Indian Birds 



more often than seen. Its note, which must 

 be famiHar to all who have camped in India, is 

 a single hoot, which is repeated monotonously 

 at regular intervals of about ten seconds. 



139. Glaucidium radiatum : The Jungle 

 Owlet. (F. 1184), (J-78)>(-n.) 



This owl is very like 135 in appearance, and 

 has a peculiar protracted call which must be 

 famiHar to those who have camped in the U. P. 



It does not appear to occur in the N.W. 

 F. P., the Punjab, the Deccan, or Bombay. 



140. Pandion haliae'tus : The Osprey. (F. 

 1189), (J.4o),(-V.) 



This looks very like a kite when seen as it 

 perches on a stone, but is distinguishable from 

 the kite by the fact that its head and neck are 

 white, save for a broad dark band which runs 

 from the eye down the side of the neck. 



When seeking for food, however, nothing is 

 easier than to identify the osprey. Like the 

 pied kingfisher the great bird poises itself in 

 the air on quivering wings high above the 

 water. Suddenly its wings close and it drops 

 down like a faUing stone and disappears into 

 the water with a huge splash, to emerge a 

 second or two later with a fish in its talons. 



In the cold weather the osprey is to be seen 

 176 



