14. HABITS AND HAUNTS OF BIRDS 
ing on isolated trees. It laysa single white egg. The crested serpent 
eagles (Spi/ornis) are found in forests and well-watered tracts. S. cheela 
breeds in the warm sub-Himalayan valleys. The nest is placed about 
half way up a tree near water, and the eggs two in number are slightly 
spotted. They migrate to the well-watered plains in the cold weather. 
The others are probably permanent residents were found. 
Fishing eagles, (Pandion, Polioetus, Halietus).—These ave 
always found in the neighbourhood of water. They build enormous nests 
of sticks on high trees. The osprey (P. halietus) probably breeds in 
this country, but the eggs have not as yet been taken. They are very 
handsomely blotched. The other fishing eagles are permanent residents 
where they occur, and lay unspotted white eggs. 
Buzzards, (Buteo, Archibuteo, Poliornis)—Of the true buz- 
zards (Buteo) only one, the long-legged buzzard (B. canescens) is known 
to breed in India. It breeds in the far north-west. The others are con- 
fined to the mountains of India and affect well-wooded slopes. Their 
eggs are boldly blotched. Of the genus <Arechibuteo nothing is known. 
The two species that occur in India (A. hemiptolopus and A. strophiatus) are 
some of the rarest birds in collections. The white-eyed buzzard (P. teesa), 
the only representative of the genus Poliornis in India proper, is very 
common throughout the plains, and a permanent resident everywhere. 
Its eggs, three in number, are unspotted as a rule. 
Harriers, (Circus).—Are cold weather visitants to India, re- 
tiring north and west to breed. One the marsh harrier (Caruginosus) 
may prossibly breed in a few localities, but the majority of them leave 
the country. They breed on the ground in marshy tracts and lay bluish 
unspotted eggs. 
Kites, (Haliastur, Milvus, Baza, Elanus).—The brahminy kite 
(ZH. indus) is found in all well-watered districts, and is a permanent 
resident where found. Of the breeding of the crested kite (Baza 
lophotes) nothing is known. It is wide spread in its distribution, but rare 
everywhere. The black-winged kite, (Z. melanopterus) 1s common in 
well-wooded districts. All the kites, except the larger Indian kite 
(M. major) which migrates to the plains in the cold weather, appear 
to be stationary in their habits. They all build on trees and lay hand- 
somely blotched eggs. 
Owls, (Strix, Scelostrix, Phodilus, Bulacca, Otus, Ascalaphia, | 
Luhua, Bubo, Nyctea, Ketupa, phialtes, Athene, Heteroglaux, « 
