below ; accustomed to the passage of noisy boat crews, and, like
some other sovereigns who sit calmly aloft, unable to realize
that it is really against their sacred selves that the mob beneath
is howling, the Hagle never moved. Beaten at our first move,
we changed our plan. I crept down the talus, and sent up a
man to throw down dust and small pieces of earth, (we were
afraid of breaking the eggs), in the hopes of driving her off the
nest. Luckily the very first piece of earth hit her, then came a
shower of sand, and concluding I suppose that the cliff was (as
it often does) about to fall, she flew off the nest with a rapid
swoop. Bang, bang, both barrels, 12 bore, No. 3 green
cartridge, full im the chest, (as the body showed when we
skinned it), and yet with a half fall, like a tumbler Pigeon,
through some fifteen or twenty feet she recovered herself and
swooped away as if unhurt, close along the face of the cliff; a
hundred yards further I saw a tremor, then in a moment it
was clear that she was in the death struggle, she began to sink,
and an instant after fell over and over on to a flat block of clay
with almost incredible violence. The dust flew up from where
she fell, as if a shell had dropt there, but as a specimen, the bird
was scarcely injured.

“We had hardly secured the female, after the manner of bird-
stuffers, plugging nostrils and* shot holes, stuffing throat and
smoothing feathers, when we heard a shrill creaking cry and
saw the male coming straight for the nest with a bird, (which
turned out tobe a Zurtur Cambayensis) in his talons. Coming to
the nest, the bird seemed surprised to find it empty, it took no
notice whatsoever of us, nor did it apparently catch sight of its
mate, stretched out with her white breast uppermost on the
deck-like platform of our barge, but it straightway settled itself
down in the centre of the nest and became entirely invisible.
Again tiny stones were thrown down and after standing up,
staring proudly round and stalking to the edge of the platform,
where he was hailed with shouts, the male.bird flew off slowly,
swooping down to within twenty yards of where I sat, and the
next moment dropped stone dead with only a loose charge of
No. 6 through him.

193

He was a much less bird than the female. She measured
29 inches in length, nearly 70 in expanse, and weighed close
on 6 ibs. He was only 26 in length, 62 in expanse, and about
4 ibs. in weight.

We had now to get the eggs, if eggs there were, because as
yet we could only guess and surmise in regard to these. Just
above the recess, the cliff bosomed out with a full swell for some
two or three feet, effectually preventing any one’s looking down
into the nest from above, or, except by an accidental cannon in
the broad groove, such as my boatman had made by a fluke at the
very first shot, from even throwing anything down into it. Above
the swell, the cliff was as nearly perpendicular as might be, and
it really did seem as if getting into that nest would be no easy
matter. However, some six feet east of the nest, passed a sort of
fault or crack which traversed the cliff at an angle of about 45
degrees and down this, a stout rope round the waist, with infinite
trouble and no little danger, a way was found after all to the nest.
Once there, it was a firm platform of sticks at least five feet by
three and a half. In the centre of this, a circle of about twenty
inches in diameter was smoothed over with fine green twigs of
the Peeloo, (Sa/vadora Persica), and on this again, a circle of
about a foot in diameter was smoothly spread with the green
leathery leaves of the same tree, and on these reposed the coveted
treasures, two fresh eggs. One of these eggs was bluish white,
blotched and speckled very feebly, but thickly towards the
larger end, with pale reddish brown. It measured 3 in length
by 2°19 in breadth. The other was almost pure bluish white,
with scarcely any traces of markings any where, and measured
2°81 in length by 2°13 in breadth. I had always felt morally
certain, that the egg figured as this bird’s by Dr. Bree never
belonged to this species, but was probably only a well coloured
Neophrons, but now the thing was certain. No aquiline bird
that laid the eggs I had in my hand could ever have laid
an egg similar to that given in the ‘“ Birds of Europe not
observed &e.”’

A few days later in similar cliffs a few miles higher up,
I found another nest. This time, however, the platform was
much larger, and was only about six feet below the top of the
cliff. One could look into it without the slightest difficulty,
and a Jackal could assuredly have made his way there with
ease, as even I got down to it without help and without a rope.
The platform of sticks was fully five feet in diameter, there was
the same smooth patch of twigs and smaller smooth circle of
green leaves, this time of the Peepul (Licus Religiosa) and, as
in the former case, on the leaves, about five inches, apart lay two

194

fresh eggs. These had a bluish white ground blotched all over,
but thinly and very feebly, with pale dingy reddish brown ; and
they measured, the one, 2°62 by 2, and the other 2°51 by 2.
The eggs were therefore considerably smaller than those above
described, while the female, which I shot as she left the nest,
was a much younger and smaller one than the magnificent
bird first killed.”

Mr. Tyrwhitt Drake, in his notes on the Birds of Tangiers
and Hastern Morocco, tells us that this species breeds at Tetuan
and also at Cape Spartel.

Mr. Tristram in the Ibis for 1865, writing of Palestine,
remarks—

“ Bonelli’s Eagle is rather common in every part of the
country ; but seems to avoid the plains, being much attached to
the wadys and rocky terraces with which the country abounds.
Most of the birds we saw were in the adult plumage; but in
early spring we noted several with the ruddy breast of the
second year’s plumage, which evidently had not paired. It
frequents the gardens behind Sidon and Jaffa, but is more
generally found in the wooded hill regions about Carmel, Tabor,
and the Lake of Galilee, from which places we procured the
egos in April, as well as two nests of one egg each in the
neighbourhood of Gerasch, east of the mountains of Gilead. It
does not appear to lay till the end of March ; and then gene-
rally a single egg. These are either white, or with the faintest
russet spots. One nest, which contained two eggs, both fairly
coloured, baffled all our attempts at its capture. It was com-
fortably placed under an overhanging piece of rock near the
top of the cliffs of Wady Hamam, m such a position that no
rope could be thrown over to let down an adventurous climber ;
and yet from another point, which projected nearly parallel to
it, we could look into the nest with longing eyes.”

Mr. W. H. Simpson, in his notes on the birds of Mesolonghi
and Southern Etolia, gives the following account of the nest
and eggs of a Bonelli’s Hagle which he took on the 27th of
February.

“This done I was in possession, and able to make a closer
inspection of the nest itself, which consisted principally of
branches of wild olive, terebinth and thorn, arranged according
to their size. There was no lining of wool, as is usual in
Hagles’ nests, but the eggs lay on a thin layer of olive leayes.
The eggs themselves, which I retain in my collection, are
slightly unequal in size. The larger is of a smooth texture and
bluish white ground colour, very sparingly marked with rust-
coloured spots and minute dottings.”’

195

This Eagle is pretty common in the plains of Upper India,
and is generally distributed through the country, though, (except
in the North Western Provinces,) itis chiefly found in hilly
and woody tracts. Layard found it in Ceylon, but it does not
appear to go eastward. I can nowhere find it recorded from
Burmah, and Wallace did not meet with it in the Indian
Archipelago.

Swinhoe does not appear to have met with it anywhere in
China north or south ; it is not amongst the Birds of Japan, and
Radde does not include it in his Avi-fauna of south-east
Siberia. Throughout the south of Europe, it is found, though
nowhere common, and in Palestine as we have seen, it is
plentiful. I do not find it noticed from Hgypt, nor from the
Red Sea coast country. In the north of Africa, it occurs in
Morocco, Algeria and ‘Tunis, but not it would seem further east.
Layard gives it from South Africa, on the strength of a single
specimen identified by Mr. Gurney, but the latter gentleman
has since avowed grave doubts of the correctness of this iden-
tification, and it seems in the highest degree improbable that
this species should occur in Southern Africa.

On the whole, the range of this noble and powerful, though
short-winged, Hagle, appears to be comparatively restricted.

I subjoin exact dimensions of three fine females, recorded
from fresh birds. Similar measurements of males have unfor-
tunately been lost.

PSIG shh scgch ais saste aedevarsvereea chica otc lo 28°5 28:0 2775
Beat) 5 yin atork viordeags <!ajsip alsin resis es 64°5 64:5 67-0
Wileierhads Gam U9..), 5 io ais (ernie areleyd waa! Slee 4:75 5:25 =60
Nash iin ¢ distal cold daatgayetkd bse 20°0 19°63 19°65
Which primary the longest, .......... 4th 4th 4th
Ist Primary falls short of longest by .. 6:0 575 50
2nd 5 a 9 af eee 25 2:0
ord 5 i 59 Ree ear. 075 0:2
Vaal iene thifrom vent, 5.4. .0edidss 52:0 12:0 12°75
Aaa rem ep ils I |g cin bats pia 'eyese veker’ 3°79 3°69. . 4:0
Hoot, sreatest-lomneth, 4. «ciple sir wi arsene ars 6°63 Ost 4c 0
Foot, greatest width, -.. «des «6/0 de) i 5°20 575 ©6660
Mid; toestoroot of Claw, ..i:05:0 0 s:<aaiepeet 2:0 2°69 2°63
Tis, claw along curve... svi side sn eois Shy kia Ld, 4:69
Hindtge torootof claws. wis s ede 15 iol aaa
Tts claw along curve, .....esesisiees bes 2°13 2°06 2°25
Bill, straight, including cere, from fore-

Rese, boy palrtit seta ais so balag sealed ore A '8s 1:94 1:94

», along curve es ss GeareeD 2°38 2°38

196

Bill, from gape FA ow 8 eens Q49 B13
» Width at gape _,, ers Cras 1:38 1:56
Height at front, at edge of cere, BAI dated) OOS OSL 0-75
Length of cere only, By See bs! h Ope 075 O71
Lower tail coverts fall short of end of
tail by 5°25 50 58
Wings, Bee ‘closed, “fall short of end of
al hy ese Pate ee cis wets See's Mee ei ra 2°95 30

In all these, the feet were pale, dingy, w(t brown, with a
tinge of yellow, most distinct on the first joint of the mid toe.
Five, or rarely four, large transverse scute at the end of the
inner, hind, and mid toes: three, or rarely four of these on the
end of the exterior toe. Claws, black. Irides, in some bright yel-
low, in the others brownish yellow ; orbits, greenish with small
down-like white feathers ; edges of lids, fleshy plumbeous; eye-
shelf dingy green or in some plumbeous ; ; bill, bluish gray at
base, horny black or blackish brown towards the tips; cere and
gape, pale dingy, or in some dingy yellow, bluish ‘about nos-
trils.

Plumage. No. 1, female, shot fromthe nest. Banks of Chum-
bal, Mohwa Sonda, December 26th, 1866. The whole of the lores
and portion under the eye densely clothed with tiny white feathers,
the long naked black shafts of which, project like bristles. The
forehead and the whole top of the head, rich dark brown, here
and there slightly mottled with white owing to the white bases
of the feathers showing through. <A few of the feathers of the
hind head narrowly and inconspicuously margined with white.
The whole of the back of the neck and upper back, dark brown,
more or less mottled with white, owing to the tips only of the
feathers being brown, and the white of the basal portions show-
ing through. Scapulars dark brown, the longest ones darker and
richer coloured. ‘lhe whole of the lesser coverts, and the greater
coverts of the tertiaries and of a few of the secondaries, dark brown.
Winglet, greater coverts of primaries, and of most of the second-
aries, very dark, almost blackish, brown. ‘J*eathers under the
winglet deep brown, tipped or mottled with white. Upper tail
coverts very dark brown, some of the longest obscurely barred
with greyish, and here and there some of the white of the basal
portion of the feathers showing through. Tail feathers, dull grey,
with a broad band of dusky at the tip, and several other nar-
rower indistinct wavy bands, most clearly seen on the inner
webs of all but the central feathers: Har coverts whitish, and
tipped brown. Chin and throat pure white, a few only of the
feathers with dark shafts. The whole of the breast and abdo-
men, pure white; most of the feathers with a narrow, linear

197

ovate patch, of dark brown along the shafts. Thigh-coverts
dark brown, a little speckled and mottled with white. Feathers
of the tarsus mingled pale brown, and white, with dark shafts.
Under tail coverts pale brown, with ill-defined and irregular
bars of pure white. Lesser lower coverts of the wing, white,
with very dark brown patches. The rest of the wing lining
nearly pure dark brown, with only here and there a few specks of
white. The first six primaries conspicuously notched on the
inner web, and the inner webs of these primaries, above the
notches, much mottled with white. Lower surface of the tail
feathers, greyish white, with brownish tips, somewhat mot-
tled with dusky especially on the inner web. Avxillaries dark
brown, irregularly blotched with pure white.

No. 2, female, (shot on the banks of the Chumbal near Chick-
nee, December 29th, 1866, beside the nest which was ready for
laying in,) had the whole top and crown of the head moderately
dark brown, only a few of the feathers towards the front of
the head having assumed the rich dark brown hue, described in
the first bird. The two central tail feathers also were a pale
sandy brown, tipped with a broad band of dusky brown, and
with five or six transverse, wavy, indistinct bars of the same,
across both webs. The rest of the feathers being of the same
hue as those described in the first specimen, except the second
and third exterior on one side, which were also, of the sandy
brown tint, indicative of an earlier stage of plumage. The ear
coverts were nearly entirely dull brown with scarcely a trace of
white about them, and the whole chin, throat, breast and abdo-
men were white, every feather with a conspicuous central linear
stripe of a somewhat dark brown, larger and more conspicuous on
the sides and abdomen, and some of the feathers of these parts
with traces of edging or imperfect bars of the same colour. The
thigh coverts were a paler brown, conspicuously dark shafted
and mottled with fulvous. I"eathers of the tarsus were slightly
fulvous white with dark shafts. ‘There was more white in the
wing lining than in No. 1. ‘The axillaries were of a paler hue,
and more variegated with white; a few of the feathers of the
point of the chin have elongated naked bristle-like shafts.

No. 3, female, shot on the banks of the Senghur near Chuchow-
lee, January 10th, 1867. The hue of the upper parts in this, was
darker on the whole, than in No. 1, and the plumage was closer
and firmer, moreover, almost the whole of the feathers of the
head, back of neck, upper back, lesser scapulars and lesser wing
coverts, were margined inconspicuously, with a somewhat paler
and more rufous brown; in the feathers of the sides of the neck
and a patch behind the ear coverts, running back and almost

198 y

meeting at the nape, the contrast between the margin and cen-
tre is considerable, but in the parts previously enumerated, it is
very slight, and might pass unnoticed by a careless eye. LHx-
cept in the middle of the back, the white bases of the feathers
scarcely show through any where. ‘The tail feathers are of two
shades, the one set grey, asin No. 1, the others a sort of olive
brown, with darker brown tips and wavy bars. ‘The ear coverts
are pale rufous, each feather centered with dark brown. The
whole of the chin, throat, breast, sides and abdomen, white, the
feathers with broad central stripes (narrowest on chin and
throat) of darkish umber brown, and many of those of the breast,
sides and abdomen, with traces of somewhat paler brown bor-
ders. The thigh coverts are mostly dull brown, with darker
brown central stripes and with but a trace here and there to-
wards the base of the tibia of white mottling. The tarsus fea-
thers are pale fulvous brown, with darker centres and shafts.
The smaller lower wing coverts in this, may be most properly
said to be brown, with white patches, though some few, just
about the carpal joint, are more white than brown. ‘There is
much less white, and more of the rich dark brown about the
whole lower surface of the bird’s body and wings than in No. 1.

Of these, No. 3 was the oldest, and No. 2 the youngest bird.

No. 34. Spizaetus Caligatus. Rarruzs.
Tue CHANGEABLE HAawxk-Hacte.

My collection contains no egg of this species, and I haye
never yet myself succeeded in finding a nest. My friend, Mr.
hk. Thompson, furnishes me with the following notes :—

“The breeding season commences in March, and lasts until
the end of June, but they mostly lay in Apriland May. The nest
is placed at.a height of from forty to fifty feet from the ground,
on large trees, in dense woods, usually in a good game locality.
The nest is a large round structure from 2°5 to 3 feet in diame-
ter, much resembling that of the common Aquila Nevia, a thick
clumsy platform, composed of thick dry twigs and roots, with a
central depression from four to five inches deep, lined with fine
roots, and stems. The eggs are usually two, but I have preserved
no record of their appearance, and I have no specimens by me to
measure or describe. ;

“Our Moorhaitah or ‘ Peacock-killer’ as he is always called
by the paharees, is a common bird in our province, (Gurhwal)
they are known as famous destroyers of game, and many a fine

199

Peacock with a magnificent train, has my mahout rescued from
their clutches, only to die by the knife instead of by the Hawk’s
claws. I once saw a single Spisactus, stoop at a Peacock which
was on the ground, and strike at his head ; the Peacock dodged,
rose and flew into a patch of tall grass where he lay concealed.
The Eagle betook himself to a tree close by, whence he quietly
watched the movements of the other. After a while, the Pea-
cock began to move from his place of concealment, the moment
he was well out of the grass, the Hagle darted down and caught
him by the neck. When I got up to the place, having been
a witness to the whole proceeding, the Hagle left his quarry and
flew up into a tree; the Peacock was quite dead.

“T have often put up black Partridge for these birds, and have
had much sport watching them flying after the game. These
birds are first rate at jungle Fowl in the wild state. Ihave
caught several, and tried to train them; but all my falconers,
either refused to keep them, or destroyed them shortly after they
were put in their possession. A small Chicken, or in its place
a grown up Hen or Cock, is a capital bait for catching this bird.
The net used is a vertical one, about eight feet square with large
and stout meshes. ‘The Hawk dashes into this like fury, and is
always caught.

“} have taken the young from the nest, one always; but I
have frequently seen the wild birds feeding two young ones.

“ Both young and adult utter a peculiarly loud ery, which
may be thus rendered; whee-whik, whee-whik. This ery is
sometimes uttered whilst on the wing, but most commonly,
whilst perching on trees.

“ Another and most common ery is something like this and
resembles a whistle—toot, toot, toot, toot twee, uttered at in-
tervals.

“The young are most noisy, though the adults at the pairing
time, are particularly so. All the Sp/saeti that I know, utter
very similar notes, a perfect imitator of their notes is Hdolius
Paradiseus ; Cissa Sinensis and Garrulus Lanceolalus sometimes
imitate it finely. Many Drongoes do the same.”

With reference to the above, I should remark, that Mr.
Thompson furnished me with a fine series of the birds referred
to, and they undoubtedly belonged to this species.

In regard to the Spizaeti, Mr. Blyth (Ibis, 1866,) has the fol-
lowing interesting remarks:

“ With respect to S. Caligatus and S. <Alboniger mentioned
under the head of S. Hieneri, see Mr. Gurney’s enumeration of
the species of this genus, (for which he accepts the name Spizae-
tus) accompanying Mr. Gould’s figure, (Birds of Asia, part

200

XY.) of S. Alboniger (S. Borneonensis, Gray,) I have to re-
mark that the species common in Lower Bengal (and there the
only one) is S. Limnaetus (Kalco Caligatus of Raffles,) identical
with the common Malayan race, similarly assuming the black
plumage with full maturity, and very rarely exhibiting more
than the rudiment of an occipital crest, as distinguished from S.
Cirrhatus of other parts of India and Ceylon. ‘The latter never
attains the black plumage, and has always along occipital crest.
Horsfield’s type specimen of his alco Limnaetus from J ava, 18
identical with the Bengal bird, but Professor Schlegel (Mus. P.
B. Astures, pp. 10, 11) “describes a long-crested specimen from
Western Java which seems to agree with S. Cirrhatus of India,
while his other Javan specimens are clearly S. Limnaetus. Hven
the large and very conspicuously distinguished S. Vipalensis,
Hodgson, is considered by Professor Schlegel to be merely a
variety of this S. Cirrhatus. Yet he discriminates Spilornis
Cheela from S. Bacha, which most assuredly are less strongly
characterized apart, than are Spizaetus Nipalensis and S. Cirr-
hatus. S. Nipalensis should occur rarely in the mountainous parts
of Southern India, as it was obtained by the late Dr. Kelaart,
at an altitude of about 4000 feet in Ceylon. Professor Schlegel
notes S. MKieneri from the Philippines. It may be remarked,
that the black, final plumage of S. Limnaetus is analogous to
that of the North American <Archibuteo Sanctijohannis, if not
also to that of Astur MMelanoleucus, A. Smith (Zool. 8. Africa,
Aves, pl. 18); but see Mr. Gurney’s remarks (Ibis, 1864,
. 357 m\ 99

: The, following are Mr. Gurney’s observations, which I
transcribe from Mr. Gould’s magnificent work.

“Spizartus ABonicer, Blyth; S. Borneonensis, Gray.
This very distinct species, the smallest of the Asiatic Spizacti
with which we are at present acquainted, was first described by
Mr. Blyth (A. D. 1845) in the fourteenth volume of the
‘Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal,’ p. 173, in the
following terms :—‘ A smaller species than either of those from
India, measuring about 214 inches in length ; wing, 13 inches,
and tail, 95 inches; tarsus, 8 inches; occipital crest, 3+ inches.
Adult : black above, with a purple gloss ; the large alars embrown-
ed, and distinctly banded with black ; tail black, with a broad,
light greyish brown bar occupying ‘about its third quar ter
from the base ; ; the longer upper tail coverts have each two
cross-bands of the same, lower parts pure white, with a black
mesial line on throat; large intense black drops on the breast.
The belly, vent, lower tail coverts, tibial plumes, and short
tarsal feathers are throughout closely barred black and white ;

201

beak black, and toes wax yellow. A younger specimen has
the drops fewer and smaller on the breast, an admixture of
rufous about the head. ‘Several unmoulted brown feathers
among the wing coverts, and one unmoulted tail feather which
has three narrowish dark bars, with two or more at the base,
closer and less defined: a remarkably handsome species from
Malacca, the Tenasserim provinces, and Borneo.

“The following species are also found on the continent of
Asia and in the adjacent islands.

“ Spizaetus Lanceolatus, Temminck, and Schlegel, Fauna Japo-
nica, p. 7.

cc

fasciolatus, Schlegel, Museum des Pays Bas,

fe)

Professor Schlegel, though citing the above synonym for
this species, appears to doubt its being specifically distinct ; it
is, however, a very well-defined species, differing from S. Albo-
niger in its larger size, in the absence of a crest, and in the
strong rufous colouring of the upper portion of the breast in
the adult bird. It inhabits the Celebes, and, according to the
authors of the ‘Fauna Japonica,’ is also found in Borneo.
This species, of which the British and Norwich Museums
contain fine examples, brought from the Celebes by Mr.
Wallace, has not yet been figured.

** Spizaetus IKieneri, De Sparre, Magasin de Zoologie, 1835,
pl. 35 (adult).

*‘ A specimen in immature plumage, said to have been killed
on the coast of Scotland, near Aberdeen, in the year 1828, is
figured in Jardine and Selby’s ‘ Illustrations of Ornithology,
pl. 66. This species has been observed in Northern and in
Central India, and it also occurs in the islands of Java and
Borneo ; but both there and in India, it appears to be a bird of
considerable rarity.

“ Spizaetus Philippensis. This specific name I would propose
for a species of Spizaetus inhabiting the Philippine Islands,
which appears to me to be undoubtedly distinct, though not
admitted as such by Professor Schlegel, who is disposed to
consider it as referable to S. Aieneri (Vide Museum des Pays
Bas, p. 12,) an opinion in which I am unable to agree. As
this Spizaetus is at present unfigured, I add the description of
a specimen in the Norwich Museum, which I suppose to be an
adult female :—

“Total length, 25 inches; wing, from carpal joint, 143;
tail, 113; crest, 24; tarsus, 34; middle toe and claw 3.

“The general colour of the upper surface in this species is a
dark umber brown; but the base of the feathers of the crest is

202

white, and the margins of the other occipital feathers are of
a light yellowish brown. Some of the scapulars and upper
alar feathers (especially the latter) are slightly tipped with
the same; the tail, which is of a somewhat lighter brown than
the back, is tipped with a very narrow edging of white, and
is also crossed by seven blackish brown bars, the upper one
being, however, somewhat indistinct, and the two lower being
separated by an interval which is twice the breadth of the
spaces between the other bars. The throat has a broad black-
ish band running down its centre, with two similar and nearly
parallel bands proceeding from the corners of the mouth, the
three bands all merging in a cluster of dark brown lanceolate
marks upon the upper portion of the breast, the intervals
between these markings and also the whole plumage of the
lower sternal and abdominal regions being tinged with a yel-
lowish rufous; the under tail coverts are barred with brown
and white, the former bars being much broader than the latter ;
and the thighs and tarsi are marked throughout their length
with narrow equidistant transverse bars of the same colours.

“A second and apparently less adult specimen in the Norwich
Museum resembles the one above described, except in the crest
being less developed and in the colours generally being some-
what lighter, particularly on the head, and the markings,
especially on the lower part of the tarsi, being paler and less
distinct.

“ Snisaetus Nipalensis, Hodgson. (Here Dr. Jerdon’s descrip-
tion &§c., is quoted from the Birds of India.)

“ Snizaetus Cirrhatus, Gmel. This species (the common
Crested Eagle of India and Ceylon) differs from 8. Wipalensis
in its somewhat smaller and much more variable size, in the
paler character of the transverse markings on the abdomen and
thighs, in the entire absence of the white abdominal ovate spots,
and especially in the less powerful development of its talons
generally, and of the inner and hinder claws in particular,
these being very decidedly smaller and feebler in this species
than in S. Nipalensis.

Ҥ. Cirrhatus is figured in the Pl. Col. pl. 282, under
the name of Fico Cristatellus.

“ Snizaetus Caligatus, Raflles. This species is very nearly
allied to the preceding (with which many Ornithologists con-
sider it to be identical,) but appears to differ from it in the
following particulars, viz., first by the non-development of the
crest, which is a marked feature in most specimens of S. Cirr-
hatus, but which is entirely absent in the great majority of
specimens of S. Caligatus and when it does appear, is much less

203

elongated than it usually is in S. Cirrhatus ; second, by the
bill being somewhat deeper and more powerful, and the tarsi
somewhat shorter, in S. Caligatus than in S. Cirrhatus, the
comparison being, of course, made between individuals of equal
general size ; third, by the wider geographical range of S. Oali-
gatus, which is found not only in India and Ceylon, but also
in Burmah, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, and Java ;
fourth, by the tendency to melanism, which is of constant
occurrence in S. Caligatus, while in S. Cirrhatus such a variety
is very rare. This black variety of S. Caligatus has been
observed in Java, to be permanent and hereditary, and to be
commoner in that island than the paler race. Some naturalists
have indeed, considered it as specifically distinct ; and such is
the opinion expressed by Dr. Bernstein (a resident in Java) in
a very interesting paper published in Cabanis’s Journal of
Ornithology, Vol. VIII. p. 417. The adult of the paler race
is figured by Temminck in the Pl. Col. pl. 127, under the
title of ‘ Falco Niveus ;? and the same work contains a figure,
in pl. 134, of the dark variety, under the name of ‘ Mulco
Limnaetus ;? the latter is also figured in Horsfield’s Zoolo-
gical Researches in Java, Aves, pl. 3.

“In conclusion I may recapitulate the species of Asiatie Spi-
zaetus which I have above enumerated, and which, in my
opinion, may be considered as distinet :—

“ Spisaetus Alboniger, Blyth; S. Lanceolatus, Temminck ;
S. Kieneri, De Sparre; S. Philippensis, nobis; S. Nipalensis,
Hodgson ; S. Cirrhatus, Gmelin; S. Caligatus, Raffles.”

Dr. Jerdon remarks that he is not aware that that S. Cali-
gatus (described by him under the name of Limnetus Niveus)
occurs in Upper India. I have already put on record Mr.
Thompson’s remarks as to its occurrence in the Gurhwal and
Babur forests, and I may note, that I have killed it myself in
various portions of the Sub-Himalayan ranges, as far west as
the Jumna.

No. 34(dis). Spizaetus Andamanensis.* TyTLer.
Tue ANDAMAN HAwx-HAGtLe.

I have never myself seen this species in a wild state, but my
friend, Col. Tytler, has furnished me with the following note in
regard to it.

* Tn these notes, I intend to include, where I have such by me, brief de-
scriptions and notices of Andamanese and Cingalese species, not given in Dr.
Jerdon’s work.

20-4

Adult Adult

Dimensions. Mee Howie
Age bh) Se eC ois bo RERUNS tS c cis w cel ee 25°25
WGRAMNO, LA) i cs sep eee bene. oaks s eae 40°45
Wiarto,'s 50.08 See ele Ys Sine vo.e ae UE 14:25
Which primary ‘longest, See eaie avec kets 5th 5th
Amount by which other primaries fall short
OT GIEE, Iie oneters aveete orm ss ie Ue a'b ee hae Ist 4 Ist 3°75
‘s 2nd 1:0 2nd 1°5
Length of tail from MED beth. Ua taene nimeleehe 10°15 10°25
By how much longest tail feathers exceed
BIOELGSE, feria ions es Wes o> Rie aintae see ete 0-5 15
Tarsus, (feathered to feet,) . ones Meena ec 3°6
Hoot, ereatest length, . 2. icte. sli eee 3°3 3°45
i" UL titi. 1s ote ee Oe ae 3'2 2°8
DIGG TOG SE Siebe ahdia ie Ghd theta dese Wetere, ofa latete re 1:95 18
die claw,along curve. =) ct ace ee cena 0°85 0°85
Pa Oe, 1272, eS. Bese otiee a eae ee ee keg 1-1
Uisiclaw, along eurve, i i..'. 2.9 bie = bees 1-2 as
MPTLOT MGIC tie tse Winks soles iate Rhee meglene ta ehaine 1:05 1°3
iis claw, alone Curves.- -.\.%\ ire Re olslamle : ted 1-1
Bill, straight (from edge of cere),........ de®, 1:23
as along curve, do. vis (Rigas od Oe 1-4
> POM AMO: s “ss toe lelstoisrthue wanes ete 1:65 16
- WAGE aL ACs: adres oLelaclele ele ate do dct
‘5 height at margin of cere, ...... 0°65 0°55
Wenath ofveere: bn hh Grats deadlines 0-4 0°35
Distance by which lower tail coverts fall
short olenmunt taal «iis 2: Oh cee ie 3°8 39

“© Spizetus Andamanensis, Tytler. First, male adult ; head with
the traces of a crest, and of a ight brown colour, striped with dark
brown ; each feather is, for the basal three-fourths white, and one-
fourth from the tip ight brown with a longitudinal dark brown
stripe in the centre, which gives an appearance of light brown
to the head, but on the feathers being in the slightest ruffled,
the head assumes an albescent appearance. Back, wings and
tail brown, but from the greater portion of the base of each fea-
ther being white or light brown, the upper surface of the bird
assumes a mottled appearance of brown and white, the brown
being darkest in the centre of the back, quill feathers and _ tail.
The greatest portion of the inner web of the quill feathers is
white, which gives a white appearance to the under surface of
the wing which is most striking when the bird is flying. The
primaries are dark towards their points, but all the wing fea-
thers are more or less conspicuously banded with four or five

205

dark brown bars. This is aiso the case with the feathers of the
tail. All the under surface is white, streaked with longitudinal
brown marks on the breast, flanks and centre of abdomen. Some
of the under wing coverts have three or four dark brown bands,
and immediately under the bend the feathers of the wing are
streaked with rufous ; this is also the case with the thighs and
some of the lower tail coverts, and white feathers of the densely
feathered tarsus. The toes are yellowish, with black claws;
cere greenish slaty ; bill dark blackish slaty ; irides, dark reddish
brown. ‘The two outermost lateral tail feathers, when observed
from beneath have a very albescent appearance, with dark dots
near the tips, and traces of spots of the same colour at intervals
going towards the base.

“<'l'wo female adults very similar to the last, but the markings
on the lower wing coverts are more, and those on the abdomen
less numerous than in No. 1; but the thighs and tarsi are richly
banded with rufous brown, and white.

“ These birdsarenot uncommon amongst the mangrove swamps
of the Andamans ;. but I have never seen them soaring, or even
flying about, until disturbed. They are with great difficulty ob-
tained, for it is impossible for a boat to approach them in such
situations, and equally so to get at them by land, for the man-
grove trees grow in the water, and when the tide goes out, the
soil is too soft to bear the weight of a man, so I found it very
difficult to procure specimens of this by no means uncommon
bird. I have never seen more than one or two together. The
Andaman bird is considerably smaller than the Indian S. Lim-
netus to which is bears a striking resemblance.”’

Capt. Beavan had the following remarks on this species in
the [bis for 1867 :—

“This species was originally described in the ‘ Proceedings’ of
the Asiatic Society of Bengal for 1865, p. 112. The following
description is taken from i tpn in Col. ‘Tytler’ s collection.
Length, 25°5 in. Wing, 13 5 in. Tarsus, 3:5 5 in. Tail 10°25 in.

” 24'5 ” ” 1355 ,, ” Oil sae EO ach
” 23°12,, ” ve ” jy eC eee? LO" Zo

“ Bill and claws, slaty horn coloured ; legs feathered to the toes,
which latter are of a dirty yellow colour. ‘The tail usually has
seven transverse bars of a darker hue than the rest. The gener-
al colour of the bird is creamy white, somewhat inclining to
rufous on the head, upper tail coverts, and interior of thighs.
The wings, tail, and lower nape are brown, the head in some
specimens 1s slightly marked with longitudinal brown strive,
and the under wing coverts of all, spotted with the same. This
species will probably be classed next to Spizactus Limnaetus of

206

Lower Bengal and the Burmese countries, from which, however,
it differs conspicuously in the colour of the plumage.”

The specimens that I have seen, were minatures of S. Caliga-
tus, except that the heads, necks and under parts, were nearly
spotless yellowish white, a sign doubtless of nonage. ‘There
were spots and dark central stripes, but they were few and far
between. The tails had broad, dark brown, subterminal bands,
narrowly tipped with yellowish white and besides these four (not
seven, as in those described by Capt. Beavan,) broad, transverse
dark brown bars.

Is it possible that this species should be identical with S.
Lanceolatus, Bp. Consp. Av. I. p. 28, of which Wallace gives
the Celebes and Sula Islands as the habitat? The dimensions
are not very dissimilar.

—_—~————

No. 35. Spizaetus Cirrhatus, Get.
THE CRESTED Hiwx Hacer

I know nothing of the nidification of this species, nor am I
likely I fear to do go, until observers generally learn to diseri-
minate it better.

With the exception of 4 specimens recently received from Mr,
R. Thompson, every skin yet sent me as belonging to S. Cirrhatus
(S. Cristatellus, Tem.) has proved on close examination to per-
tain to S. Nipalensis.

Blyth as already quoted (No. 84. q. v.) tells us, that “ even
the large and very conspicuously distinguished S. Vipalensis,
Hodgson, is considered by Professor Schlege, to be merely a
variety of his Cirrhatus.” Had Schlegel said that MNipalensis
was only the adult of the bird commonly received as
Cirrhatus, he would have been perfectly correct. I have seen,
and possessed specimens, of the so-called Cirrhatus, from
Ceylon, the Puchmurree Hills, Htawah and Kumaon, and these
were all unmistakeably immature examples of LZ. Wipalensis, as
was proved by comparing them with young ones captured in
the Himalayas, whose parents were known and whose nests had
been watched.

Dr. Jerdon has not described the young of Spizaetus Nipalen-
sis. This I have done at length, and my descriptions and mea-
surements will I hope throw some light upon the matter.

It is these immature WVipalensis that are always mistaken
for Cirrhatus ; the mature birds no one, who knows both species

207

(Prof. Schlegel must excuse me, but it is a fact,) can possibly
confound together.

In Cirrhatus, the upper surface of the adult is considerably
lighter than in Nipalensis, and the feathers, of the head, nape,
and upper back are comparatively light brown, centred more
or less broadly, with dark brown ; while in the adult Nipalensis
there is scarcely a trace of paler edgings in the feathers of the
head, and none in those of the upper back. In Cirrhatus,
the cheeks, and ear coverts are pale brown, each feather with a
very narrow central dark brown stripe, while in the same
parts in Wipalensis, the blackish central stripes occupy nearly
the whole feather. In Cirrhatus, the breast and upper abdomen
are pure white, each feather with a huge broad, dark brown
central stripe on the terminal half. ‘lhe whole of the lower
abdomen, vent, lower tail coverts, sides, flanks, and _ tibial
plumes are nearly uniform umber brown, without in the adui¢,
even a trace of white mottling. In Mipalensis on the other
hand the whole of the breast, except the extreme upper portion,
the sides, flanks, abdomen, vent, lower tail coverts, and tibial
plumes, are deep umber brown, paling on the abdomen and
towards the vent, every where broadly, regularly and conspi-
cuously, transversely barred with white; the bars being
broadest and least numerous on the sides and body, and
narrowest and most numerous on the tibie. The axillaries
of the fully adult Cirrhatus are of a pale umber brown slightly
darker towards the centre, without a trace of bar or mottling,
while the axillaries of Nipalensis are broadly and conspicuously
barred with white.

The crests in these two species are excessively similar ; quite
as long in one as in the other, both black and more or less
conspicuously tipped with white, but really, with this exception,
no two birds of the same genus, can well be more unlike each
other than are the perfect adults of Cirrhatus and Nipalensis.

It should mention also another difference which will I think
be found constant ; viz. inthe bandings of the tail. In Cirr-
hatus and Limnaetus, the space between the broad terminal bar
and the next one is always considerably broader than the
terminal bar itself, while the succeeding bars are generally
narrower than the interspaces. In Nipalensis on the other
hand the first space is narrower, or, at any rate, not broader,
than the terminal band, while the succeeding spaces are nar-
rower than the bars. Moreover there is a greater contrast in
colour between the bars and interspaces and a somewhat
sharper definition of these in Vipalensis, than in the other two
species.

208

From the adult of Caligatus, Cirrhatus is at once distin-
guished by the long, black white edged, or in some only white
tipped, crest. A rudimentary crest, more or less elongated, is
doubtless met with in some specimens of Caligaetus, but it is
never more than half the length of that of Cirrhatus, and very
frequently altogether wanting.

The young of Cirrhatus undoubtedly closely resemble those of
Nipalensis. But where the sexes have been ascertained, the much
greater size of the wing would alone enable us certainly to sepa-
rate the birds. In Cirrhatus, the wing of the female, averages
according to my experience, 17°62, while in no instance have I
found the wing to exceed 18 inches; the male appears to have
the wing on an average 16°5. The smallest male Vipalensis that
I possess, or have measured, measured 17°75, and I have now
in my Museum a female, whose wing measures 19-5.

Besides the difference in size, there is another little differ-
ence which appears to me to be constant and which would
alone enable us to separate either Cirrhatus or Caligatus at
any stage, from Nipalensis. I say appears to me, because I have
only had an opportunity of closely examining nine specimens
of Nipalensis, six of Cirrhatus, and about a dozen of Caligatus.
In all these, the distinction I am about to point out held good ;
whether it does so universally is for other ornithologists to
determine, In Cirrhatus and Caligatus, the feathering of the
foot ends, more or less, above the division of the toes. In
some specimens fully an eighth of an inch of the foot is left bare,
in others the feathering especially of the centre portion of the
foot, comes down all but level with the division of the toes.
In Nipalensis on the other hand, the feathering runs distinetly
down the middle toe, reaching furthest down exteriorly ; so
that in some specimens fully, and in all nearly, one-half of the
outer portion of the first joint, of the mid toe, is plumed.

Admitting that the young of both Nipalensis and Cirrhatus
do generally so resemble each other, that, although the prac-
tised eye will at once separate specimens, it is difficult to
express the difference by any verbal descriptions, I yet think
that the difference in size, coupled with the difference of the
pluming of the feet, just noticed, is sufficient to enable even
a tyro to discriminate between them.

‘lo some practised ornithologists, this detailed demonstration
that Cirrhatus and Nipalensis are different, will seem super-
fluous and they may be tempted to exclaim in Cornish fashion
“Who said they wor’nt! do you wish to argue, you beggar ?”
but I can assure them, that im India, the majority of our field
ornithologists, not only fail to discriminate between the young

209

>
of Cirrhatus and Nipalensis, but actually disbelieve (as I did
at one time myself) in the existence of any distinct species,
S. Cristatellus vel Cirrhatus.

I cannot here do better than quote the remarks of Mr. R.
Thompson, who, without any communication on this subject
with me, scarcely a year ago sent me the following—

“ Jerdon does not give a description of the young state of L.
Nipalensis, but from his description of the early and later state of
L. Cristatellus, (S. Cirrhatus,) I am inclined to think that he has
mistaken LZ. Nipalensis for it; any how, his descriptions hold
correct for the young and somewhat later stages of L. Nipalensis.
The long occipital crest nearly five inches long, deep black, tipped
with white, is exactly it. The Z. Niveus (S. Cahgatus) though
sometimes with the crest, has it not so long, nor is it black, but
a dark brown, edged on the upper margin with earthy white.
Jerdon’s description of the young state of L. Cristatellus is posi-
tively precise with the actual state of the young Z. Nipalensis,
excepting that beneath, this latter is not pure white, but a very
light rusty with some few black centre markings.”

“Last year I obtained two authenticated live specimens of
the young L. Nipalensis. Photographs of these birds were sent
to Mr. Hume. I have now a live one in the second stage of
plumage, which would agree with Jerdon’s adult ZL. Oristatellus
only that it is very light ferruginous below, instead of pure
white, as in adults of the Z. Niveus.”’ Later, Mr. Thompson after
further opportunities of observation, altered his opinion and
writing from Jubbulpoor in May 1869, he says, “I have got a
couple of skins of Limnaetus Cristatellus, just as Dr. Jerdon
describes it and I feel with him that the two races (LZ. Niveus
and Cristatellus) are distinct. The cries of both birds are pre-
cisely similar and no ordinary observation would enable one to
point out where the difference lies; but this, as Dr. J. says, will
be found in the long black crest pointed white, which is always
present. I have seen several, all with the black, white tipped,
full crest. I only found one nest, which contained a half fledged
young one, which I took and kept for some days till the heat
killed it. Young as it was, the little wretch used to seize and
clutch hard a chicken offered to it.”

Mr. R. Thompson also says, “ S. Caligatus is the bird which
holds sway in the lower forests. In the Himalayas it is succeeded
by S. Nipalensis ; but in the more open country in the lower
plains, there occurs a small semi-crested Hagle, the minature of
S. Caligatus, which Jerdon nowhere describes. My specimen
was shot in the act of feeding on a grey horn bill which it had
chased and killed. It was not Astur Trivirgatus. It had the
tarsi well feathered to the toes. The skin was sent home.”

210

Can this bird be the /. Lathami of Tickell, referred to by
Jerdon? and is this by any chance S. Manus of Wallace, Ibis,
1868, page 14? I wish some one would procure and send me
specimens of this supposed dwarf Hawk Kagle. It has been re-
peatedly mentioned tome by sportsmen, but I have never felt
sure that the young of Hieraetus Pennatus was not really what
they referred to, although when shown specimens of this, I have
on two occasions been told, that their bird had shorter wings
and a longer tail.

It is noteworthy that Blyth remarks, that Cirriatus never
attains the black plumage. Wallace, however, who gives as
habitats of the species, Java, Penang, Sumatra, and Borneo,
says, “‘ My specimen from Java is nearly black, and that from
Penang very white underneath.”

To judge, however, from his synonymes, he refers to the spe-
cies which I have given as S. Caligatus, and it may happen, that
the Cirrhatus of some authors, is no other than S. Caligatus,
while of other and specially Indian authors, the Cirrhatus is
only the young of Nipalensis.

No. 36. Spizaetus Nipalensis, Honeson.
Hopason’s Hawk HaGuez.

This beautiful species breeds, as far as I yet know, only in the
Himalayas, laying during March, April, and the early part of
May.

te nest, a large coarse stick structure,is placed upon some
large tree, either hidden in a dense forest, or projecting from
the face of some inaccessible cliff.

It lays two eggs I think as a rule, but single eggs are often
found much incubated.

Although I have, in former years, seen several of its nests,
the only specimen that I now possess of the eggs of this species
I owe to Capt. Hutton. In shape it is a broad regular oval, al-
most symmetrical at both ends. The shell is coarse, dull and
glossless, the ground colour a slightly greenish white, spotted
thinly with reddish brown, and with numerous large blotches
and streaks of very pale inky purple. It measures 3:78 by
2°23.

My friend, Capt. Hutton, favours me with the following note :

“This species is common at Mussoorie and occurs also during
winter in the Doon; at Mussoorie it is a permanent resident,
and most destructive to pigeons, fowls and game; its loud

211

shrill musical whistle may often be heard far up in the heavens
even when the bird itself is lost to sight. It breeds at about
5,500 feet of elevation, constructing a thick basket-like nest of
twigs and small branches, placed on a lofty tree often growing
out of the fissure of a rock overhanging a precipice, which is apt
to turn the head of any but a mountaineer, and to look into
which reminds one of the bottomless pit! Nevertheless we have
on more than one occasion contrived to rob the nest. One of
these was found on the 5th of March and contained one egg,
which was left for the purpose of ascertaining whether the bird
would lay another. A few days afterwards, on finding no addi-
tion, a man ascended the tree which was of tolerably easy access
and the old bird making no warlike demonstration, the prize was
secured. On attempting to clean it, however, it was found to
contain a fully formed young bird. On another occasion we
did not rob a nest so easily. It was found on the 18th March,
and contained two eggs, which were left to hatch. On the Ist of
April, the nest was again visited and found to contain two youug
ones covered with a rufous coloured down; on the 16th April,
finding that one young one had fallen from the nest, prepara-
tions were made for lowering a man down the precipice to the
root of the tree, which leaned ominously out of a cleft in the
rock obliquely overhanging an awful chasm. On reaching the
tree, the man began to ascend, but before he had reached the
nest, one of the old birds made a dash at him, and struck him
sharply on the shoulder, causing the blood to flow. Nothing
daunted, the man proceeded on his perilous course, under cover
of one or two shots from above to scare the old birds away ; but
without the desired effect, for on the man’s arrival at the nest,
another charge was made by the female who struck the poor
fellow on the head and again caused blood to flow, but luckily
the man’s greasy linen skull-cap became firmly fixed upon the
talons of the bird, which scared her to such a degree, that utter-
ing a loud scream of alarm she sailed away, rapidly followed by
her mate, and the young one was then brought in safety from
the nest. It was nearly half fledged with small slaty coloured
feathers, and grew to maturity in a large roomy cage, when it
was set at liberty, and after hanging about the place to be fed
for several days, finally took unto itself the wings of the morning
and disappeared. These birds sometimes breed in the same nest
for two or three years, and apparently only abandon it when it
becomes old and rotten, when they select another tree whereon
to construct a new habitation at no great distance from the
other.”

Mr. Kt. Thompson says “I have always found two young with

212

this bird, which is the most beautiful Hawk of the kind we have.
He is great at poultry, when living in the vicinity of a station.
I have caught them regularly with the vertical net. On an
Oak tree on the Ayarpatta hill, a pair bred this year, the result,
two young ones. I have not seen their eggs. ‘The notes of
this bird are similar to those of S. Ca/igatus.

I once saw one fly at some wild Kalij Pheasants. The difference
in habits between this bird and S. Cadigatus is this. The one is
generally confined to the deep wooded hills ascending far into
the interior of the Himalayas to almost the snow line, feeds
much on Pheasants, Hares, Black Partridge, Monaul and Cheer
Pheasants, and sometimes on young Deer. Whereas the other,
S. Caligatus, is always found in the Bhabur forests and does not
ascend the hills to any great height, and never is found in the
interior of them. It chiefly lves on Pea-hens, Jungle Fowl,
Partridge and Hares, and I have seen it kill and eat a full grown
Civet Cat. I have also seen young birds watching and taking
Rats near corn stacks in the Bhabur cultivated tracts, and more
than once, have seen one dash into a tree in which a lot of Par-
rakeets were assembled for the night, and take abird. I
might sum up with the following :

“ §. Nipalensis is a shy forest bird, not at all common except
in suitable localities, and even there, more than a single couple
are rarely seen. S. Ca/igatus isa eommon, bold bird, found in
very many localities, and in the hills entirely confined to the
very outside range of the Himalayas. I saw one the other day
in South Mirzapore.”

I subjoin exact measurements of four specimens, three
young and one adult, and I would remark that one mat-
ter which may have contributed to lead some observers to
class young specimens of Vipalensis as Cirrhatus, is the exces-
sive variability of dimensions in the former species. ‘To give
an instance of this I would refer to the measurements of No. 3;
here the inner toe claw is given as 2°63. Looking through the
measurements, this struck me as excessive, and I had the very
specimen brought out of the Museum. On measuring the claw
in question on one foot, the original measurement proved correct,
but the corresponding claw of the other foot measured only 2-1.
Testing other figures, and the measurements of other specimens,
all of which are still in my Museum, I found similar though not
such striking diversities, in corresponding parts of the same
birds. This may explain the extraordinary discrepancies in the
following dimensions, all of which were carefully recorded at
the time; I may mention that [ have a larger specimen than
any of these; a female with the wing 19°5, but no measure-
ments are recorded of this.

213

| Young. Adult.

| No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 | No. 4

Male. | Female. | Female. | Female.

Piersriis? 1h Mancenessencescscsleecsc ess ice 97°5 29:0 28°5 29:25
PR MADEGA eth ucneateseecdevesecvews ech es 51:0 55:0 54:0 56°0
YY MLR ates Anas pile siuien ht 7g anc 17:87 18°3 18°87 18°5
Which primary longest, ............ 5th § j4th & 5th} 5th 5th
Amt. by which other primaries fall, |Ist 4:0 54 58 57
eS re ,, Short of longest, 2nd 1°5 2°3 2°9 27
“ a is % su, (ard O'6 0°95 115 Ls
Length of tail from vent, ............ 12°75 12°75 13°5 12°63
Longest tail feathers exceed shortest, oo TOPs vat en oes 1:0
BRA SUS Sasa rung a odeshees case sree ies tars 42 Si ae 4y 4,
Foot, greatest length, ...........00 64 7°25 6°87 6°6
- Watlblinpee sees Shwe 5°75 55 5:19 5:13
I ae Sah Maasateck tals ts cokisokedeses 2°13 2°25 2°88 2°25
Its claw, along curve, .....ssscseeees 1:44 1:44, 1:25 1:37
PIPE RGE Se SEM oem acantetoetionchedoan 1:3 1:37 1:37 1:25
Tts claw, along curve, ......cscesse.s 1:87 2°13 2°05 2°25
HirTTMETRLOGN Henin casSauee ce cnese dteeeree 1°24, S71 1:25 534i
ts claw, along curve, :.i.:...: ss... 1°69 2:0 2°63 2°17
Bill, straight, from edge of cere, ... 12 1:2 1:18 1:3
» along curve, ditto, : 1°41 1°44, 1:25 15
Mee BROT, PEDOS ve aies, seine se aes «+ Sei on de 1°72 16 19
SOLITUDE AG ADO, sal isedsa secede avs 1:28 1:22 1°33 Er
» height at margin of cere,...... 0°65 0°72 0-7 O07
Length of cere (if any),..........0008 0°36 0°43 0°35 0-4:
Lower tail coverts fall short of
PHORM 5. ec cuseSeved segeonceves 5°75 6°4: 6°4, 6°25
Longest crest feather, ............00 42 4:0 3°5 45

No. 1, a young male, shot on the 17th November, had the
bill black; the cere, hoary black; the irides, yellow; the feet,
dirty yellowish white. The whole of the head, back and sides
of the neck, and ear coverts, rufous buff, each feather with a nar-
row dark brown central stripe, a long, conspicuous, occipital crest,
black, narrowly tipped with white ; scapulars and inter scapula-
ry region, hair brown, the feathers paling at the margins, and
towards their bases to a pale wood brown; rump and upper tail
coverts, dingy somewhat rufous wood brown; central tail fea-
thers, a sort of olive brown, very narrowly tipped with white,
with a one inch subterminal, and four other half inch broad,
transverse, dark brown bars. Lateral tail feathers, remains of
nesting plumage, much abraded, with sandy brown grounds,
and barred like the central feathers. Wing coverts, except the

214

ereater primary coverts, a rather pale wood brown, most of
them, especially the smaller ones, with dark brown centres, not
sharply defined, but fading into the paler margins. Most of
-the secondary greater coverts almost wholly white on the inner
webs. Quills and primary greater coverts, umber brown, dark-
est on the points of the earlier primaries where it is almost
black, paling to a wood brown on the tertiaries. The second to
the fifth primaries with conspicuous emarginations on the outer
webs, above which they are paler, and obscurely barred with
dingy buff. The first five primaries. conspicuously notched on
the mner web; white on the under surface above the notches ;
below the notches greyish white, tipped, and strongly bar-
red with blackish brown. Chin and throat spotless white, base
of neck in front, breast, and abdomen, pure white, the shafts of
each feather blackish brown, but only towards the tip, and the
feathers either tipped with rufous buff, or with a spot of that
colour near the tip. Vent feathers and lower tail coverts dingy
rufous or pale rufous brown, obscurely barred with fulvous
white; tarsus yellowish white with a few faint brownish spots ;
sides pale, more or less rufous brown, with here and there a trace
of white mottling. Flanks and tibial plumes pale rufous brown,
distinctly though irregularly barred with white. Avxillaries
pale dingy rufous with a series of double white spots or imper-
fect transverse bars. Wing lining white, barred, the larger
lower coverts with blackish brown, the smaller ones with min-
gled, dingy rufous and hair, brown.

No. 2, a female, killed Ist November. In itsupper plumage, it
greatly resembles the preceding, but from the nostril right over
the eyeit had a broad stripe of buffy fawn, without any dark cen-
tres to the feathers. The feathers of the top and back of the head
and nape, instead of having narrow blackish brown central stripes,
had the whole centres of this colour, leaving only moderately
broad rufous buff borders. The back was slightly darker brown,
as were also the wings and rump; the longest upper tail coverts
were narrowly tipped with white and showed traces of one or
two transverse white bars higher up. ‘The central tail feathers
were wood brown without a trace of any bars, and on the lateral
tail feathers which were a dingy umber brown, the dark brown
bars so conspicuous in No. 1 were obscure and almost obsolete.
The crest is slightly fuller and the white tipping broader. The
cheeks, ear-coverts and sides of the neck have a more spotty and
less lineated appearance than in the preceding bird. The chin
and throat is a pure pale buff, or rufous white with the faintest
trace of a dark brown line down the centre. The upper part of
the breastis rufous or butly white, each feather with a conspicuous

215

linear ovate central brown stripe. Lower breast, abdomen, vent,
and tibial plumes, sides and axillaries, a sort of pale rufous buff,
salmon coloured on the axillaries. Two feathers on the abdo-
men and one or two on the flanks a wood brown, each with two
rather conspicuous fulvous white transverse bars. The axilla-
ries and the rest of the lower parts above mentioned are entirely
unbarred and unspotted, except the tibial plumes which here
and there contained brown feathers with obscure rufous white
transverse bands. ‘Tarsus, fulvous white, with a few pale ru-
fous brown spots, lower tail coverts pale, slightly rufous, brown,
with conspicuous broad transverse fulvous white bars. Wing
lining rufous white with only a few small brown spots towards
the ends of the longer ones.

No. 3, a female, shot December 15th, in its general upper
plumage is intermediate between No. 1 and No. 2, but the tail
is yellowish brown with one terminal and six other broad, trans-
verse, umber brown bars, the terminal being no broader than the
others. Underneath, the bird closely resembles No. 2, but,
there is no trace of a central throat stripe and only some dozen
feathers of quite the upper breast, have narrow, central, dark
brown stripes. Per contra, the sides and an irregular broad
band, across the abdomen have the feathers pale wood brown,
with well marked broad transverse, whitish bars. The barrings
on the lower tail coverts and tibial plumes are very obscure,
mere nothings. The wing lining, axillaries &c. correspond with
No. 2.

These three are all of known parentage, undeniable specimens
of S. Nipalensis, shot in the interior of Kumaon, near Mussourie
and above Kotegurh, and might easily, so far as general appear-
ance goes, be mistaken for S. Cirrhatus. The extreme variability
of the tail markings is remarkable.

The fully adult female, No. 4, has the whole top of the
head, nape, ear coverts, cheeks and sides of the neck black-
ish brown, in some lights almost black. The feathers es-
pecially of the hind head and sides of the neck, nar-
rowly margined with rufous fawn, and the bases of the feathers
of the same colour more or less tinged with brown, showing
through a good deal, here and there. The scapulars and back,
are deep umber brown. The larger scapulars, with traces of
broad, darker brown transverse bars and the longer upper tail
coverts narrowly tipped with white, and with broad and con-
spicuous transverse white bars. The tail very narrowly tipped
with white, with a greyish brown ground, a very broad sub-
terminal, and four other broad transverse deep brown bands ;
the fourth lost under the upper tail coverts, and the bars being

216

considerably broader than the interspaces. The chin and
throat, fulvous white; base of the neck in front, and upper
breast a mixture of brownish and fulvous white, the feathers
broadly centred with blackish brown, so broadly towards the
sides as to have only a narrow margin of the paler colour.
The lower part of the breast, abdomen, vent, sides, flanks,
axillaries, tibial and tarsal plumes, and lower tail coverts,
brown of various shades; in some places yellower, in others
more of an umber tint, with conspicuous, transverse, white,
or fulvous white bars, narrowest and closest on the tibial plumes,
broadest and furthest apart on the sides. Larger lower wing
coverts white, broadly banded with blackish brown; lesser
lower wing coverts, buffy white, broadly barred with somewhat
buffy brown.

_—_—_——_

No. 37. Spizaetus Kieneri, DzSparre.

THE RuFous-BELLED HawxK-HAGue.

Nothing is known of the nidification of this species, I myself
have never even seen a specimen.

Mr. R. Thompson, (whom I look to for specimens) remarks,
“T enter this bird here because I have seen it come in at the
end of April and remain for some time on the lower well
wooded hills.

It has a rapid and elegant flight, mounts well, better than
S. Caligatus or S. Nipalensis, which soar very awkwardly. Its
ery is also somewhat different from the latter, and resembles a
chirrup more than a clear metallic note.”’

Mr. Wallace has the following brief note on this species
(Ibis 1868).

“Spizeetus Kieneri, Gervais, Mag. de Zools. 1835, Ois. pl. 35 ;
Schleg. Mus. P. B. Astures, p. 11.

Hab. Borneo (Wall.); Philippines? (Mus. Lugd.); India
(Jerdon).

I obtained a single specimen of this small Hagle in Borneo.
It had seized a Pigeon, which it was devouring when I shot it.
Wing, 13 inches, the point, 4 inches; tail, 7-5 inches ; tarsus, 2°5
inches ; middle toe, 1°625 inch; inner toe, 1 inch.”

217

No. 88. Circaetus Gallicus, Guet.
Tue SHort-Torp Hace.

The Short-toed Eagle lays in the plains of Upper India in
January, February, and March, and, according to Mr. R.
Thompson, in April and May in the Gurhwal forests.

As arule, its nest is placed on trees, but on two occasions in
the Etawah district, we have found this species breeding on
small platforms, in the face of the high clay cliffs of the Jumna.

In different localities, it varies in its choice of trees; where
trees are plentiful, it will build on the topmost boughs of a very
tall one, while in the bare country, in Hwrriana, and in Wes-
tern Rajpootana, you will find the nest not half way up some
stunted Neem tree, or scraggy thorny Acacia, a mere apology
for a tree.

The nest is a large circular stick structure, some two to three
feet in diameter and from six inches to a foot in depth, externally
very loose and straggling, but composed of rather slighter ma-
terials than Fulvescens generally uses, and with a rather deeper
internal depression.

Some nests are entirely devoid of lining, rather finer twigs
compose the floor of the internal depression and on these the
egg reposes. Some nests again have the egg bedded in straw
and grass, positively as 1f packed to travel; under some I have
found a few green leaves spread, after the fashion of Bonelli’s
Hagle, and under many, a little grass. There appears to be no
rule in this matter, season does not affect the question, nor, as
far as I can see, locality ; in the early part of January, and late
in March, in the Agra and Sirsa districts, and in the far west
beyond Jodhpoor, I have observed the same diversities in the
“internal arrangements’’ of the nests.

I have taken a great number of the nests of this species, and
many of my friends have found them also, but in no instance
out of between forty and fifty recorded cases, did any of us
meet with more than a single egg in the same nest.

The eggs of this bird are typically broad ovals with a slight-
ly pyriform tendency. ‘They are of a pale bluish white colour;
bluer than those of any other of our Indian species of Eagle,
and are, to judge from a very large series, invariably spotless :
moreover they seldom appear to be discoloured during the pro-
cess of incubation in the way most other Hagles’ eggs are. In
my whole collection, only one egg isin any way as small as that
figured by Dr. Bree, and more than one are all but as large as

218

the egg of the bald Eagle figured on the same page. The co-
lour of the shell in this species when held up to the light is a
peculiarly bright sap green, very different from the deep green
of Halicetus Leucoryphus, or the sea green of Fulvescens. In
size they vary from 2°65 to 3:15 in length and from 2°05 to
2°45 in breadth, but of twenty eggs measured the average
was 2°91 by 2°31.

When deprived of their egg, the short-toed Eagles, will hang
for weeks about their desolated homestead, but apparently they
never lay a second time, as many other species do.

Mr. W. Blewitt informs me, that he took nine nests of this
bird in the neighbourhood of Hansie between the 18th January
and the 26th February and four between the 6th and 26th of
March, some of the eggs were fresh, some more or less incubat-
ed; but no nest contained more thana single egg. Eleven of
the nests were on Keekur (Acacia Arabica) trees, one on a
Jhand (Prosopis spicigna) tree and one on a Seeshum (Dalbergia
Seesoo.) The nests were placed at heights varying from fourteen
to twenty-two feet from the ground.

They were composed of twigs of the Keekur (Acacia Arabica),
Kheyr (Acacia Catechu) native plum, (Zyzyphus Jujube). They
varied in diameter from fourteen to twenty-four inches, excluding
straggling ends, and in thickness from four to eight inches.
Some were slightly and loosely put together, others were very
densely and closely constructed. Most of them appeared to have
no lining; but three were thinly lined with straw, two with
leaves and one with fine grass.

Mr. G. Marshall, R. E., writes to me—

“ Of this bird I have found but one nest. I found it on the
18th of March with one egg, and left it till the 6th April, in
hopes that more would be laid, and when I took it at last, it was
rather hard’ set, so that probably the bird lays but one egg.
The nest was in a Seeshum tree, so high up among the smaller
branches that I reached it with difficulty ; it was made of twigs
and so loose in structure, that I could see that there was only
one egg from below, before I had reached the nest. The egg
was well shaped and pure dull white.”

Mr. R. Thompson writing from Gurhwal says that the si-
tuation of the nest is “usually on the highest branches of a tall
tree, in a moderately wooded country, and mostly in one stand-
ing by itself.” He adds: “ Breeds in the Patla Dhoon, and all
along the lower open forests. During the pairing season, utters
a loud and plaintive cry, usually when the pair are mounted
high in the air, when they may be observed tumbling about
and darting at each other in a most remarkable manner.”

219

In Mr. Salvin’s “ Bird-nesting in the Eastern Atlas” we have
the following :

“The first nest of this species we obtained, was brought from
Blad el Ghua, a village to the south of Djebel Kekma; it contain-
ed two eggs, both of which had been incubated sometime, so
that the long bare tarsi and large eyes of the embryo left little
doubt as to the identity of the species. Of these eggs, one had
shght indications of colouring ; a feature I have never observed
in other specimens. The eggs are usually deposited in March;
but some birds defer laying till April. ‘The Arabs call this
bird ‘ White Eagle.’ ”

My. Tristram in his ornithology of Palestine (Ibis, 1865) re-
marks.—

“In its breeding habits it varies, choosing generally some
low ledge in a wady, but sometimes also building a great plat-
form of sticks in the top of a large Oak or Terebinth. The first
egg we took was ina wady on Carmel, on March 23rd, quite
fresh, the second in a wady near Heshbon, east of the Dead Sea,
on April 30th, equally fresh; after which we obtained several
others, not yet incubated, so late as to the 10th of May. One
egg we took was prettily spotted, all the others were white. On
one occasion, the sitting bird we shot from the nest was ascer-
tained by dissection to bea male. In Africa, I have found two
eggs in the nest, but in Palestine we never found more than
one. The same rule seems to hold throughout all the Raptors,
that wherever the species is abundant, the number of young is
proportionally fewer than when the individuals are scarce.”

As I have already remarked, when speaking of another spe-
cies, I rather question, this plausible little generalization with
which the most charming of all ornithological writers, rounds
off the above passage. ‘The short-toed Hagle is certainly scar-
cer in the south of France than in the north of Africa, so that
if there are two eggs in the latter place, to one in Palestine and
India, there ought surely to be three in the former locality.
The best account, however, that I can find of the nidification of
this species in the south of France is that quoted by Bree. ‘ Dr.
Alexander Savatier wrote to me from Beauvais, Sur Matha,
(Charente-inférieure) “I have killed on its nest, in a forest in
our neighbourhood, a female of Jean-le-Blane. This nest was
placed upon a very high tree, it was sixty or seventy centime-
tres in diameter ; it was composed of dry twigs; it only contained
one egg, half sat upon. It was Maythe 16th. The shell was a
dirty white and rugose. The peasants assured me, they had
seen other nests always with only one egg, and that this was
never spotted.”

220

I have noticed that this bird may often be seen soaring high
over a nearly dry jheel, then descending and hovering from
place to place almost like a Kestril, but with a scarcely percep-
tible movement of the wings. When on the wing they are
readily distinguished, by the white, slightly spotted or barred
under surface, and broad rounded wings.

When they come down on their prey, they drop on it softly
and silently, and not with a rush like the Pulviventer, or Impe-
rialis. The feet are covered with Armadillo-like scales, of
which a few seem to be shed from time to time; new ones (at
first of a pure pearly white) growing up from below to replace
them. The bird by its enormous head and eyes, and huge ear
holes, and by its inner toe claw larger than any of the others ;
small cere and comparatively silent flight, reminds one much of
the larger Owls.

Although this present species extends, according to Mr. Wal-
lace, as far east as Timor and Floris, and is found through-
out India, Syria, and the south of Kurope as well as in the
north of Africa, this latter continent is par excellence, the
head quarters of the dry plains-loving Circacti. Besides C.
Gallicus, C. Pectoralis, Zonurus, Fasciolatus and Beaudoni are
enumerated by Verreaux from various parts of Africa, and I
have seen subsequently notices of two other distinct species,
whose names I have unfortunately forgotten.

Dr Jerdon’s measurements strike me as too large to represent
average examples. I subjoin measurements recorded from fresh
birds, of which Nos. 1 and 2 were old birds, Nos. 3 and 5, two-

year old, and No. 4a yearling. _
Length. Expanse. Tail. Wings Weight. Wing.
fall short

of tail by
No. Il Female,...... 99°95 765 13°25 “'195"4 ths Vee
No. 2 Female,...... 27°25 70:0 12:25 1:18 4Ibs. 21:5
ING io Male, . . soe nas 25°70 WOO 17s) O20 Ss ihe 20s
No. 4 Y. Female, .. 27°69 71°00 12:0 0:0 2dibs. 21°25
Wo. 5 Female,...... 27°75 70:0. ? 0:5 3:25 Ibs. 21:0

T will add detailed measurements and descriptions of two
other females, the one No. 6, a very old, the other No. 7, quite a
young bird; in weight they differed vastly, in lmear dimen-
sions very little.

No. 6, an old female, shot 23rd February. No. 7, young
female, shot 26th February. .

Dimensions (those first given are of No. 6, the second ones
those of No. 7.)

Length, 28°75-27'5. Expanse, 68-69. Weight in Ibs., 4:19-
2:81. Wing, 20°75-20°63. In both, the 3rd and 4th primaries

221

were the longest, and these exceeded the first primary by 5°63-
4-63; and the second by 1-1°25. Length of tail from vent, 12-
12:25. Tarsus (feathered in front for I inch) 3°69-3°69. Foot,
ereatest length, 5-4°88; greatest width, 4°75-4°38 ; mid toe to
root of claw, 2°19-2°06; its claw along curve, 1°38-1:19; hind
toe, 113-1, its claw, along curve, 1°5-1°19; inner toe, 1°72-1°7,
its claw, along curve 1:56-1:53. Bill including cere, from
forehead to point, straight, 1-88-1°75; along curve, 2°5-2°25 ;
from gape, 2°5-2°25 ; width at gape, 1°81-1°69 ; height at front,
at margin of cere, 0°88-0°81; length of cere on culmen, 0:44-
0-5. In both, the wings when closed reach to within 0:5 of end
of tail; and the lower tail coverts to within 4:25 of end of tail.

Description of No, 6.

The legs and feet are a pale earthy greyish brown, covered
with prominent, sharp-edged, armour plate, overlapping, loose-
looking, hexagonal scales. Three large scales at the end of
each toe, the upper generally divided, claws black, inner edge of
middle one, conspicuously dilated into a cutting edge.

Irides, bright orange yellow; orbits thickly covered with
white down.

Bill, pale greyish blue at base, blackish horny at tips; cere
which is small, whitish, with a tinge of bluish grey in places.

Tongue large, fleshy, hastate, obtuse ended.

The forehead, lores, chin and patch on each side of lower
mandible whitish, and, except on the forehead, with black, naked,
much prolonged, bristle-like shafts. The whole top and back of
head, throat, neck all round, back, rump, upper tail coverts,
scapulars, and upper wing coverts, except primary greater
coverts, a sort of earthy brown, of more shades than one; the
throat and neck in front being the palest and most fulvous, (all
the feathers conspicuously dark-shafted,) and the scapulars (the
longest of which are a dark, almost umber, brown) and mid back
the darkest. Many of the feathers especially of the back of the
neck, and lesser wing coverts inconspicuously margined paler,
Winglet, primaries and their greater coverts, a dark brown, but
the primaries from the 2nd to the 6th emarginate on the outer
webs and with a greyish shade on the outer web above the
emarginations. First three primaries conspicuously notched,
and the 4th and 5th with a trace of similar notches on the inner
webs, which in all five are nearly wholly white above the said
notches. The later primaries and the secondaries, (the brown
of which latter pales as they recede from the primaries, until,
like the tertials, they are nearly concolourous with their coverts)
with half the inner webs diagonally white; and with four con-
spicuous, broad, dark brown, transverse bars.

222

In the new feathers, the white runs as a narrow band round
the tip, and the transverse bars are obscurely visible on the
outer, as well as the inner webs; all the tail feathers are white
at the base; but this is hid, except in the lateral ones, by the
upper tail coverts ; all are narrowly tipped with white ; all have
a broad subterminal, and two other conspicuous, transverse,
dark brown bars. The ground colour of the whole of the central
feathers is pale brown, but in the lateral feathers, nearly the
whole ground of the inner web is pure white, and in the exterior
feather, more than the basal one-fourth is white on the outer web
also. ‘The bars decrease slightly in width and strength, as the
feathers recede from the centre.

