THE BIRDS OF PREY OF THE PUNJAB. 



Explanation of Plate I. 



Figs, la & 2a 

 Figs. 1. & la ) 

 Characteristics. / 



Figs. 1 & 2 represent a bird flying directly overhead. 



,, ,, approaching on a very slightly lower plane. 

 Wings fairly long, and curving upwards, and some- 

 times backwards, from the body. The fore-part of 

 the wing forms an even and regular line from the 

 body to the tip of the primaries, whereas the hinder 

 portion, i.e., the tips of the wing feathers come round 

 in a slight curve, downwards from the primaries 

 to about the centre and then slightly upwards. 

 Where the tertiaries meet the body there is a regular 

 triangle of light. The tail is long and protrudes well 

 beyond the point where the tertiaries meet the body. 



Characteristics 

 applicable to : — 



Figs. 2 & 2a 

 Characteristics. 



Characteristics 

 applicable to :— 



Aquila chrysaetus, Hiera'etus fasciatus, Ictinaetus 

 malayensis and Circaetus gallicus. 



The Black Vulture {Otoyyiis cabms), all the species 

 of Spizaetu and Spilornis cheela, are given to soaring 

 with their wings held in a higher plane than is the 

 body, as depicted in Fig. la, but the shape of the 

 wings is different to the above, in either case. 



Wings long and held on the same plane as is the 

 body, except the primaries which may curve upwards 

 near the extreme tips. The fore-part of the wing 

 frequently uneven and the back, where the ter- 

 tiaries meet the body, curve inwards less than in 

 the preceding Fig, and make less of a triangle. 



Tail apparentl}^ shorter and protruding much less 

 than in the above. The tail is often spread out like 

 a fan in which case it appears shorter still. 



AD the species of Aquila, except A. chrysaetus, the 

 B'isli Eagles {HaliaHus) Raliastur, and to some 

 extent Bvteo. 



