64 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



indistinctly; plumage beneath reddish brown, palest on the feathers 

 of the tarsi, and the feathers streaked with dark brown. 



The young bird is white beneath, head and neck also with 

 white edges to the feathers and the brown of the upper parts 

 lighter, and the white markings on the wing more distinct ; the 

 upper tail coverts also are whitish, and the tail distinctly barred on 

 both webs. There is very generally a white shoulder spot at all 

 ases, and the forehead is white in some ; cere and base of bill 

 yellow ; feet yellow ; irides orange brown. 



Length, male, 21 to 22 inches ; wing 16^ ; tail 8; female, 23 ; wing 

 17; tail 9; tarsus 2^; mid toe and claw 3^; bill at gape If; 

 height not |, — wings reach nearly to the end of the tail. 



This dwarf Eagle is found throughout India, frequenting groves 

 of trees, gardens, and cultivated land. It occasionally pounces 

 from its perch on the top of a tree, but generally circles in the air, 

 and stoops on squirrels, rats, doves, pigeons, chickens, &c. It 

 generally seizes its prey on the ground, now and then on the wing. 

 Layard mentions having seen one in Ceylon pounce on a Bulbul 

 in a bush. It often hunts along with kites in cantonments and 

 villages, and the blame of carrying off chickens, pigeons, &c., is 

 unjustly attributed to them occasionally, for, I believe, it is generally 

 this Eagle that is in fault. The crows readily distinguish it, and 

 often pursue it clamorously. It breeds in this country. 



Out of India this Eagle is found in Western Asia, North 

 Africa, and the South of Europe. 



A very nearly allied species is the Aquila morphnoides, Gould, 

 from Australia. Another Eagle from the" same country is the 

 wedge-tailed Eagle, A. audax, which has a very wedged tail, and 

 has been separated by Kaup under the name of Uroaetus. 



We now come to the 2nd group, or Kite Eagles, to which we aro 

 perhaps led by the Aquila hastata. 



Gen. Neopus, Hodgson. 



Syn. Heteropus, Hodgs.; Oni/chaetus, Kaup.; Ictinaetus, Jerdon. 



Char. — Bill rather small, slight, bending from the base, much 

 hooked at tip, with a slight festoon in the upper mandible ; cere 

 rather large ; nostrils ovoid, oblique ; wings very long, equal to 