There is an inconspicuous blackish brown supercilium, and a
good deal of faint blackish brown is mingled in the ear coverts.
The whole breast, sides, abdomen, thigh coverts, lower tail and
wing coverts pure white, each feather with a broad subterminal
bar, (or in some of the wing coverts, spot,) of pale earthy brown.
The axillaries are similar, but have two or even three of the
brown transverse bars.

Description of No. 7.

Feet and legs almost a pearl grey, irides a gamboge yellow.
The whole of the head, chin, throat, and neck all round is white,
but all the feathers have the shafts, a sort of fulvous brown ;
there is a little dusky and fulvous mingled with the ear coverts,
and many of the feathers of the back of the neck, and most of
those at the base of the same all round, are tinged at the tips
with fawn colour or pale fulvous brown. The breast, abdomen,
thigh coverts, sides, axillaries, lower wing, and tail coverts are
pure white, not a few of the feathers, however, having inconspi-
cuous, subterminal, transverse bands of a sort of fawn, or pale
fulvous brown. ‘The rest of the bird is much as in the adult,
but everywhere of a lighter shade; there are only two or at
most three bars on the inner webs of the last five primaries and
the secondaries, and these are much less conspicuous, and feebler
than in the adult. On the tail, the white tipping and broad
dark subterminal band are barely to be traced; while the other
bars ure feebler than in the adult.

No. 39. Spilornis Cheela, Daupry.
Tuer Crestep SERPENT HAGE.

This very handsome bird, which should perhaps more proper-
ly stand as the Indian Harrier Hagle, breeds throughout the

223

Sub-Himalayan ranges and regions, as far west at any rate as
Kangra, at heights of from 2500 to 5500 above the sea level,
laying in March, April and May.

The nest is, I believe, always placed on trees in the imme-
diate vicinity of water, not at the top of the tree, but in some
fork, as Capt. Cock says, “ like the common Kite.”

It is circular, loosely made of thicker or thinner sticks and
twigs, and lined with fresh leaves or fine twigs, and roots of grass;
it varies in size from 1°5 to 2 feet in diameter and from 4 to 8
inches in thickness.

They lay, 1 believe, usually only one egg, but in the Dhoon,
where they are plentiful, natives assert that they not unfrequent-
ly have two young ones, and must therefore, if this be true, oc-
casionally at least lay two eggs.

The only two eggs that I have yet seen of this species, both
of which were taken by Capt. Cock near Dhurumsalla, differed
much in appearance. The one, though considerably larger than
average specimens, and with a closer and less chalky texture,
greatly reminded one of a common type of the eggs of Neophron
Ginginianus ; while the other, though of course smaller, in
shape and richness of colouring, resembled some of the more
brilliantly coloured eggs of the Golden Eagle, such as Mr.
Hewitson’s second figure, in his third edition. The first eg¢
had a dingy reddish white ground, with at the large end aragged
cap of dingy brick red, mottled with deep, blackish, blood-red.
Beyond the cap, which was of the size of a rupee, streaks, specks
and splashes, all having a longitudinal direction and looking
much like a dense reddish brown shower falling from the cap,
thickly covered the whole of the rest of the egg, growing less
and less dense towards the small end.

The other had a pure white ground, and was thickly blotched,
mottled and clouded with the richest blood and brick red. The
big end for the space of about a rupee exhibited no markings,
but a few specks and spots, and though the rest of the ege is
every where pretty thickly covered, the markings are most dense
at the small end. In shape, the one egg is a nearly perfect
ellipse, slightly pointed towards the small end, but the other
egg is a very broad oval, very obtuse at the large end and scarce-
ly less so at the smaller extremity.

These two eggs measure 2°8 by 2°25 and 2°79 by 2°15. Capt.
Cock, of Dhurumsalla, to whom I owe these eggs and many
others, as well as much valuable information, sends me the fol-
lowing note in regard to the nidification of this species.

“JT have taken, or rather found, four nests of this species in
the neighbourhood of Dhurumsalla, at heights of from 4000 to

224

4200 feet above the sea. The first, which I found on the 3rd
of April, contained one semi-incubated egg, and was placed on
a Mangoe tree, one of a clump of four, situated on the banks of
a stream in tolerably well-wooded country. The second, found
April 8th, contained one hard set egg, and was also in a Man-
goe tree, one belonging to a small grove, overhanging a tiny
stream, in a dark, well-shaded situation.

“ The third, found April 11th, contained a perfectly fresh egg,
it was in a thick grove, beside which a stream runs, and in which
two old nests of this same species were also found.

“The fourth contained no egg, but on the 19th of April was
complete and ready to lay in ; this too was in a grove, overhang-
ing a stream.

“The nest is about half way up the tree, not on the top, but
placed more like the nest of the common Kite, on some fork.

“Tt builds a peculiar and not very large nest. The nests are
always made of the twigs of the tree on which it is placed, fresh
twigs broken off by the bird, and the lining of the nest is of
leaves of the same tree. No feathers, mud or other material
are used in the construction of the nest, which is about 1°5 feet
across ; the hollow in which the eggs are laid, is rather deeper
than is usual with birds of this class.

Capt. Hutton sends the following note :

“ Snilornis Cheela. 'The nest was found on the 10th of March
at 5500 feet of elevation; it was composed of dry sticks and
small branches interlaced on a tall tree; on visiting it again, we
found that some mischievous urchin had pulled it to pieces, which
they are constantly in the habit of doing. This bird is common
both in the Dhoon and hills, and where a pair take up their
quarters, no Fowl or Pigeon can escape; I have had a Dove cot
cleaned out over and over again by them. They are cunning
hunters, one sweeping over the hill side at no great elevation,
while the other takes a higher line, so that let the Pigeon as-
cend or descend, he always finds himself between two fires, and
unless he can find shelter in a tree, he is sure to be caught, as
the pursuers decrease the distance between their lmes and meet
their victim at the point.”

Mr. Thompson says—

“This species breeds from April to June, building a coarse
circular nest some two feet in diameter, composed of thick roots
and stems, and lined with finer twigs and grassroots. ‘The nest
is usually placed on lofty trees, in well wooded, shady and wa-
tered ravines, or in the low Himalayan rice-lands and warmer
valleys.

225

I have found the nests of these birds in the lower valleys.
They contained one young, usually. I have never got the eggs;
the young I have reared and kept tame about me. The parent
birds often succeed in destroying Pheasants and bringing them
to the nest. Snakes, Lizards and Frogs they are very fond of.
A young tame one, kept along with two Athena Brahmas, one
Carrion Crow, and three of the large green Woodpeckers (Gecinus
Squamatus) killed and eat every one of the latter, although well
supplied with other fresh meat.”

Mr. Blyth remarks, that this species will probably be found
to extend to all suitable localities, throughout the Indo-Chinese
sub-region.

“The true Cireaeti frequent dry open country, where they
prey chiefly on Snakes and Lizards. The species of Spilornis
are found more about wet places, where they subsist mainly on
large Frogs (which they clutch in the mud) and on the more or
less aquatic Snakes (as the Tropidonoti and Homolopsides) ; hence
their feet are almost always more or less clotted with sediment,
which may render them frequent agents for transporting to a
distance the germs of aquatic organisms.”

He adds, that it abounds in Lower Bengal and along the
Terai at the foot of the Himalayas, and that Professor Schlegel
notes it from China. “ Mr. Gurney observes that S. Orientalis,
obtained by Mr. Swinhoe in Formosa, appears to be identical
with S. Cheela, and that specimens from that. island. and from
Northern India, are rather larger than those from Southern
India, Siam, and the Malay peninsula.”

With reference to this latter remark, I note, that Wallace,
who gives this species as from Borneo, records the whole length
at twenty-three inches ; the wing at fourteen, and the tail at
nine. Can this be the same species as. ours with. a length of
29; wing 21; tail 14inches? I have recently killed and most
carefully measured several of these birds, and shall, to facilitate
comparison, give the results further on.

These specimens I obtained in the Saharunpoor district,
along the Western Jumna Canal, where they are excessively
common, and where in a morning’s walk three or four might
be seen, sitting slouchingly, and kite-like, on branches about
half way up the tree, not quite at the end of the branch, but
about half way between the end and the trunk of the tree.

All the specimens I obtained had eaten small Snakes; there
were fully fifty little Serpents in the stomach of one, things
scarcely bigger than large worms, and a gentleman who used
to collect for me, sent me a specimen, that he had killed near
Syree (below Simlah), along with the skin of a Cobra some two

226

and a half feet long, which Cobra, he wrote to me, he had
himself taken out of the bird’s stomach, dead, but without
marks of injury.

Those interested in Indian Oology are familiar with that
remarkable passage in Gould’s century of Himalayan birds
which runs: “The Hon’ble F. J. Shore gives the following
notes, (on Ascalaphia Bengalensis). ‘Builds in trees, the nest
being composed of large and small sticks, the female laying
two large eggs mottled with black, reddish brown and white. Its
native name in the Dhoon is Hokra Cheel, the natives consi-
dering it among the Cheel or Kite genus, and affirming that it is
strong enough, and does, in fact, attack and kill wild Cats.’ ”
Now as A. Bengalensis invariably, like every respectable Owl,
lays white eggs, and, to the best of my belief, always on ledges
of cliffs or banks, I mentally classed the Honourable author
with Le Vaillant and one or two other well known writers of
fiction. The other day in the Saharunpoor district, on the
borders of the Dhoon, I heard Spilornis Cheela called a Dogra
Cheel, and so was able to absolve Mr. Shore of every thing,
except writing about what he did not understand.*

The following are the dimensions of four of the Sharunpoor

specimens :—
Female. Male. Male. Male,
No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. No. 4.
BLT UTES oo laste ia on We’ a ahah ds 29:0 27:3), 282". 26ia
PRPARees didi we oe seia's olbicks 67°5 620 635 587
ANNAN DR cys ieie in a wie ie e.t0 ate 21:0 195 20°25 19°245
Which primary longest, .. 4&5 8&4 4&5
Amount by which other
primaries fall short of
longest,...sesees0-... Ist 48 Ist 4:0 Ist 4:4 Ist 3:5
a 4 » end 1°8 2nd 1:3 2nd 1:25 2nd 3
3 i » ord | 0°8u8rd) 0:3 3rd 0°3
Length of tail from vent,.. 14:25 12°38 182 123

.

* But how are we to explain that other stupendous Munchhausenism,
which Gould in the same work inserts on thissame Mr. Shore’s authority,
viz. that Ceryle Guttata “constructs its nest among large stones, com-
posed of mud, lined with grasses, adhering to the sides of a stone, similar to
the nest of the Swallow, and lays four eggs coloured, like itself;” 7@. e., an it
please you, black and white ? I should like to see C. Guttata do it! The
fact is, this much maligned bird, an orthodox Kingfisher of good connections,
lays pure white eggs in a hole in a bank. But how are we to explain this
story P what Indian bird ? what bird in the whole world I might probably
say, lays jet black and satin white eggs P It requires no little charity not to
set this down as fiction, pur et simple !

227

Longest tail feathers exceed No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. No. 4.
Shorhostery. scteaeteels. F 1:85 2°5 0:2 0:8
Parisi seer idk AO Need ea be 4:15 3°9 4°3 4:0
Foot, greatest length, .... 5°6 55 5-0 5:0
& Pe width,.... 4:3 4:0 4:0 4:1
Wich: tab. ae sree ieee: 2°5 20 2:25 20
Its claw, along curve,.... 1:37 106: ) (5-25n) Fakes
hind toes is Vane. Seadaces 1:0 125 0-87 0:87
Its claw, along curve, .... 1:15 1-25 15 1:25
DADGRAGE Ali ioicc leis dis ve 1°45 Lis. F006 > £25
Its claw, along curve, .... Tai Esl (3) 21
Bill, straight from edge of
cere to point, ...6 sce 1°35 1:32 14 1:32
», along curve, ditto, ... 1:56 1:5b") 163 15
bye APO OGIOs, aus idseieibie 2°12 1:9 1°96 1°9
»» Width at gape,...... 1:32 1:2 3" bike
» height at margin of
GEES. aba stinks a 0:7 0°62 0-7 0°65
Length of cere, ........ 0-4 . 0°32) °0:55, | 0-82
Closed wings fall short of
end af fail, 20.3 2°3 2°5 3°3 2°59

Lower tail coverts fall short

(RICE OS ere Pee ea 6:2 O75 6-4 5:4

The colouring of the soft parts was as follows : Irides,
intense yellow ; cere, skin of lores and gape, bright, or in some,
dingy lemon yellow ; legs and feet, pale dingy yellow. Claws,
black. Bill, slaty, or pale plumbeous at base, bluish black at
tips and on culmen.

Though common near the foot of the hills, this species is rare
in the plains of India; Mr Brooks mentions having shot it in
the Baidar jungles and near the Sirsa station, of the Hast
Indian Railway. He shot one too in the Etawah district, near
the canal; and Mr. Carleylle, the curator of the Riddell Museum,
Agra, shot one at asmall tank below the museum; but in the
course of twenty years, I have myself never met with one in the
plains of India, a hundred miles distant from the foot of the hills.

Of the specimen referred to, Mr. Carleylle sent me the fol-
lowing very full* description. ‘ Male, shot March Ist, 1868.
Greatest length of feathers of crest, 3+ inches. The wings
reach to within two inches of the end of the tail. Upper sur-
face of the feathers of the head and crest, jet black. Base
of the feathers of the head and crest for about two-thirds of
their length white. Feathers of occiput, also tipped narrowly

* This may be useful for comparison with the alleged Borneo specimens.

228

with white. Chin, black. Feathers of ears and lores, smoky
black ; the tips very narrowly mottled lighter.

“There are bristles at the sides of the base of the upper man-
dible, and in front of the eyes; and there are still more
numerous bristles at the base of lower mandible, at its sides and
underneath.

“There is bare yellow skin, above and in front of the eyes,
which is of a nearly golden yellow colour, with a very slight
greenish tinge, in front of the eyes, and orange yellow above the
eyes. Skin at base of lower mandible also bare for a short dis-
tance towards the chin, and of a dull yellowish tinge. Hye-lids
deep yellow. Inrides, bright golden yellow. Upper mandible,
dark horn-colour, with a bluish ash-coloured patch at the sides
of its base. Cere, yellow. Lower mandible, bluish ash-colour-
ed, with adarker tip. Base of lower mandible, of a dirty yellow
colour.

“‘ Weathers of the nape and upper part of the back, hair brown,
or umber brown, mottled towards their extremities, with a narrow
edging of a dirty, fulvous ashy-white, or earthy-white colour.
Sides of neck, of a dark, or blackish chocolate brown colour.
Medial part of back and scapulars, dark blackish brown, very
narrowly tipped with fulvous earthy whitish colour. Upper
tail coverts, the same colour as the medial portion of the back ;
but the shorter anterior feathers are tipped with a terminal
edging of small white spots, and the longer, posterior feathers
are tipped with a narrow white edgimg. ‘Tail, for about nearly
half its length from the base, black, but becoming a little light-
er, or of a brownish colour, towards the base; a few of the fea-
thers, near their base, having solitary, exceptional blotches of a
light fulvous, or dirty ash colour, mostly on the inner webs.
Then follows, towards the centre of the tail, a broad transverse
bar, with rather jagged, or undulating edges, which is white,
mottled and marbled with ash colour, on the upper side of the
tail, and white, marbled white, or watered pearl ash white, on the
under side of the tail. Breadth of this bar about two and a half
inches. Rest of tail, towards the tip, for about two and three
quarter inches, black. The tail is then tipped with ash colour,
and finally, (very narrowly), with white.

“ The throat and breast have a very finely barred and mottled
appearance ; the base colour of the feathers appears to be pale
fulvous, which is closely and narrowly barred with dark black-
ish brown on the throat, and barred with paler brown on the
breast. I can best describe the colouring of the throat and
breast of my specimen, by saying that it most nearly resembles
the style of the colouring of the breast feathers of Syrniwn Ne-
WAYeNse.

229

“ Feathers of the whole abdomen, sides and thighs, of a bright
fulvous colour with a rufescent tinge, paler on the thighs ; each
feather with two longitudinal rows of beautiful large oval
white ocelli; each ocellus surrounded by an edging of dark,
brown ; these ocelli very much resembling those which mark
the plumage of the Argus Pheasant. The plumage of the
abdomen and thighs, is very considerably unwebbed and
setaceous, or rather crinose ; the feathers having the appearance
of being composed of long, limp, setaceous hairs, (such as the
bleached hempen-looking hairs one sees on the sides of the
Mongoose and young Porcupine,) and are of an earthy fulvous
colour towards the thighs, somewhat tinged with rufescent on
the sides of the belly. Under-tail coverts, of a most beautiful
bright rufous fulvous colour ; each feather with two rows of
transversely oblong-shaped, jagged-edged, large white ocelli,
each ocellus surrounded with an edging of dark blackish brown,
shaded off lighter, which gives to these beautiful large ocelli,
the appearance of the spots on a Leopard’s skin. Some of the
central pairs of ocelli are transversely confluent, forming a bar
across the feathers.

“ Lesser upper wing coverts, blackish brown, sprinkled, here
and there sparsely, with rather smallish, clear white spots.
Greater upper wing coverts, brown tipped, here and there,
with a few white specks. Winglet, (or little false wing) ashy
black, marbled with white at the base of the feathers on their
outer webs, and with ashy-white on the inner webs. The
feathers are plain black towards their termination; the points
slightly tipped with pure white.

“The primary feathers have their quills of an umber brown
colour. Outer webs of the primaries, for half their length,
brown, Inner webs ashy brown, marbled with white and ash
colour; the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth quill feathers
haying, on their inner webs, on the upper side, only at half
length, a large conspicuous light spot, half white towards the
edge, and half ash colour towards the quill. Then there fol-
lows next below this, a broad nebulous fulvescent, or fulvous
ashy coloured bar, about three inches in breadth, which crosses
the whole seven primary feathers ; on the under side of the wing,
this bar is of a whitish ashy colour. ‘The remainder of the pri-
mary feathers, for about four to four and a half inches to their
tips, are black or dark blackish brown ; the first primary, which
is much shorter than the rest, is very slightly tipped at the very
apex with white; the fourth, fifth, and sixth primaries, nar-
rowly tipped with white; the second and third not tipped, but
ending black.

230

“The same description will almost answer for the secondaries.
With regard to the tertiaries, I mentioned before a fulvous
ashy bar as crossing the whole of the primaries: this bar
continues across the secondaries also ; but when it reaches the ter-
tiaries, only the outer webs receive the termination of the bar,
which is here much darker, with a rufescent tinge, while the
inner webs (in the same line) are. very conspicuouly marbled
and mottled with white. Under side of the wings, at about
one quarter of their length from the tips, crossed entirely from
side to side, with a broad pearl-ashy white bar, which becomes
somewhat mottled on the under side of the secondaries and
tertiaries. Above this, or higher up the under side of the wing,
along its centre, a sort of irregular double or treble row of
rather smallish white spots traverses, in broken order, the
whole wing from side to side.

“ Lesser under wing coverts, of a beautiful rufous tawny
colour ; each feather with two longitudinal rows of clear white
ocelli: each-ocellus surrounded with an edging of blackish
brown. Larger under wing coverts, of a beautiful pearly grey
colour, each feather with two longitudinal rows of large oval,
and oblong, clear white ocelli ; each ocellus surrounded with an
edging of brown ; some of the central pairs of ocelli, more
transversely extended towards each other, than others, so as
almost to have the appearance of a sort of broken bar on some
of the feathers. 'These ocelli, on the under wing coverts, are
even still more like those on the plumage of the Argus Phea-
sant. ‘Tarsi naked, with large hexagonal scales and of a dirty
earthy yellowish, or pale horn colour, tinged blotchily, towards
the lower parts, with a sort of aureous or saffron colour.

“Feet, with smaller scales, and of a dirty yellow colour.
Upper scales of toes, very large, and of an aureous yellow
colour. Claws, black.’’

No. 39 (z1s.) Spilornis Bacha, Davp1n.
Tue Maray Harrier Hacre.

[S. Spilogaster, Blyth. Hematornis Elgini, Tytler. Falco
Bido, Horsf. Circaetus Bacha, Schlegel. |

I know nothing myself of the nidification of this species, which
I have never seen alive; but Mr. Layard who knew this species
well (though he gives the wing eighteen inches !) in Ceylon where
it is common, remarks, “‘ They were very plentiful at Point Pedro,
in the north of Ceylon, and frequented the jungle-dotted plains
throughout the Northern provinces. It was no uncommon thing

231

to see three or four on the wing at once, wheeling round in airy
circles ; and from their peculiar markings they could be recogni-
zed at a great distance. They built on Banyan trees, usually a
large, strong nest of sticks, without any lining, and laid three
eges, of dull white colour, with a few, dried blood coloured
blotches at the obtuse end. Axis, 2”7.” Diameter 2. They
fed on Snakes, Lizards, and other reptiles and insects. They
were particularly partial to the large trees on the banks of tanks,
and from them swooped down on the Frogs which came up to
sun themselves on the floating logs or weeds.”

Col. Tytler very kindly furnishes me with the following di-
mensions (taken from the dry skins), and descriptions of Andama-
nese examples, with some notes on the habits of the species :—

Teahians. Adult Young Adult Young
Male. Male. Female. Female.
Hen gbh,; » ixse xisi0is baie wedfarni vt toe 23°25 22°50 22°79
VC PAUNGOs 0 «fo s)e ela wis ens hs 44-0 40-0 46:0 41-0
WNT he phate ahs eussa be a5e 14°25 14:25 14:25 14:0
Which primary longest, 4&5 5th ord 5th

Amount by which other
primaries fall short of Ist 3:5 Ist 3°65 Ist1:3 Ist 1-4

AGT ST dys siminiwid/aim amis 2nd 1-1 38rd 0°5 2nd 6:0 2nd1°3
Length of tail from vent, 10:0 10:0 9°6 9°8
By how much longest tail

feathers exceed shortest, 0°7 1:0 08 1:2
SRVENTR a) asiarats, os, ad ctaeel aie. 6 3°2 3:2 3°2 3°15
Foot, greatest length,.... 35 35 3°2 3°0
Foot, greatest width,.... 2°9 2°55 2°45 2°35
BIRD AOR) Ai datsis ss eis s axis 1-6 1°65 7 1
Its claw straight, ...... 0°8 0:8 0°85 0°75
PER AVLGL HORE win ity ladgle ieee 08 0-7 0°85 0:8 0°85
Its claw straight, ...... 0-9 0-9 0:95 0°85
1 TPT) 10,5) eae a 0-9 ale 0:95 1:05
Its claw straight, ...... 0°85 0-9 0-9 0°85
Bill straight from edge

Of, GATGLAGs fa) isie)sis lass 1:15 1°15 0:9 ue

Do. along curve ditto, 1:37 0:9 1:25

Do, from. cape, (5 Ss «Jai OT 15 1-6 1:75

Do. width at gape, .. 1:05 0°92 1:05 0°85

Do. height (or at mar-

ATHY OL CRUG) 5:0} onic as) Sis 0°55 0°55 0°55 0°57
Length of cere (if any), 0-4 0°35 0°45 0°45

Distance by which low-
er tailcoverts fall short
OF tallste .hc ces oie etaatate

HS
Or
+
lop)
or
qs
Or
we
[@e)

232

Description. Adult, Male. Head blackish brown, as also
the primaries ; neck, back, rump, upper tail coverts, scapularies
secondaries and tertiaries, dark brown, all the under surface of
a lighter brown than the upper; tail blackish with the tips al-
bescent greyish brown, with two broad bands of the same colour
on each tail feather, and the rudiments of a third at the base;
the bands of the two centre tail feathers are perhaps more al-
bescent than those on the lateral ones ; the rump and upper tail
coverts are spotted with white, as also some of the upper wing
coverts. Breast, abdomen, flanks, vent, lower tail coverts,
under wing coverts, and thighs dotted profusely with roundish
spots, largest on some of the under wing coverts, and abdomen,
and smallest under the head of the wing, and thighs. Chin and
throat unspotted, the feathers on the head forming a full broad
crest nearly two inches in length, each feather of the head more
or less margined with light rufous brown, a. trace of which is
perceptible in all the feathers of the back. All the. feathers of
the head and crest have their basal half white.. All the prima-
ries, which are of a blackish brown, the secondaries, and tertia-
ries have white greyish bands, beginning with a white tip to
most of the feathers ; the first primary has two bars, the second
four, the third four. A yellow naked skin passes from the cere
which is also yellow, through the lores to over, and under the
eyes, the portion over the eye being slight. Bill at point dark
slate, basal portions of both mandibles, yellow ; feet, yellow ;
claws, black ; irides, dark brown.

2. Adult, female, similar to the last in all its markings,
colours, &e.

3. Young female, lighter brown than Nos. 1 and 2, the mar-
gins of the feathers on the head more albescent rufous ; the spots
on the wing coverts and rump, larger, rounder and more nu-
merous than in either of the two preceding specimens, otherwise
very like them.

4. Young male, in colour very like No. 3, as also in all its
markings, but being a much younger bird, the head is more
albescent, each feather being margined with white, then a dark
brown band 0:3, the rest of the feather white; a few dark
blackish brown feathers on the forehead of the same hue as the
head of the adult No. 1, the rump and upper tail coverts are
less spotted than in No. 3.

Remarks. This species is by no means uncommon on. all
the islands of the Andaman group, but being the first new
bird discovered there by me, I named it after the then reign-
ing Viceroy of India, the Earl of Elgm. By the measurements
and colouring, it will at once be seen how different it is from

233

S. Cheela of India. I am not familiar with Bacha, not having

a specimen of that bird in my museum, to compare the Anda- —
man birds with, so on this head I am unable to make any
remarks, though I have reason to believe it is a totally different
bird from Fulco Bacha, Daud., which is the type of Spilornis,
G. R. Gr. 1840.

“The Spilornis Eigini frequents swampy grounds, particularly
where there are abundance of trees; here they feed on Frogs,
Reptiles and Fish, the two former being their principal food. I
have never seen more than one, or occasionally two together ;
on being disturbed they fly up at once into a tree, and remain
so stationary amongst the branches and foliage, that notwith-
standing being a large-sized bird they are difficult to discover.
I have never seen them, on Pass, Chatham or Viper island, but
constantly on all other parts of the settlement, particularly in
the vicinity of Phoenix Bay, nor have I ever seen this species
soaring in the air, which I have on some few occasions seen
the Indian S. Cheela doing.”

In uniting Spilogaster, Elgini, and Bacha, I am merely fol-
lowing the best authority on these points, I mean of course
Mr. Gurney ; knowing the bird only by the specimens in the
Asiatic Society’s and Col. Tytler’s museums, I am not compe-
. tent to form any independent opinion. Mr. Blyth had the
following remarks on this species in the Ibis :—

Ҥ. Spilogaster, nobis (J. A. S. B. XXII. p. 353.) Hematornis
Elgini, Tytler (J. A. 8. B. XXXII. p.87,) from the Andaman
Islands, where it occurs together with the preceding; also H.
Bacha of Colonel Sykes’s list of the birds of the Dukhun (P.
Z. 8. 1832, p. 79,) as identified from a specimen in the India
Museum presented by Colonel Sykes, being doubtless that
referred to (doc. cit.). This well-marked race inhabits the
Indian peninsula and Ceylon, and also the Andamans, from
which last named locality a fine pair are now living in the
Zoological Gardens. It isa smaller bird and not so handsome
as S. Cheela, with less developed crest and much less of black
upon the crown, the tail markings quite different, having the
black subterminal band conspicuously much less broad. Some
individuals may very probably show considerable similarity to
the Malayan S. Bacha, which would account for Professor
Schlegel identifying a Cinghalese specimen with the Malayan
bird ; still the tail bands should be differently placed.” On this
the edition had the following note :—

“We learn from Mr. Gurney that he has never seen an
Indian example of this bird, but that specimens from Ceylon
and the Andamans appear to be absolutely identical with S

23.4

Bacha, (Falco Bido, Worsf.) from Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and .
— Singapoor.”’

T'wo specimens of the Andaman bird were sent by Colonel
Tytler, when he was Governor of the settlement, to Calcutta,
for the Zoological Society, which birds seem somehow to have
been presented to the Society in Mr. Grote’s name; in regard
to these, Blyth tells us in the Ibis for 1868 :—

“The live birds sent to the Zoological Gardens by Mr. Grote
belong not to this species, as stated, but to the next H. Elgini,
which Mr. Gurney considers to be identical with H. Bacha of
the Malay countries, described by me, from Ceylon, as Z.
Spilogaster (Cf. Ibis, 1866, pp. 242, 248).”

For the present we may, therefore, safely assume the identity
of the Ceylonese, Andaman, Malayan &c., forms.

As the head quarters of the Circaeti are to the west, so those
of Spilornis are to the east. The Indo-Chinese region, besides
S. Cheela and Bacha, includes three other species, S. Holospilus,
Vigors, from the Phillippines and South China, S. Rufipectus,
Gould, from Celebes, and S. Sadaensis, Schlegel, from the Sala
Island, which latter species, however, Wallace considers to be
“hardly more than a slight local modification,’ though where
exactly distinct species begin, and local modifications end, is
more than I pretend to know.

ny

No. 40. Pandion Haliaetus, Livy.
THE Osprey.

I have no particulars of the nidification of this species in In-
dia, but I saw the nest of one on a large tree, in the valley of
the Surjoo, in Kumaon.

Mr. R. Thompson says—

“ T insert this bird here, because I believe its nest is to be
found on the Ganges above Hurdwar, where I have seen the
birds as late in the season as the middle of May. I think I
shall be able to lay my hands on the nest at some time or
other.” ;

Of its breeding in the British Isles, Mr. Yarrell remarks—

“The Osprey makes a large nest, sometimes on high trees, at
others, on rocks or about old ruins near large pieces of water,
and lays two or three eggs, which are generally hatched ‘in
June. The eggs are about two inches and four lines long, by
one inch ten lines in breadth, blotched and spotted over the

235

larger end with reddish brown on a white ground. In some
specimens, the secondary colour is of a paler yellowish red.”

Mr. Hewitson gives us the following particulars: ‘Sir Wil-
liam Jardine says, that a pair or two may be found about most
of the Highland Lochs, where they build on the ruined towers,
so common on the edges, or insulated rocks, of these wild waters.
The nest is an immense fabric of rotten sticks, and is generally
placed, if such exists, on the top of the chimney, and if this be
wanting, on the highest summit of the building. And aged
tree may sometimes be chosen, but ruins are always preferred,
ifnear. Mr. Wolley remarks, that there is something in the
general appearance of the nest, which reminds one of the nests
of the Wood Ants; it is usually in the form of a cone cut off
at the top; the sticks project very slightly beyond the sides,
and are built up with turf and other compact materials; the
summit is of moss, very flat and even, and the cavity occupies
a comparatively small part of it. Wilson says that, in America,
the nest of the Fish Hawk is usually built on the top of a dead
or decaying tree, sometimes not more than fifteen, often upwards
of fifty feet from the ground. I ascended to several of these
nests that had been built in from year to year, and found them
constructed as follows ;—externally large sticks, from half an
inch to an inch and a half in diameter, and two or three in
length, piled to the height of four or five feet, and from two to
three feet in breadth, these were intermixed with corn-stalks,
seaweed, pieces of wet turf in large quantities, and lined with
dry sea-grass, the whole forming a mass observable at half a
mile’s distance, and large enough to fill a cart: and formed no
inconsiderable load for a horse. These materials are so well
put together, as often to adhere in large fragments after being
blown down by the wind. During the time the female is sit-
ting, the male frequently supplies her with fish, though she
occasionally takes a short circuit to the sea herself, but quickly
returns again.”

Mr. Hewitson adds: ‘‘ The Osprey, in England as in Ameri-
ca, lays its eggs in the beginning of May; they are sometimes
two, almost always three in number. Wilson says, rarely four.

“They are more oval in form, than those of any of our British
Fulconide ; they do not usually differ much.’’*

The egg which Mr. Hewitson figures as typical has a white
ground, here and there clouded with pale purple, and very
richly blotched and streaked, most densely towards the large
end, with deep red, becoming in its intensity almost black.
His figures measure 2°52 by 1:39; and 2°43 by 1°93.

236

Of the nidification of the Australian form of this bird, which,
after comparison of several specimens, appears to me identical
with our Indian race, Mr. Gould furnishes the following par-
ticulars: ‘ The nest being of great size, is a very conspicuous
object ; it is composed of sticks varying from the thickness of a
finger to that of the wrist and lined with the softer kinds of
sea-weed. It is usually placed on the summit of a rock, but
is sometimes constructed on the top of a large Eucalyptus,
always in the vicinity of water. A nest observed by Gilbert
in Rottnest Island, measured fifteen feet in circumference.

“The eges are two in number, of a yellowish white, boldly
spotted and blotched, with deep rich reddish brown, which
colour, in some specimens, is so dark as to be nearly black, other
specimens, again, are clouded with large blotches of purple,
which appears as if beneath the surface of the shell. The
medium length of the eggs is two inches and five lines, and
the breadth one inch and nine lines.”

The Osprey is found throughout the lower ranges of the
Himalayas, in the rocky gorges of all the larger streams, and
along the course of the Ganges and the Jumna, from their mouths
almost to their sources. I have from time to time observed it
in the Cawnpoor, Etawah, Agra and Allyghur districts. I
met with it also on the Sutledge, at the Sambhur Lake, and
the Nujjufgurh jheel, and I recently shot a very fine one close
to Saharunpoor, on the Western Jumna Canal. Mr. Brooks
says, that this species is ‘common on the river Tonse, also
inland in the Mirzapoor district where there are jheels and
tanks. I shot one at night off a post in the middle ofa tank.”

Though thus widely distributed, this species is nowhere I
believe in India numerically abundant.

Out of India, this species (or very closely allied representative
races) is found throughout the greater portion of the globe.

As to the specific identity of the various races of the Fish
Hawk, Mr. Gurney, our greatest living authority in such matters,
remarked in the Ibis for 1868:

“The Norwich Museum possesses an extensive series of
Ospreys from various parts of the world, and I have no hesita-
tion in expressing my belief that the species is identical not
only on the coasts of North America, and of Kurope, but also
on those of Africa, Asia and Australia.”

I subjoin measurements, &c., of a fine female, killed near
Saharunpoor on the 7th November. Length, 21:15. Expanse,
0°65. Weight in tbs. 2°69. Wing, 19; the third primary the
longest, the first primary falls short of the longest by 2°6; the

237

second by 0°2; and the fourth by 0°8. Tail, from vent, 9°3;
longest tail feather exceed shortest by 0°4. Tarsus (feathered.
in front for 0°8), 2:4. Foot, greatest length, 46; greatest
width, 4:15 ; mid toe, to root of claw, 1°85; its claw, ‘along
curve, 1°5; hind toe, 1:25; its claw, 1:4; inner toe, 1°1; its
claw, 1°5 ; outer toe, 1:4; its claw, 1:55. Bill, straight from
edge of cere to point, 1°2 ; along curve from edge of cere, 1°45:
from gape, 1:57 ; width at gape, 1°13; height at margin of cere,
0°55; length of cere, 0°3. Closed wings exceed the end of the
tail by 0-1. Lower tail coverts fall short of end of tail by 0°3.
The legs and feet were a very pale delicate sea-green, the scales
very rough and shagreen-like. The claws, black; the irides,
bright yellow. Bill, black. Gape and base of lower mandible,
pale lavender plumbeous. Cere and skin of lores, (which are
very thinly feathered), dark lead colour. Inside of mouth,
purplish pink.

ord
74k
a be Saad

Poor oh AF BO OR:

ROUGH NOTES

INDIAN OOLOGY AND ORNITHOLOGY.

EDITED BY

ALLAN HUME.

Part I., No. 2.

CALCUTTA :
PRINTED BY C. B. LEWIS, BAPTIST MISSION PRESS.

1870.

PREFACE TO NO, 2.
ee

No. 3 being a supplement to Nos. 1 and 2, and which will
complete Parr I. Raprorzs, will, D. V., appear immediately.

No. 3 will contain additions to, and corrections of, the notes
that have already appeared, as well as notices of several species
not included in numbers I and 2.

I have already to thank Mr. J. H. Gurney, M. P., for a most
valuable series of notes on No. 1. which will appear in No. 3,
and I would earnestly entreat all my coadjutors and friends
to furnish me, with the least possible delay, with any remarks
or information that they may desire to appear in No. 3.

No. 3 will contain an index to the three Nos. as well as an
errata list, and any assistance in the preparation of this latter,
will be thankfully received.

I have now to tender my most sincere thanks to Miss M. B.
Cockburn and the following gentlemen, for the valuable infor-
mation and numerous specimens with which they have furnish-
ed me since Part 1 appeared; Mr. F. R. Biewrrt, the Rev. H.
Bruce, Mr. W. E. Brooks, Mr. E. Buck, Mr. H. R. P. Car-
TER, Capt. Cock, Mr. T. Cox, Dr. Enpowers, the Rev. S. B.
Farrpank, Major Fisuer, Capt. Garstry, Capt. Hurron, Mr.
Rk. D. Hive, Mr. V. Irwin, Dr. JERpon, Dr. Kine, Col.
Marster, Capt. C. H. T. Marswatt, Capt. G. F. L. Marsxatt,
Capt. Masson, Capt. Maynarp, Capt. Mrrouett, Capt. Narrne,
Dr. Newman, Major Detme Ranvcuirz, Mr. C. Sxuinimerorp,
Mr. F. B. Simson, Dr. Stavcuter, Mr. R. Tuompson, Col.
TytiLerR, Capt. Unwin, Mr. Warr.

Of the 1360 species which it is proposed to notice in these
rough notes, 1063 species are represented already in our

1V

Museum by over 8000 specimens (obtained within our limits*)
while the eggs of 323 species are represented by 5700 speci-
mens. There is still therefore enormous room for improvement,
especially where eggs (and nests) are concerned, and I trust,
that all my kind coadjutors above enumerated, as well as many
others who have promised assistance, will, so far as they con-
veniently can, aid in perfecting the collection and in completing
our information in regard to all this vast array of species.

I may mention that it is most especially in the avi Fauna
of Burman and Cryton (in which provinces alone I have as yet
no correspondent) that I need assistance.

Lists of desiderata, will be furnished on application, and spe-
cimens, and information as to food, habits and nidification, will
be equally gratefully received and acknowledged by

ALLAN HUME,
AGRA.
N. W. Provinces, India.

* Rather more than 100 other species are represented by specimens from
Europe, Africa and Australia.

ROUGH NOTES

ON

Andian Oology ant Ornithology.

No. 41. Polioaetus Ichthyaetus. Horsr.
Tue Hasrern Wurre Tarnep Hacur.*

This species generally, I believe, lays in January ; but in the
valleys of Kumaon and Gurhwal, where it is, I know, far from
uncommon, it is said to lay as late as April.

It builds, invariably, as far as I have yet observed, on large
trees, situated on the bank of some river, or in the immediate
proximity of some considerable piece of water. It constructs
its own nest, returning like the Golden Kagle, year after year,
to the same spot, and each year adding fresh materials, so that
the nest, a very large one to begin with, grows in time to an
enormous size, reminding one of Wilson’s descriptions of those
of the Osprey. Stout sticks, and small branches mingled with
twigs and grass roots, are the principal materials, but weeds
and coarse grass help to fill up the interior, in which, as in the
case of Bonelli’s Eagle and others, a thin layer of greent leaves

* T am obliged to add the word “ Eastern” to the English name given
by Dr. Jerdon, because the ‘‘ White Tailed” Eagle, or Sea Eagle, is the name
by which a very different species, the European, H. Adbicilla, is universally

nown.

+ It is probable that the object of laying the eggs on green leaves, is to
secure a certain amount of moisture for the shells.

Eggs artificially hatched, have, we know, to be daily sponged with a
moist cloth. Great numbers of birds leave their eggs for a short time about
sunrise, to feed in grass and jungle, and return all ‘‘ dewy breasted” to
their nests, so that I have taken Pea-fowls’ eggs, quite wet from this cause.
But how is sufficient moisture secured for eggs laid, like those of the Sand-
grouse, on the bare, absolutely dry sand, whose parents feed in the dryest
ground, (never, even when they drink, wetting their feathers in the slightest)
and return dry-breasted to their eggs ?

240)

is commonly spread, for the eggs to rest on. The eggs are
normally three in number; but I have twice seen only two eggs
in a nest, in both cases fully incubated. The only ege that I
now possess, (which I owe to Captain Cock,) is a broad and
very perfect oval in shape. In texture, it is rough and pitted,
but it nevertheless has a slight gloss. It is a perfectly un-
spotted egg, and though in places somewhat soiled and discolour-
ed, must, when fresh, have been a nearly, pure, milk white.
Held up against the light, the shell is even a darker green than
that of H. Leucoryphus, in fact it is almost black. Whether
this character is general, or peculiar to the single specimen I
now possess, I cannot of course decide. I have had many of
these eggs in former years; but I did not then, unfortunately,
collect specimens.

Five eggs, of which I have recorded measurements, varied
from 2°72 to 2°8 in length, and from 21 to 2:15 in
breadth.

Captain Cock sends me the following note :—

“The nest of Polioaetus Ichthyaectus is a very large structure
of sticks, in fact the biggest nest that I have known of. I
found one on the top of a high thorn tree, on the banks of a
river, When I first visited the nest, it was empty, but the
bird was sitting on the tree near it. I again visited the nest
about a fortnight later, and found three eggs in it. The nest
was about 53 feet in height, about 44 in diameter, and but
slightly hollow. There were a quantity of leaves in the nest
quite fresh. The leaves belonged to some small shrub (the
leaf itself was a very small one) and were evidently placed
there to make a softer bed for the eggs. The birds had built
in the same tree for an immense time, but at length the tree
was blown down, and they built on the next biggest tree to it,
and have continued for the last few years to nidificate there.
The eggs were dirty white, similar in shape and size to the one
sent to you (above described.) The birds did not exhibit any
anger when their eggs were taken, but the female flew round
and round a few times.”

Captain Unwin remarks,

“J found a nest of Polioaetus Ichthyaetus in the neighbour-
hood of Huzara on the 27th February, 1869. The nest was
situated in a large, Tulip tree, about 35 feet from the ground.
It was built of sticks, stubble, weeds, and coarse grasses, and
was about 23 to 5 feet in diameter. It contained two young
birds. The villagers stated, that the old birds arrived every
year, about November. The probable age of the young was
four or five weeks; they were unable to fly, though one was

241

pushed outside the nest. I subjoin the dimensions* and a brief
description of one of these young birds which I took from the
nest. Later, while watching the tree, through a glass, from a
distance of some 150 yards, I saw one of the old birds arrive,
with a fish, I should think nearly 2tbs. in weight, in its claws.”

Horsfield (Zool. Res. in Java) tells us of this species, that
“ their nest was built on the top of a large tree, and was con-
structed in a rude manner, of branches of trees. The branches
which were placed on the exterior, were more than an inch in
diameter: the inside was lined with small twigs. . It was
irregularly round, and very slightly excavated.”

My friend, Mr. Thompson, writes to me from Gurhwal that
these birds “ breed from March to May. The nest, which is a
large structure of small sticks and twigs loosely put together,
is usually placed in a tree at a convenient distance from the
water, and at no great height from the ground. I have found
their nests on the Kosilla river, at Oomta Dabee, in the Patlee
Dhoon, on the Ramgunga river; Kotree Dhoon on the Sunnai
river ; and lastly above Hurdwar on the river Ganges. They
lay from two to three large white eggs, smaller than those of
Haliaetus Fulviventer. Three appears to be the normal number
of their eggs. During the breeding season, the birds utter at
intervals, a loud yet plaintive cry, especially whenever one of
them approaches the nest whilst the other is sitting in it. The
male during this time is assiduous in his attentions, and
the meeting of the pair on his return from fishing excursions
always appears to call forth fresh cries. About the middle of
April the eggs are laid, and are hatched during the following
month. These birds are generally distributed over the rivers
and larger streams of the Sub-Himalayas, remaining on them
throughout the year.”

Mr. Blyth had the following note in the Ibis for 1865;
** Haliaetus Lineatus, Gray (Hardwicke’s Ill. Ind. Zool.) is erro-
neously assigned in the Ibis, (1863, p. 23) to the young of
Milwus Govinda, it being decidedly the young of Pontoaetus
Ichthyaetus (Horsf.) in abraded, spotted plumage; for the
young of this bird, and of UW. Govinda are quite similarly
speckled.”

* Expanse, 64 inches; wing 17; length 25; tail 8-25; bill at gape, 3°5;
Tarsus 3°5. Description—Irides dark brown ; cere brownish ; gape and orbital
skin, pale yellow; legs and feet pale yellowish white; bill and claws horny
black ; lores naked and whitish, thinly covered by blue hairs. Plumage,
above, dark brown, primaries and tail blackish, 3rd and 4th quills longest,
Secondaries on inner web pale fulvous, slightly speckled with dusky,
Beneath of a somewhat lighter brown throughout,

242

This does not exactly agree with Captain Unwin’s descrip-
tion, recorded on the spot from a live young one, taken from
the nest to sit for his portrait, and for my part I am inclined to
believe, that H. Lineatus, Gray, is the young not of this species,
but possibly of the next, H. Leucoryphus. ” This species occurs
not only all over India, Buriash and Malay, but also as we
learn from Mr. Wallace* (Ibis 1868) in Sumatra ( Wail) and
Borneo. (Mus. Lugd.)

No. 42. Haliaetus Leucoryphus.+ Pattas.

Patuas’s Sea Eacue.

I have taken the eggs of this species during the latter} half
of November, in December, and January, and once or twice, in

* Mr. Wallace gives the following brief note of a male obtained by him,
“Total length, 26 inches. Wing, 17°5 in. Mid toe, 2 im. Bill black, cere
dusky, feet white.”

+ Haliaetus Leucoryphus.

DIMENSIONS.
= =]
So So
_ a
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i hy hes 2B (S| 8 \$2/S2
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3 Fl sists Sl2/8]Fl2/2|8 |sslee
: | ./2]/2lel 2] se) sl ol ®|6/a15 e482
= is Sy ges s/o Sel Py lel MES: elale ais |e e¢ |FalFa
= lelci | 3] 7 SifsiFislelsiszisilelSislsie2'ie
@ |altel -| S| ss ols OlSlolezlBSBilaleia Ee Pee oh
a |sifis| & | -| 3 a = = : Seles
a) Mic|s| S =) 5 a 2 = ae a = & = S/6°
= Peek S SS (ele ats fe.) S14 : Sires Pare
—---—————_|__ |__| 5) &
OCS) DNs Meee (|
Ae © OLE ae ee ee PE BE as |
4 From eo ot ata Re *56/1°47) 1°3] 1°8| 1-4 i a 75/2" ae ree 1°4| 4
< ’
= To 31 79 22/12 oa 562 5{1°52) 1-4] 1-9) 1-5] 1°8.2-25 a es 750° ar 73) 1°6| 5 [5°12
es ae kame)
: aan A SS | | ols i eeoomn ania
= From 200 a0 4006 755° 2" “=n 2°1] 1-6) 2°00/2-25| 2-sl2-65 aa whradecadh: 37] 4| 6°8
3 To Se 4 25) @1)2-94i1 68) 2° | 1-94.0° aie “75/1 5

a
( -

(Three 9 Sour females, measured and weighed).
¢ Mr. Brooks has found eggs as early as the 11th of November.

Weight in tbs.

a

243

the early part of February. The greater number of these
birds, however, lay in December, and most of the nests that I
have examined later than the 15th of January, have contained

young ones.

The 3rd, 4th, or 3rd and 4th primaries are the longest. The 5th nearly
aslong. The Ist from £5 to 6 shorter. the 2nd from 025 to 13 shorter.
Exterior tail feathers from 1 to 1°5 shorter than central ones.

Description. Legs and feet, greyish white, sometimes with a faint
bluish tinge, usually much stained and discoloured aboui the toes. The
inner toe and claw are very large and thick, very nearly the same size as the
hind toe. The pads, especially of these toes, are large, and the whole
surface of the sole rough and shagreen-like. The claws black, all very large
and sharp ; a few large scales on the front of the tarsus, (which is feathered
in front ior the upper one-third and sometimes nearly one-half) just below
the feathered portion, the rest coarsely reticulate. Nearly the whole ridge
of the middle toe is covered with large transverse scales, and there are about
seven of these on the exterior, and five or six on the interior and hind toes.
The scales just above the claws, especially on the inner and hind toes, large
and very thick.

Trides. Pale brownish yellow, in some lights almost silvery.

Bill. Cere, pale bluish green. Nosirils, gape and base of lower mandible
bluish. Upper mandible greenish horny, dusky at tip. Tip of lower man-
dible, brownish as a rule, but in some the whole lower mandible is a sort of
bluish or greenish horny.

Tongue. Rather long, thick, fleshy, of nearly uniform width throughout,
obtuse ended, with a conspicuous groove down the centre.

Plumage (Adulis). Forehead and a streak continued nearly the whole
way over theeyes, somewhat dingy white. The whole of the rest of the
front and top oi the head and occiput, palish whitey brown. The feathers
somewhat abraded and slightly darker shafted. Feathers of the nape, and
upper part of the back of the neck, paler and slightly more rufous; the
feathers much elongated and pointed. The feathers of the base of the back
of the neck rather browner again : broad, sharp pointed, and somewhat paler
edged. Upper back a somewhat darker brown again, feathers sometimes
narrowly paler edged. Middle and lower back, rump and upper iail coverts,
dark, sometimes very dark, brown. Feathers of the tail darker brown,
almost black, with a 43 (in males) to 53 (in females) inch broad, transverse,
pure white bar on both webs. The scapulars, and the whole of the wings,
very dark rich brown. The second to sixth primary conspicuously emarginate
on the outer webs, and sometimes slightly greyish just above the emargina-
tion. Lores, chin, cheeks, ear coveris, and throat pure white, the feathers of
the throat very narrow, greatly lengthened, and with the webs__much disuni-
ted. Feathers of the side of the neck, beyond the white, of the same fulvous
brown, and lengthened in the same way as the feathers of the back of the
neck. The lower neck, breast, and abdomen, dull, somewhat rufous brown,
darker on each side, just above the thighs. Feathers below the vent, and
lower tail feathers dark brown, the longest obscurely tipped, or mottled with
fulvous white. The axillaries, and lesser under coverts of the wing, very dark,
almost blackish brown. Under surface of the quills, and their greater lower
coverts, with a bluish or slaty tinge in some lights. Upper portion of the
thigh coverts, dark brown. Lower portion, paler and more rufous brown.

244

They build on large trees, on the Peepul (Fiews Religiosa)
by preference I think, but also on many other kinds, Sheeshum
(Dalbergia Seesoo) Banyan (fF. Indicus) &e. The trees that
they select, are almost invariably solitary ones, situated either
on the banks of some river, or beside some considerable Jheel.
In Upper India, I do not know a single large jheel, which
retains water in it as late as February, where a pair of this
species does not breed, and all down the Jumna, Ganges,
Chambul and Sutledge, wherever I have been, I have invariably
met with at least one pair every three or four miles, and in
particular localities every ha/f mile !

The nest is a huge platform of sticks, some of which are
often as thick as a man’s arm, with a superstructure of thinner

The inner webs of the first 4 or 5 primaries, conspicuously notched, and
generally greyish above the notches, and the tips of the secondaries
mucronate.

Sometimes a feather will be found in the tail with only half the inner web,
of the white bar portion, white, the rest almost black.

Somewhat younger birds have the crown and occiput rather darker, and
the forehead, chin, throat, &c. whity brown, instead of pure white, indicating
a less mature plumage.

A very fine young female, shot near Suman, on the 27th February, 1867,
was throughout, a dull brown of different shades. The head, neck and
under parts, light fulvous brown, the chin and throat much paler, with a
dark patch behind the eye, and over the ear coverts. The hackles of the hind
head and neck paling towards the tip, and mostly inconspicuously pale,
centred. The back of the neck, upper back, lesser scapulars, and median and
lesser wing coverts, a rather darker brown, all the feathers, but specially the
coverts, faintly and narrowly margined paler. The middle back very dark
umber; rump and upper tail coverts, about the same brown as the upper
back, the whole much mingled with dirty white, some of the feathers being
almost entirely of this colour, some having only the outer webs so, and some
only the bases, which are but partially seen, white. The inner lesser scapu-
lars are similarly varied. The longer scapulars, tail feathers, and most of the
quills, the winglet, and primary greater coverts, are a very deep (almost black)
umber brown. A few of the quills, old ones not yet moulted, are a pale,
somewhat rufous, umber. The centre tail feather has the broad white bar,
but still imperfect on one web, and three of the other feathers have a few
small inconspicuous whitish spots where the bar would be in the adult.
Below, the axillaries and some of the side feathers are white, tinged with
fulvous or pale brown, and there is a good deal of mottling with white, or
fulvous, on some of the under wing coverts, and the inner webs of some of the
primaries. There are traces of white on many of the feathers of the mid
breast. The lower tail coverts are a pale brown, mottled more or less with
fulvous white, The upper portion of the thigh coverts are a darker brown
than the rest of the under surface of the body.

A nestling female nearly able to fly, taken out of a nest at Rahun on the
21st February, 1867, weighed 5lbs. 140z. was a nearly uniform dark brown
above, and rather lighter below. The legs and feet were a clear pale lemon
yellow.

245

sticks and twigs, and with only a slight depression towards the
interior, which is lined with fine twigs and green leaves, occa-
sionally intermingled with rushes and straw.

The nest is usually placed in a broad fork, near the very
top of the tree, on branches that seem scarcely strong enough
to support the huge mass, and is sometimes occupied by the
same pair for many successive seasons.

I do not think that this species ever takes possession of other
birds’ nests. It either builds a new one for itself, or repairs
one formerly belonging to it, even though this may in the
interim have been usurped by Vultur Calvus or Ketupa Ceylon-
ensis, both much addicted to annexing the poor Sea Hagle’s
laboriously constructed nest. I say laboriously constructed,
because I once watched a young pair constantly occupied for a
full month, building a new nest, which they were still at work
finishing off when I left. Nothing can seem rougher or more
rugged than their nest when finished, and yet out of every
four sticks and branches that they brought, they rejected and
threw down at least three. Both birds brought materials, and
side by side, the pair would work away, throwing down almost
as many sticks as they had brought; then apparently they
would quarrel over the matter, there would be a great
squealing, and one would fly away and sit sulky on some cliff
point near at hand ; after a time the one left on the nest would
go off in quest of materials. Immediately, the other would
drop softly on to the nest and be very busy (though what they.
did except lift a stick and put it down in the same place it was
impossible, even with a good glass, to make out) till the absent
bird returned, not unfrequently with a fish instead of a stick.
It is a curious fact, but I observed it repeatedly, that if the
female, which is much the largest, brought the fish to the nest,
the male set to work on it at once, without so much as, By your
leave; while if the male brought it, the female used to eye it,
sidle gradually up, and only take slow and modest mouthfuls.
When, however, the female begins to sit, the male will bring her
fish or fowl, and go off for other food for himself, not attempt-
ing to share it with her: and when not on the nest, neither
seems to presume to interfere with the other’s captures without
permission (vide infra).

The usual number of eggs laid by this species is three, but I
have myself twice found four, and it is not at all uncommon to
meet with only two eggs, fully incubated, or two young ones,
in a nest.

One curious point about these birds is, that unlike most
Eagles, they do not always desert a plundered nest. I have

246

twice taken single eggs out of nests, and ten or twelve days
later, on re-examining the same nests, in consequence of obser-
ving the birds still hanging about the place, found that a couple
more eggs had been laid since my last visit.

Typically the eggs of this species are a rather broad oval,
but a good deal of variation both in size and shape occurs. I
have one or two very long and one very broad pyriform egg,
but these are exceptions. The colour is greyish white, and
every specimen that I have yet seen (and some fifty have
passed through my hands) has been absolutely unspotted. No
doubt, as incubation proceeds, like most other Hagles’ eggs, they
become much soiled and stained with dingy yellow, but none
have exhibited any trace of the markings shewn in Dr. Bree’s
figures. As far as size goes, his figure pretty correctly repre-
site an average specimen, but fully half are a good deal —
arger.

The eggs of this species can, I think, generally be separated
from those of almost all our other Indian Hagles, except
those of P. Ichthyaetus, by the intensely dark green of the shell
when held against the light. If it is possible to separate any
of our Hagle’s eggs by the texture. I should say, that as a rule,
there is generally a certain smoothness in the feel of these eggs,
which distinguishes them from those of other species ; but this is
by no means an invariable test.

The eggs vary from 2°55 to 3 in length, and from 2°02 to
2°27 in breadth, but the average of 26 eggs measured was 2°77
M2 48:

It does not do to dogmatize about the habits of birds. I
have examined fully fifty nests of this species, some containing
egos, and some young ones, and were I to trust to my own
personal experience alone, I should certainly assert that the
old birds never show the least fight in defence of their homes
and progeny. Nevertheless one of our most accurate observers
certifies to their excessive pugnacity when they have young:
Captain Hutton in the J. A. S. remarks :—

“T notice this species, because Captain Tickell states, that it
never makes the slightest attempt at defending its nest, a
striking contrast to the marvellous tales we read of, concerning
the Golden Hagle in the Highlands of Scotland, &e. ‘This
remark is correct only, so long as there are eggs in the nest, for
no sooner are these hatched, than the temper of the bird
becomes wholly changed, and it will then defendits young
with fierceness and determination. The nests 1 have repeat-
edly found, and robbed, both on the banks of the Ganges, and
of the Sutledge, and in all cases where they contained only

247

egos, not the least show of resistance was made, the old birds
either sailing off with a loud querulous ery, or sullenly remain-
ing on an adjacent tree, watching the robbery that was going
on. On one occasion, however, I met with a very different
reception, when my servant was attacked with an unexpected
ferocity, from which nothing but my gun could have saved
him. The circumstance occurred in January 1832, when on
my way up the country. The nest was placed near the summit
of a tree, growing on one of the Colgong rocks, in the middle
of the Ganges, and contained two half- fledged young ones.
Vhe old birds offered a most determined resistance, and without
the aid of fire arms we should decidedly have been defeated, as
they dashed fiercely and fearlessly at the man in the tree, who
prayed hard to be allowed to descend, and was only kept at his
post by the promise of reward and fear of the cudgel. At first
we had to contend with the female ouly, but after one or two
rapid stoops and dashes at the robber’s head, which he avoided
by bobbing under the nest, finding she could make no impres-
sion, she suddenly uttered a shrill ery, which was responded to
in the distance, and in an instant after, her mate was seen
swiftly gliding to her aid, from the opposite bank of the river.
The two then charged together towards the nest with the rage
and fierceness of despair, and so terrified the man in the tree,
hampered as he was with the young ones, that had I not fired
at and wounded the Hagles as they advance: d, they would
assuredly have hurled lim into the river. In this m: uner,
however, after repeated attempts to come to the rescue, we
managed at last to drive off the old birds and secure the booty.
At the end of five weeks the young ones exhibited as nearly as
neee’e the plumage of the bird figured by Hardwicke and
Gray as “ H. Lineatus.”

Bt ssily Captain Hutton* has sent me the following further
remarks in regard to this species. ‘In the Dhera Dhoon this

* T am indebted to Captain Hutton for many interesting notes on the
nidification of our Indian Birds,

The following are some general remarks by the same well known natu-
ralist in regard to the locality whence the information that he furnishes has
been chiefly drawn.

“The tract of country in which the following observations have been made,
comprises the Dhoon, and the greater portion of the mountain district of
Ghurwal, being enclosed between the Ganges and the Jumna, on the east
and west, and the snowy ranges and the Siwaliks, on the north and south.

In proceeding from the Plains proper, south of the last mentioned range,
up to the snows, it is usual for convenience sake, to divide the tract into three
distinct regions, termed:the Southern or Terai region, the Central or Forest
region, and the Northern or Snowy region, As night naturally be expected

248

bird is extremely common, but it merely skirts the outer hills ;
about 5500 feet, without entering them. I have seen six to eight

the Southern forests are the richest and most varied, both in respect to
vegetation, and in animal life, and from the warmth and moisture of the
climate, are more particularly the resort of the soft-billed or insectivorous
birds, those numerically far outweighing the granivorous species. This
remark, however, more particularly applies to the summer months, for in the
cold season, many of the former travel farther south, and give place to
numerous species of Finches, Thrushes, Pigeons, &c., from the central and
northern regions. Among the feathered tribes, in fact, there is a constant
change, and succession of genera and species, throughout the year, many
appearing to visit us from the south for three or four months in summer, for
the sole purpose of breeding: retiring again as soon as the periodical rains
are at an end, and their progeny is old enough to travel. So great is the
influx of northern species into the Terai, during the winter months, that we
should almost be justified in saying that, at that season, our fauna, as regards
the feathered tribes, is exchanged for those of the central and northern regions.
The Doves, the Cuckoos and smaller insectivorous species of the summer,
giving place to more northern types, reminding us poor exiles, of our boy-
hood’s days, when the leafless trees and hedge-rows of our dear old father-
land were enlivened by the sharp quick ehirp of the Fieldfare, the quivering
tail of the Redstart, or the creeping Hedge Sparrow, threading its way
through, and seeking concealment in each snow-covered bush and thicket.
And yet, notwithstanding the multitude of species resorting to these hills,
it is by no means an uncommon thing, to hear collectors, and even naturalists
remark, that they have searched in vain through the forests and brushwood,
without finding a single nest to reward them for their toil, and it becomes a
perfect mystery to them where the several species actually breed, or whether
they breed at all in these localities. The fault here lies entirely with the
collector, who, if he be not a practical naturalist, seldom gives himself the
trouble to consider which are the most likely resorts of the particular species
he may desire to procure. To seek for Nucifraga, Cocothraustes, the Siskin,
and various others among forests composed of oaks, rhododendrons, andro-
meda, and the like, would be as absurd as to hunt for them among the copse-
wood tracts of the outer southern mountains; each species has its own
peculiar resort, whether it be for food, for shelter, or for a breeding-place,
and it will probably, at particular seasons, be found no where else, except
when it performs its periodical migration from one region to another. Thus
the Pine forests will furnish species that are to be met with nowhere else;
the mixed forest of oaks, rhododendrons, laurels, and andromeda, &e., will
harbour other kinds, while the dense southern brushwood tracts are especi-
ally devoted to the insectivorous tribes. Climate, soil, and elevation, will
always be found to exercise a very material influence in the productions of
the vegetable world, and according to the nature of those productions, so will
be the nature of the food, and of the species which depend upon it. Warmth
and moisture, are indispensible to the production of insect life, and the
higher we ascend, the more attenuated and dry becomes the atmosphere, the
consequence being the decrease or cessation of insect life, and in such situa-
tions therefore, it would be absurd to seek for insectivorous birds, their
place being occupied by granivorous, frugivorous and root-eating species.
It is in the damp warm brushwood jungles, of the southern tracts, that the
soft-billed birds are to be sought for, and there my own experience tells me
they are to be found abundantly, so abundantly in fact, that this tract

249
together passing along the side of the hills below Mussoorie
for some distance, and then returning again together in like
manner; but what the object can be I cannot make out, for
there is no fishing-ground along that route. They build in
lofty trees, on the banks of the larger Dhoon streams, laying
one or two, large, white eggs. The nest, I have described in
the J. A. 8. of Bengal. ‘The cry of this bird is loud and harsh,
and somewhat querulous ; it may be heard at a great distance,

might almost be termed par excellence, ‘ the region of birds nests,’ so numer-
ous are these during the breeding season of the summer months.

With respect to Hawks and Eagles, although the nests of many species are
not difficult to discover, yet, being found, it is often entirely impossible to
gain access to them. Some of these are built in lofty trees, overhanging the
sides of precipices, which make one shudder to look into the yawning depth
below ; such is generally the spot selected by that beautiful Hawk, the
Spizaetus Nipalensis, while the Vulture Eagle, selects a ledge of rock, to
which one can only descend by a rope, and with a strong chance of being
hurled into eternity, should the old birds be any where near at hand ; never-
theless I have succeeded in robbing both these nests. In the Dehra Dhoon
the nests of Haliaetus Leucoryphus and of various Vuitures are far from
uncommon.

Another important point is likewise to be considered in the selection of
breeding localities, and one I imagine which rarely enters into the head of
the collector, for as with molluscous animals, limestone tracts are ever more
productive than others, so precisely is it with the feathered tribes; the
snail must have an abundant supply of lime, or it cannot properly secrete its
calcareous shell, and without calcareous matter, the bird would be equally
unable to secrete the shell, which encloses and protects the egg, a fact which
may often be seen in the farm-yard, where Hens that have been unable
to procure a sufficient supply of lime, with their food, will lay their eggs
without a shell and surrounded only by a strong transparent membrane.
It is likewise this craving for lime, and salt, that prompts domestic Pigeons
to pick the mortar out of walls.

A limestone formation will consequently always be found to be more
densely populated by the feathered tribes, than regions of siliceous rocks.
The Falcon tribe are rendered somewhat more independent in this respect,
because the smaller bones of animals which constitute their prey, furnish
abundant material for the construction of the egg shell.

Now it so happens that the lower Terai region, of the southern range
between the Jumma and the Ganges, is just such a district as birds of the
soft-billed kind especially. delight in, for the rock formation consists chiefly
of large beds and shattered blocks of limestone, from the crevices and hollows
of which, springs up a dense jungle of brushwood, sometimes interspersed
with forest trees, at other times without them; the locality is moreover
well watered by numerous rilis and streams of pure fresh water, along the
mossy margins of which, are found the nests of many species that delight
to build in such situations, while as the streams increase in size, as they
debouche from the dark glens and ravines, to enter upon and fertilize the
Dhoon, the deepening banks of silt will often furnish nests of the various
species of King-fishers, which deposit their eggs in holes, bored in the
crumbling banks above the water line.”

250

and, on more than one oceasion, has guided me to its nest.
Often have I watched this handsome bird seated high, perched
in solitude, upon the dry and leafless branch of some tall tree,
that overlooked a river’s bank—or oftener, seated on the bank
itself, watching perchance for the appearance of its prey.
Uttering its shrill and clamorous ery, half croak, half seream,
it would suddenly spread out its wings and sweep across the
water, rising gradually in wide gyrations, until nearly lost to
sight, and taking a keen survey of the plain beneath; then
oradually descending in circles as before, until with a sudden
downward headlong rush, it would dash upon a Partridge or a
Hare, and bear it off in triumph. I have seen it hawking on
the Ganges after Ducks and Teal, which are sometimes found in
the rains breeding with swarms of Paddy birds, on the Colgong
rocks, in the middle of the river. The Duck would quietly
paddle along about the centre of the stream, and the Hagle
would follow the same course far above, but gradually and
shly descending along the line, until with a sudden down-

ward dash, it would nearly reach the Duck, and, then slowly
and evadually sweep upwards again as the wary little Duck
plunged deeply beneath the surtace to rise again, before or
behind the Eagle, which would pursue it over and over again
in like manner, without a chance of success, until weary of the
chase, he would wing his way to shore, doubtless to inform his
mate that no ‘ducks and green peas’ were forthcoming for
that day’s dinner !”

Where, however, the Duck is a wounded one, and I have but
rarely seen these Hagles strike at those that were not so, the
result is often different, as my own notes, which I proceed to
transcribe, will show.

“This is essentially a water bird, and as far as I know, is
never found far from the banks of large rivers, lakes or jheels.
Early in the morning, even in the cold weather, it goes down
to the water side, and has a good bathe. It is amusing’ to,
watch this large bird standing up to its belly in water, sitting
down, first on one side, then on the other, so as to wash the
wings and back, ducking the head in and out, and splashing,
spluttering, and fluttermg the wings, for all the world like a
Pigeon or a Sparrow. After its bath, it resorts to the top of
some tree, or along the banks of large rivers, to some craggy
point, where it sits awhile sunning itself, generally with its
wings half outspread. Thence it flies heavily off to seek a
meal. <A large fish near the surface attracts its attention, as it
flies pretty low over the river, down it swoops with more acti-
vity and rapidity than its habitual demeanour and method of

251

flight would lead one to expect, and strikes for a breakfast,
dashing its huge feet and long legs into the water right up to
its body. Very often (far more often than he succeeds) the
Ringtail is baulked by the Roohoo, (Cyprinus Rohita and Mrigala)
his favourite fishy food, and has to try again and again before he
breaks his fast. If anywhere he spy a wounded Goose, or other
water bird, he is down on him or after him in a moment. ‘The
bird, even if only slightly wounded, and flying more or less well
when the Eagle takes up the chase, drops at once into the water.
Down swoops the Hagle, its long legs extended to the utmost, and
just as his claws are within a yard of the victim’s head, down dives
the Goose, only to rise when its pursuer has swept past; round
comes the Ringtail again, down dives the Goose ; again and
again these manceuvres are repeated, and at last either the Hagle
gives up the chase, or the Goose, (and this, I think, is most
generally the case,) diving a little too slowly, gets caught by
the long legs (which are each time dashed their whole length
into the water) before it has got deep enough down, and the
Eagle then flies slowly to the shore, bearing its prey in its
talons. A grey Goose will weigh on the average 7ibs., (much
heavier are recorded,) but I have repeatedly seen good sized
grey Geese carried off in the claws of one of these Eagles, the
bird flying slowly and low over the surface of the water, but
still quite steadily. Once, many years ago, one of these birds
procured me a fine fish for breakfast. Standing on the high
clay cliff on the Meerut side of the river, at Baghput on the
Jumna, a little above the ghat, I saw one of these Eagles cap-
ture a fish, so large, that the bird only with great difficulty
succeeded in reaching a low sand bank, in the river, with its
prey. As it flew to this bank, it flew so low, and with such
difficulty, that the writhing fish in its claws, struck the water
every few yards, and twice seemed likely to pull its persecutor
under water. At last, however, the sand, some 250 yards away
from where I stood, was reached. Directly the shore was
gained, I fired a heavy rifle at the Eagle, the bullet passing
just above it. For a minute it struggled to rise again with the
fish, but a second bullet closer still, compelled it to rise without
the fish ; and though it circled round above, uttering its shrill
scream, to be joined in a few minutes by its mate, they neither
of them ventured down, and a boatman crossed and brought
the spoil over to me. This was a Roohoo (C. Rohita) and
weighed 13ibs. 20z., and was perfectly uninjured except a gash
at the back of the head, four deep claw wounds on the back of
the neck, and four more about half way down the back. Ihave
often tried this plan since, but never with success, the cap-

252

tured fish in every other case having proved light enough for
the bird to fly away with when shot at.”

