THE liAl'TORES OF I' HE I'UyjAE. 24^, 



bold or ijraceful. Wings hoUl level with the body and often, like 

 a Kite's, the tips of the primaries appear to be on a lower level than 

 the body, and bent front the wrist, backwards and downwards. The 

 nsual plumage is not unlike " Neophron", i.e.. a dirty white throughout the 

 untlerparts, with a blaek marginal band running along the tips of the 

 wings, about 1" or so wide. The back is a mixture of dark brown and black 

 as also the upper portions of the wings. Tail projects well beyond the 

 tertiary quills. 



Sphactm Umnartux ^'""listakable in Might Wings very short and 

 Spizactmnepalensh i-omul. held very far back and the tai projecting 

 tar beyond the Inie of wings. The underparts may 

 be a uniform light brown or, in old birds, the breast may be almost as white 

 ».&mH.fasciatus,h\\tTi\OT& mottled with dark brown spots. Soars well 

 and is often seen to give several short sharp flai>s after a bout of circling on 

 steady pinions. Size about that of a Kite. Usually found over heavy 

 pine or oak forests. 



CircaetuA gallicus. — A very light silvery brown throughout, almost a 

 greyish white sometimes. Soars well. Wings held slightly back, the 

 tips curled well up. If seen near, a dark streak will be noticed near the 

 chin and another black line near the extreme end of the wing. Generally 

 found over grassy plains and is one of the live Birds of Prey which hover. 

 At close quarters his breast Avill be seen to be pure white, closely barred 

 and mottled with brown. Upper parts dark grey. 



Large birds, black and white or dark-grey and 

 Vultures. white. Very large birds with a true Vulturine 



flight. Colouring, chiefly a dirty creamy white 

 dypsfulvus throughout with a deep band of black along the 



Gyps himalnyensis edge of the wings. Young birds vary. 



Smaller than the above with a similar flight. 

 (ryps indicus Predominating colour black or a very dark 



Gyps tenuirostris grey with a line of white on the wings. In 



Pseudoyyps bengalensis many cases the wings appear to be half black 



and the other half white, mixed with grey. 

 The last species displays a great deal of white on the back, as he turns. 



These Fishing Eagles are not given to 

 Polioaetus ichthyaetus soaring and are usually to be found sitting on 

 Polioa'etus hiimilis trees overlooking some mountain, river or 



stream, or flying up and down it. The flight 

 is rapid and the beats of the wing sharp and full. Colouring a deep grey 

 ou the back. Light grey on the head and neck and upper breast, fading 

 to white on the abdomen. 



Pandion /laliaetus.— The Osprey is not often found soaring high in 

 the heavens, though he might easily be seen circling over a tank or 

 jheeL Underparts white with brown streaks and mottlings. AVings 

 and back dark grey or brown, quills blackish. W^ings held in a line 

 with the body, often slightly bent from the wrist backwards and down- 

 wards. Much given to hovering and dropping head first, like a King- 

 fisher, right under water, whence he will emerge and almost invariablj' 

 shake himself as he rises out of the water. 



This disposes of most of the bigger birds and leaves the Falcons, Hawks 

 and Harriers and the little Black Winged Kite. 



JElanus ccendeus. — About the size of a pigeon, but with longer wings. 

 Colour black and white. Underparts of the body and half the wings 

 white. The quills black and the upperparts a very dark-grey to black. 

 Flight jerky, with long full beats of the wings. Not given to soaring but 

 a past master in the art of hovering. Found over scrub jungle as a rule. 



