AQUILINE. 61 



found throughout the greater part of India, except the more moist 

 and wooded portions. It is unknown on the Malabar Coast, and in 

 Lower Bengal, and does not extend into the Indo-Chinese 

 countries. It prefers tlie dry open plains, and cultivated land, 

 especially if there are hills near. It is rather rare in the Carnatic, 

 but very abundant in the Deccan, in Central India, and the upper 

 plains of India above Monghyr. Till an hour or two after sunrise 

 it may be seen seated on the top of some tree, and in the very 

 centre, and nearly concealed from view ; after which it sallies 

 forth, sailing about at a moderate height over the fields, valleys, 

 and ravines, or circling high in the air with kites, vultures, and 

 other birds of prey. It frequently enters cantonments and villages, 

 and carries off chickens, ducklings, or other poultry. It feeds 

 occasionally on hares, partridges, and other game ; also on rats, 

 lizards, snakes, and even insects ; and will always descend to the 

 fresh carcase of a sheep. It, however, subsists habitually by 

 robbing kites, falcons, and other birds of prey of their earnings ; 

 and may often be seen pursuing a kite with great impetuosity, and 

 always succeeds in getting the desired morsel. 



The Wokhab is very troublesome in hawking on this account, mis- 

 taking the jesses for some prey, and pursuing the Falcon, some- 

 times drivino; it back to the fist of the falconer, at other times 

 frightening it fairly and irretrievably away. For an interesting 

 account of this Eagle pursuing a Falcon, vide, J. A. S., XV. 8. I 

 once saw a pair of Wokkabs kill a florikin (Otis aurita) which I had 

 put up, and at which I had slipped a Laggar. One of them made 

 a swoop, and missed, the other instantly followed, and struck it to 

 the ground ; but riding up quickly, I prevented it from carrying 

 the bird ofi", and secured it quite dead, with its back laid bare by the 

 powerful hind claw of the Eagle. I have often had Wokhabs alive. 

 One in particular got very tame. It used to snatch morsels from 

 the Imperial Eagle kept along with it, to which the latter in general 

 quietly submitted. It was a very noisy bird, frequently uttering 

 shrill and wild screams. It had, moreover, a great share of cu- 

 riosity, walking up to and carefully and thoroughly examining every 

 new comer I placed in the same apartment. 



