THE RAPTORES OF THE PUNJAiJ. [^ 



BY 



(.;. H. Donald, b\ Z. S. 



( With 2 Plates.) 



The writer has beeu asked, frequently, to write a small pamphlet 

 dealing with the Birds of Prey of the Punjab, in simple language, 

 and in such a way, if possible, as will save the layman from wading 

 through pages ot printed matter couched more or less in technical 

 languoge, to arrive at the species of any particular specimen. 



in a Province, rich in llaptores, it is strange how very little 

 is really known about them and since even a scanty knowledge of 

 the birds and beasts around one, materially enhance the joys of 

 camp life, manj^ more people would take up the subject, if it was 

 possible to do so, without taking up too much of one's time. 



The Birds of Prey lend themselves particularly in this respect 

 and considering the total number of species in the Province is 

 under three score, it is by no means a comprehensive subject, and 

 t do not think it is an exaggeration to state that quite 60 per 

 centum of them can be recognised high up in the air, and very 

 nearly the same percentage could be identified by touch alone, 

 blindfolded, from skins of normal specimens, with a little practice. 



There are now numbers of books which make the study of our 

 feathered friends a pleasure, but very few, unfortunately, do more 

 than just touch on the Birds of Prey, and yet they amply repay a 

 little trouble on their behalf. 



In this paper, it is not the intention of the writer to go into 

 minute details, and colouring will not be described at all, except 

 in a very general way, or where some species displays some peculiar 

 characteristic in that respect, which is also a constant feature. 



Most Raptoi'es change their entire dress from the nestling to the 

 adult stage and hence colouration is a broken reed to depend on. 



It will be seen from the keys appended that there are other and 

 much more reliable factors than colouration to go on, for the 

 identification of species. 



From the keys here given, it will be possible not only to place 

 any given specimen in its proper genus, by merely looking at its 

 legs, head, beak and wings but in about 90 per cent, of cases, to 

 also name its species. There are some half a dozen species which 

 will need a closer study of their characteristics than will be found in 

 this paper, but since the search will then only be confined to one 

 of two species in each case, it reduces one's work to a minimum. 



The actual details and measurements here given lay no claim to 

 originality. They are all to be found in various books of reference, 



