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it cannot fly far, he attaches to its feet a bundle of 

 feathers, from which hang a number of fine hair nooses. 

 He then flies this lure bird. Every bird of prey in the 

 neighbourhood espies it and, seeing the bundle of 

 feathers and remarking the laboured flight, jumps to 

 the conclusion that it is carrying booty, and promptly 

 gives chase with the object of relieving it of its burden. 

 The first robber to arrive is caught in one of the nooses. 

 The tawny eagle is not above feeding upon carrion. 

 It has not the pluck of Bonelli's eagle, but is apparently 

 not the contemptible coward it is made out to be by 

 some writers. A few weeks ago I noticed, high up in a 

 farash tree, the platform of sticks and branches that 

 does duty for the nest of this species. I sent my 

 climber to find out what was in the nest. While he 

 was handling the two eggs it contained, the mother 

 eagle swooped down upon him, scratched his head 

 severely, and flew off with his turban. As she sped 

 away, her prize attracted the notice of some kites, who 

 at once attacked her. In the melee which ensued, the 

 puggaree dropped to the ground, to the joy of its lawful 

 owner and the disgust of the combatants. I must add 

 that I was not an eye-witness of the encounter ; I how- 

 ever saw the marks of the bird's claws on my climber's 

 scalp. 