As soon as one bird has made a capture, it is generally
joined by its mate. ‘The latter usually stands a little apart for —
a moment or two, as if to allow the capturer to satisfy the first -
cravings of hunger, then sidles slowly up and begins with evi-
dent diffidence to feed too. This, however, is only the case if the
spoil is large. If the fish or the bird be small, the second comer
does not attempt to approach ; but after a few minutes flies off.

The scream of the Kingtail is very loud, shrill and thrilling,
and its peculiar accents can never be mistaken after being once
heard.

To judge from the rough shagreen-like soles of their feet,
fish is perhaps their natural food, but wounded or freshly killed
Geese, Ducks, and even Snipe, and Sandpipers, are greedily
seized, and devoured. It is noticeable, that when eating a
Goose, or other large bird, this Hagle usually holds it on the
ground, somewhere near the edge of the water, breast down-
wards and breaking through the back, eats out the entrails,
liver, &e., not touching the breast.

Captain Hutton tells me, that they capture all kinds of game,
Hares, and even young T’oxes ; but where I have observed them,
water-fowl and fish have been their chief diet. Although in
the Dhoon this species does not, Captain Hutton says, enter
the Himalayahs, I have found them in Kumaon, far up the val-
leys of the Kosila, Ramgunga, and Surjoo, at least an hundred
miles in a direct line from the southern outskirts of the Hills.

Professor Schlegel identifies our Indian species H. Fulviventer
of Vieillot, with Pallas’s bird, and I have no doubt correctly so,
but one of the dimensions given by him “ length 24 inches” is
absurd, and must have been taken from a dried skin; the
smallest adult male that I have yet seen measured 29 inches
in length, while females run up to 34. His dimensions of
wings and tail will do well enough ; but he has both tarsus and
mid toe, exceptionally small, and the feet are not yellowish (at
any rate in the adult) as he says, but greyish white, sometimes
with a faint bluish tinge. I note that both feet and cere are
wrongly coloured in Dr. Bree’s otherwise very tolerable figure.

Professor Newton, from the examination of (I believe) a
single sternum, was disposed to separate our Indian and.the
Crimean races, but the sterna of Hagles differ greatly at times
in the same species, while other specimens may be obtained
belonging to clearly distinct species, which are utterly undis-
tinguishable ; and so far as my experience goes, no reliable
conclusions as to the specific distinctness, or identity of nearly

253

allied forms can be arrived at, amongst the Eagles at any rate,
merely from an examination of sterna.

In the Etawah district, this bird is known as the “ Dhenk’”’
and “ Putras.”’

42 pis. Haliaetus? Pelagicus. Partas.

(itll. Kupf. der. vog. t. 2. f. 1.—Fulco Leucopterus, Temm.
Pl. Col. 489. The type of Thallassetus, Kaup. (1844.) Grays
Gen. Vol. I.)

It is with much hesitation, that I provisionally refer to the
above-named species, two* examples, now in my museum, of
an Haliactus, differing apparently from any species yet recorded
from India.

DIMENSIONS.
ap |

* FALIAETUS PrLacicus ?

istance by which lower tail coverts fall short

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The 4th primary is the longest. The 3rd is subequal, the 2nd is 1-4
shorter, the Ist, 4°5, and the Sth 0°6, shorter. Exterior tail feather :
M. 1°4 F. 2:2, shorter then the central ones. ;

DESCRIPTION.

Male. The legs and feet were bright orange yellow, the gape, and a
portion of the cere yellow, the upper portion of the cere yellowish brown.
Bill blackish horny. Inides, () (not recorded). The head, nape, cheeks, ear
coverts, and sides of the neck, hair brown; all the feathers white at their

254

1 shot these birds, the one in February 1866, and the other
in February 1867, in the neighbourhood of one of the huge
jheels which, situated between Mynpooree and Etawah, are a
favourite resort of all descriptions of waterfowl and waders, as
well as of birds of prey.

They are both young birds; in both, the plumage is mottled
and obviously in a transition stage, and in the absence of speci-

bases; in some, for the basal half, in some for fully the basal two-thirds,
but very little of the white shewing through, the feathers being densely set ;
all the feathers of these parts long, and linear, those of the occiput especi: illy.
The back of the neck, the ae of the back end rump, scapulars, and wing
coverts, except the greater primary coverts, as well as the feathers of the
breast, and abdomen, a warm buffy fawn color, changing to white at their
bases, and more or less broadly tipped with hair brown. The longer scapulars
and the upper tail coverts, which latter are very broad, and come down to
within some 43 inches of the tip of the tail, a mixture of yellowish and. hair
brown, mottled and freckled with white, and yellowish white. Tail, which is
very wedge-s shaped, reminding one of that of the Lammergeyer, dark brown,
moitled all over with dingy yellowish white, which color predominates on
the inner webs. The quills, winglet, and greater primary coverts, chocolate
brown, The second to the fifth primaries, conspicuously emarginate on the
outer web, and with a grey silvery tinge above the emarginations. The first
to the fifth primaries, conspicuously uotched on the inner webs. The chin
and throat, pale buffy brown, the feathers whitish at the base and darker at
the tips. The flanks, and thigh coverts, pale yellowish brown, the feathers
tipped dar ker, the lower tail coverts, dingy white, broadly tipped with
brown, which in the longer ones is a darks hair brown! 4 in the shorter a dull
yellowish brown. Wing lining a sort of umber brown, the bases of all
the feathers paler, some of them fawn- colored, and some of them white.

Female. The legs, feet, cere and gape, a sort of brownish yellow. The
upper mandible, and claws, blackish horny. The tip of the lower mandible,
yellowish horny. The whole of the head, nape, sides of the neck, cheeks,
chin, and throat, pale yellowish brown, the feathers white, tipped with
yellowish brown, which, owing to the feathers being closely set, is the predo-
minent color, especially on the top of the head. The ear coverts a darker
brown, the whole of the back of the neck, back, rump, and upper tail coverts,
breast, sides, abdomen, vent, and lower tail coverts, white, comparatively
narrowly tipped with yellowish brown, and many of the feathers, with a
narrow linear ovate, hair brown, shaft spot, near the tip. As in the male
the upper tail coverts are ovate lanceolate, very broad, and long, and reach to
within less than six inches of the end of the long wedge-shaped tail, Most
of the scapulars, and the tail feathers, ave a mixture of dull dark, and pale
dingy yellowish brown, every where mottled and freckled with dirty white,
which occupies almost the whole of the inner webs of the lateral tail feathers.
The wing coverts, except the greater primary coverts, are wood brown,
shewing “little or nothing of the white bases; most of the tertiaries are
mottled white, and dingy yellowish brown, like the tail. The secondaries
are a dull, slightly rufous brown, much mottled on the interior webs with
white, and the primaries are dark chocolate brown, greyish above the emar-
ginations. Some of the primary greater coverts, are dark chocolate brown,
and others are a pale rufous brown.

ae

255

mens with which to compare them, I can only conjecturally
refer them to H. Pelagicus.

The shape of the bill and feet, and the excessively rough
shagreen-like soles to the feet, would sufficiently prove that
they were sea, or fishing Eagles, even if I had not myself
observed them in the act of striking at, and capturing, fish.

Their huge size, (female ; length, 34; wing 26: male; length
32°38; wing, 25:°0) would alone preclude the possibility of their
belonging, either to, Polioaetus Ichthaetus, or Pontoactus Leuco-
gaster. Besides, they are true Haliacti, and not Pontoacti, the
tarsi covered posteriorly (as on the sides) with small, (and not
large,) irregularly placed scales. In (this respect, their tarsi
correspond precisely with those of H. Leucoryphus. Again, Dr.
Jerdon tells us, that Pontoaetus Leucogaster has been separated
by Hodgson, as Cuncuma, differing, in the tarsi being less feather-
ed in front, than the true Haliacti, whereas these birds have the
tarsi considerably more feathered than Haliactus Leucoryphus
ever has. Moreover, the transverse scutation does not descend
on to the foot, as in Pontoactus, in fact, there is even less of this
on the front of the tarsi, in these two specimens, than in ZH.
Leucoryphus.

From this latter species they differ, first, in the much deeper
and far less sinuated* upper mandible; 2nd, in the tarsus, feathered.
in front, for from five-eighths to three-fifths of the length; 3rd, in
the excessively rounded, or in fact, wedge-shaped tail, and 4th, in
the very long and broad upper tail coverts. Moreover, I have
specimens of H. Leucoryphus, in every stage of plumage, from the
half-fledged nestling, to the old adult, andthe plumage of the
two birds that I provisionally identify with Pedagicus, differs,
most conspicuously, from any stage of Leucoryphus.

So far as the very slight sinuation of the bill goes, these
birds correspond apparently, with H. Adbicilla. I have no spe-
cimen of this latter species, but the large figures of the head, in
Macgillivray, (Fig. 217, Vol. III.) and in Gray’s genera of
birds, (Aquiline, Details, No. 8,) agree in this respect, although,
it must be admitted that, in every other respect, they differ so
widely, that no one would imagine, that they were intended to
represent the same species.

These Eagles, be they what species they may, (and if not
Pelagicus, they may be new, in which case 1 name them
Brooksi, after my valued friend and coadjutor W. HK. Brooks,
C. E.,) are excessively wary. I have seen many examples,

* According to Dr. Jerdon, Pontoaetus Leucogaster has a more sinuated
bill than even . Leucoryphus.

256

always in the neighbourhood of very large jheels, and on two
occasions, apparently in company, with one, or two huge, sea-
gull looking Eagles. I never could get within a quarter of a
mile of these latter, but from what I could make out of them,
with binoculars, they appeared to correspond well with Cuncuma
Leucogaster, and it was to this species, that I formerly referred
these young birds.

The size, however, (females, even, of this latter species, never
apparently exceeding 31 inches in length, with wing 24°5,) the
scarcely sinuated bill, the tarsus feathered in front, for nearly
three-fifths, the bare portion of the tarsus, with only 4, (im one
specimen), or 5, (in the other), rather broad, transverse scute,
render any such identification umpossible.

Whenever I have observed them, these birds have either
been sitting on some post in the middle of, or on the bare
branch of some high tree overlooking some large sheet of water,
or else, busy fishing, circling round and round, at no great
height above the water, and after a time suddenly striking with
great rapidity at some fish. Although there were multitudes
of Teal and water fowl, I never saw them attempt to capture
any.

‘These birds are known to the native fowlers, at the Najjuffgurh
jheel, but only as occasional visitants, in the cold weather, and
they must be rare, as the natives have no proper distinctive name
for them, that I could learn, though they recognized their dis-
tinctness from the common HH. Fulviventer, some twenty pairs of
which, breed usually in the neighbourhood of the jheel.

Temminck figures this species, (Pelagicus) (Pl. Col. 489)
under the name of Palco Leucopterus, and the bill as shown in
his plate, (the upper mandible very high, the lower compara-
tively slender, and the commissure almost perfectly straight,)
corresponds exactly with our Indian specimens.

He thus describes the adults. Bill, cere, bare orbital space,
bare portion of tarsus and feet, bright yellow; irides golden ; a
broad frontal band, the upper half of the wings from the carpal
joint, to the greater coverts, the tibial and tarsal plumes, vent,
lower tail coverts and tail, pure white. The whole of the rest
of the plumage, blackish brown. He adds, that the old female
attains a length of 388 inches, but these being French inches,
and equal, each to 106577 English inches, are equivalent to 40°5
English inches. His measurements, however, were mostly taken
from skins, and are in many cases excessive, so that this differ-
ence in size, (our young female only measuring 34 inches) does
not bar the possibility, of our birds being really Peiagicus.
What, however, puzzles me is, that in his figure, the tail is shown
as almost square, while in our bird, it is not merely conspicu-

~

257

ously rounded, but is actually wedge-shaped, recalling the tails
of the Lammergeyer, or of the Australian Aquila Audax, which

eg however, is smaller, and has the tarsi feathered to the
eet.

I have sometimes fancied, that these birds might belong to
the Huropean species 7. Adbicilia. This latter species, is found
not only throughout Hnrope, extending to Sicily and Corfu to
the South, and Iceland and Greenland to the North, but almost
throughout Siberia, at Lake Baikal, in the upper and middle
Amoor where Radde procured it, and in the lower Amoor, and
generally the east coast of northern Asia, where H. L. v.
Schrenk obtained it, but only, if I remember rightly, in the
winter months. Pelagicus, on the other hand, has only as yet,
I believe, been obtained in Japan, and the extreme east of
Siberia; Middendorf procured it in Stanawoi, and Pallas origi-
nally described it, I believe, from Kamschatska, so that, of the
two, probabilities would be in favour of our birds being the
young of A/bicilla. With the plumage of these, as described by
Kuropean writers, they agree well enough, but then the bills
are so much higher, in proportion to their length, than those of
the European species, as figured by Gray, and Macgillivray,*
that I cannot help doubting their belonging to it,

Since the above was written, I have learnt from Mr. Brooks,
that he has obtained a specimen, precisely similar to one of
mine. Others will doubtless occur, and I therefore, to aid other
observers, in determining the species to which any specimens
that they may obtain, belong, append full descriptions, and
measurements, of H. A/bicilla, taken from Macgillivray.

“Marr. The cere and bill are pale yellow, the iris bright
yellow; the tarsi and toes gamboge, the claws black, with a
tinge of greyish blue. The plumage of the head, neck, fore-
part of the back and breast, with the upper wing coverts
greyish yellow, the feathers all greyish brown at the base; of
the other parts greyish brown, edged with yellowish grey, the
scapulars and feathers of the rump glossed with purple, those
of the abdomen, tibiz, and sub-caudal region inclining to
chocolate brown ; the quills and alular feathers brownish black,
with a tinge of grey, the inner secondaries inclining to greyish
brown; the shafts of all, white towards the base; the lower
surface of the quills, and the large coverts tinged with greyish
blue. The upper tail coverts and the tail are white (generally
freckled with dusky grey at the base). The down on the breast
is pale grey, that on the sides darker.

* But then while figuring along, comparatively low bill, Macgillivray tells
us, that “ the bill is darger and higher, than in any species known, excepting
Haliaetus Washingtom !”

258

Length, to end of tail, 86 inches; extent of wings, 72; bill,
along the ridge, 3°41 inches, along the edge of lower mandible,
8, its height, 1-41; wing from flexure, 24; tail, 11°5; tarsus, 4;
first toe, 1°33, its claw, 2°16; second toe, 1°58, its claw, 2°16 ; third
toe, 3, its claw, 1:41; fourth toe, 2°08, its claw, 1°58.

Frematr. The female does not differ from the male in color,
and her superiority in size is often not very remarkable.

Length to end of tail, 40 inches; extent of wings, 80; bill
along the ridge, 3°91, along the edge of lower mandible, 3°33,
its height, 1°66; wing from flexure, 27°5; tail, 12; tarsus, 4°50 ;
first toe, 1-5, its claw, 2°25; second toe, 1°16, its claw, 2°33 ; third
toe, 3°08, its claw, 1:64; fourth toe, 1°66, its claw, 1°41.

Youna. The bill is brownish black, the base of the lower
mandible yellow, the cere greenish yellow ; the feet yellow, the
claws black. The bases of all the feathers are brownish white,
their middle parts light reddish brown, their tips only blackish
brown. The head and nape are dark brown, each feather with
a minute, brownish white spot on the tip. On the middle of
the back, and on the wings, light reddish brown is the prevalent
color, the black tips of comparatively small extent; on the third
part of the back, there is much white, that color extending
farther from the base. The quills and larger wing coverts, are
blackish brown, with a tinge of grey ; the tail feathers brownish
white in the centre, black towards the margins, with irregular
white dots, the lower parts are of the same colors as the back,
or are pale reddish brown, marked with longitudinal streaks
and spots of dark brown; the lower wing coverts brown, the
tail coverts white, with light brown tips.

Procress TowARD Marurity. In the second year, the
young exhibit little difference, being, however, of a darker tint
on the back and wings. An individual at this age, has the bill
brownish black, tinged with blue, its base and the cere greenish
yellow; the iris hazel brown; the feet gamboge, the claws
brownish black. The head and nape are dark brown, the base
of all the feathers, on the upper parts, is white: on the hind
neck and fore-parts of the back that colour, tinged with yellow-
ish brown, prevails, a lanceolate or obovate deep brown spot,
being on each feather towards the end; on the middle of the
back, the brown prevails, on the hind part white, and the rump
and upper tail coverts are light brown, tipped with darker.
The scapulars are dark brown, with a purplish tinge, the wing
coverts dark brown at the end, but most of the larger pale
brown in the greater part of their extent ; the quills black, with
a purplish grey tinge, the secondaries gradually becoming more
brown, and all faintly variegated with light grey and brown on
the inner webs. ‘T'he tail is brownish black, with a tinge of

+ < ewe

259

grey, and more or less finely mottled with whitish. The lower
parts may be described as brownish white, longitudinally
streaked with dark brown, there being a lanceolate patch of the
latter on each feather ; the lower wing coverts and feathers of
the legs dark brown; the lower surface of the quills bluish
grey; the lower tail coverts white, tipped with brown; the
down on the breast pure white.

Remarks. In this species, the bill and iris change from
dusky brown to pale yellow, and the plumage, at first
white at the base, and dark brown at the end, gradually loses
its white, while the dark parts become paler and more extended,
the final colouring being more uniform.

The tail forms no exception, for its basal white also dimi-
nishes; but the white which is gradually substituted for the
brownish black, spreads from near the end to the base.”

43. Cuncuma Leucogaster, GMEL.
THe WuitE-BeEeLLieD SrA HAGLE.

Dr. Jerdon’s description of the soft parts of this Hagle, hardly
corresponds with those of other authorities. He gives the
irides, brownish yellow, the cere, pale greenish yellow, and the
legs, dirty white. Mr. Wallace (Ibis 1868) gives the “ Bill,
black, base and cere, lead colour; feet, very pale yellow; iris
olive brown. Length, 26 to 29 inches.”

Mr. Gould again, in his hand-book to the birds of Australia,
p. 16, says that, ‘the cere, lores and horny space over the eye,
are bluish lead colour, slightly tinged with green, and the legs
and feet yellowish white.”

I have never killed this bird myself, nor found its nest; Dr.
Jerdon tells us that they breed at Pigeon Island, (thirty miles
or so south of Honawr, on the western coast), in December,
January, and February, and my friend Mr. H. R. P. Carter,
has verified this observation, through a correspondent, and, I
believe, procured eggs thence, but I have not yet received these.

Mr. Gould (loc. cit) has the following interesting remarks, on
the breeding of this species.

“With regard to the nidification of the white-bellied Sea
Hagle, I could not fail to remark how readily the birds accommo-
date themselves to the different circumstances in which they
are placed ; for while, on the mainland, they invariably construct
their large flat nest on a fork of the most lofty trees, on the
islands, where not a tree is to be found, it is placed on the flat
surface of a large stone, the materials of which it is formed,

260

being twigs and branches of the Barilla, a low shrub which is
there plentiful. The eggs are almost invariably two in number,
of a dull white, faintly stained with reddish brown, two inches
and nine lines long, by two inches and three lines broad.”

This bird oceurs, but only, apparently, near the sea coast,
throughout India, Burmah, the Andaman Islands, (Tytler)
Malacca, Celebes, Gilolo, Batchian, Morty, Aru Is. (Wallace)
Sumatra, Java, and Timor (Mus. Lugd.) In upper, or conti-
nental India, it is excessively rare, if indeed it ever occur.
Mr. R. Thompson it is true, tells me, that he feels confident
that this bird breeds on the Himalayan rivers, and that he has
frequently met with it on the smaller streams of the Ram
Gunga valley, but I cannot help suspecting that he has mista-
ken for this species, the bird that I have provisionally identified
with H. Pelagicus, and which I have described under No. 42
Bis.

Mr. Gould remarks, that this species ‘‘ depends almost entirely
for its subsistence upon the dead Cetacea, fish, ete. that may
be thrown up by the sea, and left on the shore, by the receding
waves, to which in all probability are added, living moluscas
and other lower marine animals.” ‘The following interesting
notes by Colonel Tytler show, that when fish are eccentric
enough to move about on the top of, instead of in the sea, they
form a favorite food of this Hagle.

“This species is not uncommon, throughout all the islands
of the Andaman group. At Port Blair, it is often called the
Duck Eagle, from the quacking sound it emits, (very similar
to the quack of a Duck,) when flying, and particularly when
fighting with another of the same species, about some captured
fish.

“The harbour of Port Blair swarms with a species of Pipe-fish ;
these are constantly seen skimming along the surface of the
water, (apparently on their tails,) for long distances, and it is a
beautiful sight to see this fine Sea Kagle, whilst soaring high in
air, dash down like a falling cannon ball on one of these
wave-walking fishes, almost to a certainty capturing it, before
it has time to sink into its natural element. No sooner, how-
ever, does one of these Eagles capture a fish, than another is sure
to be down upon him, eager to rob him of his prey. <A series
of skirmishes, ending in a regularchase, takes place, and away
go the Hagles, each quacking louder than the other, until both
disappear far out at sea, leaving the result of the contest uncer-
tain.

* Whilst passing in the steamer near the island of Narkandam
(between Burmah and the Andamans) for the purpose of
stocking it with Pigs, Goats, and Fowls, for the benefit of any

261

future cast-aways on that lonely island, I observed a very great
number of these Sea EKagles on the rocks and trees, and as they
must be there perfectly undisturbed, this doubtless, is one of their
breeding-places. At Barren Island, I also observed numbers of
this Eagle, and for this, the great abundance of dead fish gene-
rally strewing its shores would account. ‘There is a voleano on
this island, which is always in a more or less active state of
eruption ; sulphur and sulphur springs abound in it, and
there is said to be a boiling spring, in one place, under water,
near the shore, and either owing to the heat of the water, or to
noxious gases or substances finding their way into the sea in its
neighbourhood, the shores of this island are almost always
strewn with dead and decaying fish ; a rather objectionable loca-
lity to human visitors, but a perfect paradise to the white-

bellied Sea Eagle.”

44. Buteo Vulgaris, Brecusrety.
Tue Common Buzzarp, (of Europe).

I have never seen any specimen, of this species, which had
been obtained in India. ‘The specimen to which Dr. Jerdon
refers, (Birds of India, Vol. I. p. 87) as killed on the Neilgher-
ries, and which he figured, (Ill. Ind. Orn. pl. 27) belonged to
a different species, B. Desertorum ? (No. 44 bis.) I very much
question, whether the common Buzzard of Europe, really does
occur in India; every Indian killed example, as yet sent me, as
belonging to this species has proved to belong to that next to
be noticed.

Mr. Blyth says, that this species ‘“ certainly occurs in the
N. W. Himalayas, near Mussouree, where several specimens
were collected by Dr. Stewart.” I saw two of the specimens,
to which I believe Mr. Blyth refers, and though not then
acquainted with the difference between the two species, remem-
ber these specimens well, and believe them to have belonged to
the next species. In another place, Mr. Blyth says “ numerous
examples from the N. W. Himalayas, several of which are in
the same collection’ (the Caleutta Museum) ‘I consider to be
unmistakeably B. Vulgaris.” When I visited it early in 1868,
the Calcutta Museum only contained two Indian killed speci-
mens, labelled B. Vulgaris, one from Darjeeling and the other
from Nepal, (none at all from the N. W. Himalayas,) and
both these two I should refer to the next species.

After all, this species may oocur in the Himalayas, and,

262

indeed, the natural presumption is, that Blyth is right, and that
I am wrong, and that it does so occur. Still I have thought it
necessary to put my own doubts on the subject prominently
forward, in view to stimulating enquiry.

Of the nidification of the common Buzzard in India, nothing
has been recorded. Of its nidification in Great Britain, I take
the following from Mr, Yarrell: “In Scotland, the Buzzard
forms its nest on rocks, or on the edges of steep scars or beds
of torrents; one nest described by Mr. MacGillivray, was placed
on the top of a steep bank or rut of a stream, and was composed
of twigs, heath, wool and some other substances. In England,
the Buzzard usually builds, or takes to a nest, in the forked
branches of a tree in a large wood; the materials with which
the nest is made, or repaired, are similar to those that have
been already named.

The female lays two or three, and sometimes, four eggs, of a
short oval form, two inches three lines in length, by one inch
and ten lines in breadth, of a soiled white colour, slightly spotted
with pale brown.”

Mr. Hewitson tells us that, where trees are available, its nest
is built on them, and is composed of sticks ined with a quan-
tity of wool, fur and such like soft materials, but that in Scot-
land, where it inhabits treeless districts, it makes its nest,
(which is very much like an Hagle’s, except in size,and lined with
the same kind of dry grass,) upon the ledges of rocks. He
further tells us, that the eggs, which are three or four in number,
vary according to the age of the bird, (I wonder whether this
is a well ascertained fact) and are sometimes spotless white.
He mentions one egg as beautifully colored, with different tints
of lilac and purple, as also that eggs were brought to a friend
of his, for several successive years from the same locality, and
doubtless the produce of the same pair, which the first year
were white, or nearly so, the second year slightly marked with
indistinct yellowish brown, increasing each year in the intensity
of their colouring, till the spots became ofa rich dark brown. The
two egos which he figures are broad ovals, (one of them indeed
is almost spherical) and measure 2°33 & 1°84, and 2°08 xX 1°77.
The one is boldly blotched and spotted, with clear brownish
red, (in which a few dark lines are mingled) and reddish fawn
colour, on a pale bluish white, but somewhat soiled ground, the
markings being almost exclusively confined, to the broad-end
half of the egg ; and the other is more thickly clouded, streaked
and spotted, with pale brownish red and purplish black, on a
ground almost entirely over clouded with reddish fawn.

Dr. Jerdon gives the wing of the female of this species at 18
inches ; this seems to me too large. Mr. Yarrell gives it at

263

14:37, and those of two specimens in my collection, from Europe,
marked females, measure,* 15:1, and 15 inches respectively.

I find the following description in the Naturalist’s Library,
which may be useful to observers in India. ‘ The common
Buzzard varies considerably in the colouring of the plumage,
scarcely two specimens being similar. The difference consists
chiefly, in the intensity of the tint of the upper parts, and in the
presence of a greater or lesser degree of marking below. The
general colour above, is some shade of umber brown, varying to
hair brown, and brocoli brown; the feathers darker in the
centre, often edged with a paler tint, or with reddish yellow,
and generally glossed with a rich shining purple, which is most
prevalent in dark coloured specimens. Wings at the tips are
deep umber brown, shading into pure white at the base, where
the feather becomes soft and downy; they are crossed with
iregular, clouded, dark bars, which decrease in breadth and
intensity, towards the roots. The under parts are sometimes
pale yellowish white, streaked on the throat and breast, with
shades of brown, of different intensity, and on the belly and
vent crossed by broad irregular bars: sometimes they are of a
uniform tint, nearly as dark as the upper surface of the body,
and very little interrupted, and sometimes a very dark and deep
band, tinted with purple, occupies the whole belly, while the
other parts are streaked and marked with a moderate propor-
tion of brown; the plumes of the thighs are generally dark,
crossed with reddish ; the tail is slightly rounded, the ground
colour whitish, of a chaste grey tinted with ochraceous, or of a
reddish yellow; it is crossed by a broad bar of umber brown,
near the tip, and by seven or eight narrow ones, of the same
colour. In many of its variations it is extremely beautiful.
The length of a male specimen before us is twenty inches, that
of a female, nearly twenty-three.”

Mr. Yarrell’s description is as follows :

“ The beak is bluish black, darkest in colour towards the point,
the cere yellow, the irides generally yellow ; but as the common
Buzzard, and indeed all the Buzzards, are subject to consider-
able variation in the colour of their plumage, the irides are
observed to vary also, presenting some reference to the prevail-
ing tone of the colour of the feathers. ‘The upper part of the
head, occiput, and cheeks, pale brown, streaked longitudinally
with darker brown; the whole of tue back, wing coverts, upper
tail coverts, and upper suriace of the tail feathers, dark clove

* The wings of two specimens in Colonel Tytler’s collection, measure
16°25, and 15 inches respectively.

264

brown, the latter barred with lighter brown, the feathers of the
former named parts having lighter coloured edges ; the wing
primaries, brownish black ; the chin and throat, almost white ;
front of the neck, breast, under wing coverts, belly and thighs,
greyish white, spotted and streaked with brocoli brown ; under
tail coverts, white; under surface of the tail feathers, greyish
white, barred transversely with dark wood brown ; legs and toes
yellow ; the claws black.’

As it seems most essential to afford observers in the Hills,
the utmost assistance possible, in determining, whether any of
the Buzzards that they may obtain, really belong to this species
or not, I proceed further to quote largely from Mr. Macegilliv-
ray’s admirable history of British Birds.

The following are his characters of the species:

‘Male, with the upper parts, deep brown, the feathers mar-
gined with paler, the lower parts, yellowish-white, with longi-
tudinal, oblong, brown spots, the tail with numerous brown and
pale bands. Female, deep brown above, and beneath the
throat streaked with whitish, the breast spotted with the same.
Young, with the feathers margined with light red.

He gives the following detailed description of the male,
female, and young.

Maur. ‘The wings are large and rounded, with twenty-five
quills, the first four primaries abruptly cut out on the inner
web, the first six attenuated on the outer; the first quill four
inches shorter than the third, which is longest, but exceeds the
fourth only by one-twelfth of an inch, the fifth very little
shorter, the second intermediate between the fifth and sixth, the
first equal to the eighth. The tail is rather long, broad, and
slightly rounded, the middle feather being about three quarters
of an inch longer than the lateral.

The bill is black, at the base greyish blue, its soft margins
at the base, yellow, the cere and bare space over the eye, green-
ish-yellow; the irides, brownish yellow; the feet, bright yellow,
the claws black, tinged with blue at the base. The general
colour of the upper parts is umber brown, glossed with a tinge
of purple; but on the head and hind neck streaked with
yellowish-white, the bases and margins of the feathers being of
that colour. The feathers of the back and wings with the
margins pale, or brownish-grey ; they and the scapulars barred
with white in their concealed parts, the bases of all being white,
which becomes apparent on the lined neck when they are raised ;
the upper tail coverts are barred with whitish. ‘he primary
quills are brownish-black towards the end, the secondaries brown,
a great part of the inner webs towards the base white, barred

265

with brown, the bars more extended on the secondaries. The
tail is marked with ten or twelve brown bars, alternating with
others of a pale greyish-brown, the tips whitish. The cheeks
and sides of the neck are yellowish-white, with brown lunar or
oblong markings; the throat, fore-neck, and middle of the breast
yellowish-white, with the shafts brown; the ground color of
the other parts the same, but each feather with an oblong, brown,

- longitudinal mark ; the lower tail coverts barred, the feathers of

the legs tinged with reddish, and barred or patched with brown.
The lower wings-coverts yellowish-white, spotted and barred
with brown ; and the white of the inner webs of the primaries
forming a conspicuous patch.

Length to end of tail 19-5 inches ; extent of wings, 49 ; wing
from flexure, 16°5 ; tail, 9; bill along the ridge, 1°58, along the
edge of lower mandible, 1°55; tarsus, 2°83 ; hind toe 0°74, its
claw 1; second toe, 1, its claw, 1:08; third toe 1°55; its claw,
0°83; fourth toe, 1, its claw, 0°581.

Frmate. The female is considerably larger than the male,
and although similar in colouring, differs in several respects.
The colors of the bill, iris, and fect are the same as in the male.
The upper parts are of a darker and more uniform brown, the
bases of the feathers dull grey; and only white on the hind-
neck ; the whitish bands on the scapulars more obscure. ‘The
wings and tail are colored as in the male, only the last brown
bar, on the latter, is much broader than the rest. The predomi-
nant color of the lower parts is chocolate-brown; but the
cheeks and throat are streaked with dull brownish-white, the
fore-neck obscurely, the middle of the breast conspicuously,
transversely spotted or barred with yellowish white, intermixed
with reddish ; the inner and anterior feathers of the legs barred
with brownish-red; the lower tail-coverts white, barred with
brown, the lower surface of the wing as in the male, but much
darker, the white patch, consequently, more conspicuous.

Length to end of tail, 22 inches; extent of wing, 61; wing
from flexure, 17; tail, 9°75; bill along the ridge, 1°58; tarsus,
33 first toe, 1, its claw, 1°25; second toe, 0°91, its claw, 1:25;
third toe, 1°5, its claw, 1:08; fourth toe, 1:08, its claw, 0°83.

Another individual, shot in Aberdeenshire, in May, 1817, was
similar to the above; the whole upper surface, rich brown; on
the upper part of the back, the feathers laterally margined with
light ferruginous, the scapulars and wing coverts with that
colour and white; the primary quills nearly black, glossed with
purple toward the end; the secondaries nearly of the general
tint ; all with the inner webs edged with white, and barred
with a deeper shade of brown ; on its lower surface, the wing

266

much lighter, there being a white patch, including part of the
inner webs of the five outer quills; the coverts barred with
white, their ground colour being, toward the base, light ferrugin-
ous, toward the end deep brown ; the tail deep brown, barred
with greyish and reddish, or marked with alternate bars of
brown and brownish grey, the last dark bar being the broadest,
and the tips reddish-white ; nine dark bars on the middle, and
ten on the lateral feathers; on the lower surface the prevailing
colour brown, of a lighter shade than the upper; on the fore-
neck spotted, on the ‘breast barred, with white ; the tibial feathers
brown, tipped with ferruginous.

Length, 21°5 inches; extent of wings, 50.

These differences between the adult male, and the adult
female, I have found to be very constant, although individuals
of each sex vary considerably.

Variations. Males vary, in having the white of the lower
parts, more or less extended, and the streaks and spots of greater
or less breadth. Sometimes the white is so extended on both
surfaces, that it might be said to form the ground colour, which
is then merely spotted with brown. Females differ also in the
extent of the white spots and bars beneath, but they are always
darker and more uniformly coloured than the males. Great
differences are observed in the number of the scutella, and I
have seen a male, which had none on the fore part of the tibia,
it having been covered with small scales. When the feathers
are old, they become very ragged and pointed, change from deep
glossy brown to greyish-brown, with the edges yellowish or
even whitish-brown; so that individuals in this state, seem very
different from those of which the plumage is fresh, and in those
which are moulting, the contrast between the old and new
feathers is very conspicuous.

Youne. A male shot in October, having its plumage com-
plete, and known to be a young bird by the softness and vas-
cularity of its bones, was as follows :

The cere and soft margins of the bill greenish-yellow, the iris
hazel, the tarsi and toes, yellow with a tinge of green, the bills and
claws black. ‘The upper part of the head, and the hind-neck are
dark brown, longitudinally streaked with yellowish-white, the
lateral margins of the feathers being of that colour. The rest
of the upper parts deep brown, glossed with purple, all the
feathers laterally margined with light-red ; the scapulars and
some of the large wing-coverts, with several bands of white on
their inner webs, of which the edge is mottled with reddish.
The hind part of the back is of a uniform dark brown; but the
upper tail coverts are barred with light red. The primary

~~ aie

267

quills are brownish black, with the outer webs tinged with grey
toward the end, the inner white from the base to beyond the
middle, and having severalirregular dusky bands. Tail banded
with brownish-grey and blackish brown, there being ten bands
on the middle feathers, and twelve on the outer, the last dark
band little larger than the next, the tips whitish. The sides of
the head and throat are yellowish white streaked with brown ;
the rest of the lower parts yellowish white, longitudinally marked
with oblong brown spots, the sides chiefly brown; the lower
tail-coverts with a brown spot; the plumage of the legs and
tarsi irregularly banded with brown and light red. The dull
light red edgings of the feathers are characteristic of the young,
as is also the case in the Sparrow-Hawk, Merlin, and many
other species.

A female of the same age, differs chiefly, in having less white
on the lower parts, the breast beimg of a nearly uniform brown,
although on many of the feathers, there are large reddish-white
spots. The feathers of the legs and tarsi are variegated with
brown, white, and light red, as are those of the abdomen, and
the lower tail-coverts yellowish, barred with brown.

Procress witH Marurrry.—At the next moult, the bird
assumes a more uniform brown colour on the upper parts, the
light red markings becoming light brown, or brownish-white.
It appears that, as it advances in age, the marginal white of
the feathers extends, until the lower parts in the males hecome
nearly white, there being merely an oblong brown spot on
each feather, and the white predominates over the brown on the
upper parts. In the females, similar changes take place, but
the lower parts are always more brown than in the males. I
have seen some individuals that had the plumage white, with
the exception of the quills, tail and some oblong spots on the upper
parts and breast. it thus appears that at first the colors of
the plumage are darker than when the bird has attained matu-
rity, and that the white predominates over the brown in old age ;
but it must be confessed that sufficiently correct observations
have not been made on this subject, and that much remains
to be done, before the variations of color, in the species, are
well understood. The iris, in young birds is brown, in adult
birds yellow.

Mr. Temminck states, that in adult individuals, the upper
parts, the neck and breast, are dark brown; the throat and
belly brownish grey but variegated with spots of a darker
brown, the tail with twelve transverse bands, the bill lead-
colour, the cere, iris and seet yellow. Very old individuals,
he says, have the plumage very deep brown, or chocolate colour,

268

the throat whitish with small longitudinal brown streaks, some-

white transverse bands on the belly, and yellowish bands towards
the abdomen. The young of the year, according to him, have
the general colour light brown, variegated with whitish and
yellowish, the throat white with longitudinal spots, the feathers
of the breast bordered with white, the middle of the belly whitish,

with large longitudinal oval or cordate spots. Birds of this

latter kind, I think, are old males, those described in the preced-
ing sentence, old females.

44 BIs. Buteo Desertorum, Davunriny.

Tue Arrican Buzzarp.

Buteo Rufiventer, Jerdon.

», Capensis, Schlegel.

» Cirtensts, Le Vail. Junr.
Falco Vulpinus, Licht.

IT have already ventured to express some doubts as to the
occurrence of Buteo Vulgaris in India, and it is certain that
whether this species does or does not occur, the present species
figured by Jerdon as Rufiventer (Ill. In. Orn. plate 27,)
which is common in the Himalayas, is the one that in most
Indian collections, does duty for it. This is the species which
Dr. Jerdon describes at page 87 of the “ Birds of India,” when he
mentions the specimen shot in the Neilgherries ; this is the species
to which belong specimens obtained in Cashmere by Dr. Jerdon,
and given to Colonel Tytler and myself, by him, as B. Vulgaris ;
and this also, is certainly the species of which Dr. Stewart ob-
tained some specimens near Mussourie, (vide Ir. Blyth’s remarks
already quoted, page 261) though I cannot assert that he may not
have procured others of the true B. Vulgaris. Whether this
Indian species, be really identical with B. Desortorum, Daudin ;
and B. Cirtensis, Le Vaill. Jun., figured by Mr. Bree as B.
Tachardus, Daudin, I cannot pretend* to say. In this identifi-

* My own private belief is, that ours is a larger bird, Layard gives the
wing of the South African species, as 14 inches. For comparison, I quote his
description &c.

“ Upper parts brown; each feather having pale edges, and a black shaft.
Head, pale fulvous, streaked with brown. Wing feathers dark brown. Tail
feathers fulvous, inclined to rufous, and narrowly barred with brown; the
broadest bar at the tip. Under parts, pale fulvous ; almost white on the
chin and throat; streaked on the two latter, and blotched on the former

uaa

269

cation I merely follow Mr. Gurney, admittedly the best autho-
rity in such matters. I quote his remarks on the subject from
the Ibis. (1862, p. 361.)

‘“‘T have myself no doubt that the “ Tachard” of Le Vaillant,
and consequently the Buteo Tachardus of Daudin, is identical
with Pernis apivorus, a species which I have twice received from
the colony of Natal.”

Most ornithologists have erroneously attributed the name of
Buteo tachardus of Daudin, to the Lesser Buzzard of South
Africa, for which M. Des Murs now suggests the new specific
appellation of Butco delalandi. This is, as it seems to me,
unnecessary ; for I cannot but think, that this small Buzzard is
the “Rougri” of Le Vaillant, (Buteo desertorum of Daudin,)
the description and figure of which appear to me to agree with
the species now under consideration in all points except one,
namely, that the cere and bill are both described as yellow,
instead of the cere only. But may not this have been a mere
lapsus calami of the author, copied by the artist into his draw-
ing, which was probably made trom a skin, of which the bill
was faded, or (as is frequently the case in skins, brought from
hot countries) in which the horny covering of the upper mandi-
ble had shelled off ?

Such at least seems to me the probability, and with that
view, I consider the small Buzzard of South Africa, as entitled
to the specific name desertorun.

M. Des Murs expresses a strong opinion, that the small
Buzzard of South Africa, is specifically distinct, from that of
North - Africa, (Buteo Cirtensis of the “ Exploration de I
Algerie,”) but the only difference I can perceive between them
is, that the South African bird is usually less rufous, and is
somewhat paler on the breast, which are hardly suflicient
grounds for a specific distinction.

The geographical range of Buteo Cirtensis, (even if it be
distinct from its South African Congener) is still very extensive,

with brown. Thighs rufous, faintly blotched with fulvous. Vent feathers
pale fulvous. Length 1’ 8” ; wing, 14” ; tail, 7.” Ivides yellow.” Fully adult
birds become throughout, of a deep rufous brown, blotched with dark mark-
ings. In this stage they constitute Le Vaillaint’s species, called Le Rougri,
Ois d’ Af, Pl. 17.”

I may add that a particularly fine male, unquestionably B. Desertorum,
from South Africa, now in Colonel Tytler’s museum, measured—Length
22, wing. 14°5, tail 8°38, tarsus 2°5, feathered in front for one inch. In
plumage it greatly resembled some of our Himalayan birds, but, was much

smaller than any of these. Personally, I feel by no means satisfied that our
‘Indian bird is Desertorum.

270

as it is found generally in North Africa, from Mogador to
Egypt; and it also occurs in Huropean Turkey, i in Southern
Russia on the Vole ga, at Smyrna, at Erzeroum, in Madras, and
in Nepal.

The Indian specimens which I have seen, and also that from
Erzeroum, are less rufous and more chocolate coloured, especi-
ally on the under parts, than more western specimens. ‘This
darker form of colouring, would seem to be as worthy of specific
distinction, as the paler breasted race of South Africa, and it
has been figured and described, as distinct, by Mr. Jerdon, in his
‘Tilustrations of Indian Ornithology,’ (pl. 27,) under the title
of Buteo rufiventer.

M. Des Murs well remarks, that Buteo Cirtensis is closely
allied to the large rufous Buzzard of North Eastern Africa,
South Eastern Europe and Asia.”

The present species, (I mean the Indian race,) so far as I
yet know, is confined to the Neilgherries, and the Himalayas.
A very large number of specimens from the Himalayas, have
passed through my hands, and though I have never shot one
myself, the bird appears to be not uncommon anywhere in
these Hills from Murree to Darjeeling.

In size, they appear to differ little from the common Buzzard
of Europe, though their form seems somewhat slenderer, but
the wings which reach to or very near to, the end of the tail,
are proportionally longer I think. Unfortunately, European

writers as a rule, give very few dimensions, and I cannot there-
fore be sure in regard to this latter point.

Mr. Yarrell gives the wing of the female Kuropean Buzzard,
at 14°37 inches; those of two specimens in my collections mea-
sure 15 and 15:1, and of two in Colonel T'ytler’s, 16°25 and 15,
while the wings of the present species, measure from 15°5 in
males, up to 17°0 in females. Dr. Bree, whose figure, tolerably
well accords with some of my specimens, gives the wing as only
14:5, but none of the numerous Indian examples that I have
examined, have had the wings so short. I note that Dr. Bree
correctly represents, (p. 97, Vol. I.) the wings as reaching to
the end of the tail; while in Jerdon’s figure (above referred to)
they are drawn out of position, the carpal joint beg advanced
too high upon the neck, and the tips of the wings falling consl-
derably short of the end of the tail.

Besides the greater length of wing, this species appears to
differ from the common Buzzard, in the prevailing rufous cha-
racter of its under surface. There is often a yellow tinge in
these parts, in B. Vulyaris, and the tibial and tarsal plumes are
banded reddish, but in no specimen of the common Buzzard

271

that I have yet seen, or can find described, does there appear
that predominance of rufous, which characterizes the present
species. Again, the adult of this species, (herein resembling
Ferox) always has the outer webs of the second to the sixth or
seventh primary, silvered above the emarginations, and this
would not appear to be the case in B. Vulgaris. From B.
Ferox, its smaller size distinguishes it; the wings in this latter
Species varying from 16°25 and upwards in males, to fully 19
inches in large females. The feet and claws too are smaller,
and while in no instance have I found the tarsus of Ferar less
than 3°2, (and it is no less than 3:7 in one large female now
before me) in no instance have I found the tarsus of the present
Species to exceed 2°9, and in the males it often barely exceeds
27. Lam aware that Bree gives the tarsus 3; but in no one, out
of 21 Indian killed specimens, has it exceeded 2°9 scant.

Mr. Gurney, quoted by Dr. Bree says: “The appearance of
this bird when alive, is less heavy and more elegant than that
of B. Vulgaris. My living specimen, which was dull brown
when I bought it a year ago, has moulted into a rich rufous
plumage, and one that was alive in the Zoological Gardens, a
few years ago, underwent a similar change.”’

This bird of Mr. Gurney’s, is described as having “ the crown
of the head, back, and scapulars a dark ashy brown, each feather
haying a narrow streak of brown down the centre, shadowed
with arusty red.” he tail, tibial and tarsal plumes are fi-
gured an uniform dark cinnamon red. “ The cere, feet and tarsi,”
Mr. Gurney tells us, ‘are lemon yellow, and the iris is some-
times alight hazel, and sometimes yellow, probably assuming
the latter colour as the bird advances in age : a similar variation,
which exists in the iris of the common Buzzard, is, however, not
always referable to age, as I have ascertained by experience.
The billis dark lead colour, but somewhat lighter adjoining the
throat and cere

The plumage of our Himalayan. birds, varies most remark-
ably, but no single specimen that I have yet seen, agrees very
closely with either Dr. Bree’s figure, or any description of B.
Desertorum or B. Cirtensis to which I have access.

One common type of plumage is as follows. The whole of the
top of the head, occiput, nape and back of the neck dark brown,
(the shafts almost black) each feather more or less narrowly mar-
gined at the sides, (not at the extreme tips) with bright rufous
fawn. The interscapular region similar, but a still darker
brown, often glossed with purple and but little of the rufous
showing, owing to the close overlapping of the feathers, leaving

little but their tips visible. The middle of the back deep hair

272

brown, the rump and upper tail coverts very pure, deep, cinma~
mon rufous, with conspicuous white shafts. The central tail
feathers, a slightly paler cinnamon rufous, somewhat infuscated
towards the margins, and with freckled and mottled traces of a
single, broad, subterminal, umber brown, transverse bar. The
lateral tail feathers similar, but, with the subterminal bar
somewhat better marked, and running up the outer margins
for an inch or so, and paling on the inner webs towards the
bases. (One specimen in this stage has two or three, much
abraded, unmoulted feathers in the tail, these have a dirty
yellowish white ground, tinged with cinnamon towards the tips,
which for the terminal one inch, are dull hair brown, above
which are traces of three or four, wavy, irregular, more or less
mottled, quarter inch, transverse bars of the same colour.)
The wings and scapulars are umber brown, many of the feathers
with a purple gloss, and all the shorter scapulars, and lesser
coverts, margined, except quite at the tips, with bright rufous,
or in some, rufous fawn. ‘The outer webs of the second, and
succeeding primaries, above the emarginations, are silver grey,
tinged, and in some cases freckled, and mottled, with cinnamon
rufous, and the white on the upper surfaces, of the inner webs of
all the later primaries, and most of the secondaries, replaced by
the same colour, with which even the earlier primaries are
tinged. The ear coverts are fulvous white, each feather with a
dull, rufous brown, shaft stripe. ‘There is a dark brown cheek
stripe from the base of the lower mandible, running under the
ear coverts, and this is more or less distinctly marked, in every
stage of plumage. The chin and throat are yellowish white,
the feathers with narrow dark brown shaft stripes. The whole
of the breast, and upper abdomen is buffy white, the shafts
rufous, and the feathers of the sides of the breast, with broad,
rather pale, and somewhat brownish, rufous centres. ‘The lower
portion of the abdomen, vent, flanks, tibial and tarsal plumes,
rich ferruginous, deepest on the tibial plumes which are dark
shafted, and on the lower abdomen somewhat mottled with
rufous, or in some yellowish white. The lower tail coverts are
white, altogether unbarred, greyish towards the tips, yellowish
towards the bases; the axillaries, and the greater portion of the
wing lining, bright cinnamon rufous, some of the larger lower
coverts, however, being mingled deep brown and deep ferru-
ginous.

In another type, the general appearance of whose upper
surface closely resembles that above described, the rump and
upper tail coverts are deep purplish umber brown, only narrowly
margined with ferruginous. ‘he central tail feathers are dull

Zia

brownish grey, slightly tinged with rufous near the shafts, with |
from seven to eight moderately broad, transverse, hair brown
bars, broadest at the tips, where the terminal bar may be nearly
three-quarters of an inch broad, and narrowest towards the
bases of the feathers, where they may be about three-eighths of
an inch; the lateral feathers are similar, but the grey of the inner
webs is less tinged with brown, and slightly more rufescent.
The silver grey on the outer webs of the primaries, is replaced
by ashy brown, and the bright rufous mottling there, and
tinting of the inner webs of the quills, by dingy rufous buff, or
dull fulvous. The chin is whitish, the feathers with dull, dark
brown, central stripes, and the whole of the rest of the lower
parts a dull uniform umber brown, (in some specimens suffused
with ferruginous,) the feathers of the breast and upper abdomen,
narrowly, and not very conspicuously, margined with a dingy
rufous buff, or pale ferruginous, and the tibial and tarsal plumes,
and lower tail coverts spotted, or imperfectly barred, with dingy
fulvous or rufescent white. The axillaries and wing lining, are
a deep hair brown, more or less mottled, and margined, with
ferruginous, the amount of which, varies very greatly, in speci-
mens of this type.

A third type, has the brown of the upper surface exceedingly
dark, and the rufous edgings of the feathers more ferruginous ;
the rump and upper tail coverts deep chocolate brown, with a
rich purple gloss, and no trace ofrufous edgings. ‘The tail some-
what as in the last, but much more strongly tinged with ferru-
ginous, with one huge, terminal, blackish brown band, and above
this, eight or nine very narrow, and irregular, wavy, transverse
bars of the same colour, but paling towards the bases of the
feathers. Below, the whole breast, axillaries, sides, flanks, tibial
and tarsal plumes intense ferruginous, brightest and most rusty
on the centre of the breast, deepest and tinged with chocolate
in the tibial and tarsal feathers. ‘The whole of the abdomen,
vent, and lower tail coverts, yellowish or rusty white, more or less
densely banded, or mottled, in twin spots, with deep ferruginous,
(which in’ some specimens, so far predominates, that it might
more properly be called the ground colour, and the white the
barring,) which in some is bright and rusty, and in others
deep, and tinged with umber, or chocolate. Some specimens
have the heads paler than I have described, and in these the
foreheads, an ill-defined streak over the eye, the ear coverts,
ehin, and throat are nearly pure white, all the feathers, however,
having dark shafts. Where this is the case, the whole tone of
colowing is somewhat paler, than I have above described, but
all the specimens that I have yet examined, are referable to, or

274

are clearly intermediate between one or other of these three
types, that I have attempted to sketch.

Of the nidification of this species in India, I as yet know
nothing ; Dr. Bree tells us that “ according to M. Favier, it nests
among the rocks, and the male takes its turn in sitting.” It
seems a pity that M. Favier was not a little more communica-
tive. He sent an egg, alleged to belong to this species, (no
particulars are vouchsafed of how, when, or where it was obtain-
ed) in regard to which, Dr. Bree who figures it, remarks, that “it
bears a strong resemblance to the egg of the Black Kite, but it
is a little more pointed, and has the ground colour a creamy
white, while that of the former has a greenish tinge.”” Accor-
ding to the figure, the egg is a broad oval, a good deal com-
pressed towards one end, is sparingly blotched, and spotted,
with a sort of burnt umber brown, and measures 2°17 by 1'8.

No. 45. Buteo Ferox.* Gwen.
THE Lone Leacrep Buzzarp.

This large and handsome Buzzard breeds in great numbers,
in March and April, in the N. W. Punjab, the lower hills of

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275

the N. W. Himalayas, and Kashmeer, East of the Jheelum,
so far as I have yet been able to gather, very few pairs remain
to breed in the plains.

(Eight males and females measured and weighed.)

Males, The 3rd, or 3rd and 4th primaries the longest. The 1st is from
3°9 to 5°21 shorter, the 2nd from 0°82 to 1°7, and the 3rd from 0°4 to 0:43,
shorter. Exterior tail feathers, 0°2 to 0°88, shorter than interior ones.

Females. The 3rd, 4th, or 5th primaries the longest. The 1st is from
4:2 to 55 shorter, the 2nd, from 1°15 to 2, and the 3rd, from 0°15 to 0°6,
shorter. Exterior tail feathers 0°7 to 1°3, shorter than interior ones.

Description. (Of a very fine male, in the light stage of plumage, shot
on the 11th January, 1867.)

Legs and Feet. A dingy, rather pale lemon yellow ; a row of large trans-
verse scutee, on the front of the tarsus, below the feathered portion, nearly to
the foot; a row of still larger transverse scute, at the back of the tarsus,
from the foot to about half way up; three, four and five scutz at tip of toes,
rest of scutellation reticulate, well marked, with the small plates rather
convex; claws black, well curved, sharp; inner edge of mid toe claw much
dilated.

Irides. Brownish yellow. Edges of lids, and small bare shelf above eye,
dusky greenish.

Bill. Upper mandible at junction with cere, and base of lower mandible,
brownish plumbeous ; tips of both mandibles horny black, gape more yellow ;
cere yellowish green.

Tongue. Moderate, fleshy, entire, hastate, obtuse tipped, ciliated or finely
serrated on posterior margin,

Prumace. Lores thickly clothed with tiny white feathers, with ereatly
elongated, naked, dark brown or black, hair-like shafts, some of which, as
usual, curve up, over the nostrils and front of forehead, while the rest point
down over commissure, some being sloped away over the gape. Orbits fea-
thered white. <A trace of a very narrow dark brown streak, just above the
bare shelf of the eye; the whole of the forehead, crown and occiput, a pale
sandy brown, the feathers shafted darker, and with more or less white at the
base, which shows through more or less in different places, most, in a patch
above each nostril, and slightly above each eye, and least on the crown.
Nape and back of the neck, a somewhat darker brown, very much mottled
with white, owing toa great deal of the basal portions of the feathers showing
through. Upper back, scapulars, and lesser wing coverts a sort of umber brown ;
somewhat rufous on the lesser scapulars, which with the feathers of the upper
back, are faintly, while the lesser coverts are distinctly, margined with rufous
or pale rufous brown, The lower and middle back, and rump, are a nearly
uniform umber brown. ‘The upper tail coverts are paler, the tips and exterior
webs, much mottled, blotched, or imperfectly barred, with buffy or pale rufous.
Tail feathers umber brown, narrowly tipped paler. Centre feathers with
traces of about eight darker, and somewhat wavy, transverse, brown bars,
with the interspaces, (specially on the imner web) near the shafts, mot-
tled with pale rufous, or fulvous white, all the lateral tail feathers, with
the greater portions of the inner webs, white, incompletely barred towards the
tips, with wavy blotches of brown and pale rufous. The three exterior, on
each side, with some white on the outer webs, also at the bases, and beyond
this an inch or so of mottling or freckling, with pale rufous, chiefly close to
the shaft, On the dark portion of the exterior webs of all, there are in a

276

During the cold season, they swarm all over the N. W. P.,
the Punjab, and Rajpootana, making their way far down into
Central India, throughout Oudh, and into Behar, but although,
as Jerdon says, they are found much in low cultivated lands,
especially irrigated fields, edges of jheels, &c., (where they prey
mostly on Frogs) their winter quarters, par excellence, is in the
half desert tracts of Northern and Western India, amongst the
interminable colonies of the Desert Rat, (Gerbellus Erythrourus)
which is unquestionably their favourite food. In these localities,
they occur during the winter in surprising numbers; a dozen
may be seen sitting within a circle of half a mile, and fifty
counted in a morning’s ride. Directly, however, the hot weather
begins to set in, their numbers decrease, and by the first of
April, all, but solitary stragglers, have retreated northwards, to
the Himalayas, or westwards, across the Sutledge.

good light, faint traces of darker bars. The medium wing coverts, are a uni-
form, but rather pale, umber brown, palest towards the edges, while the winglet
and greater coverts are an equally uniform, but rather darker shade, the coverts
with traces of paler tippings.

The first five primaries (of which the 3rd, 4th and 5th are emarginate on the
outer webs) are grey on the outer webs, except the last two, just below their
larger coverts, where they are a rather pale umber brown. ‘They are all five
conspicuously emarginate or notched on the inner webs, on which, below these
emarginations or notches, they are nearly black, while above these, they are
nearly pure white, with only a little pale brown, running along the shaft.

The rest of the primaries and secondaries, are dark brown on the outer webs,
and tips; and pure white, and pale brown towards the shafts, on the inner
webs, with four or five rather ill-defined, and incomplete, darker brown, trans-
verse bars. ‘The ear coverts, chin and throat are white, the feathers have pale,
rufous brown shafts. here is a trace of an uniform, rufous brown streak
from the posterior angle of the eye, along the tops of the ear coverts. The
feathers from the base of the lower mandible, below the ear coverts, and behind
them, with small central streaks of the pale rufous brown, as well as the
shafts of that colour. The centre of the neck in front, and breast, white, the
feathers with darker shafts, and many of them with linear, or narrowly, oval
streaks of rufous brown towards the tips, these being most conspicuous on the
lower part of the breast. A patch on each side of neck, feathers rufous
brown, dark shafted, margined rather narrowly, with fulvous white; centre
and lower part of abdomen, vent and lower tail coverts, unspotted, yellowish
or dirtyish white; sides uniform umber brown, with darker shafts and feeble
whitish margins. Thigh coverts a still darker brown, with a greyish bloom
on one web in.a good light, darker shafted, and margined, with rufous above,
and fulvous white towards the tarsus. Axillaries bright rufous, somewhat
mottled, and shafted, with umber brown. Lesser and median, lower wine
coverts, pale rufous, to rufous white, with dark shafts, and a narrow rufous
brown streak. Coverts beyond carpal joints, umber brown, mottled, and
blotched with rufous. Greater lesser coverts, of primaries and secondaries,
pale greyish brown, variegated towards the margins, the former with white,
the latter with pale rufous.

277

I have never geen or taken a nest myself, but have had them
often described to me by others who have, as large clumsy stick
structures, placed usually, high up, in the fork of some large
tree, and lined with hair, wool and rags. They lay usually, I am
informed, three eggs, but many lay only two, and four are some-
times found. The eggs that I have seen, said to belong to this
species, appeared to me undistinguishable from large eges of the
common Kite. I did not, unfortunately, record an exact des-
ceription, or the dimensions at the time, and my collection con-
tains no specimens at present.

Mr. W. Theobald makes the following note of this bird’s
breeding, in the neighbourhood of Pind Dadan Khan, and Katas,
in the Salt Range.

“‘ Lays in the first and fourth weeks of March. Eggs two to
three. Shape ovato pyriform. Size, varies from 2°00 to 2°19
inches in length, and 1°66 inches in breadth. Colour greenish
white, or white, blotched with red or claret brown, vary greatly.
Nest large in trees, sticks lined with cotton, rags, &c., and
daubed with mud.”

Of their breeding in the valley of Kashmeer, he says, “ Lays
in the fourth week of April. Eggs two in number, ovato pyri-
form, measuring from 2°10 to 2°40 inches in length, and from
1-77 to 1°80 inches in breadth. Nest and eggs as in plains.”

A pair or two may occasionally breed, well down into the
plains, as in the case mentioned in the following note; but such
an occurrence is quite exceptional. Mr. F. R. Blewitt says,
“In 1845 and 1846 when at Bunchari Z. Gourgaon, I well
remember seeing a pair of birds during the two hot and rainy
seasons. In a clump of high trees, to the left of the road, as
you come from Pulwul, just near to Bunchari, there was one
of remarkable size, of which each year they took possession,
about May, reared their young, and with the young birds,
departed in October. The third year, as I was subsequently
told, the tree was struck by lightning, and the birds killed.”

Of the breeding of this species in Palestine, Mr. Tristram
had the following remarks in the Ibis for 1865—“ We found
the nests, both on trees, and on rocks, generally on the latter.
The complement of eggs is two, or three, generally the latter.
The first nest we took was on Mount Carmel, on a rocky ledge,
easy of access, on March 22nd, and which contained three eggs,
quite fresh and beautifully marked; the last fresh eges we
found, were a pair near Mount Tabor on May Ist. The eges
are of course larger than, but no way differently coloured from,
those of the Common Buzzard. The nest is large, but more
neatly made than those of the Eagles, and well lined with

278

woollen rags,and the soft withered leaves of bull-rushes, and flags,
and plastered with mud. The plumage of the Palestine speci-
men is very rufous, and we shot breeding birds, both with and
without the bars on their tails.”

There seems now no reason to doubt, that our Indian species,
named Canescens, by Hodgson, and Longipes,* by Jerdon, is
really identical, with Ferow of Gmelin, Rufinus of Ritppel, and
Leucurus of Naumann. It occurs throughout northern and
central India, in Afghanistan, and Persia; Palestine, and North
Eastern Africa. Mr. Gurney has received specimens from the
mouths of the Volga, and Radde procured it in the Baikal, and
Daurian districts of Asiatic Russia, where also he took several
nests in April and May, the eggs of those taken in the latter
month being hard set. Ete gives the dimensions of the largest
and smallest of 19 egos as 2°73 by 2°05 and 2-4 by 1°83.

There are two very distinct forms, so far as plumage goes,
which, as well as I am able yet to judge, are both referable to
this species. The dimensions are identical, and the shape, and

contour of wings, tail, bill, legs and feet, are the same, but the
plumage is so very widely different, that in the absence of
clearly intermediate stages, I cannot feel perfectly certain that
both forms belong to one and the same species. Moreover,
while the one form (the one usually brown, and described as
Buteo Oanescens and I’erox) occurs in vast numbers all over the
North West Provinces, Punjab, and Rajpootana, the other,
which I characterized in the Ibis as Muliginosus, no where, as far
as I have yet ascertained, occurs, except as a mere strageler, east
of the Jumna, and is only plentiful from about Hansie, north-
wards and westwards. Nowhere does it appear to be so plen-
tiful as the other form, and to judge from the plumage, bills and
feet, if it really be identical with Zvrox, it is the old bird, and
these we know in many species, extend their migrations consi-
derably less than the young. Dr. Jerdon tells me, (in epist.)
that “a very dark colored Buzzard is not rare near Hissar and
Sirsa, in the cold weather. The tail is coun) conspicuously
albescent ; I unfortunately did not procure a specimen to ascer-
tain if it differed, (as I think it does) 2 om the common
Buzzard or not.”” Mr. Gurney writing of B. Ferow says, “ This

* Von Pelzeln, says of a specimen sent from the neighbourhood of Kote-
gurh, (Himalayahs) by Dr. Stoliczka. :

“The specimen sent belongs to the variety B. rwfinus, and agrees with
the examples of the adult birds of that variety collected by Herr Kotschy
in Nubia (compare my ‘ Uebersicht der Geier und Falken, 147 D) only that
the Himalayan bird has the tail banded, and consequently must be consider-
ed somewhat younger,”

279

species is sometimes of an uniform, dark chocolate brown, all
over. I have seen only two such examples, one from India, and
one from Abyssinia. This is out of, at least, thirty specimens
of the bird, which I have at different times seen ; whether this
is accidental, or a regular plumage, I cannot tell; but being so
rare, in proportion to those in the usual dress, I am disposed to
consider it an accidental variation.”

Clearly, the Buzzards thus referred to are identical with my
supposed Puliginosus, of which I have now twelve specimens
before me, varying a good deal in many respects, but only one
of them approaching at all closely any (and those only the most
dingily colored) of the enormous series of the typical Canesccns
that my collection contains.

The plumage of this Buzzard varies of course very consider-
ably, even in the pale or Canescens stage, just as it does in that
which constitutes my supposed Fuliginosus, but the specimens
representing these two stages, (if they really are only stages),
constitute groups so separate, that in scarcely any case can
a moment’s doubt exist as to which group they are to be referred
to. The only explanation I can give of this, is, that all my
specimens have been obtained between the Ist of November,
and the end of March, with the exception of two of the very
dark ones, obtained in the Himalayas during the summer.

In the typical Feroz, (assuming Prox and Canescens to be really
identical,) the chief variations in plumage are as follows: At one
end of the series, the whole of the chin, throat, breast, abdomen,
vent, and lower tail coverts, in fact, the whole lower parts are
white, with only the faintest possible fulvous tinge in some
places, and a few only of the feathers with dark shafts. A few of
the feathers of the sides have irregular, patchy, rufous brown
bars. The axillaries are pure white, with a faint rufous spot
towards the tips; the tibial plumes are pale rufous, mottled
with rufous white; and the tarsal plumes are white, broadly
barred with pale rufous. At the other end of the series, the
chin, throat, breast, and lower tail coverts, are a rich rufous
buff, all the feathers, except those of the lower tail coverts, with
conspicuous dark shafts, and rich brown, or rufous brown, linear,
lanceolate, shaft stripes. The whcle of the sides, abdomen, vent,
tibial and tarsal plumes, a very rich rufous brown, edged with
brighter rufous, and the axillaries pure cinnamon colour. Be-
tween these two extremes, there is every intermediate type of
colouring of the lower parts. Then again of the upper parts,
especially of the tail, there is an equally marked amount of vari-
ation. ‘Taking the tail first; in some, the whole of the tail
feathers are pure pale cinnamon colour, becoming albescent
at the shaft, towards the base of the central feathers, and pure

280

white there, on the inner webs of the lateral feathers ; and with a
faint silvery greyish shade or bloom, about the middle of the
exterior webs. In the perfect form of this type there is not
the faintest trace of any bar, on any of the feathers. Then
there is precisely the same tail, as it were bleached, the cinna-
mon being confined to the tips and the outer margins of both
webs of the central feathers, and to the tips and outer margins
of the exterior webs only, of the lateral feathers ; all the rest
being pure white. hen there is the same tail as the last de-
scribed, with the white on the central feathers ; and the external
webs of the lateral feathers, replaced by a silver grey, only
slightly browner, than that of the exterior webs of the earlier
primaries. Then we have each of these three forms of tail, more
or less barred, with every intermediate form between a mere
trace of a single narrow brown bar, near the tip, up to ten
narrow, well marked but wavy, and irregular, transverse brown
bars. There is still another type of tail, in which the central
feathers are a uniform, dull, earthy brown, except along the
shafts, where alternate, irregular patches, of a slightly darker
brown, and dingy fulvous, remain as it were traces of the fully
barred tail. The outer webs of the lateral tail feathers, are in
this form, a nearly uniform brown, with but little traces of the
markings exhibited by the central tail feathers, but the inner
webs are dull fulvous, growing white towards the bases, with
numerous, broad, irregular, freckled, brown bars, becoming obso-
lete towards their bases. Between this form, and the grey
banded one, every intermediate stage occurs. The rest of the
upper plumage, in specimens exhibiting this latter form of tail,
is a uniform, dull, pale, hair brown, without a trace of rufous
anywhere, but darker on the rump, the longer scapulars, and
primaries, and somewhat paler on the head, (where owing to
the white bases of the feathers showing through, a good deal of
white is intermingled) and the median wing coverts. ‘The sil-
very grey tinge, of the outer webs of the primaries, of this form,
is inconspicuous, and overlaid with brown. ‘The upper plumage
of the specimens with bar-less tails, is much richer, and in fact
so different from that just described, that but for the existence
of intermediate links, one could scarcely believe in the identity
of the two forms. Here we have the whole head, neck, and
mantle, a rich rufous buff, the feathers with conspicuous dark
brown centres; the feathers of the occiput conspicuously tipped
blackish brown, so as to produce the effect of a sub-crest. ‘The
rump rich blackish or deep chocolate brown, the upper tail
coverts rich rufous, with traces of blackish brown bars. ‘lhe
outer webs of the first four or five primaries conspicuously sil-
vered, reminding one of the wings of the adult Circus Arugi-

281

nosus, and many of the lesser scapulars with patches of silver
grey. The longer scapulars, and secondaries, tipped conspicu-
ously, and the former obscurely mottled, with greyish brown.
In other forms of the same plumage, these tippings and
mottlings are wanting, as are the grey patchings on the lesser
scapulars, while the dark centres of the feathers are so broad,
as to reduce the rufous buff to broad edgings. In some again,
the rump, instead of being blackish brown, is rufous brown,
broadly edged with deep rufous ; and in others, the upper tail
coverts, instead of being bright rufous, with traces of brown bars,
are deep brown, tipped with pale rufous. As the bars on the
tail begin to appear, the colours of the upper surface appear to
erow dingier; the bright rufous buff becomes rufous white,
then dingy buff, and dingy yellowish white; the brown grow-
ing paler and more earthy, and as the tail begins to assume the
dingy earth brown tinge, the rufous or fulvous edgings to the
feathers begin to disappear altogether, and we get to that
nearly uniform, dull brown, upper surface, (whitened about the
head, owing to the white feathers showing through,) already
described.

The great difficulty we meet with, in assigning any chronolo-
gical value to these changes is, that the changes on the upper
surface, do not correspond with those on the lower.

It is easy enough to arrange any number of specimens, in
what, looking at the upper or under surfaces only, appears a
very perfect series, in which no links are wanting, but directly
we turn the specimens over, all traces of any arrangement
seems to vanish, and birds at the opposite ends of the chain,
when arranged by the plumage of one surface, ought, if arranged
according to that of the other, to be placed side by side. This
provoking want of correspondence, in the changes of the plu-
mage, of the two surfaces, has already been noticed, page 147,
when treating of Aquila Imperialis, but it is much more conspi-
cuous and perplexing in the present species, ‘The only points
in which the changes in the upper and lower surfaces correspond,
is, that as we approach the uniform, dull brown, upper surface
stage, the whole of the colours of the lower surface, grow duller,
and lose the rufous tinge.

