190 The Booted Eagle and the Snake Eagle 
is sufficiently large to prevent the bird seeing the approach of any 
intruders, it will at times sit extraordinarily close and I have 
known birds refuse to leave the nest in spite of repeated hammer- 
ings on the trunk, perhaps not 20 ft. below it. Sometimes, 
indeed, nothing seems to dislodge them save a stick or stone 
striking the nest itself. This induces me to remark incidentally 
that in the case of all tree-nesting birds nothing is so effective 
as a means of ascertaining whether a nest is in occupation or 
not as a catapult and a supply of marbles, old sparklet capsules, 
or pebbles. By such means have I discovered the secrets of 
Hawks, Carrion Crows, Owls, Kites and other species innumerable. 
The egg (there is only one) is usually laid, according to my 
notes, between 26 March and 16 April, and is invariably pure white 
and very round in shape. There are two types of eggs, one with 
a coarse granulated surface and the other very smooth. Some eggs 
are considerably rounder than others. The largest I have taken 
measured 2°85 in. by 2°4 in. and the smallest 2°8 in. by 2°25 in. 
It is interesting to note that although this species only lays one egg 
in Morocco, Spain and France and elsewhere in Europe; in India, 
according to Allan Hume, it usually lays two eggs. 
Owing to their habit of nesting far out on branches, few Eagles’ 
eggs in their nests are more difficult to photograph. For in addition 
to the awkward and frequently insecure position of the photographer, 
there is almost invariably some movement of the tree caused both by 
the wind and the extra weight of the climber on a resilient bough. 
Hence, no time exposure is as a rule possible. Added to these 
drawbacks, for some inscrutable reason Snake Eagles are most 
partial to building a nest on the western side of a tree. Such has 
been my experience. Of course the result is that in nine cases out 
of ten the sun will be found to be shining into the lens. Desperate 
cases require desperate remedies and I have sometimes been com- 
pelled to focus my camera at 18 in. distance and, holding it out on 
