TRE BIRDS OF PREY OF THE PUNJAB. 



1017 



Measurements. 

 Habits, etc. 



lanceolate feathers, far less distiDct than in leuconj- 

 phus, and the end of the tail is wedge-shaped, the 

 middle feathers being considerably longer than the 

 outer." (Blanford.) 



In the young the tail feathers are "white more or 

 less mottled and edged with brown."' 



Female.— " length 34 ; tail 13; wing 26: tarsus 4^ ; 

 bill from gape 3. Males are rather less, wing i^4'5." 



This is a winter visitor to India and by no means 

 common. I have seen the bird on two or three occa- 

 sions on the Chenab Eiver, near Riasi, in Kashmir 

 State, and shot the only one I have ever had in my 

 hand in Bhadarwar, in November of 1898. 



One huge bird which I took to be this species I 

 saw flying up the Beas River in Kulu, in April 1916. 

 Unfortunately I only got a glimpse as it passed 

 between some trees, but in that glimpse I noticed the 

 great deal of white about the tail, which, together 

 with the very dark colouring of the rest of the bird 

 and its immense size, made me feel pretty sure that 

 it tvas this species. 



As already stated I am rather difhdent in placing 

 this species in Type G. as Mr. Hume says that the 

 feathering of the tarsus in the two specimens he 

 shot extended to from five-eighths to three-fifths 

 of its length, but Blanford makes no mention of this. 



It cannot, however, be mistaken for any other spe- 

 cies. From the true Eagles, which it resembles in 

 size, it can be differentiated by its tarsi which are 

 not feathered to the toes, back and front, and from 

 H. leucoryphus by the shape and the amount of white 

 on the tail. 



It appears to resemble the preceding species in its 

 habits generally and nothing appears to be known of 

 its nidification in this country. 



Genus PolioaMtus. 



No. 1226. Polioai'tus ichthycetus. The Large Grey-headed Fishing-Eagle. 



Characteristics, 



Colotiration. 



Size medium, wing about 20". Tarsi feathered 

 for about one-third of its length, scutellated behind 

 and in front, reticullated on the sides. Claws 

 rounded beneath. Basal three-fourths ol all tail 

 feathers white in adults and mottled in the young, 

 including the two central feathers, terminal 2 to 3 

 inches dark brown. 



Head and neck all round grey, the crown and 

 nape being light brown. The grey feathers often 

 with whitish shaft stripes. Quills very dark brown, 

 almost black ; wing-coverts, back, rump and upper 

 tail-coverts dark brown, as also the terminal band 

 on the tail ; Upper back a little paler and breast a 

 little paler still. Abdomen, flanks and basal three- 

 fourths of tail pure white. 



" Young birds are light brown, with pale edges to 

 the feathers, those of the head, neck, upper back, 