Taking now the typical form, of what I have styled B. Fudi-
ginosus, the whole of the head, neck, cheeks, ear coverts, throat
and breast, is a deep hair or umber brown, narrowly, and indis-
tinctly margined, with dingy rufous, and the whole of the rest
of the bird, except the primaries and tail feathers, are a more or
less rich and deep hair brown, tinged with umber on the lower
surface, and glossed with purple on the rump, upper tail coverts,
longer scapulars and tertiaries. ‘The tail is silver grey, with a

282

very broad, subterminal, blackish brown band, beyond whicle,
there is a narrow, pale tipping, and above which, there are five
other, somewhat irregular, and wavy, transverse, dark-brown
bars; the grey becoming albescent, on the inner webs of the
lateral tail feathers. In all specimens, both of this, and the
Canescens type, the bases of the primaries, I may mention, are
white, forming a very large and conspicuous pure white patch,
on the lower surface of the wing.

In another form of my supposed Fudiginosus, the whole head,
neck, chin, throat, and breast, may be said to be a rich, deep
rufous, broadly centred with umber brown. The rest of the
lower parts, are an excessively rich, deep, umber brown, with
here and there, rufous white spots, or imperfect bars, most con-
spicuous and numerous on the lower tail coverts.

The upper surface is a darker brown even than that of the
first form described, and the longer upper tail coverts, are con-
spicuously tipped with rufous, while the tail feathers are much
tinged with rufous towards the tip, have the terminal bar con-
siderably reduced in width, the grey ground more albescent,
and the other bars more or less obsolete.

I have one specimen which appears to be intermediate,
between Fudiginosus and Canescens, the tail is precisely similar
to that first described, as typical of Fudiginosus, but the whole of
the rest of the upper surface, is that of the uniform, dull, earth
brown stage, of Canescens ; the lower surface, however, is unlike
any of those which I have described as Canescens. It has the
ehin and throat yellowish white, with brown central stripes,
but the whole of the rest of the lower surface, a very dull, rather
pale, umber brown, more or less margined on the breast, with
rufous.

There are other specimens again, more or less intermediate
between this example and the typical uliginosus, and though
I can express no positive opinion on the subject as yet, my con-
viction is, founded chiefly on their perfect structural identity,
that both the dark and light forms, (udiginosus and Canescens }
must be referred to one and the same species.

285

No. 46. ? Buteo Asiaticus, LATHAM.

Buteo Aquilinus
Hopeson.
Butaquila Leucocephata.

? Buteo Hemilasius, ScHLEGEL (Fauna Japonica, Aves, Tab. 7.y
Tue Urztanp Buzzarp.

This species is so excessively rare, that no specimen of it
exists, I believe, in India, and only one has, as far as I can ascer-
tain, ever been sent from this country. Not only isit a rare,
but also to my mind a very doubtful species.

Dr. Jerdon, in his description, follows Blyth, J. A. 8. XIV.
176, almost verbatim, he only omits to note the length of the
bill from gape, which Blyth gives as 2°12, and to state that the
dark bars on the tail “ a/ternate on the two webs’ (misprinted
shafts) ‘“‘ of each feather.”

The following were Mr. Blyth’s remarks on the single speci-
men above referred to. Dr. Jerdon of course never saw the bird.

“This bird might be mistaken, on a cursory view, for a va~
riety of B. Canescens, J. A. 8. XII. 308, were it not for its
half-feathered tarsi ; and the beak also, is larger, and more aqui-
line, so that the name is felicitously bestowed. It is by no
means a common species in Nepal, as I learned from Mr.
Hodgson’s people, and as might be inferred from the cireum-
stance of Mr. Hodgson’s requiring the only specimen he had
sent, to take with him to England. Not improbably, it may
prove identical with the Falco asiaticus of Latham, described as
nearly similar to the European Buzzard, in the colour of its
body and wings ; the under parts white, with stripes on the breast,
tail silver grey, the outer feather marked by obscure bars; bill
bluish black, and legs yellow and half feathered. Length twen-
ty-two inches. Inhabits China. From the circumstance of its
partiaily feathered tarsi, it might be presumed, that the present
species would fall under the division Archibuteo of Brehm, but
the general character of the bird is not that of the ‘ Rough-
legged Buzzard’ of Northern regions.”

Lhave obtained specimens of b. Feroz, pertaining to the dark
form, answering very closely to Blyth’s description, especially
where the tail is concerned. The differences dwelt on by Blyth are,
it will be observed, the pluming anteriorly of half the tarsus and
the larger and more aquiline bill. As regards the former, I find

284)

more than one B. Feroxr, with the tarsus plumed in front, for 1°75
inches ; and as regards the latter, ] may remark, that the bills of
this species vary a good deal in size and strength.

That further researches are necessar > before we conclusively
admit either the existence of such a species as Buteo Aguilinus,
Hodgson, or its identity with B. asiaticus, Latham, and B. He-
melasius, Schlegel, is pretty clear.

Mr. Blyth (Ibis for 1866) tells us, that in his first catalogue
of Mr. Hodgson’s specimens, pr esented to the British Museum,
(pub. 1846) “Mr. G. RB. Gray assented to these identifications,
but Mr. Blyth goes on to say, that ‘‘in his second edition of
that catalogue, (1863) Mr. Gray writes B. Leucocephala with B.
Ferox, and iB Aquilinus with Archibuteo Stropheatus, Hodgson,
the latter being decidedly identical with Hieraetus Pennatus !
The specimen which I described as Aquilinus, was sent by Mr.
Hodgson, as his Butaquila Leucocephala ; but as it had not a sign
of white about the head, I suggested to that gentleman, the bet-
ter name Agui/inus, from its robust form. Hither this, or B,
plumipes can hardly be other than Palco asiaticus of Latham.
His description on the whole, applies better to the former, while
the ‘ half-feathered legs (pedibus semilanatis’) preclade its iden-
tification with B. Lerox. Both this species and the next, B.
Plumipes, have the tarsi feathered half-way down; while in
Archibuteo hemiptilopus (No. 49) the tarsi are plumed to the toes,
in front and externally, and are bare and scutellated behind.
I suspect that both B. asiaticus and A. hemiptilopus inhabit
chiefly the Mongolian region, and should be considered strag-
glers any where away from it.”

It seems to me very doubtful, whether both Butaquila Leu-
cocephala and B. Aquilinus, are not forms of B. Ferow ; as for the
expression “ pedibus semilanatis” not being applicable to B.
Feroz, I must demur. The tarsi, in this species, are often fea-
thered for half their length ; one now before me, with the tarsus
3°3, 18 puree for 1°8 ; another, a small male, with the tarsus
barely 3°2, is feathered for 1°75. Doubtless, in the majority of
ppeuimene, tarsi of these lengths would only be feathered for
from 1°3 to 1:5, but the amount of feathering varies in different
specimens. The fact of the tarsus in Mr. Hodgson’ 8 specimen,
being feathered in front for 1°75, constitutes no good ground
for separating it from B. Ferox.

It may very likely be distinct, but I have, as yet, seen no suf-
ficient reasons for making sure that it is so. I ought, however, to
note that Mr. Hodgson in a letter to Blyth (I sh SRN p-
2, note) remarks of this supposed species, “ this is not a typical
Buteo or Archibuteo, witness its reticulate tarsi,” if by this is

285

meant that the tarsi have no transverse scuta, we have here a
difference, enabling us to separate Aquilinus at once, from Ferox.
It is to be hoped, that naturalists at home will carefully re-ex-
amine Mr. Hodgson’s specimen.

No. 47. Buteo Plumipes, Honeson.

? Buteo Japonicus (ScutuceL. Luna Japon. Aves, Tab.
Vi et VII A.)

Tue Harrier Buzzarp.

This is another species of which we have no satisfactory
knowledge. One single specimen exists in Mr. Hodgson’s col-
lection, in the British Museum. The following are Mr. Blyth’s
remarks on this species in the Ibis for 1866,

** Mr. Hodgson’s specimen in the British Museum is certainly
of a uniform dark brown ; but most Buzzards vary exceedingly
in colour, and I see no reason why B. Japonicus should not be
identified with B. plumipes, notwithstanding that Mr. Swinhoe
expressly asserts, that the former never acquires the dark plu-
mage, of the oviduct, of B. vulgaris (P. Z. 8. 1863, p. 260).
Only that one specimen was procured by Mr. Hodgson ; so that
undoubtedly, it must be considered an exceedingly rare straggler
within the area of his researches. My B. pygmaeus (J. A. 8S. B.
AIV. p. 217), which Dr. Jerdon thought was not unlikely to
prove identical with p/umipes, is the same as Poliornis Poliogenys.”
(Vide No. 48 Bis.) Dr. Jerdon, quoting, I suppose, though he
does not say so, from Mr. Hodgson, (for he had never seen the
bird,) remarks, that this is certainly an osculant form, having
the bill and wings of a Circus, with the short feet of a Buzzard,
but Mr. Blyth, more correctly, I think, demurs to any such
osculant form, and says ‘This species I have never seen, but
must confess to theoretical doubts, of its truly connecting Circus
with Buteo; the latter genus and Aguila on the other hand, are
very closely allied, in fact, but slight modifications of the same
immediate subtype, and species of intermediate character, might
have been looked for.

286

No. 48. Poliornis Teesa,* FRANKLIN.

Tur Wuitt-Evep Buzzarp.

This species, in Upper India, lays almost exclusively in

April. I have one record of a single egg, taken on the 27th of

* Poliornis Teesa.

Dimenstons. [The sexes appear to differ little in size. The females
are generally larger, but some males (by dissection) that I have measured,
exceed other equally well ascertained females. I do not therefore give
the dimensions of the sexes separately |.

Length, 16 to 18'2. Expanse, 36 to 39. Wing 11 to 12'5; the 3rd or 4th
primary the longest, or these two sub-equal; the Ist from 2°9 to 3°15, and
the second from 0°65 to 0.85 shorter. Tail, from 6°65 to 7°5 ; exterior tail
feathers from 0°2 to 0°7 shorter than central ones. Tarsus from 2 to 2°15;
and feathered in front for from 0°4 to 0°9. Foot, greatest length, from 2°88
to 3°38; greatest width from 2°5 to 3°15; mid toe 1:29 to 132; its claw,
straight, from 0.56, to 0°75 ; mid toe, from 0°65 to 0°75 ; its claw, straight,
from 0°69 to 0°75. Bill, straight, from edge of cere to point, from 0°80 to
0:83; ditto along curve, from 0°86 to 0:9 ; from gape, from 0-4 to 0-44; width
at gape, 1 to 11; height at front, at margin of cere, 0'4 to 0°48; length of
cere only, from 0°35 to 0'4; the wings, when closed, reach to within about
0°9 ofend of tail, and lower tail coverts reach to within from 3 to 3°4 of
ditto.

Description. Legs and feet, dingy orange yellow ; claws black; scute
conspicuous ; a row of somewhat hexagonal ones on front of tarsus, exteriorly,
rest of tarsal scales, somewhat small and reticulate. Jzdes, pale yellowish
white ; orbits, feathered white, a conspicuous row of dark eyelashes ; edges of
lids, orange yellow, bare shelf above eye dingy yellowish, L7//, cere and gape,
and base of lower mandible, bright orange; upper mandible, immediately at
junction with cere, and lower mandible just beyond the orange patch, fleshy,
or pale brownish white, the rest of both mandibles horn black. Tongue,
moderate, hastate, entire, with a faint central depression. Lores white, the
clothing feathers with elongated, dark brown, naked, hair-like shafts. A
patch on either side of the culmen, and a line above it, on the forehead
white. The whole of the rest of the top and back of the head, a sort of
umber brown, the feathers faintly margined paler, and shafted darker. A
triangular or diamond-shaped patch of white feathers on the nape, most
of which have the shafts brown at the tips, and many of which, towards the
centre of the patch, have brown spots towards the tips. The ear coverts very
Jax, a nearly uniform brown. Sides and back of neck, and upper back, and
most of the scapulars, a slightly lighter brown than the crown, with con-
spicuously darker shafts, obscurely tipped with a slightly paler and more sandy
brown, and with the trace of a greyish shade towards the base, in some
specimens these parts have a decidedly rufoustinge. Rest of back, rump
and upper tail coverts, rufous brown, most rufous on the latter, all with dark
brown shafts, and the coverts narrowly tipped with fulvous white, or paler
rufous brown, and with a trace of a grey mottled bar just inside the tipping.
All the tail feathers tipped fulvous white, and with a subterminal blackish
brown band. Centre tail feathers above this band, chestnut, in some tinged grey
rufous, with the trace of a broad, longitudinal, grey bar down each web more
or Jess, and faint traces of from 1 to 5, narrow, transverse, dark brown bands.

287

| March, and several of more or less incubated ones found during
the first ten days of May, but the great majority of the nests

The next 4 on either side similar, but the grey occupying more and more of
the inner webs, which have 5, somewhat incomplete, transverse bars, of dark
brown. The 2 exterior have the tipping and subterminal band, faint. A
narrow streak of rufous, along the shaft, on either side. A considerable
portion of both webs atthe base white, and the rest a greyish brown, with
here and there a trace of darker mottling. The whole of the lesser and
median wing coverts, a paler brown than the rest of the body, all with dark
brown shafts, narrowly margined with fulvous or pure white, most conspicu-
ously on the longer feathers ; the inner webs of many of the median coverts, a
good deal mottled with white. Winglet, and primary greater coverts, dark
brown, the feathers excessively narrowly margined towards the tips with
white, most of them paler, and even white on the inner web towards the base,
and the first feather of the winglet, and the first 2 coverts, with a manifest tinge
of grey on the outer web. The greater coverts of the secondaries, a sort of
sandy or fulvous brown, the shafts darker, and both webs indistinctly tinged
with grey, towards the shaft, above the tips, The primaries dark brown at the tips
with very narrow whitish margins. The outer webs darkish brown, (lighter
towards the secondaries) more or less tinged, or frosted over, in the first 5,
with silver grey, purest on the Ist. The first 4 feathers are conspicuously
emarginate on the inner web; below these emarginations, and above the dark
tipping, the inner web is a sort of greyish brown, with a few faint darkish
brown blotches, or incomplete bars ; above the emarginations, they are pure
white. ‘The rest of the primaries, which have an obscure rufous tinge along
the shafts, have about halfthe inner webs greyish brown, with 4 or 5 transverse
darker brown bars, and the other half white, the line of junction being oblique,
there being less white towards tips, and less brown towards base. The inner webs
of the secondaries are similar, but their outer webs are chiefly greyish brown, the
white margins of the tips are broader than in any but the first few primaries, and
the broad dark brown tip of the primaries is replaced by an inconspicuous patch
of a lighter brown on the tip of the inner web only. The chin and throat are
pure white,the feathers very lax,bordered by a broad stripe of darkish brown from
the base of the lower mandible on each side, and with a similar stripe down the
centre of the chin and throat. The rest of the neck in front, in some specimens,
arather pale fulvous brown, tipped inconspicuously with white, dark shafted,
and somewhat mottled with a fulvous white. ‘The breast and the greater part
of the sides and upper abdomen, white, the feathers irregularly but broadly
barred, with a pale rufous or fulvous brown. In other specimens the whole
of the rest of the neck, breast, abdomen, and sides are a nearly uniform, pale
but somewhat rufous umber brown, the feathers dark shafted, and with
traces of imperfect fulvous white bars, nowhere extending to the shafts.

Thigh coverts pale rufous, whitish towards the tip; most of the feathers, in
some specimens, with a triangular patch of rufous brown towards the tips.
Lower abdomen, white, or fulvous white, the feathers, with only a more or less
faint, triangular patch of pale rufous, or rufous brown towards the tip. Vent
feathers and lower tail coverts white, tinged, more or less distinctly, with very
pale yellowish brown. Under surface of tail feathers, greyish white, the
subterminal dark band showing through in all but the exterior feather.
Under surface of the quills white, the broad dark tips of the primaries, and
the dark patches at the tips of the secondaries, and the dark transverse bars
on the inner halves, of the inner webs, of all the quills, (except in some
specimens in the first five primaries,) showing through. The wing lining beyond

288

examined in this month, by myself and correspondents, have
contained young ones. They prepare their nests, as a rule, some
considerable time before they lay; a nest examined, and ulti-
mately taken, in Ktawah, was completed twenty-four days before
the first egg was laid.

They make their own nests, (a new one, as far as my expe-
rience goes) each season ; never, I believe, appropriating those of
other species ; but they will at times, pull these to pieces, for
materials. The nest is usually placed in a fork, pretty high up
in some thickish foliaged tree; mangoes, in some localities at
any rate, being decidedly their favourites. I have found a nest
in a solitary tree ; but more commonly they choose one of the
outer trees of some small clump or grove.

The nest is a loose structure of twigs and sticks, very much
like a Crow’s, and without any lining. Normally, they lay three
egos ; but I have once found four, and on several occasions, have
taken nests containing only two, both fully incubated.

The affinities of this bird, to judge by its eggs on/y, are rather
with the Goss Hawk, and the Harriers, than with the Buzzards,
or the Kites. The eggs are pure greyish or pale bluish white,
absolutely without speck or spot; at least not one, of nearly 40
specimens that I have possessed, has exhibited any traces. of
markings. In shape they area broad oval, but some are slight-

the carpal joint, and the greater lower secondary coverts, white, either pure, or
with a subterminal, arrow-headed, greyish brown, or pale rufous spot. Rest
of wing lining, pale rufous brown, blotched, or incompletely barred with
white, the brown predominating more and more, as the feathers approach
the axilla, and the sides just above this spot, and the axillaries themselves,
having no white, except an excessively faint tipping, but with dark shafts, and
having their somewhat rufous, brown ground colour, faintly mottled with a
more fulvous tint.

In the young, the forehead, a broad superciliary stripe, the ear-coverts and
a patch above them, the chin, cheeks, throat and all the lower parts, except
the sides, yellowish white, more or less tinged with rufous buff on the breast,
thigh coverts and vent, with very faint traces of the two mandibular, and the
central throat stripes, and all the feathers of the breast and abdomen, with
very narrow, brown, shaft stripes. The sides are a sort of hair-brown, broadly
but imperfectly barred with fulvous white. he crown and oc ciput, sides
and back of the neck, fulvous white, with central, hair-brown stripes, which
on the crown and occiput, occupy the greater portion of the feathers. The
scapulars and interscapulary region, and the lesser coverts, immediately
adjoining the scapulars, a rich umber brown, with darker brown stripes, or
patches, on the shafts, towards the tips. The tail feathers are obscurely barred
with dingy rufous, and dark greyish brown. The central feathers being
most rufous and the exterior ones greyest, and all being tipped with rufous
white. The wings are much as in the adult, but have the dark bars on the
inner webs, much less conspicuous, and in some specimens entirely wanting,on
the earlier primaries.

289

ly pyriform. Mr. Hewitson’s figure of the marsh Harrier’s egg
might do for the largest specimens, while his figure of the egg
of Montague’s Harrier, exactly represents a peculiarly small
specimen that I took in Etawah. Held up against the light, the
shell is a sea-green, much of the same hue as that of the eggs
of A. Fuilvescens.

The eggs vary from 1°75 to 2°0 in length, and from 1:4 to
1-62 in breadth, but the average of 31 eggs measured, was 1°85
Kite:

These birds are much attached to their nests, and hang about
them for many days after they have been robbed, and at times will
lay in them a second time. On the lith April, 1867, I took a
single perfectly fresh egg, out of anest, which a few days before,
had been cleared by Mr. Brooks.

Mr. W. Theobald makes the following note, of this bird’s
breeding, in the neighbourhood of Pind Dadan Khan, and
Katas, in the Salt Range.

“ Lays in the 2nd week of April. Eggs four only. Shape
varies from ovate pyriform, to blunt ovate pyriform. Size, from
1-80 to 1:93 inches in length, and 1°50 inches in breadth. Co-
lour, pure greyish or plumbeous white. Nest, small, of twigs,
in trees, near cultivation.”

Mr. G. Marshall, R. E., writes from Saharunpoor. “ This
bird breeds in May, making a small rudely constructed nest of
twigs and sticks in the fork ofa tree about 25 feet from the
ground, and without lining of any sort; the eggs are hatched in
the beginning of June, they are generally three in number, but
I have never seen more than two young ones in a nest.

“Tn one nest I found a half-fledged young one, another dead
with its stomach eaten away, and two live lizards, one of them
partially eaten ; on March 27th, I noticed one of these birds com-
mencing its nest, and another on the 7th April; the latter nest I
took on the 10th May, and it then had 3 hard set eggs.” On
another occasion, he says—“‘ This species is very common in
these parts, it builds in the forks of trees, generally Sheeshum or
Khirna, a very rude and small nest of twigs. I have noticed this
bird pulling to pieces the nest of a pied Starling, but I imagine
it was only to get the materials, as the nest was empty at the

time.”’

290

No. 48 Bis. Poliornis Poliogenys. Trem™.
Pe ClA826.

Buteo Pyrrhogenys, Faun. Jap. VIL. 6.
» Lygmeus, Buyre.

Tur GREY-CHEEKED Buzzarp.

This species, first obtained by Dussumier, in the Island of
Luzon, (Phillipines) and figured by Temminck as the “ Buse
4 joues grises,” has now occurred on several occasions, in Sou-
thern Burmah, and must therefore find a place in these notes.

Temminck’s original remarks and description of this species
are as follows :—

“This little species of Buzzard is less than the Kuropean
Buzzard by one half, and the beak is somewhat slenderer, and
straighter, than that of this latter species. The long wings
reach to within a short distance of the end of the tail, which 1s
long and slightly rounded; the toes are nearly similar to those
of the Cymindes Buzzards, (of Brazil ete.) or the Honey Buzzard
of Europe; the tarsi, however, are long and slender, as in the
Asturs; the beak, though smaller, is similar to that of the Honey
Buzzard, but the feathers of the lores, and orbital region, are
hair-like, as in other Buzzards, and the wing feathers are gradu-
ated, as in the Common Buzzard.

“The clear grey colour of the cheek feathers, and the white
throat with the central ashy stripe, suffice to distinguish the
adult. ‘The mantle is reddish brown, the shafts of the feathers
being brown ; the quills whitish on the inner webs, and blackish
towards the tips, are barred at wide distances, with little black
bands ; the tail bears four, transverse, blackish bands, on a clear
brown ground. The supercilia are white, mingled with greyish ;
the breast is a uniform brown; the vent, flanks, and abdomen
are pure white, broadly barred with reddish brown. ‘The base
of the bill and the cere yellow, the tips of both mandibles being
black. The feet probably yellow. The whole length 18°1.*
The tarsi 2°7. A male only 16 inches in length, retains some
of the feathers of the young bird, which shew that in the young,
the lower parts are spotted with long brown streaks, bordered
on either side with reddish white ; the breast is brown mottled
with red, each feather with four, more or less rounded, white
spots, the white predominates on the vent and flanks, where the
brown bars, more or less regularly marked, are much further .

* These are the English equivalents of Temminck’s measurements given in
the old Paris, feet and inches.

291

apart than in the adult. It seems also that the bands on the
tail are more numerous in the young than the adult.”

Mr. Blyth remarks, in the Ibis for 1866, that this species
was also obtained in the Phillipines, by the late Hugh Cuming,
and that an interesting notice of it is given in the Ornithologi-
eal report, accompanying the narrative of Commodore Perry’s
exploring expedition to the China Seas and Japan. He adds, “a
single specimen was procured by the late Dr. Helfer somewhere
in the Tenasserim provinces, which I described as Buteo pyg-
meus in 1845.” This description of Mr. Blyth’s, is a far better
one than I could hope to write, and I therefore transcribe it from
that treasury of ornithology, (and indeed Natural History gene-
rally) the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. ‘ Length
18 inches, or perhaps rather more; of wing, 13 inches, and tail
8 inches ; bill to forehead (including cere) 0°94 of an inch ina
straight line, and 1:25 from point of upper mandible to gape:
tarsi, 2inches ; and feathered for nearly its upper third. Colour
of the beak blackish, the cere and base of both mandibles, ap-
pearing to have been yellow; legs.and toes also yellowish, and
talons black. General hue of the upper parts, uniform hair-
brown, the scapularies and coverts slightly tipped with rufous
white: nape white, tipped with brown, and slightly edged
laterally with rufous, which colour increases on the sides of the
neck, and tinges the wings, the greater feathers of which have
their outer webs uniform brown, and the inner, rufescent near
the shaft, and white towards the margin, being barred with the
same brown as that colouring the outer web; the coverts are
slightly edged, and more largely tipped, with dull rufous ; the
longer upper tail coverts are tipped with whitish ; and the tail
is nearly of the same brown with the back, but rather paler and
more greyish, its middle feathers having four broad dusky bars,
the last subterminal, and a rudiment of a fifth which becomes
gradually more obscure to the outermost: over and beyond the
eye is aconspicuous whitish streak: the under-parts are rufes-
cent whitish, palest on the throat and lower tail coverts, which
are without markings, excepting a slight dusky mesial line
along the throat ; the breast has a broad mesial dusky streak to
each feather, assuming on the belly and flanks, more or less, the
appearance of transverse bands, which are united along the
shafts of the feathers, leaving oval intervals of white, and the
feathers being externally margined with pale fulvous; tibial
plumes very pale buff, or with rufous central markings ; and
forepart of the under surface of the wings similarly coloured,
the quills albescent underneath and obscurely barred, but dusky
towards their tips.”

292

Mr. Swinhoe, in the Ibis for 1864, notices the occurrence of
this species in Formosa, and makes the following remarks in
regard to his specimen :

‘« Bill blue black, pale on the gonys and lower portion of base
of upper mandible; cere and over the eye dull olive green ;
eyelids and commissure-angle gamboge ;* legs and toes of a
deep rich chrome-yellow; claws black, more or less patched
with pale brown, chiefly about their middle portions. Total
length, 16°5 inches; tail, 9 inches; of twelve even feathers,
obtuse at the ends, and somewhat graduated outwardly, so as
to give the tail a rounded appearance when expanded; wing,
9°25 inches, the fourth and fifth quills equal and longest.
Margin of bill with a single deep festoon on each side. Ap-
pearance of bird, between Buzzard and Sparrow Hawk ; so that
Hodgson’s generic name, Butastur, is very aptly applied to it.
Some feathers of the hind head long and subacuminate, forming
a crest protruding about half an inch.”

I have never myself seen this species alive, and have no notes
in regard to its habits or nidification.

No. 49. Archibuteo Hemiptilopus, Bryru.
THE Brown Eacre Buzzarp.

Nothing appears to be known in regard to the nidification of
this species, of which only three or four specimens are, I believe,
in existence.

Dr. Jerdon’s description and dimensions are taken from Mr.
Blyth’s notice, in the J. A. S. Mr. Blyth had only seen a single
specimen, so that, as in most species of Buzzards, we may ex-
pect to meet with other examples, in very different stages of
plumage. The dimensions given, are those of this single speci-
men, “ probably,” says Mr. Blyth, “‘a fine female,” and the
males will consequently, if this was a female, prove considera-
bly smaller.

In regard to the breeding of the nearly allied European spe-
cies, 4. Lagopus, the only notice I have met with, is the follow-
ing, in Yarrell’s British Birds. ‘“ According to M. Temminck,
this bird generally builds on high trees, and lays three or four
eggs. A coloured figure of the egg will be found in the first
part of Dr. Thieneman’s work on the Eggs of the Birds of Eu--
rope, tab. III, fig. 2: this representation is two inches two

* In the Ibis, for 1868, he gives the “iris bright clear yellow with a
black outer circle.

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293

lines in length, by one inch eight lines in breadth, ofa pale
brownish white, blotched over the larger end with darker brown.”

Of the nearly allied A. Ferrugineus, Captain Blackiston re-
cords finding nests in April and July, between the north and
south branches of the Saskatchewan river in the interior of Bri-
tish North America. One nest, he says, which contained four
eggs, placed in an Aspen tree, some twenty feet from the
ground, was composed of sticks, lined with Buffaloe wool, and
measured 24 feet across ; another nest contained five eggs, and
was situated in a tree, only ten feet above a lake, a third nest
contained two eggs.” ‘The eggs, he says, are of a white colour,
plain, or more or less blotched with reddish brown.

Mr. Blyth considers our Indian species to be a mere strag-
eler from the Mongolian Region, but it does not seem to have
been procured either in Northern China, or in any part of Sibe-
ria, or the Amoor land, by Radde, Middendorf, Pallas, &e.

No. 50. Circus Cyaneus,* Liv.
Tur Hen Harrier.

As far as is yet known, this species does not breed in India,
south of the Snowy Range, but I have been assured, that a fe-

* Circus Cyaneus.

lo}
S | Weight.

———— ae —- ~

| Length of cere on culmen.

294.

male of this species, or the next, was observed sitting on eges
in a marshy plain, at the end of Lake Tsoomourari in Thibet.

(Five males and seven females, measured and weighed.)

The fourth primary is the longest. The 1st is from 3°4:to 3°8 shorter, the
2nd from 0°85 to 1:25, and the 3rd from 0°05 to 0°21, shorter than the 4th.
Exterior tail feathers from 0°7 to 1°4, shorter than central feathers.

Description.—Legs and feet, bright, somewhat orange yellow, claws
black. Lrides yellow. Bill bluish black; cere, yellow, in some a wax yellow,
in others tinged greenish.

Prumacre.—Adult male. The upper parts, (except the first six primaries
and the upper tail coverts,) together with the chin, throat, cheeks, ear-coverts,
sides of the neck, and a portion of the upper part of the breast, greyish blue,
varying in tint according to age, (the young birds being darker,) but always
palest on the wing-coverts and tail, purest on the sides of the neck, and more
or less tinged with fuscous on the scapulars, crown of the head and nape;
the feathers of the nape pure white, except just at the tip, the white bases
showing through more or less; the feathers of the top of the head and nape
often with narrow, central, somewhat indistinct, brown centres, the traces
probably of immature plumage ; the forehead, and a line over the eye, whitish ;
traces of a silvery line under the eye, and over the ear-coverts, and tiny silvery
streaks, are mingled with the pure blue grey of the ear-coverts and cheeks ;
the upper tail coverts pure white, the lateral tail feathers growing paler on the
outer webs, until these in the two exterior feathers are pure white except
just at the tips; the inner webs of all but the two central feathers white, less
and less strongly tinged with brownish grey, as they recede from the centre,
and with from 6 to 8 imperfect, transverse, brownish grey, bars, which in old
birds become almost obsolete, and traces of some of which are generally to
be met with, on the outer webs also, of the two or three exterior feathers, on
each side. The lower breast and the rest of the under parts, are white.
suffused most strongly on the breast, and faintly elsewhere (except in quite
old birds which are sometimes pure white below) with very pale bluish grey,
The first 6 primaries are black or blackish brown, the outer webs, (especially
towards the tips) and often the tips themselves, more or less suffused with
silver grey; the inner webs white at the bases; the rest of the primaries and
secondaries, silver grey on the outer webs and tips, white or greyish white on
the inner webs above the tips, in some mottled with grey, and mostly shewing
traces, near the shafts, of imperfect brown, transverse bars.

Female.—The forehead, a narrow band over the eyes, the lores, cheeks and
a line over the ear-coverts fulvous white. The crown of the head, occiput
and nape, reddish fawn, the feathers with long, rich brown, central stripes.
The ear-coverts and a line from them to the gape, similar, but of a somewhat
duller colour. The feathers of the nape, white for the basal two-thirds ;
the white often shewing through. The feathers ofthe ruff a somewhat lighter
reddish fawn, with narrow, dark brown, central stripes, the hind-neck, and
upper back, a mixture of reddish and yellowish fawn colour, the feathers
with broad, umber brown, central streaks; the scapulars, interscapulary
region, lower back, and rump, umber brown, more or less glossed with
purple, lighter in the old birds, darker in the young. The feathers of the
rump, generally narrowly tipped with pale rufous ; the upper tail coverts, as
a rule, pure white but in some cases exhibiting lanceolate, rufous, or rufous
brown spots on the shaft. The tail which, quite at the base, is white, has the
central feathers brown ; deep brown in younger birds, and greyer and paler in
older ones, narrowly tipped, with white or slightly rufous white, and with four

295

In Europe, its nidification is well known. Mr. Yarrell says,
“The nest is placed on the ground; the materials collected to
form it are but few, consisting of small sticks and coarse grass ;
the eggs are four or five in number, white or of a pale skimmed
milk blue, one inch eight lines long, (1°67) against one inch four
lines (1°33) in breadth. The male sits occasionally during the
period of incubation, and has been shot on the nest. The
young are hatched early in June, and are, at first, covered with
white down.”

- Mr. Hewitson says that in England, it breeds chiefly in mar-
shy districts, and that the nest, when situated in low lands, is
formed of so large a quantity of flags, sedge, and reed, as to raise
it eighteen inches or two feet above the surface, so as to protect
the young and eggs against sudden floods. Sir William Jar-
dine tells us, that in a country possessing a considerable propor-
tion of plain and mountain, they always retire at the commence-
ment of the breeding season, to the wildest hills, and that

or five, broad, transverse, bars of grey, or greyish brown. ‘The lateral tail
feathers are similar but more broadly tipped with white, and with the grey or
brownish grey bars changing generally as the feathers recede from the centre,
into more or less clear, rufous, white, and the external feathers of all being
often much tinged with rufous on their external webs towards their bases,
and the brown inter-spaces being generally darker and purer on their
inner webs. The lower part of the neck and breast is a mixture of rufous, and
yellowish white, each feather with a broad, central, brown, or rufous brown,
stripe; the shades of colour in the lower parts varying much in different
individuals, The abdomen, vent, and lower tail coverts, yellowish white
with brown shafts, anda more or less conspicuous ovate, rufous brown spot at
the tips; the sides and flanks, are rufousor rufous brown with large white
or fulvous white, double spots or imperfect bars; the tibial plumes hanging
down over the tarsus, are similar to the lower tail coverts. The lesser wing-
coverts, are more or less tipped with pale rufous fawn; many ofthe Indian
ones, are broadly but imperfectly barred with the same colour; and many of
the exterior scapulars have one or two large roundish spots of fulvous white
on the outer webs, not very visible until the over-laying feathers are lifted.

The quills are a somewhat pale umber brown, more or less tinged with
grey, on the outer webs, below the emarginations, in the first few quills,
and white or rufous white on the inner webs above the notches, and with
from three to five dark brown, transverse, irregular bars on the inner webs,
traces of which are visible on the outer webs also.

Young.—The young resemble the female pretty closely, but have the
irides brown, and the colours more marked, the brown being deeper, and
the rufous of the head and neck brighter; the upper tail coverts have a red-
dish brown, linear, lanceolate, central streak, and the tail banded with rufous.
The males do not commence to assume their distinctive plumage until the
autumn of the second year, and in its transition stage according to Montague,
the plumage of the female, remains about the neck, the smaller coverts of
the wings, the thighs and part of the abdomen intermixed with the male
plumage, after the change has been elsewhere effected.

296

during this time, not one individual will be found in the low
country. The nest is made very frequently in a heath bush,
by the edge of some ravine, and is composed of sticks, with a
very slender lining ; it is sometimes also formed in one of those
places called Scars, or where there has been a rush on the side
of a steep hill, after a mountain thunder shower: here little or
no nest is made, and the eggs are merely laid, on the bare
ground, which has been scraped hollow. In a flat or level
country, some common is generally chosen, and the nest is found
in a whin or other scrubby bush, sometimes a little way from
the ground.

Mr. Hewitson adds, that the eggs which are most frequently
of a spotless, bluish white, are yet often slightly marked with
yellowish brown, mixed with a purplish hue, and in some speci-
mens with more distinctly defined spots of light brown. His
fioure of an egg of this species measures 1:79 x 1:43. The
average dimensions appear to be about 1°75 by 1:33.

The Hen Harrier appears to occur throughout Europe, in
North America,* in North Eastern Africa, Syria, and Turkey in
Asia, from Smyrna to Babylon, in Afghanistan, throughout the
more temperate portions of the Russian possessions in Asia, and
in Northern China.t

In India the Hen Harrier, is pretty common, in the cold wea-
ther at any rate, about the outer ranges of the Himalayahs,
from Abottabad to Kumaon, and possibly further east, and
stragelers have been obtained in Baraitch (Oudh,) Meerut,
Bareilly, Gourgaon, Etawah, Saugor, Nagpoor, Chandah and
Goona, but except in the Himalayahs, or within 20 miles or so of
their feet, its occurrence appears to be somewhat exceptional.
The adult male of this species can always be distinguished from
that of Seainson’, by its perfectly pure, unbarred, and unspotted,
upper tail coverts, and by its full coloured grey blue throat,
foreneck, ear coverts, cheeks and _ sides of the neck, all of which
parts, in Svrainsoni, are pale grey or greyish white. The
females are more difficult to separate ; as a rule, however, the
upper tail coverts in these also are pure white, and where this
is not the case, what markings there are, lanceolate central
stripes, very different from the broad bar, or cross bar-like spot
at the ends of the upper tail coverts of both the adult male and
female of of Swainson. ‘True that in the young Swainson, these
marks on the upper tail coverts are often obsolete, but then the

* Some ornithologists contend, however, for the specific distinctness of the
North American birds.

tT Mr. Swinhoe gives it, I see, from Amoy and Takoo.

297

young of Swainsoni, differ altogether in plumage from the adult
females, (while those of Cyaneus closely resemble that of the
old females of that species,) and have the whole under parts
uniform, streakless, rufous buff, or rufous. Moreover, the facis,
if | may use the expression, of the females of the Hen, and pale-
chested Harrier, are as a rule very different to the eye, al-
though it may not be easy to explain the difference in words.
In both, there is a large yellowish white patch, below the eye,
purest in the pale-chested Harrier, and below this, from the base
of the lower mandible, reaching to, and enveloping the whole of
the ear coverts, there is a broad dark band, contrasting more or
less with the pale patch below the eye, above, and the pale
throat below. Now inthe Hen Harrier, the contrast is generally
much less marked than in the other, because the eye patch is not
so white, and because the feathers of the band are only a pale
dull rufous, with narrow, commonly very narrow central brown
streaks, giving the band a streaky, or striated appearance, while
in the pale-chested Harrier, the contrast is usually very marked,
the eye patch is often pure white, and the feathers of the dark
band, are deep brown, only very narrowly margined, with ru-
fous, which margins, are insufficient, unless the patch be looked
closely into, to break the general uniformity of the colour.—As
for the difference commonly pointed out, v/z., that the female of
Swainsoni has six brown bands, and that of Cyaneus four, (Bree,)
on the tail, it holds good in many eases, but I do not find it con-
stant ; I have now before me two Hen Harriers, one from Eng-
land, and the other from Mussouree, each with six brown bars,
including the one nearly hidden by the upper tail coverts, and
two pale chested Harriers, with only five such bars, similarly
including the one nearly hidden by the coverts.

The tarsus of the Hen Harrier doubtless averages consider-
ably more than that of the pale-chested one, while as I shall
notice further, that of Montague’s Harrier is so much shorter,
that this alone suffices to separate it from all our other Indian
species. Another apparently constant difference between the
Hen Harrier and the pale-chested Harrier in both sexes, and
at all ages, when the wings are perfect, is that in the former, the
fourth quill is always the longest, whilein the latter, the fourth
quill is always shorter than the third, often by fully half an

inch.

From

ra]
|
si Eo

To

Femane.

————— eS eee

From | 18°65 40°00} 13°75} 9°50

298

No. 51. Circus Swainsoni,* <A. Smrru.
THE Pate Curstep Harrier.

Of the nidification of this species, nothing certain seems
known. Bree figures an egg, said to belong to this species, from

* Oircus Swainsont.

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17°60' 41-00] 13°50] 9-00
18°50, 42°25| 13-95] 10-00

|
| |
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i |
2°8.3°45/2°90 1°30,0°66 0°62 0°71/0:60 0°72)0°69 0°77)1°15

20°65

(Eight males and eight females measured and weighed.)

The 8rd primary tbe longest. The Ist is from 3:25 to 4:25 shorter, the
2nd from 0°75 to 1°18 and the 4th from 0°10 to 0°50, shorter. Exterior tail
feathers from 0°50, to 1°50 shorter than central feathers.

Description.—Legs and feet, bright orange to lemon yellow, according to
age. Claws black. Irides bright yellow in adults, dark brown in the young,
Orbits yellow, dingier in the young. Bill. Cere greenish, or dusky greenish
in the adult, somewhat yellower in the young,especially on the culmen, and hid-
den at sides by the bristles of the lore. Gape, and base of lower mandible,
blue, or sometimes greenish blue. Upper mandible and tip of lower mandi-
ble, bluish or horn-black.

Prumacr.— Male. Lores closely clothed with tiny white feathers, with
elongated, naked, black brown, hair-like shafts. Forehead, and streak above
eyes, and feathers of orbits greyish white, slightly paler than surrounding
parts, the whole of the rest of the top of head and nape, to where the ruffjoins

ee

j i Sho

of end of tail.
| Distance by which lower tail coverts fall

short of end of tail. °

g | Weight.

105 |

a)
ar oO
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_
-

2°643°30 2°70 1°10 0°55 0°56 0°65)0°50,0°63)0°57,0 any 0°86 ak 00
|

2°65'3°38/2°79,1°31)/0 62,0°68 0°75/0°55'0°70.0°70) 0°8/1720!1-00 0°37,1°75
47°50) 15°15) 11 +25 2+92/3-59)/3+00)1°50/0°67 0°76 0°82'0°68 0°78 0°78 0°86)/1°38)1°09'0°42 2°75

4°00 15°5))

0Z.
aa 3B I

299

Thienemann, but furnishes no particulars. The figure repre-
sents a somewhat broad, oval ego, of an uniform, pale bluish

in, grey, tinged with brown, most strongly so on nape feathers, and with dark
shafts. Cheeks and ear coverts grey, the feathers broadly edged with greyish
white, so as to produce a striated appearance. Feathers of ruff, which as re-
gards colour is very conspicuous greyish white, with narrow, central, grey
streaks, back of the neck, below brownish grey patch of nape, greyish white,
the feathers slightly darker shafted, and some of them with the greyish
traces of faint, brownish grey, transverse, subterminal spots. The whole of
the base of the neck behind, upper back and scapulars, a sort of ash grey,
more or less tinged towards the tips with brownish grey, and the longer
scapulars frosted with a purer grey. The middle and lower back, a shade
lighter grey, the white bases of the feathers showing through, more or
less. Upper tail coverts pure white, with regular, broad, transverse, grey
or slightly brownish grey, bars. The whole of the wing coverts, winglet
tertials, and outer webs of secondaries and last four primaries, grey, more silvery
on quills, and browner on lesser coverts. The median coverts narrowly pale
margined, and most of the other feathers of the corners narrowly paler tipped.
The second, and last four primaries, have the central halves of the inner webs
pure grey, and the marginal halves white The first primary is silver grey
on the outer web, dusky grey on the inner, as far as the notch, and above this
chiefly white. The next four are nearly black, with a good deal of silver grey
however, on the outer webs of the first two, and of white, more or less mottled
with dusky, on the inner webs of all towards the base ; the sixth is dusky grey
on the outer web and tip, and paler and browner grey on inner web, which has
a broad marginal stripe broadest towards base, where it occupies nearly the
whole web, of white, irregularly mottled with grey. The central tail feathers
are a uniform silver grey, slightly shaded, with dusky on the terminal half.
The next feather, on each side, is similar, but there are six or five white patch-
es on the shafts, and traces of corresponding, paler bars, on the inner webs,
which are very narrowly, paler margined, in each succeeding feather, the
white patches on the shaft are better marked, and extend further and further
across the outer webs, while the corresponding broad pale bars,on the inner webs
at first only mottled with white, become pure white, and larger, and at the
same time, the white margin of the inner webs spreads inward, so that the
two exterior feathers have the inner webs pure white, with only four or five,
_ somewhat narrow bars of grey, or brownish grey, (which do not extend to the
margin,) and here and there a little freckling, chiefly towards the base of the
same colour. Chin, throat and front of the neck pearl grey, whitish on chin.
Breast, abdomen, vent, sides, wing lining and thigh coverts pure white,
with just the faintest possible grey mottling, or freckling, in places on sides,
and base of thighs. Lower tail coverts white, with rather brownish grey,
broad, incomplete, rather wavy, transverse bars; about one or two on each
feather. Inner surface of the wings, mingled white and very pale grey, only
the terminal 4 to 3 of the second to the fifth primaries, blackish brown. The
first to the third quills are conspicuously notched on inner web, the second
to the fourth, emarginated on outer webs.

Female.—The lores dusky, covered with black bristle-like hairs, as is also
the point of the chin. A patch (scarcely noticeable in some specimens) over the
eye, and in front of it, white, tipped with brownish. Below the eye, and front
of the ear coverts, somewhat purer, while a band, inside the ruff, from the base
of the lower mandible, over the ear coverts to the sides of the nape, dark

300

white, measuring 1°62 by 1:63. In the plains of India, this
bird certainly does not breed. We first see them in Upper In-

umber brown, usually darkest towards the nape, the feathers narrowly edged
with rufous, and centred darker. A dark streak from the posterior corner of
the eye, meeting the top of this band. Forehead, and a line from the forehead
over the eye, and the last mentioned dark streak, nearly unstriated rufous
brown. ‘The rest of the forehead, and top and back of the head, and nape,
where the ruff joins in, and back and sides of the neck, rufous, the feathers
all more or less, broadly centred with umber brown. The centres being larger,
proportionably, at the base of the neck. Upper back and smaller scapulars
umber brown, most of the feathers, usually slightly tipped with rufous. The
longest scapulars, somewhat lighter coloured, with scarcely a trace of the
rufous tipping ; middle back often of a somewhat lighter brown than the upper
back, and the feathers, with conspicuous rufous tips or margins. Rump
feathers slightly darker, and with somewhat less conspicuous rufous tips.
Upper tail coverts pure white, with only a spot or incomplete bar, of dark or
pale brown, or rufous, towards the tips. Centre tail feathers dark umber
brown, inconspicuously tipped with grey, scarcely perceptible in some and with
four or five, transverse, grey bars, the broadest bars towards the tip, The
next feather darker brown, conspicuously tipped with white or rufous white,
and with one broad, and two or three narrow, pale rufous, and greyish trans-
verse bars, the rufous being chiefly next the shaft. The next feather much the
same, but the white or rufous (some are whiter some more rufous) of the bar,
and tipping, purer, aad a considerable patch at the base, on the outer web,
mingled white and rufous, with only a tinge of brown. The second, exterior
feather, nearly pure white, or a pale rufous, as the case may be, with subtermi-
nal, central, and basal bands of brown, which are more or less rufous in the
two latter, on the outer web. The exterior feather has almost the whole outer
web rufous white, and the interior more or less rufous white, with traces of a
subterminal and two other bands, of mingled, darkish rufous, and brown.
The whole of the lesser wing coverts umber brown, broadly margined with
rufous, or rufous white. The median coverts the same colour, in some conspi-
cuously, in some faintly tipped with the same rufous white tint. The great-
er coverts of the secondaries, and the tertials themselves, still the same umber
brown, but only very narrowly (in some not at all) tipped with rufous white.
The winglet, primaries and their greater coverts, and secondaries, slightly dar-
ker brown, all but the first four primaries, and most of the secondaries, with a
very narrow, whitish tipping and the outer webs of the first primary, and the
next three, which are conspicuously marginate, below the margination more or
less silvered with grey. The inner webs of all the primaries above the tips,
more or less white or rufous white, with conspicuous, broad, dark brown bars.
In some specimens the brown bars are so broad that the ground of the web ap-
pears brown, and the rufous interspaces appear like pale bars. There are traces
of similar markings on the secondaries, most conspicuous in those nearest the
primaries, and less so in those adjoining the tertials. Chin white or rufous
white. The ruff in front, and on either side towards the nape, white or ru-
fous white, the feathers centred darkish brown. The whole of the front of
the throat, breast and abdomen white or fulvous or pale rufous white, the fea-
thers all broadly, or conspicuously centred with brown and rufous. The féa-
thers of the vent, lower tail coverts, and external thigh coverts, pure white or
pale rufous brown, shafted, and with two or more irregular spots of pale rufous
along the shafts. The axillaries mostly light rufous brown, with indistinct

301

dia early in October, (I have twice seen specimens in the last
week of September,) and the great majority leave by the close of

incomplete fulvous white bars, the lesser under wing coverts fulvous, or pale
rufous white, the feathers mostly darker centred, The greater lower wing
coverts mostly a brown or rufous brown, and for the most part, edged and tip-
ped with fulvous white or pale rufous. The longest of the lower tail coverts
are rather conspicuously tipped with pale rufous.

Females differ considerably, in the amount of rufous, on the top and_ back
of the head, back and sides of neck, etc. In some, the prevailing line is ru-
fous, there being only very narrow brown centres to the feathers, but in
others, the brown much predominates, the feathers having only somewhat
natrow rufous margins, The extent and amount of the rufous tipping to
the feathers of the back and rump varies much, as also the extent and
depth of rufous in the tail, and on the lower parts.

Young.— Lores, forehead, a patch under the eyes, a streak over the eyes, to
upper corner of the ruff, and a broad patch on the nape, (which latter has
several of the central feathers brown tipped, white. Bristles of the lores
black. A patch in the anterior corner of the eye, continued as a very narrow
streak over the eye, under the white line, and beyond the posterior angle of
the eye, backwards, till it joins the top of the ear coverts, dark umber
brown. The whole top of the head warm umber brown, faintly margined
with rufous, where it infringes on the white supercilium, and white nape
patch. The whole of the nape, upper back, scapulars, and wings (except in
some specimens some of the median coverts) nearly uniform umber brown, but
the quills with a trace of darker banding. Most of the median wing coverts
in some specimens so broadly edged with pale ferruginous or buff, as to show
but little of the brown: these edgings entirely wanting in others. The wing-
let, greater coverts, secondaries, and most of the primaries very narrowly
paler tipped. Feathers of the lower back and rump, the same brown as the
rest of the upper parts, but each feather distinctly tipped with buff. The up-
per tail coverts often pure white. One or two of them only, with an ill-de-
fined brown patch: in other cases marked as in the adult female. Two
centre tail feathers dark umber brown, with four bars of lighter greyish
brown. The next four feathers the same dark brown, but tipped and barred
with ferruginous or buff, which is brighter and more extensive, as the feathers
recede from the centre. Exterior tail feather almost entirely rufous buff, with
two, irregular, dark brown bars, and a trace of a third. Patch from the lower
mandible, over the cheeks, and embracing the ear coverts, rich dark umber
brown. Round this, posteriorly, the ruff uniform pale rufous buff, except just
where it separates the white eye streak from the white nape patch, where the
feathers are mingled with dark brown. Sides of the neck, below the ruff,
which is thus clearly defined, dark unber brown. Chin whitish, with black
bristles at the tip, Whole lower parts of the body, including lower tail coverts,
uniform, rufous, fawn or pale ferruginous. ‘The lining of the wing the same,
but paler, and the largest of the lower wing coverts mottled with brown.

The lower surface of the quills greyish brown. The primaries very dis-
tinctly barred, and with more or less white replacing the brown. The first
three primaries conspicuously emarginate on the inner webs, and the third
and fourth on the outer webs. Lower surface of the tail exterior feathers
nearly uniform pale fawn, with only an indistinct trace of three ill-defined
bars. The four next feathers umber brown, with fulvous white tips, and two
well marked, fulvous white, broad bars. The two centre feathers with scarce-
ly a trace of paler tipping, and with three narrower greyish bars.

302

March, or early in April, according as the season is a early or
late one. In the Terai and Dhoon, they may linger somewhat
longer, as I have a specimen from the latter, killed on the 20th
of April.

Whether they breed in the Himalayahs, on this side of the
Snowy Range, I cannot say ; I have never met with a single
one, during my summer rambles in the Hills, and very much
doubt their breeding south of the snows.

This bird apparently unknown in Northern Europe and Asia,
(where neither Radhe, Pallas, Middendorf nor Schrenk appears
to have met with it,) is found alike in North Hastern and Sou-
thern Africa and Palestine, occurs in Burmah, and has been
procured on the Yangtzee, by Captain Blackeston, but it does
not seem to find its way either eastwards to Japan, or south-
wards to Malayana, or the Archipelago.

The livery of the young is rather peculiar, the whole under
parts being a uniform, unstreaked, rufous buff, such as is met
with in the young of Cineraceus, and in one stage of Ranivores.
Dr. Jerdon has not noticed this stage, in which I have numer-
ous specimens, and I have therefore, as will be seen in the note,
described it at length.

303

No. 52. Circus Cineraceus.* Mowntacue.
MontaGcue’s Harrier.

I cannot say that I myself believe that this species breeds in
India, but my collector, Mr. A. G. R. Theobald, who sent me

* Circus CINERACEUS.

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DIMENSIONS, & Sl. |e
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'‘From| 16°5 | 40°00) 14°50 Pg oerae cles ras ncsehoge 1°00)0°79 0°28 Gate 8 02.1033
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|

| eee [sel
| (Four males and three females measured and weighed.)
|

The third primary is the longest. The first is from three to four inches
shorter, the second from 0°6 to 0°9, and the fourth from 0°7 to 1 shorter.
Exterior tail feathers from 0°4 to 1 shorter than the central ones,

. Description. Legs and feet yellow, claws black. rides, Bright yellow
in the adult, sometimes brownish yellow in the female, almost white in one
young one examined. Bild black, dusky in the young. Cere, greenish
yellow, yellower in the young.

Prumace. Adult male. The whole head, chin, throat, neck all round,
breast, back, scapulars, wings (except the first seven primaries which are
blackish) and central tail feathers, gray of different shades. The neck, cheeks
and ear coverts, bluish; crown of the head, and occiput (below which there

| is a white mottled nape patch owing to the white bases of the feathers show-

| ing through) here and there tinged with rufous brown ; the scapulars infuscated
and brownish; the back, darker and more ashy, and the wings and centre

'

tail feathers more silvery. The secondaries havea broad, blackish, transverse
band, across both webs, forming a conspicuous wing band (not unlike that of
the common pigeon, C, Intermedia) and with traces of another, or, in some
specimens, two other bands on the inner webs. The central tail feathers
| unbarred, the laterals with four, very broad, transverse, dark bars on the inner
| webs, and ¢races of the same on the outer webs of some of the feathers.
The grey fading, as the feathers recede from the central ones, to pure white

304

specimens of the bird, correctly named, and measured in the
flesh, forwarded at the same time, the following note on its
nidification :

on the exterior ones, and the dark brown bands changing gradually to dull
chestnut on the latter. A broad circle round the eye whitish. The lower
parts from the breast downwards, and the whole wing lining (except a few of
the longer lower coverts which are ashy grey with large white spots) pure
white; the feathers of the abdomen with narrow, rather pale chestnut central
streaks ; there are lanceolate chestnut dashes in the wing lining, the axillaries
are broadly and irregularly barred with blotches, and lower tail and thigh
coverts, have the shafts of the same colour, a few faint streaks of which are
also generally to be seen mingling with the blue gray of the breast.

Adult female. Forehead and a band round the eye slightly rufous
white. Crown and occiput rufous brown, streaked with dark hair brown.
A streak from the base of the lower mandible, widening so as to involve the
whole ear coverts, darkish brown, in some very dark. Some of the feathers,
commonly, very narrowly margined rufous. Back, wings, scapulars and
central tail feathers dark umber brown, the quills and central tail feathers,
darkest. The lateral tail feathers, paling as they recede from the central
ones, which are unbarred, with four or five broad transverse, lighter and
generally more rufous brown, bars, often more or less obsolete on the outer
webs. The whole of the lower parts are light rufous buff, with narrow,
deeper rufous, shaft stripes. Rump and upper tail coverts, mingled white,
rufous buff and reddish brown.

Young male of the 2nd year, (I quote this from Yarrell, I have never
obtained a specimen in this stage) killed while undergoing his second
moult.

«The top of the head and the feathers round the cheeks a mixture of
brown and rufous, ear coverts grey ; occiput varied with white ; the nape,
back, scapulars, tertials, and upper tail coverts, lead grey ; upper surface of
all the tail feathers, except the two in the middle, barred with shades of
brown and rufous ; middle tail feathers, with the outer webs uniform pearl
grey ; the inner webs with fine dark brown bands on a greyish ground ; wing
primaries and secondaries blackish brown; greater wing coverts dark brown ;
lesser wing coverts lighter brown, varied with rufous and two or three grey
feathers : chin, and front of neck, pearl grey; breast, belly, thighs, and under
tail coverts white, with a longitudinal rufous stripe on the centre of each
feather ; under surface of tail feathers barred with greyish white and brown;
legs, toes and claws as In the adult male.”

A young male of the year; a narrow frontal band, a line above, and a
patch below and behind the eye, and two broad patches on either side of the
nape, white, the feathers of the latter with brown shafts, Chin and throat
whitish, bristles, at point of chin black. The top of the head rusty rufous,
the feathers, with more or less narrow, lanceolate or linear, dark brown shaft
stripes. Har coverts and a line extending to them from the base of the
lower mandible dark brown, the feathers mostly narrowly margined with
ferruginous. Wings, back, and scapulars rich brown of different shades,
palest on the upper back, rump and lesser Wing coverts, more umber on the
secondaries and longer scapulars, and greyer, except at the extreme tips, on
the primaries; all the quills, the primary greater coverts, back, rump, and
scapulars, narrowly but conspicuously margined at the tips with rufous buff,
or faintly rufous white. The lesser and most of the median coverts more

305

“‘ Breeds on the top of high trees. I took the nest of one in
December, (Christmas day) which was placed in the fork of a
Tamarind tree, about 25 to 30 feet from the ground.”

This is not at all in accordance with the habits of this species
elsewhere, and I cannot help thinking that Mr. Theobald must be
in error, but in another note, still writing from Salem, (Madras)
he says,—* It frequents open jungles and cultivated fields, and
flies low in search of prey. On one occasion the first one (mea-
surements given,) made a dart at one of my young Pigeons, but
failed in its attempt; it did not return to the attack, but was
going away, when I shot it. It isnot ashy bird when on the
wing. On one occasion, I took a nest of one, with three youn
ones which were of a brindled color on the wings, tail and back,
ashy on the other parts; they lived for a fortnight, when they
died one after another ; they fed greedily on raw mutton.”

“The young birds had a sort of shrill whistle.”

And speaking of two specimens which he forwarded, he
further says,— Both of these birds were shot in Salem; they
are most common about here from December to May or June.
I found locusts in the stomachs of both.”

All my enquiries and observations lead me to believe that
Mr. Theobald is in error, but his assertions are so positive and
circumstantial, that being, as he is, familiar with the species, I
have thought it only right to direct attention to the subject, by
inserting his remarks.

Of the nidification of this species in England, Mr. Yarrell
gives the following notice: ‘The nest is placed on the ground,
generally among furze; the eggs, seldom exceeding four in
number, are very similar, as might be expected to those of the
Hen Harrier; they are white, one inch seven lines (1°58) in

broadly margined with brighter rufous. The first few primaries silvered on
their outer webs towards their bases, and with three or more irregular, dark,
transverse bars on the inner webs, (which are mostly brownish white above
the notches,) and faint traces of these on the grey brown, outer webs, above
the emarginations ; all the tail feathers tipped with pale rufous, most broadly
in the external feathers. The central tail feathers deep brown, with four
broad, transverse, greyish brown bars, greyer at the bases and browner towards
the tips. The lateral tail feathers similar in character, but the grey brown
bars change, as the feathers recede fromthe central ones, to rufous grey,
rufous and rufous white; and the deep brown interspaces change similarly
to nearly pure cinnamon rufous.» The upper tail coverts are absolutely pure
white in some, in others with very narrow, rufous brown, shaft stripes.
From the throat, the whole lower parts including the wing lining, are pure,
pale cinnamon rufous. Some of the feathers of the sides of the breast with
dark, linear, brown, shaft stripes, and all the feathers with the shafts slightly
deeper coloured than the webs.

306

length, and one inch four lines (1°33) in breadth. The young,
te to Mr. Jenyns, are hatched about the second week in
une.

Mr. Hewitson says that “the nest, which is placed upon the
ground, is more slight than that of the marsh or Hen Harrier,
but is composed, like theirs, of flags, sedge, and rushes. The
eggs are usually four or five in eh but six were found in a
nest which was forwarded to me; the eggs are of a clear white,
distinctly tinted with light blue, and are never, to the best of
my information, spotted. The time of incubation is early in
May. Mr. Alfred Newton informs me that the Harriers, like
the Owls, the Eagles, and probably all the Hawk tribe, begin to
sit upon the first egg, and as there is also most likely an interval
of some days between the production of each egg, the young are
Me ee different ages, and much more easily supplied with
ood.”

This species is at once distinguished, at all ages, and in both
sexes, from all our other Indian species of Harriers, by its
extremely short tarsus and by its short fourth primary. In the
Hen Harrier, the fourth quill is the longest ; in the other three
species, the third is the longest; in the pied and pale-chested
Harrier the fourth quill averages probably 0°25 inches shorter,
while in the present species it averages nearly 0°75 of an inch
shorter. As regards the tarsus, Dr. Jerdon gives it at 2.75” in
the male, and 3” in the female, but in no female even that I
have yet examined, has it exceeded 2°5 inches, and I am_ pretty
confident that there must be some mistake in Dr. Jerdon’s
measurements.

This species occurs in England; (where at one time it bred
freely,) in Scandinavia, in fact almost throughout Europe; in
Algeria, Egypt, South Africa, Babylon, Persia and Afghanistan.
I do not find it noticed from Northern Asia, nor from China,
nor does it seem to extend to Malayana or the Archipelago. In
Ceylon, British Burmah and throughout India, it is found, but
very locally distributed, always, I think, affecting damp and
more or less wooded localities, and scarcely ever found, in the
comparatively dry, though richly cultivated plains, of the N. W.
Provinces and the Punjaub, and almost, if not entirely unknown
in Rajpootana, where the pale chested Harrier is not uncommon.
It is most numerous as far as my experience goes, in damp cul-
tivated lands, lying at the bases or on the lower slopes of tho
Himalayahs, (the Dhoon is a great place for it,) or the Niel-
gherries, and feeds much, to judge from the specimens I have
killed, on large insects.

307

No. 538. Circus Melanoleucus.* Gmet.
Tue Prep Harrtizr.

Nothing seems to be known of the nidification of this species,
in India or elsewhere.

* Crrous MELANOLEUCUS.

|

DIMENSIONS.

Distance by which lower tail coverts fall short

r=
. o
& =
aa
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o a Oo; S ; of os tee] 2
> a to Pe l|eya| Oo
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BS g + e | Mell aT al erated (rele | Sei lca re sal | iS)
aoe Pleyl SEIS (EIS Elelai eles igais
=| a a = = ea Di i ad a 18°) %
a are tall eee | cle tS) A estes Ney lense ; ‘a) 3
QOeu oa 1 a] sia] e2liale2|/s|/2/e o| s
HIB JE Jalal lal ele e/a l/se |e 4

0°62] 0°57] 0°62} 0°56) 0 65) 0°68 1°05/0°82] 0°36) 3 00} 0°83

Man

To |1715/43°00/ 14°83] 9°20) 3°18) 1°4 0°73/0'61| 0°74 0°61 0°75] 0°77) 1°25/0°95) 0°41] 4°50) O°4

- From /16°00/39°00)13'70) 8°00] 2 98 “ 55
‘a

|

(Five males, 2 adults and 3 young, measured.)

The 3rd primary the longest. The 1st is 31 to 3°6 shorter, the 2nd
0°7 to 0°8, and the 4th 0°08 to 0°25 shorter. Exterior tail feathers 0:2 to
0°7 shorter than central ones.

Descriprion.—In all, the legs and feet were yellow, the bill, black, and
the cere, blackish horny. The irides in the adults were yellow, in the
young yellowish white.

PrumaGce Adult male. The whole head, chin, throat, neck all round,
upper breast, upper half, or in some two-thirds, of the back, the scapulars,
(all but the undermost one or two) the first 6 primaries and a broad band
across the wing (commencing on the carpal joint and involving some
of the small coverts, and most of the median and larger coverts of the se-
condaries and tertiaries) black, (or blackish brown in a somewhat earlier stage
of plumage). Lower portion of the back, (except a broad central line, usually
black), rump and upper tail coverts, pure white, the latter with large,
subterminal, grey spots, or broad imperfect bars, in some specimens, almost
obsolete. Winglet, primary greater coverts, last 4 primaries and _se-
condaries silver grey, often broadly tipped with brown, and with a consider-
able portion of the inner webs white. ‘Tertiaries and some of their greater
coverts, dark brown. Undermost scapulars a mixture of dark brown
and grey. Shoulder of wing and all the lesser coverts (except those involved

308

It probably breeds in Bengal and Assam; Col. Tytler tells
me that he feels almost certain that he has procured it all

near the carpal joint in the black bar), pure white, in some specimens
fulvous white, in others tinged grey. Tail feathers pale, greyish, dove colour,
or very pale, silvery brown, narrowly tipped white, and all but the central
feathers, broadly margined interiorly with white. Lower breast, abdomen, sides,
flanks, lower tail coverts, wing lining, and axillaries pure white. Lower
surface of tail and quills, except the first six primaries (which are black)
albescent or white.

A somewhat younger specimen, had the black everywhere more or less
intermingled with dusky brown. This stage is correctly figured by Le Vail-
lant, (Birds of Africa, p. 32) and Radde mentions a similar specimen, in the
Vienna Museum.

Young Male. The whole head, nape and back of neck, clove brown, each
feather broadly margined with pale rufous. Upper back and scapulars,
uniform, clove brown. Lower back and wings, a slightly lighter shade of the
same colour. Some of the longest feathers of the back, with two obscure,
terminal, rufous spots, (one on each web); the edge of the wing rufous white
and many of the lesser coverts faintly or boldly (it varies in different speci-
mens) margined, with fulvous or rufous white. Upper tail coverts pure
white,(in one fulvous white) dark shafted, and with a conspicuous, oval, rufous
brown, subterminal spot. The tail feathers a somewhat greyish, pale brown,
narrowly tipped with fulvous white, and with broad, rather darker brown,
transverse bars. The exterior lateral feathers have the ground colour much
paler and tinged rufous, and the transverse bars narrower and less perfect.
The whole of the lower parts, are buffy or rufous white, with central, rufous
brown stripes, broad on the lower breast and upper abdomen, almost obsolete
on the chin and thigh coverts. The cheeks and ear coverts are dull, rather
sandy rufous, some of the longer feathers centered darker towards the tips, and
(in some specimens) all darker shafted. The primaries have the greater por-
tion of the inner webs, pale rufous white; they are barred with darker
brown, the bars being wide apart and most conspicuous on the lower surface
of the wing. The lower surface of the quills is grey brown on the terminal
halves, with darker brown tips and bars, while the basal halves are a some-
what rufous buff, with traces of a few transverse brown bars. The wing
lining, is rufous buff, many of the feathers with rufous brown centerings ; the
axillaries are rufous buff, the shafts darker, and two or more very broad,
irregular, transverse, red brown bars, which, in some specimens, run into one
another, and occupy nearly the whole surface of the feather. The winglet,
greater primary coverts, and the exterior webs towards their bases of some of
the later primaries, grey, all with broad, transverse, brown bars.

Other young males are altogether less rufous below, the ground colour
being almost white, and the central stripes narrower. In these the tail is
greyer, and the bands narrower, and the winglet, primary greater coverts and
exterior webs of primaries, are more decidedly grey, (quite silver grey on the
two former) and the brown transverse bars more conspicuous. Most of the
axillaries are pure white, with large brown spots, or imperfect, transverse
bars.

These descriptions of the young males were originally taken from speci-
mens in “ Tytler’s Museum,” but have subsequently been compared with others.

As regards the quills, Radde remarks, that the second and fifth are almost
equal, the second only exceeding the 5th by about 0:08, but in a very fine
specimen now before me, the second exceeds the 5th by 0°9. The sixth he

309

the year round at Barrackpoor, and that he believes it to
breed somewhere in that neighbourhood. Dr. Jerdon remarks
(in his Appendix): ‘ This Harrier, I have every reason to
believe, breeds in Northern India. I saw several in Purneah
in July, (some of them in a garb resembling that of the females
of the other species) and shot one bird in a state of change from
the female garb to the black and white ordinary plumage. This
was apparently not a young bird of the year, for the tail fea-
thers were much worn. Can this bird, then, have a double
moult ? It would appear so, unless | was mistaken in consi-
dering it not a bird of the year. If so, they have the ordinary
female garb of Harriers at first, and shortly afterwards, assume
the peculiar pied livery of this species.”

The specimen referred to by Dr. Jerdon, he recently showed
me, and I have little hesitation in saying that I believe it to be
undoubtedly referable to C. Melanoleucus. We both agreed
that it exactly resembled the grey-winged and grey-tailed, left
hand figure, of Circus Spilonotus (Ibis, 1863, Pl. V,) but while
he assigned it to this species, [ contend that either it does not
belong to it, or that if it does, this so-called species is merely a
form of C. Melanoleucus. Of this I shall say more further on.
At present I would wish first to notice, that up to the present
time, as far as I know, no description of the young of this species
has been published. Col. Tytler was, I believe, the first to pro-
cure the young, in the Ist year’s livery, a stage of plumage in
which it much resembles the young of the other, already de-
scribed, species,—I have therefore given (see footnote) full de-
scriptions of the young, taken originally from Col. 'Tytler’s spe-
cimens, but subsequently compared with others from Tipperah.

In all stages of plumage, the males (for I have as yet seen no
authenticated female of Melanoleucus), may be distinguished from
those of Cyaneus, Swainsoni and Cineraceus, by the length of
the tarsus, which averages over 3 inches, and in no specimen
that I have examined, fell short of 2°98 (in a young bird) and
in one (a fine adult) measured 3°13.

IT am aware that Mr. Gurney (Ibis, 1863, p. 214) gives the
average of the tarsus, in three specimens, at 2°87, but possibly, he

says exceeds the first by 0°6, but in a specimen now before me, it only exceeds
it by 0°3. The proportions of the quills therefore, vary considerably, even in
the adults. The second to the fifth, as he points out, are conspicuously emar-
ginate on the outer web, and the first four are notched, but somewhat. feebly,
on the inner webs. The tail he gives as even, only the external lateral
feather being slightly shorter than the others, but in some specimens, as my
measurements shew, the tail is perceptibly rounded. These, however, were
young birds.

510

measures differently to what I do; any how, out of nine Indian
specimens, whose tarsi I have recorded, (measuring most accu-
rately with compasses and a decimal rule,) in no single case did
I find the tarsus less than I have mentioned, and it certainly
averages, in adults, fully 3°06; similarly measured, 2°8 may be
taken as a maximum for Swainsoni and Cyaneus, and 2°4 for
Cineraceus.

