THE BIRDS OF PREY OF THE PUNJAB. 1013 



bases of the feathers showing through which is 

 usually very conspicuous, and there is also a light 

 patch on the upper portion of each wing, which is 

 also conspicuous both when flying and sitting. Quills 

 brown above and whitish beneath, pnre white near 

 their bases. 



Chin and throat white with three dark brown 

 stripes, one on either side and one in the centre 

 of the chin. 



" Cere, gape and base of lower mandible orange 

 terminal portion of both mandibles black ; irides 

 pale yellowish-white in adults, brown in young birds. 

 Legs and feet dingy orange yellow." (Blanford). 

 N.B. — Punjab birds have, as often as not, absolutely 

 pure white eyes with no sign of any yellow. 

 Measurements. " Length about 17 ; tail 7 ; wing 11-5 ; tarsus 2-3 ; 



mid toe without claw 1-3 ; bill from gape 1*3." 

 (Blanford.) 

 Habits, etc. This is a very common bird in the Province and 



to be found commonly perched on telegraph wires 

 along the railway line, or on the tops of trees or 

 bushes, and frequently on the ground, in any fairly 

 open country. Not to be found in thick jungle or 

 high up in the Himalayas, though I have seen this 

 species as far into the mountain ranges as Kulu, but 

 at altitudes not exceeding 5,000 feet. 



In the spring and early summer this is a very 

 talkative bird and its not unmusical and somewhat 

 plaintive call may be frequently heard, as the bird 

 soars. It soars well and during the beginning of 

 the breeding season is often to be seen high up, as 

 often as not with bigger birds of prey. 



In flight it somewhat resembles a sparrow-hawk 

 but the wings are longer than the latter and the 

 tail does not project so much as in the hawk. 



Seen from below, the colouring is a light silvery 

 grey on the wings, the body being a little darker. 

 The wings are held on the same plane as the body 

 and appear narrower and longer than that of any of 

 the Hawks, and not so pointed and shorter than that 

 of any of the Falcons. 



It lives for the most part on insects, lizards, mice 

 and frogs, but will attack a bird in difliculties, or 

 wounded, with great dash and is a very easily 

 caught species, in a net, in consequence. 



I had a curious experience with this species on 

 one occasion. I had set a net, with a pigeon for a 

 bait, for a Booted Eagle, which had already fed and 

 was not at all keen on coming down. After waiting 

 about ten minutes I was on the point of giving him 

 up and picking up my net and had actually moved 

 out of my hiding place when a Mottled Wood-Owl 

 {Syrnium ocellatuni) flew into the net after the pigeon 

 and while I ran forward to catch the owl, a White- 

 eyed Buzzard Eagle came from the opposite side, 

 flew over the pigeon and fiercely attacked the owl, 



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