THE BIRDS OF PREY OF THE PUNJAB. 647 



3 consecutive years on a very high deodar tree in front 

 of the Forest Bungalow at Nachar, on the Hindustan - 

 Tibet Road, and reared one youngster on each occasion. 



They utilised the same nest each time — but 

 evidently added to it every year as I watched them 

 carrying sticks to it. On one occasion only have I 

 seen birds in the dark plumage breeding and strangely 

 enough both were in the same plumage. In every 

 other case the parents have been in the light phase and 

 the youngsters have been dark. 



The flight is very kite-like and in the dark phas-e 

 it might be very easily mistaken for a kite, except 

 that the tail is never forked. 



In the light phase the bird appears to be almost pme 

 white below with black margins to the wings, like the 

 White Scavenger Vulture. 



When soaring the wings are frequently slightly bent, 

 like a kite's and the flight is very light and wavering, 

 frequently changing direction or swerving from its 

 course, and the tirst joint of the wing is constantly 

 being bent and straightened. This species lives chiefly 

 on small birds and rodents but does not despise 

 lizards and frogs. 



It breeds in April and May and is said to lay two 

 eggs, greenish white with generally, but few 

 colom'ed markings. (Blanford.) A very noisy bird in 

 the breeding season, with a shrill piercing call. 



Type D. 

 Family FALCONIB^. 

 Subfamily FALCONING. 

 Genus Ictincetus. 



No. 1210. Idinaetus malayensis. The Black Eagle. 



Characteristics. Claws not much curved, inner equal to or longer 



than hind claw ; primaries in closed wing reaching 

 to end of tail ; inner toe thicker than middle toe and 

 nearly as long ; outer toe very short. 



Colouration, Almost black throughout ; lores whitish ; tail 



feathers with grey mottling above and whitish below ; 

 lower parts sometimes very deep brown. 



Young birds appear to vary slightly with regard 

 to the amount of, and the colour of, the marking on 

 the head and mider parts. On the whole the young 

 only differ in being a little browner, in having a 

 lighter coloured head and some marking on the lower 

 parts. The extent and colour of this marking varies 

 a good deal, probably with locality, but whatever be 

 the marking the curious formation of the foot is a 

 sure index to this species. 



" Bill greenish horny, black at tip ; cere, gape and 

 feet bright yellow; irides dark brown. (Blanford.) 



Meamrements. Length 27" to 31"; tail 13" to 14"; wing 2\\" to 24'; 



tarsus 3J"; expanse about 6 feet. 