There is one possible flaw: I have never killed this species
myself, and am dependant, for the identification of the sex, and
many of the measurements (not of course of the tarsus, or other
parts, that do not alter in the dried skin,) on Col. Tytler, Mr.
Irwin and others, but taking the whole of the evidence col-
lectively, I entertain no doubt that all the specimens that I
have examined, all but one (of which the sex was not ascertain-
ed) professing to be males, and agreeing closely in all their mea-
surements, were really males.

It still is open to any one to suggest, that as Dr. Jerdon’s
bird is by him believed to belong to a separate species, Spi/lo-
notus (of which more anon,) these young birds that I have
described, may belong to this, and not to Melanoleucus. But
two at least of these young birds were shot in company with
with full-plumaged Me/anoleucus, and they are one and all
somewhat smaller in their dimensions, than undoubted adult
Pied Harriers, whereas the supposed Spi/onotus is said by
Mr. Gurney, to be a decidedly Jarger bird, with longer tarsi.

I believe we may rest assured that the birds described by me,
are bond fide young males of this species, and it seems not im-
probable that these may be the birds referred to by Mr. Gurney
in the following notice which appeared in the Ibis for 1868.

“ A third undescribed Harrier, of the Philippine Island, is of
the same size and configuration as the last mentioned, but of
very similar colouring to the adult male of C. hudsonius (Linn.)
which Professor Schlegel (Museum des Pays Bas, Circi, p. 3)
mentions as a species inhabiting the Philippine Islands, but
which I have never seen thence. It is, however, decidedly a
smaller species than C. hudsonius, and may perhaps prove to
be a hitherto undescribed state of C. Melanoleucus, a possibility
which has hitherto restrained me from describing it as a dis-
tinct species.” As regards the females, I have no positive in-
formation, but, I feel certain myself, that Dr. Jerdon’s specimen
was Circus Melanoleucus, in plumage intermediate between those
stages which I have described, and I cannot doubt, that it
exactly corresponded with the figure of the supposed Spi/onotus
in the Ibis for 1863.

oll

The following were Mr. Swinhoe’s remarks in regard to this

plate :—
Le I observed a pair of Harriers beating over the rush-grown
delta of the Tamsay river, about the gorge, in March. I watch-
ed them for some time, but was unable to get within shot of
them. ‘The male appeared of a pied plumage; but the female
was brown. I concluded, therefore, that it must have been the
species that prevails in the neighbourhood of Amoy, rather than
the true C. Melanoleucus, Gmel., which ranges in Asia, from
India to Peking, and which I have also seen from the Philip-
pines; for Mr. Gurney tells me, that he is informed by Mr.
Blyth that this latter species has, in the adult form, both sexes
coloured alike. In the broad, flat, open country of the south
west, near T'aiwanfoo, I observed another Harrier, which I took
to be O. Cyaneus, L.; but of the species I cannot be sure, as it
might have been one of two cognate forms which are hard to
distinguish from it at a distance, except by a most experienced
eye. These are the Pale Harrier (Circus Swainsoni, Smith) and
the American Harrier (C. hudsonius, L.) The former of these
has lately been procured by Captain Blakiston on the Yangtsze
river ; and of the latter, specimens may be seen in the Leyden
Museum, from the Philippines and Kamtschatka.

“‘T procured no specimens of Harriers in Formosa ; but, as Mr.
Gurney was anxious to have the Circus spilonotus figured, I
have supplied a male and female from the neighbourhood of
Amoy for that purpose. With reference to this species, Mr.
Gurney writes, ‘I have just compared three male specimens of
C. Spilonotus, with three males of C. IMelanoleucus, and enclose
you the measurements, by which you will see that C. Spi/onotus
considerably exceeds C. Melanoleucus in all its measurements ;
in addition to which it has a much larger bill and stronger tarsi.
In all these respects (as also in some degree in colouring) it
approaches to an allied but still larger species, C. Assimilis,
Gould, of Australia. Ido not think that C. Spilonotus ever
assumes the black plumage which characterizes the head, neck,
back, and a portion of the wings of the adult male of C. Mela-
noleucus. I have not been able to compare your female of
C. Spilonotus with a female of C. Melanoleucus, the only (sup-
posed) female which I have of the latter, being an individual of
the sex of which I do not feel sure.

Total Length Wing from Tarsus. Middle toe
(inches. ) Carpus. and claw.
Circus Spilonotus &

(5 specimens.) 22 23°75 17°25 17°75 3:37 = 2°75
Circus Melanoleu- &

cus (3 specimens 18 14-0) 1s:00: 62°37 | 2700’

312

“T have unfortunately no measurements of C. Spi/onotus taken
from birds in a fresh state. The only note I can find in my
Journals is the following, made on a male, shot at Amoy, the
27th December, 1859 :—‘ Bill, bluish black, paler on the base ;
cere, light greenish yellow ; eyes, fine waxen or primrose, yel-
low ; inside of mouth, leaden blue ; legs, yellow ochre, with black
claws.’ ‘The females of this species have yellowish brown irides,
and so much resemble those of the Marsh Harrier (C. Grugino-
sus) that Mr. Blyth identified an example I sent him, as of that
species ; but as 1 had frequently seen individual, brown birds, in
company with the pied cones, I was led to doubt the assertion.
On the rush-grown sand flats, at the mouth of the Changchow
river, near Amoy, these birds are particularly common during
winter, but they are nearly always females. I do not know for
what reason ; but in this locality, the adult male is peculiarly
rare until the spring, when a few may occasionally be met with.
In many points of habit, this bird seems to connect the Harriers
with the Govinda Kites, feeding largely on offal and carrion,
as well as on Batrachians and small mammals. AIl these ob-
jects I have found in the stomachs of those I have dissected ;
but remains of birds never. In its heavy sailing flight, this
species also more resembles Kites than a Harrier. They are
such offensive birds, that I did not care to preserve more than a
few for identification.

“Mr. Gurney writes me, that he has seen specimens of C.
Spilonotus from Singapore, as well as from the Philippines.”

Now, in the first place, I must remark that I do not think
that it has as yet been satisfactorily determined by dissection,
that the adult females of MJe/anoleucus are identical in plumage,
with the males.—If any one has done so, I wish they would let
me know. LHvery black and white bird examined by Tytler at
a time when he shot many, was a male. Both specimens in the
Asiatic Society’s Museum were males. The adult female may
be like the male, but it has not I conceive been as yet proved.

Secondly, even if this be conceded, this is no reason why the
supposed Spi/onotus (I refer here not to Kaup’s bird, but to the
figure in the Ibis) should not be a female, in the transitional
stage, between the young and old. Mr. Gurney sets them
down as males; but the context leaves it doubtful, whether Mr.
Swinhoe himself ascertained the sexes; and supposing them to
be females, the dimensions given by Mr. Gurney are not very
unlike what we might have expected, with reference to the size
of the males, while the bill and tarsus would of cowrse be stron-
ger. Dr. Jerdon’s bird though larger than a very fine male Mela-
noleucus in my Museum, with which I compared it, was rather

d13

smaller than those described by Mr. Gurney. As matters now
stand, either we must accept the mottled grey bird, as a stage
of Melanoleucus, or we rust include Spilonotus, as figured in the
Ibis, as an Indian species. It is just possible that Dr. Jerdon’s
bird may be Melanoleucus, and although in plumage exactly
similar to Mr. Swinhoe’s bird, nevertheless structurally and spe-
cially distinct. This, however, is not likely. Ifsome of my
correspondents would kindly procure two or three undoubted
females of IMelanoleucus, the matter might probably be set at
rest at once.

It remains to be noticed that all this time, the bird figured
in the Ibis may be a state of Melanoleucus, and not Spilonotus of
Kaup at all. He describes his species thus, “ Head, black ;
wings and tail, without bars ; beneath white, with black oblong
spots on the crop.” He gives this species as from Asia, and
places it in the same subgroup as Ranivorus and Afruginosus,
which he classes as Buteonine types, while he keeps Cyaneus and
Melanoleucus as Falconine, and Cineraceus and Swainsoni, as
Milvine types.

Col. Tytler tells me that “this species,’ (Melanoleucus) about
Barrackpore (where he says they are quite as common, as
C. Swainsoni is in the Upper Provinces) ‘ was always found in
open ground, small brushwood and fields, not near jheels and
swamps as in the case of Aruginosus ; also, that they are never
solitary, and that where one is shot, several others are sure to
be seen in the immediate neighbourhood.”

The Pied Harrier is a truly Asiatic species; Pallas, or rather
Sokoloff, who accompanied him, observed it in Argunj, Radde in
the middle Amoor, at Mogotui, Akschinsk, and other places in
south east Siberia. In China, it is common in many localities ;
it has been sent from the Philippine islands. It occurs in Ceylon,
Burmah, Assam and Eastern Bengal generally (extending west-
wards at least as far as Mirzapore*) and although Radde rightly
says, that like all the species of this genus, it loves widely extended
plains and the neighbourhood of water, it has been found almost
throughout the Himalayahs, from the valley of the Burhampoo-
ter, right up to Afghanistan, where Griffiths procured a specimen.
In the dry plains of Central and Upper India, it seems to be un-
known, and it neither extends, as far as I yet know, to Japan on
the one hand, or the Malayan Archipelago on the other.

* Mr. Brooks says—“ I have seen it once on the Kurnouta, which runs into
the Ganges near Mirzapore, and several times on the Balen river 30 to 40
miles south of Mirzapore: I never saw it away from water.”

O14

No. 54. Circus Airuginosus.* Lay.
Tut Marsu Harrier.

It seems probable, that this species breeds in the plains of
India, in suitable localities. In the jheel-studded tract of coun-

* Circus ARuGINosUSs.

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: (Six males and eight females measured and weighed.)

The fourth or third and fourth primaries the longest. The first is 3:20 to
4:00 shorter, the second 0°70 to 0:90, and the third equal to or not more
than 0°20 shorter than the fourth. Exterior tail feathers 0°50 to 0°98 shorter
than interior feathers.

Description. The legs and feet are rich yellow, dingy or pale greenish
yellow in the young, the claws brownish black. The irides are orange
yellow, sometimes with a pink tinge, deep brown, or brownish yellow in the
young. The bill is blackish or brownish black, yellowish at the base, and
bluish there in the young. The cere is greenish yellow, or sometimes
pale greenish, in the young.

Piumace. I have little to add to Dr. Jerdon’s description, except that as
the young bird advances towards maturity, there first appears a large rufous
fawn, or rufous white patch upon the breast; then the rufous, or yellowish
white of the head and nape, begins to run down the back of the neck, and
margins of a similar colour begin to make their appearance on the feathers of
the upper back and the smaller wing coverts. The colour of the upper parts
slightly fades, and a greyish tinge begins to overspread the outer webs of the
primaries, ‘

Further I should note, that the adult plumage described by Dr. Jerdon, in
which the shoulders, secondaries and tail are silver grey, is according to
European writers, never assumed except by the male, and though I cannot
speak positively to this point myself, it is a fact that my large collection con-

a a |

_

315

try lying partly in the Mynpooree and partly in the Etawah
district, 1, many years ago, shot a large adult and saw several
others quite at the close of May. An unusually heavy rainfall
had filled all the lakes, or, as we should call them in Norfolk,
broads, to overflowing, and the unsettled state of the country
had, in a great measure prevented the customary agricultural
drain on them, and many of them, commonly dry at this season,
were still extensive sheets of water. I can scarcely doubt that
these birds bred there that year.

In Oudh, native fowlers informed me, that they bred in
swampy grounds, trans-Gogra. Mr. F. R. Blewitt writing from
Jhansie, in the neighbourhood of which there are several consi-
derable lakes, says that he has procured the Marsh Harrier
there throughout the hot weather and rains.

T cannot find any record of its eggs having as yet been found
in India: of its nidification in the British Isles, Mr. Yarrell
says, ‘The nest is placed on the ground, among long coarse
grass, in a bunch of rushes, fern or furze, or at the base of a
bush. The nest is formed of small sticks, rushes, or long grass :
the eggs are three or four in number, of an oval shape, rather
pointed at one end, white, two inches one line (2°08) in length,
and one inch six lines (1°5) in breadth.”

Mr. Hewitson says, ‘The eggs of the Marsh Harrier,
although for the most part white, or slightly tinted with blue,
are sometimes also spotted and smeared with brown, in the
same manner as those of the Hen Harrier.”

This species “ almost always breeds on the ground, but will
sometimes, assuming the habits of the Common Buzzard, breed

.in the fork of a large tree, in which place, Montague says, he has
himself found it ; in such a situation, the nest would, as he de-
scribes it, be formed of sticks and such ike material. In the
fen countries, its usual resort, the nest is composed of so large
a quantity of flags, reeds and sedges, as to raise it a foot or a
foot and a half above the ground. The eggs are usually four,
sometimes, though not often, fivein number.” Mr. Hewitt
considers the dimensions above quoted, from Mr..Yarrell, as too
large. His own figure represents a very round, oval egg mea-
suring 1:93 X 1°59.

This species, occurs in every country in Kurope, from north
to south ; in all the Islands of the Mediterranean ; throughout

tains no single specimen of a female in this stage of plumage. I note that
in some old males, the chin and breast are almost pale fawn colour, with
darker streaks, while in others the ground colour of these parts is a rich and
very red brown.

316

northern Africa, including Egypt; in Palestine and Asia Minor;
Mesopotamia and Afghanistan : eastwards, it has been procured
in China, at least as far south as Amoy, and in Japan. North-
wards, Radde met with a single example in Tareinor, and Pallas
gives it asa visitant to all parts of Siberia, but this seems
doubtful. In India, it is to be found in suitable localities, such
as its trivial name indicates, throughout the length and breadth
of the land; Layard notices its occurrence in Ceylon, and it is
not uncommon in British Burmah, but it does not appear to
extend to the Malay Peninsular or the Archipelego, in which
latter C. Jardini seems to replace it.

No. 55. Haliastur Indus.* Bopp.

Tur Brauminy Kir,

The Brahminy Kite lays in March, the latter half of Febru-
ary, or the early part of April, according to season and locality.
Like many other species, it breeds earlier in Lower Bengal than

* Haliastur Indus.—Young female, (about 5 months old).

Druensions.—Length, 19 ; Expanse, 57 ; Wing, 15; Tarsus, 2; Tail, 7°5 ;
Mid toe, 1°35 ; its claw, 0°7 ; Hind toe, 0°75; its claw, 0°72 ; Inner toe, 0°7 ;
its claw, 0°7; Bill, straight, from edge of cere to point, 0°9; from gape, 1°4;
width at gape, 1; height at front, at margin of cere, 0°5 ; Length of cere, on
culmen, 0°46. The 4th primary the longest; the 1st 4°3, the 2nd 1°4, and
the 3rd 0:2 shorter. ‘The wings when closed reach to 0°5 beyond end of tail.
The exterior tail feathers fall short by O°'7 of the central tail feathers ; the
lower tail coverts reach to within 3 inches of end of tail.

Description.—Bill and cere horny blackish brown. Legs and feet, light
greenish yellow. Ivrides, brown.

Plumage.—the forehead whitish, the feathers dark shafted; a dark brown
streak, commencing at the anterior angle of the eye and running backwards
over the eye to the top of the ear coverts; chin and throat with the cheeks
fulvous white, the shafts brown. The ear coverts pale brown. Feathers of
the top of the head, nape, and back of the neck, slightly reddish brown, mar-
gined with pale whity brown, and the shafts dark brown. Upper back and
scapulars umber brown, many of the feathers paler and abraded at_the tips.
Rump umber brown, some of the feathers faintly tipped rufous. Upper tail
coverts similarly but not conspicuously tipped with ferruginous towards the
tip. Tail brown, all the feathers tipped narrowly with whitey brown, the
brown, greyish in patches, and all the feathers marginally tinged with ferrugi-
nous towards their bases, on the outer webs. First 6 primaries brownish
black, with more or less of rufous white or grey on the inner webs towards
the bases, the rest of the quills darker or lighter umber brown, narrowly
tipped with fulvous white, and the outer webs of the last few primaries much
tinged with pale chesnut, and with a good deal of the inner webs, towards
the base, of the same colour. ‘The tertiaries a paler brown. The greater pri-
mary coverts and winglet deep brown, tipped with reddish white and strongly

317

up-country. In Upper India, where it is comparatively rare,
it almost invariably makes its nest in the neighbourhood of
water, building a rather large, loose, stick structure, scarcely if
at all distinguishable from the common Kites, (I. Glovinda,) high
up on some large mango, tamarind or peepul tree. The nest
which is from eighteen inches to two feet in diameter, and from
three to five inches in depth, with a rather considerable depres-
sion internally, is sometimes perfectly unlined, at other times,
has a few green leaves laid under the eggs, as in an Hagle’s nest,
but most commonly is more or less lined, or has the materials
of the inner part of the nest intermingled with pieces of rag,
wool, human hair, and the like.

Most commonly only two eggs are laid, but three are by no
means uncommon, and one of my correspondents notes finding
four in one nest; a very unusual number.

The eggs vary in shape, of course, but typically are very
perfect moderately broad ovals, only slightly compressed to-
wards one end; as a rule they are smaller, and as far as my
experience goes, far less richly coloured than those of I. Govinda.
The ground colour is greyish white, sometimes unspotted,
but dingy, sometimes feebly speckled and spotted, at times
towards one end only, with pale dingy brown, and sometimes
scantily blotched and spotted with reddish brown. In size, the
eges vary, from 1°89 to 2°28 in length and from 1°5 to 1:79 in
breadth, but the average of 15 eggs measured was 2°07 & 1°63.

Mr. G. Marshall, R. E. says of this species, ‘‘ Breeds in the
Saharunpoor District. I saw a female on her nest in a huge
dry tree in the early part of March, but as the tree was inacces-
sible, I was obliged to leave it, the nest was of sticks about fifty
feet from the ground.”

Mr. R. Thompson, remarks :

tinged with chesnut towards the tips. The rest of the coverts paler brown,
more or less tipped with whitey brown, and tinged with ferruginous, except
the lesser ones, in the neighbourhood of the scapulars which are deep brown,
strongly tinged with ferruginous ; most of the coverts have dark brown shafts
as indeed have most of the scapulars ; the base of the neck in front, breast, and
abdomen, are rufous brown, with narrow, central, fulvous white stripes, which
disappear towards the vent, and on the tibial plumes, which instead of a
white, central stripe have the shafts dark brown. The larger lower wing
coverts are greyish white, with imperfect, greyish brown, clouded bars, and
a faint salmon coloured tinge; the rest of the wing lining, is a more or less
ferruginous brown, the feathers with darker brown shafts. The lower tail
coverts are fulvous or rufous white, the shafts brown.

I think the dimensions given by Dr. Jerdon are too large; I have unfor-
tunately no detailed measurements of adults by me, but I have noted the
length of a fine adult male at 18 inches.

318

« At Shaheunj, Pergunnah Bhurrur, District Mirzapore, I
saw on the 6th March, 1869 a pair of these birds building their
nest which was placed in a mango tope, in a tall tree. There
were no eggs, as the birds had not then laid, but the nest was as
complete as it could be.

The nest was like that of IL Govinda, and placed on a very
high branch.”

Of the nidification of the nearly allied H. Leucosternus of
Australia, Mr. Gould says—“It breeds from the beginning of
July to the end of August. I succeeded in finding two nests,
each of which contained two eggs; but I am told that three are
sometimes found. The nest is formed of sticks, with fine twigs
or coarse grass as a lining; it is about two feet in diameter,
and built in a strong fork of the dead part of a tree; both of
those I found were about thirty feet from the ground, and
about two hundred yards from the beach. The eggs which are
about 2°17 in length, by 1°67 in breadth, are of a dirty white,
having the surface spread over with numerous, hair-like streaks
and very minute dots of reddish brown, the former prevailing
and assuming the form of hieroglyphics, these singular markings
being most numerous at one end, sometimes at the larger, at
others at the smaller. The difference even occurring in the two
egos of the same nest.”

Mr. E. Ramsay, in regard to the same species, remarks, in
the Ibis for 1865—“In almost every instance the examples
found by Mr. Rainbird were placed near the tops of the larger
trees in belts of mangroves skirting the edges of salt water
swamps and marshes in the neighbourhood of Port Denison,
They were composed of twigs and dead branches of mangrove,
lined with a finer material. One, from which that gentleman
shot the bird, and brought me the egg upon which she was sit-
ting, was lined with tufts of lichen ; and in this instance, the
ege was placed upon various fish-bones, shells and claws of
crabs, &e.; the edges and sides were beautifully ornamented with
long streamers of bleached sea-weed, which gave the nest a
novel and pleasing appearance. The egg has a rough ground
of a bluish white colour, with a few minute spots of brownish
red near the larger end, it is ofan oval form. 2°08 in length
by 1°50 in breadth.”

This Australian race which differs from the Indian in the ab-
sence of the median black stripes of the white feathers, and
which was figured by Viellot, as MHaliastus Girrenera (Gal.
dois. T. 10) without, however, his discriminating it from the In-
dian species, extends to Celebes, all the Moluccas and the New
Guinea group, while intermediate both as regards geographical

319

position and the intensity of the black shaft stripes, another race
appears to occur in Java, Siam, Sumatra, Timor, Flores, Borneo,
and the Philippine islands, which is probably Fulco Pondiceria-
nus of Horsf. but which Mr. Gurney considers, should be distin-
guished as H. intermedius. Mr. Wallace, however, as I gather
‘from his paper in the Ibis for 1868, considers this form identical
with the Indian.

Mr. Blyth had the following interesting remarks, on these
closely allied species.

“ According to Pro. Schlegel, this species (H. Indus) is spread
from Nepaul to the Philippines. H. Lewcosternus, Gould, he
remarks, is founded on the absence of the black median stripes
on the feathers of the white portion of the plumage, “a character,
purely accidental.” This view is irreconcilable with the
fact that these marks are invariably strongly developed
in the Indian race, while in the Javan race (extending
to Siam) they are present but only slightly developed, the
white feathers being merely black-shafted. Specimens from
Bouru, Gilolo, and Aru are of the true Australian race, without
even the shafts of the white feathers, black and contrasting.
Three Indian specimens and a Javan one were lately to be seen
together in the Gardens of the Zoological Society, the difference
between them being very conspicuous. Of the immense num-
ber which I have examined or beheld close in India, I certainly
never saw even one resembling or approximating to the Java-
nese bird. The intermediate Javan race (H. intermedius, ‘ Ibis,’
1865, p. 28,) is possibly the result of intermixture, and it may
be, that there isa greater or less development of the black streaks
in the Malayan province according to the proportions of that
intermixture, constituting a gradation or transition from the
Indian race to the Australian, as in some other instances, where
contermincus races blend ; and this would lead observers in that
particular Zoological province, to suppose the absence, or amount
of development of the streaks, to be “ purely accidental.” The
near affinity of the fine large African Haliastur vocifer to the
“ Brahminy Kite,” noticed by Professor Schlegel, struck me
immediately, on beholding the pair of the former, now living in
the Zoological Gardens; but the voice is very different, that of
H. indus being a peculiar sort of d/eat, quite unlike the shrill
cries of most of the Falconide, and the barking notes of others.”

It is the Indian species that occurs in Ceylon; at any rate a
specimen received thence is undistinguishable from our uwp-coun-
try birds, and the same may be said of a specimen sent me from
Rangoon.

———

320

No. 56. Milvus Govinda.* Sykes.

THe Partay Kirn.

This species lays at very different seasons in different loca-
lities. In the plains of Upper India and the Punjab, the ereat |

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a Bite

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(5 males and 5 females measured and weighed.) i

The 4th (8rd rarely sub-equal)primary the longest. The Ist is 4:2 to 5°75
shorter, the 2nd 1:00 to 2°15, and the 3rd nil to 0°78, shorter. Central
tail feathers 1:00, to 2:29, shorter than external ones.

Description.—The legs and feet are yellow; wax yellow, in the old birds
and pale lemon yellow in somewhat younger ones; very pale greenish grey
in young ones. The claws are black. Ivides are brown ; yellowish brown
in some, pale brown in others, and deep brown in others. The bill is
black, or blackish horny. The cere and gape in the old bird yellow, in
younger birds the cere and gape are greenish grey, and in others again the .
lower mandible, cere and gape are horny brown.

Plumage.—(I have not sufficiently worked out the different stages of |

plumage, but there are two leading types.)
Ist,—Fully adult. The whole of the top of the head, back and sides of
the neck, dingy wood or pale umber brown; the feathers with an exces-

=

321

majority lay in February ; a few only breeding in the previous
and succeeding months. Lower down country, they are, I be-
lieve, earlier, and I myself have taken eges as early as Christmas
day. In the districts bordering on the bases of the Himalayahs,
March is the more general time, while in the Himalayahs,
where our bird is common up to a height of six or seven thou-
sand feet, they mostly lay in April and May. Everywhere,
stragglers breed earlier and later, by nearly six weeks, than the
great body of the birds do, so that even in the neighbourhood
of Agra, we have eges recorded as early as the 29th December,
and as late as the 15th April. In Bareilly, I took a nest of
fresh egos, on the 9th May, and at Simlah found three much-
incubated ones, as late as the first week in June. They build
almost without exception on trees, but I have found two nests
(out of many hundreds that I have examined) placed, Neophron
like, on the cornices of ruins. ;

The nest, mostly placed in a fork, but not uncommonly laid
on a flat bough, is a large clumsy mass, of sticks and twigs, the

sively narrow, dark, shaft stripe ; and with a very narrow, paler stripe, on
each side of this, towards the tips. The whole of the rest of the upper parts
anstriped brown, very dark upon the first few primaries, and much paler on
the tertials and lesser wing coverts. ‘The tail tinged with grey and with
obscure traces of transverse darker bars; many of the lesser coverts and of
the tertials, as well as most of the upper tail coverts and the tail feathers
themselves, narrowly, but somewhat obscurely, tipped paler. The chin and
throat whity brown, the shafts more or less conspicuously darker. The
breast, abdomen, lower tail coverts, and tibial plumes, dull hair brown, dark
shafted, or with narrow, dark, central, shaft stripes ; those of the breast, with
narrow, pale stripes, on each side of the shaft stripes, towards the tips; the
rest, in many birds, with a pale spot towards the tips.

In some specimens, the whole upper plumage is greyer, the chin and
throat are white instead of whity brown, under parts are more of an umber
brown, and the pale stripes on either side the shaft stripes, are pale dull rufous.
The tippings of the feathers of the back, scapulars, upper tail coverts, and
tail, a purer white, and better defined, and the paler brown, median coverts
of the wing, have a conspicuous, though very narrow, dark brown, shaft
stripe. In all, the shafts of the lower-tail coverts are dark.

2nd.—The young bird has the whole head, neck, breast, abdomen, and
sides, umber brown, each feather with a conspicuous, broad, fulvous yellow
or buffy streak. The chin and throat, are dingy fulvous, some of the feathers
inconspicuously darker shafted. The back, scapulars, upper tail coverts, and
wing, (except the first few primaries which are almost black) a more or less
rich umber brown, glossed in many cases with purple, and every feather,
more or less narrowly tipped, with rufous or fulvous white; the tail and
lower tail coverts, much as in the preceding. In some specimens, the light
streaks are almost pure white, in others rufous buff.

All intermediate stages are met with. In some, whilst the upper plumage
is nearly that of the adult, the whole of the lower parts exhibit the white,
yellowish white, or rufous buff, central stripes characteristic of the young.

322

various thorny accacias appearing to be the favourite material,
lined or intermingled with, rags, leaves, tow, &c. The birds
are perfectly fearless, breeding as freely on single stunted trees,
situated in the densest populated bazars, or most crowded grain
markets, as on the noblest tree in the open fields. The great
majority breed in the suburbs of the towns and villages, the
offal of which supplies their daily food, but single nests may be
found far away from human habitations, in almost virgin
jungle.

Two, appears to be the normal number of the eggs, but they
often lay three. Twice I have obtained four, and on several
occasions, I have met with a single hard-set egg, or young one,
in a nest.

When robbed of their eggs, the old birds as a rule mope
about the place without laying more eggs, or attempting to
build a fresh nest, but I have known several instances, in which
more eggs were laid in the same nest, and one in which an
entirely new nest was constructed by the old birds in an adjoin-
ing tree, in which a single egg was laid and hatched.

As regards the eggs themselves, the countless varieties of
types of coloration which they exhibit, defy description. I
have before me now specimens absolutely devoid of any trace of
colour which might well stand for gigantic specimens of Po/ior-
nis Teesa, but these of course are very exceptional; I have only
two such in a series of several hundred. The ground colour is
almost invariably a pale greenish or greyish white, more or less
blotched, clouded, mottled, streaked, pen-lined, spotted or speck-
led with various shades of brown and red from a pale butly
brown to purple, and from blood-red to earth brown. Many of
the eggs are excessively handsome, having the boldest hierogly-
phics, blotched in blood-red, on a clear white or pale green
ground, Others again are covered with delicate markings, as
if etched on them with a crow quill, but no doubt, the markings
in the majority, are more or less smudgy, and but dingily
coloured. In some few, the ground colour is a dull mottled
purple, clouded over with deeper shades of purplish brown.
Compared with many other species, the eggs do not vary so
very much, in size or shape; they are normally, a very perfect
oval, scarcely more compressed at one end than at the other, but
elongated, pointed, spherical and pyriform varieties occur. The
color of the shells, when held up to the light, varies a good deal,
in some it is as ight a green as Circactus Gallicus, in others, as
deep as in Haliactus Leucoryphus. I may here note, that Dr.
Bree’s figure of the egg of the Arabian Hite, correctly enough
represents one common variety of the eggs of Iileus Govinda.

323

Although, as a rule, the eggs are glossless, a good many,when
freshly laid, bear more or less of a natural glaze, which vastly
brightens their colouring.

In size, the eggs vary from 1°9 to 2°35 in length, and from
1:55 to 1°85 in breadth, but the average of 273 eggs measured,
was 2°19 by 1°77.

Capt. G. F. L. Marshall, writing from Saharunpoor, remarks
that this species ‘‘ generally breeds in February and March,
but I have taken eggs as late as the end of April. It usually
lays three eggs, but will lay more, ifsome of the eggs are taken.
I took two out of three eggs from one nest, leaving one to pre-
vent the bird forsaking the place. A short time after, I sent a
shikaree to shoot and bring me the bird ; he mistook my orders
and brought the eggs, there were three then, two more had
been laid ; after this, one other egg was laid, and then the nest
was forsaken ; the nest was in my own compound, so that I had
ample opportunities for watching it.”

Mr. W. E. Brookes remarks, that this species is, “ tolerably
common both at Nyneetal and Almorah, at both of which places
it breeds about two months later than it does in the plains.”

That there are certainly two distinct species of Kites in India,
my remarks, when treating of the next species (No. 56 bis), will
I hope, sufficiently clearly show, but besides this, it seems by no
means improbable, that a third species, W. affinis of Australia
and the Archipelago, also occurs, and further, it appears by no
means impossible, that IZ. Melanotis of China and Japan, may
also be found within our limits.

The following are Mr. Blyth’s remarks on these three species,
in the Ibis for 1866.

“Professor Schlegel (Mus. P. B. Milvi, p. 2) identifies this
with the I. melanotis, Schlegel, (Faun. Japon. Aves, tab. V.
and V. B.) of China and Japan. Of the myriads of Indian
Kites, which have been familiarly observed by me for more
than twenty-one years, I certainly never saw one even approach-
ing to the rufous colouring represented in the ‘ Fauna Japonica’
(tab. V. B.) ; and so far as I have seen, the adults of JZ. meda-
notis exhibit a mottling of the feathers of the upper parts, as
shown in the figures cited, which is never seen in adults of the
Indian Gite. The Chinese species has, moreover, a rather
stouter bill. In former years, I held this opinion in opposition
to that of my friend Mr. Swinhoe (in epistolis) ; but I observe
that he now gives medanotis (and not govinda) in his “ Catalogue
of the Birds of China” (P. Z. 8. 1863, p. 260.) Mr. Gould,
in his recently published ‘ Hand-book to the Birds of Australia,’
states of MW. affinis, that it “ appears to enjoy a very wide distri-

O24

bution, since it not only inhabits Australia, but appears to
extend its range through the (so-called) Indian Islands, to the
peninsula of India. Mr. Gurney informs us, that it occurs in
Macassar, and certainly in India as far north as Nipal, though
it is generally confounded, in the latter country, with its larger
relative HW. govinda. In every assemblage of Indian Kites,
there is much disparity of size, some males being considerably
smaller than the largest females, and the former would seem to
be undistinguishable from the Australian Afinis, but I am not
disposed to accept the opinion, that there are two separable
races of Milvus, in the Indian and Indo-Chinese sub-regions.
In Mr. Gould’s representations of the Common Pariah Kite of
India, (Part IV. of the Birds of Asia) the cere and feet should
have been coloured of a much paler or dull light sulphur yellow,
or what might rather be termed, dull yellowish white ; while the
dark iris is correct, and conspicuously distinguishes both this
species and JZ. melanotis when alive, from M. migrans, as may
now be seen in the Zoological gardens.”

On this, Mr. Gurney made the following note: ‘“ With refer-
ence to the question of the supposed occurrence in India of
Milvus afjinis, 1 may mention, as one distinction between that
species and the smaller individuals of JL. govinda, that so far
as I have observed, there is no appreciable difference between
the old and young bird in the former, whilst in the latter, it is
very strongly marked, as it is also in Jf. medanotis, if we may
follow Mr. Blyth in considering this a distinct race.”

It is to be hoped, that observers in India, in all parts, will
from time to time, kill specimens of all the Kites big and little,
that they see about them, and preserve these, recording length,
weight, expanse and sex. No collection in the world, contains
a really good series of the Indian Kite, not even my own, and
until such a series be got together, and carefully examined, it is
impossible to say whether Afinis and Melanotis do, or do not
occur in India.

As regards these two species, the following is Mr. Gould’s
description of W. affinis :—

“The sexes are nearly alike in size and colouring. Feathers
of the head, and the back and sides of the neck reddish fawn
colour, with a central stripe of dark blackish brown; all the
upper surface glossy brown inclining to chocolate, and passing
into reddish brown on the wing coverts, the shaft of each fea-
ther being black, and the extreme tip pale brown ; primaries
black ; secondaries blackish brown ; tail which is slightly forked,
brown, crossed by several, indistinct bars of a darker tint, and
each feather tipped with greyish white; throat brownish fawn

325

colour, with the stem of each feather black ; the remainder of
the under surface rufous brown, with a central line of dark
brown on each feather, which is broadest and most conspicuous
on the chest; cere, gape, and base of the lower mandible yel-
low; upper mandible and point of the lower, black; tarsi of
toes yellow ; claws, black ; irides very dark brown.”

He gives no dimensions, (why are European ornithologists
invariably so careless about these matters?) but the following
are some dimensions taken from a skin in my own collection, said
to be of a male: length, 24; wing, 16°75; tail, 10°6; tarsus,
1‘9; mid toe to root of claw, 1°45; its claw straight, 0°7 ; hind
toe, 0°8; its claw, straight, 0°78 ; bill from edge of cere to point,
straight, 0-98 ; bill from gape, 1°65 ; height at front, at margin
of cere, 0°5; cere only, 0°5. The central tail feathers are 1:9
shorter than the external one. The fourth primary is the long-
est ; the first is 4°7, the second 1°6, and the third 0:07 shorter.

It is only right to notice, that I have Indian specimens in
my collection, to my (perhaps unpractised) eye, absolutely
undistinguishable from this specimen sent me from Australia,
by Gerrard Krefft, Esquire.

As regards MW. Melanotis, I have neither description nor
measurements by me. Radde and Schrenk affirm, that it is not
specifically distinct from ‘‘ Niger’ 7. e. Migrans, and say, “If we
collate together the described differences of colour, the charac-
ter of the eastern form (Jelanotis) will be found to consist in
this, that a more pronounced contrast (in the young extending
to portions of individual feathers) exists between the clear,
yellowish and dark, grey brown shades, while in the western
form (Migrans) the colours blend into an almost uniform, (and
with advancing age, more and more predominating) ferruginous
brown.” And Radde goes on to affirm, that specimens of the
European Niger, (or Migrans, Bodd, and this latter name has
the priority) have been obtained, showing the brighter plumage
of melanotis.

It is clear from this, that whether distinct or not, Melanotis
and Migrans, cannot differ much in size. Of Aligrans (which
he calls Ater) Bree gives the length 22 inches, and of a male,
2V inches, with the wing 17.

Layard, who unites both Affinis and Govinda with Migrans,
(in which, however, he is clearly wrong, because the latter is
distinct, whatever the former two may be) gives the length as
21, the wing at 18 and the tail at 10 inches.

The dimensions of Me/anofis, must, since the distinctness of
the species is disputed by so many writers, be very similar,
and it must therefore be a much smaller bird than the one

326

which I have described as WZ. Major (No. 56 bis) and which so
far as plumage goes, it seems to resemble very closely.

The present species, IZ. Govinda, seems (if really distinct from
Affinis) to be confined to India, Ceylon, and Burmah. In
China and Japan, it isreplaced by Melanotis ; in Australia and
part, at any rate, of the Archipelago, by Affinis. In Arabia,
South Eastern Europe, Egypt and South Africa, we have JZ.
Parasiticus, and in the latter three localities, and throughout
southern and central Europe and northern Africa I. Migrans,
(from which Radde and others consider Me/anotis doubtfully
distinct,) while in England, and in many parts of Europe, the
red Kite Milvus Regalis (vel Vulgaris) though now perhaps
somewhat scarce, was at one time nearly as common, as the
Pariah Kite with us.

No. 56 sis. Milvus Major.* Sp. Nov.
Tar Larcer Inpran Kite.

This new species may be at once distinguished from the
Pariah Kite, by its superior size, although approaching more

* Mitvus Masor.

Dimenstons.—(J only have accurate measurements of 2 specimens, both
females.) Length 26°75, 27°75; Wing, 21, 215; (Col. Tytler’s specimen
has the wing 22.”) Tail 13°3, 13:75; length of tarsus. 2°5, 2°4, (both
feathered for 1-4); mid toe to root of claw 1°62, 17; its claw, straight
0°7, 0°82; hind toe, 0°88, 0°91; its claw, straight, 0°8, 0°96; inner toe,
0°85, 0°89; its claw, 0°72, 0°9; bill straight, from edge of cere to point,
1:05, 1:06; from gape, 1°75, 1°78; width at gape, 1°32, 1°38; height at mar-
gin of cere, 0°55, 0°58 ; length of cere on culmen, 0°45, 0°48 ; lower tail coverts
fall short of end of tail by 5, and 5°85. The 4th primary is the longest ; the
1st is 5°35, the 2nd 2°00, and the 3rd 0°20, shorter.

(The smaller of the two birds is in the second stage of plumage, described
below, the larger is in the first or adult plumage.)

Drscriprion.—lIst adult female. Bill and claws horny black. Legs
dull yellow. Toes, mingled dingy greenish and yellow. Cere, pale greenish

ellow.

z Plumage.—General plumage, much as in the common Kite, but the whole
of the upper part with a more or less purple gloss. Forehead and lores whitish,
crown, occiput, nape, back of the neck, breast and upper abdomen rich
umber brown, dullest on the head, with very narrow, black or blackish brown,
shaft stripes, which again are bordered on either side, in some feathers
throughout their whole lengths, in others only towards their tips, with
narrow, more or Jess pale, rufous stripes. The lower abdomen and flanks,
similar, but the black shaft stripe almost obsolete, and the two rufous stripes
broader and blending. A blackish brown stripe, from the posterior angle of
the eye, over the top of the ear-coverts. Chin, throat, cheeks and greater

327

nearly in its plumage to IZ. Welanotis, and (in a slightly less
degree) to I. Govinda, it is fully as large as I. Regalis, has

portion of the ear-coverts white, the feathers black shafted, and, as they
approach the breast, tinged with dull rufous. Scapulars, umber brown,
beautifully glossed with purple, and tinged with an almost golden yellow
towards the extreme tips. The whole of the lesser and median coverts,
purplish brown, but with nearly the whole visible portion of the tips, rufous,
or orange, with the shafts conspicuously darker. The winglet, the greater
primary coverts, and the first few primaries, almost black, but with a purple
gloss. The later primaries, secondaries, and tertials, umber brown, all more
or less glossed with purple. The secondaries, darkest and most richly
glossed. The tail, with excessively broad feathers, (central ones 2°5 in
breadth) and much forked, (the external tail feathers being fully 2 inches
longer, than the central pair,) a dull umber brown, growing deeper in shade
as the feathers recede from the centre, all narrowly tipped with white, and
obscurely banded with 8 or 9 broad transverse somewhat darker bars. The
rump and upper tail coverts like the scapulars, but somewhat paler. The
vent, and lower tail coverts, and the tibial and tarsal plumes, are dull rufous
buff, some of the feathers more or less mottled with greyish brown, and the
tibial plumes faintly streaked with brown. There is a great deal of white,
mottled with imperfect greyish brown bars, on the inner webs of the prima-
ries, towards their bases ; a few of the larger, lower, wing-coverts are mingled
grey and dark brown. The rest of the wing lining and axillaries are a rich,
somewhat rufous, umber brown; the feathers more or less tinged towards
the tips, or streaked with rufous, The lateral tail feathers, like the primaries,
are white or greyish white on the inner webs towards the bases, and on
these parts of course, the transverse bars are more apparent.

2nd. Young KFemale——The forehead and lores whitish, feathers dark
shafted, a narrow dark line over the eye, joming the conspicuous blackish
brown patch, which runs from the posterior angle of the eye, over the ear
coverts. The whole of the feathers of the top and back of the head, back
and sides of the neck and upper back, rich purple brown, with a narrow,
central, buffy white stripe, The feathers of the top of the head, dark shafted,
The whole of the scapulars, tertiaries, rump and upper tail coverts, lesser and
median wing coverts, a rich purple brown; all the feathers, more or less
conspicuously dark shafted, tinged golden towards the tips, and more or less
pure white at the extreme tips. The secondaries, the richest glossy purple
brown, tipped similarly to the feathers above described, but to a less extent,
The first 6 primaries purplish black, very narrowly tipped with fulvous
white, the other primaries similar to the secondaries ; but somewhat paler.
The central tail feathers, not so broad, as in the adult, being only 2°2, wide ;
and the tail not so forked; the exterior being only 0°75 longer than the
central. The tail is an umber brown, purpler and less grey than in the
more adult bird, somewhat broadly tipped with yellowish white, and with
traces of dark bars, and much white on the inner webs towards the bases, as
in the adult. The chin is whitish, the throat, cheeks, and basal portion of
the ear-coverts dull rufous brown, the feathers white at their bases and
inconspicuously darker shafted. Breast and upper abdomen and sides, rich
umber brown, with moderately broad, rufous, buff, central stripes, the rufous
buff, fading to pale fulvous towards the lower abdomen. Lower abdomen,
vent, and tibial and tarsal plumes, pale fulvous, with ill-defined, brown
stripes towards the margins of the feathers. Lower tail coverts slightly
more rufous, a good deal freckled above the tips with pale greyish brown,

328

quite as strong, bill, feet and claws, and, like it, has the tarsus
further feathered than in the common Indian Kite. The tail

The whole of the wing lining and axillaries (except a few of the greater
lower primary coverts which are greyish black,) rich purplish umber brown,
tipped with rufous buff, or with a stripe of that color running a short dis-
tance up the shafts from the tips. There is more white on the inner webs
of the quills, and the white is purer, in this stage, than in the adult; in this
respect, again, corresponding with Milvus melanotis.

3rd Nestling.—Obtained near Mussourie. Male. Measurements from the
skin. Length 24; wing 19°5; tail 11°5; tarsus 2°4; mid toe, 1°65; its claw,
straight, 0°61; hind toe, 0°70; its claw, straight, 0°80; inner toe, 0°75; its
claw, straight, 0°78, Bill, straight from margin of cere to point, 1:07;
from gape, 1'8; height at front at margin of cere, 0°55; length of cere,
on culmen, 0°41. Lower tail coverts fall short of end of tail by 4°5. Quill
and tail feathers very much abraded.

Description. Plumage—The general character of the plumage is a
mixture of rufous, slightly infuscated, and pale fulvous and fulvous white ;
only the primaries, secondaries and some of the greater coverts being dark in
their visible portions. The whole chin and throat, cheeks, and basal halves
of the ear coverts, and generally the under parts, pale fulvous, or dingy
yellowish white, the feathers of the breast and abdomen, much tinged towards
the sides of the feathers with a slightly brownish or infuscated rufous ; the
axillaries, and the wing lining in the neighbourhood of the shoulder joint,
bright cinnamon rufous, infuscated towards the margins ; the rest of the
wing lining, (except the greater lower primary coverts which are mingled
blackish grey, and rufous white,) a rich rufous umber brown, tipped and
tinged towards the tips with cinnamon rufous. Almost the whole of the
inner webs of the primaries, above the notches, are pure white in this stage.
The lores and forehead are fulyous white. There is a broad, rufous brown
stripe from the posterior angle of the eye, over the tips of the ear-coverts.
The crown, occiput and nape, brownish rufous, dark-shafted and the feathers
margined with yellowish white or pale fulvous; sides and back of the neck
and upper back, yellowish white, the feathers, broadly freckled towards the
margins with brownish rufous. Lower back and rump, rufous, the feathers
dark shafted, tipped paler (almost white in the longer upper tail coverts) and
more or less freckled or suffused with greyish brown; the visible portion of
the scapulars and tertiaries, a sort of rufous buff, freckled or suffused with
greyish brown, tipped paler and with conspicuous dark shafts. ‘Tail feathers,
dull, greyish rufous, with traces of 8 or 9, incomplete, irregular, narrow,
clouded, transverse, umber brown bars. ‘The lateral tail feathers being less
rufous, and their inner webs paler, and towards the bases almost white, but
even there, tinged with rufous grey. The visible portion of the lesser and
median coverts dingy rufous buff, fading towards the tips, to very pale yellow-
ish or almost pure white. The basal portions of the feathers, umber brown in
the median coverts, and more or less freckled with this color in the lesser
ones. The greater primary coverts and first five primaries, deep brown,
tinged at the tips with rufous and very narrowly tipped with almost pure
white; the greater secondary coverts pale umber brown, tinged towards the
tips and freckled and mottled towards the margins, with rufous buff, and
tipped more or less broadly with very pale yellowish white. The 7th and
succeeding primaries, the visible portions, rufous buff narrowly tipped with
white, and clouded in obseure bars with purplish brown. Secondaries the
richest purple brown, narrowly tipped with rufous buff, fading at the extreme
tip to pale yellowish white.

329

is large and well forked, and the tail feathers very broad ; im a
specimen before me, the central tail feathers, are 2°5 inches
broad, 3 inches from the tip; at present I only know of five
specimens, one in Col. Tytler’s museum and four in my own
(one lent by Mr. W. Brooks).

At all stages, the colouring is richer than in the common
type, and the patch behind the eye and over the ear coverts 18
darker and more strongly marked. This peculiarity, and the
fact that Radde’s figure of the young of Melanotis, almost
exactly agrees with one stage of the young of the present
species, led me at one time to identify the latter with the for-
mer. Huropean naturalists, as a rule, give dimensions but spa-
ringly, but after consulting such works of reference as were
available to me, it appeared certain that birds, of which the
females measure from 26°75 to 27°75 in length, and of which
the wings vary from 21 to 23 inches, measured from the carpal
joint, could not possibly belong to any known, old world species
of Kite, with the exception of Regalis, from which their plumage
differ toto clo, and I have therefore been compelled to consider
them as belonging to a distinct species which I have charac-
terized as Milvus Major.

It is not only in size and a somewhat richer colouring that
the present species differs from I. Govinda. The latter is a
bold, tame bird, a denizen of the most crowded haunts of man.
The greater Kite is a wild wary bird very difficult to approach,
and found only in the open fields or in swamp or jungle. Its
flight is heavier and more Buzzard-like, and though I have
often seen it, since I first began to distinguish it, I have inya-
riably failed to procure specimens. ‘This peculiarity of its
habits, has been noticed by others besides myself. 'The gentle-
man from whom Col. Tytler years ago received the specimen
he now possesses, and which was procured in Lower Bengal,
writing of it at the time, said that he had procured it with great
difficulty, and had been induced to pursue it persistently,
believing it to have been some species of Buzzard. Mr. Brooks
has, equally with myself, noticed its extreme wariness, and has
failed to obtain a second specimen, though he too has continually
seen and pursued it.

It appears to be only a winter visitant to the plains, at which
season 1 procured a specimen near Ajmeer, (Mr. Brooks shot
his in Etawah,) but I feel confident that I have observed it
throughout the summer and rainy season, in the Himalayahs,
from which Capt. Hutton, not long ago, sent me a specimen,
with the remark that it was ‘the finest Kite’’ he had ever seen.

I know as yet nothing of its nidification, and nothing further
of its distribution than I have already mentioned, but doubtless,

330

now that its distinctness has been pointed out, other observers
will supply the necessary information.

I cannot think, how, in writing the above, I overlooked the
following remarks by Mr. Blanford, in regard to which, I at
the time wrote, remarking that the species alluded to, was (as I
then thought it) IZ, Melanotis : they obviously refer to this new
species.

“ Mileus, sp. I shot near Woon, north-west of Chanda, a
Kite considerably exceeding the common I. Govinda in s1ze,
but otherwise undistinguishable. It is a male, and measures,
closed wing, 20; bill from gape, 1:7; tarsus, 2°5 ; tail, 13.
The bird is evidently young, for the inner portions of the
feathers are rich brown; but the feathers of the head and neck
are rich brown with dark centres, not whitish, as usually in a
young M. Govinda, and the abdomen, and lower tail coverts
are pale rufous.” This I take to be nearly fully adult.

No. 57. Pernis Cristata.* Cuvier.
THE Crestep Honry Buzzarp.

(Schleg. Mus. P. B. Pernes, p. 2, Valkv. Nederl. Ind. pl.
XXYV. fig. 1-3, XXVI. fig. 1-2. Tem. Pi. Ool. 44.)

This ‘species lays in May and June, and in the latter and
former halves respectively, of April and July. It builds in

eee

* PERNIS ORISTATA.

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; |
7. tee lS a ae

dol

trees, placing its moderately sized, stick and twig nest, in a
fork, usually some considerable height from the ground. In

(Three males and six females measured and weighed.)

The fourth primary the longest. The first is 3°50 to 5:00 shorter, the
second 1:09 to 1°50, and the third nil to 0°50 shorter. Exterior tail feathers
0°37 to 1:00, shorter than central ones.

Description, The legs and feet, which are very full and puffy, vary from
dingy yellowish white in the young, to bees-wax yellow in old adults. Scu-
tellation, well marked and reticulate, (the plates somewhat concave, especially
at back of tarsus,) except about three or four, transverse scutz, at the tips of
all the toes ; a mere trace of a connecting membrane, between the central and
outer toes, at the base. Claws black, and except the mid toe claw, compressed ;
hind claw much curved, and mid claw with the interior margin, usually much
dilated, especially towards the tip. Ivides brilliant yellow, duller or slightly
brownish in younger birds. Cere black, greenish at nostrils and towards
commissure. Gape and two-thirds of the commissure from gape, and greater
portion of lower mandible pale blue; greater portion of upper mandible and
tip of lower, black; a small dingy greenish patch on each side of the lower
mandible towards the base. Tongue, moderate, obtuse, entire ; rather stiff
and membraneous towards the tip, (where it is slightly emarginate) and
margins.

Plumage-—Of one quite young bird, the whole head, neck, and under parts
are fawn coloured: the throat and chin paler and unstreaked, the crown of
the head and nape more rufous, all the feathers, except those of the chin and
throat, darker shafted, and those of the crown, nape and breast with a conspi-
cuous, median, dark brown streak. The whole of the wing coverts and back
are a light brown, lighter on the wing coverts many of which are margined
paler. The longer scapulars, secondaries, and tertiaries are a somewhat
darker brown. The quills are somewhat darker still. The upper tail coverts
are of nearly the same pale rufous or fawn that pervades the lower parts.
The tail is a light brown, the usual narrow white tip, then there narrow wavy
bars of paler hue, banding the terminal five inches of the tail feathers, and
showing in one place, about four inches from the end, a small spot of dark
brown, on both sides of the shaft. About five inches from the end, is a tolera-
bly well marked bar of darker brown, about half an inch wide, then again
nearly an inch of the same brown as the rest of the tail, with three narrow,
irregular, pale bars, and then just under the upper tail coverts, a trace of
another, half inch broad, ill-defined, darker brown bar. The tail in this
instance, presents scarcely a trace of the almost constant, subterminal dark
brown band. The lining of the wing is the same colour as the rest of the lower
parts, and its feathers similarly darker shafted. Thereisa faint greyish
streak covering the lores and eyes, and extending for about a quarter of an
inch behind the eye.

In other specimens of somewhat older birds, the fawn colour is every-
where replaced by a rich rufous, in others by a dingy rufous brown, in
others by a very dark wood brown, and lastly, in some, by an almost
pure white. To all these the above description would answer mutatis mutandis,
remembering that the difference in the colour in the under parts, and head,
extends, to a certain degree, to the brown of the upper parts. The wing
lining, in almost every case, being exactly the same shade of colour as the
breast. The tail, however, in most specimens, differs from that of the young
bird above described. First, there is the narrow tipping of white, then a bar
of more or less dark brown about an inch wide, then about three inches of a

332 nS

texture, the nests differ much, some are compactly and neatly,
others loosely and carelessly put together, but all are more or

lighter brown, with five or six narrow wavy bars of a still lighter colour, then
a half or three quarter inch of the same dark brown as the subterminal band,
then another inch and a half of the paler brown, with two or three of the
still lighter wavy bars, and then just under the tips of the upper tail coverts,
another half or three quarter inch, darker brown band. Many of the birds
have three or four, somewhat lengthened, black brown feathers on the neck,
margined with the same colour as the rest of the head, which form a sort of
incipient crest. Laying six or seven, well chosen specimens, of the above
described type, varying but little except in their shades of colour, beside each
other, these shades of colour differ so extraordinarily, that one might almost
believe that specimens of the creamy, white-breasted kind had been dipped in
a series of dyes of every shade, trom the most delicate fawn, to the deepest
burnt sienna.

There is, however, a somewhat different type. The crown is brown, the
feathers with very dark central stripes, a broad supercillium, the ear coverts
and the sides and back of the neck are pale, somewhat rufous brown, the
feathers dark shafted, and those towards the base of the neck broadly cen-
tered with very dark brown. The whole of the scapulars, upper back, wing
coverts, secondaries and tertiaries very dark brown, the back less dark, and the
upper tail coverts light brown, the tail of the ordinary type, above described,
but altogether much darker. The grey of the lores and eye streak more ashy,
the chin, throat, and upper neck nearly pure white, only slightly tinged with
fulvous and no dark shafts; a row of feathers on each side of the lower por-
tion of this pale patch, conspicuously tipped with black brown. The breast
somewhat pale rufous, or rufous brown, all the feathers with dark brown,
linear, central stripes. The whole of the rest of the lower parts nearly uni-
form fawn, with scarcely a trace of dark shafting to the feathers. The wing
lining and the axillaries the same tint as the breast, not dark shafted, but the
axillaries distinctly banded with a lighter tint,

In the old bird the tail has the usual white tip, then a two inch band of
dark brown, then a similar space of lighter brown, freckled (not barred), with
a still paler colour, then another two inch, dark brown band, then an inch or
so of the lighter freckled or mottled brown, and then another dark brown
band showing just under the upper tail coverts.

In the primaries at all ages, the inner web is white, or nearly so, above the
emarginations, with some few pale brown spots or incomplete bars. Beyond
the emarginations in the old bird, there is a white tip, two dark, and one light
bar, exactly as above described in the tail,which though most conspicuous below,
are very visible above, but in younger birds, the dark portion of the primaries
are clouded and indistinctly barred like their tails, this barring being often
scarcely visible above. In some specimens, as in that first described, scarcely
any barring or clouding is visible, even beneath. The secondaries and tertia-
ries are usually, at all ages, very faintly barred witha slightly lighter shade,
and this is most visible when the bird has recently moulted. In some birds
whilst the head, neck, and ear coverts are a dark rufous brown, darker cen-
tered, and the rest of the upper parts a very dark brown, the chin, throat,
breast, and abdomen are pure white, most of the feathers of the two former
dark shafted, and the two latter with large, subterminal, dark brown lunules,
each set in a round spot of somewhat pale rufous brown, and the axillaries,
thigh and lower tail coverts are broadly, though regularly banded, with this
jatter colour. In some birds, the lesser wing coverts are so broadly mar-

00

less thickly lined with leaves or occasionally grass. As a rule
they lay two eggs, but it it not uncommon to find a single, fully
incubated egg. .

Normally, the shape of the eggs, of this species, is nearly sphe-
rical, and even the most aberrant are a very broad oval. Typi-
cally, they are very highly coloured eggs, and remind one much
of the eggs of the Huropean Honey Buzzard. I have a speci-
men which corresponds closely with the second figure in Hewit-
son’s Pl. XV. and I have others fully as richly coloured, but of
a different type. The ground colour varies from white or
pinkish white to buffy yellow, and the markings from reddish
brown to intense blood red. In one, the markings are a rather
dingy though deep purple. In another, the whole egg is buff
brown, faintly but thickly mottled and clouded with yellowish
brown. Another egg, with a reddish brown ground, is entirely
capped, and thickly mottled, over the whole of the rest of the
surface, with a very dull but deep cinnamon red, reminding
one forcibly of some of the richest coloured Neophrons. As a
rule, these eggs are glossless, but one or two have a trace of
gloss about them. ‘The lining, or rather the colour of the egg-
shell, when held up against the light, varies from greenish
white to dingy yellowish green.

In size, the eggs vary from 1°82 to 2°22 in length, and from
1:55 to 1°85 in breadth, but the average of ten eggs measured
was 2°03 by 1°72.

gined with fawn or creamy white, that there is almost more of this than the
brown visible, and this is not dependant on age or sex, or even altogether on
the colour of the lower parts, since, though I have never observed this in any
birds which were of a dark hue beneath, I have specimens of which the
entire ground of the lower parts is creamy white, the wing coverts of which
show no trace ofa paler margin. One old bird with tail and wings bearing the
signs of maturity above indicated, will have the whole of the lores, forehead,
round the eyes, and top of the head dark slaty gray, with a black brown
occipital crest of three feathers about an inch long. The occiput and back of
the neck, very dark rufous brown, darker shafted, and the rest of the upper
parts and sides dark brown. The whole lower parts pure white ; the tea-
thers of the chin with very narrow, dark brown, longitudinal, central stripes,
and those of all the rest of the lower parts with similar, rather wider stripes,
and large, broad, subterminal, pale, rufous brown blotches, the axillaries and
some of the thigh coverts being distinctly banded. Another old bird not
only has the whole lores, forehead, crown, sides of the head and occiput
bluish grey, with only a tinge of brown on the occiput, but the whole brown
of the upper parts, which is pale compared with the majority of specimens,
has more or less of a greyish tint, some feathers being browner and some
greyer, but all pale, and with no trace of a crest. The whole lower parts a
nearly uniform, wood brown, (paler on the throat) with the shaft (and the
shafts only) dark brown.

Almost every possible combination of the varying plumage, and shades of
colour, of different parts, above described, may be met with.

534

I owe to Capt. G. F. L. Marshall, R. E., the following inter-
esting note, on the nidification of this species, in the Saharun-
poor district, which renders further remarks of my own on the
subject unnecessary. “The Crested Honey Buzzard builds in
May, the young being usually hatched in the beginning of
June. The season for building is, however, spread over a long
period, as in one case, I noticed a bird building on the 23rd
March ; the nest was completed by the end of April, but the
first egg was not laid till the 12th May, and the second egg on
the 14th; I took the nest on the 15th.

“The nest is situated in the stout fork of a tree, generally about
two-thirds of the way up; of the ten nests I have taken, one
was in a Toon tree (cedrela toona) and all the rest in sheeshum
trees (Dalbergia Sissoo.) The nest is cup-shaped in the first
instance, but so filled up with the lining, as to appear more
like a flat platform. It is a compact structure, composed entire-
ly of twigs, neatly put together and lined with a thick layer of
dead leaves, chiefly Sheeshum leayes, almost filling up the hollow
space; in one instance I found the nest lined with perfectly
fresh green leaves, and as there were two eggs in it, the lining
must have been partially renewed after the eggs were laid.
The outer diameter of the nest is about sixteen to eighteen
inches, and of the egg receptacle about ten inches ; the depth of
the structure, including lining, is about nine inches.

“The eggs, wo in number, are deposited in the middle of the
platform, the colour varies greatly, from a white ground, more
or less blotched with every shade of reddish brown, to a red-.
dish brown ground, clouded and blotched with a darker shade.
Some are exactly like gigantic Falcon’s eggs, while others again,
closely resemble richly blotched Kite’s eggs: in shape they are
mostly very round. ‘The shell is thin, and rather brittle, and
smoother than is usual among the Raptores.

“The bird is rather familiar in its habits, and by no means
shy ; I took three of its nests, from compounds in the station of
Saharunpoor, and three more from the compounds of the Canal
Chokees. It seldom flies far and is easily approached. When
the eggs are near the hatching point, the bird sits excessively
close ; | have found it impossible to drive it off by throwing
stones, and on one occasion the female only flew when my hand
was actually on the nest, though she had been struck pretty
sharply by several of the stones. The male bird assists in build-
ing and is more wary than the female.

“On one occasion, I noticed a male bird with a stick in its
claws fly into a tree and return without it. I went up to the
place, and noticed the commencement of the nest; while I was

390

standing there the male bird returned with another twig, but
catching sight of me from the distance he turned off and went
into another tree some distance off, and nothing would induce
him to come near the place, till I was well away, though the
female kept going and coming all the time.”

Mr. W. Blewitt says, “ We found one nest of this species
near Hansie, on the 16th June, which contained a single fresh
ege. The nest was placed on a Neem tree, at the height of
about sixteen feet from the ground, and was slightly built of
Keekur and Zisyphus twigs and scantily lined with a reed grass.
It measured ten inches in diameter and four in depth.”

In another letter, also from Hansie, he remarks,—‘‘ We got
two nests, of the Honey Buzzard, on the 5th and 10th July,
out of Sheeshum trees on the canal banks. One contained a
single, fresh, the other a solitary, fully incubated egg. The
nests were respectively, about fifteen and twenty feet from the
ground, were constructed of Keekur and Sheeshum twigs, and
were lined with leaves.”

Mr. R. Thompson, writing from Gurhwal, remarks that “ The
Honey Buzzard breeds from April to June, building its circular,
pan-shaped nest (which no little resembles that of Spizaetus
Caligatus) in large trees, in open forest country.

“These birds steadily arrive in our forests, along with swarms
of bees, in March, when they begin to pair. In April they
begin to select trees to build on. During the coupling season,
both birds utter a loud yet plaintive ery, very similar to that
uttered by Spizaetus Caligatus, but from which it is distinctly
recognizable. The food of these birds is varied. I have seen-
them eating frogs and even young birds, and have often found
the craw fully distended with honey.

“The flight is rapid and direct, with occasional upward
sweeps. Dr. Jerdon is wrong in stating, that it does not soar
gracefully. It soars vigorously, rising to a very great height.
As many as five or six couples might be seen here, in a single
day well mounted in the air. The bird can dart down from a
great height very rapidly, which it always does when tired of
soaring, and is the cause of terrible alarm to Mainas and Para-
keets, who set up awful screams at its approach to their nest-
ing trees. I firmly believe this bird to be an arch robber of
nests, having more than once detected him at work hunting about
a tree very carefully, to the intense terror of the inhabitants.”

In a later letter he adds, “I saw a pair soaring, not only
very gracefully, but very high in the air in the Agoree pergun-
nah, district Mirzapore, and in proof of this, I shot one of the

356 A

birds which, whilst IT was watching the couple, darted down and
settled in a tree. The skin was sent to you from Allahabad.”

The colouring, of different specimens of the Crested Honey
Buzzard, differs so conspicuously, even amongst birds of appa-
rently the same age, that I have thought it necessary to describe
several specimens. Dr. Jerdon seems to consider the stages of
plumage, at different ages, tolerably well characterized, but after
examining a great number of specimens, the only marks by
which I could certainly distinguish the older from the younger
birds, were,—first, that the old have two, very broad, well mark-
ed, dark, brown bands visible on the tail feathers, and the space of
paler brown enclosed between them is freckled and mottled
with a lighter colour, but not barred—while in younger birds,
the tail is envariably banded, more or less plainly, with numerous,
pale, narrow, wavy streaks, besides two or more brownish bands of
darker brown, which broadish bands however are neither half
the width, nor so well defined, nor so dark as in the old; and
secondly a very similar difference in the banding of the prima-
ries beyond the emarginations. All other signs of age appear
deceptive. Year old birds have at times, the lores, cheeks and
face quite gray, while old birds may be seen nearly white below,
each feather with a conspicuous, median stripe of the darkest
brown. Some young birds too are so dark a brown above, as
in some lights to appear almost black, while the old are often a
mixture of pale brown and grayish. The light edgings to the
feathers of the upper parts are, (contrary to all analogy,) met
with occasionally in the old, as well as in the young, and there are
really very few points in the plumage of this species, which seem
constant in a// specimens, at all ages.

Capt. Marshall concurs with me in this: he tells us that “ the
birds vary considerably in plumage even in the adult, as every
specimen I have got was shot off a nest, and they vary from
dark brown to almost white in the general ground colour, the
commonest tinge being brownish ashy. I also noticed that the
brown specimens, and the whitish ones, always had a distinct
incipient occipital crest of black feathers, whereas in the ashy
type there was never even the faintest indication of it.”

This species seems to be confined to India, south of the
Himalayahs, Burmah, the Malay Peninsular, Sumatra, Bang-
kok and Java. I have never seen it recorded from Ceylon, nor
have I seen any specimen killed at a greater elevation, than
4000 feet in the Himalayahs, or even at this height, any where
except along the outer ranges. It is very locally distributed in
upper India, but the double lines of trees, that every where
border our canals, throughout their whole length, are beyond

337

doubt among its most favourite haunts. It is essentially a
wood and water loving species.

Mr. Blyth, at one time, described a specimen of a Crested
Honey Buzzard from Mergui, under the name of Pernis Bra-
chypterus, in the following terms.

“Colour dark hair brown above; crest simple, broad,
two and a half inches long, the feathers composing it, white
tipped as are also those adjacent. Lower parts white, with dark
central streaks or tears on the breast and flanks.”

Does any one know what became of this specimen ? and what
ultimate verdict, if any, was pronounced as to its specific dis-
tinctness ?

I cannot find that this supposed new species has ever been
confirmed, or suppressed. The description would apply well
enough to many examples of P. Cristata, that I have seen,
except that the crest is longer than any I have yet noticed in
this species. If distinct, it should stand as No. 57 bis.

No. 58. Baza Lophotes. Cuvier.
Tur Cresrep Buack Kire. }

Nothing is known of the nidification of this rare species, of
which I have never myself procured a specimen.

Of the nearly allied Australian B. Subcristata, all Mr. Gould
tells us is, that he has received an egg, procured in the bushes
of the Clarence, said to belong to this species, which egg is a
pure white, and measures about 1°63 by 1°29.

The crested Black Kites are essentially an Oceanic type,
Besides the Australian species, already referred to, we have,
according to Wallace, the typical B. Reiwardti from Bouru,
Amboyna and Ceram, and a somewhat smaller race of the same
species trom New Guinea, the Aru and Ke Ilds, Salwatty and
Timor; B. Rufa, from Batchian, and Gilolo; B. Magnirostris,
from Celebes and the Sula Islands, and possibly Borneo and
the Philippines; and B. Swmatrensis from Sumatra.

As for the Indian species, it occurs in Ceylon, on the east
coast of the Peninsula, in Lower Bengal, Assam, 'Tipperah, and
British Burmah, but as far as I can make out, only as a seasonal
visitant, during the latter part of the rains and the early part of
the cold season.

Schlegel says, that our bird is found in Malacca, which Mr.
Wallace seems to question, but Blyth says, he has repeatedly
seen it from thence. As for its being more frequently met

338

with in the lower ranges of the Himalayahs as Dr. Jerdon says,
T doubt much its ever having been killed in these hills west of
Nepal, and we must I suspect prefix “ Eastern” to ‘“ Hima-
layahs,” to make the passage accord with facts.

No. 59. Klanus Melanopterus.* Davo.
THe Brack Wineep Kire.
It is somewhat surprising, that up to the present time, neither
I nor any of my numerous correspondents, have succeeded

* KEranus MELANOPTERUS.

Dimenstons.—The sexes do not appear to differ much in size—The fol-
lowing are the dimensions of 2 males and the average of 3 females.

1 Devi: (teen ssagussgoscen Regn goeanhareon a eaineriee sig stasis 12°75 13:00
MXPADRG, vcs ccss ons a acanwanesasandaanretectantanh ccnuten ste 34°75 34°50 34:00
Wane ser. .-.133 Bybee ae sis ae openers Sop cad totem eee 10°75 10°50 10°15
Pat Nessiuees OM ieasincavies iste ined cngtoabieste nae a 5°25 5°38 5°62
PRURERUIS Ua Sc wenaraite ss «oie Beh cteais eee Nedvaedeitesaeade Piles 2 te ( 1:20 1:30
Mid toe to root of claw, ......... Moree cectiee cates Mea lRO2 1:06 1:10
Its claw, straight, .......... pen uwoe ees PaO ehrs Sees 0°58 0°53 0°56
HELIN GUO CS Eten vase ciespieceies onquddagnaqdonuodoccasaneaan 0°50 0°56 0°68
Its claw, straight, ..........+ Semgach aver snanaetantt srecte MIDS 0°60 0°70
Aries sbOe, sete ica sence sha Wanbind ona bien eG ce eiaies 0°68 0°54 0°72
Wtsiclawy cc atatsp est arasne dueduehkbreee srnganeee SRG AG 0°60 0:60 0:68
Bill, straight from margin of cere to point, ...... 0°60 0°62 0°65

sy LOMA ADO. oc eck scree opens Cepebageannnas seeder 0:95 1:15 1:08

a Big bt ab mMaArean OF COLO, \ itis ccten cee sseanecs 0°32 0°32 0°35
Length of cere on culmen............. Cpenaneiennneitantee 021 025 0-18

Distance by which closed wings exceed end of tail. 0°38 0°25 0°80
Distance by which lower tail coverts fall short of

end of tail, eeeeeererore SERCH EHH ees BHR EHH erereeen ee 1°55 23 175
02. Oz. Oz.
Weetehty eves Leh ite tata sGe a eect ee ee Cee ee 5 65 75

The 2nd primary is the longest, the 1st is from 0°5 to 0°8 shorter, the 3rd
from 0°4 to 0°5 and the 4th from 1°0 to 1:1 shorter. The external tail
feathers fall short of the antepenultimates, (which are usually the longest)
by from 0°3 to 05. The tarsus, bare behind, is feathered in front for 0-7
to 0°75.

