Nidification of certain Indian Birds. 201 



uot have been more than ten days old. We alighted half a 

 mile before the tree was reached, as Ungiin declared that 

 the parent birds had become extremely wary, owing to his 

 frequent inspections, and that, if we wanted to catch either 

 of them at home, the utmost caution was necessary. A few 

 minutes^ walk under cover of the avenue of trees which grow 

 so luxuriantly along the water^s edge, enabled us to descry 

 one of the parent birds at an immense height in the air, 

 making gyrations on almost motionless wings over the tree 

 on which the nest was built. 



Now, as A. ncEvia and A. hast at a had both been known to 

 breed in this very locality in former years, identification was a 

 matter of the utmost importance^; so after having a look at the 

 young bird, which was carefully deposited in the nest again 

 pro tem., and leaving one of our party to act as guardian, and 

 to cook for the others, we drove on to nest No. 2, which was 

 on the opposite bank of the canal. 



Here, again, Ave were equally unfortunate, as both the 

 parent birds were circling overhead, now and again making 

 wide gyrations, and quartering the jungle Harrier-fashion, 

 apparently in search of food. Arrived under the tree, we 

 found our young friend standing bolt upright in the nest, 

 peering down upon us unwelcome visitors in the most comical 

 manner. It was now nearly midday ; and the heat was so 

 terrific that I could hardly touch the barrels of my gun, and 

 the furnace blast which was fast rising would soon preclude 

 the possibility of my doing any thing further till the after- 

 noon. 



After remaining concealed (as best I could) for a consi- 

 derable length of time, during which period the Eaglet called 

 lustily for food, and was frequently responded to by the 

 parent birds, one of my scouts gave the alarm, which put me 

 on the alert. Almost simultaneously with the warning I saw 

 one of the parent birds swoop into the nest from the opposite 



* I should mention that my men had not met with a single Spotted 

 Eagle on this occasion. Not only had the largest trees in this neighbour- 

 hood been cut down, but the country was sufficiently parched to drive the 

 marsh-loving A. ncpvia into more genial regions. 



