Page:Illustrations of Indian Ornithology.djvu/17

Rh of the back, by the less development of the mesial markings of the feathers of the lower plumage, and by the paler tint of the tibial and tarsal plumes.

At all ages the feathers of the nape are margined with whitish (or pale brown in some) and their bases are conspicuously white. Bill plumbeous, black at tip—cere and feet pale greenish yellow—irides bright gamboge yellow. Dimensions—Length of a male 26 to 27 inches—wing from flexure 17½ to 18 inches—tail 11—bill straight to gape 2—tarsus 3½—centre digit $2 1⁄10$— do. claw $1 2⁄10$ Length of female 29 to 30 inches—wing 20¼—tail 12½ to 13.

The large Hawk-Eagle is dispersed over the whole continent of India from the Himalayas to Cape Comoriu, but cannot be said to be an abundant species, though few districts are not occasionally frequented or visited by a pair of them. It chiefly affects the more wooded and jungly districts, and especially the neighbourhood of hills and mountain ranges. It is much on the wing, sailing at a great height; and making its appearance at certain spots in the district it frequents always about the same hour. It may often be seen seated on the summit of a lofty tree, or on some overhanging rock. I have observed it chiefly on the Neilgherries, along the range of western and northern ghauts; also though more sparingly in the bare Deccan and Carnatic. The individual from which the present drawing was taken was killed in Guindy park at Madras.

It preys by preference on various kinds of game—hares, jungle fowl, spur fowl and partridges, and even on pea fowl—also on ducks, herons and other water fowl, and according to the testimony of Shikarees it has been known to strike down the douk, (Tantalus leucocephalus.) Most native Falconers too have stories to relate of its having carried off a favorite hawk. On one occasion on the Neilgherries, I observed it stoop successively at a spiu"-fowl, hare, and pea-fowl, each time unsuccessfully however, owing to the thickness of the jungle. A pair were also wont to resort to a village at the hills and carry off fowls. Mr. Elliot too mentions "that he once saw a pair of them nearly surprise a peacock, pouncing on him on the ground." Great havoc was committed among several pigeon-houses on the Neilgherries by a pair of these Eagles, and indeed I heard that one or two were completely devastated by them. The manner in which they captured the pigeons was described to me by two or three eye witnesses to be as follows:—On the pigeons taking flight, one of the Eagles pounced down from a vast height on the flock, but directing its swoop rather under the pigeons, than directly at them. Its mate watching the moment when alarmed by the first swoop the pigeons rise in confusion, pounces unerringly on one of them and carries it off. The other Eagle having risen again also makes another stoop which is