Descrietion.—The legs and feet are bright yellow, light lemon yellow in
some. The claws black. The 67/7 is black, the cere, gape and base of lower
mandible yellow. The «des, bright crimson, or carbuncle coloured in
adults, yellowish pink or pure bright yellow in the young.

Plumage. Adult. Forehead, a narrow streak above the dark supercilium,
the anterior portion of the lores, the chin, cheeks, ear coverts, throat and
whole lower parts, wing lining, edge of the wing, and all but the central tail
feathers, white, the external webs of all, but the two exterior on each side

309

in obtaining the eggs of this species. I have three several
records of the birds having been noticed building nests, in
different parts of the plains, in the early part of the hot weather,
but in every case, they abandoned the nests without laying.
My present impression is that they entirely leave the dry plains
of upper India during the hot season, and resort to well-wooded
and watered localities to breed in.

Mr. R. Thompson tells me, that in lower Gurhwal and Dehra
Dhoon “they breed from April to June, choosing low trees,
usually one standing by itself, in (for those localities) sparsely
wooded spots, to build on. The nest is circular, not unlike that
of Corvus Culmenatus, composed of small sticks and twigs, and
lined with fine grass roots and fibres. This species is sparingly
found along the foot of the Himalayahs. It does not enter
valleys, unless, as in the case of the Patlee and Dehra Dhoons,
they happen to be pretty open.”

The eggs are figured by Bree from specimens which Mr.
Tristram obtained in Algeria, where the bird itself appears to be
rare. In Hurope, it would not seem to breed, though it is said to
be a regular visitant to Greece, and to occur as a straggler
throughout the south of Hurope.

According to the figure, the eggs measure 1°75 by 1°38 and
1:66 by 1°39. The one has a bluish, the other a dull creamy,
white ground, both are somewhat sparingly streaked and
blotched with pale yellowish brown, and one exhibits besides,
a few deep brownish red blotches.

of these, more or less faintly tinged grey. Posterior portion of lores, a
narrow supercilium, a small patch of coverts just at the origin of the
primaries, nearly hidden by the winglet, (which is grey and not black,
as Dr.Jerdon gives it) and the whole of the lesser coverts, and the median
secondary and tertiary coverts, black; the wing patch more or less
glossy, with the browner bases of the feathers showing through, and usually
with more or less of a greyish bloom, most conspicuous over the forearm.
The rest of the upper plumage, grey, (of very different shades in different
individuals, but always darkest on the primaries, scapulars and interscapu-
lary region) which varies from a full slate grey to a pale almost pearl
rey.

: in young male (shot November the 15th) differed in having the whole
head and nape white; all but the frontal feathers, with somewhat narrow,
yellowish brown, central, stripes towards the tips. The shorter scapulars and
interscapulary region much tinged with yellowish brown, All the scapulars
and quills with a conspicuous Ol to 0°13 terminal white band, The black
wing patch is confined to the lesser coverts, the median coverts are grey
like the rest of the wing, but narrowly white tipped. The patch near the
bases of the primaries, black in old adults, is dark grey. The upper breast,
and centre of abdomen, are tinged with pale fulvous. The iris in this
bird was bright yellow.

540

Mr. Tristram remarks that “these eggs are interesting, as
corroborating by their character, the position of the species
between Astur and Butco.”

Mr. Allen, who says he found this species common thronghout
Egypt, at least as far up as Thebes, remarks that “it is said to
breed in the Mokattam hills, behind Cairo, but I have never yet
been able to meet with the nest.”

Mr. Allen had some further interesting remarks, in regard to
this species, amongst others (a point not noticed by Dr. Jerdon)
referring to the different colours of the iris in the young, which,
in a specimen which I shot, at Fazilka, on the Sutledge, on the
15th November, was quite yellow. Mr. Allen says, “ The iris in
the immature specimen is of a bright salmon colour, in the
adult of a brilliant carmine red; and this bird, when recently
shot, with its pure white breast, delicate dove-coloured back,
and black shoulders, is an exquisitely beautiful object, though
the soft, owl-like feathers of the face and throat and breast, inva-
riably lose their delicate gloss when the skin has been prepared
some days. ‘This species is crepuscular in its habits, feeding
largely on mice and beetles, as well as on small birds. It has
the sclerotic ring of the eye very deep, and altogether shows
strong Strigine attinities.”’

Of the nidification of the allied EHlanus Scriptus in Australia,
Mr. Gould gives the following account :—‘‘ It nests in companies,
as near each other as possible. ‘The nest is composed of sticks,
lined with the pellets ejected from their stomachs, which are
principally composed of the fur of the rats upon which they
chiefly subsist. The eggs, which are four or five in number,
have a white ground, blotched and marked with reddish brown,
darkest at the smaller end; they are one inch and three quar-
ters long, by one inch and three-eighths broad. The markings
are easily removed by wetting.”

I have often watched these birds hunting over the dry bed of
a jheel, catching now and then a mouse, but most generally
large grasshoppers.

‘They hover over the grass, in the fashion of a Kestrel, or per-
haps more like a Circactus Gallicus, but in a clumsier and heavier
manner. The wings point upwards, so that the tips are within
3” or 4” of each other, instead of being retained nearly hori-
zontal as in the Kestrel, and the legs and tail hang down unlike
those of any other bird, that I have yet noticed. ‘Thus hovering,
they, after a time, slowly descend, and when within a few feet of
the ground, generally drop suddenly. ‘They are very tame,
bold birds, passing wnconcernedly within a few yards of a sports-
man, when busy hunting, over fields or grass, and sitting com-

d41

posedly on the bare end of a bough, whilst gun in hand one
walks up to within a few paces of their perch.

Mr. H. R. P. Carter, writing from Conoor (Southern India)
remarks that “this species frequently perches on telegraph
wires, flies quietly off on the approach of an engine, and perches
again, a hundred yards or so ahead. With a slow train, I have
seen this kept up for two or three miles.

“Sometimes J have seen them remain on the wire within a
few yards of the train and let the train pass without moving.”

This bird, which is recorded from all parts of India, from
Ceylon to the base of the Himalayahs, and from various localities
in British Burmah, is seldom seen in any numbers, but I once
saw more than a dozen pairs hunting together over the dry reedy
bed of a jheel. ‘his was on Christmas Day, near Badlee, (Z.
Rohtuk, Punjaub) and in these very reeds, on this same day, I
procured the first specimens of Himberiza Schenicolus recorded
from India.

As regards the general distribution of this genus and species,
I cannot do better than quote some remarks of Mr. Gould,
which appeared in the Birds of Asia.

“There is not a more distinct and better defined group of
Hawks, than those forming the genus Z/anus, the members of
which are widely spread over both the old and the new world.
In America, the E/anus leucurus has a wide range, from Mexico
to Brazil; Africa, India, and the Indian Islands are inhabited
by three others ; one, the #. Melanopterus, ranges over southern
Europe, the whole of Africa, and India; Australia, however,
appears to be the head-quarters of the genus, two species at
least, the H. Avillaris and EF. Scriptus inhabiting that country.
The present bird” (#. Hypoleucus trom Macassar, north Celebes,
Borneo and Java) “differs from all the other members of the
genus; it is most nearly allied to #. Avillaris, but exceeds that
bird in size, and is destitute of the black spot on the under
surface of the wing. It is true, some small tippings of black
are seen; but they occur on a different part to the spot in Z.
Avillaris ; the character, by which it may at all times be distin-
guished, is the silvery white hue of the under surface of the
primaries, throughout their whole length.”

342

No. 60. Strix Indica. Btytu.*
Tuer Inpian Screech OwWU.

The Indian representative of the European Barn Owl lays
(apparently,) in Upper India, from the middle of February, to
the middle of June ; Mr. R. M. Adam obtained the eggs on the
10th June, near Agra; Mr. Brookes obtained them near Ktawah
on the 17th of February ; and I have obtained them on three
occasions in March, in Allygurh, near Jeypoor, and near
Lucknow.

As far as I yet know, they breed either in holes of old build-
ings or in wells, the latter being the favourite locality, but at
Ajmere, some native fowlers showed me a pair in a small and
easily accessible cave, in which they asserted that these birds
had bred for years.

In some instances, the eggs appear to be laid on the bare
ground with but a few grass stems or feathers about them, in
others there is a small stick nest, much like that of a Pigeon’s.

According to my experience they lay three eggs, but accor-
ding to native trappers, sometimes as many as six, and usually
four.

The eges, like those of all owls, are unspotted white, but most
of the specimens that I have seen had, like many of our larger
owls, eggs, a very faint creamy tinge. In shape, the eggs appear

* Srrix Inpica.

Dimenstons.—The females average larger, but I find some males as
large and heavy as any females that I have examined, and I therefore do
not give separate dimensions for the sexes.

Length, 13 to 15°2 ; expanse, 37 to 43°5 ; wing, 11:1 to 12°2. Tail from
vent, 5°8 to 612. Tarsus, 2°45 to 2°85. Foot, greatest length, 3°4 to 3°67 ;
greatest breadth, 3°52 to 3°8. Mid toe, to root of claw, 13 to 15;
its claw, straight, 07 to 0°85; hind toe, 0°65 to 0°75 ; its claw,
0-7 to O'8; inner toe, 1°08 to 1:35; its claw, 0°83 to 0°95. Bill
straight from margin of cere to point, 0°78 to 0°88 ; from gape, 1°5 to 1°75 ;
width at gape from 0°86 to 0.97. Height at front at margin of cere, 0°38,
to 0°43. Length of cere on culmen, 0.5 to 0°6. The second primary is
the longest, the first is from 0°12 to 0°8, and the third from 0°05 to 0°3
shorter. The tail is as nearly as possible even. The closed wings extend
from 0°25 to 1°2 beyond end of tail.

DeEscRripTion.—The tarsus is feathered to the feet, but the feathers be-
come very sparse and bristly towards the latter, and are little more than
bristles at the foot; the toes are fleshy or dirty white, or light brown with
a pinkish tinge, thinly covered on the whole upper surface with whitish
bristles. The claws horny brown, as a rule, but in some very dark, and
in others yellowish horny, tinged only with brown on the ridges.

Bill slightly yellowish white, faintly tinged with pinkish towards the
cere, which is fleshy.

Trvides, Brown, sometimes almost black.

543

to be more oval and less round than those of the European Strix
Flammea to which they closely approximate. Of all our Indian
Owls too, so far as my experience goes, this species lays the least
spherical egg. ‘The texture is compact and fine, but there is
less gloss than in most species of this family.

The eggs vary from 1°68 to 1°79 in length, and from 1:2 to
1:35 in breadth, but the average of nine eggs measured was
1:74 by 1:27.

In regard to this and nearly allied species, I reproduce the
following remarks by Mr. Blyth, which appeared in the Ibis
for 1866.

“Strix Indica, nobis, n. sp.

Syn. S. Javanica, Jerdon, B. Ind. 1. p. 117; 8. Flammea,
Gould, P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 151 (ex. Siam) ?. Prof. Schlegel
(Mus. P. B. Striges, p. 4) unites S. Javanica with S. Flammea,
and remarks of “ individus des Indes orientales” that “ I] parait
que leur taille est tant soit peu moins forte que dans ceux de
I‘Kurope, et que le bas de leur tarses est un peu moins emplumé.”’
The late Hugh Strickland identified Horsfield’s type Javan
specimen with S. Candida ; and the species which is figured by
Gray and Mitchell (Gen. Birds, pl. 15) is considerably more
akin to S. Candida than it is to S. Hammea, and again still less
so to S. Indica (which I now distinguish) of the Indian and
Indo-Chinese subregions. The latter, as Dr. Jerdon remarks,
as compared with S. Flammea, “ differs by being larger, with
more robust feet and toes, and in being more spotted beneath.”
The last character, however, is by no means of constant occur-
rence. At a time when I erroneously supposed the Indian
Sereech Owl to be identical with the Huropean, I at once discri-
minated a specimen of the latter, (from an unknown locality,
Hgypt, as 1 afterwards learned), and placed it as a separate
species, (No. 172, of my Catalogue of the Birds in the Asiatic
Society’s Museum, Calcutta, 1849). Subsequently, I named it
S. Pusilla, (J. A. 8S. B. XVIIL p. 801) and was not a little
surprised, when it proved to be the real S. Hamnmea. The dis-
tinction I have ever since found to be constant ; and the differ-
ence of the two races is so very conspicuously apparent, upon
comparison of specimens, that [ cannot understand Prof, Schle-
gel identifying a Nepalese example, (presented by Mr. Hodgson)
with his Javanrace They belong even to different sections of
Strigine, with much difference of habit. S. Indica ranking
with S. Flammea in Strix proper, and S. Javanica in Scelostrix
of Kaup, together with S. Candida, and S. Capensis. Prof.
Kaup considers the Australian S. De/icatula, Gould (B. Austr.
i. pl. 31,) to be identical with S. Javanica (vera) ; remarking.

d-44.

“JT cannot find any difference between the examples of this
species from Australia, and those from Java (?), and I feel quite
sure that S. Delicatuda and S. Javanica belong to one and the
same species” (Trans. Zool. Soc. IV. p. 247.) Mr. Cassin, in
his ‘Catalogue of Strigide, keeps S. Delicatula apart from
S. Javanica (Proce. Acad. Nat. Se. Phil. 1849) ; but then all his
specimens were Indian, and of course S. Indica: yet he cites
the beautiful and correct figure of S. Javanica, published by
Messrs. Gray and Mitchell, as representing his supposed S.
Javanica. Finally, Mr. Gould, in his Handbook to the birds of
Australia, retains S. Delicatula, but refers to S. Javanica “ of
India” (i. e. S. Indica) and not to the true S. Javanica of the
Malayan sub-region. Numerous specimens of S. Dedicatula in
the British Museum, seem to make a very close approach to 8S,
Indica and not to S. Javanica, which latter is a small Scelostrix*
(as distinguished from Strix) with white bill and claws, like the
Indian Neophron. S. A ffinis, nobis (Ibis 1862, p. 388,) from South
Africa, proves to the S. Poensis, Fraser. Mr. Wallace has a fine
true Striz from Macassar,t which is still more robust than S.
Indica, and closely approximates S. Personata of Australia
(Gould’s B. Austr. i. p. 29).”

I have a few remarks to make on this interesting note. In
the first place, although the amount of spotting on the lower
surface of our Indian bird, varies much, yet out of the fifty odd
specimens that I have seen, I have never seen one with the
perfectly spotless, almost indescribably pure white, which so
often characterizes the whole under surface of the adult Euro-
pean bird. In Indica there are always I believe, some few spots
and some faint trace of fulvous tinging.

Fortunately, all 3 species, Delicatula, Indica and Flammea are
well represented in my museum, and the much greater robust-
ness of the tarsi, toes and claws of Indica, as compared with both
the others, is very conspicuous.

S. Javanica, vera, I have never seen, but S. Indica. (Javanica,
apud Jerdon, &c.) is unmistakeably distinct from S. Dedicatula,
Gould. It differs not only in the much stouter tarsi, toes and
claws, but also, in its slightly larger size, longer wings and

* The species of Scelostrix are distinguished by their long and slender
tarsi, which are not feathered on the lower half. They are ground-birds,
which conceal themselves in long grass during the day, and attect the open
country away from human habitations—habits considerably diverse from
those of the birds which constitute the genus Strix as here limited.

+ The Owl here referred to is apparently—

S. Rosenbergi, Schlegel. N. T. D. iii p. 181, from Celebes, Macassar and
Menado. A. H.

d45

decidedly (taking a series of each species) more rufous tone
of colouring. J’ammea again, is intermediate in tone between
these two, (though decidedly nearest to Indica) but has I think,
re less of pencilling on the upper surface, than either of
them.

As regards the colouring of the claws, it should be noted,
that in some specimens even of Indica, the claws are yellowish
horny, only slightly tinged on the ridge with pale brown.

S. Indica is found throughout India, Ceylon, and Burmah,
and probably as Mr. Blyth supposes, extends throughout the
Indo-Chinese sub-region.

——-

No. 61. Scelostrix Candida. Ticket.

Tue Grass Owt.

I have never shot this bird myself, and can find no record of
its nidification.

It doubtless breeds with us, and very possibly, in holes in the
ground. Mr. R. Thompson says—

“ As I have frequently shot this bird in open grass lands, both
in the hills and just outside of them, I have entered him here,
as itis likely we may find his nest too. In the Dehra Dhoon
years ago, I shot a young bird of this species, either I think late
in March or in the beginning of April. Strange to say, the young
bird was flushed out of the deserted hole of a fox-burrow.”’

I have nothing to add to Dr. Jerdon’s description, exeept that
the facial disk is at times strongly tinged with that peculiar
pinkish or purplish hue, which many examples of the Austra-
lian 8. Castanops exhibit.

As regards the distribution of this species, I doubt at present
its occurring in Oudh, the North-West, Central Provinces, or
the Punjaub, except within the belt of jungle and forest land
lying near the base of the Himalayahs.

As for its supposed occurrence near Hodul, two gentlemen
permanently resident in the immediate neighbourhood of that
place, have repeatedly searched all the grass lands, in the
vicinity, from the banks of the Jumna westward, for miles, with-
out ever flushing any Owl, but the short eared, or as it is often
called at home, the Woodcock Owl. (Otus Brachyotus). In the
Bijnor and Moradabad Terai, I have seen it put up when I
have been Tiger-shooting, but though I have beaten in my
time probably thousands of miles of heavy grass, on the banks

o46

of the Jumna, Ganges, &ec., for one sort of game or another,
J never saw asingle specimen of this Grass Owl in the plains
proper, of Upper India. Moreover, I have never seen a speci-
men in any of the numerous collections made in those parts,
that I have examined. However it may occur, but even if it
does, it must be only as a straggler and very rarely.

No. 62. Phodilus Badius. Horsr.

Tue Bay ScrerecH Owt.

Nothing is known of the nidification, and next to nothing
of the habits, of this most beautiful species. Dr. Horsfield says :
‘The Wowo-wiwi is rarely met with in Java. It never
visits the villages, but resides in the deepest forests, which are
the usual resort of the Tiger. The natives even assert, that it
approaches this animal, with the same familiarity with which
the Jallak (Pastor Jailla, Worsf.) approaches the Buffaloe,
and that it does not fear to alight on the Tiger’s back. The
Wowo-wiwi is never seen in confinement; the few individuals
which I obtained, were from the densest forests of the district
of Pugar, and from the ranges of low hills, south of the capital
of Surakarta. Like most other species of this family, it is a
nocturnal bird.”

The above is all I have been able to find recorded of the
habits of this species. 'Temminick, who figures it (Pl. Col. 318)
quotes this passage, and gravely remarks that this habit of roost-
ing on 'Figers’ backs, requires further confirmation ! He says that
the iris is drown and figures it bright ye//ow ; an ingenious
method of getting out of the difficulty, since it can hardly,
(the bird being what it is,) help being one or the other.

Dr. Jerdon describes the lower parts as pale fulvous yellow,
but in the specimen which he himself gave me, they are from
the lower breast and downwards, a beautiful salmon pink. All
the quills are beautifully banded with black on their inner webs,
the first two or three on the outer also; and the first feather of
the winglet, the first greater primary covert and the first primary
have the outer webs white, with broad transverse bars of the
deepest brown, mingled at the extreme margins of the feathers
with chesnut.

Dr. Jerdon also omits to notice, (what Temminck’s very in-
different figure correctly shows) one of the most notable features
in the plumage of this species, viz. that the whole forehead and
anterior half of the crown is a pale delicate salmon pink, con-

347

trasting strongly with the deep but brilliant chesnut of the
posterior portion of the crown, the occiput, &e.

Mr. Blyth, remarked in the Ibis for 1866, that the proper
position of this species was with the Syrniine ; “ Professor
Schlegel refers this species to his Udu/a, as distinguished from
Strix; and upon examination of the external ear and other
characters, I find that it has no claim to belong to the Screech
Owl, sub-family (Strigine), but is distinctly one of the Hooters
(Syrntine). Messrs. Mottley and Dillwyn remark, that it has
only a single note, frequently repeated, and which is much like
the first note of the common Wood-Owl’s ery.”

This may be the case, but so far as bill, disk, shape of head,
tail, and wings, and the character of the plumage is concerned,
it seems to me to be a Strix. The legs and feet are perhaps more
like those of the hooters, but an osculant type as it avowedly
. its external affinities are more with the barn than the wood

wls.

The whole tone of its colouration is that of the so-called
rufous phase of Scops Pennatus ; 1t would be curious if a non-
rufous phase of this species also were to turn up.

The Bay Owl has been found in Borneo, Sumatra, Java, the
Malay Peninsula, Burma Proper, Aracan, Assam, Sikhim and
Nepal, and Mr. R. Thompson says, “I have shot one or two
specimens of this bird, many years ago, in the Dehra Dhoon,
flushing it out of short grass in broken raviny ground.” So
that Major Boyes’ specimen-in the Philadelphia Museum need
not, (as Mr. Blyth supposes) necessarily have come from T'enas-
serim.

No. 68. Bulaca Indranee. Sykss.
Ture Brown Woop Owt.

I have been able to discover no record of the nidification of this
species, and though it is by no means uncommon in Southern
India, I possess no specimens. At present, as I shall more
fully explain when dealing with B. Newarensis, I very much
doubt the specific distinctness of the two forms.

Of the geographical distribution of this present form, I can
say nothing; according to Dr. Jerdon, Jndranee occupies all
Southern and Central India, Ceylon, Burmah and the Malayan
Peninsular, while Vewarensis, is confined to the Himalayahs, but
I have seen a Burmese specimen wholly undistinguishable
from a specimen which I myself shot at Simla, and which
ought to be Newarensis.

48

No. 64. Bulaca Newarensis.* Hopeson.
Tur Nerat Brown Woop Owt.

This species, so far as I yet know, lays in May. I have only
seen one nest, which was in a deep, wooded, precipitous little

* Botaca NEWARENSIS.
Dimensions (of Males.)

Old. Young.

BUCA OUR, Lo .ce scapes aanenes peisMb bash ccsceuhaamennbea’ muives eat 215 215
POS AME Os asl ecvccteesataises vesaavasdsexsenvuch te; sccesaartes 52°5 51°6
UPS es ai wisn asa ea nity vp wie Cots Se Seu aRC ee ee 2b. loz. 1 1b. 122 oz
WAM ont atatrnn csnthe saat sathanien aameh ce raniescatbaae “ 155 152
Wymicn primary LONPES, | \vcvncods wens eras waxeeraene® 5th 5th
Amount by which other primaries fall short of § 1st 4°5 Ist 4°7

WOMEESINS SAG wih nhwanivd cobiestioSeteawaeeemeannhenee betes } 2nd 2°3 2nd 2°2
‘Tail of how many feathers, 20. vaneisas saecesce execs 12: 12°
Deneth Gr tall trom “vent,).., >. cess sete eaeeunnomtehe 9°5 9°5
By how much longest tail feathers exceed

SODELOR ES cast burns vantners way eeeionaniteeieker se eas een ity 0's
Tarsus (densely feathered), ............5 pis Ssamee, Whe 3h 2°8
Boat, tereastest lenebhy |: cuiccd nea uoasdceuses dateen ene 45 44,

Peep REVUCRDE WAU. Se sowie uaaen ee ctugnn Ran veut: 5° 4°8
1 ECA Bey RAE PP RE AGN aa RET ary Es ESM es 2° 2°
Its claw, along curve,,.... Sood ananetnor me cccek reaedtete 14 1:25
ATMO NOG teen se cs lenatewsices coamec nes henoseesereanem ences 9 9
Mtcvclaw, ALOU CULVG,.2 0... vvessevetasn as Mae S, Me He Ta 10
Mim ery Noes whewas cs sone ua ve vioeoncednaces Facitee meneame ten 1:8 16
Ttaiclaw; alone CUrve,:, ... ccc vetons consdsieasnenwagskban 1°55 13
Bit straieat How Dase, ~ ise.c.aseaeeschsensapeaenaunee 1-75 1°65

PPM OLIN, de ssivnsiontitnesas asa tnasepnateeereebes 175 19

Sy OT ADEN 5 vckuancaweaes sVoajts Veen aemmeeencar tether 19 18

ss) AWACQUD BU PUD w-ioes tk caxacakra des cemederannaamenaes 1:45 1:37

yf SLE DIRE TONG, a; a cmun pe atatangs excess eventos cenit ; 1:00 a)
Length of cere which is indistinct, .............00 83 we)
Distance by which the closed wings fall short of

GNGCOL Gall: traci ace cece ce cee ee ne eee aes 15 0-7
Distance by which lower tail coverts fall short of

IGE, AS Rowe wavtestousi owrcans auseive tsisiae chit ae an earn eee 39 50

Descrietion.—Legs and feet densely feathered to the last joints of the
toes, which last joints, are pale plumbeous; claws dusky lead colour.
Trides deep brown. Bill.—-Greenish horny white, bluish towards base ; cere,
which is ill-defined, plumbeous. Bare eyelids and eye shelf, very pale, fleshy
plumbeous.

PrumaGE.—The centre of the forehead, crown, and occiput, deep
blackish brown, with, in some lights, a marked purple gloss. Bristly
feathers in front, and immediately above the anterior angle of the eye, black
shafted, and with most of the webs black, but some of them greyish white.
Point of the forehead and a broad line on each side, from the forehead,
over the eye, very loosely webbed; black at the base, the terminal two-
thirds greyish white, more or less distinctly rayed with pale, yellowish

BAD

valley or khud, at the back of Mahasoo (near Simla). Con-
trary to what might have been expected, it was placed on a

brown bars, the bars being most distinct on the inner, least so on the
outer feathers. This quasi supercilium extends backwards, nearly as far as
the posterior angle of the eye; from thence, there is a narrow, ill-defined,
dusky, brown band, running behind the posterior angle of the eye and under
the eye towards the lores, where it is lost in the dark loral bristles, and
dividing the eye as it were from the cheeks and ear coverts, the feathers of
which are a very pale yellowish brown, indistinctly banded with rays of a
darker brown, the feathers having the webs very much separated. The
feathers of the chin and the band of ruff feathers running from the
chin, below the light cheek and ear feathers, above described, and upwards,
behind the ear coverts, and above the eye, to near the crown—a sort of
chocolate brown, a shade darker than even the feathers of the crown.
There is an enormous bare patch above and partly behind the eye, hidden
in life by the downward projecting feathers of the sides of the crown.
Below the chin, the centre of the throat is pure white. Front and sides
of the neck, the whole lower surface of the body, wing-lining, lower tail
coverts, tibial and tarsal plumes and feathers of foot, buffy or fulvous white,
every feather closely and conspicuously banded with very numerous,
narrow, brown bars; these bars are rather closer on the upper portion of
the breast; wider apart and larger on the lower tail coverts; much
closer and somewhat less distinct on tibia, tarsus and foot, and somewhat
less distinct on the lower coverts of the secondaries, where also the ground
colour is somewhat more rufous. The larger, lower coverts of the first
six or eight primaries are more or less broadly tipped with dark brown,
above which the barrings are somewhat obsolete. There is a purplish
brown tinge, on the feathers at the base of the neck, in front, forming a
sort of ill-defined, pectoral gorget, most conspicuous at the sides of the neck.
The banded, fulyous white feathers of the rest of the sides of the neck, extend
partially backwards, so as nearly to meet behind, and form a sort of ill-
defined, imperfect collar. Feathers of the side of the head, behind the ruff
feathers, and above the imperfect collar, nape, upper back, central scapulars
and lesser wing coverts, a rich, deep, slightly rufous brown, many of the
feathers more or less clouded with the deep chocolate brown of the top
of the head, and exhibiting in some lights a purple gloss. Longer and
exterior scapulars, and some feathers of the centre back, more or less
distinctly barred with white or fulvous white on one or both webs; the
bars on some feathers, especially on the outer scapulars, being very
sharply cut and distinctly marked, while on others, they are freckled
irregulars bands. I note that this barring is greatly concealed by the
overhanging feathers of the upper back and centre scapulars. The greater
and median coverts of the secondaries are a somewhat lighter shade of
rufous brown, most of them narrowly tipped with white or fulvous white,
and indistinctly freckled or barred with the same colour. The winglet,
and greater coverts of the earlier primaries a rich deep velvet brown, with
a most peculiarly soft and glossy texture, and in some lights a rich purple
gloss. The greater coverts of the later primaries are intermediate in colour
and markings between these and the greater coverts of the secondaries.
The quills are brown, deeper and purpler on the earlier primaries, and
growing lighter and more fulvous towards the later secondaries; all but
the first 2 primaries, are distinctly and broadly barred, on both webs, with

550

shelf projecting from the face of a low precipice; immedi-
ately above it, projected a large point of rock, from which
depended a perfect curtain of bushes, which reached the tops
of the trees, growing at the foot of the precipice. The nest, the
Paharees said, (I could not get up to it myself,) was composed
of sticks, with a few feathers intermingled, it was completely
hidden from sight by the bushes and rocks above and _ below,
and contained on the 6th of June, three very young birds.

The female was fired at, but not obtained at the time ; weeks
afterwards, her remains were found, hanging in the moss and
ferns of a tree, some distance down the valley, utterly rotten
and spoiled.

The male brought the young ones up, and on the 10th of
October, I shot him and one of the young ones, then as nearly
full grown as might be.

pale fulvous. The 2nd to the 6th primaries are distinctly emarginate
on the outer webs, and the barrings are dull and inconspicuous, and the
margins serrated below the emarginations. All the quills are narrowly
tipped with rather dull white. The tertiaries are narrowly banded more
conspicuously than the greater secondary coverts, less so than the exterior
scapulars. The lower back and upper tail coverts are the same dark brown
as the central scapulars, faintly and narrowly banded with yellowish white.
The tail feathers are also of much the same shade of brown, somewhat deeper
on the exterior webs of the lateral feathers; all are conspicuously though
not broadly tipped with white, and all have numerous, imperfect bars on
both webs, which on the central feathers, the external webs, and terminal one
fourth of internal webs of lateral feathers, are somewhat narrow, and pale
fulvous in colour, and on the basal three-fourths of the inner webs of the lateral
feathers are very broad and nearly pure white. On the inner surface of the
wing, the inner webs of the first 6 primaries are conspicuously notched, the
seventh exhibiting a trace of the same. The first primary is barless, but
on the inner web, above the notching, there is a buffy freckling. All the
other primaries, above the notching, in those that have notches, and all the rest
of the quills, except the terminal, one fourth, are buffy, with broad, irregular,
rather pale, brown bands, more or less freckled with dark brown. ‘The
terminal portion of all the quills except the first two, are dark brown, with
transverse, fulvous, or buffy bands, more indistinct and wider apart on the
third and other earlier primaries, and closer, aud more conspicuous, on the
later secondaries. The second primary shows very faint traces of similar
barrings. The lower surface of the tail is buffy brown, darker towards the
tip, somewhat closely and conspicuously barred with yellowish white. Upper
portion of the last joint of the toes are pale plumbeous, with 3 or 4 large but
soft membraneous secute. The claws are very sharp and the inner margin of
the central claw is dilated and knife-like. The bill curves almost from the base,
the cere is ill-defined and blends almost insensibly with the corneous portion
of the bill, and there is a conspicuous notch near the tip of the lower
mandible. The earaperture is enormous. I may add to the dimensions above
given, that the third primary is1*1 shorter than the fifth, and the fourth
5 shorter than the same. ,

B51

I very much doubt the distinctness of this and the last
species. I give below in great detail, the measurements taken
in the flesh of the old and the young males, above referred to.
It will be seen that the dimensions very little exceed those
given by Dr. Jerdon for Indranee, and fall far short of those
which he gives for Newarensis. A. Burmese skin, differed in
none of its dimensions, by more than a mere fraction, from the
skin of the old male above referred to.

Mr. Blyth holds a different opinion, and I reproduce his
remarks further on; but I nevertheless still hold, that the
distinction of size is, to say the least, neither so constant, nor
so material as has been asserted, and has by no means been so
established as to render (if Dr. Jerdon’s measurements of the
southern race are reliable)* a specific separation of the northern
and southern birds, certain/y requisite. Dr. Jerdon gives the
wing of the southern species at from 13 to 14 inches. The
Burmese bird has them 14°8. My two Simla specimens have
them 15°2 in the young and 15°5 in the old male. A fine
Bussahir specimen has them 16°2, a peculiarly large Kumaon
bird 16-7, and this is the largest in my museum. Dr. Stoliczka
says, ‘‘ An unusually large specimen of 21 inches in length,
with the wing of a little over 18 inches, and the tail of 103
inches, was shot at Kotegurh in February, 1866.” But Von
Pelzeln, says of this same specimen, “ The wing in this specimen
measures 16”. A specimen received from Baron Hiigel and also
from the Himalayahs, is decidedly smaller (wing 15”) ; above
it is much redder, and the wavy cross-markings underneath
are narrower and paler.”

I have no Sikhim or Nepal specimens. Can it be that a
larger race inhabits those districts, while in Kumaon and west-
wards, the race is identical with that of Southern and Central
India? Certainly, the evidence before me, leads to the conclusion,
that even if the Nepal and Neilgherry birds be distinct, the
Burmese, Kumaon, Simlah and Kotegurh birds are intermedi-
ate between these two.

The following however are Mr. Blyth’s views in regard to
B. Newarensis.

* It is only just to Dr. Jerdon to say, that nothing can, as a rule, be
more reliable and accurate, than his own descriptions and figures. But a
vast number of his descriptions and dimensions, are taken almost if not
quite verbatim from other writers in the Asiatic Society’s Journal, &c.,
who were by no means so careful as himself, and as (his work being a
manual)“ he did’ not think it necessary to note quotations of this kind, he
often gets credit for errors for which he is really not responsible. :

302

“This species is figured by Gray and Mitchell, (Gen. Birds,
pl. 14), with yellow irides, which is a mistake. ‘The species
of Bulaca, as of Syrnium, have dark* irides, while those of
Ptynx (I suspect) have yellow irides. In the great series of
Scops-Owls, there are two groups, one having dark, and the
other yellow irides. To the former belong certain African
species of considerable size, as the so-called Bubo Jacteus,
(Lemm. P. C. 4), also B. poensis, Fraser (figured in incom-
pletely mature plumage as B. fasciolatus, Temm., in P. Z. 8.
1863, pl. 383), and another beautiful species, B. cinerascens,
now, together with B. poensis, in the Zoological Gardens, which
seem to differ only from Bu/aca, (founded on the present species)
in having tufts of peculiar and rather flimsy texture, which
they have a peculiar mode of displaying, spreading them out
laterally like the opening ofa wing ; and to this group of Scops-
Owls also belongs the Ep/hialtes lettia, and its immediate con-
geners (as noticed in the sequel). A parallel series of yellow-
eyed Scops-Owls comprises the so-called Bubo Africanus and
species akin to it, as also the small European Scops-Owl with
others allied to it. Professor Schlegel and also Mr. G. R.
Gray, erroneously identify Bulaca Newarensis of Hodgson
with B. indrani of Sykes (BL. monticola, Jerdon), the Himalayan
species being very much larger than the other, and differing
more from it than Spilornis Cheela does from S. bacha As Dr.
Jerdon remarks, the Himalayan bird mustt weigh fully double
that from Southern India.”

To my mind neither of Dr. Jerdon’s descriptions, 7. e¢.,
neither that of Indranee nor Newarense, sufficiently accurately .
represent our Simla bird, and I have therefore given in the
footnote, a detailed description taken from a fresh specimen
(the old male) killed near Mahasoo, but I should note that
some birds have the whole of the upper parts a paler and more
decidedly rufous brown, than in the specimen described, and
the feathers of the centre of the forehead, crown, and occiput,
absolutely uncolorous with those of the nape, upper back and
central scapulars, instead of contrasting with them by their
deep chocolate-like tinge.

The feathers of the tarsus and base of the foot are very thick
and full. So that the lower portion of the tarsus appears fully
one and three quarter inches deep, measured from front to back.
The arrangement of the toes is somewhat remarkable, almost

* Vide my description of the Simla Bird.
¥ Our old Simla male weighed 2 lbs. 1 oz. it is to be hoped that some orni-
thologist in Southern India will weigh some fine male Neilgherry Bird.

353

scansorial, if I may use the term. When the fresh foot is
pulled out, so that the sole is flat and without crease, the
mid and hind toes are in one straight line, and the two lateral
toes are also in one straight line. ‘The inner and mid toe sub-
tend between them an angle of only 60 degrees, and similarly
the outer and hind toe subtend only the same angle, while the
outer and middle toe subtend an angle of 120°, as do the hind
and inner toe. The soles are very flat, with scarcely any pads and
with nearly an inch square of surface, beyond the corners of
which the soles of the toes project. In colour they are fleshy
white, thickly set with conspicuous, but soft papille. It should
be remarked, that the hind toe is not absolutely on a level with
the three anterior toes, but has its origin a little higher up.

I have shot a good many of this species, at one time or
another. I have always found great difficulty in getting them
to fly. They are always in well-wooded localities, but so far
as my experience goes, affect small precipices, on the sides of
wooded hills.

Mr. Thompson sent me the following note, in regard to the
large Kumaon specimen already referred to—‘ During the past
winter, I got a specimen of this bird, which I shall send you.
It was being mobbed by a gang of Crows at Huldwanee at
the foot of the hills, and some boys killed it with pellets from
their bows.”

A specimen which I secured on Nagteeba (north of Landour
and across the Uglas), was set upon, when we did succeed in mak-
ing it fly by a pair of Falcons, who knocked it down, one of them
inflicting a severe wound on the back. As far as I can remem-
ber, the Falcons were ‘‘ Africeps ;” at the time, (I had not then
distinguished the species,) I considered them to be Perigrinator.
Of the geographical distribution I have nothing to add to what
I said under B. Indrance.

No. 65. Bulaca Ocellata.* Lesson.
Tur Morrtep Woop Owt.

This species, lays in the plains of the North-Western Pro-
vinces and the Punjaub, in March, but I have a note of the eggs
having been taken in the Dhoon early in April.

* Bubaca OcCELLATA.

Dimensions. (J do not find that the sexes differ constantly in size,
and I therefore do not give their dimensions separately.)

304

Its eggs are deposited at heights of from eight to twenty-five
feet from the ground, in some large cavity, or in the depression

Length, 17°9 to 19'2 ; expanse, 45°0 to 50°5; wing, 13°0 to 14:9 ; tail, 7°3
to 84; tarsus (feathered throughout) 2°05 to 2°4; foot, greatest length, 3°4
to 41; greatest width, 3:9 to 4°35 ; mid toe to root of claw, 1:35 to 1°65 ; its
claw straight, 0°9 to 1:03; hind toe, 0°75 to 0°9; its claw, straight, U°7 to
0°82 ; inner toe, 1°0 to 1°25; its claw, 0°9 to 1°05; bill, straight from edge of
cere to point, 0°85 to 0°98; from forehead, straight to point, 117 to 1°42;
from gape, 1°6 to 1:7; width at gape, 1°0 to 1°38; height at front at margin
of cere, 0°48 to 0°56 ; length of cere, 0°5 to 0°63 ; wings, when closed, reach to
end of tail or fall short of it by not more than 1”’, lower tail coverts fall
short of end of tail by from 2°25 to 3°8.

The third, or third and fourth primaries are the longest ; the first from 2°5
to 3:0, and the second from 0°6 to 11, shorter. The external tail feathers
are from 0°45 to 0°9 shorter than the central ones. Weight from 1 tb 6 oz.
to 2 Ibs., but 1 tb. 8 oz. is about the average.

Descriprion. The front of the toes sparsely feathered with dingy white
bristly feathers ; terminal joints with three, transverse, soft scales, or folds of
skin, pale greenish brown; soles yellowish white, papillze conspicuous but
soft ; elaws, which though sharp are little curved, and comparatively rather
feeble, pale brown at their bases, dark brown at the tips; inner edge of
middle claw somewhat dilated.

Trides. _ Brown, in some light, in some deep.

Bill. Horny black, pale and greyish on lower mandible.

Cere. Dingy,a mixture of dirty, pinkish, brownish, and yellowish, horny—
varies a good deal.

Tongue. Thick, fleshy, broad, membraneous and slightly divided at the
tip.

Cruliane (of an adult male, shot on the nest, March 6th, 1867). Lores
with a prominent tuft of white, bristle-like feathers, with widely separated
webs, and shafts prolonged some distance beyond webs, such prolongation
being black or blackish brown, and a few of the feathers with traces, of one or
more, dark brown or blackish bars. A somewhat similar tuft on the end of
the chin, but without the black tips. Feathers, of point of forehead, imme-
diately over the eye, behind the eye as far as the ear aperture (which is
enormous) and round below the eye to the base of the lower mandible, inclu-
ding the feathers of the eyelids, greyish white with blackish tips and most
of them with narrow, transverse, black or blackish brown bars, a stripe of
these feathers behind and partly below the eye tinged ferruginous. From
the base of the chin, a fine of dark brown to blackish feathers runs (bounding
the greyish white, barred ones, above described) round the cheeks, behind
the ear opening, and behind the eye, to the top of the head, defining the facial
disk, which is not very decided ; below this line (some of the feathers of which,
especially near the chin, are a good deal mottled or at times barred with
white, dingy white or rufous) a large, pure white patch on the centre of the
throat. Centre of forehead, top and back of the head, back and sides of the
neck, the feathers a rich chesnut, more or less broadly tipped with blackish
brown, with conspicuous, but somewhat irregular, white spots on the tippings.
The whole back, scapulars and wing coverts, except those of the primaries,
dingy ferruginous at their bases, the terminal portions (of greater or less
extent) white, obscurely barred with irregular and more or less incomplete,
dark brown bars and the interspaces closely speckled and mottled with the same
colour. In many cases, traces of the barring and mottling extend up the

355

at the fork of two or more huge branches, of some old peepul or
mango tree. There is no nest, so to speak, but a little dry
touch wood, a few dead leaves, or a little earth, covering the
floor, if I may so call it, of the nesting place, forms a scanty
bed for the eggs.

feathers, on to the ferruginous portion—in the greater secondary coverts,
the white, mottled interspaces are chiefly on the outer web, and in the smallest
coverts, the brown altogether predominates at the tips. The winglet much
resembles the secondary greater coverts. The primary greater coverts, as a
whole, are brown, more or less buff at the base and on inner webs, and with
a tipping and two or three broad, transverse bars (chiefly on the outer webs)
of mottled white or brown, or mottled buffy and brown. The first four
primaries are notched on the inner webs conspicuously, and there is a trace of
the same in the fifth and sixth, The second,third and fourth, are also emarginate
on the outer web. The extreme tips of all the primaries are mottled fulvous
white and a faint brown; above this the ground colour of the tips (as far as the
notches and emarginations, where these exist.) is a slightly yellowish brown,
and above this the ground colour is a rich buff. All the primaries are barred
throughout, on both webs, with transverse, irregular, brown bars, very incon-
spicuous on the brown tips of the first few primaries. The interspaces on
the outer webs, are every where mottled with brown, and on the earlier
primaries above the emarginations cover much of or in some nearly the whole,
web, and below these, have a paler ground (greyish white) than the
corresponding portions of the inner web. The secondaries are regularly
barred with brown, broadly on the outer, more narrowly on the inner webs,
and with the tips, and interspaces of outer webs, greyish white, mottled and
speckled brown, and the interspaces of the inner webs buff, to buffy white,
the brown bars growing narrower, and the buff interspaces wider and paler, as
they approach the interior margin. The upper tail coverts are ferruginous
buff, with greyish white tips, barred and mottled with brown. The tail feathers
are brownish buff, with broad, dark brown tips. The tips of ad/ the feathers,
the whole of the central ones and of the outer webs of the lateral ones,
with broad, close, irregular, incomplete, mottled white brown and dark
brown bars, and the inner webs of the lateral tail feathers like the inner webs
of the secondaries. Base of the neck in front, breast, sides, abdomen, lower
tail coverts and lower wing coverts (except greater ditto of primaries which
are pale buff with black tips), ferruginous to pale buff at base, the rest
being greyish white with several, narrow, clearly defined, transverse, slightly
wavy brown bars. The tint of the basal portion diminishes in intensity, as
the feathers recede from the base of the neck, and becomes nearly white in
the lower tail coverts. The thighs and tarsi are, the former, a dull buff, the
latter greyish white, with numerous, close, transverse, narrow, wavy brown
bars.

No. 2. <A female shot on the nest, March 7th, with all the abdomen bared
for incubation.

This corresponded precisely with the above description, yet differed con-
siderably in appearance, owing first, to the dark circumscribing line of the
facial disk being less marked; second, to many of the feathers of the white
throat patch, having excessively narrow, black tippings ; third, to there being a
much larger extent of the mottled white, on the whole upper surface;
fourth, to the ferruginous or buff of wings, tail, and bases of body feathers,
as well as the brown of the tips of primaries and tail feathers being paler,

356

Two is the ordinary number of ege's laid ; indeed there were
two eggs (in three instances more or less incubated) in every
one of the seven nests of which I have notes.

The eggs of this species are generally a very round oval.
White, with in many instances a very delicate creamy tinge. In
size and shape, they seem to be scarcely distinguishable from
those of the allied S. Aluco of Europe. In texture they are
coarser than those of Striv Indica or any of the Ephialtes or
Athenes, that I know ; but they are finer than those of Ketupa
Ceylonensis or Ascalaphia Coromanda. From the eggs of Aseca-
laphia Bengalensis, it is scarcely possible to separate them ;
although Bengalensis is a considerably larger bird, its eggs, as
regards size, shape, and texture, seem almost identical with
those of the present species. All that I can say, with an ample
series of both before me, is, that as a body, the eggs of Benga-
lensis are a mere trifle larger, and have more gloss than those of
Ocellata. For the size of the bird, the eggs of the present
species are somewhat large.

In length, they vary from 1:94 to 271, and in breadth, from
1-63 to 1°75, but the average of ten eggs measured, was 2°01
by 1°68.

I have more than once shot the male sitting on the eggs.
Mr. W. Blewitt writes, ‘“ I found a nest near Hansie in a hollow
of a peepul tree about nineteen feet from the ground, on the
16th of March. The nest hole which was lined with leaves,
contained two partially incubated eggs.”

Mr. Brookes says, that on the 3rd of March, 1867, he “ took
a pair of eggs out of a nest in a mango tree. The nest was in
the fork of two huge branches about twenty feet from the
ground. ‘There was a little earth and a few dry mango leaves.
The eggs were pure white and very round.”

Mr. Blyth, writing of this species says, that it has “ conspi-
cuous rose-coloured orbits, though I see that my friend, Dr.
Jerdon, has described them as ‘orange ;’ this, however, may
depend on the age, the red distinguishing the young.” I have
recorded the colours of the soft parts, of more than a dozen spe-
cimens, in a@// I find this note, “edges of lids reddish.”” The
fact is, different people see colours very differently, and what is
more, even if they see them alike, describe them in very different
terms ; the reader may take his choice, between rose coloured,
orange and reddish, without going very far wrong. :

This species is found throughout India, east of the Sutledge,
and of the Indus below its junction with the former, and west
of the Ganges. I have seen specimens from near Aboo,
and from Kattiwar, and again from near Fazilka. It occurs,

307

though sparingly, in Lower Bengal, Mr. Blyth having, he
says, picked up an unmistakeable feather of one, in a mango
tope, thirty miles from Calcutta. I have a specimen from
Monghyr. It has not been recorded from Ceylon, and in Assam
it is apparently replaced by the next species. West of the
Sutledge, I cannot find any record of it, although it may very
hkely occur there. It is most common in moderately dry
country, well furnished with large groves. The large mango
topes of the N. W. Provinces are favourite haunts of this
species. My own experience is, that it affects neither very
damp, nor very dense jungly districts. It certainly occurs in
the sub-Himalayan valleys, as I obtained a specimen near
Jewlee, below Nynetal. I cannot say whether it ascends the
Hills to any height. Mr. Blyth thinks that it does not, and I
have never myself met with it at any considerable elevation.
The stomachs of four specimens that I examined, contained
exclusively the remains of Kats, Mice and Squirrels !

No. 65 Bis. Bulaca Sinensis. Latuam.
Tue Matayan Woop Ow...

Strix. Orientalis, Shaw. Gen. Zool. VII. 257.
A Seloputo. Horsf. Trans. Linn. Soe. xiii. p. 140.
“A Pagodarum. Tem. Pl. Col. 230.

Ulula Sceloputo. — Schleg. Mus. P. B. Striges, p. 22.

I know nothing personally of this species, and can find
nothing recorded of its nidification ; I merely follow Mr. Blyth
in the above synonymy. He says, that Strix Sinensis of
Latham, is clearly the S. Se/oputo of Horsfield, “ of the Malay-
an region, spreading into the ‘l'enasserim provinces and Siam,
aud doubtless into China; as distinguished from B. Ocellata
(Syrnium ocellatum, Lesson, Rev. Zool., 1839, p. 289) of India,
which has not been observed eastward of the Bay of Bengal.
Latham had merely seen a drawing from India (doubtless
Hardwicke’s) which he thought might refer to his S. Sinensis ;«
but both Latham’s and Shaw’s descriptions clearly indicate the
Malayan species.”’

Latham’s description is, however, to my mind, by no means
clearly indicative, of any particular species, and would answer
about equally well for several species. He says:

“Length 17 inches, bill dusky black; face pale, with
dusky markings, and the feathers surrounding it, marked with
dusky ; plumage in general, above, ferruginous chestnut, marked

358

with dusky, spotted irregularly at the back part of the head and
neck, with black and white ; chin and throat white ; the rest of
the parts beneath, the same, but crossed with numerous fine
dusky lines; quills and tail chestnut, powdered with darker
dots, and crossed with bars of the same, at half an inch distance ;
legs feathered to the toes; claws dusky. Inhabits China. In
the collection of General Davies. I observe one very similar
if not the same, among the drawings of General Hardwicke, found
at Cawnpore, in India, in September.”

It is very clear, that Latham did not himself realize the iden-
tity of his Sinensis and Horsfield’s Sedoputo, for he describes the
latter separately, in the following words:

“Length 20 inches. Body above ferruginous bay, cross-
ed with indistinct bands of a paler colour; beneath white,
banded with ferruginous bay ; chin whitish, throat inclining to
yellow, ocular region pale ferruginous ; legs crossed with dusky
yellow bands. Inhabits Java ; called there Selo-puto.”

Now it will be observed that “ ocular region pale ferruginous”
exactly hits the character of this species, whereas ‘‘ face pale
with dusky markings” does not suit it at all. '

While therefore, following Mr. Blyth in this identification, I
am by no means certain myself, that Latham’s Sinensis and
Horsfield’s Seloputo are one and the same.

Be this, however, as it may, Seloputo, Horsf. and Pagodarum.
Tem. is constantly found in Burmah, and must therefore find a
place in these notes.

Temminck thus describes this species, which he says that
Dussumier brought from the continent of India; though he had
received other specimens from Java.

“The tarsi are thickly clad with down, covered over with
small feathers; the toes are clothed on their upper surfaces only,
and the last joint is bare; the disk is small; the closed wings
reach to the end of the tail; the down at all ages is a rufous

ellow.

The adult has the crown, and the sides of the neck of a some-
what bright rufous chestnut, each feather with one or two rows

eof pure white spots, encircled by a black zone. The back, the
lesser wing coverts and the scapulars, are coloured much like the
nape, but slightly lighter ; the white spots are less regular and
larger, but are encircled with a black band ; the secondaries and
the base of the primaries, have wide apart, reddish yellow
bars, on a reddish brown ground. The tail, divided by irregular
bars, is tipped with white, and paler below. The face and eye-
brows are a spotless reddish yellow. ‘The breast is barred with
transverse bands of white, and reddish chestnut. The whole of

309

the rest of the lower parts are pure white, intersected by widely
separated, very regular, narrow, transverse brown bars.

The iris is yellow. Length 17 to 19, (French) inches, (equal
to from 18 to 20°12 English inches).

Yearling birds have the tarsi clad in whitish down. The
face is dusky, and the whole plumage has a light rufous tinge.
The lower parts are barred, much as in the adult. The feathers
of the upper parts exhibit, regular, transverse, white, and light
rufous bands; the white bands are encircled, (as in the adult)
but they are much larger than in the latter. The changes
effected by successive moults in the shape of these broad
enframed bands, produce intermediate varieties. In some the
upper parts exhibit brown, white and rufescent, zig-zags. In
old birds the white spots are small and isolated.”

No. 66. Syrnium Nivicolum,* Hopeson.
Tue Himatayan Woop Ow.

Of the nidification of this species nothing seems to be as yet
known. Of the nearly allied Syrniwm Aluco of HKurope (8.
Stridula auct.) My, Hewitson says, “The tawny owl usually

* Syrnium Nivicotum.

Druenstons. (Of an adult female).

Length, 17°5. Expanse, 42. Wing, 12°15. Tail from vent, 7°9. Tarsus, 2.
Foot, greatest length, 3°6 ; greatest width, 3°75 ; mid toe, to root of claw,
1:25 ; its claw straight, to point, 0°81 ; hind toe, 0°6 ; its claw, 0°73 ; inner
toe, 0°95 ; its claw, 0°86. Bill, straight from forehead to point, 1:33 ; from
gape, 1°55 ; width at gape, 1:1; height at front, 06.

The closed wings fell short by 1, and the lower tail coverts by 4
inches, of end of tail.

The fifth primary was the longest. The first was 3:1; the second, 1:35 ;
the third, 0-4; and the fourth, 0°15, shorter. The exterior tail feathers
fell short by one inch of the central ones.

Description. The legs and feet densely feathered to the terminal joints
of the toes, which had two or three moderate transverse scales, of a dull
plumbeous colour, Claws, brown, paler at tips and bases. Jrides, dark brown.
Bill, pale fleshy yellow. Cere, which is very faintly marked, plain brown.

Plumage. Feathers of the face greyish white, dark shafted, more or less +
tinged with dingy rufous brown, and all but those of the lores more
or less distinctly banded with narrow dark brown bars. Feathers of the
ruff, deep brown, more or less spotted, or mottled or narrowly barred at
the tips with mingled white and pale fawn colour. The top of the head,
nape, back, scapulars, lesser and median wing coverts, deep, almost blackish
brown, mottled and freckled, with dull, slightly rufous, buff or buffy white.
Tail and quills, a duller and somewhat paler brown, with irregular, imperfect,
more or less mottled, dull, buffy white, transverse bars, and more or less freck-
ling of the same colour on the interspaces towards the margins of the fea-
thers. The central tail feathers have six, the external eight, transverse

360

lays its eges in a hollow tree, sometimes in the holes of rocks
and occasionally in the deserted nest of some other bird; they are
round, large, bright and glossy, from three to five in number,
and are deposited at irregular intervals, the first being sat wpon
as soon as laid; the young of the same nest differ in consequence
very considerably in their size,”

He figures an egg 1-95 by 1:6.

Yarrell says, “ The egos of this species are large, compared
with those of either of the three Owls (Otus Vulgaris, O. Bra-
chyotus, Strix Flammea) last described. They are smooth and
white, measuring one inch ten lines (1°83) in length, by one
inch six lines (15) in breadth.”

Montague states, that it breeds in the hollows of trees and
sometimes in barns; it prepares very little nest, and at times
deposits its eggs merely on the decayed wood. ‘Temminck, on
the other hand, affirms that it lays in the deserted nests of
Buzzards, Crows and Magpies.

I cannot understand how our Indian species could ever be
considered identical with the European Aluco.

Both species vary a good deal in colour, but the Indian
species is invariably considerably darker, and less rufous than
the European. Again the Indian species is very markedly
larger. ‘I‘he following are dimensions* recorded from fresh
specimens of fine females of both species.

Claws straight from Bill sirarehe
ot =)

: oO root to point. :
a | 3 J a ; ; from anterior
er ey Be ee Pa ete ee es
S. Nivicolum,.../17°5| 42 |12°15} 7-9 | 2:0} 0:81) 0°73) 0:86) 0:69 0-68
S. Aluco,........./16°2 | 35 | 11°13) 7:1] 1-9 | 0-67] 0°59) 072/058 0°61

bands ; all are narrowly white tipped. Large, irregular, white or buffy white
blotches, on the outer webs of the external scapulars, and the earlier, greater,
primary coverts. The feathers of the breast and abdomen are mingled pure
white and buff coloured, with very deep brown, central stripes, and two or
three, narrow, irregular, transverse, brown bars. Sides, flanks and wing lining
“(except the greater, lower primary coverts which are mingled brown and
white) dull, silky buff, more or less imperfectly barred, with brown. ‘Tibial
and tarsal plumes dull, more or less infuscated buff, irregularly banded with
narrow, imperfect, dull brown, transverse bars. Lower tail coverts similar
but paler, and the bars more obscure and further apart. The feathers over
the eye are whiter, than the rest of the face, forming a broad, ill-defined,
pale, superciliary band,
* T am indebted for these measurements to Messrs. C. L. Gordon, and G.
F. L. Marshall respectively. The European specimen, my correspondent informs
me, was a particularly fine bird.

361

Not only is the bird larger as a whole, but the claws and bill
are more than proportionally larger and stronger.

There seems to be a difference too in the shape of the wings;
in all the specimens of Aluco, which I have examined, the fifth
primary fell perceptibly short of the fourth, while in Mivicolum
(I have only examined, however, three examples of each) the
fifth quill is either equal to or exceeds, the fourth.

I cannot doubt that the two species are perfectly distinct.

Dr. Stoliczka has the following note on this species :—“I
procured one specimen of this species above Chini, at an eleva-
tion of 14,000 feet, and another specimen was shot by my
shikarees at Kotegurh in winter 1866. It is in this portion of
the hills rather a rare bird.

“'The greater coverts of the primaries have a white, terminal
spot on the outer webs. The spots on the outer webs of the
quills are fulvous brown, paler on the inner; the cross bands
on the two central tail feathers are indistinct, and the plumage
is generally finely mottled with light brown all over; the tips
of all tail feathers are white; below, on the sides of the breast,
and on the abdomen, most of the feathers are centrally streaked
brown, each being marked with three cross bars.”

This species, as far as is yet known, is confined to the Hima-
layahs, I have seen it from as far west as Murree. Hast-
wards I only know of it as far as Darjeeling. Capt. G. F. L.
Marshall shot one at Kussowlee, at a height of only 5000 feet
above the sea, and this is the lowest level at which I have
known it to occur.

No. 67. Otus Vulgaris.* Fem.
Tur Lone Harep Ow...

As yet nothing has been recorded of the breeding of this
species in India, but I have reason to believe that it is a per-

* Orus VULGARIS.

Drenstons. Male, (hilled Bhoondsee 20-3-68.) Length, 14°5. Expanse
36. Wing, 11:1. Tail, 56. Tarsus, 1°45. Mid toe to root of claw, 1:1; its claw
straight, 0°65; hind toe, 0°65, its claw, 0°53; inner toe, 0°92 ; its claw 0°63.
Bill, straight, from forehead to point, 1°1; along curve 1°33 ; from gape 1'1;
height at front, 0°58. The second primary is the longest; the first, 0°8 and
the third, 0°1 shorter. Lateral tail feathers 0°55 shorter than central ones.
Wings reach to 0°5 beyond end of tail, Lower tail coverts to within 1°8 of
ditto.

Female (killed Darjeeling 6-11-69). Length, 16°2. Expanse, 40°5. Wing,
12:2. Vail 670) Tarsus 156.

Description. Bill, blackish brown. Cere, fleshy. Claws, horny black,
paler at bases, Jrides, bright yellow, to orange.

562

manent resident of the forests of the interior of the Himalayahs.
Mr. Yarrell gives the following account of its nidification in
England: “ The long-eared Owl is said not to make a nest for
itself, but to take to the deserted habitation of some other bird,
when of sufficient size for its own wants; and has been known
to rear its young in the old drey of a Squirrel. The eggs are
four or five in number, oval, smooth, and white ; one inch, eight
lines and a half long, (1°7) by one inch three lines and a half
in breadth, (1°29). The young are hatched by the end of April,
are then covered with white down, and do not quit the nest
during the first month.”

Mr. Tuke says that, in Yorkshire, “it takes possession, about
the middle or end of March, of the deserted nest of the Crow,

Plumage. Chin pure white. Lores and feathers over the anterior half of
the eye, white, (in some slightly yellowish white) the feathers more or less
dark shafted towards the tips or tipped with dark brown ; eye-lashes and spot
at the anterior angle of the eye, and feathers just above the posterior half of
the eye, deep or blackish brown ; cheeks and ear coverts, pale yellowish to
reddish buff, the feathers white shafted towards the base and often black
shafted or blackish brown towards the tips. Forehead, crown and occiput,
deep brown, the feathers margined, with pale yellowish or reddish buff, and
freckled and mottled with white, often leaving scarcely any portion of the
deep brown visible, In some the brown is paler and the amount of white
freckling varies much in individuals. The ear tufts are from one-half to two
inches in length, deep brown, margined, with buff at their bases, and generally
on the inner webs towards the tips, with white, The back of the neck and
upper back, varies from pale yellowish white to reddish buff, broadly streaked
with a lighter or darker brown, The scapulars, wing coverts, and upper tail
coverts deep brown, more or less margined or tinted towards the margins
with pale fulvous or reddish buff, and irregularly mottled and freckled with
white or greyish white, which in some specimens occupies the greater portion
of the surfaces of the feathers. There is generally a very conspicuous edging of
buff or buffy white to the outer scapulars, some of the coverts and the outer
feathers of the winglet. The tail feathers are buff towards the base, grey or
grey brown towards the tips, with irregular, mottled, transverse, brown bars,
the interspaces too being similarly freckled and mottled. The quills, similar.
The feathers of the ruff are white or buffy white but tipped with blackish
brown. ‘The breast and abdomen, pale yellowish, or rufous buff with broad,
central, dark brown stripes, and more or less conspicuous but ill-defined, white
spots on either web towards the tips, and on the abdomen, with one or more
narrow, transverse, wavy, brown bars, and a little freckling of the same colour.
The tibial and tarsal plumes are the same colour as the rest of the lower parts
but entirely unspotted. The wing lining varies from rufous buff, to pure
white, one or two of the feathers at the edge of the wing have dark brown,
lanceolate, central stripes.

The tone of colouring varies a good deal in different individuals, as does
the amount of the white or greyish white freckling of the upper surface, and
the white on the lower surface. In all, the rufous buff, at the base of the
first few primaries, is rather conspicuous on the outer webs.

363

Ringdove, and perhaps that of the Squirrel, in a Scotch or
Spruce fir tree, on which, after flattening and sometimes lining
with a few feathers, are deposited its two or three beautifully
white eggs. It is curious to observe how flat they invariably
make their nests, so much so, that in even a slight wind, it is
difficult to conceive how the eggs retain their position when the
parent bird leaves them.” ‘This species, however, is one of
those, of which the female begins to sit, from the moment she
lays the first ege, and a great difference in the ages of the
young, is generally observable.

Macgillivray tells us that “it generally appropriates the
deserted nest of a Rook or other large bird, but sometimes
forms one for itself, and lays from three to five eggs, which are
elliptical, 1°75 in length by 1°33 in breadth, smooth and of a
pure white colour.”

This species is not entirely nocturnal, nor does it confine its
depredations entirely to moles, mice and insects. Mr. Tuke
already quoted, remarks :—

“We have met this species in the woods, sailing quietly
along, as if hawking, on a bright sunny day, and invariably
found in or around the nest, feathers and other remains of the
winged race. In one case, a freshly killed Chaflinch, in another
the wing of a Snipe, and several smaller birds and in a pellet
the indigestible pad of a young Hare or Rabbit.”

Of the distribution of this species in India, Dr. Jerdon says
in epist, “The long-eared Owl is by no means rare in low
jungles near Delhi, and thence through the Punjab, during the
cold weather. I always found several together.”

I can confirm this, having received a specimen killed at
Bhoondsee, Zillah Gourgaon, and another from near Hansee, both
killed in the cold weather. They are far from uncommon about
Darjeeling, at any rate during the early part of the cold weather ;
whether they remain in the Himalayahs throughout the year I
cannot say, but I received a specimen killed near Narkunda in
June, and Dr. Stoliczka notices their being found in the forests
near Nachar.

Out of India, this species appears to be found throughout
Europe, Northern Asia, and the northern and central portions
of North America.* It occurs in Northern Africa including
Egypt, Asia Minor, and Afghanistan, and specimens from
Hakodadi (Japan) are said to be absolutely identical with
European ones.

* Some writers have separated the American race, but the birds appear to
be identical.

364

No. 68. Otus Brachyotus.* Get.
Tuer Suort Harep Owt.

This is another species, whose eggs do not as yet appear to have
been taken within our limits. Mr. Hoy (I quote Mr. Yarrell)
says, of the nidification of this species in Norfolk, “I have
known several instances of their eggs and young being found.
One situation is, on a dry heathy soil, the nest placed on the
ground amongst high heath; the other in low fenny ground,
among sedge and rushes; a friend of mine procured some eggs
from the latter situation during the last summer.”

Mr. Yarrell continues—“ The eggs of this bird, seldom exceed-
ing three in number, are smooth and white, one inch eight lines
(1°67) in length by one inch three lines and a half (1°29) in
breadth.”

* Otrus BracHyorus,

c=] f=
gs |S
a ls
ig |s
gs
DIMENSIONS. 4
x bo |g
3 s |5
tH 3 no
8 2 = co 2
E 5 a &) |2 |e
os > oO 1S =
es) eH Se Pest a
SS] ester | ea alae] sec alae peared
~ » a > ~ “oS oe
“ 3\m!2|Bie/e/Sls e Fz
a iS ‘s eS s ‘a =} = ct
2 o(/2/2/8/2/8]m| @\B Fs
. 2 ~ a = > - z
a|\ 4 Elelelelsle/s]el8l ale (eels
=| 2/8 lS elsleleie|s|3| 51 gagse
3 A Ha Tad, lies sete |vane | ved | ee te arate Se PSHE ESS) |S
a | 8 | F&F lela pa ae ea ae] 3 RAY ASl
ic
—e i _— mara hanks Gayle EE RN IGP —
. OZ
| From 14°50| 36°50; 11°75] 6-00; 1 36) 1:20] 0°62| 0°62) 0°50 0:62] 0 G1} O58] 1°05 O 25) 100,10
=, | | OZ
Selo 15°00} 39°75) 12°50) 6°80} 1°80) 1:26] 0°72} 0°72) 0°60, 0-80} 0°71 0°63] 1°25 1°00) 190/18
| \
& From | 15°00} 40°00 12/00] 625 | | | | id
x Other measurements not recorded. thoz.
pall elitly 16°00] 42°00} 13°30) 7-10 ll
ee

(Five males measured and weighed.)
The 2nd primary the longest. The 1st is 0°30—0-75 shorter, the :
) ae st is ‘ er, the 3rd
0'20—0°45, shorter, Exterior tail feathers, 0°30—0'60, shorter than central
ones.

365

Two nests which Sir William Jardine found on an upland
moor in Dumfriesshire, and which contained five eggs, were
formed upon the ground among the heath, the bottom of the
nest scraped, until the fresh earth appeared, on which the eggs
were placed, without any lining or other accessory covering.

Audubon says—“ The only nest of this kind that I have found
contained four eggs of a dull bluish white, and of a somewhat
elongated or elliptical form, an inch and a half in length, and
one inch and one-eighth in breadth. The nest which was
placed under a low bush and covered over by tall grass, through
which a path had been made by the bird, was formed of dry
grass, raked together in a slovenly manner and quite flat,
but covering a large space.”

Hewitson figures a broad, oval, bluish white egg, 1:68 in
length, by 1:3 in width.

This species, so common throughout India, would not appear
to extend to Ceylon; and though by no means uncommon in
Lower Bengal, Assam and British Burmah, would not seem
to extend southwards to the Malay Peninsula or the Archi-
pelago. One of the most widely distributed of its whole family,
this species occurs almost throughout North America, through-
out Europe, the islands of the Mediterranean, portions of North
Africa, Egypt, Asia Minor, Mesopotamia, in Russian Asia,
almost to the mouths of the Amoor, Northern China and Japan.
In many of these localities, as in the plains of India, it is merely
a winter visitant, and I have been unable to ascertain the most
southern limit at which it has been found breeding. Radde
mentions, that it is a common bird throughout the south of Hast
Siberia, where he often found it breeding, and that in the
Daurian Steppes, he found fresh eggs as early as the 20th
April, and others scarcely incubated by the 25th of May.

It seems scarcely likely that this species breeds in India,
south of the Snowy Range, but the high grassy table-lands of
Thibet are probably the brooding haunts of the myriads of
short-eared Owls, which are so widely distributed over the plains
of India, during the cold season.

366

No. 69. Ascalaphia Bengalensis.* Franxuy,
THE Rock Hornep Ow1.

This species breeds as a rule, in February, March, and April,
but eges are occasionally met with in both December and

* AscALAPHIA BENGALENSIS.

Dimensions. (Zhe sexes do not appear to differ sufficiently to make it
worth while giving the dimensions separately, but the females are usually
somewhat larger.)

Length 21 to 23. Expanse 52°5 to 58'0. Wing 14°75 to 16:0. Tail 8:25
to 875. Tarsus, 2°94 to 3°25. Foot, greatest length, 4:2 to 4°35; greatest
width, 42 to 4°38; mid toe to root of claw, 1°5 to 1°82; its claw straight,
1:06 to 1:92; hind toe, 0°81 to 1:00; its claw straight, 0°8 to 0°88;
inner toe, 1°65 to 1°72; its claw straight 1:05 to 112. Bill straight,
from margin of cere to point, 1 to 1°06; from gape, 1:7 to 1:76; width at
gape 1:45 to 1:56; height at front, at margin of cere, 0°58 to 0°61. Wings
when closed, reach to within 1°5 to1°9 of end of tail. Lower tail coverts reach
to within 1 to 1°25 of end of tail, The 4th Primary is the longest; the Ist
is from 15 to 2; the 2nd from 0°45 to 0°55; and the 3rd from 0°06 to 02
shorter. Exterior tail feathers from 0°7 to 0°85 shorter than central ones.

Description. Legs and feet feathered ; the toes above only, but almost
to the very points, where there are 3 large transverse scales on the inner,
and 2 similar ones on each of the other toes; the scales greyish horny.
Soles with prominent pads, thickly covered with prominent papille, a sort
of buffy white. Claws dusky almost black, lighter at the roots; inner edge
of mid-claw dilated into a narrow knife-like edge. Jrides narrow, of great
diameter, intense orange yellow, brightest internally. 7/2 horny black.
Tongue rather short and broad, fleshy, somewhat spatulate. The tip ob-
tuse and slightly emarginate.

The lores and sides of upper mandible at base are occupied by two dense
tufts of nearly pure white bristly feathers having the webs much disunited,
and having the extreme tips black ; the shafts of most are prolonged as
bristles. 'They completely overhang the nostrils and reach to within from
three-eighths to one-fourth of an inch of the end of upper mandible. The edges
of the eyelids are brown, the eyelids bluish white and bare, except for 2 dense
rows of short feathers near the margins, with very disunited webs, which are
white with the tips of most of the shafts, blackish on lower and posterior half of
upper lid, and brown on anterior portion of the latter. Feathers of forehead, im-
mediately overhanging the upper mandible, and the anterior one-third of eye
very similar to those of the lores. A broad band of similar feathers, but
tinged with pale buffy brown, from near the base of the egrets, behind and
below the eye, embracing the ear coverts, and every where bounded posteriorly
by a narrow dark brown band, which commencing above the eye, runs to the
base of the egrets, and thence downwards behind the ear, to a little below
the gape. Forehead, top and back of the head a sort of umber brown, with
whitish marginal and terminal spots giving a mottled appearance ; these
spots are much larger proportionally and more buffy towards the front
of the forehead, where the brown almost disappears; the warm buffy tint
of the bases of the feathers shows through a good deal in some, towards the
back of the head. There is an ill-defined, mottled, buffy streak from above the
eye, above the dark brown band, to the very base of the egret, up the interior

367

January, and in the lower valleys of Gurhwal, according to Mr.
Rt. Thompson, may be met with as late as the end of May.

side of which it almost seems to run, since a portion of the inner web of the
longest and the outer webs of some of the shorter are buffy or buffy white.
The rest of the egrets (which are some 23 long) are a rather darker brown
than the top of the head. The sides of the head and upper part of sides of
neck for about 1 inch behind the dark brown band are mingled buff, buffy
white and brown, no colour showing clearly, but the feathers if closely
examined, are mostly buff at the base, and whitish towards their extremi-
ties where there are 2 or 3 narrow, wavy, brown, transverse bars. The
chin is occupied by a dense tuft of feathers similar to those of the lores, (but
entirely white) which curve out quite to the end of the lower mandible. There
is a similar tuft on each side of the lower mandible, and a line of similar feathers
round the gape, and running up (overhung and nearly hidden by the buffy,
or brownish white feathers below the eye) to the lores; from where the
narrow dark brown line terminates a little below the gape, a broad, irregular
band of buffy feathers with darker or lighter brown central streaks runs right
across the throat, separating the white of the chin from a pure white, some-
what triangular patch in the centre of the throat or upper neck in front.
The feathers of the rest of the neck all round are a rich buff colour with
more or less white towards the tips, and conspicuous, broader or narrower,
central stripes of dark brown. The upper back, shoulders, scapulars, median,
secondary and tertiary greater coverts, are brown, varying somewhat in
shade but still dark, with two or more, mottled, or even freckled pairs of
large spots or incomplete bars, ef white, buff or buffy white. The tertiaries
are similar, but having a much lighter and more rufous ground colour, and
more of the mottled incomplete bars. The extreme edge of the wing is white,
and the immediately adjoining feathers much mottled, with a rich buff, but the
lesser wing coverts asa whole are a rich dark brown, towards the tips (which
alone show) with only one or two pairs of rather small, buff, or fulvous white,
irregular, marginal spots, and this is the character of the winglet. The greater
coverts of the primaries are a rich rufous buff at the base, and dusky brown
at the tip, the centres banded with freckled and mottled bars of both colours.
The primaries are the same rich rufous buff, tipped with a lighter shade of
dusky brown, which tips are much longer in the first than in the succeeding
primaries. The first two primaries have the whole outer webs banded brown
and rufous buff, freckled with brown, but in the succeeding primaries the rufous
buff above the tips is nearly pure except for two or three, narrow, brown, bands
towards the end on the outer, and one or two similar ones on the inner webs.
The dusky tips themselves are a good deal banded and freckled, especially
towards the secondaries, which want the well marked dusky tips, and, with a
less pure rufous buff ground, have about four or five brown bars on the outer
and three or four on the inner webs, the interspaces on the outer webs being a
good deal dashed with white and mottled and freckled with brown. The central
tail feathers resemble the outer webs of the later secondaries, the lateral ones
their inner webs. The brown bars growing narrower and narrower on each
succeeding feather, as they recede from the centre. The second primary is
clearly and the third slightly emarginate on the outer web, and the three first,
the first especially, are conspicuously notched on the inner webs, The inner
surface of the quills except at the tips or where the bars show through, is a
delicate, pale, rufous buff, almost salmon colour, as are also the larger lower
primary coverts, which have dusky tips. The edge of the wing, as above noticed,
is white, the rest of the wing lining is rufous buff, the median lower coverts

568

The birds make no nest, but merely scoop a small hollow in
the earth, in which to deposit the eggs. Occasionally, they will
lay on the level ground under some over-hanging bush or tuft
of grass, but almost without exception, they choose some little
eave or recess in, or projecting ledge or shelf of, some rocky or
earthy cliff in the neighbourhood of water. The precipitous
banks of canals and rivers, are perhaps their favorite brooding-
places, and as my friend, Capt. G. F. L. Marshall, first pointed
out to me, they (in northern India) almost invariably select a
cliff face looking westward.

The normal number of the eggs is perhaps four; but I have
often found three and, more than once, only two eggs much
incubated.

The eggs of this species appear, comparatively speaking, very
uniform in size and shape. Very perfect broad ovals, white with
a faint creamy tinge, they are, but for a slight superior glossiness,
scarcely distinguishable from those of B. Ocellata. In texture,
they are finer than the eggs of A. Coromanda, and for the size of
the bird, seem to me decidedly small. I note that I can scarcely
believe that the egg figured by Bree as that of A. Savignyt
really belongs to that nearly allied species. The egg being
barely two-thirds the size of the smallest A. Bengalensis I have
yet seen.

The eggs of the Indian species, vary from 2°05 to 2°20 in
length, and from 1°65 to 1°8 in breadth, but the average of ten
egos measured is 2°10 by 1:73. The egg figured by Bree is
only 1:54 by 1°34.

This species is very common in the Saharunpoor district,
especially towards the North, and from thence Mr. G. Marshall
sent me the following account of its nidification.—‘‘ The Rock
Horned Owl breeds from December to April, the middle of March
being the best time for searching for its eggs. On one occasion
only, I found the eggs on the level ground, on a plain, at the

broadly but irregularly margined with slightly rufous or buffy white, and a
few of those near the carpal joint, with ill-defined, brownish, sub-terminal spots,
The lesser lower coverts, with faint, narrow, wavy, transverse, brown or rufous
brown bars. The breast, abdomen, sides, flanks and lower tail coverts are a rich
rufous buff, with very numerous, narrow, transverse, wavy, brown bars, darkest
and closest on the sides and feeblest and widest apart on the lower tail coverts,
and almost wanting in the immediate vieinity of the vent. The feathers of
the upper breast adjoining the base of the neck, with conspicuous very dark
brown (in some almost black) central stripes. The thigh coverts the same
hue as the rest of the lower part of body, but altogether unspotted and
unbaxred. The tarsi and toe feathers, buffy white, also unspotted and
unbarred.

369 |

foot of a tuft of grass; on every other occasion, I have found
them on a ledge, in the perpendicular bank of a ravine,
generally by the canal and, without exception, on the left bank
facing the west. It lays four, very round, pure white eggs,
slightly hollowing the ground to receive them, but making no
attempt at a nest or even a lining to the hole. I have always
found the nest close to water.

“I found two fresh eggs, on 16th December.
55 four set eggs, », ord April.
5 two fresh eggs, » 21st March.
$5 two young birds, », ord April.
a four fresh eggs, », 16th April.
By two fresh eggs », 28th March.

a four half-fledged young ,, 26th March.

“The birds keep close to water as a rule, and the male bird
seldom wanders far when the female is sitting; they seldom
perch on trees, and, during the breeding season, the male bird
may be seen sitting on the top of the bank, somewhere near
the nest, at all hours of the day. They are rather shy birds,
and leave the nest at once, if approached.”

Capt. Hutton remarks, that this species is “ common along
the foot of the hills in the Doon; I have had the young ones
in March from a hole in a steep bank of a ravine, at Rajpur ; in
April also a man brought word, that he had found a nest, with
nothing in it, but it was only just completed; waited fora
fortnight, and sent a man to bring the eggs, but it again proved
blank. The bird ascends sometimes in the summer to 5,500
feet.”

Capt. Cock says, ‘‘ Coming home on the 17th March, at Dhur-
umsalla, I took a nest of <Ascalaphia Bengalensis with eggs. I
shot the old bird. The nest was in a little cave in the face of
a steep precipice full of little bones of rats and mice, one or two
feathers, and only a slight depression in the sandy floor. Eggs
hard set.” -

Mr. Blyth remarked in the Ibis for 1866, that the Indian
species is “ distinct from A. Ascalaphus, though closely approx-
imating to that species. Dr. Jerdon omits to give the colouring
of the irides, which are of a redder and deeper flame-yellow than
those of a specimen of A. Ascalaphus at present in the Zoolo-
gical Gardens.”

Of the nidification of A. Ascalaphus (Savigni Tem.,) I quote
the following from a paper of Baron Warthausen, which
appeared in the Ibis for 1860. “ This species has been observed
by Heuglin in Upper Egypt and Nubia in pairs and im small

570

companies; it breeds also in Lower Egypt, where Wilke found
two nests on the pyramids of Abusir and Lakara on the 26th
and 27th of March, 1858. Each of the cavities scratched in the
sandy surface, at a shadowy but not dark locality, contained
three fresh eggs.

“The eggs of the one brood are more elongated, those of the
other more rounded; all having a very regular form, the
greatest diameter passing through the centre and the profile
descending the poles sometimes in a more gentle, sometimes in
a more abrupt, elliptical curve. The length (given in French
lines) varies between 22 (1:97) and 24 (2°13) lines, the breadth
between 183 (1°67) and 20 (1°80); the largest specimen is
24 (2°13) lines long and 20 (1°80) broad, the smallest, 22 (1:97)
long and 19 (1°71) broad; the weight is 48 to 60 grains.”

It will be observed that the dimensions of these eges corre-
spond precisely with those of our Indian birds, so that the egg,
figured by Bree, must necessarily have belonged to some other
species, but it is only fair to state that it is M. Moquin
Tandon, who furnished the figure, and not Dr. Bree, who is
responsible for this error.

Dr. Jerdon says, that the Indian species is found throughout
India and Ceylon ; but I cannot find it recorded by any autho-
rity from the latter locality. Eastward it certainly extends to
British Burmah ; but I do not find it noted from Singapore and
the Straits, and it probably does not extend, to the Malay
Peninsula ; westward it has been sent from Afghanistan.

I have already at page 226, noticed the Hon'ble F. J. Shaw’s
apocryphal account of the breeding of this species. It is only
explicable, as there suggested, by supposing that he intended
to refer to Spilornis Cheela.

a71

No. 70. Ascalaphia Coromanda.* Larnam.
Tue Dusky Hornep Owt.

The vast majority of this species lay (in Upper India at any
rate) in December and January, but I have found the eggs
on several occasions in February and once early in March.

* ASCALAPHIA COROMANDA.

be (3 (% fas
DIMENSIONS. A \5 3 Fs
j zp \5 ~ jee
Se : = E g a jom|Ss
S HH ml cI 53 Te ah
Se | 45 Of 45 ° . |S 219 |acghae
= ca % a 3S a hes = ea ee = =
. ww = | : . i J aolra
ie Sie |f8/2)| 2) 2 el 2] 2 lssltsl.2
> o/[w/Sia|l2]é les! &| S |wsleers
S m jer By 3 Se Ole Kw al
: 3 E Slelsle!lsilelfsl a |S vaxle8lo#
pI a Slers|/sl/f|/ael#] 5 teal el eiecisesals
= =I . & i a eet ae a cS 2) & a = S|ae1 a
| PRED (EI WP RGR (Sal aor Ps Pa =| ad Ic ral Wee STs
=I a =| = Baten A han ros & i BAB Ss
See | eet ae | el | A | lA IB le
| | | | | lb
. From | 22°01} 54°00) 15°75 culeass 1°09 1°05)1°00/1°60:1°10/1°05'1°60,1°12 0°58)1°151-70| 3
E | Beli
A
= {
a To 23°50) 57°00) 16°45 9-0012-4011-95 1°16 1°10|1°05)/1°70)1 °20/1°12\1°70 1°28 '0°60:3°75.2°00| 4
ai ie is i rated) ctiece ls fatal noel copcllt wales
| J | 4 r =
i From | 23°00} 56°00) 16°90 8°75)2 30|1°83,1°16)1°01 1-00 1°65|1°20/1°09|1°65 1°12 0°59/1°75 2-00] 4
w 2
<4
: aa
EB To 25°00} 60°00) 17°50) 9°25 ea ke 1'13)1°12 a dae ee fea (hl 6

(Three males and three females, measured, and weighed.)

The third, fourth, or third and fourth primaries the longest. The first is
2°70 to 320 shorter, the second 0°90 to 1:10, and the third nil to 0:90
shorter. Exterior tail feathers 0°25 to 0°60 shorter than central ones.

Description. Legs and feet feathered ; the latter sparsely ; terminal joint
bare, pale grey, with one or two, large, soft, transverse scales. Claws, black,
Irides, deep yellow. Bill, greyish white, or pale lavender, with the tips and
culmen, pale yellowish horny.

Plumage. Upper parts, except primaries and tail feathers, earthy brown ;
in some specimens greyer, in others more umber ; often considerably darker
on the head, lesser scapulars, and interscapulary region. The feathers of the
head, nape, interscapulary region, and often many of the scapulars and lesser
coverts with narrow, ill-defined, dark brown, shaft stripes ; all the feathers, more
or less vermicillated very finely with excessively narrow, irregular, imperfect,
wavy bars of a paler colour, producing a freckled appearance. This pale
colour, is in some a dull fulvous white, in others grey, in others pale greyish
brown; in some this marking is very conspicuous; in others, it is almost
obsolete, especially about the shoulders. The long ear tufts, which in some
specimens are fully 2°75 inches long, are of the same dark brown as the
narrow, central, shaft stripes, which brown varies much in shade, in different

| Length of cere on culmen,

ov2

As a rule, they construct stick nests (which from the same
pair resorting to them for many successive seasons, and adding
to them yearly, are at times enormous) in the fork of some large
tree. At times they appropriate some old nest of the Tawny
Hagle (A. Fulvescens) placed in some thick and thorny, but
comparatively low Acacia tree. In most cases, the nests contain
some lining of more or less green leaves, and a few feathers or
a little grass. Occasionally I have found the eggs laid in the hol-
low of some huge stump, or in the depression at the fork of three
or more large branches, with no stick nest, and only a few dry
leaves as a bed, but out of more than thirty nests that I found
one December in trees along the banks of the canal near Hansee
and Hissar, all but one were regular stick structures. One
nest contained no lining but a little dry earth. The great
majority of the nests, that I have examined, contained two eggs,
often much incubated, but I once found three, and have heard
of four being met with. In two instances, I see by my notes
that single fully incubated eggs were found. The eggs of this
bird vary surprisingly in size and shape. Typically they are a
broad oval, comparatively very large for the size of the bird, but
long, oval, pyriform and nearly spherical varieties occur. I
have taken a very great number of these eggs myself, and have
extreme sizes of which the cubic contents of the one are fully
double those of the other. In colour they are a decidedly
creamy white, in texture often somewhat coarse, but, withall,
more or less glossy. I have many specimens greatly exceeding

specimens, being in some, very dark, almost black, in others a moderately dark
hair brown. here are lar oe white, or pale yellowish white patches, on the
outer webs of the exterior ‘scapular, and towards the tips of most of the
larger and median coverts. The tail is a dull rufous fawn, nearly pure white
towards the tip, with four, and on the central feathers, cenerally five, broad,
transverse, umber brown bands, darker in some, lighter in others, and the
pale interspaces on the central tail feathers are much freckled, and in some
cases entirely suffused with the same colour; this freckling occurs, though in
a less degree on the succeeding feathers, the interspaces growing clearer and
brighter as they recede from the centre. The primaries are similar to the
tail feathers, the tips infuscated or freckled like the central ones, and the
interspaces clearer and brighter towards the bases.

The lower parts are gr reyish white, with a faint yellow tinge, everywhere
except on the middle of the throat, each feather with a narrow dark brown
shaft stripe, and with numerous very fine, wavy and freckled transverse
greyish brown bars, or vermicillations. The extent and depth of colour of
these delicate markings vary much in different specimens, in some almost
entirely obscuring the ground colour on the breast and abdomen.

Tibial and tarsal plumes yellowish or pale fulvous white, in some specimens
with faint, longitudinal, dark brown streaks, and in others with narrow,
clouded, imperfect, transverse bars of the same colour,

373

in size the egg of Bubo Maximus figured by Hewitson, while f
have one specimen scarcely exceeding the egg of S. Stridula
which he figures.

The eggs vary from 2°2 to 2°55 in length, and from 1°75 to
2 in breadth, but the average of 56 eggs measured was 2°33 by
1°89,

In this species I have invariably found the female sitting,
but the male is always near at hand, and very commonly sitting
on some branch immediately above the nest. I once shot a
female, sitting on a partly incubated egg and on skinning her,
found a second egg in the oviduct ready for expulsion, I have
repeatedly taken one perfectly fresh, and one partially incubated
egg out of the same nest, and it seems clear that these birds,
like the Harriers and many Owls, begin to sit directly the
first egg is laid.

Capt. G. Marshall remarks,—“ The Dusky Horned Owl is
rather rare in the Saharunpoor district. I shot one at Seengrah,
one at Shamlee, one at Kulsea and one at Dhalapie; this last
I shot at four o’clock in the afternoon, ithad a freshly killed Teal
in its claws, which it was eating from the head downwards when
it was killed. It breeds in hollow treesin February. I have
taken but one egg, round and white, it was in a hollow formed
by arotten stump of a Toon tree in the Kulsea compound, about
fifteen feet from the ground.”

I can, from personal observation, confirm the above remarks,
as to this Owl’s being by no means strictly nocturnal. I have
on several occasions killed it in the act of devouring birds, or
rats, early in the afternoon, and have repeatedly seen it hunt-
ing along the banks of the canal, a good hour before sunset.

This well-marked species has been most unaccountably con-
founded by European writers with other distinct species or
grouped, with very different types. Mr. Blyth had the follow-
ing remarks on this subject in the Ibis for 1866. “The late
Prince Bonaparte associated this bird with Huhua Orientalis
(erroneously placing H. Pectoralis, Jerdon, as asynonym of the
latter,) in the ‘Revue de Zoologie’ for 1854 (p. 542). Prof.
Kaup also, as strangely associates 4A. Coromanda with Huhua
Nipalensis and H. Orientalis, as also the African Bubo (?
lacteus (Temm.,) in his division Urrua, while A. Bengalensis and
A. Ascalaphus are assigned by him to typical Bubo! A. Benga-
lensis happens to be the type of Urrua of Hodgson. ‘The irides
of A. Coromanda, in all that I have seen and kept alive, were of
a bright deep yellow, rather than ‘ orange-yellow’ as Dr. Jerdon
asserts.”

374A

Mr. Blyth is certainly correct in giving the irides as deep
yellow.

This is perhaps, if we except Athene Brama, the most
common species of Owl in the North West Provinces. As far
as my experience goes, it is most common in comparatively
open country, greatly affecting mango topes, so common in
Upper India. It is perhaps most numerous in the narrow belts
of trees which fringe our canals. In such localities about
Christmas time, a nest may be found, on an average, in every
mile of canal, and in the Western Jumna Canal where the trees
are somewhat old, I have met with half a dozen pairs in a
morning’s walk. The birds seem to be omnivorous; no doubt
rats and birds, especially the latter, are their favourite food, but
I have found in their stomachs remains of both frogs and
jungle lizards (Uromastiz ).

They doubtless occur, as Dr. Jerdon says, in the lower ranges
of the Himalayahs, but I have never happened to come across
them in the North Western portions of the hills (they have I
know been sent from Nepaul) and my impression is, that they
somewhat eschew dense forests, and much prefer open and well
cultivated, and watered, though of course tolerably well-wooded,
country.

Hastward they extend to Tipperah and into British Burmah,
but not, it would appear into the Malayan Peninsula or further
south. In Rajpootana, and the North-West Punjab they are
excessively rare, and I can find no record of their having been
found west of the Indus.

No. 70 sis. Bubo Maximus,* Srspazp.
Tur Great EHarep, Hornep or Hacie Owt.

Strix Bubo, Linn. Latu. &c., &e.
Bubo Atheniensis, Daupin—B. Huropeus, Lusson.

Dr. Jerdon says in his appendix, “ Bubo Maximus of Kurope,
or a pale variety of that bird, occurs in the higher region of the

* Buso Maximus.

Diuensions.—(From Macgillivray.)

Male.—tLength, 24. Expanse, 58. Wing, 19. Tail, 11. Tarsus, 2°75. Bill,
along ridge, 2°5. Cere, 0°92.

Femate.—-Length, 26. Expanse, 61. Wing, 20. Tail, 10. (somewhat worn).
Tarsus, 2°75. Bill, along ridge, 2°42. The 3rd primary the longest ; the Ist
1°67 ; the 2nd, 0°17 ; and the 4th, 0°08 shorter. Central tail feathers exceed
external do. by 1 inch.

375

Himalayas, but apparently along the snow line. A specimen
was sent to the Museum of the Asiatic Society by Capt. Smyth

Description.—From Macgillivray.) Bill greyish blue at base, bluish
black towards the end; the cere dusky; soft edges of the mandibles flesh
coloured, as is the inside of the mouth. Jrides bright orange ; bare edges of
the eyelids and margins of the nictitant membrane dusky. Scutella pale
greyish blue; claws of the same color as the bill; soles, pale flesh colour.

The bill is short, very robust, considerably compressed; the cere rather
large, and nearly bare, although concealed by the feathers in the neighbour-
hood.—The nostrils are large, broadly elliptical, oblique, divided by a soft
projecting ridge, their greatest diameter feur-twelfths of an inch.

The tibia is rather short, the tarsus short, robust, and with the toes fea-
thered. ‘The first toe very short, the second considerably longer than the
fourth, and in about the same degree exceeded by the third ; the two latter
connected by a short web; all with three terminal scutelle, and their lower
surface padded and papillate.

Plumage.—The plumage is very full, soft, blended and elastic.

The facial disks extend round two-thirds of the eye, leaving the upper part
covered with shorter feathers ; those at the base of the cere are linear, with
strong shafts and bristly filaments.

The ruff extends from a little above the ear to the chin, and is formed of
oblong, slightly curved feathers. Over and above the eye, on each side is a
double series of elongated feathers, of which there are nine in each row, the
longest projecting upwards of two inches beyond the rest of the plumage.—On
the outer side of the tibia is a tuft of very soft elongated feathers.—
The facial disks are pale yellowish brown, faintly barred with dusky ;
their anterior part greyish white, with the shafts black at the end. The
feathers of the lower eyelid are greyish white, of the upper chiefly black.
Those over the eye, and the long tufts, are brownish black, internally
edged or mottled with reddish. The general colour of the upper parts is
reddish yellow, spotted, barred, and minutely dotted with dark brown. On
the lower part of the hind neck, most of the feathers have only a median lon-
gitudinal blackish brown band. The small wing coverts at the flexure, the
alula, and the primary coverts, are almost entirely dusky. ‘The quills are
barred with brownish black, and in the intervals yellowish red, nearly pure
on the inner webs, but on the outer closely and minutely undulated with
brown. ‘The tail is similar, but with less yellow. The feathers on the up-
per part of the throat are white; a band of barred and mottled feathers then
crosses the throat, being continuous with the ruff; and on the middle of the
neck is a white patch with some dusky spots. The rest of the neck is red-
dish yellow, each feather with an oblong, brownish black, longitudinal band,
and transverse, lateral, undulated bars. On the thorax and sides, the feathers
are similar, the central dusky patch gradually becoming narrower, and on
those farthest back ceasing; while the narrow, transverse bars become nu-
merous in the same proportion. The large tibial feathers and lower tail
coverts are greyish yellow, mixed with red, and barred with dusky ; those of
the tibize more tinged with yellow, and more faintly barred. The downy or
concealed part of the plumage is dark greyish blue.

The following description is extracted for comparison from the Naturalist’s
Library. “The disk and ruff are small and incomplete, greyish black, tinted
with ochraceous, and margined round the occipital edges with black. The egrets
which are fully two inches long, are deep black, slightly edged with ochraceous

a76

of Almorah. Blyth, however, informed me that Hodgson’s
Shikarees, when in Caleutta, recognised Bubo Maximus, as a
species which they knew.”

I have never seen an Indian-killed specimen of this species, |
but the Shikarees who yearly shoot birds in Spiti, Kooloo, and
Lahoul, assert the existence of a large Horned Owl, feathered
to the claws, which can scarcely be other than B. Maximus. For
convenience of reference, I extract from Huropean writers some
accounts of the nidification of this species, and append dimen-~-
sions and description.

Mr. Yarrell says,—“ The nest of this bird is large, the ma-
terials collected being spread over a surface of several square
feet, among rocks or the walls of old ruins. The female is
larger than the male, and produces two or three eggs of a short
oval shape, two inches five lines (2°42) long, by one inch ten
lines (1°83) wide, and perfectly white.”

Mr. Hewitson tells us that the Hagle Owl breeds in the
north of Europe, making its nest upon the bleak and unshel-
tered summit of some lofty mountain; in such situations Lin-
neus found their nests and young ones, and he quotes from
Linneus’ journal of May 17th, the finding three young birds,
and an egg, on a little grassy plot encircled on three sides by
rocks, but open to the south, on the steep southern side of the

yellow on the inner sides. The whole upper parts, including the wings and tail,
have aground shade of ochraceous yellow, with the centre of the feathers
black, which broadens at the tips, and at the sides is shaded off in light
wavy mottles of a similar tint. On the greater coverts and secondaries, the
markings assume the form of indistinct bars from their greater crowding,
while along the shaft, the dark colour is continuous. The quills on the inner
webs are of a brighter tint of ochraceous, and are there crossed with distinct
narrow bars of black ; on the outer webs, the bars, though distinct, are yel-
lowish brown, clouded with a darker shade, and generally edged next the
ground colour with an irregular darker margin ; towards the tips the dark
colour predominates, and is there mingled with gray. The ground colour of
the tail is paler than that of the quills, and it is crossed with mottled bars of
brownish black ; the pale spaces towards the tips, and on the centre feathers,
being also thinly mottled ; on the inner webs the bars are very narrow. When
viewed from the lower side, it is much paler in colour, the bars appear all
narrow, and the mottling on the intermediate spaces scarcely appears. On
the under parts of the body, the same ochraceous tint prevails; the chin is
white; on the throat, breast, and belly, the feathers are broadly streaked
with black, which breaks off to the sides in interrupted bars; on the other
parts of the belly, vent, flanks, and under tail coverts, the shaft is black, and
the feather is crossed with numerous irregular bars of brownish black, nine
or ten sometimes being counted on one feather. The tarsi and toes are
clothed as in Olus, and are crossed with indistinct bars of brownish black.
The irides are brilliant and bronzed orange.

377

highest mountain in Medalpad. My. Wolley, whom he also
quotes, gives an account of finding two young ones and an egg,
on the 20th of May, on a ledge of a rocky precipice. The
young and the egg “lying upon a small quantity of compress-
ed fur, principally of rats, the remains of the castings of the
parent birds, their bed nearly flat, for there was not more than
two inches of soil. The ledge was not more than two feet wide,
and terminated abruptly just beyond the nest. I have visited
three other sites of nests of this bird, and they were all of simi-
lar character, upon ledges in, or over cliffs. They were all un-
sheltered over head, sunshine seeming rather to be courted than
avoided.”

Eagle Owls, in confinement, have bred, laying, in all the
cases noticed by Mr. Gurney, three eggs; “which may be as-
sumed,” that gentleman remarks, “ to be the normal number of
their eggs.”

Mr. Hewitson figures a pure white egg, 2°17 in length, by
1:94 in breadth.

Little seems to be known, of the habits of this species, except
that it affects mountainous and wooded countries, and preys
upon quadrupeds and birds, such as fawns, hares, and grouse.

As to its distribution I can, at present, add nothing to the
following remarks of Mr. Yarrell.—‘‘ The bird inhabits Den-
mark, Sweden, Norway, Lapland, Russia, and the Continent of
Kurope generally, but particularly the fir-covered mountains of
Switzerland, and the high rocky country of Aragon, extending
southward as far as Italy, Turkey, Corfu, and Sicily. Mr.
Strickland saw specimens at Smyrna, and it is recorded as in-
habiting the Morea. Pennant says, itis found as far to the
eastward as) Lake Baikal and Astrakan; and Mr. Gould has
seen skins of this bird in collections from China.”

378

No. 71. Huhua Nipalensis. Hopcsovn.
Tue Forest Eactr Owt.

Nothing seems to be known about the nidification of this
species.

I have never myself killed the bird, nor can I throw any
light upon the question of the identity or distinctness of the
Northern Nipa/ensis and the Southern Pectoralis, Jerdon. Dr.
Jerdon himself is now, I believe, inclined to consider them
distinct. Mr. Blyth made the following remarks on these two
races, and the allied H. Orientalis (Horsf. in the Ibis for 1866.)
“The Bubo pectoralis of Cassin’s ‘ Catalogue of Strigide’ is dis-
tinguished from his B. Nipalensis, which latter is placed as a
synonym of B. Orientalis, and is moreover from the Himalaya.
Now Huhua Nipalensis is a very much larger bird than HZ.
Orientalis, and is, otherwise conspicuously distinct fromit The
only question that remains is, whether H. Pectoralis of Jerdon,
figured in the ‘Madras Journal of Literature and Science’
(Vol. X. p. 89, pl. 1,) from Southern India, be distinct from
H, Nipalensis of the Himalaya. A juvenile Tenasserim speci-
men of this genus forwarded by Col. Tickell to the Asiatic
Society’s Museum, Caleutta, was incorrectly assigned by me to

H, Orientalis (J. A. 8., B. XX VIIL. p. 411) as corresponding
to the description of Strix Swmatrana, Raffles, (Trans. Linn.
Soc. Vol. XIII. p. 279) and also Temminck’s figure of the imma-
ture plumage of Orientalis (P. C. 289); but I erroneously
added H. Nipalensis and H. Pectoralis as synonyms, as again
in the Ibis for 1863, p. 26. The same nestling bird was de-
seribed* by Col. Tickell as Ptiloskelos Amherstii. It should be
referred decidedly to H. Nipalensis.”

* The following is Tickell’s description of the young bird.

* Nestling—Sex not distinguishable. Length, 15-5. Wing, 105. Tarsus,
1:75. Femur, 4:25. Bill, 1°81. Tris sepia. Bill and feet, pale flesh colour, the
latter with a yellowish tinge. Claws, blackish horny. Head, neck and body,
including scapulars and wing coverts dirty white tinged more or less deeply
with orange tawny. Each feather marked near its end with an arrow-headed
bar of sepia. Head and nape with spots of the same. On the breast these
marks take the form of wide, broken bars, lapping round the neck. Wing
coverts also, irregularly barred. All the plumage is immature and deciduous,
but the remiges (which usually at once assume the permanent colouring) are
ashy sepia, barred broadly and softly with full sepia, with marbled interspaces.
Downy plumes of legs white.”

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379

No. 72. *Ketupa Ceylonensis. Get.
Ture Brown Fisu Owt.

This species breeds from December to March, but the majority
lay I think in February. They always nest in the vicinity of

* KrtTupa CEYLONENSIS.

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(Three males and three females measured and weighed.)

The fifth primary the longest (fourth and sometimes third and fourth sub-
equal. The first is 2°5 to 4°75 shorter, the secend 0°70 to 1:40, and the
third nil to 0°50, shorter. Exterior tail feathers 0°45 to 13 shorter than
central ones.

Description. Legs and feet, (tarsus feathered in front, for from 05
to 1:00, but the leg bare behind for from 0:25 to 0°6 above the joint),
a dingy greenish grey, light greenish, or sometimes plumbeous. Three
large scutze at the end of each toe, the rest of the upper surface of the toes,
and tarsus, with small prominent reticulated scales. Papille of the soles of
the feet harsh and much developed, reminding one of the soles of an Osprey.
Inner toe and claw, nearly as long and stouter than the mid toe. Claws
bluish grey at the base, horny black beyond ; mid claw with two sharp edges
developed, one on the inner side, and one beneath ; other claws round or
elliptical in section with a sharp knife-like ridge developed below. rides

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380

water, sometimes choosing a cleft in rocks overhanging a moun-
tain stream, sometimes a broad shelf in the clay cliffs of some

a

bright yellow. Iris very narrow, but of large diameter. Orbits, with a dense
double row of bristly, black shafted, white feathers, with the bare shafts
considerably elongated. ‘The rest of the eyelids bare; the upper greenish,
the lower greyish brown.

Cere greenish grey. Bill dingy greenish; point of the upper mandible
blackish horny ; of the lower mandible yellowish.

Plumage. Uoves with a huge patch of bristle-like white feathers with
greatly elongated black bare shafts overhanging the commissure and meeting
over the base of the cere; some of them almost if not quite as long as the
bill itself. The whole of the forehead, top and back of the head are a some-
what pale pinkish brown, each feather centred darker. The feathers above
the ear coverts on each side, behind the eye, lengthened so as to form
aigretttes or ear tufts from an inch and a half to two inches in length. The
feathers of the back of the neck often a somewhat darker shade, more broadly
shafted with a still darker brown, and most of the feathers with a trace of
wavy mottling or obscure bars especially towards the tips on the lighter
brown portion. Upper back and scapulars much the same hue, and dark
centred in the same manner, as the feathers of the back of the neck, but most
of the exterior feathers of the scapulars where they overhang the lesser wing
coverts with nearly the whole outer webs white, and the lighter brown of the
scapulars and ina less degree of the feathers of the upper back very much
mottled and variegated with tiny wavy lines and small irregular blotches of
fulvous white. Lower back, rump, and upper tail coverts much the same
hue as the upper back, but with only a central line of dark brown and very
feebly mottled with fulvous white. All the lesser wing coverts, the same
brown as the upper back, with similar broad dark brown centres, with a few
spots of fulvous white on some of the longest. The median coverts mostly dark
brown towards the shafts and on the inner webs, with one or two well marked
spots of white or fulvous white on the latter, and the outer webs mostly white
or fulvous white, freckled or mottled with paler brown. The winglet and pri-
mary coverts chiefly dark brown with two or more imperfect transverse bars
of fulvous white or paler brown. The greater coverts of the secondaries much
the same as the preceding, but the outer webs much tinged with pale fulvous
brown, and there is more white and more mottling about them than the
preceding. The primaries are dark brown tipped with fulvous white and
with four or five + to 2 inch transverse bars, of white, fulvous or rufescent
white, on the outer, and pale brown across the inner webs. ‘The secondaries
have’ much the same character as the primaries, but the bars are closer and
larger in proportion and are more conspicuously mottled, and as a whole
generally appear to have more white upon them than the primaries. The
tertiaries and their coverts like the greater coverts of the secondaries are a
paler and more fulvous brown, much marked with imperfect bars or blotches
of fulvous white mottled with brown. The tail feathers are dark, somewhat
unber, brown tipped with rufous or fulvous white, and with three or four com-
paratively narrow transverse bars of the same hue, most of the bars showing
marks of faint mottling with a darker colour. Under the eyes and ear coverts,
is a conspicuous patch of elongated, bristle-like rufous brown feathers with
dark shafts ; on the point ofthe chin is a patch of white bristle-like feathers,
with clongated bare black pointed shafts, which curl up round, and are nearly
as long as the lower mandible. The feathers of the rest of the chin and a patch

581

river, sometimes a huge cavity in some old Banyan tree, and at
times appropriating an old nest of Halietus Leucoryphus.
Where they make their own nest, on a ledge or recess of a
cliff, it consists of little but a few sticks, mingled with a few
feathers, or when in holes of trees, of a few feathers and dead
‘leaves, but when they annex an old nest of the fishing Hagles,
(and I have several records of this) they seem to line it more
carefully with finer twigs, grass and feathers. I have never
found green leaves under the eggs of this species.
Normally they lay two eggs; I have altogether records of
nine nests, and in none of these were there more than two eggs
or young ones.
The eggs are very perfect, broad ovals, white with, in most
specimens, the faintest possible creamy tinge. The shell close-
grained and compact, freely pitted all over its surface, but
nevertheless more or less glossy. They seem to me undistin-
geuishable from many of those of Ascalaphia Coromanda. In
size they vary from 2°29 to 2-44 in length, and from 1°84 to
1:94 in breadth, but the average of nine eggs measured was
2°3 by 1°88.
Mr. G. Marshall writes: “This bird is pretty common in
the Saharunpoor district, it lays two, round, white eggs, and
returns year after year to the same nest. I found one nest in
_ a hollow in the fork of a Banyan tree about twenty-five feet

from the ground, the hollow being so deep, that the parent bird,
sitting, could not be seen from the ground on any side. I found
it accidentally, as I was climbing the tree for another nest. I
watched it for three years ; in 1866, on the 10th April, I found

on the throat immediately below it, pure white, with, towards the tips, a dark
brown central streak, and three or four narrow wavy bars of reddish brown ; the
feathers on each side of this patch, on the sides and front of the neck, breast,
abdomen and flanks, a somewhat rufous or pinkish brown, eaeh feather with
a narrow well defined central streak of very dark brown and closely barred
throughout its whole length on both webs with narrow transverse wavy bars
of a somewhat darker brown than the ground colour, though much lighter
than the central streak. Thigh coverts and evnt feathers uniform fulvous
or brownish white. Lower tail coverts very pale brown or fulvous white,
streaked and barred like the body feathers. I note that the bars are closer
and more numerous on the breast, where the general tint is also more vivacious,
and the reverse of this, on the flanks and lower tail coverts. The wing lining
somewhat, similar to the body feathers, but much less narrowly banded and al-
together lighter ; the greater lower coverts, however, of the primaries are pure
white, broadly tipped with blackish brown. ‘Lower surface of the quills
glossy brown, darkest on the primaries, tipped with greyish white and with
three or four transverse bars, of greyish white, growing yellower as they
approach the bases, where the inner webs are mostly yellowish white.

382

it with two young ones ; in 1867, I visited it on the 17th March,
and again found young ones; in 1868, on the 24th February, I
found two eggs, the first of which was hatched on 14th March,
the other egg I took. The tree in which the nest was, was a
very large one, in a small grove of Jamun trees, on the bank of
an extensive jheel near Sirsawar.”’

Mr. Brookes mentions that he “ shot a female on the 25th of
February, sitting on two addled eggs. What little nest there was,
consisted of sticks, and was placed on a shelf of the clay cliffs
of the Jumna, in the Etawah district. The shelf was slightly
overhung, and on it, within twenty yards of the Fish Owl, a
Neophron had her nest.’’ Towards the end of July, I found a
pair of these Owls with two fully grown young ones, in a tiny
cave in the rocky and precipitous banks of the Kosila, near
Kakuree Ghat. The cave, the mouth of which was veiled by a
large down-trailing Andromeda bush, had obviously been their
nesting place, and though well concealed, was easy of access.
There were a few sticks covered over with castings and remains
of numerous birds and bones of small mammals. I turned the
whole family out of their quarters, but did not otherwise
molest them, an act of forbearance which I later had cause to
regret, as they ceased not, the livelopg night through, to give
forth the most vociferous protests (from the cliff face, immediate-
ly above my tent) against, as I suppose, my neglect to honour
them with a place in my museum.

On January 11th, 1867, I visited a large nest in a Peepul tree
overhanging the Jumna below Sheregurh, in which, both in 1865
and 1866, to my personal knowledge, a pair of H. Leucoryphus
had reared their young. To my surprise, it was tenanted by a
pair of Ketupa Ceylonensis, which had carefully relined the nest,
and had at that time a solitary young one in it, some seven
days old, a ball of whitish down. On the nest we found two
Quails, a Pigeon, Doves and a Mynah, all with the heads, necks
and breasts eaten away, but with the wings, back, feet and tail
remaining almost intact. ‘T'wo or three of them were quite
dry, and one which I still have, is quite as good a specimen, as
most of those that I owe to an eminent naturalist, who appears
to preserve his birds by first pulling out half the feathers and
then haying what remains, carefully run over, on very dirty
ground, by a heavy cart wheel!

On the banks of the Sutledge and again near Bhurtpoor
I found nests which I had been led to as those of H. Leucory-
phus, occupied by K. Ceylonensis.

I have never yet had certain evidence of their feeding on fish.

383

IT have invariably found the remains of birds or small animals,
about their breeding places.

This species is nowhere I believe numerically very common,
and in the plains of Upper India it is rare as compared with
A. Bengalensis, or Coromanda. I have generally found it in
rocky, broken or raviny ground, and it most affects, accor-
ding to my experience, the craggy banks of streams and rivers,
where it roosts, during the day, near the base of some dense
bush growing out of the face of the cliff.

It occurs pretty well throughout India, from Ceylon to
Afghanistan on the one hand, and Darjeeling on the other,
extending into Assam and British Burmah, where Mason
mentions that it “often lifts up its boding notes of tec-douk,
uttered with sepulchral tones at midnight, and like a ventrilo-
quist, seems to throw its voice to any point of the compass at
pleasure.”’

There are, however, wide tracts in the continent of India,
in central Rajpootana for instance, where it appears never to be
met with, dry almost treeless, sandy plains, or bare rocky
ridges, that do not suit the fancy of this water loving Owl.

Westwards it probably will be found in Persia and Mesopo-
tamia; in Palestine it has been obtained; but on this head I
shall content myself with reproducing the remarks of Mr.
Tristram, its discoverer there, ‘‘ We can only point to one loca-
lity as the certain residence of this bird in Palestine. It is
perhaps the most interesting addition, as well as the most
unexpected, which we made to the fauna of the country, and
was found by us in the wild wooded glen of Wady el Kurn,
running up from the Plain of Acre. We discovered it acciden-
tally, and at first took it for the Bubo <Ascalaphus, when it
bolted out of the dense foliage of a great Carob tree, under
which we were standing; we thus put up no less than four
individuals in two days. When disturbed, the bird was more
than ordinarily perplexed, even for an Owl; but owing to the
difficulty of crossing the gully and the dense jungle, we were
only able to secure a single specimen which had been put up from
a Carob tree by Mr. Bartlett, and was marked by me, on to a
ledge of rocks on the opposite side of the Wady. The Wady
possesses a perennial stream, well-shaded by ever-green timber,
and swarming with fish and crabs, the favorite and probably
exclusive food of the (etupa.” This appeared in 1866. Writing
on the same subject in 1868—Mr. Tristram says, ‘‘ The most
interesting of the Indian non-Kthiopian species, is Ketupa Ceylon-
ensis; and the occurrence of this great fish-eating Owl is the
more exceptional, as there are no strigide in Africa bearing the

384

least affinity to this well marked genus, and since it has not
yet been found in the Jordan valley, but only sedentary by
the streams of the coast.”

Eastwards, Mr. Swinhoe informs us that, this species is a
constant tenant of the dark rocky ravines of Hong Kong. He
sent a specimen home, which was identified by Dr. Sclater as
K. Ceylonensis, so that no doubt can remain as to this point.
Southwards in Malayana, it seems to be replaced by the two
following species K. Flavipes and Javanensis.

No. 72. Bis. Ketupa Javanensis.* Lesson.
Tue Matay Fisu Ow.

Strix. Ketupa. Horsf. Trans. Lin. Soe. xii. p. 141.
5, Ceylonensis. Tem. P. C. 74.
Scops Ketupa. Cuv. Reg. An. I. p. 347.

Nothing has been recorded apparently of the nidification of
this species. It occurs in Burmah certainly, and must, therefore,
find a place in these notes. Mr. Blyth says, that it is a species
‘which occurs (perhaps as a straggler) on the eastern side of
the Bay of Bengal as high as Arakan, in Ramri Island, toge-
ther with K. Ceylonensis; but further southward, it is the
common Fishing Owl of the Malayan Peninsula, and undoubt-
edly the supposed A. Flavipes referred to as “ common in the
Indian islands and Siam’ by Mr. F. Moore. Prof. Schlegel
does not assign either A. Ceylonensis or K. Flavipes to the
Malayan sub-region ; but Mr. Cassin notes a specimen of
Ceylonensis from Java, which is doubtless a mistake. Col.
Tytler has inadvertently written Javanensis for Ceylonensis in

* KETUPA JAVANENSIS.

Dimensions anD Descriptions (adapted from Temminck). Length 16
to 19°25.

Legs and feet yellowish. Bill dusky. rides, yellow?

Plumage. The general colour is a somewhat orange, light rufous (or
bright rufous buff). The lower parts, with long, blackish brown, central
stripes ; the throat pure white; the head, egrets, and back of the neck, simi-
larly marked to the breast, but the stripes broader and closer set; the back,
scapulars, and wing coverts, with broad, very closely set, imperfect, transverse,
black or blackish brown, bars. The quills and tail feathers, blackish brown,
intersected at wide intervals by somewhat narrow, rufous yellow bars, and all
tipped whitish. The face, reddish buff, the feathers dark shafted, and at the
sides of the disk tipped with blackish brown.

385

his remarks on the fauna of Barrackpore near Calcutta, (Ann.
and Mag. Nat. His. 1854, XIII., 366).” In a note to this, the
Editor of the Ibis remarked that Mr. 8S. H. Gurney agrees with
Mr. Blyth in considering Kelupa Flavipes of North Eastern
India, distinct from K. Javanensis of the Malay Archipelago, as
though the colouring of the two is similar, the former is fully a
third larger than the latter. Mr. Blyth added that besides the
difference in size, the upper portion of the tarsus of Flavipes is
clad with short downy feathers. As I shall notice when dealing
with the latter, the front and exterior of the tarsus in that
species are feathered to within less than an inch of the foot in
a specimen in my museum, while in a specimen of Javanensis,
I find only the front of the tarsus feathered downwards for less
than 0°75 from the tibia-tarsal articulation.

The following passage, occurs in Finlayson’s MS. (quoted in
Horsfield’s Catalogue, as referring to P/avipes) in regard to the
present species.

“This is a heavy, clumsy bird, but very powerful. It is
usually seen on the wing in the twilight. It is common in the
Indian Islands and at Siam.”

This species does not extend far into the Archipelago, but is
confined, out of Burmah, Siam and the Malay Peninsula, to the
Indo-Malay Islands, Sumatra, Java and Borneo, not extending
apparently to the Philippines.

No. 73. Ketupa Flavipes. Hopeson.
Tur Tawny Fisu Ow.

Dr. Jerdon tells us (quoting from Mr. Hodgson,) that this
species breeds in February and March, which is highly probable,
but I have not been able to find any more circumstantial
account of its nidification.

Mr. Hodgson says, “ This species is common in the several
regions of Nepaul, notwithstanding the great diversity of
climate. They fly well by day, and are constantly found on
the banks of rivers. I have procured specimens with the
stomach full of fish, and they also prey on crabs. Their weight
is about three and a half pounds. These birds moult once a
year between June and October inclusive.”

I notice that in this species, the tarsi are feathered much
further down than in Ceylonensis. In the only specimen which .
I possess, the whole tarsus is feathered in front and exteriorly to
within less than an inch of the foot.

586

As far as is yet known, this species is confined to Nepaul
and Sikhim. I cannot learn that it has ever been procured in
Kumaon; but I have recently been informed that it has been
killed near Cherapoonjee, but as I liave not seen the specimen,
I cannot vouch for the fact. Mr. Blyth remarks that it is A,
Javanensis, and not the present species, as Mr. Finlayson’s
Manuscript notes, quoted in Horsfield’s Catalogue, assert, that
is common in the Indian islands and Siam.

No. 74. Ephialtes Pennatus.* Wopeson.
Tue Inpi1an Scors Owt.

The Indian species of Scops Owls are, as Kaup justly
remarks, exceedingly difficult to discriminate, and my collection

* The following are the dimensions and description of a specimen in the
rufous stage.

Dimensions. Length, 8°25; expanse, 15°5; wing, 5°7; third and fourth
primaries longest ; first 1-1, and the second 0°3 shorter; tail, 2°56; tarsus,
1:0; mid. toe to root of claw, 0°8; its claw straight, 0°39 ; hind toe, 0°39 ;
its claw, 0°32; inner toe, 0°65 ; its claw straight, 0°4; bill straight, from —
edge of cere, 0°5; from gape, 0°8; width at gape, 0°65; height at margin
of cere, 0°32; length of cere, 0°32 ; closed wings reach to end of tail; lower
tail coverts fall short of end of tail by 0°7.

Description, The legs and feet dingy fleshy ; irides, yellow ; bill, green-
ish horny, and yellowish on lower mandible.

Plumage. he prevailing colour is a very bright chestnut, a few of the
feathers on the forehead and above the eye, are greyish white, and the loral
bristles are white, tipped with chestnut and black, a few of the feathers of
the crown have the shafts dark brown, one row of the exterior scapulars are
tipped blackish brown, and have the outer webs yellowish white. The pri-
maries which are of a duller and paler chestnut towards the tips, have the
outer webs above the tips broadly barred with yellowish white and dark
brown ; the brown bars being, if I may so term it, hollow, namely dark at
their margins, and chestnut coloured or buffy inside. The inner webs are
mottled and barred with dusky and yellowish fawn, the secondaries and terti-
aries are more or less barred, irregularly and cloudily about the tips. The tail
chesnut like the rest, though somewhat paler than the back, with four or
five, ill-defined, narrow, dusky, transverse bars. The edge ofthe wing at the
carpal joint is white; the outer webs of one or two of the feathers of the
winglet are white, barred brown and chesnut. The elvin is whitish, the whole
of the throat, neck, and ruff, chesnut like the upper parts, only one or two
of the feathers of the ruff broadly dark shafted towards the tips. Feathers
of the breast and sides, chesnut, dark shafted at the tips where also they are
mottled and freckled with pure white, The whole of the feathers of the
abdomen, flanks, and vent, with dark shaft stripes, and with delicately mottled
and freckled, chesnut and rufous brown, transverse bars upon a pure white

387

is too weak to permit of my solving a// difficulties as [ should
wish. The plumage in all, varies so much in different indivi-
duals of the same species, and is of a nature so difficult to
convey a really correct idea of, by mere verbal description, that
the confusion that appears hitherto to have existed, in regard
to this beautiful little group, can be no matter for surprise.
As far as the specimens before me enable me to judge, we have
six distinct species in India. Two with slender tarsi of the
Pennatus type, and four with stouter tarsi, larger birds of the
Lempigi type.

I shall now briefly enumerate these six species, noticing one
or two of the chief points of difference.

(A) with slender tarsi.—

1 Eputatres Pennatus Hodge. Feet feathered to base of
toes. Wing 5°5 to 5°75, reaches to end of tail; third
and fourth primaries longest.

2 5, GymNopopus. Gray.? Feet and extreme point of
tarsus, bare. Wing 5°25 to 5:5, extends over three-
Jourths of tail; fourth and fifth primaries longest.

(B) with stout tarsi.—

3 Eputarres Lerrra. Hodg. Toes quite bare, or only
just over-hung at their bases by the feet feathers.
Wing 6°6 to 7:2.

a », Puiumives. Nobis. oes feathered, in some, half
way down the terminal point, in all, to end of sub-
terminal point. Wing, 6°7 to 73.

5 » Griseus. Jerdon. General tone of plumage
greyer and more silvery. Wing, 5°6 to 6°63.
6 » Mataparicus. Jerdon. General plumage dark-

er and more rufous. Wing 5°5 to 6:0.

Other differences are noticeable in tone of color, proportional
length of primaries, &c., which I shall notice, in dealing with
each species, the above will, I believe, suffice to enable any one
to determine to which species any specimen he possesses may
belong: that is, provided that there are no other Indian species
of Scops Owl, but as my collection at present only contains
twenty-three representatives of this group, I cannot feel at all
certain as to this point.

Of the present species (HZ. Pennatus) I have never yet taken
the eggs, but Mr. R. Thompson to whom I owe an undoubted

ground. Tarsal and tibial plumes plain rufous fawn colour, with a few tiny
brown spots towards the ends of the tarsi. The wing lining is chesnut and
buffy white, indistinctly barred with dusky brown.

358

specimen of this species in the rufous phase, informs me that
“they breed from March till August, in holes of trees, usually
at no great height from the ground.”” He adds, “ this is a com-
mon bird in our forests, (Gurhwal,) but I never yet took the
trouble to take their eggs. Several pairs used to breed in the
Botanical Gardens at Seharunpore, <A pair has been breeding
for three seasons in a small tree in front of the forest Bungalow
at Kotedwara. Four years ago, a young one, in the rufous
phase, was brought to me in the month of July.”

Dr. Jerdon’s description of this species in both phases of plum-
age appears to me sufficiently correct, and the specimens that I
possess agree, so far as the quills are concerned, with Kaup’s sub-
genus Scops. The third and fourth quills are the longest, the
first is emarginate on the inner web, and the second and third
only slightly so. The wing, which is comparatively long and
pointed, reaches to the end of the tail, whereas in the next species,
as I shall notice further when dealing with that, the fourth and
fifth quills are the longest, and the wing which is much rounded
only extends over, at most, three-fourths of the tail.

Capt. Hutton remarks that Hphialtes “as a genus, was long
since pre-occupied in Entomology, and ought, therefore, to be
changed, unless it has been banished from the nomenclature of
that branch of Natural History.” I hope that some of my
English correspondents will decide this question for us.

I reproduce Mr. Blyth’s remarks on this species, which ap-
peared in the Ibis for 1866; premising merely, that Z. Gymno-
podus, Gray, is I believe a good species (vide No. 74 Bis) and
Indian, and that I am almost certain, for reasons that I shall
explain when dealing with that species, that Mr. Blyth’s own
E. Spilocephalus is in reality identical, not with Pennatus, but
with Gymnopodus.

“74, Ephialtes Bakkameena (Pennant) ; Ofws Scops Japoni-
cus, Schlegel (Faun. Japon. Aves tah. IX.) ; Scops Zorca Asiatica,
Idem. Mus. P. B. Ot, p. 30.

Of this small Indian Scops Owl, the Calcutta Museum can
show a very complete gradation from the grey Scops Pennatus
to the bright chestnut or ferruginous S. Swiia of Hodgson ; or
if one semilink in the chain be wanting, it is supplied by an
Indian specimen referred to the European Scops Owl by Mr.
F. Moore. The specific identity of S. Pennatus and S. Sunia
is certain, and they cannot even be admitted as different races ;
yet Mr. G. R. Gray (in his B. M. Cat. of Birds of Nipal, 2nd
edit., 1863) adopts S. Sunia for the rufous bird, while the grey
bird (with S. Madlayensis, A. Hay, and S. Spilocephalus, nobis,
as synonyms) he refers to the European #. Scops. Mr. F.

389

Moore makes the same confusion. I am decidedly of opinion,
as I have before stated (Lbis., 1863, p. 27), that the proper
name for the Indian bird, whether grey or rufous) is #. Bak-
kamena (Pennant.) It is the only Scops Owl which I know
of as an inhabitant of Lower Bengal, and I have occasionally
obtained specimens in a curious way ; they would lodge by day
within the moveable “leaves” of a jidmil (or “ Jalousie’’), in
which singular retreat I have captured them. I have also
known Mus. Flavescens to resort by day (with the vain notion
of concealing itself) to the same very insufficient hiding place.
Of course the ji/mils being a little open, to permit of their
ensconcing themselves, the animals intercept the light from
without, and are so discovered.

The Indian (or more probably Chinese) #. Gymnopodus, Gray,
is surely no other than H. Bakkamena (vide Ibis, 1863, p. 27) ;
but the Malacca race (S. Walayensis, A. Hay) seems to be some-
what different, and I have not found it to vary in shade of hue;
while in India the rufous specimens are certainly more common
than the grey; I even think, considerably so.”

I have not as yet adopted Pennant’s specific name, because I
have been as yet unable to satisfy myself that #. Bakkamena is
really identical with Pennatus.

Whether the supposed rufous phase of this species be really
a mere phase of plumage, and not a characteristic of a distinct
species, I am by no means certain. My friend Capt. Hutton
(who, however, mis-calls this species Lempigi, while he calls FZ.
Gymnopodus, FE. Pennatus) informs me that he has on several
occasions obtained the nestling as rufous as the parents. Fur-
ther observation is necessary, and should the rufous variety
prove entitled to specific separation, it will form a seventh species
of Indian Ephialtes, under the name of H. Sunia, Hodgson. As
for what Mr. Blyth says about the Calcutta Museum exhibiting
a complete series between Pennatus and Sunia, I can only say
that I could find nothing of the kind in February, 1868; the
rufous and grey specimens that I saw, exhibited no indication
of grading the one into the other; every single example being
separable at a glance, as pertaining unquestionably to the one
or other race. Of course this in no way proves that Mr. Blyth is
wrong, or that the rufous is not merely one phase of plumage ;
specimens that existed in Mr. Blyth’s time may have been lost,
or may have been put away where the Baboo in charge could
not find them ; all I mean is that I do not consider the identity
of the two forms established, and that I hope ornithologists will

endeavour to settle the question satisfactorily one way or the
other.

590

I have seen this bird from various localities in the lower
ranges of the Himalayahs from Kussowlee to Darjeeling, and
concur in Capt. Hutton’s remarks to me (in Epist.) that, “it is
less common in its own haunts” than #. Gymmnopodus, “it fre-
quents valleys at about 3500 to 4000 feet, and generally near a
stream of water.”

It has a low soft call, very different from the bell-like notes
of LE. Gymnopodus and Glaucidium Brodici, which, as Capt.
Hutton has proved, are very similar, both being low, sweet,
whistled ejaculations, if I may use the phrase.

This bird doubtless occurs in the Hilly ranges of Southern
India, but all the specimens as yet sent me thence were either
E. Griseus, or EH. Malabaricus, which latter, it should be noted,
Mr. Blyth identifies, and possibly correctly, with EL. Lempigi.

No. 74. Bis. Ephialtes Gymnopodus.* Gray?
(i. Spilocephalus. Buyrus ?)
THE Bare-roor Scors Ow1.

I first received specimens of this species from Capt. Hutton,
who had named it #. Pennatus, and my reason for believing it

* Dimensions. Length, 7 to 7:75; expanse, 14°5 to 15; wing, 5°4 to 5°6 ;
fourth and fifth primaries the longest, the first 1°75, the second 0:9 ; and
the third 0°35 shorter than the longest; tail 2°75 ; exterior tail feathers 0°4
shorter than the interior; tarsus, 1°2 ; mid. toe to root of claw, 0°7 ; its claw
straight, 0°32; hind toe, 0°33 ; its claw, 0'27; inner toe, 0°6; its claw 0°38
bill straight from edge of cere, 0°4; bill from gape, 0°68, width at gape,
0°68; height at margin of cere, 0°26; length of cere only, 0°53; closed:
wings fall short of end of tail by 0°75; lower tail coverts fall short of end of
tail by 1:1.

Descrietion. The forehead and a broad stripe over the eye, pale rufous
white or fawn colour, some of the feathers with a few minute brown spots to-
wards the tip; loral bristles, pale fawn colour, more rufous towards the tips,
and black aé the tips. Feathers under the eye and ear coverts pale fawn colour,
more or less tinged rufous, and freckled and mottled or imperfectly barred
with brown; the top of the head, back of the neck, back, scapulars, rump
and upper tail coverts and lesser wing coverts, with a more or less dark,
rufous, fawn ground, very finely and closely freckled with dark, in some
almost blackish, brown, the frecklings becoming confluent towards the tips of
all the feathers of the head, and most of the feathers of the lesser wing
coverts, and some of those at the back of the neck producing, especially on the
first named parts, a regularly spotted appearance. An irregular, ill-defined,
broad, white or yellowish white half collar at the base of the neck; most of
the exterior row of scapulars, with the outer webs white or yellowish white,
and tipped dark brown. The tail, rufous fawn, with about seven, broad,

391

to be identical with Mr. Blyth’s Spilocephalus, is, that Capt.
Hutton has a specimen, on the wrapper of which, Mr. Blyth
himself wrote the name of Spilocephalus. Moreover, laid
amongst specimens of all the other five Indian species of
Ephialtes, it is the only one of which the head is truly and
conspicuously spotted, recalling by the way, to a certain
extent, the markings on the head of Scotopelia Peli, as figured
by Mr. Wolf in Vol. I. of the Ibis.

Capt. Hutton gives the following account of the nidification
of this species. He calls it Pennatus, it is true; but he has sent
me beautiful specimens of the birds, which leave no doubt that
the species referred to is the present one.

“'This Owl occurs on the Himalayas, in the neighbourhood
of Mussoorie, at an elevation of five thousand feet, and nidifi-
cates in hollow trees, laying three pure white eggs, of a rounded
form, on the rotten wood, without any preparation of a nest.
Diameter of egg, 1:19 & Linch. The nest was found on the
19th of March.”’

In some respects this species approximates to Athene, the
fourth and fifth quills are equal and longest (and not the third
and fourth as according to Jerdon they should be in Ephialtes)
while the note is almost identical with, or at any rate is of pre-
cisely the same character as that of G. Brodiei. Capt. Hutton,
who quite independently noticed the peculiar rounded shape of the
wing, but from want of works of reference, identified this species

somewhat freckled, transverse, brown bars, most strongly marked towards the
bases of the feathers, and becoming more or less obsolete towards the tips.
The quills, rufous fawn, broadly barred and clouded with dusky brown,
which, above the tips, suffuses the greater portion of the inner webs. The
rufous fawn being replaced in three or four of the interspaces, of the outer
webs, of the third to the sixth or seventh primaries, by slightly rufous or
buffy white. The carpal joint of the wing whitish ; the outer webs of the
outer feather of the winglet and the tips of some of the secondary greater
and median coverts, white, or faintly buffy white, with broad, irregular, brown
bars. The chin. and throat, rufous white, or pale fawn color, some of the
feathers of the throat with narrow, somewhat irregular, transverse, brown
bars, and all the feathers of the ruff tipped with the same colour. The breast,
abdomen, and flank, pale rufous white or fawn colour very thickly freckled
and vermicillated with dark brown, most thickly on the breast, somewhat
more sparingly so on the abdomen and flanks, the markings becoming con-
fluent in spots, towards the tips of some of the feathers. Tarsal plumes,
more or less ferruginous, tibial ditto, rufous white; the whole more or less
spotted or obscurely barred with dusky. The wing lining and axillaries
silky yellowish white, except towards the edge of the wing, near the carpal
joint, where the feathers are mingled rufous and dusky brown.

The general tone of colouring in some specimen, is darker and more
‘rufous, in others paler and more buffy.

392

with Pennatus, proposed (in Epist.) to separate it under a new
genus as Athenoptera, and should such separation be deemed
expedient, the name is an appropriate one. The plumage, ear
tufts and bare bristle-less feet, are, however, those of Ephialtes,
while as far as my experience goes in Lettia, Plumipes, and
Griseus, the fourth and fifth primaries are most commonly
longest, and no? the third and fourth. For the present, I prefer
to retain it under Hphialtes.

Capt. Hutton remarks of this species :—

“This bird, if it be truly Hphialtes Spilocephalus of Blyth,
and he wrote that name on the paper wrapper with his own
hand, cannot stand under that genus if Jerdon’s generic charac-
ters are correct, for while he gives third and fourth quills long-
est, this Mussooree bird has the fourth and fifth longest, as im
Athene. I have lately examined six good specimens, and this
character is apparent in all. It is a curious fact, moreover, that
Ihave fully ascertained the double whistle so often heard in the
hills, to belong, not to Glaucidium Brodici, as has always been sup-
posed, but to the present species ; four have been shot while ut-
tering the whistle ‘‘ who-who”’ close to my house in fine moonlight
nights, and three or four specimens of G. Brodie/, uttering a
somewhat similar note of four syllables, have also been shot
while uttering it; there is in fact no shadow of a mistake about
it, and yet I, for one, have for many years attributed both notes
to G. Brodiet, and could have sworn that the latter bird uttered
the double note of ‘“ who-who,”’ and that I had shot it while
doing so. The fact is, however, that the two species being
common, are often either found in the same tree or very near
each other, and the collector following the sound, shoots which-
ever bird he sees first, and so confounds the notes.

“IT do not believe in any red phase of plumage in this
species, as we have taken the young from the nest, and found
them and the parents alike,—while as regards Ephialtes
Lempiji” (this is really #. Pennatus) “or what I take to be
such from Jerdon’s description, with which it agrees toler-
ably well, the nestling is red like the parent. The wing of
E. Lempiji” (should be E. Pennatus) “however differs toto
celo from that of the present species,” (viz., H. Gymnopodus).
“Tn the former bird, the third and fourth quills are longest, and
the wing reaches to the end of the tail, if not beyond it,
whereas in the present species, the fourth and fifth quills are
longest, and the wing is short, not far over-reaching two-thirds
of the tail; in the former, the quills are pointed, in the latter,
broad and obtusely rounded. At all events, whatever the true
specific names, and I am by no means certain of these, they

398

cannot stand under the same generic characters. Our present
bird occurs abundantly at 5,500 feet, and probably higher; and
the other species is not, by any means, so common, nor does it
come up so high as this, and seems to be far more shy.”

Again in another letter he says: “The note of Glaucidium
is also a low whistle, but runs thus slowly like the other,
‘hoo—hoo-hoo-hoo,’ the middle note pronounced quicker, and
joined while there is a pause between it and the others, as—
‘o-o, o-0;’ this I always knew belonged to G. Brodiei, but
thought the other belonged to it also, until we shot the other
birds uttering it.”

He also remarks of the present species, that “it extends far
into the hills, as I have procured it north of the Tyne range
corresponding to Simla; Blyth was surely wrong in giving
‘ Noctua, auribardis, Hodg.’ as a synonym of this bird, for
Gray says that this was A. Cuculoides. 'The wing, however, is
rounded, with the fourth and fifth quill longest, and the plumage
and ear tufts those of Hphialies. I took the eggs in April at
Mussooree, at 5,500 feet.”

The only specimens that I have seen of this species, some
nine or ten in number, had all been procured in the Hima-
layahs, near Mussoooree, in Gurhwal, and below Simla.

The entirely naked feet, feathered, if I might so express it,
(though anatomically it is a misapplication of terms) only to
the ancle, the conspicuously spotted plumage of the head, the
short wings with the fourth and fifth primaries longest, alone
suffice to distinguish this species, which, if not, as I believe it,
Gymnopodus of Gray, must stand as H. Hutton, in honour of
the noble old naturalist, whose accurate observations I so often
have to refer to, and whose life-long devotion to the study of
God’s glorious works, has scarcely yet been appreciated as it
deserves. Fortunately he is one of those who look for some-
thing higher and better than “ the praise of men.”

No. 75. Ephialtes Lettia,* Honeson.
Tut Nepat Scors Owt.

Two comparatively large species of Scops Owls are found in
the Himalayas, the first H. Let/da, altogether paler and some-

* KE. Lerrta.
Dimensions. Length, 10 to 10°5. Expanse, 19 to 20. Wing, 66 to 7:2;
fourth and fifth primaries the longest ;—first, 1:6 to 1:9 shorter ; second, 0°7
to O'9 shorter; third, 0°25 to O'4 shorter; length of tail, 3-2 ; longest tail

394

what more rufous in its tints; the eastern form, apparently not
going further west than Kumaon, and most plentiful at Dar-
jeeling ; with toes quite bare or only just overhung at their

feathers exceed shortest, which are the exterior ones, by 0°2. Tarsus, which is
densely and fully feathered, 1'4 to 15. Mid toe to root of claw, 0°95 to 1;
its claw straight, 0°5 ; hind toe, 0°5; its claw straight, 0°4; inner toe, 0°8
to 0°9; its claw straight, 0°55. Bill straight, from edge of cere, 0°6 to 0°7 ;
from gape, 1:0 to 1:05; height at front, at margin of cere, 0°35 to 039 ;
length of cere, 0°3. Lower tail coverts fall short of end of tail by 15.

Description. The feet, in some greenish horny, in some yellowish fleshy ;
bill, yellowish horny, brown at tip and on side of upper mandible, and edge
of lower mandible.

Plumage. The forehead, a broad streak over the eye running down the
interior web of the aigrettes, feathers under the eye and most of the ear
coverts, loral bristles and chin, white, with a greyish or yellowish tinge, most
of the feathers tipped and some imperfectly barred with dark brown. The
ear coverts in most specimens, much suifused with rufous, and the longest of
them broadly tipped with a deep umber brown, which tippings form a con-
tinuation of the ruff band. The whole of the top of the head, and back of the
neck, and the exterior webs of the aigrettes, back, scapulars, tertiaries, lesser
wing coverts, rump, aud upper tail coverts with a rufous fawn, or in some
buffy yellow ground colour, everywhere (except on the outer webs of the
outer scapulars, and in a broad irregular half collar at the base of the neck,)
very closely and finely freckled, or irregularly barred, with minute, zig-zag
lines of dark brown. Many of the feathers, specially of the head and aigrettes,
with large, deep brown blotches, or irregular stripes or spots towards the
tips, confined in the aigrettes to the outer webs. In some specimens
these dark brown spots are peculiarly conspicuous on the tips of the compa-
ratively unmarked feathers, which form the irregular half collar already
referred to. The outer webs of the quills have the same ground colour, but
as usual, palest on the first few primaries, with five or six broad, irregular,
mottled and imperfect, transverse, brown bars, which are continued as perfect
bars, on to the inner webs, where the interspaces are much mottled, and
instead of having the clear fawn colored or buffy tint of the outer webs, are
much suifused with brown, and towards the bases become almost obsolete.
The outer webs of the secondaries also, have the buffy portions much freckled
and mottled with brown. The tail might perhaps be best described as
brown, with five or six imperfect and irregular, transverse, rufous fawn bars.
The interspaces much freckled with the same color; the brown predomina-
ting at the bases, the rufous fawn towards the tips. The throat and feathers
of the ruff are white, suffused with rufous fawn towards the tips, those of the
throat with two or three, very narrow, transverse, brown bars towards the
end, and those of the ruff broadly blotched at the tips with deep brown, The
breast and the abdomen, are white, pale yellowish, or rufous white, closely
but irregularly barred, with delicate, wavy, brown lines, and many of the fea-
thers with irregular, dark brown, shaft stripes or lengthened blotches. The
vent feathers and lower tail coverts are white with, in most specimens, one
or more imperfect bars, at the tip. The tibial and tarsal plumes are similar,
but the former are generally much more rufous, and the latter more purely
white than the ground color of the breast, and the markings, always coarser

than those of that part, are, in some specimens, close and regular, in others
mere spots.

395

bases by the feet feathers; and the second EH. Plumipes (Sp.
noy.) as I provisionally designate it, altogether a darker and
browner bird; the western form it would seem, from Dhurm-
salla, Koteurh and Simlah, extending to Gurhwal, with the’
toes feather ed, (not bristled as in the Athene’ 8), IN some speci-
mens, half way down the terminal joint, and in all, to the end
of the subterminal one.

In size they do not differ greatly, but from the three* speci-
mens of each that I possess, Zettia seems somewhat the bulkier
bird, and Plumipes to have the longest wings and most power-
ful claws.

The only eggs that I have seen, unmistakably pertaining
to this species, were taken on the 22nd May, 1869, out of a
narrow cleft (completely hidden by a small drooping shrub)
in an overhanging precipice, in the valley of the Surjoo, be-
tween Petoragurh and Almora, in Kumaon. They were de-
scribed as laid on a few small sticks, or twigs, amongst which
a few feathers were interspersed. In all other instances in
which I have myself found, or have known of the finding of,
the eggs of any species of Scops Owl in India, they have been
in hollows of trees, but both parent birds were sent me in this
instance with the eggs, and I had no reason for doubting my
collector’s good faith, who, although a native, isa very tolerable
ornithologist, and so far as my experience goes, very careful and
reliable. The eggs, three in number, were very spherical in
shape, pure white and very glossy, and varied from 1°33 to 1:38
in length, and from 1:18 to 1:2 in breadth.

Two other eggs, purporting to belong to this species, were sent
me from near Darjeeling. I cannot vouch for their authen-
ticity. They measured 1°28 and 1°3 respectively in length, and
1-4 and 1:15 in breadth.

Mr. Blyth had the following remarks on this sub-group in
the Ibis for 1866.

“ Although Prof. Schlegel does not know of this species (Z.
Lempiji) as Indian, it is nevertheless common in Malabar and
Ceylon, where it is undistinguishable from examples from the
Malayan sub-region. It differs from the series next to be
noted by its yellow irides.

This species is always paler and more rufous or more buffy than the next
(E, Plumipes) and the dark blotches of the head, back, ruff and lower parts,
are always smaller and much less conspicuous, but inter se, the specimens of
this present species, vary a good deal in general tone of colouring, some being
decidedly browner, some more rufous, and some more buffy.

* Since the above was written L have obtained several other specimens.

396

There is a series of three, very similar, dark-eyed races, of
different sizes, and each having its respective range of distribu-
tion. The largest is HB. Rufitorques, Bonap. (Faun. Japon.
Aves., tab. 8, where it is figured with yellow irides, which I
suspect is a mistake): wing, 7 to 7°5 inches. The nextis £.
Lettia, Hodgson, of the Indo-Chinese sub-region, spreading
westward along the lower regions of the Himalaya; wing, 6°5
to 7 inches. The third and smallest is H#. Griseus, Jerdon,
(E. Lettioides, nobis,) from the Coromandel or eastern Ghats of
the Indian peninsula, where only it has been observed as yet,
being replaced in the western or Malabar Ghats and in Ceylon
by the golden-eyed H. Lempiji: wing, 5:5 to 6 inches only.
I believe that all of these will have to be eventually recognized
as specific races, as also #. Rufescens (Horsf.) (#. Mantis, 8.
Muller) from Sumatra, Java, and Borneo, and a much larger
species which is otherwise very like it, #. Sagittatus, Cassin
(Journ. Acad. Phil. II. pl. 12,) of which I have seen several
specimens not differing in color, all of them from the Malayan
peninsula, This fine Scops Owl bears just that relationship to
E. Rufescens which EL. Rufitorques does to E. Griseus (EH. Let-
tioides,) and I should long ago have named it, had I not been
under the impression that it was the true Leufescens of Hors-
field.’”*

In regard to the above I must remark, first, that I somewhat
doubt the identity of the Malabar Seops Owl (vide 75 quatuor)
with 2. Lempiji, Horsfield ; secondly, that I do not attach much
importance to the colour of the irides in this sub-group, this
being unquestionably variable, in one species at least, viz. H.
Griseus, in which I have observed them, dark brown, brownish
yellow, and almost pure yellow; and, thirdly, that, as I shall
more particularly note when speaking of that species, (75 tris)
Griseus is not by any means confined to the Hastern Ghats, but

* «T have looked over Mr. Wallace’s collection of Scops Owls (obtained by
himself) and found no difficulty in resolving them into six species, v2. :—

(1.) EL. Sylvicolus (Wallace,) Flores. The largest of them, a young
specimen having the closed wing, 8°5 inches.

(2.) #. Magicus (Muller); HL. Leucospilu, G. R. Gray. From the
Moluceas. Since identifying these, I have found that Professor Schlegel has
likewise done the same.

(3.) #. Menadensis (Quoy and Gaim.) From Celebes and Flores.

(4.) #. Lempiji, Horstield (Strix noctula, Reinw. and Temm.) Malayan
sub-region, Ceylon and Malabar.

4 (5.) £. Rufescens, Horsf. (Otus mantis, Muller.) Sumatra, Java,
orneo.

(6.) E. Malayanus (A. Hay.) Malayan peninusula.” (See further, p. 403.)

397

oceurs in the Central and N. W. Provinces, the Punjaub and
Rajpootana, in suitable localities.

As for the present species, HZ. Lettia, although very probably
it does, as Mr. Blyth remarks, occur throughout the Indo-Chi-
nese sub-region, all the specimens that I have yet seen were
procured in the Himalayahs, in Sikhim, Nepaul and Kumaon at
heights of from 3,000 to 5,000 feet above the sea; it seems to
affect the warmer and more wooded valleys and preys largely on
beetles and insects, these being the only contents of the stomachs
of three specimens that I myself examined.

No. 75 Bis. Ephialtes Plumipes.* (Spc. Nov.)
Tut Priume-roor Scors Owt.

Four eggs of this species, together with the female birds,
were sent me from Kotegurh, where the latter had been cap-
tured on the eggs, in a hole inatree. The eggs were taken
on the 13th of May, and were partly incubated. They are
intermediate in size between those of Athene Brama and
Athene Cuculoides, but they are more spherical than either.
They are of course pure white and slightly glossy. They do
not appear to be quite as large as some of those of H. Griseus
that I possess.

* K. Piumirss,

Dimensions. Length, 9°5 to 10. Expanse, 20. Wing, 6°7 to 7:3. The
Ath Primary the longest; the 1st, 1°7 shorter; 2d, 0°8; and the 3rd, 0-2
shorter. Length of tail, 3; exterior tail feathers, 0-2 to O'4 shorter than the
interior feathers. Tarsus, 1:6 to 17. Mid toe to root of claw (feathered
to base or middle of terminal joint) 1; its claw straight, 0°55: hind toe, 0°5;
its claw, 0°5: inner toe, 0°8; its claw, 0°57. Bill straight, from edge of cere,
0°6; from gape, 0°92; width at gape, 0°92; height at front at margin of
cere, 0°33 ; length of cere, 038; lower tail coverts fall short of end of tail,
by 1:1 to 1:5.

Duscription. The full description given of #. Lettia, renders it unneces-
sary to describe this species at length. The toes fully feathered to the base
of, or even half way down the terminal joint, alone suffice to separate
it from all our other Indian Scops Owls, but I may remark that the general
tint of colouring is darker, and as a rule less rufous or buily, and the dark
blotches on the head, back, ruff feathers, breast and abdomen, are larger and
more conspicuous. The feathers of the throat and front of the ruff are also
much more barred. I have never myself seen this bird alive, and therefore
cannot give the colours of the irides and other parts which change in the dry
specimens, nor can I, not having recorded them myself, vowch for the accuracy
of those dimensions which cannot be checked from the dry skins, but I have
no reason to doubt the correctness of those above recorded.

398

In size, they vary from 1:25 to 1°28 in length, and from 11
to 1'5 in breadth.

I have only seen four specimens of this species, one from
near Murree, two from Kotegurh, and one from Gurhwal. I
do not think, notwithstanding the marked and unmistakeable
difference in their feet, (which in this species are feathered
quite to the base of, and in some half way down, the terminal
joints of the toes) that any one has hitherto discriminated this
present species from Lettia, but now that the distinction has
been pointed out, I hope that some of my co-adjutors will
watch for it, and furnish further information about its habits
and distribution.

No. 75 tris. Ephialtes Griseus.* JERDon.

This species breeds in the spring, laying three or four very
round white eggs, in holes of trees, commonly more or less

* HPHIALTES GRISEUS.

Dimensions. (TZhesexes do not appear to differin size. I have recorded
numerous measurements of both males and females, and though the majority
of the females are slightly larger than the majority of the males, I have
measured males quite as large as any females, and females as small as any
males.)

Length, 7°88 to 85. Expanse, 20°65 to 21°56. Weight, 4 oz. to 6°25 oz.
Wing, 5°6 to 6°63; the fourth primary the longest ; sometimes the fifth and
rarely the third sub-equal ; the first, 1°25 to 1°63 shorter ; the second, 0°5 to
0°65 shorter; the third from sub-equal to 0°06 shorter, Tail of twelve fea-
thers; length from vent, 2°5 to 3°37; exterior tail feathers about 0°35
shorter than central ones. Tarsus from 1°06 to 1:19. Foot, greatest length,
1°63 to 1°94; greatest width, 1°63 to 2:06; mid toe to root of claw, 0°69 to
0°81 ; its claw, straight, 0°36 to 0°44; hind toe, 0°38 to 0°46; its claw, 0°31
to 0°38. Bill, straight, from edge of cere, 0°56 to 0°63 ; from gape, 0°88 to
0:94; width at gape, 0°75 to 0°78; height at front at margin of cere, 031
to 0°38 ; length of cere, 0°3 to O'4. Wings when closed reach to within 0°31
to 0°75 of end of tail ; lower tail coverts reach to within 0°9 to 1 of end of tail.

Description. ‘Toes and claws very pale greyish brown, the latter darker
at the points and not much curved, soles creamy white, pads and papille
much developed and soft, scutellation obscure, three or four transverse quasi
scales at the end of each toe; interior ridge of mid claw slightly dilated.
Trides, in some, brownish yellow, in others, dark brown; in one nearly pure
yellow. (AJ/ the specimens whose irides I have described are now before me ;
these belong unmistakably to one and the same species, and are quite distinct
Srom any of our other five species of Scops Owls, specimens of all of which are
also before me.) Bill; wpper mandible dark brown, lower mandible paler espe-
cially towards the chin. Cere, dusky greyish, swollen and with circular nares
pierced at the edge of the swollen ridge. ‘longue, moderate, rather thin, of

399

lined with leaves and straw. The eggs are pure white, glossy,
and very spherical.

equal width as far as the triangular tip, hastate at the base, and slightly
divided at the tip.

Plumage. (A female caught on her eggs at Puhpoondh, Zillah Etawah, .
March 10th, 1867). A prominent tuft of disunited-webbed, bristly, white
feathers (with dark naked tips to the shafts, and traces on those nearest the
eye, of dark cross bars,) on each side of the upper mandible at its base.
A faint tinge of buffy at the anterior angle of the eye, rest of lores, feathers
below and behind eye, including ear coverts, loose webbed, silky, greyish white
with traces of faint, minute, transverse, brown bars ; chin white, the feathers
of the extreme tip somewhat bristly and curving upwards round lower man-
dible. Across the throat and upwards immediately behind the ear orifice,
as far as the base of the aigrettes, a band of creamy or pale buff feathers,
with numerous, minute, transverse, wavy, brown pencillings and bars, those
from the aigrettes to the sides of the throat with conspicuous, dark brown
tippings, which form the defining line of the disk, and a few of those in the
centre of the throat with similarly colored spots at the tips. Forehead and a
broad supercilium running up the inside webs of the aigrette feathers, and a
curved band at the back of the head, extending from the point of one aigrette,
to the point of the other (when laid flat on the head), a silvery grey or
greyish white, the feathers with dark brown shafts, and numerous, minute,
transverse, pencillings of that colour, and some of them with terminal spots.
Centre of forehead and top of head, a triangular space surrounded by this
grey band, a rich dark brown, purest on the centre of the forehead, with
small twin spots or imperfect transverse bars, and mottlings, to a greater or
less extent, of pale buff. The outside webs of the aigrettes are similar, as are
the feathers of the band, outside and contiguous to the curved grey band,
which latter seems continuous with the dark line of the outer webs of the
aigrette, while the former seems to start immediately above the centre of the
eye. Below the dark band, at the base of the back of the neck, is another band
of very similarly marked feathers, but whereas the dark brown predominates
in the former, the buff much predominates in the latter. The back, rump,
upper tail coverts, scapulars, wing coverts, except the greater ones of the
primaries, a mixture of pale brownish grey, and pale buffy ; with dark brown,
central streaks, and numerous, transverse, wavy, brown pencillings, and mot-
tlings. In the outside line of the scapulars, the buff is very pure, and in
some positions conspicuous, and while the rump, upper tail and lesser wing
coverts are dingier and greyer, the centre of the upper back and the median
and secondary wing coverts show more ofa pale buff. The primary greater
coverts are very dark brown, with broad, transverse, buffy, mottled bars.
The quills are darkish brown, with numerous, broad, transverse, greyish, more
or less dingy, white bars, much more conspicuous on the outer webs ; with
the exception of a few bars on the upper portion of the outer webs of the
earlier primaries, which are unmottled and slightly tinged with creamy, all
the rest of these bars are closely mottled and pencilled with brown. The
second, third and fourth primaries are just perceptibly emarginate on the
outer webs, and the first to the fourth are conspicuously notched on the
inner webs, The sides of the neck behind the dark line, the breast, sides,
abdomen and thigh coverts, a sort of creamy grey, very soft and silky, the
feathers with narrow, rich, brown, central streaks, and numerous, minute,
irregular, wavy, transverse pencillings. Greater portion of wing lining, vent
feathers, and lower tail coverts, silky greyish white, the latter, some of them,

4.00

Although I have taken the eggs of this species several times,
1 have, I regret to say, only one note on the subject ‘ Puh-
poondh” (4. Etawah,) “ March 10th, 1867. I caught a female
Scops Griseus to-day on her nest, at least, on one egg, in a hole
in a mango tree, which also contained about a dozen dry leaves
and a few feathers, whether blown in by accident or placed there
by the bird, I cannot say. The little animal bit and scratched so
vigorously, that I had to use a cloth to get her out ; she fought
so valiantly for her penates, that I was sorry to sacrifice her,
but it was important to preserve her skin to prevent future
doubts as to the species to which the egg really belongs. She
contained another fully developed egg, which my stuffer stu-
pidly broke in skinning her. ‘The egg was quite fresh, it
looked a large egg as compared with those of A. Brahma
(though it is shorter than some of these latter), owing to its
ereat width. It is pure white, without any tinge, either of blue
or cream colour, fine in texture, and almost as glossy as a dove’s
egg. In size and shape though a trifle more spherical than
this latter, it corresponds almost exactly with Hewitson’s figure
of the egg of Scops A/drovandi. It measures 1°25 by 1:18.”

Mr. W. Blewitt found two nests, both in Sheeshum trees on
the canal bank near Hansi. Both nests were in holes, the
one contained one, the other two fresh eggs, a bed of leaves and
straw being placed under the eggs. The nests were found on
the 25th March and 2nd April. Mr. Blewitt shot, preserved, and
sent me one of the parent birds, which belonged unmistakeably
to Jerdon’s Griseus, and exhibited the pale greyish plumage,

with dark central streaks towards the tips. Tarsus feathers silky greyish
white, with a faint buffy tinge towards the joint, and with several, narrow,
somewhat irregular, transverse, brown bars. ‘Tail feathers, greyish brown,
with imperfect, transverse, mottled bars of very pale dingy buff, and with the
interspaces too, more or less mottled with the same colour.

Other specimens killed at Bareilly in May, answered well to the above
description, except that in some specimens, the whole of the colours were
dingier, while the white of the lower abdomen, vent, lower tail and thigh
coverts was purer. The tarsal plumes in some were entirely unbarred, and
generally, the markings were less pronounced, and clear, than in the first
described specimen. Specimens from numerous other localities, undistin-
guishable with these. In most birds (six out of eight of those now before
me) the tarsal plumes are entirely unbarred,

Very few of the specimens show the silvery half collar on the neck de-
scribed in the Puhpoondh specimen, in most, the deep brown of the top of
the head is coutinuous down to the broad bufly collar, at most a few feathers
on the nape, being greyish towards the tips.

On the whole, however, the coloration of specimens {vom the most distant
localities differs but little.

401

unbarred legs, and six-inch wing, characteristic, according to
him, of that species.

The eggs are very round, considerably larger than those of
Athene Brahma, and than the egg of this species already de-
scribed. They are fairly glossy and, of course, pure white,
and only vary from 1°32 to 1°36 in length, and from 1:15 to
1:18 in breadth.

As | have pointed out in the description, the absence of bars
on the tarsi, although the rw/e in this species, is by no means
an invariable characteristic. The female which I captured on
the egg has the tarsi barred. Of a pair which I caught at
Bareilly in May in a hole, with three half grown young ones,
one had the tarsi barred, while in the other they were pure
white and absolutely spotless. Judging from my notes, at
least one in every six specimens has the tarsi more or less
clearly barred, and at least two more out of the six, exhibit
traces of the same. I have not been able to satisfy myself,
whether these differences are accidental, or depend upon age or
seX.

This species is widely distributed in India, and though rarely
seen is really by no means uncommon. Jerdon gives it from
the Eastern Ghats, whence I also have received a specimen,
and I have before me now specimens from Saugor, Jhansee,
Htawah, Bareilly, a low valley near Almora, Dehli, Lansie,
and Mount Aboo, all of which though varying s/ightly in size
and colour, are manifestly one species, and clearly distinct from
the five other species that I have separately noticed.

All the specimens that I have hitherto examined in the flesh,
had fed exclusively on beetles, crickets and the like.

This species (and very possibly all the other Hphialtes, but
this is the only one that I have had opportunities of watching
closely), is entirely nocturnal in its habits, and except when
disturbed from some hiding-place, will never be seen abroad, so
long as there is the least bit of daylight about. During the
day, they roost in holes of trees, or, where the foliage is very
dense and the branches very close, on some leaf embowered
branch A pair that I used to watch at Bareilly, roosted in a
dense clump of young Sakoo trees ((Shorea Robusla) which
grow in the public gardens. They always sat in the same
places, about three feet apart. At night, long after Afhene
Brahma was chattering angrily every where, and perching out
openly on bare boughs and telegraph wires and posts, long
atter the two horned Eagle Owls (Ascalaphia Bengalensis and
Coromanda) were about, and Bulaca Ocelata was busy trying to
awake the echoes (there did not happen to fe any there to

4.02

wake unfortunately) ; the two little Scops Owls would still sit
motionless, and never once did they leave their retreats whilst
light enough remained to see them. In the early morning, it
was the same thing ; no matter how early I went, as soon as it
was light enough to distinguish them from the leaves, (in
which except from one single point of observation they were
completely hidden,) there they were, looking for all the world
as if they had never moved since the preceding evening. Their
ery or at least what I believe to be their ery, for I heard it
very often in Bareilly where this species is very plentiful, is a
low, monotonous, double note, a sort of bell sound, or low, short
whistled, ¢ew, tew, repeated for hours together at short inter-
vals ; it much resembles the note of the so-called Bell Bird of
the Himalayahs, one of the utterers of which at any rate, Capt.
Hutton has proved to be EL. Gymmnopodus, (74 bis,) but it is
somewhat louder and less musical.

As far as my experience goes, this species is exclusively
confined to localities in which there are plenty of trees, and
where either from natural or artificial causes, the soil is more
or less damp and insects are plentiful. Trees on canal banks,
and canal irrigated lands, are, in upper India at any rate, their
favourite haunts.

No. 75 quatuor.—Kphialtes Malabaricus,*
J ERDON.

Tur MaAbapar Scors Owt.

The only specimens that I possess of this species I owe to Mr.
H. R. P. Carter (who killed his at Coonoor) and Mr. Jenkyus,
(who killed his on the Western Ghats).

* HWPHIALTES MALABARICUS.

Dimensions. Females (two specimens only, measured in the flesh by
Mr. H. R. P. Carter) length, 8:0 to 824. Expanse 165, Wing, 5°95.
The 4th primary the longest ; the Ist 1:7 ; the 2nd 0°65 and the 3rd 0-15
shorter. Length of tail 275 : ; aerine tail neuer 0°25 shorter than the
central. Tarsus 1:05 to 1:08. Mid toe; 0°73 to 09; its claw, straight
0°32 to 0°35; hind toe, 0°35 to 0°43; its claw, straight 0°3 to 0°32; inner
toe 0°68 to 0°75 ; its claw 0°36 to 0-42. Bill, straight, to edge of cere, 0°43
to 05; from gape, 0°8; width at gape 0°62 to 07; height at front, at
margin of cere, 0°25 to 03. Length of cere, 0°35. Wings when closed
reach nearly to end of tail. Lower tail coverts fall short of end of tail by
about 1.”

Description. Feet yellow. Ivides dark yellow. Bill yellowish horny,
darker above.

403

*

As to the nidification of this species I know nothing; I have
had eggs said to belong to EH. Lempigi sent me from the Neil-
gherries, but the greatest confusion as to the nomenclature of this
little group, has hitherto prevailed amongst Indian naturalists,
and it has been customary in the south to call every thing not
E. Pennatus, E. Lempigi; while in the north F. Gymnopodus
has generally done duty as Pennatus, and every thing else has
gone down as Lempigi.

It is impossible therefore to decide to what species the eggs
sent may have belonged.

Whether #. Malabaricus, Jerdon, be really identical with LZ.
Lempigi, Horst. is a matter for future decision; Mr. Blyth, it
will have been seen, considers that they are so, but I some-
what doubt the fact. The plumage is very similar, but Lempigi
appears to be a much larger bird. ;

Striz Noctula (Reimw.) figured by Tem. Pl. Col. 99, from
Java, is clearly identical with H. Lempigi, Horsf. Temminck
gives the length at 9°75 English* inches, while a large female
Matabaricus, from the Ghats measured only 84. Mr. Carter’s
obviously adult female was only 8°25.

Admitting the great similarity of the plumage, it appears
to me, that the marked difference in size, would render the speci-
fic union of these two races, inhabiting widely different locali-
ties, very questionable, especially in a genus which in India
and elsewhere varies locally so much.

Of course Temminck’s dimensions may be excessive, (Bona-
parte gives the wing as under 6 English inches) and I have no
other measurements to refer to, but if the true Lempig? be from
9°5 to 9°75 in length, it must I think be held to be distinct from
EE. Malabaricus.

Malabaricus extends to Ceylon; I have seen a specimen from
Ceylon, undistinguishable from my Malabar and Neilgherry
birds.

Besides the Indian Scops Owls already enumerated, Malayana
and the Archipelago furnish, as Mr. Wallace tells us the
following—

Prumace. The full description of H. Griseus already given, renders
any minute description of this species unnecessary.

Generally it may be said that only the point of the forehead and a narrow
streak over the eye, is white; and these parts instead of being silvery white
as in Griseus, are fulvous. Again the chin, throat, ruff feathers, breast,
and abdomen, instead of being white or creamy white as in Giriseus, are
a rich buffy fawn, Altogether, the bird is a good deal smaller, and the
lower parts conspicuously more buffy than in any specimen of #. Griseus.

* J. e. nine inches two lines, French.

404

#. Menadensis, Quoy ; from Celebes and Flores.

E. Leucospila, Gray; from Batchian, Morty Island, Boru,
Ternate and Celebes.

E. Sylvicola, Wallace, from Flores.

E. Magicus, Bon ; from Ceram and Amboyna.

E. Mantis,* Bon; from the Malay Peninsular, Sumatra and
Borneo.

I ought perhaps to have included in these notes H. Lempigi,
Horsf., as two years ago, I was shown a Rangoon specimen
apparently (I had not then examined this group) belonging
to that species, but 1am by no means swe of its occurrence
(the bird I saw may have been Leéftia) within our limits, or in-
deed north of the Straits, where, as also in Sumatra, Java and
Borneo, it is common.

No. 76. Athene Brama,t+ Trem.

Tur Srorrep Ow Lert.

This species breeds in February, March and April; but the
ereat majority of the birds lay in March.

* This latter, probably confounded with Lempzqi, is said to have occurred
in Burmah. I quote Bonaparte’s description “ Affinis praecedente (Lem-
pigt) sed minor, alis vix quinque pollicaribus (say 5°35 Eng.). Ferrugi-
neus, albo-rufescente fuscoque varius, maculis supra parvis, pallidis,
sagittatis, subtus minimis, elongatis ; fronte albo-rufescente.”

Nore. Col. Tytler showed me specimens of an Hphialtes from Bar-
rackpore, which he called Lempigi and which (1 had not then studied the
group) may have been so; but what was most remarkable was, that these
were altogether undistinguishable from specimens which he had received
from Mons Verreaux as Braziliensis from South America.

+ ATHENE BraMa.

Dimensions. (Sexes vary but little in size, but the female weighs con-
siderably heavier.)

Length, 8°0 to 9°5. Expanse, 21 to 22°5. Wing, 6°15 to 665. Tail, 2°75 to
3. Tarsus, 1 to 1:1. Foot greatest length, 2°1 to 2°2; greatest width, 2°15 to
2:23; mid toe to root of claw, 0°72 to 0°82; its claw straight, 04 to 0°45 ;
hind toe to root of claw, 0°38 to 0°42; its claw, 0°36 to O41; inner toe to
root of claw, 0°6 to 0°65; its claw, 0°38 to O'4. Bill straight from margin of
cere to point, 0°48 to 0°52; from gape, 0°78 to 0°84; width at gape, 0°64 to
O72; height at front at margin of cere, 0°30 to 0°36; length of cere, on
culmen, 0°25 to 0°31. Wings when closed reach to end of tail or fall short of
them by not more than 0°5 inch. Lower tail coverts reach to within 0°75 to
15 of end of tail. The third and fourth primaries are the longest. The
first from O'9 to 1:1; and the second from 0°2 to 0°35 shorter. The exterior
tail feathers ave from 0°13 to 0°42 shorter than the central ones. The weight

405

Holes in old trees, (scantily lined with a few dry leaves and
feathers, decayed wood, or a little grass,) are their favourite lay-
ing places, but holes in old buildings, and clefts in rocks are
sometimes resorted to. [remember Mr. Brookes telling me, that
in his office at Etawah two Rollers (C. Indica) had chosen a

is from 3°6 to 6 oz. <A particularly large female from Saugor, weighed 7°5
ounces.

Description. Feet, dingy greenish, front of toes sparsely clad with
whity brown bristles. Claws, very sharp, blackish horny ; inner edge of mid
claw a good deal dilated. Papille of soles, small distinet, soft. IZrides
bright pale yellow. Bild, horny green. Cere, dusky, much swollen above
the nares. Tongue, obtusely hastate ; slightly membraneous and emarginate
at the tip.

Plumage. Facial disk, which is nearly obsolete, partially defined, by a
dark, earthy, brown tipped, row of feathers, running right across the throat
and upwards behind the ear coverts. The general colour of the facial disk or
space enclosed, by the above line, including apex of forehead, and broad
supercilium, white, but the ear coverts themselves are very pale brown,
obscurely barred with darker brown; there is a dusky patch in front and
below the anterior angle of the eye; most of the bristle-like feathers of the
prominent lore tufts are only dingy white, and the naked tips of their elon-
gated shafts are dark brown. Middle ot forehead, top and back of head, and
sides of ditto behind facial disk line, dull earthy brown, the feathers with
pairs of small white spots, or narrow incomplete white bars. These spots are
most numerous, on the forehead, and largest on the sides of the head. The
back of the neck is generally the same dull earthy brown, but at the base of
the occiput, and down the back of neck, there is an ill-defined and mottled,
white, triangular patch, owing to some of the feathers being broadly tipped,
or marked near the tip, with white; this is only clearly seen, when the neck
is extended. The neck in front, below the brown disk line, is white, and
this colour extends as a sort of collar, backwards, but does not quite meet at
the back. The whole back, scapulars, upper tail coverts, and wing coverts are
the same dull earthy brown, the upper back nearly spotless, the feathers of the
other parts with numerous pairs of white spots towards the tips and more or
less imperfect white bars higher up, which latter are hidden by the overlap-
ping of the feathers. The ground colour of the tail feathers, and quills, is the
same, as that of the back. The tail feathers have about four transverse
white bars, narrow on the centre tail feathers, and the outer webs of the
lateral ones, but broad, and somewhat scalkop-like on the inner webs of the
latter. The first five quills are notched on the inner webs, the second
to the fourth slightly emarginate, on the outer ones. The first five pri-
maries, and the secondaries, have several white spots on the outer webs,
and the last five primaries exhibit traces of the same, and all (but the first five
primaries below the notches, where there are only faint traces of them)
have large, broad, pure white scallops, on the inner webs, corresponding
with the white spots, on the outer webs, which, with them may be consi-
dered, portions of incomplete bars. ‘The base of the neck in front the
breast, sides, flanks, and thigh coverts, white, the feathers with subterminal,
brown bands and triangular spots, which at the base of the neck predo-
minate, owing to the overlapping of the feathers, and form a sort of
mottled zone. The middle of the abdomen, vent, lower tail coverts, and
tarsi feathers, a slightly dingy white.

406

hole, or rather spot to build in, on the top of the central wall
of a gable roof, just under the main longitudinal beam. ‘Two
of these Owlets came and determined to breed there, and after a
couple of days’ fighting and screeching, &c., the Owls took pos-
session of the Rollers’ comfortable nest and there laid. The
Rollers went round the corner of the same house, chose a new
hole, built a new nest and bred there. Generally when met
with out of holes in trees, their nests are more substantial, than
when in the latter, and in such cases, I suspect the nests are
more often theirs by right of conquest than by construction.

They lay four or five eggs: most commonly the former. All
are when blown a beautifully pure white, but until blown, have,
when quite fresh, a beautiful pink tinge, and when a good deal
incubated, are an opaque marble white. Most of them are of a
close, uniform, satiny texture, but a good many are thickly
covered in part or whole with minute pimples, if I may use the

‘word, white, but owing to the shell there being thicker, of a
rather deader white than the ground.

Typically the eggs of Athene Brama are oval. In some cases
broad and approaching the normal Owl shape, but more com-
monly a moderately broad oval, differing little in colour, size
and texture from those of some of our green pigeons, and some
of the smaller specimens are positively undistinguishable from
large eges of Zurtur Risoria, The largest specimen I have
seen is smaller than the eggs of Noctua Tegmalmi figured by
Hewitson and as above remarked much less spherical. Out of
some hundreds, I have only one specimen nearly as spherical
as his figure.

The eggs vary from 1°15 to 1:45 in length and from 0-93 to
; ‘lin breadth, but the average of 54 eggs measured was 1°25

y 1:04.

Mr. W. Blewitt writes, “I took four nests of this bird be-
tween the 16th and 2ist March. Two contained three and two
four eggs, one set of the latter only being at all incubated. The
nests were in decayed hollows of Sheeshum, Jamun (HLugenium
Jambolanum) and Neem trees, the eggs were in each case more
or less bedded in dry leaves, or feathers, or both.” On another
occasion he wrote, “I found several nests of this species near
Hansie in the latter half of April. ‘They were in holes of
Peepul and Siriss trees, and each contained three eggs laid
upon a few blades of straw with a few dry leaves or feathers..”

This is a very bold little bird, and always issues from its
diurnal roosting-place long before dusk. It is one of the birds
which really seem to think that Telegraph wires were erected for
their sole and especial benefit, and the numbers that one some-

407

times sees, perched on these in a run of tio or three miles
down a railway line on a trolly about sunset, is surprising.
Very often it will not even move for a train, or if it does, only
takes a short undulating flight, alternately opening the wings
widely and closing them again entirely, and then re-alights on
the wire. It is a great bird for a kind of whispered chattering,
which the natives try to imitate in its name “ Khoosuttia,”’ which
recalls to us the French word for the same sound, “ chuchoter.”

As regards its geographical distribution out of India, Mr.
Blyth remarked in the Ibis for 1866—*“TI believe that Dr.
Jerdon is mistaken in noting this bird from Ceylon, as also
from ‘ Persia and other parts of Asia,’ west of India. Noctua
indica, one of the synonyms of this species, is described as being
‘common about the foot of the mountains near the town of
Erzeroum,’ (P. Z. 8. 1839, p. 119). This, I believe, is the
only authority for noting it from Persia; and the species was
doubtless A. Persica (Vieillot.)”

No. 76 sis. Athene Persica.* Vie rLtor.
THe Persian Ow.et, or SourHEeRN LitrLte Own.

Noctua Meridionalis, Rissn.

a Glauv, SAVIGNY.
Strix Noctua, ForsKAu.
Passerina, RuPPE.t.
» Numida, Levattuant, Junr.
(2?) Athene Gymnopodus, Honeson.
Bactriana, BuytxH.

9

”?

Mr. Blyth says that this species “inhabits Middle and Wes-
tern Asia, Southern Europe, and Africa, north of the Atlas ;

* ATHENE PERSICA.

I have unfortunately no detailed measurements of this species. The fol-
lowing is a note which I made from one of the Swat specimens ; unfortunately
at the time, I did not know what the bird was. “ It appears to be about 6°75
or 7 long. Wing, 5°0. Tail, 2°5. Tarsus, 0°9. Feet feathered not completely so
it is true, but far more so than in Brama, than which it is much smaller.
The whole upper surface, a dingy rufous ashy brown, much the same colour
as in some specimens of Minow Scutellatus. There are numerous greyish
white blotches on the head, nape and base of the back of the neck. The
tail has three, conspicuous, narrow, transverse, greyish white bands visible,
with a fourth nearly hidden by the upper tail coverts. The chin, cheeks,
ear coverts, middle of throat, upper breast, lower abdomen, breast and lower
tail coverts, dingy fulvous white, unspotted. The sides of the neck, lower

408

and is common in Afghanistan, but does not enter the Indian
sub-region, nor even the Himalayan province of the South
Turanian sub-region, Mr. Hodgson’s specimens haying been
obtained north of the snow.”

As a matter of fact, however, I have now seen two specimens
shot in the Peshawar valley. I have seen two more from
Afghanistan, and have had in Col. ‘l'ytler’s museum, the oppor-
tunity of comparing North African specimens of, apparently,
the same bird, with Noctua of Europe.

Mr. Bree tells us that this species “is generally believed by
naturalists to be only a pale variety of our little Owl Strix
Noctua,” but it appears to me, undoubtedly distinct from this
latter species, though of course not so clearly so, as it is from
A. Brahma.

The dimensions of Athene Persica (I have only seen skins)
seem identical with those of Brahma, (the one I first saw,
however, was much smaller) but in the general tone of colour,
the size and character of the markings, and the distance to
which the true feathers extend on to the feet, there are clearly
appreciable differences. First, the colour appears to be more
rufous, in some specimens almost a dingy chestnut brown, far
more rufous, in every case, than are 99 out of every 100
individuals of A. Brama, although I have seen somewhat rufous
specimens of these latter from Barrackpore.

Secondly, the markings of the head are larger, longer and

breast, upper abdomen, sides and flanks, and tarsal plumes a more rufous
white, with numerous, irregular, central streaks and blotches of a rufous
brown brighter than the upper parts, and some of the breast feathers with
imperfect sub-terminal bands.”

Mr, Blyth described this species under the name of Bactrianus in the J.
A. S. for 1847, from one of Capt. Hutton’s Candahar specimens, as follows,
his dimensions, it will be observed, are much greater than those of the bird
I first saw.

* Tength about nine inches, of wing, 6°25, and tail, 3°5 inehes. Tarsi,
1:25 inch. Plumage of the upper parts somewhat rufescent clay brown,
with large, round, white spots on the feathers, more or less concealed, and
wholly so on those of the middle of the back: coronal feathers with medial
whitish streaks: face white; some of the radiating feathers on the sides of
the beak, terminating in the black vibrisse ; chin, throat, lower tail coverts,
and the tibial and tarsal plumes, white, also the fore-part of the under-surface
of the wing; a longitudinal broad streak on each feather of the breast and
abdomen; on the hind neck, the white so predominates upon the feathers
as to give the appearance of a half collar. The great wing feathers have
broad incomplete pale bands, disposed alternately on their two webs; and
the middle tail feathers have a double row of some alternating pale spots,
passing into dull bands on the outer tail feathers: beak (in the dry speci-
men) whitish ; and claws pale horn colour,

409

more pear-shaped, the spots on the wing coverts and scapulars are
much larger, the bars on the tail are broader and less perfect,
more like broad double spots, and the markings of the under
‘part are much more blotchy and streaky. In Brama the
whole feet and toes are clad in bristle-like feathers, in Persica
only the toes, the fect being covered with true feathers like the
tarsi, and even the toe bristles being somewhat more feather-
like than in Brama.

Noctua, no doubt is very close to Persica, closer than the
latter to Brama, but it is browner and less rufous (while
Brama is greyer) and the spots on the head and nape (and
elsewhere) are still longer and larger, and even the toes, may
be more properly said to be feathered than bristled.

In Candahar, Capt. Hutton tells us that it is common
amongst the rocks and ruins. In India it occurs, probably as
a mere straggler, only on our extreme North Western frontier.
In Egypt, Mr. Taylor tells us (Ibis, 1867) that it is “ very
abundant, and equally at home, in town, and country. Breeds
in March. Flies freely and well in broad day-light. Differs
very little from the A. Noctua of Kurope.”

No. 77. Athene Radiata. TIcKELL.

Tue JUNGLE OWLET.

The Jungle Owlet breeds in the early part of the hot weather,
laying in April and May, in holes im trees. Though I have
twice found nests containing young ones, neither I myself nor
any of my numerous correspondents, have yet, it would seem,
obtained the eggs, which, however, we may safely prophesy,
will prove to be three or four in number, pure white, sphero-
ovoidal, measuring some 1:25 by 1 or thereabouts. Mr. R.
Thompson, writing from Gurhwal, says—‘ This species breeds
in May and June, in holes in small trees. It is very common
in all the warmer valleys. Young birds are quite fledged in
June, from three to four young ones at a time. I have
never seen them living in families as Dr. Jerdon asserts. I
have always found them either in pairs or single. The males
of this species are considerably smaller than the females,
so much so, that one would easily take them to belong to
another species. The ery is a too~roo—ro0-roo-roo, &e., drawn
out to a considerable length, and resembling that of the com-
mon Goanna lizard. This ery is sometimes terminated with
double or treble notes, resembling somewhat those of A. Brama.

410

Its flight is both rapid and strong, with closed wings, like
that of the Besrah. It kills and devours all kinds of small
birds, even taking them in the day-time. I had one caught
which came down at a chicken three times all by itself, and’
killed it in broad daylight. The chicken was set in a trap
for Limnaetus Niveus.”’

Dr. Jerdon describes the soft parts differently to what I
should; the feet are yellow, bristled to the toes, the bill
light yellowish horny and the irides, bright yellow. He is
wrong in saying, ‘beneath, throat white, the rest of the
body &e.’*; in good fresh specimens, the lores and chin are
white, the ends of the bristle-like elongated shafts, blackish.
From the base of the lower mandible, joining into the white
of the chin, runs a broad white stripe under the ear coverts
and round the lower half of the posterior margin of the aural
orifice, this latter portion of the stripe, not being visible
in the dry skin, unless the ear coverts are lifted, but being very
conspicuous in the living bird, who, especially when teased,
sets the ear coverts out, nearly at right angles to the bill.
Between these white stripes, and below them, joining the feathers
of the neck, the throat feathers are closely barred rufous or
rufescent white and dusky brown, precisely unicolorous with
the sides of the neck ; below this there is a large white patch at
the base of the neck in front. Most of my skins show all this,
but in some, in which owing to the size of the head, the skin,
and feathers of the throat have been injured in turning, it is
not so apparent, but it is invariably found in fresh specimens,
and in living birds of which I have kept several.

These birds in confinement tame readily, and eat raw or
cooked meat, insects, frogs, in fact any thing, animal. I have
seen them in the day-time, in the shady verandah in which
they were kept, kill and eat crickets, ants and butterflies.
A pair of sparrows made a nest on the interior cornice of the
enclosed end of the verandah, in which they lived. At first,
the sparrows, teased, and bothered the Owls, the whole day long
at intervals, the Owls merely retreating inside their box, chat-
tering angrily, but one night two of the three got loose, killed
both sparrows, eating their breasts and entrails, and all the
young ones, of which not a trace was left. They did not
attempt to leave the place, (this was at Dehra) and I let the
third loose, after which they gradually grew wilder, (returning,
however, for some weeks for the day to their box,) and at last
left the house altogether, although, when I gave it up they were
still hanging about the trees in the very jungly compound.
They were excessively noisy birds, both by night and even at

411

intervals by day, in fact at times a perfect nuisance. Dogs
were their abomination and the way in which, menaced by a
puppy of mine, who evidently thought it famous fun, they
would lower their heads, set out their wings and ear coverts,
and “curse and swear,” (a mixture of hissing and chattering
utterly indescribable in words) was really quite ‘ edifying !’

Specimens from Dehra, Saharunpoor, Kumaon, and Kala-
doongee, in fact (as far as I have had the opportunity of
observing them) northern birds, differ apparently constantly in
tint from those sent me from the Madras Presidency, Aboo and
other comparatively southern localities. The whole of the
barred portions of the upper half of the body, breast, throat,
head, neck, upper back and lesser coverts, in the northern birds
are more rufous, the light bars conspicuously so, than in the
southern birds, in some specimens of the former, the light bars
are bright rufous buff, and in no specimens can they be called
merely “rufescent whitish,’ (a correct description of those of
the southern birds) being in every case distinctly srufous,
although it may in some birds be rather pale, dull or slightly
fulvous. Again, in the southern birds the bars of the longer
scapulars are either pure white or greyish white, while in the
northern they are tinged with rufous or fulvous. Itis true I have
only five of each before me now, and I have only now noticed
the difference in comparing the whole series, but it is constant
in all these and seems very marked. Thereis more white too in
the lower parts, and the rufous of the primaries is brighter and
clearer in the southern than the northern specimens, and gene-
rally the whole tone of colouring in the two races differs mar-
kedly to the eye, and if really constant, is noteworthy.

This genus, or perhaps I should say the type form of this
genus, is one which appears to have a great tendency to vary ;
the species it contains are very numerous, each for the most
part restricted to a natural territorial division, in many instances
of very limited extent. The present species does not extend, I
believe southwards far beyond the Neilgherries. Further south
and on the west coast, it is replaced by Walabaricus and in
Ceylon by Castaneonotus. It does not appear to be found in
lower or Eastern Bengal, nor in Burmah, although Dr. Cantor
procured “a single specimen of this pretty little Owl, at Keddah
(Malayan Peninsula) agreeing in every respect with those
obtained from India.” Westwards in upper India, I do not
find it noticed from Cashmere, and though it may be found
there, it has not occurred in any of the many collections that
I have examined from thence, and the neighbourhood of
Murree. Even within the limits, within which it is known to

412

oceur, itis very locally distributed, affecting forests and jungles,
intermingled with rocky ridges or broken ground, and almost
if not quite unknown in the level open portions of the Punjaub,
Rajpootana, the North-West and Central Provinces. Through-
out the sub-himalayan country and the lower ranges of the
hills themselves, as far west as Mandi; (rarely if ever ascending
above 3000 feet in height) in the Rajmahal hills, the Siwalikhs
and the more considerable ridges of the Aravallis, where these
are not bare, the Jungle Owlet, is more or less common, accor-
ding to the supply of insects, which in a wild state, to judge
from those that I have examined, form its chief food.

No. 77 nis. Athene Castaneonotus.* Buytu.
Tue Cryton OwLer,

This species, first discriminated by Mr. Blyth, is admitted
by Professor Schlegel to be distinct from A. Cuastanoptera
Horsfield, (No. 77 tris.). Mr. Layard gives the following
account, of its “‘manners and customs.” (Ann. and Mag. of
N. H., 1858, XIL., pp. 105, 106.) “Its hoot is not unlike the
ery of the cuckoo, though, more shrill and abrupt; indeed when
I first heard it one morning, I thought it was the note of our
annual visitor, the Huropean Cuckoo. It hoots as late as 9 or
10 o’clock in the morning, in shady situations ; is silent during
the heat and glare of the day, but begins again at 4 or 5 Pp. M.
It is most on the alert during moonlight nights, feeding on
Coleoptera and geckoids, securing the latter while creeping up
the bark of trees, seizing them in its claws, * * * it sees very
clearly by day, being even then most difficult to approach.”

I have had no opportunities myself of observing this species,
which seems to be confined to Ceylon, although Mr. Blyth
suggests, that this may be the species which Dr. Helfer noticed
under the name of Custanoptera as occurring in Tenasserim.

* The following is Mr. Blyth’s original description. “ Entire mantle and
wings deep chestnut rufous, more or less obscurely barred with subdued
dusky. Primaries, light dusky, faintly barred with rufous on the inner
webs, and with a series of spots of bright rufous on the outer webs. Tail
dusky, with eight or nine, narrow, white, or whitish bars, the last of these
terminal ; head and neck closely barred with bright rufescent on a dusky
ground, contrasting strongly with the rufous of the back ; breast nearly similar
but the colors deeper. Abdomen, white, with longitudinal dusky streaks ;
vent and lower tail coverts, pure white ; bill, pale yellow; irides, ved brown ?
Wing, about 5.”

413

No. 77 tris. Athene Castanoptera.* Horsr.
Tue JAVANESE OWLET.

Strix. Spadicea Reinw. Tem. Pl. Col. Pl. 98.
Noctua Castanoptera, Scuruc. Mus. P. B. Striges, p. 34.
Strix », Horsrrecp, Trans. Linn. Soc. XIII. p. 140.

Mr. Blyth tells us, that Dr. Helfer notes this species from the
Tenasserim Provinces, as also that it might be expected to inha-
bit the Malayan Peninsular. I know nothing of the species
myself, but as it is very likely to occur, and is actually noted
(although by a “ somewhat loose authority” according to Blyth)
as having occurred within our limits, I think it best to append
Temminck’s description.

Horsfield first described it from Java, and it is doubtful
whether it has ever been obtained elsewhere.

No. 78. Athene Malabarica. Btryru.
THe MaLasparR OwLFt.

This ‘is another species whose nidification has not been
observed.

I have nothing to add to Mr. Blyth’s full description of this
species which Dr. Jerdon has quoted verbatim.

* Temminck’s remarks on this species are to the following effect :

“ The wing covers a great portion of the tail, of which the feathers are equal,
the tarsi are feathered, but the toes are only sparsely covered with bristles.
This species is well characterized and easily recognized by the rich chestnut
or nut brown purple of the back, wings and tail, The whole head, nape, sides
and front of the neck, as well as of the breast, are transversely barred, at
equal intervals with brown and dull yellowish bands. The region of the
thorax, and the flanks are coloured like the back, and there are some purplish
blotches on the tibial plumes ; the rest of the lower parts are pure white.
Large white blotches, cover the exterior webs of the scapulars, and of some of
the coverts, placed near the fold of the wings. Bands of yellowish rufous
appear on the quills, and there are five, narrow bars of this colour on the tail
feathers, which are narrowly tipped with the same. The sexes differ little.”
The length is from 7°4 to nearly 8 inches, (English).

ALA

No. 79. Athene Cuculoides.*
Tuer Larce Barrep OWLET.

The large Barred Owlet lays from March to May; its eggs,
four in number, are always deposited in some hollow or hole in
a tree, without any nest or at most, a mere apology for one in
the shape of a few dead leaves, or a little dry touchwood.

* ATHENE CUCULOIDES.

The females, accord with Dr. Jerdon’s measurements. The males are
smaller; the following are the dimensions of a fine male killed near
Nyneetal.

Length, 8°88. Expanse, 20. Wing, 5:7. Tail from vent, 3°38. Tarsus, 1:02.
Mid toe, to root of claw, 0°84; its claw straight, 0°51; hind toe, 0°45 ; its
claw, 0°4; inner toe, 0°63; its claw, 0°48, Bill straight, from edge of cere to
point, 0°52; from gape, 0°85; height at front, at margin of cere, 0°38. The
closed wings reach to within, 1°38 of end of tail; the 4th primary is longest,
the 5th, 0°08, the Ist, 1:5; the 2nd, 0°55; and the 3rd, O°1, shorter. The
exterior tail feathers are 0°4 shorter than the central ones, and the lower tail
coverts reach to within 1:05 of the end of the tail.

Description. The feet, sparsely bristled, are light yellow ; claws brown,
yellowish horny at base; the irides, bright amber yellow ; the bill light yel-
lowish horny.

The lores, (some of the feathers of which are tipped dusky) a band over
the eye, the chin, and two broad stripes, running from the chin and base of
lower mandible, under the ear coverts and round the lower half of the pos-
terior margin of the aural orifice, (where it is hidden in dry specimens by
the ear coverts,) a broad band at the base of the neck in front, an ill-defined
streak down the centre of the breast and abdomen, the vent feathers and
lower tail coverts, white; the tail and quills, brown, of varying shade, corre-
sponding with but rather darker and purer. than that of the back ; the former
with six or seven narrow, transverse, white, fulvous or rufous white bars,
(according to the general tone of colouring of the specimen) averaging about
Ol in width and 0°4 apart, one of which is terminal and another more or
less hidden by the upper tail coverts; the quills with conspicuous spots or
impertect bars, of white or fulvous white on the outer webs and traces of
corresponding pale bars on the inner webs, and the secondaries tipped with
the same colour. The rest of the plumage, brown (varying in different spe-
cimens from greyish or earthy, to hair or even rufous brown) every where
recularly banded with narrow, white (or greyish, or fulvous, or rufous white
as the case may be in different individuals) bars, closest on the ear coverts
and front of neck, (where they may average 0°1 apart) and widest apart on
the scapulars (where the interspaces may average 0°25).

The exterior webs of some of the outer smaller scapulars and of some of
the coverts near the fold of the wing, with large blotches of white or rufous
white which are much more developed in some specimens than in others.
Inner webs of all but of the first four quills, yellowish or rufous white towards
the bases. Wing lining and axillaries, chiefly yellowish white. Tarsal feathers
mottled or irregularly barred whitish and brown. Bars often irregular, and
much white intermingled on the abdominal region and flanks.

415

The eggs which, as might be expected, are pure white and
zlossy, are rather large for the size of the bird. In shape they
vary from almost perfect spheres to broad ovals and are as
nearly as possible like those of the little Owl of Europe (<A.
Nudipes).

_ The few eggs that I have measured, varied from 1°38 to 1°48
in length, and from 1°17 to 1°24, the average of six eggs being’
1:42 by 1:19.

Capt. Hutton says, “I have found the nest of this species,
which I at the time erroneously identified with ‘‘ Mudipes,” in
the neighbourhood of Mussouree, at elevations of between five
and six thousand feet. The eggs, three (or four) innumber, round
and pure white, are deposited in holes in trees, without nest.”’

Capt. Cock, writing from Dhurumsalla, says, “ I found their
nests on three occasions, always in a hollow tree. On two
occasions there were four eggs in each nest, and the other time
four young ones. Nests in hollow hill oaks some twenty to
thirty feet from the ground. There was no lining to the nest,
just a few dead leaves that might have been in the hollow acci-
dentally. Eggs on each occasion varied in shape, but each
nest of eggs retained its own characteristics, thus in one the
egos were all more spherical, in the other more oval.”

Mr. R. Thompson writing from Gurhwal, says that this
species “ breeds in May and June, in holes, in large trees. It
is quite as common as A. Radiata in these forests, but has not
the active sanguinary habits of the other. Many breed in the
oak and fir woods above Khoorpatal. I had the young brought
once in June some three years ago.”’

This species is confined, so far as we yet certainly know, to
the Himalayahs; it is very doubtful whether the Indo-Chinese
bird, is really identical with the Himalayan. It seems most
probable that the Burmese bird either corresponds with the
Japanese race or is a distinct species, (vide 79 bis).

No. 79 Bis. Athene Whiteleyi. Buyru.
THe JAPANESE BARRED OWLET.

I know nothing of this species, but merely introduce it
because Mr. Blyth thinks it probable that this and not Cuculoides
(vera) is the Burmese species, a question that may be easily
decided by residents in Burmah.*

* In this case as in all others, I shall always be happy to examine, name,

and vetwrn any specimens that may be sent me; small birds travel well by
post, in little tin cases, or even in one joint of a bamboo.

AVG

This is what Mr. Blyth says,

“Mr, Gurney has called my attention to certain distinctions
observable in a Japanese race supposed hitherto to be this
species. The tail has only six narrow white bars, one terminal,
and another of them at the extreme base of the feathers, so
that four only remain to constitute the conspicuous barring of
the rectrices ; the markings of the wing primaries and seconda-
ries are also fewer and further apart than in the common
Himalayan bird. In India, the latter is quite peculiar to the
Himalaya, whereas in Burmah, the race considered hitherto as
identical, extends down to the level of the sea shore ; a pair
had their abode in the verandah of Col. Phayre’s residence in
Rangoon. This Indo-Chinese bird requires now to be com-
pared with the Japanese race, which latter seems to be suffi-
ciently distinct to warrant the application of a new name; and
I therefore propose to designate it Athene Whiteleyi. Except
in the comparative fewness of the markings upon the flight
feathers of the wings, and more especially the rectrices, it
entirely resembles the A. Cucwloides. The Chinese species
hitherto referred to A. Cuculoides is probably identical with
that of Japan.”

Besides the Indian species, already enumerated, numerous
other Athene’s, (even restricting the genus, as I would, and
excluding Winov and Glaucidium,) occur in Malayana, in
many cases, each Island having its own distinct form of Owlet,
the extreme proncness to vary in the type form of this genus
being as remarkable as m Accipiter.

I notice a remark of Mr. Blyth’s in the [bis about another
species of Athene. He says “A. sonierati (Temm. Pl. Col.
21) is stated to have been sent from Pondicherry by JZ
Leschenault, but no such bird is known in India or Burma.
Dr. Pucheran identifies it with Strix superciliaris, Vieillot (Rey.
Zool. 1849, :p. 19,) which is therefore different from Ephialtes
Sagittatus, Cassin, (Ibis, 1863, p. 21): and Prof. Kaup desig-
nates it Jeroglaux Supercitiaris, but without mentioning its
particular habitat which was unknown to Mr. Vieillot. The
same individual specimen in the Paris Museum was described
by Temminck, Vieillot, and Lesson.”’

Temminck, I note, says that this bird was sent from Pon-
dicherry by Sonnerat.

It seems to me by no means certain that this species may not
occur in India. Scarcely a week passes without some hitherto
unrecorded species turning up, and 1 therefore quote Temminck’s
remarks and description. ‘This species is nearly allied to
Strix Passerind and Tegmaimi of Wurope ; the tail is much longer

417

than the wings, exceeding them by more than 2:1, (Hnglish,) and
the tarsi and toes are feathered. The length is 11°7, (Zuglish).

“The whole of the upper parts are rufous brown, the feathers
of the head being dotted with very small white spots, and those
of the coverts and the secondaries (?) with large, round, ones.
The primaries and tail feathers are unbarred and unspotted,
unicolorous with the back; the orbital region, face and throat,
are rufous white, the lower parts are pure white, intersected by
transverse, widely separated, brown bars; feathers of the tarsi
and toes, rufous; claws and bill yellow.”

According to the plate, the secondaries and the primaries
above the emarginations are paler, a white spot is shown on
the outer web of the second primary just above the emargina-
tion.

No. 80. Glaucidium Brodiei.* Burton.
THe Pigmy CoLuaARED OWLET.

This species lays in May and June, in hollows of trees. It
makes little or no nest, though a hole that I examined in

* G. BRopriet.

(I have unfortunately mislaid my paper of the measurements of this
species.)

Description. Lores, (the elongated bristle-like shafts of the feathers
brownish black towards the tips,) a supercilium continued backwards over
the ear coverts, (obscure in skins but well marked in the live bird,) a band
under the eye, the chin, and a broad stripe running thence, and from the
base of the lower mandible below the ear coverts, and round the lower half of
the posterior margin of the aural orifice, (where in dry skins it is more or
less hidden by the ear coverts,) the lower part of the throat, and a broad
band at the base of the neck in front, a broad streak running down the
centre of the breast and abdomen, and the lower tail coverts, (the latter with
a subterminal brown band,) pure white. The ear coverts, top of the head,
nape, sides of the neck and a broad band across the throat, in some greyish, in
some rufous, brown, thickly spotted, or im some irregularly banded with tiny
imperfect bars, of greyish, rufous, or fulvous white. A broad, rufous buff,
half collar at the base of the neck behind, including in it two large black or
blackish brown blotches. The back, scapulars, wing coverts, rump and upper
tail coverts, a somewhat clearer brown, of the same shade as the head, regu-
larly barred at intervals, at distances of about 0-2 with very narrow bays,
nearly unicolorous with the spots on the head. The tail, darker brown, with
about seven, narrow, transverse bars, of the same colour as those on the back,
and the feathers narrowly tipped with the same. In some specimens, a few of
the coverts and of the exterior scapulars, have large, white, or fulvous blotches
on the outer webs, but I have others which do not exhibit a trace of these.

418

July, containing four young ones, seemed to have been sparsely
lined with feathers.

The eggs are doubtless four in number, nearly round and
pure white, but I have never yet myself obtained any.

The following is Capt. Hutton’s account of its nidification :

“ It laysits eggs in hollow trees without any preparation of a
nest. On the llth May, 1848, I found three young ones and
an egg just ready to hatch, in a hole of a wild cherry tree.
The egg was nearly round and pure white ; but, being broken, I
could take no measurement ofit. The young ones were clothed
in a soft and pure white down. ‘The old female remained in
the hole while we cut into the tree, and allowed herself to be
captured.”

Mr. R. Thompson writes, ‘This species breeds from May
to July, usually in holes, in oak trees. I have usually met
this bird with three young ones. In September the young are
quite fledged. The note is a took took, took, took, took, took,
repeated often. Another cry said to be uttered by this bird
is the plaintive and melancholy whistle one hears after the
breaking up of the rainy season, in well-wooded hilly districts,
somewhat like the following, ¢wee-twee, repeated at intervals,
and most usually heard at night. This Owlet feeds on young
birds, mice and cicada. I shot one which had just caught and
was eating an adult specimen of Zosterops Palpebrosus. Awful
is the chattering among the many hill tits we have up here,
when they discover the whereabouts of their small though
vigorous enemy. His greatest torment is the little Siva Cya-
nouroptera who, with his incessant chattering, causes him consi-
derable annoyance. The flight is rapid and vigorous, and the
bird is quite as active in the day as it is at night.”

Capt. Hutton writes,—“ The twin whistled note, commonly
attributed to this bird, is really that of the Seops Owl; like
yourself I could have declared that I had shot Brodie’, in the
act of uttering the ‘‘ wheu-whoo”’ note, but in these cases, there
must have been a Scops Owl at hand, and unobserved, for
closer attention teaches me that G'. Brodiei has four notes in its

The quills are brown, with rufous or fulvous white spots on the outer, and
imperfect white bars on the inner webs (except quite at the tips of the pri-
maries) towards the margins. The breast on either side of the white stripe,
and the sides are brown, usually a good deal more rufous than on the upper
parts, with narrow, transverse, fulvous or rufous white bars. The abdomen,
vent and flanks, white, mottled, not barred, with amore or less rufous brown,
the feathers being white with a large blotch on one or both webs towards
the tips, and not unfrequently, if carefully examined, with a circular white
spot im the middle of the brown,

419

whistle, slowly uttered like the other, but the middle note
double, thus, ‘‘ whew—whew-whew—whew ; wy boys too who
are keen observers of these things and prowl about, gun in
hand, sometimes till 10 o’clock at night, positively insist upon
it that the double note belongs to Hphiaites alone, and that G.
Brodiet has only the four notes “ whew—whew-whew—whew.”

I am by no means sure that this species docs as Dr. Jerdon
remarks, live chiefly on insects. One shot in the valley of the
Surjoo, about sundown, had a Phylloscopus in his claws, the
head so mauled, that the species could not be made out, and
none of the stomachs of three other specimens of which I have
notes contained insects.

This little Owl is very watchful; by day at any rate he sits
motionless, doubled up on a considerable sized branch, looking
like a knot or excrescence ; but, point in his direction, and he is
off like a shot, nay as a rule, the moment your eyes fix on him,
he is aware that he has been recognized and darts away.

These wee birds are as daring as the Falconets. I once wit-
nessed a curious encounter between one and a Jay. I was
sitting on Lurya Kanta, beyond Nyneetal, watching one, from
behind another tree. A Jay (G. Bispecularis) was threading in
and out of the branches, as is their wont, when arriving on the
bough where the Owlet sat, he, for some reason best known to
himself, gave three or four lolloping, sideway hops, and for all
the world like a school boy at play with a comrade, went bump
up against the little ball of feathers. He did not peck at her,
or attack her, as being a corvine bird he was bound to do, but
flopped against her sideways. ‘This upset the diminutive
Minerva’s sense of propriety and gravity, she opened her wings,
to avoid falling, swore at large, (a squeaky, scratchy, combina-
tion of hiss and chatter) flew about a yard, wheeled round and
fell on the Jay’s head in a style, that sent him to the right about
screaming, after which with sundry ejaculations and many
shakes of her feathers, the pigmy settled down again exactly
on her former perch. Nothing more was seen of the Jay; but
I expect he went and told tales, for soon after a mob of Pari
and Machlolophi worked their way up into the tree, and soon
began reviling her ladyship, in such very improper language,
that with a sudden dart, she disappeared down the khud, almost
without a second flap of her wings. ;

As far as is yet known, this species is a purely Indian one,
and is found only on the Himalayahs, the IKhasya Hills,
(whence I have received a specimen) and the “ mountainous
interior of the 'Tenasserim Provinces where Col. Tickell obtain-
ed it.”

420

IT am somewhat inclined to believe that a second species of
this exists, which I named G. immacu/atus, owing to the almost
total absence of spots on the upper surface, but my only speci-
men has not yet been returned by Mons. Verreaux to whom I
sent it, and it way be only the young of the present species.

Capt. Hutton I may mention, thinks also that there is deci-
dedly a second species, the one being very much more spotted
than the other.

No. 81. Ninox Scutellatus.* Rarrt.
Ture Brown Hawk Own.

Comparatively common as this Owl doubtless is in some
localities, I have been unable to find any record of its nidifica-
tion.

* Ninox ScurreLLatvs.

Dimensions. (Z have measured no specimens of this in the flesh, the
following are from Mr. F. R. Blewitt.)

Female. Length, 11 to 12:1 inches. Expanse, 27 to 29. Wing, 8°6 to
925. Tail, 5°1 to 5°4. Mid toe to ae of claw, 12 to 1°25 ; its claw, straight,
0°52 to 0°55 ; hind toe, 0°6 to 0°72; its claw, O44 to 0°47 ; inner toe, O'8 to
1-0; its claw, 0°55 to O'61. Bill straight, from edge of cere to point, 0°5 to
0: 56; from gape, 0°9 to 1:00; width at g gape, 0'8 to 0: 9; height at front, at
margin of cere, 0°3; length ae cere on conti 0°32 to 0: 36: ; closed wings
oe to, from Within 1 of, to, end of tail. Lower tail coverts fall short of End
of tail, by from 1°82 to 2°25. The 4th primary is the longest. The Ist is
from 9 to 2°2, the 2nd from 0°68 to 0°82, and the 3rd, 0°05 to 0°16 shorter.
Exterior tail feathers, 0°15 to 0'4 shorter than central ones.

Description. Legs and feet yellow to reddish yellow, in some specimens,
probably young birds, greenish grey, Jrides bright yellow. Bi//, blackish ;
the ridge ofthe culmen, pale horny yellow. Cere, greenish; im oue specimen
tinged with yellow.

Plumage. Uores, forehead, and chin, white; the elongated bristle-like
shafts of some of the feathers blackish. Ear coverts, brown, ashy at the
base. Top of the head, back and sides of the neck, ashy brown. Throat
and front of the neck, slightly more rufous brown, streaked with fulvous.
In some specimens, the fulvous greatly predominates, and these parts may
then be said to be light fulvous streaked with greyish brown, Back, scapu-
lars, lesser and median, and greater secondary wing coverts, tertiaries, and
most of the secondaries, rump and upper tail coverts, brown, varying much
in shade in different individuals. Some being a greyer and more dove
brown, others more rufous, but alw: ays more aan on the coverts, and
generally palest or clearest on the tertiaries. The exterior scapulars with
larger or smaller, pure white bars, sometimes on both, and sometimes upon
one web only. Tn some specimens conspicueus even when the bird is at
rest, in others only visible by lifting the feathers. The tertiaries are barred
on both webs with white; the tail is pale grey, greyish brown, or pale brown,

421

Mr. BR. Thompson tells me that it is “ common in parts of
the deep-wooded valleys of the Paltee and Kotree Dhoons, where
I dare say the bird breeds. I have frequently heard the
mournful cries which Jerdon has stated to be uttered by this
bird. I have also I think heard similar cries uttered by the
same bird, or by Otus Vulgaris, at Nyneetal and Paoree.”

As regards geographic distribution out of India, I think a
careful comparison of specimens will be necessary, before we
can conclusively assume the specific identity of all the eastern
Asiatic races. At the same time as my description will show,
Indian specimens vary very greatly, both in the general tone
of colour, and in the extent of the white on the scapulars.

As regards size too, the differences are considerable, and
although (not having by me any measurements recorded in the
flesh of this sex,) JI am not sure of the fact, my impression is,
that the males are very much smaller than the females, not
exceeding 10°5 inches in length.

Throughout the plains of the N. W. Provinces, the Punjaub
and Rajpootana, this species is almost unknown. Once and
once only I killed a specimen, in a large, jungly grove in the
Etawah district, when busy hawking insects after dusk.

No. 81 Bis. Ninox Affinis.* Tyruer.
THe ANDAMAN Hawx Owt.

I admit this bird as a distiact species, with some hesitation.
I am by no means convinced, that Col. Tytler’s bird is really

white at the extreme tip, with five, regular, transverse, brown bars, darker or
lighter in different individuals, the basal one of which is more or less com-
pletely hidden by the upper tail coverts, and which average about 0°4 in
breadth. The primaries, their greater coverts and the winglet, are generally
somewhat darker brown than the rest of the wing, but the former are paler
on the outer webs. All the quills are banded paler, somewhat obsoletely
towards the tips and on the outer webs, but very conspicuously on the inner
webs above the tips. The breast, abdomen, sides, flanks, vent and lower tail
coverts are pure white, the breast with broad, rufous brown stripes, and the
flanks and abdomen with large, more or less heart-shaped, spots of the same
colour towards the tips of the feathers. The lower tail coverts, sometimes
spotless, and sometimes with traces of a few pale brown, arrow-head,
transverse bars ; tarsal and tibial plumes, mottled white, pale fulvous and
brown. One or other of these colours in some specimens the white, in others
the fulvous or the brown greatly predominating. Axillaries, white or pale
fulvous, more or less imperfectly but broadly barred with brown or pale
rufous brown. Edge of the wing just above the base of the primaries,
white. Wing, lining, mingled white, brown, and pale fulvous.
* Ninox AFFINIs.

(Lam indebted to my friend Col. Tytler, for the following dimensions and

description, taken by him from a shin in his museum.)

422

smaller than the males of the Indian race are, and though the
appearance of the lower surface of the Andaman bird does
differ somewhat from specimens of the Indian bird in Col.
Tytler’s museum, I should like to compare a series of the
one, with a series of the other before finally assenting to the
validity of the new species. Let, however, Col. Tytler, (who
has most obligingly furnished me with notes on this and other
Andamanese species) speak for himself.

“This species was first procured at Haddoa Point, Port
Blair, Andamans. I named it Affnis from its strong resemblance
to the Indian NV. Scutedlatus, which latter is larger in all its
proportions than the Andaman bird, and in its general colour
is lighter; the feet of the Indian bird are larger and coarser,
and the whole of the under surface, considerably less rufous
than NV. Affinis, but the most striking difference is in the
markings of the abdomen, and flanks of the Indian bird, which
from the points of each feather being brown, gives those parts a
spotted instead of a streaked appearance which the Andaman
bird has,” (vide detailed description).

Capt. Beavan says in the Ibis, “Closely allied to Minox
Scutellatus, (Raffles) but very considerably smaller, and differ-
ing also in being much more rufous on the under parts, and
darker generally above. Not uncommon at Aberdeen point,
Port Blair, in heavy jungles, and thick forests.”

Nothing is known of the nidification, and nothing further of
the habits of this species.

Dimensions. Length, 10. Expanse, 183? Wing, 6°9. Tail from vent,
4A. Tarsus (covered with hair-like feathers,) 1. Foot, (covered with stiff
bristles,) greatest length, 2°1(?); greatest width, 2°2 (?); mid toe to root of
claw, 1:05 ; its claw, along curve, 0°55 ; hind toe, 0°55 ; its claw, along curve,
0°45 ; inner toe, 0°85 ; its claw along curve 0°45. Bill from gape, 0°8 ; width at
gape, 0°7. The 4th primary is the longest, the first is 2°l and the 2nd
O'7 shorter. The lower tail coverts fall short by 2°4 of the end of the tail.

Description. All the upper surface, rufous brown with the slaty bases
of the lax feathers shewing through in many places, thus giving it more or
less, a slaty tinge. In the tail feathers, there are six well defined blackish
bars, the tips of all are brown; the inner webs of the quill feathers are dark ;
chin, albescent; throat, breast, and abdomen rufous; breast, abdomen and
flanks, striped, that is to say, each feather being albescent at the margins,
rufous at the tips and darker near the shaft, gives the appearance of being
streaked ; vent, and under tail coverts, pure white; thighs, tarsi and under
wing coverts, rufous ; toes, thickly covered with thick strong bristles, of an
albescent brown color. Claws at the base, albescent, the rest, blackish slate,
the inner webs, of all the primaries, excepting the first feather are faintly
barred with dark towards the point half, and with albescent buff towards the
basal half, giving the wings from beneath a speckled albescent appearance ;
the face and a little of the forehead, albescent ; nostrils and base of upper
mandible protected by stiff lax feathers, white, with a black shaft. Bill, yel-
lowish horny at point, greenish slate towards the base, irides, bright yellow.

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